• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

Even from the east to the west!

IAGO.

Speak within door.

EMILIA.

O, fie upon them! Some such squire he was

That turn'd your wit the seamy side without,

And made you to suspect me with the Moor.

IAGO.

You are a fool; go to.

DESDEMONA.

O good Iago,

What shall I do to win my lord again?

Good friend, go to him, for by this light of heaven,

I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel:

If e'er my will did trespass 'gainst his love

Either in discourse of thought or actual deed,

Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense,

Delighted them in any other form,

Or that I do not yet, and ever did,

And ever will, though he do shake me off

To beggarly divorcement, love him dearly,

Comfort forswear me! Unkindness may do much,

And his unkindness may defeat my life,

But never taint my love. I cannot say "whore."

It doth abhor me now I speak the word;

To do the act that might the addition earn

Not the world's mass of vanity could make me.

IAGO.

I pray you, be content; 'tis but his humor:

The business of the state does him offense,

And he does chide with you.

DESDEMONA.

If 'twere no other-

IAGO.

'Tis but so, I warrant. Trumpets within.

Hark, how these instruments summon to supper!

The messengers of Venice stay the meat.

Go in, and weep not; all things shall be well.

Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia.

Enter Roderigo.

How now, Roderigo!

RODERIGO.

I do not find that thou dealest justly with me.

IAGO.

What in the contrary?

RODERIGO.

Every day thou daffest me with some device, Iago; and

rather, as it seems to me now, keepest from me all conveniency

than suppliest me with the least advantage of hope. I will indeed

no longer endure it; nor am I yet persuaded to put up in peace

what already I have foolishly suffered.

IAGO.

Will you hear me, Roderigo?

RODERIGO.

Faith, I have heard too much, for your words and

performances are no kin together.

IAGO.

You charge me most unjustly.

RODERIGO.

With nought but truth. I have wasted myself out of my

means. The jewels you have had from me to deliver to Desdemona

would half have corrupted a votarist. You have told me she hath

received them and returned me expectations and comforts of sudden

respect and acquaintance; but I find none.

IAGO.

Well, go to, very well.

RODERIGO.

Very well! go to! I cannot go to, man; nor 'tis not very

well. By this hand, I say 'tis very scurvy, and begin to find myself fopped in it.

IAGO.

Very well.

RODERIGO.

I tell you 'tis not very well. I will make myself known

to Desdemona. If she will return me my jewels, I will give over

my suit and repent my unlawful solicitation; if not, assure

yourself I will seek satisfaction of you.

IAGO.

You have said now.

RODERIGO.

Ay, and said nothing but what I protest intendment of doing.

IAGO.

Why, now I see there's mettle in thee; and even from this

instant do build on thee a better opinion than ever before.

Give

me thy hand, Roderigo. Thou hast taken against me a most just

exception; but yet, I protest, have dealt most directly in thy affair.

RODERIGO.

It hath not appeared.

IAGO.

I grant indeed it hath not appeared, and your suspicion is

not without wit and judgement. But, Roderigo, if thou hast that

in thee indeed, which I have greater reason to believe now than

ever, I mean purpose, courage, and valor, this night show it; if

thou the next night following enjoy not Desdemona, take me from

this world with treachery and devise engines for my life.

RODERIGO.

Well, what is it? Is it within reason and compass?

IAGO.

Sir, there is especial commission come from Venice to depute

Cassio in Othello's place.

RODERIGO.

Is that true? Why then Othello and Desdemona return again

to Venice.

IAGO.

O, no; he goes into Mauritania, and takes away with him the

fair Desdemona, unless his abode be lingered here by some

accident; wherein none can be so determinate as the removing of Cassio.

RODERIGO.

How do you mean, removing of him?

IAGO.

Why, by making him uncapable of Othello's