Уильям Шекспир - Othello

As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of thoughts

The worst of words.IAGO Good my lord, pardon me:

Though I am bound to every act of duty,

I am not bound to that all slaves are free 154.

Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile and false,

As where’s that palace whereinto foul things

Sometimes intrude not? Who has that breast so pure,

Where no uncleanly 158apprehensions

Keep leets 159and law-days and in sessions sit

With 160meditations lawful?OTHELLO Thou dost conspire against thy friend 161, Iago,

If thou but think’st him wronged and mak’st his ear

A stranger to thy thoughts.IAGO I do beseech you,

Though I perchance am vicious 165in my guess —

As I confess it is my nature’s plague

To spy into abuses, and oft my jealousy 167

Shapes faults that are not — that your wisdom,

From one that so imperfectly conceits 169,

Would take no notice, nor build yourself a trouble

Out of his scattering 171and unsure observance.

It were not for your quiet nor your good,

Nor for my manhood, honesty and wisdom,

To let you know my thoughts.OTHELLO What dost thou mean?IAGO Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,

Is the immediate 177jewel of their souls.

Who steals my purse steals trash, ’tis something, nothing;

’Twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to thousands:

But he that filches from me my good name

Robs me of that which not enriches him

And makes me poor indeed.OTHELLO I’ll know thy thoughts.IAGO You cannot, if 184my heart were in your hand,

Nor shall not, whilst ’tis in my custody.OTHELLO Ha?IAGO O, beware, my lord, of jealousy:

It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock 188

The meat it feeds on. That cuckold 189lives in bliss

Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger 190:

But, O, what damnèd minutes tells 191he o’er

Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet soundly loves!OTHELLO O misery!IAGO Poor and content is rich and rich enough,

But riches fineless 195is as poor as winter

To him that ever fears he shall be poor.

Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend

From jealousy!OTHELLO Why? Why is this?

Think’st thou I’d make a life of jealousy,

To follow still the changes of the moon 201

With fresh suspicions? No: to be once in doubt

Is to be resolved. Exchange me for a goat 203

When I shall turn the business of my soul

To such exsufflicate 205and blowed surmises

Matching thy inference 206. ’Tis not to make me jealous

To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company,

Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances:

Where virtue is, these are more virtuous:

Nor from mine own weak merits 210will I draw

The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt 211,

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.IAGO I am glad of this, for now I shall have reason

To show the love and duty that I bear you

With franker spirit: therefore, as I am bound,

Receive it from me. I speak not yet of proof:

Look to your wife, observe her well with Cassio,

Wear your eyes thus, not jealous nor secure 221.

I would not have your free and noble nature,

Out of self-bounty 223, be abused: look to’t.

I know our country 224disposition well:

In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks 225

They dare not show their husbands: their best conscience

Is not to leave’t undone 227, but kept unknown.OTHELLO Dost thou say so?IAGO She did deceive her father, marrying you:

And when she seemed to shake and fear your looks,

She loved them most.OTHELLO And so she did.IAGO Why, go to 233then:

She that so young could give out such a seeming,

To seel 235her father’s eyes up close as oak,

He thought ’twas witchcraft. But I am much to blame:

I humbly do beseech you of your pardon

For too much loving you.OTHELLO I am bound 239to thee for ever.IAGO I see this hath a little dashed your spirits.OTHELLO Not a jot, not a jot.IAGO Trust me, I fear it has.

I hope you will consider what is spoke

Comes from your love 244. But I do see you’re moved:

I am to pray you not to strain my speech

To grosser 246issues nor to larger reach

Than to suspicion 247.OTHELLO I will not.IAGO Should you do so, my lord,

My speech should fall into such vile success 250

Which my thoughts aimed not. Cassio’s my worthy friend.

My lord, I see you’re moved.OTHELLO No, not much moved:

I do not think but Desdemona’s honest 254.IAGO Long live she so; and long live you to think so!OTHELLO And yet, how nature erring from itself—IAGO Ay, there’s the point: as — to be bold with you —

Not to affect 258many proposèd matches

Of her own clime, complexion and degree 259,

Whereto we see in all things nature tends—

Foh, one may smell in such a will 261most rank,

Foul 262disproportions, thoughts unnatural.

But pardon me: I do not in position 263

Distinctly 264speak of her, though I may fear

Her will, recoiling to her better judgement,

May fall to match you with her country forms 266

And happily 267repent.OTHELLO Farewell, farewell.

If more thou dost perceive, let me know more:

Set on thy wife to observe. Leave me, Iago.IAGO My lord, I take my leave. Starts to leave

OTHELLO Why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless

Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.IAGO My lord, I would I might entreat your honour Returns

To scan 275this thing no further: leave it to time.

Although ’tis fit that Cassio have his place 276,

For sure he fills it up with great ability,

Yet, if you please to put him off awhile,

You shall by that perceive him and his means 279.

Note, if your lady strain his entertainment 280

With any strong or vehement importunity,

Much will be seen in that. In the meantime,

Let me be thought too busy 283in my fears —

As worthy cause I have to fear I am —

And hold her free 285, I do beseech your honour.OTHELLO Fear not my government 286.IAGO I once more take my leave. Exit

OTHELLO This fellow’s of exceeding honesty,

And knows all quantities 289, with a learnèd spirit,

Of human dealings 290. If I do prove her haggard,

Though that her jesses 291were my dear heartstrings,

I’d whistle her off and let her down the wind 292

To prey at fortune 293. Haply, for I am black

And have not those soft parts of conversation 294

That chamberers 295have, or for I am 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 299creatures ours

And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad

And live upon the vapour of a dungeon

Than keep a corner 302in the thing I love

For others’ uses 303. Yet, ’tis the plague to great ones,

Prerogatived 304are they less than the base:

’Tis destiny unshunnable, like death:

Even then this forkèd plague 306is fated to us

When we do quicken 307. Look where she comes:

If she be false, heaven mocked 308itself!

I’ll not believe’t.

Enter Desdemona and Emilia DESDEMONA How now, my dear Othello?

Your dinner, and the generous 311islanders

By you invited, do attend 312your 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 316here.DESDEMONA Why, that’s with watching 317. ’Twill away again: