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Speeches (Lines) for Othello
in "Othello"

Total: 274

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# Act, Scene, Line
(Click to see in context)
Speech text

1

I,2,208

'Tis better as it is.

2

I,2,221

Let him do his spite:
My services which I have done the signiory
Shall out-tongue his complaints. 'Tis yet to know,—
Which, when I know that boasting is an honour,
I shall promulgate—I fetch my life and being
From men of royal siege, and my demerits
May speak unbonneted to as proud a fortune
As this that I have reach'd: for know, Iago,
But that I love the gentle Desdemona,
I would not my unhoused free condition
Put into circumscription and confine
For the sea's worth. But, look! what lights come yond?

3

I,2,235

Not I. I must be found:
My parts, my title and my perfect soul
Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they?

4

I,2,240

The servants of the duke, and my lieutenant.
The goodness of the night upon you, friends!
What is the news?

5

I,2,246

What is the matter, think you?

6

I,2,257

'Tis well I am found by you.
I will but spend a word here in the house,
And go with you.

7

I,2,269

Have with you.

8

I,2,274

Holla! stand there!

9

I,2,279

Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.
Good signior, you shall more command with years
Than with your weapons.

10

I,2,302

Hold your hands,
Both you of my inclining, and the rest:
Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it
Without a prompter. Where will you that I go
To answer this your charge?

11

I,2,310

What if I do obey?
How may the duke be therewith satisfied,
Whose messengers are here about my side,
Upon some present business of the state
To bring me to him?

12

I,3,416

Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors,
My very noble and approved good masters,
That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter,
It is most true; true, I have married her:
The very head and front of my offending
Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech,
And little bless'd with the soft phrase of peace:
For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith,
Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used
Their dearest action in the tented field,
And little of this great world can I speak,
More than pertains to feats of broil and battle,
And therefore little shall I grace my cause
In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience,
I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver
Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what charms,
What conjuration and what mighty magic,
For such proceeding I am charged withal,
I won his daughter.

13

I,3,457

I do beseech you,
Send for the lady to the Sagittary,
And let her speak of me before her father:
If you do find me foul in her report,
The trust, the office I do hold of you,
Not only take away, but let your sentence
Even fall upon my life.

14

I,3,465

Ancient, conduct them: you best know the place.
[Exeunt IAGO and Attendants]
And, till she come, as truly as to heaven
I do confess the vices of my blood,
So justly to your grave ears I'll present
How I did thrive in this fair lady's love,
And she in mine.

15

I,3,473

Her father loved me; oft invited me;
Still question'd me the story of my life,
From year to year, the battles, sieges, fortunes,
That I have passed.
I ran it through, even from my boyish days,
To the very moment that he bade me tell it;
Wherein I spake of most disastrous chances,
Of moving accidents by flood and field
Of hair-breadth scapes i' the imminent deadly breach,
Of being taken by the insolent foe
And sold to slavery, of my redemption thence
And portance in my travels' history:
Wherein of antres vast and deserts idle,
Rough quarries, rocks and hills whose heads touch heaven
It was my hint to speak,—such was the process;
And of the Cannibals that each other eat,
The Anthropophagi and men whose heads
Do grow beneath their shoulders. This to hear
Would Desdemona seriously incline:
But still the house-affairs would draw her thence:
Which ever as she could with haste dispatch,
She'ld come again, and with a greedy ear
Devour up my discourse: which I observing,
Took once a pliant hour, and found good means
To draw from her a prayer of earnest heart
That I would all my pilgrimage dilate,
Whereof by parcels she had something heard,
But not intentively: I did consent,
And often did beguile her of her tears,
When I did speak of some distressful stroke
That my youth suffer'd. My story being done,
She gave me for my pains a world of sighs:
She swore, in faith, twas strange, 'twas passing strange,
'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful:
She wish'd she had not heard it, yet she wish'd
That heaven had made her such a man: she thank'd me,
And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her,
I should but teach him how to tell my story.
And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake:
She loved me for the dangers I had pass'd,
And I loved her that she did pity them.
This only is the witchcraft I have used:
Here comes the lady; let her witness it.

16

I,3,578

The tyrant custom, most grave senators,
Hath made the flinty and steel couch of war
My thrice-driven bed of down: I do agnise
A natural and prompt alacrity
I find in hardness, and do undertake
These present wars against the Ottomites.
Most humbly therefore bending to your state,
I crave fit disposition for my wife.
Due reference of place and exhibition,
With such accommodation and besort
As levels with her breeding.

17

I,3,592

Nor I.

18

I,3,612

Let her have your voices.
Vouch with me, heaven, I therefore beg it not,
To please the palate of my appetite,
Nor to comply with heat—the young affects
In me defunct—and proper satisfaction.
But to be free and bounteous to her mind:
And heaven defend your good souls, that you think
I will your serious and great business scant
For she is with me: no, when light-wing'd toys
Of feather'd Cupid seal with wanton dullness
My speculative and officed instruments,
That my disports corrupt and taint my business,
Let housewives make a skillet of my helm,
And all indign and base adversities
Make head against my estimation!

19

I,3,631

With all my heart.

20

I,3,637

So please your grace, my ancient;
A man he is of honest and trust:
To his conveyance I assign my wife,
With what else needful your good grace shall think
To be sent after me.

21

I,3,652

My life upon her faith! Honest Iago,
My Desdemona must I leave to thee:
I prithee, let thy wife attend on her:
And bring them after in the best advantage.
Come, Desdemona: I have but an hour
Of love, of worldly matters and direction,
To spend with thee: we must obey the time.

22

II,1,972

O my fair warrior!

23

II,1,974

It gives me wonder great as my content
To see you here before me. O my soul's joy!
If after every tempest come such calms,
May the winds blow till they have waken'd death!
And let the labouring bark climb hills of seas
Olympus-high and duck again as low
As hell's from heaven! If it were now to die,
'Twere now to be most happy; for, I fear,
My soul hath her content so absolute
That not another comfort like to this
Succeeds in unknown fate.

24

II,1,988

Amen to that, sweet powers!
I cannot speak enough of this content;
It stops me here; it is too much of joy:
And this, and this, the greatest discords be
[Kissing her]
That e'er our hearts shall make!

25

II,1,997

Come, let us to the castle.
News, friends; our wars are done, the Turks
are drown'd.
How does my old acquaintance of this isle?
Honey, you shall be well desired in Cyprus;
I have found great love amongst them. O my sweet,
I prattle out of fashion, and I dote
In mine own comforts. I prithee, good Iago,
Go to the bay and disembark my coffers:
Bring thou the master to the citadel;
He is a good one, and his worthiness
Does challenge much respect. Come, Desdemona,
Once more, well met at Cyprus.

26

II,3,1130

Good Michael, look you to the guard to-night:
Let's teach ourselves that honourable stop,
Not to outsport discretion.

27

II,3,1136

Iago is most honest.
Michael, good night: to-morrow with your earliest
Let me have speech with you.
[To DESDEMONA]
Come, my dear love,
The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue;
That profit's yet to come 'tween me and you.
Good night.

28

II,3,1308

What is the matter here?

29

II,3,1311

Hold, for your lives!

30

II,3,1315

Why, how now, ho! from whence ariseth this?
Are we turn'd Turks, and to ourselves do that
Which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites?
For Christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl:
He that stirs next to carve for his own rage
Holds his soul light; he dies upon his motion.
Silence that dreadful bell: it frights the isle
From her propriety. What is the matter, masters?
Honest Iago, that look'st dead with grieving,
Speak, who began this? on thy love, I charge thee.

31

II,3,1334

How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot?

32

II,3,1336

Worthy Montano, you were wont be civil;
The gravity and stillness of your youth
The world hath noted, and your name is great
In mouths of wisest censure: what's the matter,
That you unlace your reputation thus
And spend your rich opinion for the name
Of a night-brawler? give me answer to it.

33

II,3,1352

Now, by heaven,
My blood begins my safer guides to rule;
And passion, having my best judgment collied,
Assays to lead the way: if I once stir,
Or do but lift this arm, the best of you
Shall sink in my rebuke. Give me to know
How this foul rout began, who set it on;
And he that is approved in this offence,
Though he had twinn'd with me, both at a birth,
Shall lose me. What! in a town of war,
Yet wild, the people's hearts brimful of fear,
To manage private and domestic quarrel,
In night, and on the court and guard of safety!
'Tis monstrous. Iago, who began't?

34

II,3,1396

I know, Iago,
Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter,
Making it light to Cassio. Cassio, I love thee
But never more be officer of mine.
[Re-enter DESDEMONA, attended]
Look, if my gentle love be not raised up!
I'll make thee an example.

35

II,3,1404

All's well now, sweeting; come away to bed.
Sir, for your hurts, myself will be your surgeon:
Lead him off.
[To MONTANO, who is led off]
Iago, look with care about the town,
And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted.
Come, Desdemona: 'tis the soldiers' life
To have their balmy slumbers waked with strife.

36

III,2,1617

These letters give, Iago, to the pilot;
And by him do my duties to the senate:
That done, I will be walking on the works;
Repair there to me.

37

III,2,1622

This fortification, gentlemen, shall we see't?

38

III,3,1665

What dost thou say?

39

III,3,1667

Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?

40

III,3,1671

I do believe 'twas he.

41

III,3,1675

Who is't you mean?

42

III,3,1683

Went he hence now?

43

III,3,1687

Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other time.

44

III,3,1689

The sooner, sweet, for you.

45

III,3,1691

No, not to-night.

46

III,3,1693

I shall not dine at home;
I meet the captains at the citadel.

47

III,3,1710

Prithee, no more: let him come when he will;
I will deny thee nothing.

48

III,3,1720

I will deny thee nothing:
Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this,
To leave me but a little to myself.

49

III,3,1724

Farewell, my Desdemona: I'll come to thee straight.

50

III,3,1728

Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul,
But I do love thee! and when I love thee not,
Chaos is come again.

51

III,3,1732

What dost thou say, Iago?

52

III,3,1735

He did, from first to last: why dost thou ask?

53

III,3,1738

Why of thy thought, Iago?

54

III,3,1740

O, yes; and went between us very oft.

55

III,3,1742

Indeed! ay, indeed: discern'st thou aught in that?
Is he not honest?

56

III,3,1745

Honest! ay, honest.

57

III,3,1747

What dost thou think?

58

III,3,1749

Think, my lord!
By heaven, he echoes me,
As if there were some monster in his thought
Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean something:
I heard thee say even now, thou likedst not that,
When Cassio left my wife: what didst not like?
And when I told thee he was of my counsel
In my whole course of wooing, thou criedst 'Indeed!'
And didst contract and purse thy brow together,
As if thou then hadst shut up in thy brain
Some horrible conceit: if thou dost love me,
Show me thy thought.

59

III,3,1762

I think thou dost;
And, for I know thou'rt full of love and honesty,
And weigh'st thy words before thou givest them breath,
Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more:
For such things in a false disloyal knave
Are tricks of custom, but in a man that's just
They are close delations, working from the heart
That passion cannot rule.

60

III,3,1772

I think so too.

61

III,3,1775

Certain, men should be what they seem.

62

III,3,1777

Nay, yet there's more in this:
I prithee, speak to me as to thy thinkings,
As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of thoughts
The worst of words.

63

III,3,1790

Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago,
If thou but think'st him wrong'd and makest his ear
A stranger to thy thoughts.

64

III,3,1804

What dost thou mean?

65

III,3,1812

By heaven, I'll know thy thoughts.

66

III,3,1815

Ha!

67

III,3,1822

O misery!

68

III,3,1828

Why, why is this?
Think'st thou I'ld make a lie of jealousy,
To follow still the changes of the moon
With fresh suspicions? No; to be once in doubt
Is once to be resolved: exchange me for a goat,
When I shall turn the business of my soul
To such exsufflicate and blown surmises,
Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me jealous
To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company,
Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances well;
Where virtue is, these are more virtuous:
Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw
The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt;
For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago;
I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
And on the proof, there is no more but this,—
Away at once with love or jealousy!

69

III,3,1857

Dost thou say so?

70

III,3,1861

And so she did.

71

III,3,1868

I am bound to thee for ever.

72

III,3,1870

Not a jot, not a jot.

73

III,3,1877

I will not.

74

III,3,1882

No, not much moved:
I do not think but Desdemona's honest.

75

III,3,1885

And yet, how nature erring from itself,—

76

III,3,1897

Farewell, farewell:
If more thou dost perceive, let me know more;
Set on thy wife to observe: leave me, Iago:

77

III,3,1901

Why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless
Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.

78

III,3,1916

Fear not my government.

79

III,3,1919

This fellow's of exceeding honesty,
And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,
Of human dealings. If I do prove her haggard,
Though that her jesses were my dear heartstrings,
I'ld whistle her off and let her down the wind,
To pray at fortune. Haply, for I am black
And have not those soft parts of conversation
That chamberers have, or for I am declined
Into the vale of years,—yet that's not much—
She's gone. I am abused; and my relief
Must be to loathe her. O curse of marriage,
That we can call these delicate creatures ours,
And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad,
And live upon the vapour of a dungeon,
Than keep a corner in the thing I love
For others' uses. Yet, 'tis the plague of great ones;
Prerogatived are they less than the base;
'Tis destiny unshunnable, like death:
Even then this forked plague is fated to us
When we do quicken. Desdemona comes:
[Re-enter DESDEMONA and EMILIA]
If she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself!
I'll not believe't.

80

III,3,1945

I am to blame.

81

III,3,1948

I have a pain upon my forehead here.

82

III,3,1952

Your napkin is too little:
[He puts the handkerchief from him; and it drops]
Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you.

83

III,3,2009

Ha! ha! false to me?

84

III,3,2011

Avaunt! be gone! thou hast set me on the rack:
I swear 'tis better to be much abused
Than but to know't a little.

85

III,3,2015

What sense had I of her stol'n hours of lust?
I saw't not, thought it not, it harm'd not me:
I slept the next night well, was free and merry;
I found not Cassio's kisses on her lips:
He that is robb'd, not wanting what is stol'n,
Let him not know't, and he's not robb'd at all.

86

III,3,2022

I had been happy, if the general camp,
Pioners and all, had tasted her sweet body,
So I had nothing known. O, now, for ever
Farewell the tranquil mind! farewell content!
Farewell the plumed troop, and the big wars,
That make ambition virtue! O, farewell!
Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill trump,
The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife,
The royal banner, and all quality,
Pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war!
And, O you mortal engines, whose rude throats
The immortal Jove's dead clamours counterfeit,
Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone!

87

III,3,2036

Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore,
Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof:
Or by the worth of man's eternal soul,
Thou hadst been better have been born a dog
Than answer my waked wrath!

88

III,3,2042

Make me to see't; or, at the least, so prove it,
That the probation bear no hinge nor loop
To hang a doubt on; or woe upon thy life!

89

III,3,2046

If thou dost slander her and torture me,
Never pray more; abandon all remorse;
On horror's head horrors accumulate;
Do deeds to make heaven weep, all earth amazed;
For nothing canst thou to damnation add
Greater than that.

90

III,3,2060

Nay, stay: thou shouldst be honest.

91

III,3,2063

By the world,
I think my wife be honest and think she is not;
I think that thou art just and think thou art not.
I'll have some proof. Her name, that was as fresh
As Dian's visage, is now begrimed and black
As mine own face. If there be cords, or knives,
Poison, or fire, or suffocating streams,
I'll not endure it. Would I were satisfied!

92

III,3,2074

Would! nay, I will.

93

III,3,2078

Death and damnation! O!

94

III,3,2091

Give me a living reason she's disloyal.

95

III,3,2109

O monstrous! monstrous!

96

III,3,2111

But this denoted a foregone conclusion:
'Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream.

97

III,3,2115

I'll tear her all to pieces.

98

III,3,2120

I gave her such a one; 'twas my first gift.

99

III,3,2124

If it be that—

100

III,3,2127

O, that the slave had forty thousand lives!
One is too poor, too weak for my revenge.
Now do I see 'tis true. Look here, Iago;
All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven.
'Tis gone.
Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell!
Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne
To tyrannous hate! Swell, bosom, with thy fraught,
For 'tis of aspics' tongues!

101

III,3,2137

O, blood, blood, blood!

102

III,3,2139

Never, Iago: Like to the Pontic sea,
Whose icy current and compulsive course
Ne'er feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on
To the Propontic and the Hellespont,
Even so my bloody thoughts, with violent pace,
Shall ne'er look back, ne'er ebb to humble love,
Till that a capable and wide revenge
Swallow them up. Now, by yond marble heaven,
[Kneels]
In the due reverence of a sacred vow
I here engage my words.

103

III,3,2160

I greet thy love,
Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance bounteous,
And will upon the instant put thee to't:
Within these three days let me hear thee say
That Cassio's not alive.

104

III,3,2167

Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her!
Come, go with me apart; I will withdraw,
To furnish me with some swift means of death
For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant.

105

III,4,2208

Well, my good lady.
[Aside]
O, hardness to dissemble!—
How do you, Desdemona?

106

III,4,2213

Give me your hand: this hand is moist, my lady.

107

III,4,2215

This argues fruitfulness and liberal heart:
Hot, hot, and moist: this hand of yours requires
A sequester from liberty, fasting and prayer,
Much castigation, exercise devout;
For here's a young and sweating devil here,
That commonly rebels. 'Tis a good hand,
A frank one.

108

III,4,2224

A liberal hand: the hearts of old gave hands;
But our new heraldry is hands, not hearts.

109

III,4,2227

What promise, chuck?

110

III,4,2229

I have a salt and sorry rheum offends me;
Lend me thy handkerchief.

111

III,4,2232

That which I gave you.

112

III,4,2234

Not?

113

III,4,2236

That is a fault.
That handkerchief
Did an Egyptian to my mother give;
She was a charmer, and could almost read
The thoughts of people: she told her, while
she kept it,
'Twould make her amiable and subdue my father
Entirely to her love, but if she lost it
Or made gift of it, my father's eye
Should hold her loathed and his spirits should hunt
After new fancies: she, dying, gave it me;
And bid me, when my fate would have me wive,
To give it her. I did so: and take heed on't;
Make it a darling like your precious eye;
To lose't or give't away were such perdition
As nothing else could match.

114

III,4,2253

'Tis true: there's magic in the web of it:
A sibyl, that had number'd in the world
The sun to course two hundred compasses,
In her prophetic fury sew'd the work;
The worms were hallow'd that did breed the silk;
And it was dyed in mummy which the skilful
Conserved of maidens' hearts.

115

III,4,2261

Most veritable; therefore look to't well.

116

III,4,2263

Ha! wherefore?

117

III,4,2265

Is't lost? is't gone? speak, is it out
o' the way?

118

III,4,2268

Say you?

119

III,4,2270

How!

120

III,4,2272

Fetch't, let me see't.

121

III,4,2276

Fetch me the handkerchief: my mind misgives.

122

III,4,2279

The handkerchief!

123

III,4,2281

The handkerchief!

124

III,4,2285

The handkerchief!

125

III,4,2287

Away!

126

IV,1,2410

Think so, Iago!

127

IV,1,2413

An unauthorized kiss.

128

IV,1,2416

Naked in bed, Iago, and not mean harm!
It is hypocrisy against the devil:
They that mean virtuously, and yet do so,
The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt heaven.

129

IV,1,2422

What then?

130

IV,1,2425

She is protectress of her honour too:
May she give that?

131

IV,1,2430

By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it.
Thou said'st, it comes o'er my memory,
As doth the raven o'er the infected house,
Boding to all—he had my handkerchief.

132

IV,1,2435

That's not so good now.

133

IV,1,2443

Hath he said any thing?

134

IV,1,2446

What hath he said?

135

IV,1,2448

What? what?

136

IV,1,2450

With her?

137

IV,1,2452

Lie with her! lie on her! We say lie on her, when
they belie her. Lie with her! that's fulsome.
—Handkerchief—confessions—handkerchief!—To
confess, and be hanged for his labour;—first, to be
hanged, and then to confess.—I tremble at it.
Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing
passion without some instruction. It is not words
that shake me thus. Pish! Noses, ears, and lips.
—Is't possible?—Confess—handkerchief!—O devil!—

138

IV,1,2482

Dost thou mock me?

139

IV,1,2485

A horned man's a monster and a beast.

140

IV,1,2488

Did he confess it?

141

IV,1,2498

O, thou art wise; 'tis certain.

142

IV,1,2515

Dost thou hear, Iago?
I will be found most cunning in my patience;
But—dost thou hear?—most bloody.

143

IV,1,2540

Look, how he laughs already!

144

IV,1,2543

Now he denies it faintly, and laughs it out.

145

IV,1,2545

Now he importunes him
To tell it o'er: go to; well said, well said.

146

IV,1,2550

Do you triumph, Roman? do you triumph?

147

IV,1,2554

So, so, so, so: they laugh that win.

148

IV,1,2558

Have you scored me? Well.

149

IV,1,2562

Iago beckons me; now he begins the story.

150

IV,1,2567

Crying 'O dear Cassio!' as it were: his gesture
imports it.

151

IV,1,2571

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

152

IV,1,2588

By heaven, that should be my handkerchief!

153

IV,1,2601

[Advancing] How shall I murder him, Iago?

154

IV,1,2603

O Iago!

155

IV,1,2605

Was that mine?

156

IV,1,2609

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

157

IV,1,2612

Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damned to-night;
for she shall not live: no, my heart is turned to
stone; I strike it, and it hurts my hand. O, the
world hath not a sweeter creature: she might lie by
an emperor's side and command him tasks.

158

IV,1,2618

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

159

IV,1,2623

O, a thousand thousand times: and then, of so
gentle a condition!

160

IV,1,2626

Nay, that's certain: but yet the pity of it, Iago!
O Iago, the pity of it, Iago!

161

IV,1,2631

I will chop her into messes: cuckold me!

162

IV,1,2633

With mine officer!

163

IV,1,2635

Get me some poison, Iago; this night: I'll not
expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty
unprovide my mind again: this night, Iago.

164

IV,1,2640

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

165

IV,1,2643

Excellent good.
[A trumpet within]
What trumpet is that same?

166

IV,1,2650

With all my heart, sir.

167

IV,1,2653

I kiss the instrument of their pleasures.

168

IV,1,2662

Are you sure of that?

169

IV,1,2664

[Reads] 'This fail you not to do, as you will—'

170

IV,1,2669

Fire and brimstone!

171

IV,1,2671

Are you wise?

172

IV,1,2677

Indeed!

173

IV,1,2679

I am glad to see you mad.

174

IV,1,2681

[Striking her] Devil!

175

IV,1,2686

O devil, devil!
If that the earth could teem with woman's tears,
Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile.
Out of my sight!

176

IV,1,2694

Mistress!

177

IV,1,2696

What would you with her, sir?

178

IV,1,2698

Ay; you did wish that I would make her turn:
Sir, she can turn, and turn, and yet go on,
And turn again; and she can weep, sir, weep;
And she's obedient, as you say, obedient,
Very obedient. Proceed you in your tears.
Concerning this, sir,—O well-painted passion!—
I am commanded home. Get you away;
I'll send for you anon. Sir, I obey the mandate,
And will return to Venice. Hence, avaunt!
[Exit DESDEMONA]
Cassio shall have my place. And, sir, tonight,
I do entreat that we may sup together:
You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus.—Goats and monkeys!

179

IV,2,2737

You have seen nothing then?

180

IV,2,2739

Yes, you have seen Cassio and she together.

181

IV,2,2742

What, did they never whisper?

182

IV,2,2744

Nor send you out o' the way?

183

IV,2,2746

To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor nothing?

184

IV,2,2748

That's strange.

185

IV,2,2757

Bid her come hither: go.
[Exit EMILIA]
She says enough; yet she's a simple bawd
That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore,
A closet lock and key of villanous secrets
And yet she'll kneel and pray; I have seen her do't.

186

IV,2,2765

Pray, chuck, come hither.

187

IV,2,2767

Let me see your eyes;
Look in my face.

188

IV,2,2770

[To EMILIA] Some of your function, mistress;
Leave procreants alone and shut the door;
Cough, or cry 'hem,' if any body come:
Your mystery, your mystery: nay, dispatch.

189

IV,2,2778

Why, what art thou?

190

IV,2,2781

Come, swear it, damn thyself
Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves
Should fear to seize thee: therefore be double damn'd:
Swear thou art honest.

191

IV,2,2786

Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell.

192

IV,2,2788

O Desdemona! away! away! away!

193

IV,2,2795

Had it pleased heaven
To try me with affliction; had they rain'd
All kinds of sores and shames on my bare head.
Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips,
Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes,
I should have found in some place of my soul
A drop of patience: but, alas, to make me
A fixed figure for the time of scorn
To point his slow unmoving finger at!
Yet could I bear that too; well, very well:
But there, where I have garner'd up my heart,
Where either I must live, or bear no life;
The fountain from the which my current runs,
Or else dries up; to be discarded thence!
Or keep it as a cistern for foul toads
To knot and gender in! Turn thy complexion there,
Patience, thou young and rose-lipp'd cherubin,—
Ay, there, look grim as hell!

194

IV,2,2814

O, ay; as summer flies are in the shambles,
That quicken even with blowing. O thou weed,
Who art so lovely fair and smell'st so sweet
That the sense aches at thee, would thou hadst
ne'er been born!

195

IV,2,2820

Was this fair paper, this most goodly book,
Made to write 'whore' upon? What committed!
Committed! O thou public commoner!
I should make very forges of my cheeks,
That would to cinders burn up modesty,
Did I but speak thy deeds. What committed!
Heaven stops the nose at it and the moon winks,
The bawdy wind that kisses all it meets
Is hush'd within the hollow mine of earth,
And will not hear it. What committed!
Impudent strumpet!

196

IV,2,2832

Are you not a strumpet?

197

IV,2,2837

What, not a whore?

198

IV,2,2839

Is't possible?

199

IV,2,2841

I cry you mercy, then:
I took you for that cunning whore of Venice
That married with Othello.
[Raising his voice]
You, mistress,
That have the office opposite to Saint Peter,
And keep the gate of hell!
[Re-enter EMILIA]
You, you, ay, you!
We have done our course; there's money for your pains:
I pray you, turn the key and keep our counsel.

200

IV,3,3020

O, pardon me: 'twill do me good to walk.

201

IV,3,3023

Will you walk, sir?
O,—Desdemona,—

202

IV,3,3026

Get you to bed on the instant; I will be returned
forthwith: dismiss your attendant there: look it be done.

203

V,1,3171

The voice of Cassio: Iago keeps his word.

204

V,1,3173

It is even so.

205

V,1,3175

'Tis he:—O brave Iago, honest and just,
That hast such noble sense of thy friend's wrong!
Thou teachest me. Minion, your dear lies dead,
And your unblest fate hies: strumpet, I come.
Forth of my heart those charms, thine eyes, are blotted;
Thy bed, lust-stain'd, shall with lust's blood be spotted.

206

V,2,3302

It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul,—
Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars!—
It is the cause. Yet I'll not shed her blood;
Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow,
And smooth as monumental alabaster.
Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men.
Put out the light, and then put out the light:
If I quench thee, thou flaming minister,
I can again thy former light restore,
Should I repent me: but once put out thy light,
Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature,
I know not where is that Promethean heat
That can thy light relume. When I have pluck'd the rose,
I cannot give it vital growth again.
It must needs wither: I'll smell it on the tree.
[Kissing her]
Ah balmy breath, that dost almost persuade
Justice to break her sword! One more, one more.
Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee,
And love thee after. One more, and this the last:
So sweet was ne'er so fatal. I must weep,
But they are cruel tears: this sorrow's heavenly;
It strikes where it doth love. She wakes.

207

V,2,3326

Ay. Desdemona.

208

V,2,3328

Have you pray'd to-night, Desdemona?

209

V,2,3330

If you bethink yourself of any crime
Unreconciled as yet to heaven and grace,
Solicit for it straight.

210

V,2,3334

Well, do it, and be brief; I will walk by:
I would not kill thy unprepared spirit;
No; heaven forfend! I would not kill thy soul.

211

V,2,3338

Ay, I do.

212

V,2,3341

Amen, with all my heart!

213

V,2,3343

Hum!

214

V,2,3347

Think on thy sins.

215

V,2,3349

Ay, and for that thou diest.

216

V,2,3355

Peace, and be still!

217

V,2,3357

That handkerchief which I so loved and gave thee
Thou gavest to Cassio.

218

V,2,3361

Sweet soul, take heed,
Take heed of perjury; thou art on thy deathbed.

219

V,2,3364

Yes, presently:
Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin;
For to deny each article with oath
Cannot remove nor choke the strong conception
That I do groan withal. Thou art to die.

220

V,2,3370

I say, amen.

221

V,2,3375

By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in's hand.
O perjured woman! thou dost stone my heart,
And makest me call what I intend to do
A murder, which I thought a sacrifice:
I saw the handkerchief.

222

V,2,3383

He hath confess'd.

223

V,2,3385

That he hath used thee.

224

V,2,3387

Ay.

225

V,2,3389

No, his mouth is stopp'd;
Honest Iago hath ta'en order for't.

226

V,2,3392

Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge
Had stomach for them all.

227

V,2,3395

Out, strumpet! weep'st thou for him to my face?

228

V,2,3397

Down, strumpet!

229

V,2,3399

Nay, if you strive—

230

V,2,3401

Being done, there is no pause.

231

V,2,3403

It is too late.

232

V,2,3406

What noise is this? Not dead? not yet quite dead?
I that am cruel am yet merciful;
I would not have thee linger in thy pain: So, so.

233

V,2,3410

Who's there?

234

V,2,3412

Yes: 'tis Emilia. By and by. She's dead.
'Tis like she comes to speak of Cassio's death.—
The noise was here. Ha! no more moving?
Still as the grave. Shall she come in? were't good?—
I think she stirs again:—no. What's best to do?
If she come in, she'll sure speak to my wife:
My wife! my wife! what wife? I have no wife.
O insupportable! O heavy hour!
Methinks it should be now a huge eclipse
Of sun and moon, and that the affrighted globe
Should yawn at alteration.

235

V,2,3425

I had forgot thee: O, come in, Emilia;
Soft; by and by. Let me the curtains draw.
Where art thou?
[Unlocks the door]
[Enter EMILIA]
What's the matter with thee now?

236

V,2,3432

What, now?

237

V,2,3434

It is the very error of the moon;
She comes more nearer earth than she was wont,
And makes men mad.

238

V,2,3439

Roderigo kill'd!
And Cassio kill'd!

239

V,2,3442

Not Cassio kill'd! then murder's out of tune,
And sweet revenge grows harsh.

240

V,2,3446

That! what?

241

V,2,3455

Why, how should she be murder'd?

242

V,2,3457

You heard her say herself, it was not I.

243

V,2,3459

She's, like a liar, gone to burning hell:
'Twas I that kill'd her.

244

V,2,3463

She turn'd to folly, and she was a whore.

245

V,2,3465

She was false as water.

246

V,2,3468

Cassio did top her; ask thy husband else.
O, I were damn'd beneath all depth in hell,
But that I did proceed upon just grounds
To this extremity. Thy husband knew it all.

247

V,2,3473

Thy husband.

248

V,2,3475

Ay, with Cassio. Nay, had she been true,
If heaven would make me such another world
Of one entire and Perfect chrysolite,
I'ld not have sold her for it.

249

V,2,3480

Ay, 'twas he that told me first:
An honest man he is, and hates the slime
That sticks on filthy deeds.

250

V,2,3484

What needs this iteration, woman? I say thy husband.

251

V,2,3487

He, woman;
I say thy husband: dost understand the word?
My friend, thy husband, honest, honest Iago.

252

V,2,3493

Ha!

253

V,2,3497

Peace, you were best.

254

V,2,3525

Nay, stare not, masters: it is true, indeed.

255

V,2,3536

O! O! O!

256

V,2,3541

[Rising] O, she was foul!
I scarce did know you, uncle: there lies your niece,
Whose breath, indeed, these hands have newly stopp'd:
I know this act shows horrible and grim.

257

V,2,3551

'Tis pitiful; but yet Iago knows
That she with Cassio hath the act of shame
A thousand times committed; Cassio confess'd it:
And she did gratify his amorous works
With that recognizance and pledge of love
Which I first gave her; I saw it in his hand:
It was a handkerchief, an antique token
My father gave my mother.

258

V,2,3582

Are there no stones in heaven
But what serve for the thunder?—Precious villain!

259

V,2,3594

I am not valiant neither,
But ever puny whipster gets my sword:
But why should honour outlive honesty?
Let it go all.

260

V,2,3607

I have another weapon in this chamber;
It is a sword of Spain, the ice-brook's temper:—
O, here it is. Uncle, I must come forth.

261

V,2,3612

Look in upon me then and speak with me,
Or, naked as I am, I will assault thee.

262

V,2,3616

Behold, I have a weapon;
A better never did itself sustain
Upon a soldier's thigh: I have seen the day,
That, with this little arm and this good sword,
I have made my way through more impediments
Than twenty times your stop: but, O vain boast!
Who can control his fate? 'tis not so now.
Be not afraid, though you do see me weapon'd;
Here is my journey's end, here is my butt,
And very sea-mark of my utmost sail.
Do you go back dismay'd? 'tis a lost fear;
Man but a rush against Othello's breast,
And he retires. Where should Othello go?
Now, how dost thou look now? O ill-starr'd wench!
Pale as thy smock! when we shall meet at compt,
This look of thine will hurl my soul from heaven,
And fiends will snatch at it. Cold, cold, my girl!
Even like thy chastity. O cursed slave!
Whip me, ye devils,
From the possession of this heavenly sight!
Blow me about in winds! roast me in sulphur!
Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire!
O Desdemona! Desdemona! dead!
Oh! Oh! Oh!
[Enter LODOVICO. MONTANO, CASSIO carried in a chair,]
and Officers with IAGO, prisoner]

263

V,2,3643

That's he that was Othello: here I am.

264

V,2,3645

I look down towards his feet; but that's a fable.
If that thou best a devil, I cannot kill thee.

265

V,2,3650

I am not sorry neither: I'ld have thee live;
For, in my sense, 'tis happiness to die.

266

V,2,3655

Why, any thing:
An honourable murderer, if you will;
For nought I did in hate, but all in honour.

267

V,2,3660

Ay.

268

V,2,3662

I do believe it, and I ask your pardon.
Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devil
Why he hath thus ensnared my soul and body?

269

V,2,3669

Well, thou dost best.

270

V,2,3676

O villain!

271

V,2,3683

O the pernicious caitiff!
How came you, Cassio, by that handkerchief
That was my wife's?

272

V,2,3690

O fool! fool! fool!

273

V,2,3705

Soft you; a word or two before you go.
I have done the state some service, and they know't.
No more of that. I pray you, in your letters,
When you shall these unlucky deeds relate,
Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate,
Nor set down aught in malice: then must you speak
Of one that loved not wisely but too well;
Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought
Perplex'd in the extreme; of one whose hand,
Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away
Richer than all his tribe; of one whose subdued eyes,
Albeit unused to the melting mood,
Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees
Their medicinal gum. Set you down this;
And say besides, that in Aleppo once,
Where a malignant and a turban'd Turk
Beat a Venetian and traduced the state,
I took by the throat the circumcised dog,
And smote him, thus.

274

V,2,3727

I kiss'd thee ere I kill'd thee: no way but this;
Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.

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