Othello: Act 3, Scene 4
Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA, and CLOWN."
CLOWN: "Clown" is the name of this person's role in the Globe acting company. Here he is a servant, but his main purpose is to make jokes and lighten the mood.
DESDEMONA
1
Do you know, sirrah, where Lieutenant Cassio
1. sirrah: Little sir. "Sirrah," like the American "buddy," can be used in either a hostile or friendly way.
2
lies?
Clown
3
I dare not say he lies any where.
3. lies: lodges (but the Clown takes it to mean "tells lies").
DESDEMONA
4
Why, man?
Clown
5
He's a soldier, and for one to say a soldier lies,
6
is stabbing.
DESDEMONA
7
Go to! where lodges he?
7. Go to!: get otta here, off with you, enough of that, etc.
Buffoon playing the Lute by Franz Hals
Clown
8
To tell you where he lodges, is to tell you where
9
I lie.
DESDEMONA
10
Can any thing be made of this?
Clown
11
I know not where he lodges, and for me to
12
devise a lodging and say he lies here or he
13
lies there, were to lie in mine own throat.
13. lie in mine own throat: tell a gross and deliberate lie.
DESDEMONA
14
Can you inquire him out, and be edified by
14. inquire him out: ask around about him.
15
report?
15. report: what you hear from others.
Clown
16
I will catechise the world for him; that is, make
17
questions, and by them answer.
DESDEMONA
18
Seek him, bid him come hither. Tell him I have
19
moved my lord on his behalf, and hope all will
19. moved: petitioned, made a plea to.
20
be well.
Clown
21
To do this is within the compass of man's wit:
22
and therefore I will attempt the doing it.
Exit Clown.
DESDEMONA
23
Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia?
23. Where should I lose: Where could I have lost.
EMILIA
24
I know not, madam.
DESDEMONA
25
Believe me, I had rather have lost my purse
26
Full of crusadoes: and, but my noble Moor
26. crusadoes: Portuguese gold coins stamped with a cross.
27
Is true of mind and made of no such baseness
28
As jealous creatures are, it were enough
29
To put him to ill thinking.
EMILIA
Is he not jealous?
DESDEMONA
30
Who, he? I think the sun where he was born
31
Drew all such humors from him.
31. humors: bodily fluids which were thought to determine temperament.
EMILIA
Look, where he comes.
Enter OTHELLO.
DESDEMONA
32
I will not leave him now till Cassio
33
Be call'd to him. How is't with you, my lord?
OTHELLO
34
Well, my good lady. O, hardness to dissemble!
35
How do you, Desdemona?
DESDEMONA
Well, my good lord.
OTHELLO
36
Give me your hand. This hand is moist, my lady.
DESDEMONA
37
It yet hath felt no age nor known no sorrow.
OTHELLO
38
This argues fruitfulness and liberal heart;
40. argues: indicates.
39
Hot, hot, and moist. This hand of yours requires
40
A sequester from liberty, fasting and prayer,
40. sequester: sequestration, separation.
41
Much castigation, exercise devout;
41. castigation: corrective discipline, penance.
42
For here's a young and sweating devil here,
43
That commonly rebels. 'Tis a good hand,
44
A frank one.
44. frank: Desdemona takes this as meaning generous, but Othello may have in mind also the meanings lusty, vigorous or open, unable to conceal secrets.
DESDEMONA
You may, indeed, say so;
45
For 'twas that hand that gave away my heart.
OTHELLO
46
A liberal hand. The hearts of old gave hands;
46. liberal: generous; sexually free and easy.
47. our new heraldry is hands, not hearts: under our newfangled heraldry, hands (given in marriage) no longer signify that hearts are given also.
47
But our new heraldry is hands, not hearts.
DESDEMONA
48
I cannot speak of this. Come now, your promise.
OTHELLO
49
What promise, chuck?
49. chuck: a term of endearment, related to chick.
DESDEMONA
50
I have sent to bid Cassio come speak with you.
OTHELLO
51
I have a salt and sorry rheum offends me;
51. salt and sorry rheum: distressing head cold.
52
Lend me thy handkerchief.
DESDEMONA
Here, my lord.
[She offers him a handkerchief.]
OTHELLO
53
That which I gave you.
DESDEMONA
I have it not about me.
OTHELLO
54
Not?
DESDEMONA
No, faith, my lord.
OTHELLO
55
That's a fault. That handkerchief
56
Did an Egyptian to my mother give;
57
She was a charmer, and could almost read
57. charmer: sorceress, magician.
58
The thoughts of people. She told her, while she kept it,
59
'Twould make her amiable and subdue my father
59. amiable: desirable.
60
Entirely to her love, but if she lost it
61
Or made gift of it, my father's eye
62
Should hold her loathed and his spirits should hunt
63
After new fancies. She, dying, gave it me;
64
And bid me, when my fate would have me wive,
65
To give it her. I did so: and take heed on't;
65. To give it her: To give it to my wife.
66
Make it a darling like your precious eye;
67
To lose't or give't away were such perdition
67. perdition: loss.
68
As nothing else could match.
DESDEMONA
Is't possible?
OTHELLO
69
'Tis true: there's magic in the web of it.
69. web: fabric.
70
A sibyl, that had number'd in the world
70. sibyl: prophetess.
71
The sun to course two hundred compasses,
71. compasses: annual circlings.
72
In her prophetic fury sew'd the work;
72. prophetic fury: the divine frenzy which enabled her to prophesy.
73
The worms were hallow'd that did breed the silk;
74
And it was dyed in mummy which the skilful
74. mummy: medicinal or magical fluid drawn from embalmed bodies.
75
Conserv'd of maidens' hearts.
75. Conserv'd of: prepared or preserved out of.
DESDEMONA
Indeed! is't true?
OTHELLO
76
Most veritable; therefore look to't well.
DESDEMONA
77
Then would to God that I had never seen't!
OTHELLO
78
Ha! wherefore?
DESDEMONA
79
Why do you speak so startingly and rash?
79. startingly and rash: disjointedly and impetuously.
OTHELLO
80
Is't lost? is't gone? speak, is it out o' the way?
DESDEMONA
81
Heaven bless us!
OTHELLO
82
Say you?
DESDEMONA
83
It is not lost; but what an if it were?
83. an if: if.
OTHELLO
84
How!
DESDEMONA
85
I say, it is not lost.
OTHELLO
Fetch't, let me see't.
DESDEMONA
86
Why, so I can, sir, but I will not now.
87
This is a trick to put me from my suit:
88
Pray you, let Cassio be received again.
OTHELLO
89
Fetch me the handkerchief: my mind misgives.
DESDEMONA
90
Come, come;
91
You'll never meet a more sufficient man.
91. sufficient: able, complete.
OTHELLO
92
The handkerchief!
DESDEMONA
I pray, talk me of Cassio.
OTHELLO
93
The handkerchief!
DESDEMONA
A man that all his time
93. all his time: throughout his career.
94
Hath founded his good fortunes on your love,
95
Shared dangers with you,
OTHELLO
96
The handkerchief!
DESDEMONA
97
I' faith, you are to blame.
OTHELLO
98
Zounds!
Exit Othello.
EMILIA
99
Is not this man jealous?
DESDEMONA
100
I ne'er saw this before.
101
Sure, there's some wonder in this handkerchief:
102
I am most unhappy in the loss of it.
EMILIA
103
'Tis not a year or two shows us a man:
103. 'Tis . . . man: i.e., worthy men seldom come along.
104
They are all but stomachs, and we all but food;
104. all but: nothing but.
105
They eat us hungerly, and when they are full,
106
They belch us. Look you, Cassio and my husband!
Enter IAGO and CASSIO.
IAGO
107
There is no other way; 'tis she must do't:
108
And, lo, the happiness! Go, and importune her.
108. happiness: good luck.
DESDEMONA
109
How now, good Cassio! what's the news with you?
CASSIO
110
Madam, my former suit: I do beseech you
111
That by your virtuous means I may again
111. virtuous: efficacious.
112
Exist, and be a member of his love
112. be a . . . love: i.e. be one of his devoted officers.
113
Whom I with all the office of my heart
113. office: devoted service.
114
Entirely honor. I would not be delay'd.
115
If my offence be of such mortal kind
115. mortal: fatal.
116
That nor my service past, nor present sorrows,
116. nor my service past, nor: neither my past service, nor.
117
Nor purpos'd merit in futurity,
117. purpos'd merit in futurity: intention to serve well in the future.
118
Can ransom me into his love again,
119
But to know so must be my benefit;
119. But to know so must be my benefit: Merely to know that my case is hopeless must be all I can expect.
120
So shall I clothe me in a forced content,
121
And shut myself up in some other course,
121. shut . . . course: adopt another life path.
122
To fortune's alms.
122. fortune's alms: pittances handed out by Fortune to beggars.
DESDEMONA
Alas, thrice-gentle Cassio!
123
My advocation is not now in tune;
123. advocation: advocacy [on your behalf].
124
My lord is not my lord; nor should I know him,
125
Were he in favor as in humor alter'd.
124-125. nor should . . . in humor alter'd.: Nor would I recognize him if his appearance (favor) were as altered as his mood.
126
So help me every spirit sanctified,
127
As I have spoken for you all my best
128
And stood within the blank of his displeasure
128. blank: center of a target; i.e., directly in the line of fire.
129
For my free speech! you must awhile be patient.
130
What I can do I will; and more I will
131
Than for myself I dare: let that suffice you.
IAGO
132
Is my lord angry?
EMILIA
He went hence but now,
133
And certainly in strange unquietness.
IAGO
134
Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon,
135
When it hath blown his ranks into the air,
136
And, like the devil, from his very arm
137
Puff'd his own brother:and is he angry?
138
Something of moment then: I will go meet him:
138. Something of moment then: then it must be a very weighty matter.
139
There's matter in't indeed, if he be angry.
DESDEMONA
140
I prithee, do so.
Exit [Iago].
Something, sure, of state,
141
Either from Venice, or some unhatch'd practise
141. unhatch'd practice: plot not yet ready for execution.
142
Made demonstrable here in Cyprus to him,
143
Hath puddled his clear spirit; and in such cases
143. puddled: muddied.
144
Men's natures wrangle with inferior things,
145
Though great ones are their object. 'Tis even so;
146
For let our finger ache, and it indues
146. indues: brings to the same condition.
147
Our other healthful members even to that sense
148
Of pain. Nay, we must think men are not gods,
149
Nor of them look for such observances
149. observances: devoted attention.
150
As fit the bridal. Beshrew me much, Emilia,
150. bridal: wedding (when a bridegroom is newly attentive). Beshrew me: a mild imprecation.
151
I was, unhandsome warrior as I am,
151. unhandsome: insufficient.
152
Arraigning his unkindness with my soul;
152. with my soul: before the bar of my soul.
153
But now I find I had suborn'd the witness,
153. suborn'd the witness: caused the witness to lie, i.e., misinterpreted Othello's behavior.
154
And he's indicted falsely.
EMILIA
155
Pray heaven it be state-matters, as you think,
156
And no conception nor no jealous toy
156. toy: stupid idea.
157
Concerning you.
DESDEMONA
158
Alas the day! I never gave him cause.
EMILIA
159
But jealous souls will not be answer'd so;
160
They are not ever jealous for the cause,
160. for the cause: i.e.. for a good reason.
161
But jealous for they are jealous. It is a monster
161. for: because.
162
Begot upon itself, born on itself.
162. Begot upon itself: i.e., spontaneously generated solely from itself, without cause.
DESDEMONA
163
Heaven keep that monster from Othello's mind!
Bianca by William Holman Hunt
EMILIA
164
Lady, amen.
DESDEMONA
165
I will go seek him. Cassio, walk hereabout:
166
If I do find him fit, I'll move your suit
167
And seek to effect it to my uttermost.
CASSIO
168
I humbly thank your ladyship.
Exeunt [Desdemona and Emilia].
Enter BIANCA.
BIANCA
169
Save you, friend Cassio!
169. Save you: God save you. friend: my beloved.
CASSIO
What make you from home?
169. What make you from home?: What are you doing away from home?
170
How is it with you, my most fair Bianca?
171
I' faith, sweet love, I was coming to your house.
BIANCA
172
And I was going to your lodging, Cassio.
173
What, keep a week away? seven days and nights?
174
Eight score eight hours? and lovers' absent hours,
175
More tedious than the dial eight score times?
176
O weary reckoning!
CASSIO
Pardon me, Bianca.
177
I have this while with leaden thoughts been press'd:
178
But I shall, in a more continuate time,
178. continuate: uninterrupted.
179
Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca,
179. Strike off this score: Settle this account.
[Giving her Desdemona's handkerchief.]
180
Take me this work out.
180. Take me this work out: Copy this embroidery for me.
BIANCA
O Cassio, whence came this?
181
This is some token from a newer friend:
181. token: love token.
182
To the felt absence now I feel a cause:
183
Is't come to this? Well, well.
CASSIO
Go to, woman!
184
Throw your vile guesses in the devil's teeth,
185
From whence you have them. You are jealous now
186
That this is from some mistress, some remembrance:
187
No, in good troth, Bianca.
BIANCA
Why, whose is it?
CASSIO
188
I know not, neither: I found it in my chamber.
189
I like the work well: ere it be demanded
189. demanded: inquired for.
190
As like enough it willI'ld have it copied:
191
Take it, and do't; and leave me for this time.
BIANCA
192
Leave you! Wherefore?
CASSIO
193
I do attend here on the general;
194
And think it no addition, nor my wish,
194. addition: credit; i.e., addition to my reputation.
195
To have him see me woman'd.
Fergal Philips as Cassio
Jade Matthews as Bianca
--Orangutan Productions, 2014--
BIANCA
Why, I pray you?
CASSIO
196
Not that I love you not.
BIANCA
But that you do not love me.
197
I pray you, bring me on the way a little,
198
And say if I shall see you soon at night.
CASSIO
199
'Tis but a little way that I can bring you;
200
For I attend here: but I'll see you soon.
BIANCA
201
'Tis very good; I must be circumstanced.
201. 'Tis very good: She is being sarcastic. be circumstanced: yield to circumstances.
Exeunt omnes.