71 The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, by
71 The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, by William Shakespeare
ACT IV
SCENE I. Cyprus. Before the Castle.
Enter Othello and Iago.
IAGO.
Will you think so?
OTHELLO.
Think so, Iago?
IAGO.
What,
To kiss in private?
OTHELLO.
An unauthoriz’d kiss.
IAGO.
Or to be naked with her friend in bed
An hour or more, not meaning any harm?
OTHELLO.
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.
IAGO.
So they do nothing, ’tis a venial slip.
But if I give my wife a handkerchief—
OTHELLO.
What then?
IAGO.
Why then, ’tis hers, my lord, and being hers,
She may, I think, bestow’t on any man.
OTHELLO.
She is protectress of her honour too.
May she give that?
IAGO.
Her honour is an essence that’s not seen;
They have it very oft that have it not:
But for the handkerchief—
OTHELLO.
By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it.
Thou said’st (O, it comes o’er my memory,
As doth the raven o’er the infected house,
Boding to all) he had my handkerchief.
IAGO.
Ay, what of that?
OTHELLO.
That’s not so good now.
IAGO.
What
If I had said I had seen him do you wrong?
Or heard him say (as knaves be such abroad,
Who having, by their own importunate suit,
Or voluntary dotage of some mistress,
Convinced or supplied them, cannot choose
But they must blab.)
OTHELLO.
Hath he said anything?
IAGO.
He hath, my lord, but be you well assur’d,
No more than he’ll unswear.
OTHELLO.
What hath he said?
IAGO.
Faith, that he did—I know not what he did.
OTHELLO.
What? What?
IAGO.
Lie.
OTHELLO.
With her?
IAGO.
With her, on her, what you will.
OTHELLO.
Handkerchief—confessions—handkerchief! To confess, and be
hanged for his labour. 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?—O devil!—
[Falls in a trance.]
IAGO.
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!
Enter Cassio.
How now, Cassio!
CASSIO.
What’s the matter?
IAGO.
My lord is fallen into an epilepsy.
This is his second fit. He had one yesterday.
CASSIO.
Rub him about the temples.
IAGO.
No, forbear;
The lethargy must have his quiet course.
If not, he foams at mouth, and by and by
Breaks 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.
[Exit Cassio.]
How is it, general? Have you not hurt your head?
OTHELLO.
Dost thou mock me?
IAGO.
I mock you? No, by heaven.
Would you would bear your fortune like a man!
OTHELLO.
A horned man’s a monster and a beast.
IAGO.
There’s many a beast, then, in a populous city,
And many a civil monster.
OTHELLO.
Did he confess