The World is an Apple by Alberto MARIO: I dont have it.

S. Florentino GLORIA : What? I waited for you the whole

GLORIA: (Calls from inside) Mario! Is that day and you tell me..
you, Mario? MARIO:(Angry)- that I have nothing! Nothing!
MARIO: Yes What do you want me to do-
GLORIA: (A small woman about Marios age, steal?
with long hair, comes out wiping her hands GLORIA: Im not asking you to do a thing like
on her dress.) that! All I want to know is
Im glad youre home early. what you did with your money.
MARIO: How is Tita? MARIO: (Sits on the bench)-Nothing is left of
(Without waiting for an answer, he enters the it.
dwelling).
GLORIA: (Crosses to the bench)- GLORIA: Nothing? What happened?
Dont wake her up, Mario. Shes tired. She MARIO: Oh, I had a few drinks with my
cried the whole day. friends. Before I knew it, I had
MARIO: (reappears and crosses to the bench spent every centavo of it.
and sits on one end) Has she GLORIA: (Eyeing him intently)-Mario, do you
been eating well? think you can make a fool of
GLORIA: She wouldnt eat even a mouthful of me? Havent I seen you drunk before:
lugao. But Ill crawling home like
buy her some biscuits. Maybe shell eat a wounded snake and reeking of alcohol like
them. (She slips her fingers a hospital? You dont
into his breast pocket) Ill take some of the smell or look drunk.
Money! MARIO: All right, so I didnt go drinking.
MARIO: (Rises, annoyed) GLORIA: But your pay- what happened to it?
Gloria! Cant you wait a minute? MARIO: Its better if you dont know, Gloria
GLORIA:(Taken aback)- GLORIA: Look, Mario Im your wife. I have the
Hey, whats the matter? Why are you right to half of everything
suddenly so touchy? you get. If I cant have my share, I have the
MARIO: Who wouldnt be? Im talking to you right to know at least
about the where it went!
child and you bother me by ransacking my MARIO: All right.(Rises.) I spent it all on
pockets I wish youd think more of our another woman.
daughter. GLORIA: Another woman? I dont believe it. I
GLORIA: (Crosses at the Center) know you wouldnt do such
My God! Wasnt I thinking of her? Why do thing.
you think I need some MARIO: I didnt know you had so much faith
money? To buy me a pretty dress? Or see a in me.
movie? GLORIA: No, Mario, what I mean is- you
MARIO: Tone down your voice. Youll wake wouldnt spend all
the child up. your money when you know your daughter
GLORIA: (Low but intense) may need some of it. You
All I want is a little money to buy her love her too much to do that.
something to eat!!She hasnt (Mario sits down and buries his head in his
eaten anything all day! That was why I was hands. Gloria crosses to him and lays a hand
bothering you! on his shoulder.)
MARIO: (Repentant)- Im sorry, Gloria GLORIA: Whats wrong, Mario?
(Grips her arm) MARIO: (Turns his face away)- Nothing,
GLORIA: Its all right, Mario. Now, may I have Gloria, nothing.
some of the money? GLORIA: (Sits beside him) I know something
MARIO: (Turns to her)-Money? I dont have is wrong,
any not now. Mario. I can feel it. Tell me what it is.
GLORIA: Today is payday, Mario. MARIO: (Stares at the ground) Gloria, Ive
MARIO: Yes but lost my job.
GLORIA: But what? Wheres your pay for the GLORIA: (Rises, shocked) Oh, No!
week? MARIO: (Looks up at her)Its true, Gloria
GLORIA: What about your pay for the whole centavos. What I
week? did was buy her one of those small green
MARIO: I lost my job a week ago. apples they sell on the
GLORIA: And you never even told me! sidewalk, but she just threw it away, saying it
MARIO: I thought I could get another, without was not a real apple.
making you worry. Then she cried. (Pause.)So when I saw this
GLORIA: Do you think you can get another in apple roll out of the
five months? It broken crate, I thought that Tita would love
took you that long to get the last one. to have it.
MARIO: It wont take me as long to get GLORIA: You should have tried to bring home
another. pan-de-sal, or rice, or milk-
GLORIA: But how did you lose it? Mario! Have and not those delicious apples. Were not
your sinful rich. We can live without
fingers brought you trouble again? apples!
MARIO: Now, now, Gloria! Dont try to accuse MARIO: Why? Did God create apple trees to
me, as they did! bear fruit for rich alone? Didnt
GLORIA: What did they accuse you of? He create the whole world for everyone?
MARIO: Just what you meant to say, Pilfering, Thats why I tried to bring the
they call it. apple home for Tita. When we brought her
GLORIA: What else would you call it? into this world we sort of
(Pause.)What , according to them, promised her everything she had a right to
did you steal? have in life.
MARIO: (Low) It was nothing much, really GLORIA : So, for a measly apple, you lost a
nothing at all. job .
GLORIA: What was it? MARIO: I wouldnt mind losing a thousand
MARIO: It was an apple. jobs for an apple for my
GLORIA: An apple! You mean- daughter!
MARIO: An apple! Dont you know what an GLORIA: Where was this apple? Did you bring
apple is? it home to Tita?
GLORIA: You mean, you took one apple. (Crosses to the bench to get the lunch bag)
MARIO: Yes, and they kicked me out for it: for MARIO: No, they kept it-as evidence. (Sits
taking one , single apple. down.)
Not a dozen, not a crate. GLORIA: See? You lost your job trying to filch
GLORIA: Thats what you get an apple
MARIO: (Sits down ) -Could I have guessed and you even lost the apple for which you
they would lost your job.
do that for one apple? When there were (Gloria puts away the shoes and the lunch
millions of them?(Pause.) We bag. She sits on the steps and they remain
were hauling them to the warehouse. I saw silent for a time.)
one roll out of a broken GLORIA: (Rising)-Filching an apple thats too
crate. It was that big. Suddenly, I found small a reason to kick a poor
myself putting it in my lunch man out of work. You should ask them to
bag. give you a second chance,
GLORIA- Thats the trouble with you; when Mario.
you think of your own stomach, MARIO: They wont do that.
you think of nothing else! GLORIA: Why not?
MARIO: (Rise)- I was not thinking of myself! MARIO: (Rises) Can.t you see they had been
GLORIA: Whom were you thinking of- me? waiting for
Did I ever ask for apples? me to make a slip like that? Theyve wanted
MARIO: Yes, she did. (pause.) Do you to throw me out for any
remember that day I took her out for reason, so that they may bring their own
a walk? On our way home we passed a men in.
grocery store that sold GLORIA: You should complain.
delicious apples at seventy centavos each. MARIO: If I did? They would dig up my police
She wanted me to buy record.
one for her, but I did not have seventy
GLORIA: (Crosses to him)- But, Mario that Suddenly confused, he sits
was so long on the steps. Gloria sits beside him and plays
ago! Why would they try to dig that thing up? with his hands.)
MARIO: Theyll do anything to keep me out .
(Holds her arm.) But dont GLORIA: Mother was wrong. You know, before
worry, Ill find another job. It isnt really so we got married, she used to
hard to look for a job tell me:Gloria, youll commit the greatest
nowadays. (From this point he avoids her mistake of your life if you
eyes). You know Ive been marry that good-for-nothing loafer!
job hunting for a week now, and I think I Oh, I wish she were alive now, She would
have found a good job. have seen how much
GLORIA: There you go, lying again. youve changed.
MARIO: Believe me, Im not lying this time. (She sees someone behind the tree: Pablo.
GLORIA:(Crosses to the center)- -Youre He has been watching them for a time. He is
always lying- I older than Mario, sinister-looking, and well
cant tell when youre telling the truth or not. dressed.)
MARIO: In fact Ill see someone tonight who PABLO: (Sarcastic)-Hmmmmmm How
knows of a company that romantic
needs a night watchman. MARIO: Pablo!
GLORIA: (Holds his arm) Honest? (Suddenly unnerved, Mario starts to fidget.
MARIO: (Avoids her eyes) Honest! (Sits Gloria rises and walks to the center, her eyes
down.) burning with hate. Pablo lights a cigarette,
GLORIA: I knew God wouldnt let us down. He never taking his eyes burning with hate.
never lets anybody down. Ill Pablo lights a cigarette, never taking his eyes
pray tonight and ask Him to let you have that off her.)
job. PABLO: Youre not glad to see me, are you?
(Looks at Mario) (Puts a foot on the bench.)
But, Mario would it mean that youd have to GLORIA: (Angry)- What are you doing here?
stay out all night? What do you want?
MARIO: That would be all right. I can always PABLO: Saaaay! Is that the right way to
sleep during the day. receive a friend who has come a
GLORIA: (Brushes against him like a cat)- visiting?
What I mean is, it will be GLORIA: We dont care for your visits!
Different when you arent by my side at PABLO: You havent changed a bit, Gloria
night. (Walks away from not a bit.
him.) But, oh, I think Ill get used to it. GLORIA : Neither have you, I can see!
(Crosses to the center and PABLO: Youre still that same woman who
turns around.) Why dont you go and see this cursed me to hell because I
friend of yours right happened to be Marios friend long before
now? Anyway you dont have anything to do you met him. Time has
tonight. Dont you think not made you any kinder to me. You still hate
its wise to see him as early as you can? me, dont you?
MARIO:(After a pause)-Yes, I think Ill do that. GLORIA: Yes! And I wish youd stay away
(Gloria crosses to the steps to get his shoes, from us for the rest of our lives!
followed by Mario.) PABLO: Am I not staying away from you?
GLORIA: (Hands him the shoes.)- GLORIA: Then why are you here?
Here, Mario, put these on and go Ill step up PABLO: God! May I not even come to see you
and wait for you. now and then, to see if life
(Sits on the steps and watches him.) has been kind to you? How are you getting
MARIO: (Putting on the shoes)- along?
No, Gloria, you must not wait for me. I may GLORIA: (Scornfully) We were doing well until
be back quite late. you showed up!
GLORIA: All right, But doubt if i can sleep a PABLO: Your daughter- she was only that high
wink until you return. when I saw her last-how is
(Gloria comes up to him after he finishes and she?
tries to hug him, but he pushes her away). GLORIA: Shes all right!
PABLO: Oh! and I thought she had not been now! We have gone this far
very well. and we can go on living without your help!
GLORIA: (Suspicious)How did you know? (To PABLO: ( Sarcastic) You call this living? This,
Mario). Did you tell him? Gloria is what you call dying-
MARIO: I how could I? I havent seen him dying slowly-minute by minute.(Laughs.)
in a long time (Sits down.) MARIO: (Crosses to him and shakes him)-
until now of course. Pablo, stop
PABLO: What? is she sick with? it! (Pablo stops). You shouldnt have
GLORIA: (Curtly)- We dont know! come.PABLO: I got tired waiting for you!
PABLO: Dont you think you should take her GLORIA: So you have been seeing each
to a doctor? (Puts his other! I was afraid so!PABLO :He came to the
foot down and pulls out his wallet). Here, Ill house yesterday.MARIO: Pablo, dontPABLO:
loan you a few (Ignoring Mario) He said he would be back
pesos. It may help your daughter to get well. this noon. But he didnt
GLORIA: (Scornfully)- We need it all right-but show up. I came because I was afraid his
no, thank you conscience was bothering
PABLO: Why dont you take it! him.MARIO- Pablo, I told you she should not
GLORIA: Paying you back will only mean know!PABLO: Its all right, Mario. Youd better
seeing your face again. tell her everything. Shes bound to
PABLO: Well, if you hate my face so much, know later. Tell her what you told me: that
you dont have to pay me back. you no longer believe in
Take it as a gift. the way she wanted you to live. Tell her.
GLORIA: The more reason I should refuse it! (Mario turns his back on them.)GLORIA:
PABLO: All right, if thats how you want it.- Mario is this what you meant by another
(Sits down and plays with the jobMARIO: Gloria youyou must try to
wallet.)GLORIA: Mario has stopped understand I tried but I couldnot left us
depending on you, since the day I took him out of this kind of lifeGLORIA:(shouts at
away from your clutches!I have no Pablo)- Youre to blame for this, you son-of-
regrets.PABLO: How about Mario? Has he no devil!PABLO: He came to
regrets either?GLORIA: He has none.PABLO: mefirstGLORIA:When you know hell cling to
How can you be so sure? When he and I were anything and do anything! Evenreturn to the
pals we could go to life he hates!Get out!PABLO: Ill leave-just as
first-class air-conditioned movie houses soon as Mario is ready to go.GLORIA: Hes
every other day. Ill bet all the not going with you!PABLO: Is that so! Why
money I have here now (brandishing his dont you ask him?- (sits on the bench,
wallet) that he has not been grinning.)GLORIA: ( to Mario)-Youre not going
to one since you liberated him from me. with him, are you, Mario? Tell him to
And that was almost four leave us and never come back! Tell him to
years ago.GLORIA: One cannot expect too go, please, Mario I know
much from honest money- and we dont. he has talked to you and tried to poison your
PABLO: (Rises and walks about) What is mind again but dont
honest money? Does it look better go with him.MARIO:(Holds her) Gloria, I
than dishonest money? Does it buy more? PABLO : Dont worry about him, Gloria. Hes
honesty? What is it? safe with me.MARIO: ( Pulls her away)- You
Dressing like that? Staying in this dungeon stay there, Pablo, Ill be with you in a
you call a house? Is that minute.MARIO:-Gloria, Im going with
what you call honesty?MARIO: (Rises)- him.GLORIA: Dont Mario, dontMARIO: You
Pablo! cant make me stop now, Ive thought about
PABLO: See what happened to your daughter. this since last week.GLORIA- No, no Mario, no
That is what honesty has (Holds fast to him.)MARIO: You take good
done to her. And how can honesty help her care of yourself and our child. Ill take good
now? Shes not sick and care of
needs: food. Good food. myself. Dont wait up for me. Ill come home
MARIO: : I know you have come to lead him very late.
back to your dishonest ways, (Mario walks away with Pablo. Gloria stares
but you cant. He wont listen to you now at them, then she shouts.)GLORIA-
MARIOOOOOOOOOO! decorated with capers, olives, and carrots.
(She covers her face with her dress and cries Ahineev gazed at the sturgeon and gasped.
into it. The daughter,from inside, joins her His face beamed, he turned his eyes up. He
crying as the curtain closes.) bent down and with his lips emitted the
A Slander sound of an ungreased wheel. After standing
by Anton Chekhov a moment he snapped his fingers with
(1860-1904) delight and once more smacked his lips.
"Ah-ah! the sound of a passionate kiss....
Serge Kapitonich Ahineev, the writing Who is it you're kissing out there, little
master, was marrying his daughter to the Marfa?" came a voice from the next room,
teacher of history and geography. The and in the doorway there appeared the
wedding festivities were going off most cropped head of the assistant usher, Vankin.
successfully. In the drawing room there was "Who is it? A-a-h!... Delighted to meet you!
singing, playing, and dancing. Waiters hired Sergei Kapitonich! You're a fine grandfather, I
from the club were flitting distractedly about must say! Tte--tte with the fair sex--
the rooms, dressed in black swallow-tails and tette!""I'm not kissing," said Ahineev in
dirty white ties. There was a continual confusion. "Who told you so, you fool? I was
hubbub and din of conversation. Sitting side only... I smacked my lips... in reference to...
by side on the sofa, the teacher of as an indication of. . . pleasure... at the sight
mathematics, Tarantulov, the French teacher, of the fish.""Tell that to the marines!" The
Pasdequoi, and the junior assessor of taxes, intrusive face vanished, wearing a broad
Mzda, were talking hurriedly and interrupting grin.Ahineev flushed."Hang it!" he thought,
one another as they described to the guests "the beast will go now and talk scandal. He'll
cases of persons being buried alive, and disgrace me to all the town, the
gave their opinions on spiritualism. None of brute."Ahineev went timidly into the
them believed in spiritualism, but all drawing-room and looked stealthily round for
admitted that there were many things in this Vankin. Vankinwas standing by the piano,
world which would always be beyond the and, bending down with a jaunty air, was
mind of man. In the next room the literature whispering something to the inspector's
master, Dodonsky, was explaining to the sister-in-law, who was laughing."Talking
visitors the cases in which a sentry has the about me!" thought Ahineev. "About me,
right to fire on passers-by. The subjects, as blast him! And she believes it... believes it!
you perceive, were alarming, but very She laughs! Mercy on us! No, I can't let it
agreeable. Persons whose social position pass... I can't. I must do something to
precluded them from entering were looking prevent his being believed.... I'll speak to
in at the windows from the yard. them all, and he'll be shown up for a fool and
Just at midnight the master of the house a gossip."Ahineev scratched his head, and
went into the kitchen to see whether still overcome with embarrassment, went up
everything was ready for supper. The kitchen to Pasdequoi."I've just been in the kitchen to
from floor to ceiling was filled with fumes see after the supper," he said to the
composed of goose, duck, and many other Frenchman. "I know you are fond of fish, and
odours. On two tables the accessories, the I've a sturgeon, my dear fellow, beyond
drinks and light refreshments, were set out in everything! A yard and a half long! Ha, ha,
artistic disorder. The cook, Marfa, a red-faced ha! And, by the way... I was just forgetting....
woman whose figure was like a barrel with a In the kitchen just now, with that sturgeon...
belt around it, was bustling about the tables. quite a little story! I went into the kitchen
"Show me the sturgeon, Marfa," said just now and wanted to look at the supper
Ahineev, rubbing his hands and licking his dishes. I looked at the sturgeon and I
lips. "What a perfume! I could eat up the smacked my lips with relish... at the
whole kitchen. Come, show me the piquancy of it. And at the very moment that
sturgeon." fool Vankin came in and said:... 'Ha, ha, ha!...
Marfa went up to one of the benches and So you're kissing here!' Kissing Marfa, the
cautiously lifted a piece of greasy newspaper. cook! What a thing to imagine, silly fool! The
Under the paper on an immense dish there woman is a perfect fright, like all the beasts
reposed a huge sturgeon, masked in jelly and put together, and he talks about kissing!
Queer fish!""Who's a queer fish?" asked
Tarantulov, coming up."Why he, over there -- so pensive about? Brooding over your
Vankin! I went into the kitchen... "And he told amours? Pining for your Marfa? I know all
the story of Vankin. ". . . He amused me, about it, Mohammedan! Kind friends have
queer fish! I'd rather kiss a dog than Marfa, if opened my eyes! O-o-o!... you savage!"And
you ask me," added Ahineev. He looked she slapped him in the face. He got up from
round and saw behind him Mzda."We were the table, not feeling the earth under his
talking of Vankin," he said. "Queer fish, he is! feet, and without his hat or coat, made his
He went into the kitchen, saw me beside way to Vankin. He found him at home."You
Marfa, and began inventing all sorts of silly scoundrel!" he addressed him. "Why have
stories. 'Why are you kissing?' he says. He you covered me with mud before all the
must have had a drop too much. 'And I'd town? Why did you set this slander going
rather kiss a turkeycock than Marfa,' I said, about me?""What slander? What are you
'And I've a wife of my own, you fool,' said I. talking about?""Who was it gossiped of my
He did amuse me!""Who amused you?" kissing Marfa? Wasn't it you? Tell me that.
asked the priest who taught Scripture in the Wasn't it you, you brigand?"Vankin blinked
school, going up to Ahineev."Vankin. I was and twitched in every fibre of his battered
standing in the kitchen, you know, looking at countenance, raised his eyes to the icon and
the sturgeon.... "And so on. Within half an articulated, "God blast me! Strike me blind
hour or so all the guests knew the incident of and lay me out, if I said a single word about
the sturgeon and Vankin."Let him tell away you! May I be left without house and home,
now!" thought Ahineev, rubbing his hands. may I be stricken with worse than
"Let him! He'll begin telling his story and cholera!"Vankin's sincerity did not admit of
they'll say to him at once, 'Enough of your doubt. It was evidently not he who was the
improbable nonsense, you fool, we know all author of the slander."But who, then, who?"
about it!' "And Ahineev was so relieved that Ahineev wondered, going over all his
in his joy he drank four glasses too many. acquaintances in his mind and beating
After escorting the young people to their himself on the breast. "Who, then?" Who,
room, he went to bed and slept like an then? We, too, ask the reader.
innocent babe, and next day he thought no The Dog Eaters ( Leoncio P. Deriada)
more of the incident with the sturgeon. But, Mariana looked out of the window toward the
alas! man proposes, but God disposes. An other side of Artiaga Street. A group of men
evil tongue did its evil work, and Ahineev's had gathered around a low table in front of
strategy was of no avail. Just a week later -- Sergio's sari-sari store. It was ten o'clock,
to be precise, on Wednesday after the third Tuesday morning. Yet these men did not find
lesson -- when Ahineev was standing in the it too early to drink, and worse. They wanted
middle of the teacher's room, holding forth her husband to be with them. Victor was now
on the vicious propensities of a boy called reaching for his shirt hooked on the wall
Visekin, the head master went up to him and between Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos.
drew him aside:"Look here, Sergei Mariana turned to him, her eyes wild in
Kapitonich," said the head master, "you must repulsion and anger.
excuse me.... It's not my business; but all the "Those filthy men!" she snarled. "Whose dog
same I must make you realize.... It's my duty. did they slaughter today?"
You see, there are rumors that you are Victor did not answer. He put on his shirt.
romancing with that... cook.... It's nothing to Presently, he crawled on the floor and
do with me, but... flirt with her, kiss her... as searched for his slippers under the table.
you please, but don't let it be so public, Mariana watched him strain his body toward
please. I entreat you! Don't forget that you're the wall, among the rattan tools. He looked
a schoolmaster."Ahineev turned cold and like a dog tracking the smell hidden carrion.
faint. He went home like a man stung by a "My God, Victor, do you have to join them
wholeswarm of bees, like a man scalded with every time they stew somebody's pet?"
boiling water. As he walked home, it seemed Victor found his slippers. He emerged from
to him that the whole town was looking at under the table, smoothed his pants and
him as though he were smeared with pitch. unbutton his shirt. He was sweating. He
At home fresh trouble awaited him."Why looked at his wife and smiled faintly, the
aren't you gobbling up your food as usual?" expression sarcastic, and in an attempt to be
his wife asked him at dinner. "What are you funny, "it's barbecue today."
"I'm not in the mood for jokes!" Mariana "Why don't you do something instead of
raised her voice. "It's time you stop going drinking their stinking tuba and eating that
with those good-for-nothing scavengers." filthy meat? Why don't you decent for a
change?"
Her words stung. For now she noted an angry Victor turned her off. It seemed he was also
glint in Victor's eyes. "They are my friends, ready for a fight. The glint in his eyes had
Mariana," he said. become sinister.
"You should have married one of them!" she And what's so indecent about eating dog
snapped back. Suddenly, she straightened. meat?" His voice sounded canine, too, like
She heard Sergio's raspy voice, calling from Sergio's. "The people of Artiaga Street have
his store across the street. It was an ugly been eating dog meat for as long as I can
voice, and it pronounced Victor's name in a remember."
triumphant imitation of a dog's bark. "No wonder their manners have gone to the
"Victor! Victor! Aw! Aw!" the canine growl dogs!"
floated across Artiaga Street. Mariana glared "You married one of them."
at her husband as he brushed her aside on "Yes, to lead a dog's life!"
his way to the window. She felt like clawing Victor stepped closer, breathing hard. Marina
his face, biting his arms, ripping the smelly did not move. "What's eating you?" he
shirt off his back. "I'm coming," Victor demanded.
answered, leaning out of the window. "What's eating me?" she yelled. "Dog's! I'm
Mariana opened her mouth for harsher ready to say aw-aw, don't you know?"
invectives but a sharp cry from the bedroom Victor repaired his face, amused by this type
arrested her. It was her baby. She rushed to of quarrel. Again, he tried to be funny.
the table, pick a cold bottle of milk, and "Come, come, Mariana darling," he said,
entered. smiling condescendingly.
In his rattan crib that looked like a rat's nest, Mariana was not amused. She was all set
the baby cried louder. Mariana shook the crib to proceed with the fight. Now she tried to be
vehemently. The baby - all mouth and all legs acidly ironic.
- thrust in awkward arms into the air, blindly Shall I slaughter Ramir for you? That pet of
searching for accustomed nipple. yours does nothing but bark at strangers and
The baby sucked the rubber nipple easily. But dirty the doorstep. Perhaps you can invite
Mariana's mind was outside the room as she your friends tonight. Lets celebrate.
watched her husband lean out of the window Leave Ramir alone, Victor said, seriously.
to answer the invitation of the dog-eaters of That dog is enslaving me!
Artiaga Street. Victor turned to the door. It was the final
"Aren't you inviting your wife?" she spoke insult, Mariana thought. The bastard! How
loud, the hostility in her voice unchecked by dare he turn his back on her?
the dirty plywood wall. "Perhaps your friends Punyeta! she screeched and flung the
have reserved the best morsel for me. Which bottle at her husband. Instinctively, Victor
is the most delicious part of a dog, ha, turned and parried the object with his arm.
Victor? Its heart? Its liver? Its brain? Blood? The bottle fell to the floor but did not break.
Bone? Ears? Tongue? Tail? I wish to God you'd It rolled noisily under the table where Victor
all die of hydrophobia!" moment had hunted for his rubber slippers.
"Can you feed the baby and talk at the same He looked at her, but there was no reaction
time?" Victor said. She did not expect him to in his face. Perhaps he thought it was all a
answer and now that he had, she felt angrier. joke. He opened the door and stepped out
The heat from the unceilinged roof had into the street.
become terrible and it had all seeped into Mariana ran to the door and banged it once,
her head. She was ready for a fight. twice, thrice, all the while shrieking, Go! Eat
The baby had gone back to sleep. Mariana and drink until your tongue hangs like a mad
dashed out of the room, her right hand tight dogs. Then Ill call a veterinarian.
around the empty bottle. She had to have a Loud after came across the street.
weapon. She came upon her husband Mariana leaned out of the window and
opening the door to little porch. The porch shouted to the men gathered in front of
was at the top of the stairs that led out into Sergios store.
Artiaga Street. Why dont you leave my husband alone?
You dogs! quarreled with the manager. An uncle
The men laughed louder, obscenely. Their working in a construction company found
voices offended the ears just as the stench him a new job. But he showed up only when
from the garbage dump at the Artiaga-Mabini the man did not report for work. These last
junction offended the nostrils. There were few days, not one of the carpenters got sick.
five other men aside from the chief drinker, So Victor had to stay home.
Sergio. Downing a gallon of tuba at ten Mariana felt a stirring in her womb. She felt
oclock in the morning with of Artiagas idle her belly with both hands. Her tight faded
men was his idea of brotherhood. It was good dress could not quite conceal this most
for his store, he thought, though his wife unwanted pregnancy. The baby in the crib in
languish behind the row of glass jars and the other room was only eight months, and
open cartons of dried fish the poor woman here she was - carrying another child. She
deep in notebooks of unpaid bills the closed her eyes and pressed her belly hard.
neighbors had accumulated these last two She felt the uncomfortable swell, and in a
years. moment, she had ridiculous thought. What if
Mariana closed the window. The slight she bore a pair or a trio of puppies? She
darkening of the room intensified the heat on imagined herself as a dog, a spent bitch with
the roof and in her head. She pulled a stool hind legs spread out obscenely as her litter
and sat beside the sewing machine under of three, or four, or five, fought for her tits
the huge pictures of Nora Aunor and Vilma while the mongrel who was responsible for
Santos, under the altar-like alcove on the all this misery flirted with the other dogs of
wall where a transistor radio was enshrined the neighborhood.
like an idol. A dog barked. Mariana was startled. It was
She felt tired. Once again, her eyes surveyed Ramir. His chain clanked and she could
the room with repulsion. She had stayed in picture the dog going up the stairs, his lethal
this rented house for two years, tried to fangs bared in terrible growl.
paste pictures on the wall, hung up classic Ay, ay, Mariana! a familiar, nervous voice
curtains that could not completely ward off rose from the din. Your dog! Hell bite me.
the stink from the street. Instead of cheering Shoo! Shoo!
up the house, they made it sadder, It was Aling Elpidia, the fish and vegetable
emphasizing the lack of the things she had vendor.
dreamed of having when she eloped with Stay away from the beast, Aling Elpidia!
Victor two years ago. Mariana shouted. She opened the door. Aling
Victor was quite attractive. When he was Elpidia was in the little yard, her hands
teen-ager, he was a member of the nervously holding her basket close to her like
Gregory Body Building Club on Cortes Street. a shield. Ramir was at the bottom of the
He dropped out of freshmen year at stairs, straining at his chain, barking at the
Harvadian and instead developed his chest old woman.
and biceps at the club. His was to be Mr. Mariana pulled the chain. The dog resisted.
Philippines, until one day, Gregory cancelled But soon he relaxed and stopped barking. He
his membership. Big Boss Gregory - who was ran upstairs, encircled Mariana once, and
not interested in girls but in club members then sniffed her hands.
with the proportions of Mr. Philippines had Come on up, Aling Elpidia. Dont be afraid.
discovered that Victor was dating a Im holding Ramirs leash.
manicurist named Fely. The old woman rushed upstairs, still
Victor found work as a bouncer at Three shielding herself with her basket of fish and
Diamonds, a candlelit bar at the end of vegetables.
Artiaga, near Jacinto Street. All Naku, Mariana. Why do you keep that crazy
the hostesses there were Felys customers. dog at the door? Hell bite a kilo off every
Mariana, who came from a better visitor. The last time I was here I almost had
neighborhood, was a third year BSE student a heart attack.
at Rizal Memorial Colleges. They eloped Thats Victors idea of a house guard. Come,
during the second semester, the very week sit down.
Fey drowned in the pool behind Three Aling Elpidia dragged a stool to the window.
Diamonds. Just as Mariana grew heavy with a Why, Im still trembling! she said. Why
child, Victor lost his job at the bar. He must you close the window, Mariana?
Mariana opened the window. Those horrible the bottle beside a plastic tumbler that
men across the street, I cant stand their contained spoon and forks. She pulled a stool
noise. from beneath the table and sat down. Soon
Wheres Victor? Mariana was beside her.
There! Mariana said contemptuously. With Is it effective? Mariana asked nervously.
them. The old woman looked out of the Very effective. Come on let me touch
window. you.Mariana stood directly in front of the old
He is one of them! woman, her belly her belly almost touching
One of what? the vendors face. Aling Elpidia felt Marianas
The dog-eaters of Artiaga Street! Mariana belly with both hands.
spat out the words, her eyes wild in anger. Three months did you say, Mariana?
Aling Elpidia sat down again. What is so Three months and two weeks.
terrible about that? she asked. Are you sure you dont want this child?
Mariana looked at the old woman. For the Aling Elpidia asked one hand flat on
first time she noticed that Aling Elpidia had Marianas belly. It feels so healthy.
been dying her hair. But the growth of hair I dont want another child, Mariana said.
this week had betrayed her. And to stress the finality of her decision, she
Do you eat dog meat, Aling Elpidia? grabbed the bottle and stepped away from
Mariana asked. the old woman. The bottle looked like
Its better than goats meat: And a dog is atrophy in her hand.
definitely cleaner than a pig. With the price Well, its your decision, Aling Elpidia said
of pork and beef as high as Mount Apo one airily. The bottle is yours.
would rather eat dog meat. Hows the baby? Is it bitter?
Asleep Yes.
Aling Elpidia picked up her basket from the Mariana squirmed. How shall I take this?
floor. Heres your days supply of A spoonful before you sleeps in the evening
vegetables. I also brought some bangus. and another spoonful after breakfast.
Cook Victor a pot of sinigang and hell forget May I take it with a glass of milk or a bottle
the most delicious chunk of aw-aw meat. Go, of coke?
get a basket. No. You must take it pure.
Mariana went to the kitchen to get a basket Its not dangerous, is it, Aling Elpidia?
as Aling Elpidia busied herself sorting out the Dont you worry. It is bitter but it is
vegetables. harmless. It will appear as an accident. Like
I hope you havent forgotten the green falling down the stairs. Moreover, there will
mangoes and and that thing you promised be less pain and blood.
me, Mariana said, laying her basket on the Please come everyday. Things might go
floor. wrong.
I brought all of them, assured the old Aling Elpidia nodded and stood up. I think I
woman. She began transferring the must go now, she said. Then she lowered
vegetables and fish into Marianas basket. her voice and asked, Do you have the
Mariana helped her. money?
I havent told Victor anything, Mariana said Yes, yes, Mariana said. She went to the
in a low, confidential tone. sewing machine and opened a drawer. She
He does not have to know, Aling Elpidia handed Aling Epidia some crumpled bills.
said. The vendor counted the bills expertly, and
The old woman produced from the bottom of then dropped the little bundle into her
the basket a tall bottle filled with a dark breast. She picked up her basket and walked
liquid and some leaves and tiny, gnarled to the door. Suddenly she stopped. Your
roots. She held the bottle against the light. dog, Mariana. Her voice became nervous
Mariana regarded it with interest and horror. again.
Im afraid, Aling Elpidia, she whispered. Mariana held Ramirs leash as the old woman
Nonsense. Go, take these vegetables to the hurried down the stairs. You may start
kitchen. taking it tonight. It was her last piece of
Mariana sped to the kitchen. Aling Elpidia medical advice. Loud laughter rose from the
moved to the table, pushed the dish rack store across the street. Mariana stiffened.
that held some five or six tin plates, and set Her anger returned. Then her baby cried.
She hurried to the bedroom. The tall bottle Be reasonable.
looked grotesque on the table: tiny, gnarled You are not reasonable. You never tried to
roots seemed to twist like worms or please me. You would rather be with your
miniature umbilical cords. With a shudder, stinking friends and drink their dirty wine
she glanced at the bottle. The sharp cry and eat their dirty meat. Oh, how I hate it,
became louder. Mariana rushed inside and Victor!
discovered that the baby had wetted its What do you want me to do stay here and
clothes. boil the babys milk?
She heard somebody coming up the stairs. It I wish you would!
must be Victor. Ramir did not bark. Thats your job. Youre a woman.
Mariana! Victor called out. Mariana! Oh, how are you admire yourself for being a
Quiet! she shouted back. The babys man, Mariana sneered in utter sarcasm.
going back to sleep. You miserable-
The house had become hotter. Mariana went Dont yell. You wake up the baby.
out of the bedroom, ready to resume the To hell with your baby!
unfinished quarrel. Victor was now in the You are mad, Mariana.
room, sweating and red-eyed. He had taken And so Im mad. Im mad because I dont
off his shirt and his muscular body glistened eat dog meat. Im mad because I want my
wit animal attractiveness. But now Mariana husband to make a man of himself, Im mad
was in a different type of heat. because
I met that old witch Elpidia, Victor said, Stop it!
What did she bring you today? Punyeta!
The same things. Vegetables. Some fish. Relax, Mariana. You are excited. Thats not
Fish! Again? good for you. I want my second baby
You are drunk! Im not drunk. Come healthy.
Mariana dear. Let me hold you. There will be no second baby.
Dont touch me! she screamed. You What do you mean?
stink! You met Aling Elpidia on your way.
Victor moved back, offended. I dont stink And what did that witch do? Curse my baby?
and Im not drunk. Is a vampire?
Mariana stepped closer to her husband. He She came to help me.
smelled of cheap pomade, onions, and Mariana went to the table and snatched the
vinegar. bottle. She held high in Victors face. See
Do you have to be like this all the time? this, Victor? she taunted him. Victor was not
Quarreling every day? Why dont you get a interested. You dont want me to drink tuba,
steady job like any decent husband? You and here you are with a bottle of sioktong.
would be out the whole day, and perhaps, I How dull you are! her lips twisted in
would miss you. derision. See those leaves? See those roots?
You dont have to complain, Victor said They are very potent, Victor.
roughly. True, my work is not permanent but I dont understand.
I think we have enough. We are not starving, One spoonful in the morning and one
are we? spoonful in the evening. Its bitter, Victor, but
You call this enough? her hands I will bear it. Like a retarded, Victor stared at
gesticulated madly. You call this rats nest, his wife. Then the truth dawned upon him
this hell of a neighborhood enough? You and exclaimed in horror, What? What? My
call these tin plates, this plastic curtains baby! Mariana faced her husband squarely.
enough? This is not the type of life I expect. I Yes! And Im not afraid! she jeered.
should have continued school. You fooled You wont do it.
me! Im not afraid.
I thought you understood. I- Give me that bottle.
No, no I didnt understand. And still I dont No!
understand why you you What kind of woman are you?
Lets not quarrel, Victor said abruptly. I And what kind of man are you?
dont want to quarrel with you. Its my baby!
But I want to quarrel with you! Mariana Its mine. I have the right to dispose of it, I
shouted. dont want another child.
Why, Mariana, why? You are unnatural. You dont act like a
Because you cannot afford it! What would mother, you want to kill your own child.
you feed your another child, ha, Victor? Tuba Its my own child.
milk? Dog meat for rice? Its murder!
We shall manage, Mariana. Everything will Nobody will know.
be all right. I will know. You will know. And God and
Sure, sure, everything will be all right for God will know!
you. I dont believe in that anymore. Ahhh! Mariana sneered sontemptuously.
Give me that bottle! Now whos talking? When was the last time
No! you went to church, ha Victor? That was the
They grappled for a moment. Mariana fought time the Legion of Mary brought us to Fatima
like an untamed animal. At last Victor took Church to be married and you fought with
hold the bottle. He pushed his wife against the priest in the confessional. And now here
the wall and ran to the window, his right you are mentioning Gods name to me.
hand holding the bottle above his head. Please, please, Mariana, Victor was
And like a man possessed, he hurled the begging now. Thats our child!
bottle out f the window. The crash of the I told you I didnt want another child. You
glass against the gravel on the road broke that bottle but Ill look for other
rendered Mariana speechless. But she means. Ill starve myself. Ill jump out of the
recovered. She dashed to the window and window. Ill fall down the stairs.
gave out almost inhuman scream at what Mariana!
she saw. The bottle was broken into You cannot afford to buy pills or hire a
countless splinters and the dark liquid doctor.
stained the dry gravel street. Bits of leaves I want a child.
and roots stuck to the dust. Presently, a dog You men can talk because you dont have to
came along and sniffed the wet ground bear the children. You coward!
suspiciously, then left with his tail between Victor raised his hand to strike her. Mariana
his legs. offered her face, daring him to complete his
Mariana screamed again in horror and own humiliation. Victor dropped his hand. He
frustration. In the glare of the late morning was lost, totally unmanned.
sun she had a momentary image of the men A bit of his male vanity stirred inside him. He
now faceless and voiceless in front of the raised his hand again, but Mariana was quick
store across the street. This time they did not with the nearest weapon. She seized a stool
laugh, but they watched her from certain with both hands, and with the strength all
blankness. She turned to her husband and her arms could muster, throws the stool at
flung herself at him, raising her arms, her him. Victor caught the object with his strong
fingers poised like claws. She scratched his shoulder. The stool dropped to the floor as
face and pounded his chest with her fists. Mariana made ready with another weapon, a
Damn you! Damn you! she shrieked in fury. vase of plastic flowers.
Victor caught her arms and shook her. Stop Go away from me! Get out! Get out!
it, Mariana! he mumbled under his breath. Victor went out of the room. Mariana was left
Let me go! You are hurting me! panting, giving vent to her anger by pulling
Behave you woman! Victor shook her down the plastic curtains and the printed
harder. cover of the sewing machine. She stooped to
Mariana spat on his face. Then she bit on the the table and with a furious sweep of her
right arm. She spat again, for she had a hand, cleared it of dish rack, tin plates,
quick taste of salt and dirt. spoons, and forks. Then she went to the
Victor released her. She moved back, her kitchen and tossed the basket of vegetables
uncontrollable rage shaking her. You threw it and fish out of the kitchen window. A trio of
away! You destroy it! I paid forty pesos for it dogs rushed in from nowhere and fought
and its not your money! over the fish strewn in the muddy space
Forty pesos, Victor murmured. That is a under the sink.
lot of milk. Then Ramir barked.
Mariana caught her breath. She allowed dryly Shut up, you miserable dog!
and said, What do you want me to do now Ramir continued barking.
cut childrens dresses? Mariana paused. Ramir, she taught. Victors
dog. A cruel thought crossed her mind and front of her. And for the first in all her life on
stayed there. Now she knew exactly what to the Artiaga Street, Mariana cried.
do. She reached for the big kitchen knife of a DEAD STARS
shelf above the sink. Kicking the scattered by Paz Marquez Benitez
tin plates on the floor, she crossed the main Photo courtesy of NASA
room to the porch.
Downstairs, Ramir was barking at some THROUGH the open window the air-steeped
object in the street. Noticing Marianas outdoors passed into his room, quietly
presence, he stopped barking. Mariana enveloping him, stealing into his very
stared at the dog. The dog stared back, and thought. Esperanza, Julia, the sorry mess he
Mariana noticed the change in the animals had made of life, the years to come even
eyes. They became fiery, dangerous. My now beginning to weigh down, to crush--they
God, Mariana thought. This creature knew! lost concreteness, diffused into formless
Ramirs ears stood. The hair on the back of melancholy. The tranquil murmur of
its neck stood, too. Then he bared his fangs conversation issued from the brick-
viscously and growled. tiled azotea where Don Julian and Carmen
Mariana dropped the knife. She did not know were busy puttering away among the rose
how to use it at this moment. She was pots.
beginning to be afraid. "Papa, and when will the 'long table' be set?"
Slowly, she climbed up the stairs. He moved "I don't know yet. Alfredo is not very specific,
softly but menacingly. Like a hunter sizing up but I understand Esperanza wants it to be
his quarry. His yellowing fangs dropped with next month."
saliva. Carmen sighed impatiently. "Why is he not a
Meanwhile, Mariana was untying the chain bit more decided, I wonder. He is over thirty,
on the top of the stairs. is he not? And still a bachelor! Esperanza
And the dog rushed into the roaring attack. must be tired waiting."
Quicker than she thought she was, Mariana "She does not seem to be in much of a hurry
slipped the end of the chain under the either," Don Julian nasally commented, while
makeshift railing of the stairway and pulled his rose scissors busily snipped away.
the leash with all her might. As she had "How can a woman be in a hurry when the
expected, the dog hurtled into the space man does not hurry her?" Carmen returned,
between the broken banisters and fell. The pinching off a worm with a careful, somewhat
weight of the animal pulled her to her knees, absent air. "Papa, do you remember how
but she was prepared for that, too. She much in love he was?"
braced herself against the rails of the porch, "In love? With whom?"
and now, the dog was dangling below her. A "With Esperanza, of course. He has not had
crowd had now gathered in front of the another love affair that I know of," she said
house to witness the unexpected execution. with good-natured contempt. "What I mean
But Mariana neither saw their faces nor is that at the beginning he was enthusiastic--
heard their voices. flowers, serenades, notes, and things like
Ramir gave a final yelp and stopped kicking that--"
the air. Alfredo remembered that period with a
Mariana laughed deliriously. She watches the wonder not unmixed with shame. That was
hanging animal and addressed it in triumph: less than four years ago. He could not
Ill slit your throat and drink your blood and understand those months of a great hunger
cut you to pieces and stew you and eat you! that was not of the body nor yet of the mind,
Damn you Victor. Damn this child. Damn a craving that had seized on him one quiet
everything. Ill cook you, Ramir. Ill cook you night when the moon was abroad and under
and eat you and eat you and eat you! the dappled shadow of the trees in the plaza,
She released the chain and the canine man wooed maid. Was he being cheated by
carcass dropped with a thud on the ground life? Love--he seemed to have missed it. Or
below. was the love that others told about a mere
Mariana sat on the topmost step of the fabrication of perfervid imagination, an
stairs; she put her hands between her legs exaggeration of the commonplace, a
and stared blankly at the rusty rooftops in glorification of insipid monotonies such as
made up his love life? Was love a
combination of circumstances, or sheer hair, a thin face with a satisfying breadth of
native capacity of soul? In those days love forehead, slow, dreamer's eyes, and
was, for him, still the eternal puzzle; for love, astonishing freshness of lips--indeed Alfredo
as he knew it, was a stranger to love as he Salazar's appearance betokened little of
divined it might be. exuberant masculinity; rather a poet with
Sitting quietly in his room now, he could wayward humor, a fastidious artist with keen,
almost revive the restlessness of those days, clear brain.
the feeling of tumultuous haste, such as he He rose and quietly went out of the house.
knew so well in his boyhood when something He lingered a moment on the stone steps;
beautiful was going on somewhere and he then went down the path shaded by
was trying to get there in time to see. "Hurry, immature acacias, through the little tarred
hurry, or you will miss it," someone had gate which he left swinging back and forth,
seemed to urge in his ears. So he had avidly now opening, now closing, on the gravel road
seized on the shadow of Love and deluded bordered along the farther side by madre
himself for a long while in the way of cacao hedge in tardy lavender bloom.
humanity from time immemorial. In the The gravel road narrowed as it slanted up to
meantime, he became very much engaged the house on the hill, whose wide, open
to Esperanza. porches he could glimpse through the heat-
Why would men so mismanage their lives? shrivelled tamarinds in the Martinez yard.
Greed, he thought, was what ruined so many. Six weeks ago that house meant nothing to
Greed--the desire to crowd into a moment all him save that it was the Martinez house,
the enjoyment it will hold, to squeeze from rented and occupied by Judge del Valle and
the hour all the emotion it will yield. Men his family. Six weeks ago Julia Salas meant
commit themselves when but half-meaning nothing to him; he did not even know her
to do so, sacrificing possible future fullness name; but now--
of ecstasy to the craving for immediate One evening he had gone "neighboring" with
excitement. Greed--mortgaging the future-- Don Julian; a rare enough occurrence, since
forcing the hand of Time, or of Fate. he made it a point to avoid all appearance of
"What do you think happened?" asked currying favor with the Judge. This particular
Carmen, pursuing her thought. evening however, he had allowed himself to
"I supposed long-engaged people are like be persuaded. "A little mental relaxation now
that; warm now, cool tomorrow. I think they and then is beneficial," the old man had said.
are oftener cool than warm. The very fact "Besides, a judge's good will, you know;" the
that an engagement has been allowed to rest of the thought--"is worth a rising young
prolong itself argues a certain placidity of lawyer's trouble"--Don Julian conveyed
temperament--or of affection--on the part of through a shrug and a smile that derided his
either, or both." Don Julian loved to own worldly wisdom.
philosophize. He was talking now with an A young woman had met them at the door. It
evident relish in words, his resonant, very was evident from the excitement of the
nasal voice toned down to monologue pitch. Judge's children that she was a recent and
"That phase you were speaking of is natural very welcome arrival. In the characteristic
enough for a beginning. Besides, that, as I Filipino way formal introductions had been
see it, was Alfredo's last race with escaping omitted--the judge limiting himself to a
youth--" casual "Ah, ya se conocen?"--with the
Carmen laughed aloud at the thought of her consequence that Alfredo called her Miss del
brother's perfect physical repose--almost Valle throughout the evening.
indolence--disturbed in the role suggested by He was puzzled that she should smile with
her father's figurative language. evident delight every time he addressed her
"A last spurt of hot blood," finished the old thus. Later Don Julian informed him that she
man. was not the Judge's sister, as he had
Few certainly would credit Alfredo Salazar supposed, but his sister-in-law, and that her
with hot blood. Even his friends had name was Julia Salas. A very dignified rather
amusedly diagnosed his blood as cool and austere name, he thought. Still, the young
thin, citing incontrovertible evidence. Tall and lady should have corrected him. As it was, he
slender, he moved with an indolent ease that was greatly embarrassed, and felt that he
verged on grace. Under straight recalcitrant should explain.
To his apology, she replied, "That is nothing, was evident that she liked his company; yet
Each time I was about to correct you, but I what feeling there was between them was so
remembered a similar experience I had once undisturbed that it seemed a matter of
before." course. Only when Esperanza chanced to ask
"Oh," he drawled out, vastly relieved. him indirectly about those visits did some
"A man named Manalang--I kept calling him uneasiness creep into his thoughts of the girl
Manalo. After the tenth time or so, the young next door.
man rose from his seat and said suddenly, Esperanza had wanted to know if he went
'Pardon me, but my name is Manalang, straight home after mass. Alfredo suddenly
Manalang.' You know, I never forgave him!" realized that for several Sundays now he had
He laughed with her. not waited for Esperanza to come out of the
"The best thing to do under the church as he had been wont to do. He had
circumstances, I have found out," she been eager to go "neighboring."
pursued, "is to pretend not to hear, and to let He answered that he went home to work.
the other person find out his mistake without And, because he was not habitually
help." untruthful, added, "Sometimes I go with Papa
"As you did this time. Still, you looked to Judge del Valle's."
amused every time I--" She dropped the topic. Esperanza was not
"I was thinking of Mr. Manalang." prone to indulge in unprovoked jealousies.
Don Julian and his uncommunicative friend, She was a believer in the regenerative virtue
the Judge, were absorbed in a game of of institutions, in their power to regulate
chess. The young man had tired of playing feeling as well as conduct. If a man were
appreciative spectator and desultory married, why, of course, he loved his wife; if
conversationalist, so he and Julia Salas had he were engaged, he could not possibly love
gone off to chat in the vine-covered porch. another woman.
The lone piano in the neighborhood That half-lie told him what he had not
alternately tinkled and banged away as the admitted openly to himself, that he was
player's moods altered. He listened, and giving Julia Salas something which he was
wondered irrelevantly if Miss Salas could not free to give. He realized that; yet
sing; she had such a charming speaking something that would not be denied
voice. beckoned imperiously, and he followed on.
He was mildly surprised to note from her It was so easy to forget up there, away from
appearance that she was unmistakably a the prying eyes of the world, so easy and so
sister of the Judge's wife, although Doa poignantly sweet. The beloved woman, he
Adela was of a different type altogether. She standing close to her, the shadows around,
was small and plump, with wide brown eyes, enfolding.
clearly defined eyebrows, and delicately "Up here I find--something--"
modeled hips--a pretty woman with the He and Julia Salas stood looking out into the
complexion of a baby and the expression of a she quiet night. Sensing unwanted intensity,
likable cow. Julia was taller, not so obviously laughed, woman-like, asking, "Amusement?"
pretty. She had the same eyebrows and lips, "No; youth--its spirit--"
but she was much darker, of a smooth rich "Are you so old?"
brown with underlying tones of crimson "And heart's desire."
which heightened the impression she gave of Was he becoming a poet, or is there a poet
abounding vitality. lurking in the heart of every man?
On Sunday mornings after mass, father and "Down there," he had continued, his voice
son would go crunching up the gravel road to somewhat indistinct, "the road is too broad,
the house on the hill. The Judge's wife too trodden by feet, too barren of mystery."
invariably offered them beer, which Don "Down there" beyond the ancient tamarinds
Julian enjoyed and Alfredo did not. After a lay the road, upturned to the stars. In the
half hour or so, the chessboard would be darkness the fireflies glimmered, while an
brought out; then Alfredo and Julia Salas errant breeze strayed in from somewhere,
would go out to the porch to chat. She sat in bringing elusive, faraway sounds as of voices
the low hammock and he in a rocking chair in a dream.
and the hours--warm, quiet March hours-- "Mystery--" she answered lightly, "that is so
sped by. He enjoyed talking with her and it brief--"
"Not in some," quickly. "Not in you." something of eager freedom as of wings
"You have known me a few weeks; so the poised in flight. The girl had grace,
mystery." distinction. Her face was not notably pretty;
"I could study you all my life and still not find yet she had a tantalizing charm, all the more
it." compelling because it was an inner quality,
"So long?" an achievement of the spirit. The lure was
"I should like to." there, of naturalness, of an alert vitality of
Those six weeks were now so swift--seeming mind and body, of a thoughtful, sunny
in the memory, yet had they been so deep in temper, and of a piquant perverseness which
the living, so charged with compelling power is sauce to charm.
and sweetness. Because neither the past nor "The afternoon has seemed very short,
the future had relevance or meaning, he hasn't it?" Then, "This, I think, is the last
lived only the present, day by day, lived it time--we can visit."
intensely, with such a willful shutting out of "The last? Why?"
fact as astounded him in his calmer "Oh, you will be too busy perhaps."
moments. He noted an evasive quality in the answer.
Just before Holy Week, Don Julian invited the "Do I seem especially industrious to you?"
judge and his family to spend Sunday "If you are, you never look it."
afternoon at Tanda where he had a coconut "Not perspiring or breathless, as a busy man
plantation and a house on the beach. ought to be."
Carmen also came with her four energetic "But--" "Always unhurried, too unhurried, and
children. She and Doa Adela spent most of calm." She smiled to herself.
the time indoors directing the preparation of "I wish that were true," he said after a
the merienda and discussing the likeable meditative pause.
absurdities of their husbands--how Carmen's She waited.
Vicente was so absorbed in his farms that he "A man is happier if he is, as you say, calm
would not even take time off to accompany and placid."
her on this visit to her father; how Doa "Like a carabao in a mud pool," she retorted
Adela's Dionisio was the most absentminded perversely
of men, sometimes going out without his "Who? I?"
collar, or with unmatched socks. "Oh, no!"
After the merienda, Don Julian sauntered off "You said I am calm and placid."
with the judge to show him what a thriving "That is what I think."
young coconut looked like--"plenty of leaves, "I used to think so too. Shows how little we
close set, rich green"--while the children, know ourselves."
convoyed by Julia Salas, found unending It was strange to him that he could be
entertainment in the rippling sand left by the wooing thus: with tone and look and covert
ebbing tide. They were far down, walking at phrase.
the edge of the water, indistinctly outlined "I should like to see your home town."
against the gray of the out-curving beach. "There is nothing to see--little crooked
Alfredo left his perch on the bamboo ladder streets, bunut roofs with ferns growing on
of the house and followed. Here were her them, and sometimes squashes."
footsteps, narrow, arched. He laughed at That was the background. It made her seem
himself for his black canvas footwear which less detached, less unrelated, yet withal
he removed forthwith and tossed high up on more distant, as if that background claimed
dry sand. her and excluded him.
When he came up, she flushed, then smiled "Nothing? There is you."
with frank pleasure. "Oh, me? But I am here."
"I hope you are enjoying this," he said with a "I will not go, of course, until you are there."
questioning inflection. "Will you come? You will find it dull. There
"Very much. It looks like home to me, except isn't even one American there!"
that we do not have such a lovely beach." "Well--Americans are rather essential to my
There was a breeze from the water. It blew entertainment."
the hair away from her forehead, and She laughed.
whipped the tucked-up skirt around her "We live on Calle Luz, a little street with
straight, slender figure. In the picture was trees."
"Could I find that?" "Oh, old things, mistakes, encumbrances, old
"If you don't ask for Miss del Valle," she baggage." He said it lightly, unwilling to mar
smiled teasingly. the hour. He walked close, his hand
"I'll inquire about--" sometimes touching hers for one whirling
"What?" second.
"The house of the prettiest girl in the town." Don Julian's nasal summons came to them
"There is where you will lose your way." Then on the wind.
she turned serious. "Now, that is not quite Alfredo gripped the soft hand so near his
sincere." own. At his touch, the girl turned her face
"It is," he averred slowly, but emphatically. away, but he heard her voice say very low,
"I thought you, at least, would not say such "Good-bye."
things." II ALFREDO Salazar turned to the right
"Pretty--pretty--a foolish word! But there is where, farther on, the road broadened and
none other more handy I did not mean that entered the heart of the town--heart of
quite--" Chinese stores sheltered under low-hung
"Are you withdrawing the compliment?" roofs, of indolent drug stores and tailor
"Re-enforcing it, maybe. Something is pretty shops, of dingy shoe-repairing
when it pleases the eye--it is more than that establishments, and a cluttered goldsmith's
when--" cubbyhole where a consumptive bent over a
"If it saddens?" she interrupted hastily. magnifying lens; heart of old brick-roofed
"Exactly." houses with quaint hand-and-ball knockers
"It must be ugly." on the door; heart of grass-grown plaza
"Always?" reposeful with trees, of ancient church
Toward the west, the sunlight lay on the and convento, now circled by swallows
dimming waters in a broad, glinting streamer gliding in flight as smooth and soft as the
of crimsoned gold. afternoon itself. Into the quickly deepening
"No, of course you are right." twilight, the voice of the biggest of the
"Why did you say this is the last time?" he church bells kept ringing its insistent
asked quietly as they turned back. summons. Flocking came the devout with
"I am going home." their long wax candles, young women in
The end of an impossible dream! vivid apparel (for this was Holy Thursday and
"When?" after a long silence. the Lord was still alive), older women in
"Tomorrow. I received a letter from Father sober black skirts. Came too the young men
and Mother yesterday. They want me to in droves, elbowing each other under the
spend Holy Week at home." talisay tree near the church door. The gaily
She seemed to be waiting for him to speak. decked rice-paper lanterns were again on
"That is why I said this is the last time." display while from the windows of the older
"Can't I come to say good-bye?" houses hung colored glass globes, heirlooms
"Oh, you don't need to!" from a day when grasspith wicks floating in
"No, but I want to." coconut oil were the chief lighting device.
"There is no time." Soon a double row of lights emerged from
The golden streamer was withdrawing, the church and uncoiled down the length of
shortening, until it looked no more than a the street like a huge jewelled band studded
pool far away at the rim of the world. with glittering clusters where the saints'
Stillness, a vibrant quiet that affects the platforms were. Above the measured music
senses as does solemn harmony; a peace rose the untutored voices of the choir,
that is not contentment but a cessation of steeped in incense and the acrid fumes of
tumult when all violence of feeling tones burning wax.
down to the wistful serenity of regret. She The sight of Esperanza and her mother
turned and looked into his face, in her dark sedately pacing behind Our Lady of Sorrows
eyes a ghost of sunset sadness. "Home suddenly destroyed the illusion of continuity
seems so far from here. This is almost like and broke up those lines of light into
another life." component individuals. Esperanza stiffened
"I know. This is Elsewhere, and yet strange self-consciously, tried to look unaware, and
enough, I cannot get rid of the old things." could not.
"Old things?" The line moved on.
Suddenly, Alfredo's slow blood began to beat nothing to enlighten him, except that she
violently, irregularly. A girl was coming down had reverted to the formal tones of early
the line--a girl that was striking, and vividly acquaintance. No revelation there; simply
alive, the woman that could cause violent the old voice--cool, almost detached from
commotion in his heart, yet had no place in personality, flexible and vibrant, suggesting
the completed ordering of his life. potentialities of song.
Her glance of abstracted devotion fell on him "Are weddings interesting to you?" he finally
and came to a brief stop. brought out quietly
The line kept moving on, wending its "When they are of friends, yes."
circuitous route away from the church and "Would you come if I asked you?"
then back again, where, according to the old "When is it going to be?"
proverb, all processions end. "May," he replied briefly, after a long pause.
At last Our Lady of Sorrows entered the "May is the month of happiness they say,"
church, and with her the priest and the choir, she said, with what seemed to him a shade
whose voices now echoed from the arched of irony.
ceiling. The bells rang the close of the "They say," slowly, indifferently. "Would you
procession. come?"
A round orange moon, "huge as a winnowing "Why not?"
basket," rose lazily into a clear sky, "No reason. I am just asking. Then you will?"
whitening the iron roofs and dimming the "If you will ask me," she said with disdain.
lanterns at the windows. Along the still "Then I ask you."
densely shadowed streets the young women "Then I will be there."
with their rear guard of males loitered and, The gravel road lay before them; at the
maybe, took the longest way home. road's end the lighted windows of the house
Toward the end of the row of Chinese stores, on the hill. There swept over the spirit of
he caught up with Julia Salas. The crowd had Alfredo Salazar a longing so keen that it was
dispersed into the side streets, leaving Calle pain, a wish that, that house were his, that
Real to those who lived farther out. It was all the bewilderments of the present were
past eight, and Esperanza would be not, and that this woman by his side were his
expecting him in a little while: yet the long wedded wife, returning with him to the
thought did not hurry him as he said "Good peace of home.
evening" and fell into step with the girl. "Julita," he said in his slow, thoughtful
"I had been thinking all this time that you manner, "did you ever have to choose
had gone," he said in a voice that was both between something you wanted to do and
excited and troubled. something you had to do?"
"No, my sister asked me to stay until they "No!"
are ready to go." "I thought maybe you had had that
"Oh, is the Judge going?" experience; then you could understand a
"Yes." man who was in such a situation."
The provincial docket had been cleared, and "You are fortunate," he pursued when she did
Judge del Valle had been assigned elsewhere. not answer.
As lawyer--and as lover--Alfredo had found "Is--is this man sure of what he should do?"
that out long before. "I don't know, Julita. Perhaps not. But there is
"Mr. Salazar," she broke into his silence, "I a point where a thing escapes us and rushes
wish to congratulate you." downward of its own weight, dragging us
Her tone told him that she had learned, at along. Then it is foolish to ask whether one
last. That was inevitable. will or will not, because it no longer depends
"For what?" on him."
"For your approaching wedding." "But then why--why--" her muffled voice
Some explanation was due her, surely. Yet came. "Oh, what do I know? That is his
what could he say that would not offend? problem after all."
"I should have offered congratulations long "Doesn't it--interest you?"
before, but you know mere visitors are slow "Why must it? I--I have to say good-bye, Mr.
about getting the news," she continued. Salazar; we are at the house."
He listened not so much to what she said as Without lifting her eyes she quickly turned
to the nuances in her voice. He heard and walked away.
Had the final word been said? He wondered. am justified in my conscience. I am right.
It had. Yet a feeble flutter of hope trembled Living with a man to whom she is not
in his mind though set against that hope married--is that it? It may be wrong, and
were three years of engagement, a very near again it may not."
wedding, perfect understanding between the "She has injured us. She was ungrateful." Her
parents, his own conscience, and Esperanza voice was tight with resentment.
herself--Esperanza waiting, Esperanza no "The trouble with you, Esperanza, is that you
longer young, Esperanza the efficient, the are--" he stopped, appalled by the passion in
literal-minded, the intensely acquisitive. his voice.
He looked attentively at her where she sat on "Why do you get angry? I do not understand
the sofa, appraisingly, and with a kind of you at all! I think I know why you have been
aversion which he tried to control. indifferent to me lately. I am not blind, or
She was one of those fortunate women who deaf; I see and hear what perhaps some are
have the gift of uniformly acceptable trying to keep from me." The blood surged
appearance. She never surprised one with into his very eyes and his hearing sharpened
unexpected homeliness nor with startling to points of acute pain. What would she say
reserves of beauty. At home, in church, on next?
the street, she was always herself, a woman "Why don't you speak out frankly before it is
past first bloom, light and clear of too late? You need not think of me and of
complexion, spare of arms and of breast, what people will say." Her voice trembled.
with a slight convexity to thin throat; a Alfredo was suffering as he could not
woman dressed with self-conscious care, remember ever having suffered before. What
even elegance; a woman distinctly not people will say--what will they not say? What
average. don't they say when long engagements are
She was pursuing an indignant relation about broken almost on the eve of the wedding?
something or other, something about Calixta, "Yes," he said hesitatingly, diffidently, as if
their note-carrier, Alfredo perceived, so he merely thinking aloud, "one tries to be fair--
merely half-listened, understanding according to his lights--but it is hard. One
imperfectly. At a pause he drawled out to fill would like to be fair to one's self first. But
in the gap: "Well, what of it?" The remark that is too easy, one does not dare--"
sounded ruder than he had intended. "She is "What do you mean?" she asked with
not married to him," Esperanza insisted in repressed violence. "Whatever my
her thin, nervously pitched voice. "Besides, shortcomings, and no doubt they are many
she should have thought of us. Nanay in your eyes, I have never gone out of my
practically brought her up. We never thought way, of my place, to find a man."
she would turn out bad." Did she mean by this irrelevant remark that
What had Calixta done? Homely, middle- he it was who had sought her; or was that a
aged Calixta? covert attack on Julia Salas?
"You are very positive about her badness," "Esperanza--" a desperate plea lay in his
he commented dryly. Esperanza was always stumbling words. "If you--suppose I--" Yet
positive. how could a mere man word such a plea?
"But do you approve?" "If you mean you want to take back your
"Of what?" word, if you are tired of--why don't you tell
"What she did." me you are tired of me?" she burst out in a
"No," indifferently. storm of weeping that left him completely
"Well?" shamed and unnerved. The last word had
He was suddenly impelled by a desire to been said. III
disturb the unvexed orthodoxy of her mind. AS Alfredo Salazar leaned against the boat
"All I say is that it is not necessarily wicked." rail to watch the evening settling over the
"Why shouldn't it be? You talked like an-- lake, he wondered if Esperanza would
immoral man. I did not know that your ideas attribute any significance to this trip of his.
were like that." He was supposed to be in Sta. Cruz whither
"My ideas?" he retorted, goaded by a deep, the case of the People of the Philippine
accumulated exasperation. "The only test I Islands vs. Belina et al had kept him, and
wish to apply to conduct is the test of there he would have been if Brigida Samuy
fairness. Am I injuring anybody? No? Then I had not been so important to the defense.
He had to find that elusive old woman. That distinguish faces, so he had no way of
the search was leading him to that particular knowing whether the presidente was there to
lake town which was Julia Salas' home should meet him or not. Just then a voice shouted.
not disturb him unduly Yet he was disturbed "Is the abogado there? Abogado!"
to a degree utterly out of proportion to the "What abogado?" someone irately asked.
prosaicalness of his errand. That inner tumult That must be the presidente, he thought,
was no surprise to him; in the last eight and went down to the landing.
years he had become used to such It was a policeman, a tall pock-marked
occasional storms. He had long realized that individual. The presidente had left with
he could not forget Julia Salas. Still, he had Brigida Samuy--Tandang "Binday"--that noon
tried to be content and not to remember too for Santa Cruz. Seor Salazar's second letter
much. The climber of mountains who has had arrived late, but the wife had read it and
known the back-break, the lonesomeness, said, "Go and meet the abogado and invite
and the chill, finds a certain restfulness in him to our house."
level paths made easy to his feet. He looks Alfredo Salazar courteously declined the
up sometimes from the valley where settles invitation. He would sleep on board since the
the dusk of evening, but he knows he must boat would leave at four the next morning
not heed the radiant beckoning. Maybe, in anyway. So the presidente had received his
time, he would cease even to look up. first letter? Alfredo did not know because
He was not unhappy in his marriage. He felt that official had not sent an answer. "Yes,"
no rebellion: only the calm of capitulation to the policeman replied, "but he could not
what he recognized as irresistible forces of write because we heard that Tandang Binday
circumstance and of character. His life had was in San Antonio so we went there to find
simply ordered itself; no more struggles, no her." San Antonio was up in the hills! Good
more stirring up of emotions that got a man man, the presidente! He, Alfredo, must do
nowhere. From his capacity of complete something for him. It was not every day that
detachment he derived a strange solace. The one met with such willingness to help.
essential himself, the himself that had its Eight o'clock, lugubriously tolled from the
being in the core of his thought, would, he bell tower, found the boat settled into a
reflected, always be free and alone. When somnolent quiet. A cot had been brought out
claims encroached too insistently, as and spread for him, but it was too bare to be
sometimes they did, he retreated into the inviting at that hour. It was too early to
inner fastness, and from that vantage he saw sleep: he would walk around the town. His
things and people around him as remote and heart beat faster as he picked his way to
alien, as incidents that did not matter. At shore over the rafts made fast to sundry
such times did Esperanza feel baffled and piles driven into the water.
helpless; he was gentle, even tender, but How peaceful the town was! Here and there
immeasurably far away, beyond her reach. a little tienda was still open, its dim light
Lights were springing into life on the shore. issuing forlornly through the single window
That was the town, a little up-tilted town which served as counter. An occasional
nestling in the dark greenness of the groves. couple sauntered by, the
A snubcrested belfry stood beside the women's chinelas making scraping sounds.
ancient church. On the outskirts the evening From a distance came the shrill voices of
smudges glowed red through the sinuous children playing games on the street--
mists of smoke that rose and lost themselves tubigan perhaps, or "hawk-and-chicken." The
in the purple shadows of the hills. There was thought of Julia Salas in that quiet place filled
a young moon which grew slowly luminous him with a pitying sadness.
as the coral tints in the sky yielded to the How would life seem now if he had married
darker blues of evening. Julia Salas? Had he meant anything to her?
The vessel approached the landing quietly, That unforgettable red-and-gold afternoon in
trailing a wake of long golden ripples on the early April haunted him with a sense of
dark water. Peculiar hill inflections came to incompleteness as restless as other unlaid
his ears from the crowd assembled to meet ghosts. She had not married--why?
the boat--slow, singing cadences, Faithfulness, he reflected, was not a
characteristic of the Laguna lake-shore conscious effort at regretful memory. It was
speech. From where he stood he could not something unvolitional, maybe a recurrent
awareness of irreplaceability. Irrelevant seeing the light of dead stars, long
trifles--a cool wind on his forehead, far-away extinguished, yet seemingly still in their
sounds as of voices in a dream--at times appointed places in the heavens.
moved him to an oddly irresistible impulse to An immense sadness as of loss invaded his
listen as to an insistent, unfinished prayer. spirit, a vast homesickness for some
A few inquiries led him to a certain little tree- immutable refuge of the heart far away
ceilinged street where the young moon wove where faded gardens bloom again, and
indistinct filigrees of fight and shadow. In the where live on in unchanging freshness, the
gardens the cotton tree threw its angular dear, dead loves of vanished youth.
shadow athwart the low stone wall; and in
the cool, stilly midnight the cock's first call THE FENCE : GARCIA VILLA They should
rose in tall, soaring jets of sound. Calle Luz. have stood apart, away from each other,
Somehow or other, he had known that he those two nipa houses. There should have
would find her house because she would been a lofty impenetrable wall between
surely be sitting at the window. Where else, them, so that they should not stare so coldly,
before bedtime on a moonlit night? The so starkly, at each otherjust staring, not
house was low and the light in the sala saying a word, not even a cruel word. Only a
behind her threw her head into unmistakable yard of parched soil separated them, a yard
relief. He sensed rather than saw her start of of brittle-crusted earth with only a stray
vivid surprise. weed or two to show there was life still in its
"Good evening," he said, raising his hat. bosom.
"Good evening. Oh! Are you in town?" They stood there on the roadside, they two
"On some little business," he answered with alone, neighborless but for themselves, and
a feeling of painful constraint. they were like two stealthy shadows, each
"Won't you come up?" avid to betray the other. Queer old houses.
He considered. His vague plans had not So brown were the nipa leaves that walled
included this. But Julia Salas had left the and roofed them that they looked musty,
window, calling to her mother as she did so. gloomy. One higher than the other, pyramid-
After a while, someone came downstairs with roofed, it tried to assume the air of mastery,
a lighted candle to open the door. At last--he but in vain. For though the other was low,
was shaking her hand. wind-bent, supported without by luteous
She had not changed much--a little less bamboo poles against the aggressiveness of
slender, not so eagerly alive, yet something the weather, it had its eyes to stare back as
had gone. He missed it, sitting opposite her, haughtily as the otherwindows as desolate
looking thoughtfully into her fine dark eyes. as the souls of the occupants of the house,
She asked him about the home town, about as sharply angular as the intensity of their
this and that, in a sober, somewhat hatred.
meditative tone. He conversed with From the road these houses feared no enemy
increasing ease, though with a growing no enemy from the length, from the dust,
wonder that he should be there at all. He of the road; they were unfenced. But of each
could not take his eyes from her face. What other they were afraid: there ran a green,
had she lost? Or was the loss his? He felt an house high, bamboo fence through the
impersonal curiosity creeping into his gaze. narrow ribbon of thirsty earth between them,
The girl must have noticed, for her cheek proclaiming that one side belonged to one
darkened in a blush. house, to it alone; the other side to the
Gently--was it experimentally?--he pressed other, and to it alone.
her hand at parting; but his own felt Formerly there had been no bamboo fence;
undisturbed and emotionless. Did she still there had been no weeds. There had been
care? The answer to the question hardly two rows of vegetables, one to each house,
interested him. and the soil was not parched but soft and
The young moon had set, and from the rich. But something had happened and the
uninviting cot he could see one half of a star- fence came to be built, and the vegetables
studded sky. that were so green began to turn pale, then
So that was all over. paler and yellow and brown. Those of each
Why had he obstinately clung to that dream? house would not water their plants, for if
So all these years--since when?--he had been they did, would not water their water spread
to the other side and quench too the thirst of But early one night, from beyond the fence,
pechays and mustards not theirs? Little by AlingBiang heard cries from AlingSebia.
little the plants had died, the soil had Unwilling to pay any heed to them, she
cracked with neglect, on both sides of the extinguished the light of the petrol kinke and
fence. laid herself down beside her child. But, in
Two women had built that fence. Two tanned spite of all, the cries of the other woman
country-women. One of them had caught her made her uneasy. She stood up, went to the
husband with the other one night, and the window that faced the fence, and cried from
next morning she had gone to the bamboo there: What is the matter with you,
clumps near the river Pasig and felled canes AlingSebang? Faintly from the other side
with her woman strength. She left her baby came: AlingBiang, please go the town and
son at home, heeded not the little cries. And get me a hilot (midwife). What do you need
one by one that hot afternoon she a hilot for? asked AlingBiang. I am going to
shouldered the canes to her home. She was deliever a child, AlingBiang, and I am alone.
tired, very tired, yet that night she could not Please go, fetch a hilot. AlingBiang stood
sleep. When morning dawned she rose and there by the window a long time. She knew
went back t the back of the house and began when child it was that was coming as the
to split the bamboos. Her husband noticed child of AlingSebia. She stood motionless, the
her, but said nothing. By noon, AlingBiang wind brushing her face coldly. What did she
was driving tall bamboo splits into the care of AlingSebia was to undergo childbirth?
narrow ribbon of yard. The wind blew colder and pierced the
Pok, Pok, Pok, sounded her crude hammer. thinness of her shirt. She decided to lie down
Pok, Pok, Pok-Pok, Pok, Pok. and sleep. Her body struck against her
When her husband asked her what she was childs as she did so, and the child moaned:
doing, she answered, I am building a fence. Ummm The other child, too, could be
What for? he asked. I need a fence. And moaning like that. Like her
then, too, even AlingSebia, the other woman, child. Ummm.From the womb of AlingSebia
a child-less widow, asked inoffensively, the wrong womb. Hastily AlingBiang stood
What are you doing, AlingBiang? I am up, wound her tapiz round her waist, covered
building a fence. What for? I need a her shoulders with a cheap shawl.
fence, AlingSebia. Please do not talk to me Ummm.Ummm.The cry that
again. And with that AlingSebia had felt called her.Ummm. The cry of a life She
hurt. Out of spite she too had gone to the descended the bamboo steps. They creaked
bamboo clumps to fell canes. After she had in the night. The fence grew moldy and
split them, tried though she was, she began inclined to one side, the child of
to thrust them into the ground, on the same AlingBianggrew up into sickly boy with hollow
straight line as AlingBiangs but from the dark eyes and shaggy hair, and the child that
opposite end. The building of the fence was born to AlingSebia grew up into a girl, a
progressed from the opposite end. The girl with rugged features , a simian face, and
building of the fence progresses from the a very narrow brow. But not a word had
ends centerward. AlingBiang drove in the last passed across the fence since that night. The
split. And the fence completed, oily boy Iking was not allowed to play by the
perspiration wetting the brows of the two roadside; for if he did, would he not know
young women, they gazed pridefully at the were on the other side of the fence? For his
majestic wall of green that now sperated realm he had only his home and the little
them. Not long after the completion of the backyard. Sometimes, he would loiter along
fence AlingBiangs husband disappeared and the narrow strip of yard beside the fence,
never came back. AlingBiang took the matter and peep surreptitiously through the slits.
passively, and made no effort to find him. And he could catch glimpses of a girl, dark-
She had become a hardened woman. The complex-ioned, flat-nosed on the other side.
fence hid all the happenings in each house She was an ugly girl, even uglier than he
from those who lived in the other. The other was, but she was full-muscled, healthy. As he
side was to each a beyond, dark in elemental peeped, his body, like a thin reed pressed
prejudice, and no one dared encroach on it. against the fungused canes, would be
So the months passed, and each woman breathless. The flat-nosed girl intoxicated
lived as though the other were nonexistent. him, his loose architecture of a body, so that
it pulsed, vibrated cruelly with the leap in his soul, stronger than his soul itself. Pok, Pok,
blood. The least sound of the wind against PokPok, Pok, Pok. The boy Iking, pallid,
the nipa wall of their house would startle tubercular, watched his mother with sunken,
him, as though he had been caught, hating eyes from the window. She was
surprised, in his clandestine passion; a wave mending the fence, because now it leaned to
of frigid coldness would start in his chest and their side and many of the old stakes had
expand, expand, expand until he was all cold decayed. She substituted fresh ones for
and shivering. Watching that girl only these, until finally, among the weather-
intensified his lonelinesswatching that girl beaten ones, rose bold green splits like stout
of whom he knew nothing except that form corporals among squads of unhealthy
them it was not right to know each other. soldiers. From the window, the boy Iking
When his mother caught him peeping, she asked nervously: Why do you do that,
would scold him, and he would turn quickly mother? WhywhyIt needs reinforcing
about, his convex back pressed painfully replied his mother. Pok, Pok, Pok Why-
against the fence. Did I not tell you never to why! he exclaimed in protest.His mother
peep through that fence? Go up. And he stopped hammering. She stared at him
would go up without answering a word, cruelly. I need it, she declared forcefully,
because the moment he tried to reason out the veins on her forehead rising out clearly.
things, prolonged coughs would seize him Your mother needs it. You need it too. Iking
and shake his thin body unmercifully. At cowered from the window. He heard again:
night, as he lay on the bamboo floor, notes Pok, Pok, PokPok, Pok, Pok. That night no
of a guitar would reach his ears. The notes playing came from beyond the fence. And
were metallic, clanking, and at the middle of Iking knew why. PhthisicalIking.Eighteen-
the nocturne they stopped abruptly. Who year-old bony Iking.Lying ghastly pale on the
played the raucous notes? Who played the mat all the time.Waiting for the music from
only music he had ever heard in his life? And the other side of the fence that had stopped
why did the player never finish his music? three years ago. And tonight was Christmas
And lying beside his mother, he felt he Eve. Ikings Christmas Eve. He must be
wanted to rise and go down the bamboo happy tonighthe must be made happy
steps to the old forbidden? fence and see tonight At one corner of the room his
who it was that was playing. But AlingBiang mother crooned to herself. A Biblia was on
would stir and ask, Are you feeling cold, the table, but no one read it; they did not
Iking? Here is the blanket. Poor mother she know how to read. But they knew it was
did not know that it was she who was making Christmas Eve. AlingBiang said, The Lord
the soul of this boy so cold, so barren, so will be born tonight. The Lord will be born
desolate. And one night, after AlingBiang had tonight, echoed her son. Let us pray,
prepared his bedding beside her, Iking Iking. Iking stood up. His emaciated form
approached her and said: I will sleep by the looked so pitiful that his mother said, Better
door, nanay. I want to sleep alone. I am lie down again, Iking. I will pray alone. But
grownup. I am fifteen. He folded his mat Iking did not lie down. He move slowly to the
and tucked it under an arm carrying a door and descended into the backyard His
kundiman-cased pillow in one thin hand, and mother would pray. Could she pray? his
marched stoically to the place he mentioned. soul asked He stood motionless. And then
When the playing came, he stood up and he saw the fencethe fence that his mother
went down the stairs and moved towards the had built and strengthenedto crush his
bamboo fence. He leaned against it and soul. He ran weakly, groggily, to itallured
listened, enthralled, to the music. When it by its forbidding, crushing sterness. He
ceased he wanted to scream in protest, but a peeped hungrily between the splitssaw
strangling cough seized him. He choked, yet her His dry lips mumbled, tried to make
his neck craned and his eye strained to see her hear his word, Play for me tonight! He
who had been the player. His lips did not saw that she heard. Her ugly faced turned
move, but his soul wept, It is she! And he sharply to the fence that separated him and
wanted to hurl himself against fence to break her. He wept. He had spoken to herthe first
it down. But he knew that even that old, timethe first time He laid himself down
mildewed fence was stronger than he. as soon as he was back in the house. He
Strongerstronger than the loneliness of his turned his face toward the window to wait for
her music. He drew his blanket closer round his own pride and purposes, Evades them,
him so that he should not feel cold. The with a bombast circumstance Horribly stuff'd
moonlight that poured into the room pointed with epithets of war; And, in conclusion,
at his face, livid, anxious, hoping, and at a Nonsuits my mediators; for, 'Certes,' says
little, wet, red smudge on the blanket where he,'I have already chose my officer.'
it touched his lips. Cicadas sang and leaves And what was he? Forsooth, a great
of trees rustled. A gorgeous moon sailed arithmetician, One Michael Cassio, a
westward across the sky. Dark-skinned bats Florentine,
occasionally lost their way into the room. A A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife; That
pale silken moth flew in to flirt with the flame never set a squadron in the field, Nor the
of kerosene kinke. And then the cicadas had division of a battle knows More than a
tired of singing. The moon was far above at spinster; unless the bookish theoric,
its zenith now. The bats had found their way Wherein the toged consuls can propose As
out of the room. The moth now lay signed on masterly as he: mere prattle, without
the table, beside he realized now that the practise, Is all his soldiership. But he, sir, had
fence between their houses extended into the election:
the heart of this girl. The Lord is born, And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof
announced AlingBiang, for it was midnight. At Rhodes, at Cyprus and on other grounds
He is born, said her son, his ears still ready Christian and heathen, must be be-lee'd and
for her music because the fence did not run calm'd By debitor and creditor: this counter-
through his soul. The moon descended caster,
descended.. At two a.m. Ikings eyes were He, in good time, must his lieutenant be, And
closed and his hands were cold. His mother I--God bless the mark!--his Moorship's
wept. His heart beat no more. Two-three a.m. ancient. RODERIGO By heaven, I rather
only a few minutes afterand from beyond would have been his hangman. IAGO Why,
the fence came the notes of a guitar.The there's no remedy; 'tis the curse of service,
notes of Preferment goes by letter and affection,
a guitar.Metallic.Clanking.Raucous.Notes of And not by old gradation, where each second
the same guitar. And she who played it Stood heir to the first. Now, sir, be judge
finished her nocturne that mourn. AlingBiang yourself, Whether I in any just term am
stood up from beside her son, approached affined To love the Moor. RODERIGO I would
the window, stared accusingly outside, and not follow him then. IAGO O, sir, content you;
said in a low resentful voice, They are I follow him to serve my turn upon him:
mocking. Who would play at such a time of We cannot all be masters, nor all masters
morn as this? Because my son is dead. Cannot be truly follow'd. You shall mark
But she saw only the fence she had built and Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave,
strengthened, stately white in the matutinal That, doting on his own obsequious bondage,
moonlight. Wears out his time, much like his master's
ass, For nought but provender, and when
he's old, cashier'd: Whip me such honest
OTHELLO knaves. Others there are
ACT Who, trimm'd in forms and visages of duty,
SCENE I. Venice. A street. Keep yet their hearts attending on
Enter RODERIGO and IAGO themselves, And, throwing but shows of
RODERIGO Tush! never tell me; I take it much service on their lords, Do well thrive by them
unkindly and when they have lined
That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse As if their coats Do themselves homage: these
the strings were thine, shouldst know of this. fellows have some soul;
IAGO 'Sblood, but you will not hear me: If And such a one do I profess myself. For, sir, It
ever I did dream of such a matter, Abhor me. is as sure as you are Roderigo,
RODERIGO Thou told'st me thou didst hold Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago: In
him in thy hate. IAGO Despise me, if I do not. following him, I follow but myself;
Three great ones of the city, In personal suit Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,
to make me his lieutenant, Off-capp'd to him: But seeming so, for my peculiar end:
and, by the faith of man, I know my price, I For when my outward action doth
am worth no worse a place: But he; as loving demonstrate The native act and figure of my
heart come to you. IAGO 'Zounds, sir, you are one
In compliment extern, 'tis not long after But I of those that will not
will wear my heart upon my sleeve For daws serve God, if the devil bid you. Because we
to peck at: I am not what I am. RODERIGO come to
What a full fortune does the thicklips owe If do you service and you think we are ruffians,
he can carry't thus! IAGO Call up her father, you'll
Rouse him: make after him, poison his have your daughter covered with a Barbary
delight, horse;
Proclaim him in the streets; incense her you'll have your nephews neigh to you; you'll
kinsmen, And, though he in a fertile climate have
dwell, Plague him with flies: though that his coursers for cousins and gennets for
joy be joy, germans. BRABANTIO What profane wretch
Yet throw such changes of vexation on't, As it art thou? IAGO I am one, sir, that comes to
may lose some colour. RODERIGOHere is her tell you your daughter and the Moor are now
father's house; I'll call aloud. IAGO Do, with making the beast with two backs.
like timorous accent and dire yell BRABANTIO Thou art a villain. IAGO You
As when, by night and negligence, the fire are--a senator. BRABANTIO This thou shalt
Is spied in populous cities. RODERIGO What, answer; I know thee, Roderigo. RODERIGO
ho, Brabantio! Signior Brabantio, ho! IAGO Sir, I will answer any thing. But, I beseech
Awake! what, ho, Brabantio! thieves! you,
thieves! thieves! If't be your pleasure and most wise consent,
Look to your house, your daughter and your As partly I find it is, that your fair daughter,
bags! Thieves! thieves! BRABANTIO appears At this odd-even and dull watch o' the night,
above, at a window BRABANTIO What is the Transported, with no worse nor better guard
reason of this terrible summons? What is the But with a knave of common hire, a
matter there? RODERIGO Signior, is all your gondolier,
family within? IAGO Are your doors lock'd? To the gross clasps of a lascivious Moor-- If
BRABANTIO Why, wherefore ask you this? this be known to you and your allowance,
IAGO 'Zounds, sir, you're robb'd; for shame, We then have done you bold and saucy
put on wrongs; But if you know not this, my
your gown; Your heart is burst, you have lost manners tell me We have your wrong rebuke.
half your soul; Do not believe
Even now, now, very now, an old black ram That, from the sense of all civility, I thus
Is topping your white ewe. Arise, arise; would play and trifle with your reverence:
Awake the snorting citizens with the bell, Or Your daughter, if you have not given her
else the devil will make a grandsire of you: leave, I say again, hath made a gross revolt;
Arise, I say. BRABANTIO What, have you lost Tying her duty, beauty, wit and fortunes In an
your wits? RODERIGO Most reverend signior, extravagant and wheeling stranger
do you know my voice? BRABANTIO Not I Of here and every where. Straight satisfy
what are you? RODERIGO My name is yourself: If she be in her chamber or your
Roderigo. BRABANTIO The worser welcome: house, LET loose on me the justice of the
I have charged thee not to haunt about my state
doors: For thus deluding you. BRABANTIO Strike on
In honest plainness thou hast heard me say the tinder, ho! Give me a taper! call up all
My daughter is not for thee; and now, in my people! This accident is not unlike my
madness, Being full of supper and dream:
distempering draughts, Upon malicious Belief of it oppresses me already. Light, I say!
bravery, dost thou come To start my light! Exit above IAGO Farewell; for I must
quiet.RODERIGOSir, sir, sir,-- BRABANTIO But leave you: It seems not meet, nor
thou must needs be sure wholesome to my place,
My spirit and my place have in them power To be produced--as, if I stay, I shall--
To make this bitter to thee. RODERIGO Against the Moor: for, I do know, the state,
Patience, good sir. BRABANTIO What tell'st However this may gall him with some
thou me of robbing? this is Venice; cheque, Cannot with safety cast him, for he's
My house is not a grange. RODERIGO Most embark'd
grave Brabantio,In simple and pure soul I With such loud reason to the Cyprus wars,
Which even now stand in act, that, for their assured of this,
souls, Another of his fathom they have none, That the magnifico is much beloved,
To lead their business: in which regard, And hath in his effect a voice potential As
Though I do hate him as I do hell-pains. double as the duke's: he will divorce you;
Yet, for necessity of present life, I must show Or put upon you what restraint and
out a flag and sign of love, grievance The law, with all his might to
Which is indeed but sign. That you shall enforce it on, Will give him cable. OTHELLO
surely find him, Lead to the Sagittary the Let him do his spite:
raised search; And there will I be with him. My services which I have done the signiory
So, farewell. Exit Enter, below, BRABANTIO, Shall out-tongue his complaints. 'Tis yet to
and Servants with torches BRABANTIO It is know,--Which, when I know that boasting is
too true an evil: gone she is; an honour, I shall promulgate--I fetch my life
And what's to come of my despised timeIs and being From men of royal siege, and my
nought but bitterness. Now, Roderigo, demerits
Where didst thou see her? O unhappy girl! May speak unbonneted to as proud a fortune
With the Moor, say'st thou? Who would be a As this that I have reach'd: for know, Iago,
father! How didst thou know 'twas she? O But that I love the gentle Desdemona,
she deceives me Past thought! What said she I would not my unhoused free condition Put
to you? Get more tapers: into circumscription and confine For the sea's
Raise all my kindred. Are they married, think worth. But, look! what lights come yond?
you? RODERIGO Truly, I think they are. IAGO Those are the raised father and his
BRABANTIO O heaven! How got she out? O friends: You were best go in. OTHELLO Not I I
treason of the blood! must be found:
Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters' My parts, my title and my perfect soul
minds Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they? IAGO By
By what you see them act. Is there not Janus, I think no. Enter CASSIO, and certain
charms By which the property of youth and Officers with torches OTHELLO
maidhood May be abused? Have you not The servants of the duke, and my lieutenant.
read, Roderigo, The goodness of the night upon you, friends!
Of some such thing? RODERIGO Yes, sir, I What is the news? CASSIO
have indeed. BRABANTIO Call up my brother. The duke does greet you, general, And he
O, would you had had her! requires your haste-post-haste appearance,
Some one way, some another. Do you know Even on the instant. OTHELLO What is the
Where we may apprehend her and the Moor? matter, think you? CASSIO Something from
RODERIGO I think I can discover him, if you Cyprus as I may divine: It is a business of
please, some heat: the galleys
To get good guard and go along with me. Have sent a dozen sequent messengers This
BRABANTIO very night at one another's heels,
Pray you, lead on. At every house I'll call; I And many of the consuls, raised and met,
may command at most. Get weapons, ho! Are at the duke's already: you have been
And raise some special officers of night. On, hotly call'd for; When, being not at your
good Roderigo: I'll deserve your pains. lodging to be found,
Exeunt SCENE II. Another street. Enter The senate hath sent about three several
OTHELLO, IAGO, and Attendants with torches guests To search you out. OTHELLO 'Tis well I
IAGO am found by you.
Though in the trade of war I have slain men, I will but spend a word here in the house,
Yet do I hold it very stuff o' the conscience And go with you. Exit CASSIO Ancient, what
To do no contrived murder: I lack iniquity makes he here? IAGO 'Faith, he to-night hath
Sometimes to do me service: nine or ten boarded a land carack:
times I had thought to have yerk'd him here If it prove lawful prize, he's made for ever.
under the ribs. OTHELLO 'Tis better as it is. CASSIO I do not understand. IAGO He's
IAGO Nay, but he prated, married. CASSIO= To who? Re-enter
And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms OTHELLOIAGO Marry, to--Come, captain, will
Against your honour That, with the little you go OTHELLO Have with you. CASSIO
godliness I have, I did full hard forbear him. Here comes another troop to seek for you.
But, I pray you, sir, Are you fast married? Be IAGO It is Brabantio. General, be advised; He
comes to bad intent. Enter BRABANTIO, table; Officers attending DUKE OF VENICE
RODERIGO, and Officers with torches and There is no composition in these news That
weapons OTHELLO Holla! stand there! gives them credit. First Senator Indeed, they
RODERIGO Signior, it is the Moor. are disproportion'd; My letters say a hundred
BRABANTIODown with him, thief! They draw and seven galleys. DUKE OF VENICE And
on ] both sides IAGO You, Roderigo! come, mine, a hundred and forty. Second Senator
sir, I am for you. OTHELLOKeep up your And mine, two hundred:
bright swords, for the dew will rust them. But though they jump not on a just account,--
Good signior, you shall more command with As in these cases, where the aim reports, 'Tis
yearsThan with your weapons. BRABANTIO O oft with difference--yet do they all confirm A
thou foul thief, where hast thou stow'd my Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus. DUKE
daughter?Damn'd as thou art, thou hast OF VENICE Nay, it is possible enough to
enchanted her; judgment:
For I'll refer me to all things of sense, If she I do not so secure me in the error,
in chains of magic were not bound, But the main article I do approve In fearful
Whether a maid so tender, fair and happy, sense. Sailor [Within] What, ho! what, ho!
So opposite to marriage that she shunned what, ho! First Officer A messenger from the
The wealthy curled darlings of our nation, galleys. Enter a Sailor DUKE OF VENICE Now,
Would ever have, to incur a general mock, what's the business? Sailor The Turkish
Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom preparation makes for Rhodes; So was I bid
Of such a thing as thou, to fear, not to report here to the state By Signior Angelo.
delight. Judge me the world, if 'tis not gross DUKE OF VENICE How say you by this
in sense change? First Senator This cannot be, By no
That thou hast practised on her with foul assay of reason: 'tis a pageant,
charms, Abused her delicate youth with To keep us in false gaze. When we consider
drugs or minerals That weaken motion: I'll The importancy of Cyprus to the Turk,
have't disputed on; And let ourselves again but understand, That
'Tis probable and palpable to thinking. I as it more concerns the Turk than Rhodes, So
therefore apprehend and do attach thee may he with more facile question bear it, For
For an abuser of the world, a practiser Of arts that it stands not in such warlike brace, But
inhibited and out of warrant. altogether lacks the abilities
Lay hold upon him: if he do resist, Subdue That Rhodes is dress'd in: if we make thought
him at his peril. OTHELLO Hold your hands, of this, We must not think the Turk is so
Both you of my inclining, and the rest: unskillful To leave that latest which concerns
Were it my cue to fight, I should have known him first, Neglecting an attempt of ease and
it Without a prompter. Where will you that I gain, To wake and wage a danger profitless.
go To answer this your charge? BRABANTIO DUKE OF VENICE Nay, in all confidence, he's
To prison, till fit time not for Rhodes. First Officer Here is more
Of law and course of direct session Call thee news. Enter a Messenger Messenger The
to answer. OTHELLO Ottomites, reverend and gracious,
What if I do obey? How may the duke be Steering with due course towards the isle of
therewith satisfied, Whose messengers are Rhodes,\Have there injointed them with an
here about my side, Upon some present after fleet. First Senator Ay, so I thought. How
business of the state To bring me to him? many, as you guess? MessengerOf thirty sail:
First Officer 'Tis true, most worthy signior; and now they do restem Their backward
The duke's in council and your noble self, I course, bearing with frank appearance Their
am sure, is sent for. BRABANTIO How! the purposes toward Cyprus. Signior Montano,
duke in council! In this time of the night! Your trusty and most valiant servitor, With
Bring him away: his free duty recommends you thus,
Mine's not an idle cause: the duke himself, And prays you to believe him. DUKE OF
Or any of my brothers of the state, VENICE 'Tis certain, then, for Cyprus.
Cannot but feel this wrong as 'twere their Marcus Luccicos, is not he in town? First
own; For if such actions may have passage Senator He's now in Florence. DUKE OF
free, Bond-slaves and pagans shall our VENICE Write from us to him; post-post-haste
statesmen be. Exeunt SCENE III. A council- dispatch. First Senator Here comes Brabantio
chamber. The DUKE and Senators sitting at a and the valiant Moor. Enter BRABANTIO,
OTHELLO, IAGO, RODERIGO, and Officers drugs, what charms,
DUKE OF VENICE Valiant Othello, we must What conjuration and what mighty magic,
straight employ you Against the general For such proceeding I am charged withal,
enemy Ottoman.To BRABANTIO I did not see I won his daughter.BRABANTIOA maiden
you; welcome, gentle signior; never bold;
We lack'd your counsel and your help Of spirit so still and quiet, that her motion
tonight. BRABANTIO So did I yours. Good Blush'd at herself; and she, in spite of nature,
your grace, pardon me; Neither my place nor Of years, of country, credit, every thing,
aught I heard of business Hath raised me To fall in love with what she fear'd to look on!
from my bed, nor doth the general care Take It is a judgment maim'd and most imperfect
hold on me, for my particular grief That will confess perfection so could err
Is of so flood-gate and o'erbearing nature Against all rules of nature, and must be
That it engluts and swallows other sorrows driven To find out practises of cunning hell,
And it is still itself. DUKE OF VENICE , what's Why this should be. I therefore vouch again
the matter? BRABANTIO My daughter! O, my That with some mixtures powerful o'er the
daughter! DUKE OF VENICE Senator Dead? blood, Or with some dram conjured to this
BRABANTIO Ay, to me; effect,
She is abused, stol'n from me, and corrupted He wrought upon her. DUKE OF VENICE To
By spells and medicines bought of vouch this, is no proof, Without more wider
mountebanks; For nature so preposterously and more overt test Than these thin habits
to err, Being not deficient, blind, or lame of and poor likelihoods
sense, Sans witchcraft could not. DUKE OF Of modern seeming do prefer against him.
VENICE Whoe'er he be that in this foul First Senator But, Othello, speak:
proceeding Hath thus beguiled your daughter Did you by indirect and forced courses
of herself Subdue and poison this young maid's
You shall yourself read in the bitter letter affections? Or came it by request and such
After your own sense, yea, though our proper fair question As soul to soul affordeth?
son Stood in your action. BRABANTIO OTHELLO I do beseech you,
Humbly I thank your grace. Send for the lady to the Sagittary, And let
Here is the man, this Moor, whom now, it her speak of me before her father:
seems, Your special mandate for the state- If you do find me foul in her report,
affairs Hath hither brought. DUKE OF The trust, the office I do hold of you, Not only
VENICE Senato We are very sorry for't. DUKE take away, but let your sentence
OF VENICE [To OTHELLO] What, in your own Even fall upon my life. DUKE OF VENICE
part, can you say to this? BRABANTIO Fetch Desdemona hither. OTHELLO Ancient,
Nothing, but this is so. OTHELLO Most potent, conduct them: you best know the place.
grave, and reverend signiors, Exeunt IAGO and Attendants And, till she
My very noble and approved good masters, come, as truly as to heaven I do confess the
That I have ta'en away this old man's vices of my blood, So justly to your grave
daughter, It is most true; true, I have married ears I'll present How I did thrive in this fair
her: lady's love,
The very head and front of my offending And she in mine. DUKE OF VENICE Say it,
Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my Othello. OTHELLOHer father loved me; oft
speech, And little bless'd with the soft phrase invited me; Still question'd me the story of
of peace: my life,
For since these arms of mine had seven From year to year, the battles, sieges,
years' pith, Till now some nine moons fortunes, That I have passed.
wasted, they have used Their dearest action I ran it through, even from my boyish days,
in the tented field, To the very moment that he bade me tell it;
And little of this great world can I speak, Wherein I spake of most disastrous chances,
More than pertains to feats of broil and Of moving accidents by flood and field Of
battle, And therefore little shall I grace my hair-breadth scapes i' the imminent deadly
cause breach, Of being taken by the insolent foe
In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious And sold to slavery, of my redemption
patience, I will a round unvarnish'd tale thence And portance in my travels' history:
deliver Of my whole course of love; what Wherein of antres vast and deserts idle,
Rough quarries, rocks and hills whose heads So much I challenge that I may profess Due
touch heaven It was my hint to speak,--such to the Moor my lord. BRABANTIO God be wi'
was the process; you! I have done. Please it your grace, on to
And of the Cannibals that each other eat, the state-affairs:
The Anthropophagi and men whose heads I had rather to adopt a child than get it.
Do grow beneath their shoulders. This to Come hither, Moor:
hear Would Desdemona seriously incline: I here do give thee that with all my heart
But still the house-affairs would draw her Which, but thou hast already, with all my
thence: Which ever as she could with haste heart I would keep from thee. For your sake,
dispatch, She'ld come again, and with a jewel,
greedy ear Devour up my discourse: which I I am glad at soul I have no other child: For
observing, Took once a pliant hour, and thy escape would teach me tyranny,
found good means To draw from her a prayer To hang clogs on them. I have done, my lord.
of earnest heart That I would all my DUKE OF VENICE Let me speak like yourself,
pilgrimage dilate, and lay a sentence, Which, as a grise or step,
Whereof by parcels she had something may help these lovers
heard, But not intentively: I did consent, Into your favour. When remedies are past,
And often did beguile her of her tears, When the griefs are ended
I did speak of some distressful stroke By seeing the worst, which late on hopes
That my youth suffer'd. My story being done, depended. To mourn a mischief that is past
She gave me for my pains a world of sighs: and gone Is the next way to draw new
She swore, in faith, twas strange, 'twas mischief on.
passing strange, 'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous What cannot be preserved when fortune
pitiful: She wish'd she had not heard it, yet takes Patience her injury a mockery makes.
she wish'd The robb'd that smiles steals something from
That heaven had made her such a man: she the thief; He robs himself that spends a
thank'd me, And bade me, if I had a friend bootless grief. BRABANTIO So let the Turk of
that loved her, I should but teach him how to Cyprus us beguile;
tell my story. We lose it not, so long as we can smile. He
And that would woo her. Upon this hint I bears the sentence well that nothing bears
spake: She loved me for the dangers I had But the free comfort which from thence he
pass'd, And I loved her that she did pity hears,
them. But he bears both the sentence and the
This only is the witchcraft I have used: Here sorrow That, to pay grief, must of poor
comes the lady; let her witness it. Enter patience borrow. These sentences, to sugar,
DESDEMONA, IAGO, and Attendants DUKE OF or to gall,
VENICE I think this tale would win my Being strong on both sides, are equivocal:
daughter too. Good Brabantio, Take up this But words are words; I never yet did hear
mangled matter at the best: That the bruised heart was pierced through
Men do their broken weapons rather use the ear. I humbly beseech you, proceed to
Than their bare hands. BRABANTIO I pray the affairs of state. DUKE OF VENICE The
you, hear her speak: If she confess that she Turk with a most mighty preparation makes
was half the wooer, for Cyprus. Othello, the fortitude of the place
Destruction on my head, if my bad blame is best
Light on the man! Come hither, gentle known to you; and though we have there a
mistress: Do you perceive in all this noble substitute of most allowed sufficiency, yet
company Where most you owe obedience? opinion, a sovereign mistress of effects,
DESDEMONA My noble father, throws a more safer
I do perceive here a divided duty:To you I am voice on you: you must therefore be content
bound for life and education; to slubber the gloss of your new fortunes
My life and education both do learn me How with this more stubborn and boisterous
to respect you; you are the lord of duty; expedition. OTHELLO The tyrant custom,
I am hitherto your daughter: but here's my most grave senators, Hath made the flinty
husband, And so much duty as my mother and steel couch of war
show'd To you, preferring you before her My thrice-driven bed of down: I do agnise A
father, natural and prompt alacrity
I find in hardness, and do undertake These grace, my ancient;
present wars against the Ottomites. A man he is of honest and trust: To his
Most humbly therefore bending to your state, conveyance I assign my wife,
I crave fit disposition for my wife. With what else needful your good grace shall
Due reference of place and exhibition, With think To be sent after me. DUKE OF VENICE
such accommodation and besort As levels Let it be so. Good night to every one. To
with her breeding. DUKE OF VENICE If you BRABANTIOAnd, noble signior,
please, If virtue no delighted beauty lack, Your son-
Be't at her father's. BRABANTIO I'll not have in-law is far more fair than black. First
it so. OTHELLO Nor I. DESDEMONA Nor I; I Senator Adieu, brave Moor, use Desdemona
would not there reside, To put my father in well. BRABANTIO Look to her, Moor, if thou
impatient thoughts hast eyes to see: She has deceived her
By being in his eye. Most gracious duke, To father, and may thee. Exeunt DUKE OF
my unfolding lend your prosperous ear; And VENICE, Senators, Officers, & c OTHELLO My
let me find a charter in your voice, To assist life upon her faith! Honest Iago,
my simpleness. DUKE OF VENICE What would My Desdemona must I leave to thee: I
You, Desdemona? DESDEMONA That I did prithee, let thy wife attend on her:
love the Moor to live with him, My downright And bring them after in the best advantage.
violence and storm of fortunes Come, Desdemona: I have but an hour
May trumpet to the world: my heart's Of love, of worldly matters and direction, To
subdued Even to the very quality of my lord: spend with thee: we must obey the time.
I saw Othello's visage in his mind, And to his Exeunt OTHELLO and DESDEMONA
honour and his valiant parts RODERIGO Iago,-- IAGO What say'st thou,
Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate. So noble heart? RODERIGO What will I do,
that, dear lords, if I be left behind, thinkest thou? IAGO Why, go to bed, and
A moth of peace, and he go to the war, The sleep RODERIGO I will incontinently drown
rites for which I love him are bereft me, myself. IAGO If thou dost, I shall never love
And I a heavy interim shall support By his thee after. Why, thou silly gentleman!
dear absence. Let me go with him. OTHELLO RODERIGO It is silliness to live when to live
Let her have your voices. is torment; and then have we a prescription
Vouch with me, heaven, I therefore beg it to die when death is our physician. IAGO O
not, To please the palate of my appetite, villainous! I have looked upon the world for
Nor to comply with heat--the young affects four
In me defunct--and proper satisfaction. But times seven years; and since I could
to be free and bounteous to her mind: distinguish betwixt a benefit and an injury, I
And heaven defend your good souls, that you never found man that knew how to love
think I will your serious and great business himself. Ere I would say, I
scant For she is with me: no, when light- would drown myself for the love of a guinea-
wing'd toys hen, I would change my humanity with a
Of feather'd Cupid seal with wanton dullness baboon. RODERIGO What should I do? I
My speculative and officed instruments, That confess it is my shame to be so= fond; but it
my disports corrupt and taint my business, is not in my virtue to amend it.= IAGO
Let housewives make a skillet of my helm, Virtue! a fig! 'tis in ourselves that we are
And all indign and base adversities thus or thus. Our bodies are our gardens, to
Make head against my estimation! DUKE OF the which our wills are gardeners: so that if
VENICE Be it as you shall privately we will plant nettles, or sow lettuce, set
determine, Either for her stay or going: the hyssop and weed up
affair cries haste, thyme, supply it with one gender of herbs, or
And speed must answer it. First Senator You distract it with many, either to have it sterile
must away to-night. OTHELLO With all my with idleness, or manured with industry, why,
heart. DUKE OF VENICE At nine i' the the power and corrigible authority of this lies
morning here we'll meet again. in our wills. If the balance of our lives had not
Othello, leave some officer behind, one scale of reason to poise another of
And he shall our commission bring to you; sensuality, the blood and baseness of our
With such things else of quality and respect natures would conduct us to most
As doth import you. OTHELLO So please your preposterous conclusions: but we have
reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal events in the womb of time which will be
stings, our unbitted lusts, whereof I take this delivered. Traverse! go, provide thy money.
that We will have more of this to-morrow. Adieu.
you call love to be a sect or scion. RODERIGO RODERIGO Where shall we meet i' the
It cannot be. IAGO It is merely a lust of the morning? IAGO At my lodging. RODERIGO I'll
blood and a permission of the will. Come, be be with thee betimes. IAGO Go to; farewell.
a man. Drown thyself! drown Do you hear, Roderigo? RODERIGO What say
cats and blind puppies. I have professed me you? IAGO No more of drowning, do you
thy friend and I confess me knit to thy hear? RODERIGO am changed: I'll go sell all
deserving with Bcables of perdurable my land. Exit IAGO Thus do I ever make my
toughness; I could never fool my purse: For I mine own gain'd
better stead thee than now. Put money in thy knowledge should profane, If I would time
purse; follow thou the wars; defeat thy expend with such a snipe.
favour with But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor:
an usurped beard; I say, put money in thy And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my
purse. It sheetsHe has done my office: I know not if't
cannot be that Desdemona should long be true; But I, for mere suspicion in that
continue her kind,
love to the Moor,-- put money in thy purse,-- Will do as if for surety. He holds me well; The
nor he better shall my purpose work on him.
his to her: it was a violent commencement, Cassio's a proper man: let me see now: To
and thou get his place and to plume up my will
shalt see an answerable sequestration:--put In double knavery--How, how? Let's see:--
but After some time, to abuse Othello's ear
money in thy purse. These Moors are That he is too familiar with his wife. He hath
changeable in their wills: fill thy purse with a person and a smooth dispose
money:--the foodthat to him now is as To be suspected, framed to make women
luscious as locusts, shall be false.
to him shortly as bitter as coloquintida. She The Moor is of a free and open nature, That
must change for youth: when she is sated thinks men honest that but seem to be so,
with his body, she will find the error of her And will as tenderly be led by the nose
choice: she must As asses are.
have change, she must: therefore put money I have't. It is engender'd. Hell and night
in thy Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's
purse. If thou wilt needs damn thyself, do it a light.
more delicate way than drowning. Make all Exit
the money thou canst: if sanctimony and a ACT II
frail vow betwixt SCENE I. A Sea-port in Cyprus. An open place
an erring barbarian and a supersubtle near the quay.
Venetian not too hard for my wits and all the Enter MONTANO and two Gentlemen
tribe of hell, thou shalt enjoy her; therefore MONTANO
make money. A pox of What from the cape can you discern at sea?
drowning thyself! it is clean out of the way: First Gentleman
seek thou rather to be hanged in compassing Nothing at all: it is a highwrought flood;
thy joy than to be drowned and go without I cannot, 'twixt the heaven and the main,
her. RODERIGO Wilt thou be fast to my Descry a sail.
hopes, if I depend on the issue? IAGO Thou MONTANO
art sure of me:--go, make money:--I have told Methinks the wind hath spoke aloud at land;
thee often, and I re-tell thee again and again, A fuller blast ne'er shook our battlements:
I If it hath ruffian'd so upon the sea,
hate the Moor: my cause is hearted; thine What ribs of oak, when mountains melt on
hath no them,
less reason. Let us be conjunctive in our Can hold the mortise? What shall we hear of
revenge against him: if thou canst cuckold this?
him, thou dost thyself a pleasure, me a sport. Second Gentleman
There are many
A segregation of the Turkish fleet: CASSIO
For do but stand upon the foaming shore, Thanks, you the valiant of this warlike isle,
The chidden billow seems to pelt the clouds; That so approve the Moor! O, let the heavens
The wind-shaked surge, with high and Give him defence against the elements,
monstrous mane, For I have lost us him on a dangerous sea.
seems to cast water on the burning bear, MONTANO
And quench the guards of the ever-fixed Is he well shipp'd?
pole: CASSIO
I never did like molestation view His bark is stoutly timber'd, his pilot
On the enchafed flood. Of very expert and approved allowance;
MONTANO Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death,
If that the Turkish fleet Stand in bold cure.
Be not enshelter'd and embay'd, they are A cry within 'A sail, a sail, a sail!'
drown'd: Enter a fourth Gentleman
It is impossible they bear it out. CASSIO
Enter a third Gentleman What noise?
Third Gentleman Fourth Gentleman
News, lads! our wars are done. The town is empty; on the brow o' the sea
The desperate tempest hath so bang'd the Stand ranks of people, and they cry 'A sail!'
Turks, CASSIO
That their designment halts: a noble ship of My hopes do shape him for the governor.
Venice Guns heard
Hath seen a grievous wreck and sufferance Second Gentlemen
On most part of their fleet. They do discharge their shot of courtesy:
MONTANO Our friends at least.
How! is this true? CASSIO
Third Gentleman I pray you, sir, go forth,
The ship is here put in, And give us truth who 'tis that is arrived.
A Veronesa; Michael Cassio, Second Gentleman
Lieutenant to the warlike Moor Othello, I shall.
Is come on shore: the Moor himself at sea, Exit
And is in full commission here for Cyprus. MONTANO
MONTANO But, good lieutenant, is your general wived?
I am glad on't; 'tis a worthy governor. CASSIO
Third Gentleman Most fortunately: he hath achieved a maid
But this same Cassio, though he speak of That paragons description and wild fame;
comfort One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens,
Touching the Turkish loss, yet he looks sadly, And in the essential vesture of creation
And prays the Moor be safe; for they were Does tire the ingener.
parted Re-enter second Gentleman
With foul and violent tempest. How now! who has put in?
MONTANO Second Gentleman
Pray heavens he be; 'Tis one Iago, ancient to the general.
For I have served him, and the man CASSIO
commands Has had most favourable and happy speed:
Like a full soldier. Let's to the seaside, ho! Tempests themselves, high seas, and
As well to see the vessel that's come in howling winds,
As to throw out our eyes for brave Othello, The gutter'd rocks and congregated sands--
Even till we make the main and the aerial Traitors ensteep'd to clog the guiltless keel,--
blue As having sense of beauty, do omit
An indistinct regard. Their mortal natures, letting go safely by
Third Gentleman The divine Desdemona.
Come, let's do so: MONTANO
For every minute is expectancy What is she?
Of more arrivance. CASSIO
Enter CASSIO
She that I spake of, our great captain's She puts her tongue a little in her heart,
captain, And chides with thinking.
Left in the conduct of the bold Iago, EMILIA
Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts You have little cause to say so.
A se'nnight's speed. Great Jove, Othello IAGO
guard, Come on, come on; you are pictures out of
And swell his sail with thine own powerful doors,
breath, Bells in your parlors, wild-cats in your
That he may bless this bay with his tall ship, kitchens,
Make love's quick pants in Desdemona's Saints m your injuries, devils being offended,
arms, Players in your housewifery, and housewives'
Give renew'd fire to our extincted spirits in your beds.
And bring all Cyprus comfort! DESDEMONA
Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA, IAGO, O, fie upon thee, slanderer!
RODERIGO, and Attendants IAGO
O, behold, Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk:
The riches of the ship is come on shore! You rise to play and go to bed to work.
Ye men of Cyprus, let her have your knees. EMILIA
Hail to thee, lady! and the grace of heaven, You shall not write my praise.
Before, behind thee, and on every hand, IAGO
Enwheel thee round! No, let me not.
DESDEMONA DESDEMONA
I thank you, valiant Cassio. What wouldst thou write of me, if thou
What tidings can you tell me of my lord? shouldst
CASSIO praise me?
He is not yet arrived: nor know I aught IAGO
But that he's well and will be shortly here. O gentle lady, do not put me to't;
DESDEMONA For I am nothing, if not critical.
O, but I fear--How lost you company? DESDEMONA
CASSIO Come on assay. There's one gone to the
The great contention of the sea and skies harbour?
Parted our fellowship--But, hark! a sail. IAGO
Within 'A sail, a sail!' Guns heard Ay, madam.
Second Gentleman DESDEMONA
They give their greeting to the citadel; I am not merry; but I do beguile
This likewise is a friend. The thing I am, by seeming otherwise.
CASSIO Come, how wouldst thou praise me?
See for the news. IAGO
Exit Gentleman I am about it; but indeed my invention
Good ancient, you are welcome. Comes from my pate as birdlime does from
To EMILIA frize;
Welcome, mistress. It plucks out brains and all: but my Muse
Let it not gall your patience, good Iago, labours,
That I extend my manners; 'tis my breeding And thus she is deliver'd.
That gives me this bold show of courtesy. If she be fair and wise, fairness and wit,
Kissing her The one's for use, the other useth it.
IAGO DESDEMONA
Sir, would she give you so much of her lips Well praised! How if she be black and witty?
As of her tongue she oft bestows on me, IAGO
You'll have enough. If she be black, and thereto have a wit,
DESDEMONA She'll find a white that shall her blackness fit.
Alas, she has no speech. DESDEMONA
IAGO Worse and worse.
In faith, too much; EMILIA
I find it still, when I have list to sleep: How if fair and foolish?
Marry, before your ladyship, I grant, IAGO
She never yet was foolish that was fair; ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile
For even her folly help'd her to an heir. upon
DESDEMONA her, do; I will gyve thee in thine own
These are old fond paradoxes to make fools courtship.
laugh i' You say true; 'tis so, indeed: if such tricks as
the alehouse. What miserable praise hast these strip you out of your lieutenantry, it
thou for had
her that's foul and foolish? been better you had not kissed your three
IAGO fingers so
There's none so foul and foolish thereunto, oft, which now again you are most apt to
But does foul pranks which fair and wise play the
ones do. sir in. Very good; well kissed! an excellent
DESDEMONA courtesy! 'tis so, indeed. Yet again your
O heavy ignorance! thou praisest the worst fingers
best. to your lips? would they were clyster-pipes
But what praise couldst thou bestow on a for your sake!
deserving Trumpet within
woman indeed, one that, in the authority of The Moor! I know his trumpet.
her CASSIO
merit, did justly put on the vouch of very 'Tis truly so.
malice itself? DESDEMONA
IAGO Let's meet him and receive him.
She that was ever fair and never proud, CASSIO
Had tongue at will and yet was never loud, Lo, where he comes!
Never lack'd gold and yet went never gay, Enter OTHELLO and Attendants
Fled from her wish and yet said 'Now I may,' OTHELLO
She that being anger'd, her revenge being O my fair warrior!
nigh, DESDEMONA
Bade her wrong stay and her displeasure fly, My dear Othello!
She that in wisdom never was so frail OTHELLO
To change the cod's head for the salmon's It gives me wonder great as my content
tail; To see you here before me. O my soul's joy!
She that could think and ne'er disclose her If after every tempest come such calms,
mind, May the winds blow till they have waken'd
See suitors following and not look behind, death!
She was a wight, if ever such wight were,-- And let the labouring bark climb hills of seas
DESDEMONA Olympus-high and duck again as low
To do what? As hell's from heaven! If it were now to die,
IAGO 'Twere now to be most happy; for, I fear,
To suckle fools and chronicle small beer. My soul hath her content so absolute
DESDEMONA That not another comfort like to this
O most lame and impotent conclusion! Do Succeeds in unknown fate.
not learn DESDEMONA
of him, Emilia, though he be thy husband. The heavens forbid
How say But that our loves and comforts should
you, Cassio? is he not a most profane and increase,
liberal Even as our days do grow!
counsellor? OTHELLO
CASSIO Amen to that, sweet powers!
He speaks home, madam: You may relish him I cannot speak enough of this content;
more in It stops me here; it is too much of joy:
the soldier than in the scholar. And this, and this, the greatest discords be
IAGO Kissing her
[Aside] He takes her by the palm: ay, well That e'er our hearts shall make!
said, IAGO
whisper: with as little a web as this will I
[Aside] O, you are well tuned now! all which
But I'll set down the pegs that make this the Moor is defective in: now, for want of
music, these
As honest as I am. required conveniences, her delicate
OTHELLO tenderness will
Come, let us to the castle. find itself abused, begin to heave the gorge,
News, friends; our wars are done, the Turks disrelish and abhor the Moor; very nature will
are drown'd. instruct her in it and compel her to some
How does my old acquaintance of this isle? second
Honey, you shall be well desired in Cyprus; choice. Now, sir, this granted,--as it is a most
I have found great love amongst them. O my pregnant and unforced position--who stands
sweet, so
I prattle out of fashion, and I dote eminent in the degree of this fortune as
In mine own comforts. I prithee, good Iago, Cassio
Go to the bay and disembark my coffers: does? a knave very voluble; no further
Bring thou the master to the citadel; conscionable than in putting on the mere
He is a good one, and his worthiness form of
Does challenge much respect. Come, civil and humane seeming, for the better
Desdemona, compassing
Once more, well met at Cyprus. of his salt and most hidden loose affection?
Exeunt OTHELLO, DESDEMONA, and why,
Attendants none; why, none: a slipper and subtle knave,
IAGO a
Do thou meet me presently at the harbour. finder of occasions, that has an eye can
Come stamp and
hither. If thou be'st valiant,-- as, they say, counterfeit advantages, though true
base advantage never
men being in love have then a nobility in present itself; a devilish knave. Besides, the
their knave is handsome, young, and hath all
natures more than is native to them--list me. those
The requisites in him that folly and green minds
lieutenant tonight watches on the court of look
guard:--first, I must tell thee this-- after: a pestilent complete knave; and the
Desdemona is woman
directly in love with him. hath found him already.
RODERIGO RODERIGO
With him! why, 'tis not possible. I cannot believe that in her; she's full of
IAGO most blessed condition.
Lay thy finger thus, and let thy soul be IAGO
instructed. Blessed fig's-end! the wine she drinks is
Mark me with what violence she first loved made of
the Moor, grapes: if she had been blessed, she would
but for bragging and telling her fantastical never
lies: have loved the Moor. Blessed pudding! Didst
and will she love him still for prating? let not thou
thy discreet heart think it. Her eye must be not see her paddle with the palm of his
fed; hand? didst
and what delight shall she have to look on not mark that?
the RODERIGO
devil? When the blood is made dull with the Yes, that I did; but that was but courtesy.
act of IAGO
sport, there should be, again to inflame it Lechery, by this hand; an index and obscure
and to prologue
give satiety a fresh appetite, loveliness in to the history of lust and foul thoughts. They
favour, met
sympathy in years, manners and beauties; so near with their lips that their breaths
embraced The Moor, howbeit that I endure him not,
together. Villanous thoughts, Roderigo! when Is of a constant, loving, noble nature,
these And I dare think he'll prove to Desdemona
mutualities so marshal the way, hard at hand A most dear husband. Now, I do love her too;
comes Not out of absolute lust, though
the master and main exercise, the peradventure
incorporate I stand accountant for as great a sin,
conclusion, Pish! But, sir, be you ruled by But partly led to diet my revenge,
me: I For that I do suspect the lusty Moor
have brought you from Venice. Watch you to- Hath leap'd into my seat; the thought
night; whereof
for the command, I'll lay't upon you. Cassio Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my
knows inwards;
you not. I'll not be far from you: do you find And nothing can or shall content my soul
some occasion to anger Cassio, either by Till I am even'd with him, wife for wife,
speaking Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor
too loud, or tainting his discipline; or from At least into a jealousy so strong
what That judgment cannot cure. Which thing to
other course you please, which the time shall do,
more If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trash
favourably minister. For his quick hunting, stand the putting on,
RODERIGO I'll have our Michael Cassio on the hip,
Well. Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb--
IAGO For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too--
Sir, he is rash and very sudden in choler, and Make the Moor thank me, love me and
haply reward me.
may strike at you: provoke him, that he may; For making him egregiously an ass
for And practising upon his peace and quiet
even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus Even to madness. 'Tis here, but yet
to confused:
mutiny; whose qualification shall come into Knavery's plain face is never seen tin used.
no true Exit
taste again but by the displanting of Cassio. SCENE II. A street.
So Enter a Herald with a proclamation; People
shall you have a shorter journey to your following
desires by Herald
the means I shall then have to prefer them; It is Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant
and the general, that, upon certain tidings now
impediment most profitably removed, arrived,
without the importing the mere perdition of the Turkish
which there were no expectation of our fleet,
prosperity. every man put himself into triumph; some to
RODERIGO dance,
I will do this, if I can bring it to any some to make bonfires, each man to what
opportunity. sport and
IAGO revels his addiction leads him: for, besides
I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the these
citadel: beneficial news, it is the celebration of his
I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewell. nuptial. So much was his pleasure should be
RODERIGO proclaimed. All offices are open, and there is
Adieu. full
Exit liberty of feasting from this present hour of
IAGO five
That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it; till the bell have told eleven. Heaven bless
That she loves him, 'tis apt and of great the
credit: isle of Cyprus and our noble general Othello!
Exeunt IAGO
SCENE III. A hall in the castle. Well, happiness to their sheets! Come,
Enter OTHELLO, DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and lieutenant, I
Attendants have a stoup of wine; and here without are a
OTHELLO brace
Good Michael, look you to the guard to-night: of Cyprus gallants that would fain have a
Let's teach ourselves that honourable stop, measure to
Not to outsport discretion. the health of black Othello.
CASSIO CASSIO
Iago hath direction what to do; Not to-night, good Iago: I have very poor and
But, notwithstanding, with my personal eye unhappy brains for drinking: I could well wish
Will I look to't. courtesy would invent some other custom of
OTHELLO entertainment.
Iago is most honest. IAGO
Michael, good night: to-morrow with your O, they are our friends; but one cup: I'll drink
earliest for
Let me have speech with you. you.
To DESDEMONA CASSIO
Come, my dear love, I have drunk but one cup to-night, and that
The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue; was
That profit's yet to come 'tween me and you. craftily qualified too, and, behold, what
Good night. innovation
Exeunt OTHELLO, DESDEMONA, and it makes here: I am unfortunate in the
Attendants infirmity,
Enter IAGO and dare not task my weakness with any
CASSIO more.
Welcome, Iago; we must to the watch. IAGO
IAGO What, man! 'tis a night of revels: the gallants
Not this hour, lieutenant; 'tis not yet ten o' desire it.
the CASSIO
clock. Our general cast us thus early for the Where are they?
love IAGO
of his Desdemona; who let us not therefore Here at the door; I pray you, call them in.
blame: CASSIO
he hath not yet made wanton the night with I'll do't; but it dislikes me.
her; and Exit
she is sport for Jove. IAGO
CASSIO If I can fasten but one cup upon him,
She's a most exquisite lady. With that which he hath drunk to-night
IAGO already,
And, I'll warrant her, fun of game. He'll be as full of quarrel and offence
CASSIO As my young mistress' dog. Now, my sick
Indeed, she's a most fresh and delicate fool Roderigo,
creature. Whom love hath turn'd almost the wrong
IAGO side out,
What an eye she has! methinks it sounds a To Desdemona hath to-night caroused
parley of Potations pottle-deep; and he's to watch:
provocation. Three lads of Cyprus, noble swelling spirits,
CASSIO That hold their honours in a wary distance,
An inviting eye; and yet methinks right The very elements of this warlike isle,
modest. Have I to-night fluster'd with flowing cups,
IAGO And they watch too. Now, 'mongst this flock
And when she speaks, is it not an alarum to of drunkards,
love? Am I to put our Cassio in some action
CASSIO That may offend the isle.--But here they
She is indeed perfection. come:
If consequence do but approve my dream, CASSIO
My boat sails freely, both with wind and Why, this is a more exquisite song than the
stream. other.
Re-enter CASSIO; with him MONTANO and IAGO
Gentlemen; servants following with wine Will you hear't again?
CASSIO CASSIO
'Fore God, they have given me a rouse No; for I hold him to be unworthy of his place
already. that
MONTANO does those things. Well, God's above all; and
Good faith, a little one; not past a pint, as I there
am be souls must be saved, and there be souls
a soldier. must not be saved.
IAGO IAGO
Some wine, ho! It's true, good lieutenant.
Sings CASSIO
And let me the canakin clink, clink; For mine own part,--no offence to the
And let me the canakin clink general, nor
A soldier's a man; any man of quality,--I hope to be saved.
A life's but a span; IAGO
Why, then, let a soldier drink. And so do I too, lieutenant.
Some wine, boys! CASSIO
CASSIO Ay, but, by your leave, not before me; the
'Fore God, an excellent song. lieutenant is to be saved before the ancient.
IAGO Let's
I learned it in England, where, indeed, they have no more of this; let's to our affairs.--
are Forgive
most potent in potting: your Dane, your us our sins!--Gentlemen, let's look to our
German, and business.
your swag-bellied Hollander--Drink, ho!--are Do not think, gentlemen. I am drunk: this is
nothing my
to your English. ancient; this is my right hand, and this is my
CASSIO left:
Is your Englishman so expert in his drinking? I am not drunk now; I can stand well enough,
IAGO and
Why, he drinks you, with facility, your Dane speak well enough.
dead All
drunk; he sweats not to overthrow your Excellent well.
Almain; he CASSIO
gives your Hollander a vomit, ere the next Why, very well then; you must not think then
pottle that I am drunk.
can be filled. Exit
CASSIO MONTANO
To the health of our general! To the platform, masters; come, let's set the
MONTANO watch.
I am for it, lieutenant; and I'll do you justice. IAGO
IAGO You see this fellow that is gone before;
O sweet England! He is a soldier fit to stand by Caesar
King Stephen was a worthy peer, And give direction: and do but see his vice;
His breeches cost him but a crown; 'Tis to his virtue a just equinox,
He held them sixpence all too dear, The one as long as the other: 'tis pity of him.
With that he call'd the tailor lown. I fear the trust Othello puts him in.
He was a wight of high renown, On some odd time of his infirmity,
And thou art but of low degree: Will shake this island.
'Tis pride that pulls the country down; MONTANO
Then take thine auld cloak about thee. But is he often thus?
Some wine, ho! IAGO
'Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep: Exit RODERIGO
He'll watch the horologe a double set, Nay, good lieutenant,--alas, gentlemen;--
If drink rock not his cradle. Help, ho!--Lieutenant,--sir,--Montano,--sir;
MONTANO Help, masters!--Here's a goodly watch
It were well indeed!
The general were put in mind of it. Bell rings
Perhaps he sees it not; or his good nature Who's that which rings the bell?--Diablo, ho!
Prizes the virtue that appears in Cassio, The town will rise: God's will, lieutenant,
And looks not on his evils: is not this true? hold!
Enter RODERIGO You will be shamed for ever.
IAGO Re-enter OTHELLO and Attendants
[Aside to him] How now, Roderigo! OTHELLO
I pray you, after the lieutenant; go. What is the matter here?
Exit RODERIGO MONTANO
MONTANO 'Zounds, I bleed still; I am hurt to the death.
And 'tis great pity that the noble Moor Faints
Should hazard such a place as his own OTHELLO
second Hold, for your lives!
With one of an ingraft infirmity: IAGO
It were an honest action to say Hold, ho! Lieutenant,--sir--Montano,--
So to the Moor. gentlemen,--
IAGO Have you forgot all sense of place and duty?
Not I, for this fair island: Hold! the general speaks to you; hold, hold,
I do love Cassio well; and would do much for shame!
To cure him of this evil--But, hark! what OTHELLO
noise? Why, how now, ho! from whence ariseth this?
Cry within: 'Help! help!' Are we turn'd Turks, and to ourselves do that
Re-enter CASSIO, driving in RODERIGO Which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites?
CASSIO For Christian shame, put by this barbarous
You rogue! you rascal! brawl:
MONTANO He that stirs next to carve for his own rage
What's the matter, lieutenant? Holds his soul light; he dies upon his motion.
CASSIO Silence that dreadful bell: it frights the isle
A knave teach me my duty! From her propriety. What is the matter,
I'll beat the knave into a twiggen bottle. masters?
RODERIGO Honest Iago, that look'st dead with grieving,
Beat me! Speak, who began this? on thy love, I charge
CASSIO thee.
Dost thou prate, rogue? IAGO
Striking RODERIGO I do not know: friends all but now, even now,
MONTANO In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom
Nay, good lieutenant; Devesting them for bed; and then, but now--
Staying him As if some planet had unwitted men--
I pray you, sir, hold your hand. Swords out, and tilting one at other's breast,
CASSIO In opposition bloody. I cannot speak
Let me go, sir, Any beginning to this peevish odds;
Or I'll knock you o'er the mazzard. And would in action glorious I had lost
MONTANO Those legs that brought me to a part of it!
Come, come, OTHELLO
you're drunk. How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot?
CASSIO CASSIO
Drunk! I pray you, pardon me; I cannot speak.
They fight OTHELLO
IAGO Worthy Montano, you were wont be civil;
[Aside to RODERIGO] Away, I say; go out, The gravity and stillness of your youth
and cry a mutiny. The world hath noted, and your name is
great And Cassio high in oath; which till to-night
In mouths of wisest censure: what's the I ne'er might say before. When I came back--
matter, For this was brief--I found them close
That you unlace your reputation thus together,
And spend your rich opinion for the name At blow and thrust; even as again they were
Of a night-brawler? give me answer to it. When you yourself did part them.
MONTANO More of this matter cannot I report:
Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger: But men are men; the best sometimes
Your officer, Iago, can inform you,-- forget:
While I spare speech, which something now Though Cassio did some little wrong to him,
offends me,-- As men in rage strike those that wish them
Of all that I do know: nor know I aught best,
By me that's said or done amiss this night; Yet surely Cassio, I believe, received
Unless self-charity be sometimes a vice, From him that fled some strange indignity,
And to defend ourselves it be a sin Which patience could not pass.
When violence assails us. OTHELLO
OTHELLO I know, Iago,
Now, by heaven, Thy honesty and love doth mince this
My blood begins my safer guides to rule; matter,
And passion, having my best judgment Making it light to Cassio. Cassio, I love thee
collied, But never more be officer of mine.
Assays to lead the way: if I once stir, Re-enter DESDEMONA, attended
Or do but lift this arm, the best of you Look, if my gentle love be not raised up!
Shall sink in my rebuke. Give me to know I'll make thee an example.
How this foul rout began, who set it on; DESDEMONA
And he that is approved in this offence, What's the matter?
Though he had twinn'd with me, both at a OTHELLO
birth, All's well now, sweeting; come away to bed.
Shall lose me. What! in a town of war, Sir, for your hurts, myself will be your
Yet wild, the people's hearts brimful of fear, surgeon:
To manage private and domestic quarrel, Lead him off.
In night, and on the court and guard of To MONTANO, who is led off
safety! Iago, look with care about the town,
'Tis monstrous. Iago, who began't? And silence those whom this vile brawl
MONTANO distracted.
If partially affined, or leagued in office, Come, Desdemona: 'tis the soldiers' life
Thou dost deliver more or less than truth, To have their balmy slumbers waked with
Thou art no soldier. strife.
IAGO Exeunt all but IAGO and CASSIO
Touch me not so near: IAGO
I had rather have this tongue cut from my What, are you hurt, lieutenant?
mouth CASSIO
Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio; Ay, past all surgery.
Yet, I persuade myself, to speak the truth IAGO
Shall nothing wrong him. Thus it is, general. Marry, heaven forbid!
Montano and myself being in speech, CASSIO
There comes a fellow crying out for help: Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have
And Cassio following him with determined lost
sword, my reputation! I have lost the immortal part
To execute upon him. Sir, this gentleman of
Steps in to Cassio, and entreats his pause: myself, and what remains is bestial. My
Myself the crying fellow did pursue, reputation,
Lest by his clamour--as it so fell out-- Iago, my reputation!
The town might fall in fright: he, swift of foot, IAGO
Outran my purpose; and I return'd the rather As I am an honest man, I thought you had
For that I heard the clink and fall of swords, received
some bodily wound; there is more sense in It hath pleased the devil drunkenness to give
that than place
in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most to the devil wrath; one unperfectness shows
false me
imposition: oft got without merit, and lost another, to make me frankly despise myself.
without IAGO
deserving: you have lost no reputation at all, Come, you are too severe a moraler: as the
unless you repute yourself such a loser. time,
What, man! the place, and the condition of this country
there are ways to recover the general again: stands, I could heartily wish this had not
you befallen;
are but now cast in his mood, a punishment but, since it is as it is, mend it for your own
more in good.
policy than in malice, even so as one would CASSIO
beat his I will ask him for my place again; he shall tell
offenceless dog to affright an imperious lion: me
sue I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as
to him again, and he's yours. Hydra,
CASSIO such an answer would stop them all. To be
I will rather sue to be despised than to now a
deceive so sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently
good a commander with so slight, so a
drunken, and so beast! O strange! Every inordinate cup is
indiscreet an officer. Drunk? and speak unblessed and the ingredient is a devil.
parrot? IAGO
and squabble? swagger? swear? and Come, come, good wine is a good familiar
discourse creature,
fustian with one's own shadow? O thou if it be well used: exclaim no more against it.
invisible And, good lieutenant, I think you think I love
spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be you.
known by, CASSIO
let us call thee devil! I have well approved it, sir. I drunk!
IAGO IAGO
What was he that you followed with your You or any man living may be drunk! at a
sword? What time, man.
had he done to you? I'll tell you what you shall do. Our general's
CASSIO wife
I know not. is now the general: may say so in this
IAGO respect, for
Is't possible? that he hath devoted and given up himself to
CASSIO the
I remember a mass of things, but nothing contemplation, mark, and denotement of her
distinctly; parts and
a quarrel, but nothing wherefore. O God, that graces: confess yourself freely to her;
men importune
should put an enemy in their mouths to steal her help to put you in your place again: she
away is of
their brains! that we should, with joy, so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed a
pleasance disposition,
revel and applause, transform ourselves into she holds it a vice in her goodness not to do
beasts! more
IAGO than she is requested: this broken joint
Why, but you are now well enough: how between
came you thus you and her husband entreat her to splinter;
recovered? and, my
CASSIO fortunes against any lay worth naming, this
crack of your love shall grow stronger than it I do follow here in the chase, not like a hound
was before. that
CASSIO hunts, but one that fills up the cry. My money
You advise me well. is
IAGO almost spent; I have been to-night
I protest, in the sincerity of love and honest exceedingly well
kindness. cudgelled; and I think the issue will be, I shall
CASSIO have so much experience for my pains, and
I think it freely; and betimes in the morning I so, with
will no money at all and a little more wit, return
beseech the virtuous Desdemona to again to Venice.
undertake for me: IAGO
I am desperate of my fortunes if they cheque How poor are they that have not patience!
me here. What wound did ever heal but by degrees?
IAGO Thou know'st we work by wit, and not by
You are in the right. Good night, lieutenant; I witchcraft;
must to the watch. And wit depends on dilatory time.
CASSIO: Good night, honest Iago. Does't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee.
Exit And thou, by that small hurt, hast cashier'd
IAGO Cassio:
And what's he then that says I play the Though other things grow fair against the
villain? sun,
When this advice is free I give and honest, Yet fruits that blossom first will first be ripe:
Probal to thinking and indeed the course Content thyself awhile. By the mass, 'tis
To win the Moor again? For 'tis most easy morning;
The inclining Desdemona to subdue Pleasure and action make the hours seem
In any honest suit: she's framed as fruitful short.
As the free elements. And then for her Retire thee; go where thou art billeted:
To win the Moor--were't to renounce his Away, I say; thou shalt know more hereafter:
baptism, Nay, get thee gone.
All seals and symbols of redeemed sin, Exit RODERIGO
His soul is so enfetter'd to her love, Two things are to be done:
That she may make, unmake, do what she My wife must move for Cassio to her
list, mistress;
Even as her appetite shall play the god I'll set her on;
With his weak function. How am I then a Myself the while to draw the Moor apart,
villain And bring him jump when he may Cassio find
To counsel Cassio to this parallel course, Soliciting his wife: ay, that's the way
Directly to his good? Divinity of hell! Dull not device by coldness and delay.
When devils will the blackest sins put on, Exit
They do suggest at first with heavenly ACT III
shows, SCENE I. Before the castle.
As I do now: for whiles this honest fool Enter CASSIO and some Musicians
Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes CASSIO
And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor, Masters, play here; I will content your pains;
I'll pour this pestilence into his ear, Something that's brief; and bid 'Good
That she repeals him for her body's lust; morrow, general.'
And by how much she strives to do him Music
good, Enter Clown
She shall undo her credit with the Moor. Clown
So will I turn her virtue into pitch, Why masters, have your instruments been in
And out of her own goodness make the net Naples,
That shall enmesh them all. that they speak i' the nose thus?
Re-enter RODERIGO First Musician
How now, Roderigo! How, sir, how!
RODERIGO Clown
Are these, I pray you, wind-instruments? To send in to your wife: my suit to her
First Musician Is, that she will to virtuous Desdemona
Ay, marry, are they, sir. Procure me some access.
Clown IAGO
O, thereby hangs a tail. I'll send her to you presently;
First Musician And I'll devise a mean to draw the Moor
Whereby hangs a tale, sir? Out of the way, that your converse and
Clown business
Marry. sir, by many a wind-instrument that I May be more free.
know. CASSIO
But, masters, here's money for you: and the I humbly thank you for't.
general Exit IAGO
so likes your music, that he desires you, for I never knew
love's A Florentine more kind and honest.
sake, to make no more noise with it. Enter EMILIA
First Musician EMILIA
Well, sir, we will not. Good morrow, good Lieutenant: I am sorry
Clown For your displeasure; but all will sure be well.
If you have any music that may not be heard, The general and his wife are talking of it;
to't And she speaks for you stoutly: the Moor
again: but, as they say to hear music the replies,
general That he you hurt is of great fame in Cyprus,
does not greatly care. And great affinity, and that in wholesome
First Musician wisdom
We have none such, sir. He might not but refuse you; but he protests
Clown he loves you
Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll And needs no other suitor but his likings
away: To take the safest occasion by the front
go; vanish into air; away! To bring you in again.
Exeunt Musicians CASSIO
CASSIO Yet, I beseech you,
Dost thou hear, my honest friend? If you think fit, or that it may be done,
Clown Give me advantage of some brief discourse
No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear you. With Desdemona alone.
CASSIO EMILIA
Prithee, keep up thy quillets. There's a poor Pray you, come in;
piece I will bestow you where you shall have time
of gold for thee: if the gentlewoman that To speak your bosom freely.
attends CASSIO
the general's wife be stirring, tell her there's I am much bound to you.
one Cassio entreats her a little favour of Exeunt
speech: SCENE II. A room in the castle.
wilt thou do this? Enter OTHELLO, IAGO, and Gentlemen
Clown OTHELLO
She is stirring, sir: if she will stir hither, I These letters give, Iago, to the pilot;
shall seem to notify unto her. And by him do my duties to the senate:
CASSIO That done, I will be walking on the works;
Do, good my friend. Repair there to me.
Exit Clown IAGO
Enter IAGO Well, my good lord, I'll do't.
In happy time, Iago. OTHELLO
IAGO This fortification, gentlemen, shall we see't?
You have not been a-bed, then? Gentleman
CASSIO We'll wait upon your lordship.
Why, no; the day had broke Exeunt
Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago, SCENE III. The garden of the castle.
Enter DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and EMILIA Enter OTHELLO and IAGO
DESDEMONA IAGO
Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do Ha! I like not that.
All my abilities in thy behalf. OTHELLO
EMILIA What dost thou say?
Good madam, do: I warrant it grieves my IAGO
husband, Nothing, my lord: or if--I know not what.
As if the case were his. OTHELLO
DESDEMONA Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?
O, that's an honest fellow. Do not doubt, IAGO
Cassio, Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it,
But I will have my lord and you again That he would steal away so guilty-like,
As friendly as you were. Seeing you coming.
CASSIO OTHELLO
Bounteous madam, I do believe 'twas he.
Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio, DESDEMONA
He's never any thing but your true servant. How now, my lord!
DESDEMONA I have been talking with a suitor here,
I know't; I thank you. You do love my lord: A man that languishes in your displeasure.
You have known him long; and be you well OTHELLO
assured Who is't you mean?
He shall in strangeness stand no further off DESDEMONA
Than in a polite distance. Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord,
CASSIO If I have any grace or power to move you,
Ay, but, lady, His present reconciliation take;
That policy may either last so long, For if he be not one that truly loves you,
Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet, That errs in ignorance and not in cunning,
Or breed itself so out of circumstance, I have no judgment in an honest face:
That, I being absent and my place supplied, I prithee, call him back.
My general will forget my love and service. OTHELLO
DESDEMONA Went he hence now?
Do not doubt that; before Emilia here DESDEMONA
I give thee warrant of thy place: assure thee, Ay, sooth; so humbled
If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it That he hath left part of his grief with me,
To the last article: my lord shall never rest; To suffer with him. Good love, call him back.
I'll watch him tame and talk him out of OTHELLO
patience; Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other
His bed shall seem a school, his board a time.
shrift; DESDEMONA
I'll intermingle every thing he does But shall't be shortly?
With Cassio's suit: therefore be merry, OTHELLO
Cassio; The sooner, sweet, for you.
For thy solicitor shall rather die DESDEMONA
Than give thy cause away. Shall't be to-night at supper?
EMILIA OTHELLO
Madam, here comes my lord. No, not to-night.
CASSIO DESDEMONA
Madam, I'll take my leave. To-morrow dinner, then?
DESDEMONA OTHELLO
Why, stay, and hear me speak. I shall not dine at home;
CASSIO I meet the captains at the citadel.
Madam, not now: I am very ill at ease, DESDEMONA
Unfit for mine own purposes. Why, then, to-morrow night; or Tuesday
DESDEMONA morn;
Well, do your discretion. On Tuesday noon, or night; on Wednesday
Exit CASSIO morn:
I prithee, name the time, but let it not IAGO
Exceed three days: in faith, he's penitent; But for a satisfaction of my thought;
And yet his trespass, in our common reason-- No further harm.
Save that, they say, the wars must make OTHELLO
examples Why of thy thought, Iago?
Out of their best--is not almost a fault IAGO
To incur a private cheque. When shall he I did not think he had been acquainted with
come? her.
Tell me, Othello: I wonder in my soul, OTHELLO
What you would ask me, that I should deny, O, yes; and went between us very oft.
Or stand so mammering on. What! Michael IAGO
Cassio, Indeed!
That came a-wooing with you, and so many a OTHELLO
time, Indeed! ay, indeed: discern'st thou aught in
When I have spoke of you dispraisingly, that?
Hath ta'en your part; to have so much to do Is he not honest?
To bring him in! Trust me, I could do much,-- IAGO
OTHELLO Honest, my lord!
Prithee, no more: let him come when he will; OTHELLO
I will deny thee nothing. Honest! ay, honest.
DESDEMONA IAGO
Why, this is not a boon; My lord, for aught I know.
'Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves, OTHELLO
Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you What dost thou think?
warm, IAGO
Or sue to you to do a peculiar profit Think, my lord!
To your own person: nay, when I have a suit OTHELLO
Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed, Think, my lord!
It shall be full of poise and difficult weight By heaven, he echoes me,
And fearful to be granted. As if there were some monster in his thought
OTHELLO Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean
I will deny thee nothing: something:
Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this, I heard thee say even now, thou likedst not
To leave me but a little to myself. that,
DESDEMONA When Cassio left my wife: what didst not
Shall I deny you? no: farewell, my lord. like?
OTHELLO And when I told thee he was of my counsel
Farewell, my Desdemona: I'll come to thee In my whole course of wooing, thou criedst
straight. 'Indeed!'
DESDEMONA And didst contract and purse thy brow
Emilia, come. Be as your fancies teach you; together,
Whate'er you be, I am obedient. As if thou then hadst shut up in thy brain
Exeunt DESDEMONA and EMILIA Some horrible conceit: if thou dost love me,
OTHELLO Show me thy thought.
Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul, IAGO
But I do love thee! and when I love thee not, My lord, you know I love you.
Chaos is come again. OTHELLO
IAGO I think thou dost;
My noble lord-- And, for I know thou'rt full of love and
OTHELLO honesty,
What dost thou say, Iago? And weigh'st thy words before thou givest
IAGO them breath,
Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my lady, Therefore these stops of thine fright me the
Know of your love? more:
OTHELLO For such things in a false disloyal knave
He did, from first to last: why dost thou ask? Are tricks of custom, but in a man that's just
They are close delations, working from the Good name in man and woman, dear my
heart lord,
That passion cannot rule. Is the immediate jewel of their souls:
IAGO Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis
For Michael Cassio, something, nothing;
I dare be sworn I think that he is honest. 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to
OTHELLO thousands:
I think so too. But he that filches from me my good name
IAGO Robs me of that which not enriches him
Men should be what they seem; And makes me poor indeed.
Or those that be not, would they might seem OTHELLO
none! By heaven, I'll know thy thoughts.
OTHELLO IAGO
Certain, men should be what they seem. You cannot, if my heart were in your hand;
IAGO Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody.
Why, then, I think Cassio's an honest man. OTHELLO
OTHELLO Ha!
Nay, yet there's more in this: IAGO
I prithee, speak to me as to thy thinkings, O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;
As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of It is the green-eyed monster which doth
thoughts mock
The worst of words. The meat it feeds on; that cuckold lives in
IAGO bliss
Good my lord, pardon me: Who, certain of his fate, loves not his
Though I am bound to every act of duty, wronger;
I am not bound to that all slaves are free to. But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er
Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet
and false; strongly loves!
As where's that palace whereinto foul things OTHELLO
Sometimes intrude not? who has a breast so O misery!
pure, IAGO
But some uncleanly apprehensions Poor and content is rich and rich enough,
Keep leets and law-days and in session sit But riches fineless is as poor as winter
With meditations lawful? To him that ever fears he shall be poor.
OTHELLO Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe
Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago, defend
If thou but think'st him wrong'd and makest From jealousy!
his ear OTHELLO
A stranger to thy thoughts. Why, why is this?
IAGO Think'st thou I'ld make a lie of jealousy,
I do beseech you-- To follow still the changes of the moon
Though I perchance am vicious in my guess, With fresh suspicions? No; to be once in
As, I confess, it is my nature's plague doubt
To spy into abuses, and oft my jealousy Is once to be resolved: exchange me for a
Shapes faults that are not--that your wisdom goat,
yet, When I shall turn the business of my soul
From one that so imperfectly conceits, To such exsufflicate and blown surmises,
Would take no notice, nor build yourself a Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me
trouble jealous
Out of his scattering and unsure observance. To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves
It were not for your quiet nor your good, company,
Nor for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom, Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances
To let you know my thoughts. well;
OTHELLO Where virtue is, these are more virtuous:
What dost thou mean? Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw
IAGO The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt;
For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago; As my thoughts aim not at. Cassio's my
I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; worthy friend--
And on the proof, there is no more but this,-- My lord, I see you're moved.
Away at once with love or jealousy! OTHELLO
IAGO No, not much moved:
I am glad of it; for now I shall have reason I do not think but Desdemona's honest.
To show the love and duty that I bear you IAGO
With franker spirit: therefore, as I am bound, Long live she so! and long live you to think
Receive it from me. I speak not yet of proof. so!
Look to your wife; observe her well with OTHELLO
Cassio; And yet, how nature erring from itself,--
Wear your eye thus, not jealous nor secure: IAGO
I would not have your free and noble nature, Ay, there's the point: as--to be bold with
Out of self-bounty, be abused; look to't: you--
I know our country disposition well; Not to affect many proposed matches
In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks Of her own clime, complexion, and degree,
They dare not show their husbands; their Whereto we see in all things nature tends--
best conscience Foh! one may smell in such a will most rank,
Is not to leave't undone, but keep't unknown. Foul disproportion thoughts unnatural.
OTHELLO But pardon me; I do not in position
Dost thou say so? Distinctly speak of her; though I may fear
IAGO Her will, recoiling to her better judgment,
She did deceive her father, marrying you; May fall to match you with her country forms
And when she seem'd to shake and fear your And happily repent.
looks, OTHELLO
She loved them most. Farewell, farewell:
OTHELLO If more thou dost perceive, let me know
And so she did. more;
IAGO Set on thy wife to observe: leave me, Iago:
Why, go to then; IAGO
She that, so young, could give out such a [Going] My lord, I take my leave.
seeming, OTHELLO
To seal her father's eyes up close as oak- Why did I marry? This honest creature
He thought 'twas witchcraft--but I am much doubtless
to blame; Sees and knows more, much more, than he
I humbly do beseech you of your pardon unfolds.
For too much loving you. IAGO
OTHELLO [Returning] My lord, I would I might entreat
I am bound to thee for ever. your honour
IAGO To scan this thing no further; leave it to time:
I see this hath a little dash'd your spirits. Though it be fit that Cassio have his place,
OTHELLO For sure, he fills it up with great ability,
Not a jot, not a jot. Yet, if you please to hold him off awhile,
IAGO You shall by that perceive him and his
I' faith, I fear it has. means:
I hope you will consider what is spoke Note, if your lady strain his entertainment
Comes from my love. But I do see you're With any strong or vehement importunity;
moved: Much will be seen in that. In the mean time,
I am to pray you not to strain my speech Let me be thought too busy in my fears--
To grosser issues nor to larger reach As worthy cause I have to fear I am--
Than to suspicion. And hold her free, I do beseech your honour.
OTHELLO OTHELLO
I will not. Fear not my government.
IAGO IAGO
Should you do so, my lord, I once more take my leave.
My speech should fall into such vile success Exit
OTHELLO My wayward husband hath a hundred times
This fellow's of exceeding honesty, Woo'd me to steal it; but she so loves the
And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit, token,
Of human dealings. If I do prove her haggard, For he conjured her she should ever keep it,
Though that her jesses were my dear That she reserves it evermore about her
heartstrings, To kiss and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en
I'ld whistle her off and let her down the wind, out,
To pray at fortune. Haply, for I am black And give't Iago: what he will do with it
And have not those soft parts of Heaven knows, not I;
conversation I nothing but to please his fantasy.
That chamberers have, or for I am declined Re-enter Iago
Into the vale of years,--yet that's not much-- IAGO
She's gone. I am abused; and my relief How now! what do you here alone?
Must be to loathe her. O curse of marriage, EMILIA
That we can call these delicate creatures Do not you chide; I have a thing for you.
ours, IAGO
And not their appetites! I had rather be a A thing for me? it is a common thing--
toad, EMILIA
And live upon the vapour of a dungeon, Ha!
Than keep a corner in the thing I love IAGO
For others' uses. Yet, 'tis the plague of great To have a foolish wife.
ones; EMILIA
Prerogatived are they less than the base; O, is that all? What will you give me now
'Tis destiny unshunnable, like death: For the same handkerchief?
Even then this forked plague is fated to us IAGO
When we do quicken. Desdemona comes: What handkerchief?
Re-enter DESDEMONA and EMILIA EMILIA
If she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself! What handkerchief?
I'll not believe't. Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona;
DESDEMONA That which so often you did bid me steal.
How now, my dear Othello! IAGO
Your dinner, and the generous islanders Hast stol'n it from her?
By you invited, do attend your presence. EMILIA
OTHELLO No, 'faith; she let it drop by negligence.
I am to blame. And, to the advantage, I, being here, took't
DESDEMONA up.
Why do you speak so faintly? Look, here it is.
Are you not well? IAGO
OTHELLO A good wench; give it me.
I have a pain upon my forehead here. EMILIA
DESDEMONA What will you do with 't, that you have been
'Faith, that's with watching; 'twill away again: so earnest
Let me but bind it hard, within this hour To have me filch it?
It will be well. IAGO
OTHELLO [Snatching it] Why, what's that to you?
Your napkin is too little: EMILIA
He puts the handkerchief from him; and it If it be not for some purpose of import,
drops Give't me again: poor lady, she'll run mad
Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you. When she shall lack it.
DESDEMONA IAGO
I am very sorry that you are not well. Be not acknown on 't; I have use for it.
Exeunt OTHELLO and DESDEMONA Go, leave me.
EMILIA Exit EMILIA
I am glad I have found this napkin: I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin,
This was her first remembrance from the And let him find it. Trifles light as air
Moor: Are to the jealous confirmations strong
As proofs of holy writ: this may do OTHELLO
something. Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore,
The Moor already changes with my poison: Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof:
Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, Or by the worth of man's eternal soul,
poisons. Thou hadst been better have been born a
Which at the first are scarce found to dog
distaste, Than answer my waked wrath!
But with a little act upon the blood. IAGO
Burn like the mines of Sulphur. I did say so: Is't come to this?
Look, where he comes! OTHELLO
Re-enter OTHELLO Make me to see't; or, at the least, so prove it,
Not poppy, nor mandragora, That the probation bear no hinge nor loop
Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world, To hang a doubt on; or woe upon thy life!
Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep IAGO
Which thou owedst yesterday. My noble lord,--
OTHELLO OTHELLO
Ha! ha! false to me? If thou dost slander her and torture me,
IAGO Never pray more; abandon all remorse;
Why, how now, general! no more of that. On horror's head horrors accumulate;
OTHELLO Do deeds to make heaven weep, all earth
Avaunt! be gone! thou hast set me on the amazed;
rack: For nothing canst thou to damnation add
I swear 'tis better to be much abused Greater than that.
Than but to know't a little. IAGO
IAGO O grace! O heaven forgive me!
How now, my lord! Are you a man? have you a soul or sense?
OTHELLO God be wi' you; take mine office. O wretched
What sense had I of her stol'n hours of lust? fool.
I saw't not, thought it not, it harm'd not me: That livest to make thine honesty a vice!
I slept the next night well, was free and O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O
merry; world,
I found not Cassio's kisses on her lips: To be direct and honest is not safe.
He that is robb'd, not wanting what is stol'n, I thank you for this profit; and from hence
Let him not know't, and he's not robb'd at all. I'll love no friend, sith love breeds such
IAGO offence.
I am sorry to hear this. OTHELLO
OTHELLO Nay, stay: thou shouldst be honest.
I had been happy, if the general camp, IAGO
Pioners and all, had tasted her sweet body, I should be wise, for honesty's a fool
So I had nothing known. O, now, for ever And loses that it works for.
Farewell the tranquil mind! farewell content! OTHELLO
Farewell the plumed troop, and the big wars, By the world,
That make ambition virtue! O, farewell! I think my wife be honest and think she is
Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill not;
trump, I think that thou art just and think thou art
The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife, not.
The royal banner, and all quality, I'll have some proof. Her name, that was as
Pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious fresh
war! As Dian's visage, is now begrimed and black
And, O you mortal engines, whose rude As mine own face. If there be cords, or
throats knives,
The immortal Jove's dead clamours Poison, or fire, or suffocating streams,
counterfeit, I'll not endure it. Would I were satisfied!
Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone! IAGO
IAGO
Is't possible, my lord?
I see, sir, you are eaten up with passion: But this denoted a foregone conclusion:
I do repent me that I put it to you. 'Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a
You would be satisfied? dream.
OTHELLO IAGO
Would! nay, I will. And this may help to thicken other proofs
IAGO That do demonstrate thinly.
And may: but, how? how satisfied, my lord? OTHELLO
Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on-- I'll tear her all to pieces.
Behold her topp'd? IAGO
OTHELLO Nay, but be wise: yet we see nothing done;
Death and damnation! O! She may be honest yet. Tell me but this,
IAGO Have you not sometimes seen a
It were a tedious difficulty, I think, handkerchief
To bring them to that prospect: damn them Spotted with strawberries in your wife's
then, hand?
If ever mortal eyes do see them bolster OTHELLO
More than their own! What then? how then? I gave her such a one; 'twas my first gift.
What shall I say? Where's satisfaction? IAGO
It is impossible you should see this, I know not that; but such a handkerchief--
Were they as prime as goats, as hot as I am sure it was your wife's--did I to-day
monkeys, See Cassio wipe his beard with.
As salt as wolves in pride, and fools as gross OTHELLO
As ignorance made drunk. But yet, I say, If it be that--
If imputation and strong circumstances, IAGO
Which lead directly to the door of truth, If it be that, or any that was hers,
Will give you satisfaction, you may have't. It speaks against her with the other proofs.
OTHELLO OTHELLO
Give me a living reason she's disloyal. O, that the slave had forty thousand lives!
IAGO One is too poor, too weak for my revenge.
I do not like the office: Now do I see 'tis true. Look here, Iago;
But, sith I am enter'd in this cause so far, All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven.
Prick'd to't by foolish honesty and love, 'Tis gone.
I will go on. I lay with Cassio lately; Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell!
And, being troubled with a raging tooth, Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted
I could not sleep. throne
There are a kind of men so loose of soul, To tyrannous hate! Swell, bosom, with thy
That in their sleeps will mutter their affairs: fraught,
One of this kind is Cassio: For 'tis of aspics' tongues!
In sleep I heard him say 'Sweet Desdemona, IAGO
Let us be wary, let us hide our loves;' Yet be content.
And then, sir, would he gripe and wring my OTHELLO
hand, O, blood, blood, blood!
Cry 'O sweet creature!' and then kiss me IAGO
hard, Patience, I say; your mind perhaps may
As if he pluck'd up kisses by the roots change.
That grew upon my lips: then laid his leg OTHELLO
Over my thigh, and sigh'd, and kiss'd; and Never, Iago: Like to the Pontic sea,
then Whose icy current and compulsive course
Cried 'Cursed fate that gave thee to the Ne'er feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on
Moor!' To the Propontic and the Hellespont,
OTHELLO Even so my bloody thoughts, with violent
O monstrous! monstrous! pace,
IAGO Shall ne'er look back, ne'er ebb to humble
Nay, this was but his dream. love,
OTHELLO Till that a capable and wide revenge
Swallow them up. Now, by yond marble Can any thing be made of this?
heaven, Clown
Kneels I know not where he lodges, and for me to
In the due reverence of a sacred vow devise a
I here engage my words. lodging and say he lies here or he lies there,
IAGO were
Do not rise yet. to lie in mine own throat.
Kneels DESDEMONA
Witness, you ever-burning lights above, Can you inquire him out, and be edified by
You elements that clip us round about, report?
Witness that here Iago doth give up Clown
The execution of his wit, hands, heart, I will catechise the world for him; that is,
To wrong'd Othello's service! Let him make
command, questions, and by them answer.
And to obey shall be in me remorse, DESDEMONA
What bloody business ever. Seek him, bid him come hither: tell him I
They rise have
OTHELLO moved my lord on his behalf, and hope all
I greet thy love, will be well.
Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance Clown
bounteous, To do this is within the compass of man's wit:
And will upon the instant put thee to't: and
Within these three days let me hear thee say therefore I will attempt the doing it.
That Cassio's not alive. Exit
IAGO DESDEMONA
My friend is dead; 'tis done at your request: Where should I lose that handkerchief,
But let her live. Emilia?
OTHELLO EMILIA
Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her! I know not, madam.
Come, go with me apart; I will withdraw, DESDEMONA
To furnish me with some swift means of Believe me, I had rather have lost my purse
death Full of crusadoes: and, but my noble Moor
For the fair devil. Now art thou my Is true of mind and made of no such
lieutenant. baseness
IAGO As jealous creatures are, it were enough
I am your own for ever. To put him to ill thinking.
Exeunt EMILIA
SCENE IV. Before the castle. Is he not jealous?
Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA, and Clown DESDEMONA
DESDEMONA Who, he? I think the sun where he was born
Do you know, sirrah, where Lieutenant Drew all such humours from him.
Cassio lies? EMILIA
Clown Look, where he comes.
I dare not say he lies any where. DESDEMONA
DESDEMONA I will not leave him now till Cassio
Why, man? Be call'd to him.
Clown Enter OTHELLO
He's a soldier, and for one to say a soldier How is't with you, my lord
lies, OTHELLO
is stabbing. Well, my good lady.
DESDEMONA Aside
Go to: where lodges he? O, hardness to dissemble!--
Clown How do you, Desdemona?
To tell you where he lodges, is to tell you DESDEMONA
where I lie. Well, my good lord.
DESDEMONA OTHELLO
Give me your hand: this hand is moist, my wive,
lady. To give it her. I did so: and take heed on't;
DESDEMONA Make it a darling like your precious eye;
It yet hath felt no age nor known no sorrow. To lose't or give't away were such perdition
OTHELLO As nothing else could match.
This argues fruitfulness and liberal heart: DESDEMONA
Hot, hot, and moist: this hand of yours Is't possible?
requires OTHELLO
A sequester from liberty, fasting and prayer, 'Tis true: there's magic in the web of it:
Much castigation, exercise devout; A sibyl, that had number'd in the world
For here's a young and sweating devil here, The sun to course two hundred compasses,
That commonly rebels. 'Tis a good hand, In her prophetic fury sew'd the work;
A frank one. The worms were hallow'd that did breed the
DESDEMONA silk;
You may, indeed, say so; And it was dyed in mummy which the skilful
For 'twas that hand that gave away my Conserved of maidens' hearts.
heart. DESDEMONA
OTHELLO Indeed! is't true?
A liberal hand: the hearts of old gave hands; OTHELLO
But our new heraldry is hands, not hearts. Most veritable; therefore look to't well.
DESDEMONA DESDEMONA
I cannot speak of this. Come now, your Then would to God that I had never seen't!
promise. OTHELLO
OTHELLO Ha! wherefore?
What promise, chuck? DESDEMONA
DESDEMONA Why do you speak so startingly and rash?
I have sent to bid Cassio come speak with OTHELLO
you. Is't lost? is't gone? speak, is it out
OTHELLO o' the way?
I have a salt and sorry rheum offends me; DESDEMONA
Lend me thy handkerchief. Heaven bless us!
DESDEMONA OTHELLO
Here, my lord. Say you?
OTHELLO DESDEMONA
That which I gave you. It is not lost; but what an if it were?
DESDEMONA OTHELLO
I have it not about me. How!
OTHELLO DESDEMONA
Not? I say, it is not lost.
DESDEMONA OTHELLO
No, indeed, my lord. Fetch't, let me see't.
OTHELLO DESDEMONA
That is a fault. Why, so I can, sir, but I will not now.
That handkerchief This is a trick to put me from my suit:
Did an Egyptian to my mother give; Pray you, let Cassio be received again.
She was a charmer, and could almost read OTHELLO
The thoughts of people: she told her, while Fetch me the handkerchief: my mind
she kept it, misgives.
'Twould make her amiable and subdue my DESDEMONA
father Come, come;
Entirely to her love, but if she lost it You'll never meet a more sufficient man.
Or made gift of it, my father's eye OTHELLO
Should hold her loathed and his spirits The handkerchief!
should hunt DESDEMONA
After new fancies: she, dying, gave it me;
And bid me, when my fate would have me I pray, talk me of Cassio.
OTHELLO So help me every spirit sanctified,
The handkerchief! As I have spoken for you all my best
DESDEMONA And stood within the blank of his displeasure
A man that all his time For my free speech! you must awhile be
Hath founded his good fortunes on your love, patient:
Shared dangers with you,-- What I can do I will; and more I will
OTHELLO Than for myself I dare: let that suffice you.
The handkerchief! IAGO
DESDEMONA Is my lord angry?
In sooth, you are to blame. EMILIA
OTHELLO He went hence but now,
Away! And certainly in strange unquietness.
Exit IAGO
EMILIA Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon,
Is not this man jealous? When it hath blown his ranks into the air,
DESDEMONA And, like the devil, from his very arm
I ne'er saw this before. Puff'd his own brother:--and can he be angry?
Sure, there's some wonder in this Something of moment then: I will go meet
handkerchief: him:
I am most unhappy in the loss of it. There's matter in't indeed, if he be angry.
EMILIA DESDEMONA
'Tis not a year or two shows us a man: I prithee, do so.
They are all but stomachs, and we all but Exit IAGO
food; Something, sure, of state,
To eat us hungerly, and when they are full, Either from Venice, or some unhatch'd
They belch us. Look you, Cassio and my practise
husband! Made demonstrable here in Cyprus to him,
Enter CASSIO and IAGO Hath puddled his clear spirit: and in such
IAGO cases
There is no other way; 'tis she must do't: Men's natures wrangle with inferior things,
And, lo, the happiness! go, and importune Though great ones are their object. 'Tis even
her. so;
DESDEMONA For let our finger ache, and it indues
How now, good Cassio! what's the news with Our other healthful members even to that
you? sense
CASSIO Of pain: nay, we must think men are not
Madam, my former suit: I do beseech you gods,
That by your virtuous means I may again Nor of them look for such observances
Exist, and be a member of his love As fit the bridal. Beshrew me much, Emilia,
Whom I with all the office of my heart I was, unhandsome warrior as I am,
Entirely honour: I would not be delay'd. Arraigning his unkindness with my soul;
If my offence be of such mortal kind But now I find I had suborn'd the witness,
That nor my service past, nor present And he's indicted falsely.
sorrows, EMILIA
Nor purposed merit in futurity, Pray heaven it be state-matters, as you
Can ransom me into his love again, think,
But to know so must be my benefit; And no conception nor no jealous toy
So shall I clothe me in a forced content, Concerning you.
And shut myself up in some other course, DESDEMONA
To fortune's alms. Alas the day! I never gave him cause.
DESDEMONA EMILIA
Alas, thrice-gentle Cassio! But jealous souls will not be answer'd so;
My advocation is not now in tune; They are not ever jealous for the cause,
My lord is not my lord; nor should I know But jealous for they are jealous: 'tis a
him, monster
Were he in favour as in humour alter'd. Begot upon itself, born on itself.
DESDEMONA As like enough it will--I'ld have it copied:
Heaven keep that monster from Othello's Take it, and do't; and leave me for this time.
mind! BIANCA
EMILIA Leave you! wherefore?
Lady, amen. CASSIO
DESDEMONA I do attend here on the general;
I will go seek him. Cassio, walk hereabout: And think it no addition, nor my wish,
If I do find him fit, I'll move your suit To have him see me woman'd.
And seek to effect it to my uttermost. BIANCA
CASSIO Why, I pray you?
I humbly thank your ladyship. CASSIO
Exeunt DESDEMONA and EMILIA Not that I love you not.
Enter BIANCA BIANCA
BIANCA But that you do not love me.
Save you, friend Cassio! I pray you, bring me on the way a little,
CASSIO And say if I shall see you soon at night.
What make you from home? CASSIO
How is it with you, my most fair Bianca? 'Tis but a little way that I can bring you;
I' faith, sweet love, I was coming to your For I attend here: but I'll see you soon.
house. BIANCA
BIANCA 'Tis very good; I must be circumstanced.
And I was going to your lodging, Cassio. Exeunt
What, keep a week away? seven days and ACT IV
nights? SCENE I. Cyprus. Before the castle.
Eight score eight hours? and lovers' absent Enter OTHELLO and IAGO
hours, IAGO
More tedious than the dial eight score times? Will you think so?
O weary reckoning! OTHELLO
CASSIO Think so, Iago!
Pardon me, Bianca: IAGO
I have this while with leaden thoughts been What,
press'd: To kiss in private?
But I shall, in a more continuate time, OTHELLO
Strike off this score of absence. Sweet An unauthorized kiss.
Bianca, IAGO
Giving her DESDEMONA's handkerchief Or to be naked with her friend in bed
Take me this work out. An hour or more, not meaning any harm?
BIANCA OTHELLO
O Cassio, whence came this? Naked in bed, Iago, and not mean harm!
This is some token from a newer friend: It is hypocrisy against the devil:
To the felt absence now I feel a cause: They that mean virtuously, and yet do so,
Is't come to this? Well, well. The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt
CASSIO heaven.
Go to, woman! IAGO
Throw your vile guesses in the devil's teeth, So they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip:
From whence you have them. You are jealous But if I give my wife a handkerchief,--
now OTHELLO
That this is from some mistress, some What then?
remembrance: IAGO
No, in good troth, Bianca. Why, then, 'tis hers, my lord; and, being
BIANCA hers,
Why, whose is it? She may, I think, bestow't on any man.
CASSIO OTHELLO
I know not, sweet: I found it in my chamber. She is protectress of her honour too:
I like the work well: ere it be demanded-- May she give that?
IAGO
Her honour is an essence that's not seen; Falls in a trance
They have it very oft that have it not: IAGO
But, for the handkerchief,-- Work on,
OTHELLO My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are
By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot caught;
it. And many worthy and chaste dames even
Thou said'st, it comes o'er my memory, thus,
As doth the raven o'er the infected house, All guiltless, meet reproach. What, ho! my
Boding to all--he had my handkerchief. lord!
IAGO My lord, I say! Othello!
Ay, what of that? Enter CASSIO
OTHELLO How now, Cassio!
That's not so good now. CASSIO
IAGO What's the matter?
What, IAGO
If I had said I had seen him do you wrong? My lord is fall'n into an epilepsy:
Or heard him say,--as knaves be such This is his second fit; he had one yesterday.
abroad, CASSIO
Who having, by their own importunate suit, Rub him about the temples.
Or voluntary dotage of some mistress, IAGO
Convinced or supplied them, cannot choose No, forbear;
But they must blab-- The lethargy must have his quiet course:
OTHELLO If not, he foams at mouth and by and by
Hath he said any thing? Breaks out to savage madness. Look he stirs:
IAGO Do you withdraw yourself a little while,
He hath, my lord; but be you well assured, He will recover straight: when he is gone,
No more than he'll unswear. I would on great occasion speak with you.
OTHELLO Exit CASSIO
What hath he said? How is it, general? have you not hurt your
IAGO head?
'Faith, that he did--I know not what he did. OTHELLO
OTHELLO Dost thou mock me?
What? what? IAGO
IAGO I mock you! no, by heaven.
Lie-- Would you would bear your fortune like a
OTHELLO man!
With her? OTHELLO
IAGO A horned man's a monster and a beast.
With her, on her; what you will. IAGO
OTHELLO There's many a beast then in a populous city,
Lie with her! lie on her! We say lie on her, And many a civil monster.
when OTHELLO
they belie her. Lie with her! that's fulsome. Did he confess it?
--Handkerchief--confessions--handkerchief!-- IAGO
To Good sir, be a man;
confess, and be hanged for his labour;--first, Think every bearded fellow that's but yoked
to be May draw with you: there's millions now alive
hanged, and then to confess.--I tremble at it. That nightly lie in those unproper beds
Nature would not invest herself in such Which they dare swear peculiar: your case is
shadowing better.
passion without some instruction. It is not O, 'tis the spite of hell, the fiend's arch-mock,
words To lip a wanton in a secure couch,
that shake me thus. Pish! Noses, ears, and And to suppose her chaste! No, let me know;
lips. And knowing what I am, I know what she
--Is't possible?--Confess--handkerchief!--O shall be.
devil!-- OTHELLO
O, thou art wise; 'tis certain. Alas, poor caitiff!
IAGO OTHELLO
Stand you awhile apart; Look, how he laughs already!
Confine yourself but in a patient list. IAGO
Whilst you were here o'erwhelmed with your I never knew woman love man so.
grief-- CASSIO
A passion most unsuiting such a man-- Alas, poor rogue! I think, i' faith, she loves
Cassio came hither: I shifted him away, me.
And laid good 'scuse upon your ecstasy, OTHELLO
Bade him anon return and here speak with Now he denies it faintly, and laughs it out.
me; IAGO
The which he promised. Do but encave Do you hear, Cassio?
yourself, OTHELLO
And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable Now he importunes him
scorns, To tell it o'er: go to; well said, well said.
That dwell in every region of his face; IAGO
For I will make him tell the tale anew, She gives it out that you shall marry hey:
Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and Do you intend it?
when CASSIO
He hath, and is again to cope your wife: Ha, ha, ha!
I say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience; OTHELLO
Or I shall say you are all in all in spleen, Do you triumph, Roman? do you triumph?
And nothing of a man. CASSIO
OTHELLO I marry her! what? a customer! Prithee, bear
Dost thou hear, Iago? some
I will be found most cunning in my patience; charity to my wit: do not think it so
But--dost thou hear?--most bloody. unwholesome.
IAGO Ha, ha, ha!
That's not amiss; OTHELLO
But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw? So, so, so, so: they laugh that win.
OTHELLO retires IAGO
Now will I question Cassio of Bianca, 'Faith, the cry goes that you shall marry her.
A housewife that by selling her desires CASSIO
Buys herself bread and clothes: it is a Prithee, say true.
creature IAGO
That dotes on Cassio; as 'tis the strumpet's I am a very villain else.
plague OTHELLO
To beguile many and be beguiled by one: Have you scored me? Well.
He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain CASSIO
From the excess of laughter. Here he comes: This is the monkey's own giving out: she is
Re-enter CASSIO persuaded I will marry her, out of her own
As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad; love and
And his unbookish jealousy must construe flattery, not out of my promise.
Poor Cassio's smiles, gestures and light OTHELLO
behavior, Iago beckons me; now he begins the story.
Quite in the wrong. How do you now, CASSIO
lieutenant? She was here even now; she haunts me in
CASSIO every place.
The worser that you give me the addition I was the other day talking on the sea-bank
Whose want even kills me. with
IAGO certain Venetians; and thither comes the
Ply Desdemona well, and you are sure on't. bauble,
Speaking lower and, by this hand, she falls me thus about
Now, if this suit lay in Bianco's power, my neck--
How quickly should you speed! OTHELLO
CASSIO
Crying 'O dear Cassio!' as it were: his gesture Well, I may chance to see you; for I would
imports it. very fain
CASSIO speak with you.
So hangs, and lolls, and weeps upon me; so CASSIO
hales, Prithee, come; will you?
and pulls me: ha, ha, ha! IAGO
OTHELLO Go to; say no more.
Now he tells how she plucked him to my Exit CASSIO
chamber. O, OTHELLO
I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I [Advancing] How shall I murder him, Iago?
shall IAGO
throw it to. Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice?
CASSIO OTHELLO
Well, I must leave her company. O Iago!
IAGO IAGO
Before me! look, where she comes. And did you see the handkerchief?
CASSIO OTHELLO
'Tis such another fitchew! marry a perfumed Was that mine?
one. IAGO
Enter BIANCA Yours by this hand: and to see how he prizes
What do you mean by this haunting of me? the
BIANCA foolish woman your wife! she gave it him,
Let the devil and his dam haunt you! What and he
did you hath given it his whore.
mean by that same handkerchief you gave OTHELLO
me even now? I would have him nine years a-killing.
I was a fine fool to take it. I must take out the A fine woman! a fair woman! a sweet
work?--A likely piece of work, that you should woman!
find IAGO
it in your chamber, and not know who left it Nay, you must forget that.
there! OTHELLO
This is some minx's token, and I must take Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damned
out the to-night;
work? There; give it your hobby-horse: for she shall not live: no, my heart is turned
wheresoever to
you had it, I'll take out no work on't. stone; I strike it, and it hurts my hand. O, the
CASSIO world hath not a sweeter creature: she might
How now, my sweet Bianca! how now! how lie by
now! an emperor's side and command him tasks.
OTHELLO IAGO
By heaven, that should be my handkerchief! Nay, that's not your way.
BIANCA OTHELLO
An you'll come to supper to-night, you may; Hang her! I do but say what she is: so
an you delicate
will not, come when you are next prepared with her needle: an admirable musician: O!
for. she
Exit will sing the savageness out of a bear: of so
IAGO high
After her, after her. and plenteous wit and invention:--
CASSIO IAGO
'Faith, I must; she'll rail in the street else. She's the worse for all this.
IAGO OTHELLO
Will you sup there? O, a thousand thousand times: and then, of
CASSIO so
'Faith, I intend so. gentle a condition!
IAGO IAGO
Ay, too gentle. I am very glad to see you, signior
OTHELLO Welcome to Cyprus.
Nay, that's certain: but yet the pity of it, LODOVICO
Iago! I thank you. How does Lieutenant Cassio?
O Iago, the pity of it, Iago! IAGO
IAGO Lives, sir.
If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her DESDEMONA
patent to offend; for, if it touch not you, it Cousin, there's fall'n between him and my
comes lord
near nobody. An unkind breach: but you shall make all
OTHELLO well.
I will chop her into messes: cuckold me! OTHELLO
IAGO Are you sure of that?
O, 'tis foul in her. DESDEMONA
OTHELLO My lord?
With mine officer! OTHELLO
IAGO [Reads] 'This fail you not to do, as you will--'
That's fouler. LODOVICO
OTHELLO He did not call; he's busy in the paper.
Get me some poison, Iago; this night: I'll not Is there division 'twixt my lord and Cassio?
expostulate with her, lest her body and DESDEMONA
beauty A most unhappy one: I would do much
unprovide my mind again: this night, Iago. To atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio.
IAGO OTHELLO
Do it not with poison, strangle her in her bed, Fire and brimstone!
even DESDEMONA
the bed she hath contaminated. My lord?
OTHELLO OTHELLO
Good, good: the justice of it pleases: very Are you wise?
good. DESDEMONA
IAGO What, is he angry?
And for Cassio, let me be his undertaker: you LODOVICO
shall hear more by midnight. May be the letter moved him;
OTHELLO For, as I think, they do command him home,
Excellent good. Deputing Cassio in his government.
A trumpet within DESDEMONA
What trumpet is that same? Trust me, I am glad on't.
IAGO OTHELLO
Something from Venice, sure. 'Tis Lodovico Indeed!
Come from the duke: and, see, your wife is DESDEMONA
with him. My lord?
Enter LODOVICO, DESDEMONA, and OTHELLO
Attendants I am glad to see you mad.
LODOVICO DESDEMONA
Save you, worthy general! Why, sweet Othello,--
OTHELLO OTHELLO
With all my heart, sir. [Striking her] Devil!
LODOVICO DESDEMONA
The duke and senators of Venice greet you. I have not deserved this.
Gives him a letter LODOVICO
OTHELLO My lord, this would not be believed in Venice,
I kiss the instrument of their pleasures. Though I should swear I saw't: 'tis very
Opens the letter, and reads much:
DESDEMONA Make her amends; she weeps.
And what's the news, good cousin Lodovico? OTHELLO
IAGO
O devil, devil! 'Faith, that was not so well; yet would I knew
If that the earth could teem with woman's That stroke would prove the worst!
tears, LODOVICO
Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile. Is it his use?
Out of my sight! Or did the letters work upon his blood,
DESDEMONA And new-create this fault?
I will not stay to offend you. IAGO
Going Alas, alas!
LODOVICO It is not honesty in me to speak
Truly, an obedient lady: What I have seen and known. You shall
I do beseech your lordship, call her back. observe him,
OTHELLO And his own courses will denote him so
Mistress! That I may save my speech: do but go after,
DESDEMONA And mark how he continues.
My lord? LODOVICO
OTHELLO I am sorry that I am deceived in him.
What would you with her, sir? Exeunt
LODOVICO SCENE II. A room in the castle.
Who, I, my lord? Enter OTHELLO and EMILIA
OTHELLO OTHELLO
Ay; you did wish that I would make her turn: You have seen nothing then?
Sir, she can turn, and turn, and yet go on, EMILIA
And turn again; and she can weep, sir, weep; Nor ever heard, nor ever did suspect.
And she's obedient, as you say, obedient, OTHELLO
Very obedient. Proceed you in your tears. Yes, you have seen Cassio and she together.
Concerning this, sir,--O well-painted EMILIA
passion!-- But then I saw no harm, and then I heard
I am commanded home. Get you away; Each syllable that breath made up between
I'll send for you anon. Sir, I obey the them.
mandate, OTHELLO
And will return to Venice. Hence, avaunt! What, did they never whisper?
Exit DESDEMONA EMILIA
Cassio shall have my place. And, sir, tonight, Never, my lord.
I do entreat that we may sup together: OTHELLO
You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus.--Goats and Nor send you out o' the way?
monkeys! EMILIA
Exit Never.
LODOVICO OTHELLO
Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor
Call all in all sufficient? Is this the nature nothing?
Whom passion could not shake? whose solid EMILIA
virtue Never, my lord.
The shot of accident, nor dart of chance, OTHELLO
Could neither graze nor pierce? That's strange.
IAGO EMILIA
He is much changed. I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest,
LODOVICO Lay down my soul at stake: if you think
Are his wits safe? is he not light of brain? other,
IAGO Remove your thought; it doth abuse your
He's that he is: I may not breathe my bosom.
censure If any wretch have put this in your head,
What he might be: if what he might he is not, Let heaven requite it with the serpent's
I would to heaven he were! curse!
LODOVICO For, if she be not honest, chaste, and true,
What, strike his wife! There's no man happy; the purest of their
IAGO
wives DESDEMONA
Is foul as slander. Alas the heavy day! Why do you weep?
OTHELLO Am I the motive of these tears, my lord?
Bid her come hither: go. If haply you my father do suspect
Exit EMILIA An instrument of this your calling back,
She says enough; yet she's a simple bawd Lay not your blame on me: If you have lost
That cannot say as much. This is a subtle him,
whore, Why, I have lost him too.
A closet lock and key of villanous secrets OTHELLO
And yet she'll kneel and pray; I have seen Had it pleased heaven
her do't. To try me with affliction; had they rain'd
Enter DESDEMONA with EMILIA All kinds of sores and shames on my bare
DESDEMONA head.
My lord, what is your will? Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips,
OTHELLO Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes,
Pray, chuck, come hither. I should have found in some place of my soul
DESDEMONA A drop of patience: but, alas, to make me
What is your pleasure? A fixed figure for the time of scorn
OTHELLO To point his slow unmoving finger at!
Let me see your eyes; Yet could I bear that too; well, very well:
Look in my face. But there, where I have garner'd up my
DESDEMONA heart,
What horrible fancy's this? Where either I must live, or bear no life;
OTHELLO The fountain from the which my current runs,
[To EMILIA] Some of your function, mistress; Or else dries up; to be discarded thence!
Leave procreants alone and shut the door; Or keep it as a cistern for foul toads
Cough, or cry 'hem,' if any body come: To knot and gender in! Turn thy complexion
Your mystery, your mystery: nay, dispatch. there,
Exit EMILIA Patience, thou young and rose-lipp'd
DESDEMONA cherubin,--
Upon my knees, what doth your speech Ay, there, look grim as hell!
import? DESDEMONA
I understand a fury in your words. I hope my noble lord esteems me honest.
But not the words. OTHELLO
OTHELLO O, ay; as summer flies are in the shambles,
Why, what art thou? That quicken even with blowing. O thou
DESDEMONA weed,
Your wife, my lord; your true Who art so lovely fair and smell'st so sweet
And loyal wife. That the sense aches at thee, would thou
OTHELLO hadst
Come, swear it, damn thyself ne'er been born!
Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils DESDEMONA
themselves Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed?
Should fear to seize thee: therefore be OTHELLO
double damn'd: Was this fair paper, this most goodly book,
Swear thou art honest. Made to write 'whore' upon? What
DESDEMONA committed!
Heaven doth truly know it. Committed! O thou public commoner!
OTHELLO I should make very forges of my cheeks,
Heaven truly knows that thou art false as That would to cinders burn up modesty,
hell. Did I but speak thy deeds. What committed!
DESDEMONA Heaven stops the nose at it and the moon
To whom, my lord? with whom? how am I winks,
false? The bawdy wind that kisses all it meets
OTHELLO Is hush'd within the hollow mine of earth,
O Desdemona! away! away! away!
And will not hear it. What committed! remember;
Impudent strumpet! And call thy husband hither.
DESDEMONA EMILIA
By heaven, you do me wrong. Here's a change indeed!
OTHELLO Exit
Are you not a strumpet? DESDEMONA
DESDEMONA 'Tis meet I should be used so, very meet.
No, as I am a Christian: How have I been behaved, that he might
If to preserve this vessel for my lord stick
From any other foul unlawful touch The small'st opinion on my least misuse?
Be not to be a strumpet, I am none. Re-enter EMILIA with IAGO
OTHELLO IAGO
What, not a whore? What is your pleasure, madam?
DESDEMONA How is't with you?
No, as I shall be saved. DESDEMONA
OTHELLO I cannot tell. Those that do teach young
Is't possible? babes
DESDEMONA Do it with gentle means and easy tasks:
O, heaven forgive us! He might have chid me so; for, in good faith,
OTHELLO I am a child to chiding.
I cry you mercy, then: IAGO
I took you for that cunning whore of Venice What's the matter, lady?
That married with Othello. EMILIA
Raising his voice Alas, Iago, my lord hath so bewhored her.
You, mistress, Thrown such despite and heavy terms upon
That have the office opposite to Saint Peter, her,
And keep the gate of hell! As true hearts cannot bear.
Re-enter EMILIA DESDEMONA
You, you, ay, you! Am I that name, Iago?
We have done our course; there's money for IAGO
your pains: What name, fair lady?
I pray you, turn the key and keep our DESDEMONA
counsel. Such as she says my lord did say I was.
Exit EMILIA
EMILIA He call'd her whore: a beggar in his drink
Alas, what does this gentleman conceive? Could not have laid such terms upon his
How do you, madam? how do you, my good callat.
lady? IAGO
DESDEMONA Why did he so?
'Faith, half asleep. DESDEMONA
EMILIA I do not know; I am sure I am none such.
Good madam, what's the matter with my IAGO
lord? Do not weep, do not weep. Alas the day!
DESDEMONA EMILIA
With who? Hath she forsook so many noble matches,
EMILIA Her father and her country and her friends,
Why, with my lord, madam. To be call'd whore? would it not make one
DESDEMONA weep?
Who is thy lord? DESDEMONA
EMILIA It is my wretched fortune.
He that is yours, sweet lady. IAGO
DESDEMONA Beshrew him for't!
I have none: do not talk to me, Emilia; How comes this trick upon him?
I cannot weep; nor answer have I none, DESDEMONA
But what should go by water. Prithee, tonight Nay, heaven doth know.
Lay on my bed my wedding sheets: EMILIA
I will be hang'd, if some eternal villain, I pray you, be content; 'tis but his humour:
Some busy and insinuating rogue, The business of the state does him offence,
Some cogging, cozening slave, to get some And he does chide with you.
office, DESDEMONA
Have not devised this slander; I'll be hang'd If 'twere no other--
else. IAGO
IAGO 'Tis but so, I warrant.
Fie, there is no such man; it is impossible. Trumpets within
DESDEMONA Hark, how these instruments summon to
If any such there be, heaven pardon him! supper!
EMILIA The messengers of Venice stay the meat;
A halter pardon him! and hell gnaw his Go in, and weep not; all things shall be well.
bones! Exeunt DESDEMONA and EMILIA
Why should he call her whore? who keeps Enter RODERIGO
her company? How now, Roderigo!
What place? what time? what form? what RODERIGO
likelihood? I do not find that thou dealest justly with me.
The Moor's abused by some most villanous IAGO
knave, What in the contrary?
Some base notorious knave, some scurvy RODERIGO
fellow. Every day thou daffest me with some device,
O heaven, that such companions thou'ldst Iago;
unfold, and rather, as it seems to me now, keepest
And put in every honest hand a whip from me
To lash the rascals naked through the world all conveniency than suppliest me with the
Even from the east to the west! least
IAGO advantage of hope. I will indeed no longer
Speak within door. endure
EMILIA it, nor am I yet persuaded to put up in peace
O, fie upon them! Some such squire he was what
That turn'd your wit the seamy side without, already I have foolishly suffered.
And made you to suspect me with the Moor. IAGO
IAGO Will you hear me, Roderigo?
You are a fool; go to. RODERIGO
DESDEMONA 'Faith, I have heard too much, for your words
O good Iago, and
What shall I do to win my lord again? performances are no kin together.
Good friend, go to him; for, by this light of IAGO
heaven, You charge me most unjustly.
I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel: RODERIGO
If e'er my will did trespass 'gainst his love, With nought but truth. I have wasted myself
Either in discourse of thought or actual deed, out of
Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense, my means. The jewels you have had from me
Delighted them in any other form; to
Or that I do not yet, and ever did. deliver to Desdemona would half have
And ever will--though he do shake me off corrupted a
To beggarly divorcement--love him dearly, votarist: you have told me she hath received
Comfort forswear me! Unkindness may do them
much; and returned me expectations and comforts
And his unkindness may defeat my life, of sudden
But never taint my love. I cannot say 'whore:' respect and acquaintance, but I find none.
It does abhor me now I speak the word; IAGO
To do the act that might the addition earn Well; go to; very well.
Not the world's mass of vanity could make RODERIGO
me. Very well! go to! I cannot go to, man; nor 'tis
IAGO not very well: nay, I think it is scurvy, and
begin O, no; he goes into Mauritania and takes
to find myself fobbed in it. away with
IAGO him the fair Desdemona, unless his abode be
Very well. lingered here by some accident: wherein
RODERIGO none can be
I tell you 'tis not very well. I will make myself so determinate as the removing of Cassio.
known to Desdemona: if she will return me RODERIGO
my How do you mean, removing of him?
jewels, I will give over my suit and repent my IAGO
unlawful solicitation; if not, assure yourself I Why, by making him uncapable of Othello's
will seek satisfaction of you. place;
IAGO knocking out his brains.
You have said now. RODERIGO
RODERIGO And that you would have me to do?
Ay, and said nothing but what I protest IAGO
intendment of doing. Ay, if you dare do yourself a profit and a
IAGO right.
Why, now I see there's mettle in thee, and He sups to-night with a harlotry, and thither
even from will I
this instant to build on thee a better opinion go to him: he knows not yet of his horrorable
than fortune. If you will watch his going thence,
ever before. Give me thy hand, Roderigo: which
thou hast I will fashion to fall out between twelve and
taken against me a most just exception; but one,
yet, I you may take him at your pleasure: I will be
protest, I have dealt most directly in thy near
affair. to second your attempt, and he shall fall
RODERIGO between
It hath not appeared. us. Come, stand not amazed at it, but go
IAGO along with
I grant indeed it hath not appeared, and your me; I will show you such a necessity in his
suspicion is not without wit and judgment. death
But, that you shall think yourself bound to put it
Roderigo, if thou hast that in thee indeed, on
which I him. It is now high suppertime, and the night
have greater reason to believe now than grows
ever, I mean to waste: about it.
purpose, courage and valour, this night show RODERIGO
it: if I will hear further reason for this.
thou the next night following enjoy not IAGO
Desdemona, And you shall be satisfied.
take me from this world with treachery and Exeunt
devise SCENE III. Another room In the castle.
engines for my life. Enter OTHELLO, LODOVICO, DESDEMONA,
RODERIGO EMILIA and Attendants
Well, what is it? is it within reason and LODOVICO
compass? I do beseech you, sir, trouble yourself no
IAGO further.
Sir, there is especial commission come from OTHELLO
Venice O, pardon me: 'twill do me good to walk.
to depute Cassio in Othello's place. LODOVICO
RODERIGO Madam, good night; I humbly thank your
Is that true? why, then Othello and ladyship.
Desdemona DESDEMONA
return again to Venice. Your honour is most welcome.
IAGO OTHELLO
Will you walk, sir? EMILIA
O,--Desdemona,-- Shall I go fetch your night-gown?
DESDEMONA DESDEMONA
My lord? No, unpin me here.
OTHELLO This Lodovico is a proper man.
Get you to bed on the instant; I will be EMILIA
returned A very handsome man.
forthwith: dismiss your attendant there: look DESDEMONA
it be done. He speaks well.
DESDEMONA EMILIA
I will, my lord. I know a lady in Venice would have walked
Exeunt OTHELLO, LODOVICO, and Attendants barefoot
EMILIA to Palestine for a touch of his nether lip.
How goes it now? he looks gentler than he DESDEMONA
did. [Singing] The poor soul sat sighing by a
DESDEMONA sycamore tree,
He says he will return incontinent: Sing all a green willow:
He hath commanded me to go to bed, Her hand on her bosom, her head on her
And bade me to dismiss you. knee,
EMILIA Sing willow, willow, willow:
Dismiss me! The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur'd
DESDEMONA her moans;
It was his bidding: therefore, good Emilia,. Sing willow, willow, willow;
Give me my nightly wearing, and adieu: Her salt tears fell from her, and soften'd the
We must not now displease him. stones;
EMILIA Lay by these:--
I would you had never seen him! Singing
DESDEMONA Sing willow, willow, willow;
So would not I my love doth so approve him, Prithee, hie thee; he'll come anon:--
That even his stubbornness, his cheques, his Singing
frowns-- Sing all a green willow must be my garland.
Prithee, unpin me,--have grace and favour in Let nobody blame him; his scorn I approve,-
them. Nay, that's not next.--Hark! who is't that
EMILIA knocks?
I have laid those sheets you bade me on the EMILIA
bed. It's the wind.
DESDEMONA DESDEMONA
All's one. Good faith, how foolish are our [Singing] I call'd my love false love; but what
minds! said he then?
If I do die before thee prithee, shroud me Sing willow, willow, willow:
In one of those same sheets. If I court moe women, you'll couch with moe
EMILIA men!
Come, come you talk. So, get thee gone; good night Ate eyes do
DESDEMONA itch;
My mother had a maid call'd Barbara: Doth that bode weeping?
She was in love, and he she loved proved EMILIA
mad 'Tis neither here nor there.
And did forsake her: she had a song of DESDEMONA
'willow;' I have heard it said so. O, these men, these
An old thing 'twas, but it express'd her men!
fortune, Dost thou in conscience think,--tell me,
And she died singing it: that song to-night Emilia,--
Will not go from my mind; I have much to do, That there be women do abuse their
But to go hang my head all at one side, husbands
And sing it like poor Barbara. Prithee, In such gross kind?
dispatch. EMILIA
There be some such, no question. Yet have we some revenge. Let husbands
DESDEMONA know
Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the Their wives have sense like them: they see
world? and smell
EMILIA And have their palates both for sweet and
Why, would not you? sour,
DESDEMONA As husbands have. What is it that they do
No, by this heavenly light! When they change us for others? Is it sport?
EMILIA I think it is: and doth affection breed it?
Nor I neither by this heavenly light; I think it doth: is't frailty that thus errs?
I might do't as well i' the dark. It is so too: and have not we affections,
DESDEMONA Desires for sport, and frailty, as men have?
Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the Then let them use us well: else let them
world? know,
EMILIA The ills we do, their ills instruct us so.
The world's a huge thing: it is a great price. DESDEMONA
For a small vice. Good night, good night: heaven me such
DESDEMONA uses send,
In troth, I think thou wouldst not. Not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend!
EMILIA Exeunt
In troth, I think I should; and undo't when I ACT V
had SCENE I. Cyprus. A street.
done. Marry, I would not do such a thing for a Enter IAGO and RODERIGO
joint-ring, nor for measures of lawn, nor for IAGO
gowns, petticoats, nor caps, nor any petty Here, stand behind this bulk; straight will he
exhibition; but for the whole world,--why, come:
who would Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home:
not make her husband a cuckold to make Quick, quick; fear nothing; I'll be at thy
him a elbow:
monarch? I should venture purgatory for't. It makes us, or it mars us; think on that,
DESDEMONA And fix most firm thy resolution.
Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong RODERIGO
For the whole world. Be near at hand; I may miscarry in't.
EMILIA IAGO
Why the wrong is but a wrong i' the world: Here, at thy hand: be bold, and take thy
and stand.
having the world for your labour, tis a wrong Retires
in your RODERIGO
own world, and you might quickly make it I have no great devotion to the deed;
right. And yet he hath given me satisfying reasons:
DESDEMONA 'Tis but a man gone. Forth, my sword: he
I do not think there is any such woman. dies.
EMILIA IAGO
Yes, a dozen; and as many to the vantage as I have rubb'd this young quat almost to the
would sense,
store the world they played for. And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill
But I do think it is their husbands' faults Cassio,
If wives do fall: say that they slack their Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,
duties, Every way makes my gain: live Roderigo,
And pour our treasures into foreign laps, He calls me to a restitution large
Or else break out in peevish jealousies, Of gold and jewels that I bobb'd from him,
Throwing restraint upon us; or say they strike As gifts to Desdemona;
us, It must not be: if Cassio do remain,
Or scant our former having in despite; He hath a daily beauty in his life
Why, we have galls, and though we have That makes me ugly; and, besides, the Moor
some grace, May unfold me to him; there stand I in much
peril: unsafe
No, he must die. But so: I hear him coming. To come in to the cry without more help.
Enter CASSIO RODERIGO
RODERIGO Nobody come? then shall I bleed to death.
I know his gait, 'tis he.--Villain, thou diest! LODOVICO
Makes a pass at CASSIO Hark!
CASSIO Re-enter IAGO, with a light
That thrust had been mine enemy indeed, GRATIANO
But that my coat is better than thou know'st Here's one comes in his shirt, with light and
I will make proof of thine. weapons.
Draws, and wounds RODERIGO IAGO
RODERIGO Who's there? whose noise is this that ones on
O, I am slain! murder?
IAGO from behind wounds CASSIO in the leg, LODOVICO
and exit We do not know.
CASSIO IAGO
I am maim'd for ever. Help, ho! murder! Did not you hear a cry?
murder! CASSIO
Falls Here, here! for heaven's sake, help me!
Enter OTHELLO IAGO
OTHELLO What's the matter?
The voice of Cassio: Iago keeps his word. GRATIANO
RODERIGO This is Othello's ancient, as I take it.
O, villain that I am! LODOVICO
OTHELLO The same indeed; a very valiant fellow.
It is even so. IAGO
CASSIO What are you here that cry so grievously?
O, help, ho! light! a surgeon! CASSIO
OTHELLO Iago? O, I am spoil'd, undone by villains!
'Tis he:--O brave Iago, honest and just, Give me some help.
That hast such noble sense of thy friend's IAGO
wrong! O me, lieutenant! what villains have done
Thou teachest me. Minion, your dear lies this?
dead, CASSIO
And your unblest fate hies: strumpet, I come. I think that one of them is hereabout,
Forth of my heart those charms, thine eyes, And cannot make away.
are blotted; IAGO
Thy bed, lust-stain'd, shall with lust's blood O treacherous villains!
be spotted. What are you there? come in, and give some
Exit help.
Enter LODOVICO and GRATIANO To LODOVICO and GRATIANO
CASSIO RODERIGO
What, ho! no watch? no passage? murder! O, help me here!
murder! CASSIO
GRATIANO That's one of them.
'Tis some mischance; the cry is very direful. IAGO
CASSIO O murderous slave! O villain!
O, help! Stabs RODERIGO
LODOVICO RODERIGO
Hark! O damn'd Iago! O inhuman dog!
RODERIGO IAGO
O wretched villain! Kill men i' the dark!--Where be these bloody
LODOVICO thieves?--
Two or three groan: it is a heavy night: How silent is this town!--Ho! murder!
These may be counterfeits: let's think't murder!--
What may you be? are you of good or evil?
LODOVICO Signior Gratiano? I cry you gentle pardon;
As you shall prove us, praise us. These bloody accidents must excuse my
IAGO manners,
Signior Lodovico? That so neglected you.
LODOVICO GRATIANO
He, sir. I am glad to see you.
IAGO IAGO
I cry you mercy. Here's Cassio hurt by How do you, Cassio? O, a chair, a chair!
villains. GRATIANO
GRATIANO Roderigo!
Cassio! IAGO
IAGO He, he 'tis he.
How is't, brother! A chair brought in
CASSIO O, that's well said; the chair!
My leg is cut in two. GRATIANO
IAGO Some good man bear him carefully from
Marry, heaven forbid! hence;
Light, gentlemen; I'll bind it with my shirt. I'll fetch the general's surgeon.
Enter BIANCA To BIANCA
BIANCA For you, mistress,
What is the matter, ho? who is't that cried? Save you your labour. He that lies slain
IAGO here, Cassio,
Who is't that cried! Was my dear friend: what malice was
BIANCA between you?
O my dear Cassio! my sweet Cassio! O CASSIO
Cassio, None in the world; nor do I know the man.
Cassio, Cassio! IAGO
IAGO [To BIANCA] What, look you pale? O, bear
O notable strumpet! Cassio, may you suspect him out
Who they should be that have thus many led o' the air.
you? CASSIO and RODERIGO are borne off
CASSIO Stay you, good gentlemen. Look you pale,
No. mistress?
GRATIANO Do you perceive the gastness of her eye?
I am to find you thus: I have been to seek Nay, if you stare, we shall hear more anon.
you. Behold her well; I pray you, look upon her:
IAGO Do you see, gentlemen? nay, guiltiness will
Lend me a garter. So. O, for a chair, speak,
To bear him easily hence! Though tongues were out of use.
BIANCA Enter EMILIA
Alas, he faints! O Cassio, Cassio, Cassio! EMILIA
IAGO 'Las, what's the matter? what's the matter,
Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash husband?
To be a party in this injury. IAGO
Patience awhile, good Cassio. Come, come; Cassio hath here been set on in the dark
Lend me a light. Know we this face or no? By Roderigo and fellows that are scaped:
Alas my friend and my dear countryman He's almost slain, and Roderigo dead.
Roderigo! no:--yes, sure: O heaven! Roderigo. EMILIA
GRATIANO Alas, good gentleman! alas, good Cassio!
What, of Venice? IAGO
IAGO This is the fruit of whoring. Prithee, Emilia,
Even he, sir; did you know him? Go know of Cassio where he supp'd to-night.
GRATIANO To BIANCA
Know him! ay. What, do you shake at that?
IAGO BIANCA
He supp'd at my house; but I therefore shake heavenly;
not. It strikes where it doth love. She wakes.
IAGO DESDEMONA
O, did he so? I charge you, go with me. Who's there? Othello?
EMILIA OTHELLO
Fie, fie upon thee, strumpet! Ay. Desdemona.
BIANCA DESDEMONA
I am no strumpet; but of life as honest Will you come to bed, my lord?
As you that thus abuse me. OTHELLO
EMILIA Have you pray'd to-night, Desdemona?
As I! foh! fie upon thee! DESDEMONA
IAGO Ay, my lord.
Kind gentlemen, let's go see poor Cassio OTHELLO
dress'd. If you bethink yourself of any crime
Come, mistress, you must tell's another tale. Unreconciled as yet to heaven and grace,
Emilia run you to the citadel, Solicit for it straight.
And tell my lord and lady what hath happ'd. DESDEMONA
Will you go on? I pray. Alas, my lord, what do you mean by that?
Aside OTHELLO
This is the night Well, do it, and be brief; I will walk by:
That either makes me or fordoes me quite. I would not kill thy unprepared spirit;
Exeunt No; heaven forfend! I would not kill thy soul.
SCENE II. A bedchamber in the castle: DESDEMONA
DESDEMONA in bed asleep; Talk you of killing?
a light burning. OTHELLO
Enter OTHELLO Ay, I do.
OTHELLO DESDEMONA
It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul,-- Then heaven
Let me not name it to you, you chaste Have mercy on me!
stars!-- OTHELLO
It is the cause. Yet I'll not shed her blood; Amen, with all my heart!
Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow, DESDEMONA
And smooth as monumental alabaster. If you say so, I hope you will not kill me.
Yet she must die, else she'll betray more OTHELLO
men. Hum!
Put out the light, and then put out the light: DESDEMONA
If I quench thee, thou flaming minister, And yet I fear you; for you are fatal then
I can again thy former light restore, When your eyes roll so: why I should fear I
Should I repent me: but once put out thy know not,
light, Since guiltiness I know not; but yet I feel I
Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature, fear.
I know not where is that Promethean heat OTHELLO
That can thy light relume. When I have Think on thy sins.
pluck'd the rose, DESDEMONA
I cannot give it vital growth again. They are loves I bear to you.
It must needs wither: I'll smell it on the tree. OTHELLO
Kissing her Ay, and for that thou diest.
Ah balmy breath, that dost almost persuade DESDEMONA
Justice to break her sword! One more, one That death's unnatural that kills for loving.
more. Alas, why gnaw you so your nether lip?
Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill Some bloody passion shakes your very
thee, frame:
And love thee after. One more, and this the These are portents; but yet I hope, I hope,
last: They do not point on me.
So sweet was ne'er so fatal. I must weep, OTHELLO
But they are cruel tears: this sorrow's Peace, and be still!
DESDEMONA No, his mouth is stopp'd;
I will so. What's the matter? Honest Iago hath ta'en order for't.
OTHELLO DESDEMONA
That handkerchief which I so loved and gave O! my fear interprets: what, is he dead?
thee OTHELLO
Thou gavest to Cassio. Had all his hairs been lives, my great
DESDEMONA revenge
No, by my life and soul! Had stomach for them all.
Send for the man, and ask him. DESDEMONA
OTHELLO Alas! he is betray'd and I undone.
Sweet soul, take heed, OTHELLO
Take heed of perjury; thou art on thy Out, strumpet! weep'st thou for him to my
deathbed. face?
DESDEMONA DESDEMONA
Ay, but not yet to die. O, banish me, my lord, but kill me not!
OTHELLO OTHELLO
Yes, presently: Down, strumpet!
Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin; DESDEMONA
For to deny each article with oath Kill me to-morrow: let me live to-night!
Cannot remove nor choke the strong OTHELLO
conception Nay, if you strive--
That I do groan withal. Thou art to die. DESDEMONA
DESDEMONA But half an hour!
Then Lord have mercy on me! OTHELLO
OTHELLO Being done, there is no pause.
I say, amen. DESDEMONA
DESDEMONA But while I say one prayer!
And have you mercy too! I never did OTHELLO
Offend you in my life; never loved Cassio It is too late.
But with such general warranty of heaven He stifles her
As I might love: I never gave him token. EMILIA
OTHELLO [Within] My lord , my lord! what, ho! my lord,
By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in's hand. my lord!
O perjured woman! thou dost stone my OTHELLO
heart, What noise is this? Not dead? not yet quite
And makest me call what I intend to do dead?
A murder, which I thought a sacrifice: I that am cruel am yet merciful;
I saw the handkerchief. I would not have thee linger in thy pain: So,
DESDEMONA so.
He found it then; EMILIA
I never gave it him: send for him hither; [Within] What, ho! my lord, my lord!
Let him confess a truth. OTHELLO
OTHELLO Who's there?
He hath confess'd. EMILIA
DESDEMONA [Within] O, good my lord, I would speak a
What, my lord? word with you!
OTHELLO OTHELLO
That he hath used thee. Yes: 'tis Emilia. By and by. She's dead.
DESDEMONA 'Tis like she comes to speak of Cassio's
How? unlawfully? death.--
OTHELLO The noise was here. Ha! no more moving?
Ay. Still as the grave. Shall she come in? were't
DESDEMONA good?--
He will not say so. I think she stirs again:--no. What's best to
OTHELLO do?
If she come in, she'll sure speak to my wife:
My wife! my wife! what wife? I have no wife. OTHELLO
O insupportable! O heavy hour! Why, how should she be murder'd?
Methinks it should be now a huge eclipse EMILIA
Of sun and moon, and that the affrighted Alas, who knows?
globe OTHELLO
Should yawn at alteration. You heard her say herself, it was not I.
EMILIA EMILIA
[Within] I do beseech you She said so: I must needs report the truth.
That I may speak with you, O, good my lord! OTHELLO
OTHELLO She's, like a liar, gone to burning hell:
I had forgot thee: O, come in, Emilia; 'Twas I that kill'd her.
Soft; by and by. Let me the curtains draw. EMILIA
Where art thou? O, the more angel she,
Unlocks the door And you the blacker devil!
Enter EMILIA OTHELLO
What's the matter with thee now? She turn'd to folly, and she was a whore.
EMILIA EMILIA
O, my good lord, yonder's foul murders done! Thou dost belie her, and thou art a devil.
OTHELLO OTHELLO
What, now? She was false as water.
EMILIA EMILIA
But now, my lord. Thou art rash as fire, to say
OTHELLO That she was false: O, she was heavenly
It is the very error of the moon; true!
She comes more nearer earth than she was OTHELLO
wont, Cassio did top her; ask thy husband else.
And makes men mad. O, I were damn'd beneath all depth in hell,
EMILIA But that I did proceed upon just grounds
Cassio, my lord, hath kill'd a young Venetian To this extremity. Thy husband knew it all.
Call'd Roderigo. EMILIA
OTHELLO My husband!
Roderigo kill'd! OTHELLO
And Cassio kill'd! Thy husband.
EMILIA EMILIA
No, Cassio is not kill'd. That she was false to wedlock?
OTHELLO OTHELLO
Not Cassio kill'd! then murder's out of tune, Ay, with Cassio. Nay, had she been true,
And sweet revenge grows harsh. If heaven would make me such another world
DESDEMONA Of one entire and Perfect chrysolite,
O, falsely, falsely murder'd! I'ld not have sold her for it.
EMILIA EMILIA
Alas, what cry is that? My husband!
OTHELLO OTHELLO
That! what? Ay, 'twas he that told me first:
EMILIA An honest man he is, and hates the slime
Out, and alas! that was my lady's voice. That sticks on filthy deeds.
Help! help, ho! help! O lady, speak again! EMILIA
Sweet Desdemona! O sweet mistress, speak! My husband!
DESDEMONA OTHELLO
A guiltless death I die. What needs this iteration, woman? I say thy
EMILIA husband.
O, who hath done this deed? EMILIA
DESDEMONA O mistress, villany hath made mocks with
Nobody; I myself. Farewell love,
Commend me to my kind lord: O, farewell! My husband say that she was false!
Dies OTHELLO
He, woman; IAGO
I say thy husband: dost understand the With Cassio, mistress. Go to, charm your
word? tongue.
My friend, thy husband, honest, honest Iago. EMILIA
EMILIA I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to
If he say so, may his pernicious soul speak:
Rot half a grain a day! he lies to the heart: My mistress here lies murder'd in her bed,--
She was too fond of her most filthy bargain. All
OTHELLO O heavens forfend!
Ha! EMILIA
EMILIA And your reports have set the murder on.
Do thy worst: OTHELLO
This deed of thine is no more worthy heaven Nay, stare not, masters: it is true, indeed.
Than thou wast worthy her. GRATIANO
OTHELLO 'Tis a strange truth.
Peace, you were best. MONTANO
EMILIA O monstrous act!
Thou hast not half that power to do me harm EMILIA
As I have to be hurt. O gull! O dolt! Villany, villany, villany!
As ignorant as dirt! thou hast done a deed-- I think upon't, I think: I smell't: O villany!--
I care not for thy sword; I'll make thee I thought so then:--I'll kill myself for grief:--
known, O villany, villany!
Though I lost twenty lives.--Help! help, ho! IAGO
help! What, are you mad? I charge you, get you
The Moor hath kill'd my mistress! Murder! home.
murder! EMILIA
Enter MONTANO, GRATIANO, IAGO, and Good gentlemen, let me have leave to
others speak:
MONTANO 'Tis proper I obey him, but not now.
What is the matter? How now, general! Perchance, Iago, I will ne'er go home.
EMILIA OTHELLO
O, are you come, Iago? you have done well, O! O! O!
That men must lay their murders on your He falls on the bed
neck. EMILIA
GRATIANO Nay, lay thee down and roar;
What is the matter? For thou hast kill'd the sweetest innocent
EMILIA That e'er did lift up eye.
Disprove this villain, if thou be'st a man: OTHELLO
He says thou told'st him that his wife was [Rising] O, she was foul!
false: I scarce did know you, uncle: there lies your
I know thou didst not, thou'rt not such a niece,
villain: Whose breath, indeed, these hands have
Speak, for my heart is full. newly stopp'd:
IAGO I know this act shows horrible and grim.
I told him what I thought, and told no more GRATIANO
Than what he found himself was apt and Poor Desdemona! I am glad thy father's
true. dead:
EMILIA Thy match was mortal to him, and pure grief
But did you ever tell him she was false? Shore his old thread in twain: did he live
IAGO now,
I did. This sight would make him do a desperate
EMILIA turn,
You told a lie, an odious, damned lie; Yea, curse his better angel from his side,
Upon my soul, a lie, a wicked lie. And fall to reprobation.
She false with Cassio!--did you say with OTHELLO
Cassio?
'Tis pitiful; but yet Iago knows He's gone, but his wife's kill'd.
That she with Cassio hath the act of shame MONTANO
A thousand times committed; Cassio 'Tis a notorious villain. Take you this weapon,
confess'd it: Which I have here recover'd from the Moor:
And she did gratify his amorous works Come, guard the door without; let him not
With that recognizance and pledge of love pass,
Which I first gave her; I saw it in his hand: But kill him rather. I'll after that same villain,
It was a handkerchief, an antique token For 'tis a damned slave.
My father gave my mother. Exeunt MONTANO and GRATIANO
EMILIA OTHELLO
O heaven! O heavenly powers! I am not valiant neither,
IAGO But ever puny whipster gets my sword:
Come, hold your peace. But why should honour outlive honesty?
EMILIA Let it go all.
'Twill out, 'twill out: I peace! EMILIA
No, I will speak as liberal as the north: What did thy song bode, lady?
Let heaven and men and devils, let them all, Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the
All, all, cry shame against me, yet I'll speak. swan.
IAGO And die in music.
Be wise, and get you home. Singing
EMILIA Willow, willow, willow,--
I will not. Moor, she was chaste; she loved thee, cruel
IAGO offers to stab EMILIA Moor;
GRATIANO So come my soul to bliss, as I speak true;
Fie! So speaking as I think, I die, I die.
Your sword upon a woman? Dies
EMILIA OTHELLO
O thou dull Moor! that handkerchief thou I have another weapon in this chamber;
speak'st of It is a sword of Spain, the ice-brook's
I found by fortune and did give my husband; temper:--
For often, with a solemn earnestness, O, here it is. Uncle, I must come forth.
More than indeed belong'd to such a trifle, GRATIANO
He begg'd of me to steal it. [Within] If thou attempt it, it will cost thee
IAGO dear:
Villanous whore! Thou hast no weapon, and perforce must
EMILIA suffer.
She give it Cassio! no, alas! I found it, OTHELLO
And I did give't my husband. Look in upon me then and speak with me,
IAGO Or, naked as I am, I will assault thee.
Filth, thou liest! Re-enter GRATIANO
EMILIA GRATIANO
By heaven, I do not, I do not, gentlemen. What is the matter?
O murderous coxcomb! what should such a OTHELLO
fool Behold, I have a weapon;
Do with so good a woman? A better never did itself sustain
OTHELLO Upon a soldier's thigh: I have seen the day,
Are there no stones in heaven That, with this little arm and this good sword,
But what serve for the thunder?--Precious I have made my way through more
villain! impediments
He runs at IAGO IAGO, from behind, stabs Than twenty times your stop: but, O vain
EMILIA, and exit boast!
GRATIANO Who can control his fate? 'tis not so now.
The woman falls; sure, he hath kill'd his wife. Be not afraid, though you do see me
EMILIA weapon'd;
Ay, ay: O, lay me by my mistress' side. Here is my journey's end, here is my butt,
GRATIANO And very sea-mark of my utmost sail.
Do you go back dismay'd? 'tis a lost fear; I do believe it, and I ask your pardon.
Man but a rush against Othello's breast, Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devil
And he retires. Where should Othello go? Why he hath thus ensnared my soul and
Now, how dost thou look now? O ill-starr'd body?
wench! IAGO
Pale as thy smock! when we shall meet at Demand me nothing: what you know, you
compt, know:
This look of thine will hurl my soul from From this time forth I never will speak word.
heaven, LODOVICO
And fiends will snatch at it. Cold, cold, my What, not to pray?
girl! GRATIANO
Even like thy chastity. O cursed slave! Torments will ope your lips.
Whip me, ye devils, OTHELLO
From the possession of this heavenly sight! Well, thou dost best.
Blow me about in winds! roast me in sulphur! LODOVICO
Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire! Sir, you shall understand what hath befall'n,
O Desdemona! Desdemona! dead! Which, as I think, you know not. Here is a
Oh! Oh! Oh! letter
Enter LODOVICO. MONTANO, CASSIO carried Found in the pocket of the slain Roderigo;
in a chair, and Officers with IAGO, prisoner And here another: the one of them imports
LODOVICO The death of Cassio to be undertook
Where is this rash and most unfortunate By Roderigo.
man? OTHELLO
OTHELLO O villain!
That's he that was Othello: here I am. CASSIO
LODOVICO Most heathenish and most gross!
Where is that viper? bring the villain forth. LODOVICO
OTHELLO Now here's another discontented paper,
I look down towards his feet; but that's a Found in his pocket too; and this, it seems,
fable. Roderigo meant to have sent this damned
If that thou best a devil, I cannot kill thee. villain;
Wounds IAGO But that belike Iago in the interim
LODOVICO Came in and satisfied him.
Wrench his sword from him. OTHELLO
IAGO O the pernicious caitiff!
I bleed, sir; but not kill'd. How came you, Cassio, by that handkerchief
OTHELLO That was my wife's?
I am not sorry neither: I'ld have thee live; CASSIO
For, in my sense, 'tis happiness to die. I found it in my chamber:
LODOVICO And he himself confess'd but even now
O thou Othello, thou wert once so good, That there he dropp'd it for a special purpose
Fall'n in the practise of a damned slave, Which wrought to his desire.
What shall be said to thee? OTHELLO
OTHELLO O fool! fool! fool!
Why, any thing: CASSIO
An honourable murderer, if you will; There is besides in Roderigo's letter,
For nought I did in hate, but all in honour. How he upbraids Iago, that he made him
LODOVICO Brave me upon the watch; whereon it came
This wretch hath part confess'd his villany: That I was cast: and even but now he spake,
Did you and he consent in Cassio's death? After long seeming dead, Iago hurt him,
OTHELLO Iago set him on.
Ay. LODOVICO
CASSIO You must forsake this room, and go with us:
Dear general, I never gave you cause. Your power and your command is taken off,
OTHELLO And Cassio rules in Cyprus. For this slave,
If there be any cunning cruelty
That can torment him much and hold him Stabs himself
long, LODOVICO
It shall be his. You shall close prisoner rest, O bloody period!
Till that the nature of your fault be known GRATIANO
To the Venetian state. Come, bring him away. All that's spoke is marr'd.
OTHELLO OTHELLO
Soft you; a word or two before you go. I kiss'd thee ere I kill'd thee: no way but this;
I have done the state some service, and they Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.
know't. Falls on the bed, and dies
No more of that. I pray you, in your letters, CASSIO
When you shall these unlucky deeds relate, This did I fear, but thought he had no
Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate, weapon;
Nor set down aught in malice: then must you For he was great of heart.
speak LODOVICO
Of one that loved not wisely but too well; [To IAGO] O Spartan dog,
Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought More fell than anguish, hunger, or the sea!
Perplex'd in the extreme; of one whose hand, Look on the tragic loading of this bed;
Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away This is thy work: the object poisons sight;
Richer than all his tribe; of one whose Let it be hid. Gratiano, keep the house,
subdued eyes, And seize upon the fortunes of the Moor,
Albeit unused to the melting mood, For they succeed on you. To you, lord
Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees governor,
Their medicinal gum. Set you down this; Remains the censure of this hellish villain;
And say besides, that in Aleppo once, The time, the place, the torture: O, enforce
Where a malignant and a turban'd Turk it!
Beat a Venetian and traduced the state, Myself will straight aboard: and to the state
I took by the throat the circumcised dog, This heavy act with heavy heart relate.
And smote him, thus.