Othello by William Shakespeare Read Free Book Online Page A

declined
     Into the vale of years — yet that’s not much —
     She’s gone. I am abused 297 , and my relief
     Must be to loathe her. O curse of marriage!
     That we can call these delicate 299 creatures ours
     And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad
     And live upon the vapour of a dungeon
     Than keep a corner 302 in the thing I love
     For others’ uses 303 . Yet, ’tis the plague to great ones,
      Prerogatived 304 are they less than the base:
     ’Tis destiny unshunnable, like death:
     Even then this forkèd plague 306 is fated to us
     When we do quicken 307 . Look where she comes:
     If she be false, heaven mocked 308 itself!
     I’ll not believe’t.
    Enter Desdemona and Emilia
    DESDEMONA    How now, my dear Othello?
     Your dinner, and the generous 311 islanders
     By you invited, do attend 312 your presence.
    OTHELLO    I am to blame.
    DESDEMONA    Why do you speak so faintly?
     Are you not well?
    OTHELLO    I have a pain upon my forehead 316 here.
    DESDEMONA    Why, that’s with watching 317 . ’Twill away again:
     Let me but bind it hard, within this hour
    Offers her handkerchief
         It will be well.
    OTHELLO    Your napkin 320 is too little:
    He pushes away the handkerchief and it drops
         Let it alone. Come, I’ll go in with you.
    Exit
    DESDEMONA    I am very sorry that you are not well.
    Following him
    EMILIA    I am glad I have found this napkin:
    Picks up the handkerchief
         This was her first remembrance 324 from the Moor:
     My wayward husband hath a hundred times
      Wooed 326 me to steal it, but she so loves the token —
     For he conjured her 327 she should ever keep it —
     That she reserves 328 it evermore about her
     To kiss and talk to. I’ll have the work ta’en out 329 ,
     And give’t Iago: what he will do with it
     Heaven knows, not I:
      I nothing 332 but to please his fantasy.
    Enter Iago
    IAGO    How now? What do you here alone?
    EMILIA    Do not you chide: I have a thing for you.
    IAGO    You have a thing for me? It is a common 335 thing—
    EMILIA    Ha?
    IAGO    To have a foolish wife.
    EMILIA    O, is that all? What will you give me now
     For the same handkerchief?
    IAGO    What handkerchief?
    EMILIA    What handkerchief?
     Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona,
     That which so often you did bid me steal.
    IAGO    Hast stol’n it from her?
    EMILIA    No, but she let it drop by negligence.
     And, to th’advantage 346 , I, being here, took’t up.
     Look, here ’tis.
    IAGO    A good wench: give it me.
    EMILIA    What will you do with’t, that you have been
     So earnest to have me filch it?
    IAGO    Why, what is that to you?
    Snatches it
    EMILIA    If it be not for some purpose of import,
     Give’t me again: poor lady, she’ll run mad
     When she shall lack 354 it.
    IAGO    Be not acknown on’t 355 : I have use for it.
     Go, leave me.
    Exit Emilia
         I will in Cassio’s lodging loose this napkin
     And let him find it. Trifles light as air
     Are to the jealous confirmations strong
     As proofs of holy writ 360 : this may do something.
     The Moor already changes with my poison:
     Dangerous conceits 362 are in their natures poisons,
     Which at the first are scarce found to distaste 363 ,
     But with a little act 364 upon the blood,
     Burn like the mines of sulphur. I did say so:
    Enter Othello
    At a distance
         Look, where he comes! Not poppy 366 , nor mandragora,
     Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world
     Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep
     Which thou owed’st 369 yesterday.
    OTHELLO    Ha, ha, false to me?
    IAGO