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Act 4, Scene 1
[Like the first act of the play, Act IV of Othello begins in the middle of a conversation. Not between Iago and Roderigo but rather Iago and Othello] Enter OTHELLO and IAGO OTHELLO and IAGO enter. IAGO: Will you think so? IAGO: Do you really think so? OTHELLO: Think so, Iago? OTHELLO: What do you mean, do I think so? IAGO: What, To kiss in private? IAGO: What, just because they kissed in private? OTHELLO: An unauthorized kiss! OTHELLO: An illicit kiss! IAGO: Or to be naked with her friend in bed An hour or more, not meaning any harm? IAGO: Maybe she was just naked in bed with him for an hour or so, but they didn’t do anything. OTHELLO 5 Naked in bed, Iago, and not mean harm! It is hypocrisy against the devil. They that mean virtuously, and yet do so, The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt heaven. OTHELLO: Naked in bed together, but without doing anything? Come on, Iago. That would be like playing a trick on the devil: they’d make him think they’re going to commit adultery, but then back off. Anyone who acted like that would be letting the devil tempt them, and tempting God to condemn them. IAGO: So they do nothing, ’tis a venial slip. 10 But if I give my wife a handkerchief—
IAGO: As long as they didn’t do anything, it would only be a minor sin. But if I gave my wife a handkerchief— OTHELLO What then? OTHELLO: Then what? IAGO Why then ’tis hers, my lord, and, being hers, She may, I think, bestow ’t on any man. IAGO: Then it’s hers. And if it’s hers, I guess she can give it to any man she wants. OTHELLO She is protectress of her honor too. 15 May she give that? OTHELLO: Her reputation is also her own. Can she give that away too? IAGO: Her honor is an essence that’s not seen, They have it very oft that have it not. But for the handkerchief— IAGO: You can’t see a reputation. A lot of people don’t even deserve the reputations they have. But a handkerchief— OTHELLO: By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it. 20 Thou saidst—Oh, it comes o'er my memory, As doth the raven o'er the infectious house, Boding to all—he had my handkerchief. OTHELLO: God, I wish I could forget about the handkerchief! What you told me it haunts me like a nightmare—he’s got my handkerchief! IAGO Ay, what of that? IAGO: Yes, what about it? OTHELLO:That’s not so good now.
IAGO: With her, on her, what you will. IAGO: With her, on top of her—however you want to say it. OTHELLO [The play on words (lie) echoes the innocent jesting of the preceding scene, but with far darker undercurrents. Othello’s incoherent speech (in prose rather than blank verse) indicates the departure of his reason] Lie with her? lie on her? We say “lie on her” when they belie her! Lie with her—that’s fulsome. Handkerchief—confessions—handkerchief! To confess, and be hanged for his labor. First to be hanged, and then to confess—I tremble at it. Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing passion without some instruction. It is not words that shake me thus. Pish! Noses, ears, and lips. Is ’t possible? Confess!—Handkerchief!—Oh, devil!— OTHELLO: In bed with her? On top of her? I would have thought people were telling lies about her rather than believe he was lying on her. My God, it’s nauseating! Handkerchief—confessions—handkerchief! I’ll kill him first, and then let him confess—I’m trembling with rage. I wouldn’t be trembling like this if I didn’t know deep down this was all true. Noses, ears, lips. Is it possible? Tell me the truth—Handkerchief—Damn it! (falls in a trance) (he falls into a trance) [A Brilliant psychologist, Iago discusses the missing handkerchief. His assault is successful because Othello, raving, “falls in a trance.” While he is in a fit, Cassio enters. Iago explains that Othello is subject to such fit but tells Cassio he wants to speak with him once Othello has recovered.] IAGO (aside) 35 Work on, My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught, And many worthy and chaste dames even thus, All guiltless, meet reproach.—What, ho! My lord! My lord, I say! Othello! IAGO: Keep working, poison! This is the way to trick the fools. Many good and innocent women are punished for reasons like this. —My lord? My lord, Othello! Enter CASSIO
CASSIO enters. How now, Cassio! Hey, Cassio! CASSIO: What’s the matter? CASSIO: What’s the matter? IAGO 40 My lord is fall'n into an epilepsy. This is his second fit. He had one yesterday. IAGO: Othello’s having some kind of epileptic fit. This is his second fit like this. He had one yesterday. CASSIO: Rub him about the temples. CASSIO: Rub his temples. IAGO No, forbear. The lethargy must have his quiet course. If not, he foams at mouth and by and by 45Breaks out to savage madness. Look, he stirs. Do you withdraw yourself a little while, He will recover straight. When he is gone I would on great occasion speak with you. IAGO: No, don’t. This fit has to run its course. If you interrupt it, he’ll foam at the mouth and go crazy. Look, he’s moving. Why don’t you go away for a bit? He’ll get better right away. When he leaves, it’s very important that I talk to you. Exit CASSIO CASSIO exits. Iago: How is it, general? Have you not hurt your head? Iago: What happened, general? Did you hit your head? OTHELLO
IAGO: Sir, be a man. Every married man has been cheated on. Millions of men sleep with wives who cheat on them, wrongly believing they belong to them alone. Your case is better than that. At least you’re not ignorant. The worst thing of all is to kiss your wife thinking she’s innocent, when in fact she’s a whore. No, I’d rather know the truth. Then I’ll know exactly what she is, just as I know what I am. OTHELLO Oh, thou art wise! 'Tis certain. OTHELLO: You’re wise! That’s for sure. IAGO Stand you awhile apart, 65 Confine yourself but in a patient list. Whilst you were here o'erwhelmèd with your grief— A passion most resulting such a man— Cassio came hither. I shifted him away And laid good ’scuses upon your ecstasy, Bade him anon return and here speak with me, The which he promised. Do but encave yourself, And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorns That dwell in every region of his face. For I will make him tell the tale anew 75Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when He hath, and is again to cope your wife. I say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience, Or I shall say you are all in all in spleen, And nothing of a man. IAGO: Go somewhere else for a while. Calm down. While you were dazed by grief—which isn’t appropriate for a man like you—Cassio showed up here. I got him to leave, and made up an excuse for your trance. I told him to come
back and talk to me in a bit, and he promised he would. So hide here and watch how he sneers at you. I’ll make him tell me the whole story again—where, how often, how long ago—and when he plans to sleep with your wife in the future. I’m telling you, just watch his face. But stay calm, and don’t get carried away by rage, or I’ll think you’re not a man. OTHELLO Dost thou hear, Iago? 80 I will be found most cunning in my patience, But—dost thou hear?—most bloody. OTHELLO: Do you hear what I’m saying, Iago? I’ll be very patient, but—do you hear me?—I’m not done with him yet IAGO That’s not amiss, But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw? IAGO: That’s fine, but for now keep your cool. Will you go hide? OTHELLO withdraws OTHELLO hides. IAGO: Now will I question Cassio of Bianca, A huswife that by selling her desires 85 Buys herself bread and clothes. It is a creature That dotes on Cassio, as ’tis the strumpet’s plague To beguile many and be beguiled by one. He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain From the excess of laughter. Here he comes. 90 As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad. And his unbookish jealousy must construe Poor Cassio’s smiles, gestures, and light behavior Quite in the wrong.—How do you now, lieutenant?
The poor thing, I really think she loves me. OTHELLO: Now he denies it faintly, and laughs it out. OTHELLO: Now he denies it a bit, and tries to laugh it off. IAGO Do you hear, Cassio? IAGO Have you heard this, Cassio? OTHELLO Now he importunes him To tell it o'er. Go to, well said, well said. OTHELLO:He’s asking him to tell the story again. Go on, tell it. IAGO 105 She gives it out that you shall marry her. Do you intend it? IAGO: She says you’re going to marry her. Are you? CASSIO Ha, ha, ha! OTHELLO: Do ye triumph, Roman? Do you triumph? OTHELLO: Are you laughing because you’ve won? Do you think you’ve won? CASSIO: I marry her! What? A customer? Prithee bear some charity to my wit. Do not think it so unwholesome. Ha, ha, ha! CASSIO: Me, marry her? That whore? Please give me a little credit! I’m not that stupid. Ha, ha, ha! OTHELLO 110 So, so, so, so! They laugh that win! OTHELLO So, so, so, so! The winner’s always got the last laugh, hasn’t he?
IAGO
Why the cry goes that you shall marry her. IAGO: I swear, there’s a rumor going around that you’ll marry her. CASSIO Prithee say true! CASSIO You’re kidding! IAGO I am a very villain else. IAGO If it’s not true, you can call me a villain. OTHELLO Have you scored me? Well. OTHELLO Have you given me bastard children to raise? All right, then. CASSIO 115 This is the monkey’s own giving out. She is persuaded I will marry her, out of her own love and flattery, not out of my promise. CASSIO: The little monkey must have started that rumor herself. She thinks I’ll marry her because she loves me. She’s just flattering herself. I never promised her anything. OTHELLO Iago beckons me. Now he begins the story. OTHELLO Iago is gesturing for me to come closer. Now he’s telling the story. CASSIO: She was here even now. She haunts me in every place. I was the other day talking on the sea-bank with certain Venetians, and thither comes the bauble and, by this hand, she falls me thus about my neck—
CASSIO
'Tis such another fitchew. Marry, a perfumed one.— What do you mean by this haunting of me? CASSIO: It’s a whore like all the others, stinking of cheap perfume.—Why are you always hanging around me? BIANCA 125 Let the devil and his dam haunt you! What did you mean by that same handkerchief you gave me even now? I was a fine fool to take it. I must take out the work? A likely piece of work, that you should find it in your chamber, and not know who left it there! This is some minx’s token, and I must take out the work? There, give it your hobby-horse. Wheresoever you had it, I’ll take out no work on ’t. BIANCA: Damn you! What did you mean by giving me this handkerchief? I was an idiot to take it! You want me to copy the embroidery pattern? That was a likely story, that you found it in your room and didn’t know who it belonged to. This is a love token from some other slut, and you want me to copy its pattern for you? Give it back to her, I won’t do anything with it.[ Cassio is rather nasty to Bianca.] CASSIO How now, my sweet Bianca! How now, how now? CASSIO What is it, my dear Bianca? What’s wrong? OTHELLO By heaven, that should be my handkerchief! OTHELLO My God, that’s my handkerchief! BIANCA If you’ll come to supper tonight, you may. If you will not, come when you are next prepared for. BIANCA
If you want to come have dinner with me, you can. If you don’t want to, then good riddance. Exit BIANCA exits. IAGO: After her, after her. IAGO: Go after her, go. CASSIO 130 I must, she’ll rail in the street else. CASSIO Actually, I should. She’ll scream in the streets if I don’t. IAGO Will you sup there? IAGO Will you be having dinner with her tonight? CASSIO Yes, I intend so. CASSIO Yes, I will. IAGO Well, I may chance to see you, for I would very fain speak with you. IAGO Well, maybe I’ll see you there. I’d really like to speak with you. CASSIO Prithee come, will you? CASSIO Please come. Will you? IAGO 135 Go to! Say no more.
I would have him nine years a-killing. A fine woman! A fair woman! A sweet woman! OTHELLO I wish I could keep killing him for nine years straight. Oh, she’s a fine woman! A fair woman! A sweet woman! IAGO: Nay, you must forget that. IAGO: No, you have to forget all that now. OTHELLO Ay, let her rot and perish and be damned tonight, for she shall not live. No, my heart is turned to stone. I strike it and it hurts my hand. Oh, the world hath not a sweeter creature, she might lie by an emperor’s side and command him tasks. OTHELLO Yes, let her die and rot and go to hell tonight. She won’t stay alive for long. No, my heart’s turned to stone—when I hit it, it hurts my hand. Oh, the world never saw a sweeter creature. She could be married to an emperor, and he’d be like her slave! IAGO 145 Nay, that’s not your way. IAGO But that’s not how you’re going to be. OTHELLO Hang her! I do but say what she is. So delicate with her needle, an admirable musician. Oh, she will sing the savageness out of a bear! Of so high and plenteous wit and invention! OTHELLO Damn her, I’m just describing her truthfully! She’s so good at sewing, and a wonderful musician. Oh, she could sing a wild bear to sleep! Oh, she’s so witty and creative! IAGO She’s the worse for all this. IAGO
All the worse that she stooped this low, then. OTHELLO Oh, a thousand thousand times—and then of so gentle a condition! OTHELLO Oh, a thousand times worse, a thousand times—and what a sweet personality she has! IAGO Ay, too gentle. IAGO Yes, a little too sweet. OTHELLO 150 Nay, that’s certain. But yet the pity of it, Iago! O Iago, the pity of it, Iago! OTHELLO Yes, that’s for sure. Oh, it’s dreadful, dreadful, Iago! IAGO If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her patent to offend, for if it touch not you it comes near nobody. IAGO If you still feel so affectionate toward her, then why not give her permission to cheat on you? If it doesn’t bother you, it won’t bother anyone else. OTHELLO I will chop her into messes! Cuckold me? OTHELLO I’ll chop her into pieces. How could she cheat on me? IAGO Oh, ’tis foul in her. IAGO Oh, it’s horrible of her.
160 Excellent good. OTHELLO Excellent, good. A trumpet within A trumpet sounds offstage. What trumpet is that same? What’s that trumpet for? IAGO I warrant something from Venice. 'Tis Lodovico, this, comes from the duke. See, your wife’s with him. IAGO I think someone’s coming from Venice. It’s Lodovico. He must be coming from the duke. Look, your wife is with him. Enter LODOVICO, DESDEMONA, and attendants LODOVICO, DESDEMONA and attendants enter. LODOVICO Save you, worthy general! LODOVICO Greetings, good general! OTHELLO With all my heart, sir. OTHELLO Greetings, sir. LODOVICO The duke and senators of Venice greet you. LODOVICO The duke and senators of Venice greet you. (gives him a letter)
(he hands OTHELLO a piece of paper) OTHELLO 165 I kiss the instrument of their pleasures. OTHELLO I’ll do whatever they order me to do in this letter. DESDEMONA And what’s the news, good cousin Lodovico? DESDEMONA What’s new, cousin Lodovico? IAGO I am very glad to see you, signior. Welcome to Cyprus. IAGO Very nice to see you, sir. Welcome to Cyprus. LODOVICO I thank you. How does lieutenant Cassio? LODOVICO Thank you. How is lieutenant Cassio? IAGO Lives, sir. IAGO Well, he’s alive. DESDEMONA 170 Cousin, there’s fall'n between him and my lord An unkind breach, but you shall make all well. DESDEMONA Cousin, there’s been a falling out between him and Othello. An unfortunate rift, but you can fix it. OTHELLO
