Here he comes.

As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad;

And his unbookish jealousy must conster

Poor Cassio’s smiles, gestures, and light behaviours

Quite in the wrong. How do you now, lieutenant?

CASSIO

The worser that you give me the addition

Whose want even kills me.

IAGO

Ply Desdemona well and you are sure on’t.

Now, if this suit lay in Bianca’s power,

How quickly should you speed!

CASSIO (laughing) Alas, poor caitiff!

OTHELLO (aside) Look how he laughs already.

IAGO

I never knew a woman love man so.

CASSIO

Alas, poor rogue! I think i’faith she loves me.

OTHELLO (aside)

Now he denies it faintly, and laughs it out.

IAGO

Do you hear, Cassio?

OTHELLO (aside) Now he importunes him

To tell it o’er. Go to, well said, well said.

IAGO

She gives it out that you shall marry her.

Do you intend it?

CASSIO Ha, ha, ha!

OTHELLO (aside)

Do ye triumph, Roman, do you triumph?

CASSIO I marry! What, a customer? Prithee, bear some charity to my wit—do not think it so unwholesome. Ha, ha, ha!

OTHELLO (aside) So, so, so, so. They laugh that wins.

IAGO Faith, the cry goes that you marry her.

CASSIO Prithee, say true.

IAGO I am a very villain else.

OTHELLO (aside) Ha’ you scored me? Well. 125

CASSIO 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.

OTHELLO (aside) Iago beckons me. Now he begins the story. Othello draws closer

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 falls me thus about my neck.

OTHELLO (aside) Crying ‘O dear Cassiol’ as it were. His gesture imports it.

CASSIO So hangs and lolls and weeps upon me, so shakes and pulls me—ha, ha, ha!

OTHELLO (aside) Now he tells how she plucked him to my chamber. O, I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I shall throw it to!

CASSIO Well, I must leave her company.

Enter Bianca

IAGO Before me, look where she comes.

CASSIO ’Tis such another fitchew! Marry, a perfumed one. (To Bianca) What do you mean by this haunting of me?

BIANCA 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 whole work—a likely piece of work, that you should find it in your chamber and know not who left it there. This is some minx’s token, and I must take out the work. There, give it your hobby-horse. (Giving Cassio the napkin) Wheresoever you had it, I’ll take out no work on’t.

CASSIO How now, my sweet Bianca, how now, how now?

OTHELLO (aside)

By heaven, that should be my handkerchief.

BIANCA An you’ll come to supper tonight, you may. An you will not, come when you are next prepared for.

Exit

IAGO After her, after her.

CASSIO Faith, I must, she’ll rail in the streets else.

IAGO Will you sup there?

CASSIO Faith, I intend so.

IAGO Well, I may chance to see you, for I would very fain speak with you.

CASSIO Prithee, come, will you?

IAGO Go to, say no more.

Exit Cassio

OTHELLO How shall I murder him, Iago?

IAGO Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice?

OTHELLO O Iago!

IAGO And did you see the handkerchief?

OTHELLO Was that mine?

IAGO Yours, by this hand. And to see how he prizes the foolish woman your wife. She gave it him, and he hath given it his whore.

OTHELLO I would have him nine years a-killing. A fine woman, a fair woman, a sweet woman.

IAGO Nay, you must forget that.

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. O, the world hath not a sweeter creature! She might lie by an emperor’s side, and command him tasks.

IAGO Nay, that’s not your way.

OTHELLO Hang her, I do but say what she is—so delicate with her needle, an admirable musician. O, she will sing the savageness out of a bear! Of so high and plenteous wit and invention.

IAGO She’s the worse for all this.

OTHELLO O, a thousand, a thousand times! And then of so gentle a condition.

IAGO Ay, too gentle.

OTHELLO Nay, that’s certain. But yet the pity of it, Iago. O, Iago, the pity of it, 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.

OTHELLO I will chop her into messes. Cuckold me!

IAGO O, ’tis foul in her.

OTHELLO With mine officer.

IAGO That’s fouler.

OTHELLO Get me some poison, Iago, this night. I’ll not expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again. This night, Iago.

IAGO Do it not with poison. Strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated.

OTHELLO Good, good, the justice of it pleases, very good.

IAGO And for Cassio, let me be his undertaker. You shall hear more by midnight.

OTHELLO Excellent good.

A trumpet

What trumpet is that same?

IAGO I warrant, something from Venice.

Enter Lodovico, Desdemona, and attendants

’Tis Lodovico. This comes from the Duke. See, your wife’s with him.

LODOVICO God save the worthy general.

OTHELLO With all my heart, sir.

LODOVICO (giving Othello a letter) The Duke and the senators of Venice greet you.

OTHELLO I kiss the instrument of their pleasures.

He reads the letter

DESDEMONA

And what’s the news, good cousin Lodovico?

IAGO (to Lodovico) I am very glad to see you, signor. Welcome to Cyprus.

LODOVICO I thank you. How does Lieutenant Cassio?

IAGO Lives, sir.

DESDEMONA

Cousin, there’s fall’n between him and my lord

An unkind breach. But you shall make all well.

OTHELLO Are you sure of that?

DESDEMONA My lord.

OTHELLO (reads) ‘This fail you not to do as you will’—

LODOVICO

He did not call, he’s busy in the paper.

Is there division ’twixt my lord and Cassio?

DESDEMONA

A most unhappy one. I would do much

T’atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio.

OTHELLO

Fire and brimstone!

DESDEMONA My lord?

OTHELLO Are you wise?

DESDEMONA

What, is he angry?

LODOVICO

Maybe the letter moved him,

For, as I think, they do command him home,

Deputing Cassio in his government.

DESDEMONA By my troth, I am glad on’t.

OTHELLO Indeed!

DESDEMONA My lord?

OTHELLO (to Desdemona) I am glad to see you mad.

DESDEMONA Why, sweet Othello!

OTHELLO Devil!

He strikes her

DESDEMONA I have not deserved this.

LODOVICO

My lord, this would not be believed in Venice,

Though I should swear I saw’t. ’Tis very much.

Make her amends, she weeps.

OTHELLOO, devil, devil!

If that the earth could teem with woman’s tears,

Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile.

Out of my sight!

DESDEMONA (going) I will not stay to offend you.