How now! What do you here alone?
IAGO
What’s going on? What are you doing here alone?
310
EMILIA
Do not you chide. I have a thing for you.
EMILIA
Don’t snap at me. I’ve got something for you.
IAGO
A thing for me? It is a common thing—
IAGO
You’ve got something for me? It’s a
commonthing— EMILIA Ha? EMILIA What? IAGO
To have a foolish wife.
IAGO
—to have a stupid wife.
315
EMILIA
Oh, is that all? What will you give me now For the same handkerchief?
EMILIA
Oh, is that so? And what would you give me for the handkerchief? IAGO What handkerchief? IAGO What handkerchief? EMILIA What handkerchief?
Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona, That which so often you did bid me steal.
EMILIA
What handkerchief? The one the Moor gave to Desdemona, which you asked me to steal so many times.
320
IAGO
Hast stolen it from her?
IAGO
You stole it from her?
EMILIA
No, but she let it drop by negligence
And, to th' advantage, I being here, took ’t up. Look, here it is.
EMILIA
No, actually. She dropped it carelessly, and, seizing the opportunity, since I was here, I picked it up. Look, here it is.
Act 3, Scene 3, Page 15
IAGOA good wench, give it me.
IAGO
Good girl, give it to me.
325
EMILIA
What will you do with ’t, that you have been so earnest
To have me filch it?
EMILIA
And what are you going to do with it? Why did you want it so much that you begged me to steal it?
IAGO
Why, what is that to you?
IAGO
What’s it to you?
EMILIA
If it be not for some purpose of import, Give ’t me again. Poor lady, she’ll run mad When she shall lack it.
EMILIA
If you don’t need it for some important reason, then give it back to me. Poor lady, she’ll go crazy when she sees it’s missing.
330
IAGO
Be not acknown on ’t,
I have use for it. Go, leave me.
IAGO
Don’t admit to knowing anything about it. I need it. Now go, leave me.
Exit EMILIA EMILIA exits.
I will in Cassio’s lodging lose this napkin And let him find it. Trifles light as air Are to the jealous confirmations strong
I’ll leave this handkerchief at Cassio’s house and let him find it.To a jealous man, a meaningless little thing like this looks like absolute proof. This
335
As proofs of holy writ. This may do something. The Moor already changes with my poison. Dangerous conceits are in their natures poisons Which at the first are scarce found to distaste, But with a little act upon the blood
Burn like the mines of sulfur.
handkerchief may be useful to me. The Moor’s mind has already become infected with my poisonous suggestions. Ideas can be like poisons. At first they hardly even taste bad, but once they get into your blood they start burning like hot lava.
Enter OTHELLO OTHELLO enters.
340
I did say so.
Look, where he comes. Not poppy nor mandragora Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world,
Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep Which thou owedst yesterday.
Here he comes. No drugs or sleeping pills will ever give you the restful sleep that you had last night.
OTHELLO
Ha! Ha! False to me?
OTHELLO
Argh! She’s cheating on me?
IAGO
Why, how now, general? No more of that.
IAGO
Oh, general, please, no more of that!
Act 3, Scene 3, Page 16
345
OTHELLO
Avaunt! Be gone! Thou hast set me on the rack. I swear ’tis better to be much abused
Than but to know ’t a little.
OTHELLO
Get lost! You’ve tortured me with these thoughts. It is better to be tricked completely than to only suspect a little.
IAGO
How now, my lord!
IAGO
What’s with you, my lord?
350
OTHELLO
What sense had I in her stol'n hours of lust? I saw ’t not, thought it not, it harmed not me. I slept the next night well, fed well, was free and merry.
I found not Cassio’s kisses on her lips. He that is robbed, not wanting what is stol'n, Let him not know’t, and he’s not robbed at all.
OTHELLO
I had no idea she was cheating on me. I never saw it or suspected it, so it never hurt me. I slept well, ate well, and was happy. I never saw Cassio’s kisses on her lips. A man who’s robbed, but doesn’t miss what’s stolen, isn’t robbed at all.
IAGO
I am sorry to hear this.
IAGO
I’m sorry to hear this.
355
360
365
OTHELLO
I had been happy if the general camp, Pioneers and all, had tasted her sweet body, So I had nothing known. Oh, now forever Farewell the tranquil mind! Farewell content! Farewell the plumèd troops and the big wars That makes ambition virtue! Oh, farewell! Farewell the neighing steed and the shrill trump, The spirit-stirring drum, th' ear-piercing fife, The royal banner, and all quality,
Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war! And O you mortal engines, whose rude throats The immortal Jove’s dead clamors counterfeit, Farewell! Othello’s occupation’s gone.
OTHELLO
I would’ve been happy if the whole army had had sex with her, the lowest-ranking grunts and all, as long as I didn’t know anything about it. Oh, goodbye to my peace of mind! Goodbye to my happiness! Goodbye to the soldiers and to the wars that make men great! Goodbye! Goodbye to the horses and the trumpets and the drums, the flute and the splendid banners, and all those proud displays and pageantry of war! And you deadly cannons that roar like thunderbolts thrown by the gods, goodbye! Othello’s career is over.
IAGO
Is ’t possible, my lord?
IAGO
Is this possible, my lord?
OTHELLO
Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore,
OTHELLO
370 Be sure of it. Give me the ocular proof Or by the worth of mine eternal soul
Thou hadst been better have been born a dog Than answer my waked wrath!
wife’s a whore! Be sure of it. Get me proof I can see. If you can’t, trust me, you won’t want to feel my rage!