Othello, Act 3, Scene 4

Desdemona

Do you know, sirrah, where Lieutenant Cassio lies?

Do you know, fellow, where Lieutenant Cassio lies at night?

Clown

I dare not say he lies anywhere.

I wouldn't dare say he lies anywhere.

Desdemona

Why, man?

Why not, man?

Clown

He’s a soldier; and for one to say a soldier lies is stabbing.

He's a soldier, and saying a soldier lies can get you stabbed.

Desdemona

Go to. Where lodges he?

Come on. Where is he staying?

Clown

To tell you where he lodges is to tell you where I lie.

Telling you where he's staying would mean telling you where I'm lying.

Desdemona

Can anything be made of this?

Does that make any sense?

Clown

I know not where he lodges; and for me to devise a lodging, and say he lies here, or he lies there, were to lie in mine own throat.

I don't know where he's staying. If I invented a place and said he lies here or lies there, I'd be telling a barefaced lie.

Desdemona

Can you inquire him out, and be edified by report?

Can you ask around and find out where he is?

Clown

I will catechize the world for him, that is, make questions and by them answer.

I'll question the whole world about him—that is, ask questions and use them to find an answer.

Desdemona

Seek him, bid him come hither. Tell him I have moved my lord on his behalf, and hope all will be well.

Find him and ask him to come here. Tell him I've spoken to my husband on his behalf and hope everything will turn out well.

Clown

To do this is within the compass of man’s wit, and therefore I will attempt the doing it.

That's within the limits of human intelligence, so I'll attempt it.

Desdemona

Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia?

Where could I have lost that handkerchief, Emilia?

Emilia

I know not, madam.

I don't know, madam.

Desdemona

Believe me, I had rather have lost my purseFull of crusadoes. And but my noble MoorIs true of mind and made of no such basenessAs jealous creatures are, it were enoughTo put him to ill thinking.

Believe me, I'd rather have lost my purse full of gold crusado coins. If my noble Moor weren't so trusting, and free of the pettiness of jealous people, this would be enough to make him suspicious.

Emilia

Is he not jealous?

Isn't he jealous?

Desdemona

Who, he? I think the sun where he was bornDrew all such humours from him.

Who, him? I think the sun in his birthplace dried up all those feelings in him.

Emilia

Look, where he comes.

Look, here he comes.

Desdemona

I will not leave him now till CassioBe call’d to him. How is’t with you, my lord?

I won't leave him now until he sends for Cassio. How are you, my lord?

Othello

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

Well, my dear lady. [To himself.] Oh, how hard it is to pretend! How are you, Desdemona?

Desdemona

Well, my good lord.

Well, my dear lord.

Othello

Give me your hand. This hand is moist, my lady.

Give me your hand. Your hand is damp, my lady.

Desdemona

It yet hath felt no age nor known no sorrow.

It hasn't yet felt the effects of age or known any sorrow.

Othello

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

That suggests fertility and a generous heart. Hot, hot, and damp. This hand of yours needs its freedom restricted, with fasting and prayer, plenty of punishment, and religious discipline. There's a young, sweating devil here that often rebels. It's a good hand, an open one.

Desdemona

You may indeed say so,For ’twas that hand that gave away my heart.

You can certainly say that, since it was this hand that gave away my heart.

Othello

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

A generous hand. In the old days, hearts gave hands in marriage, but the symbol of marriage today is joined hands, not hearts.

Desdemona

I cannot speak of this. Come now, your promise.

I don't know how to talk about this. Come now, what about your promise?

Othello

What promise, chuck?

What promise, sweetheart?

Desdemona

I have sent to bid Cassio come speak with you.

I've sent someone to ask Cassio to come speak with you.

Othello

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

I have a nasty, irritating runny nose. Lend me your handkerchief.

Desdemona

Here, my lord.

Here, my lord.

Othello

That which I gave you.

The one I gave you.

Desdemona

I have it not about me.

I don't have it with me.

Othello

Not?

You don't?

Desdemona

No, faith, my lord.

No, honestly, my lord.

Othello

That is a fault. That handkerchiefDid an Egyptian to my mother give.She was a charmer, and could almost readThe thoughts of people. She told her, while she kept it,’Twould make her amiable and subdue my fatherEntirely to her love. But if she lost it,Or made a gift of it, my father’s eyeShould hold her loathed, and his spirits should huntAfter 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 perditionAs nothing else could match.

That's wrong of you. An Egyptian woman gave that handkerchief to my mother. She was a sorceress and could almost read people's thoughts. She told my mother that as long as she kept it, it would make her attractive and keep my father entirely devoted to her. But if she lost it or gave it away, my father would find her disgusting and go looking for new lovers. As my mother was dying, she gave it to me and told me to give it to my wife when fate led me to marry. I did so. Take care of it. Treasure it as you would your own precious eyes. Losing it or giving it away would be a disaster like no other.

Desdemona

Is’t possible?

Is that possible?

Othello

’Tis true. There’s magic in the web of it.A sibyl, that had number’d in the worldThe 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 skillfulConserv’d of maiden’s hearts.

It's true. There's magic in its fabric. A prophetess who had lived to see the sun complete two hundred yearly journeys embroidered it in a prophetic trance. The silkworms that produced the silk were sacred, and it was dyed in a substance that experts preserved from the hearts of dead virgins.

Desdemona

Indeed? Is’t true?

Really? Is that true?

Othello

Most veritable, therefore look to ’t well.

Absolutely true, so take good care of it.

Desdemona

Then would to God that I had never seen ’t!

Then I wish to God I'd never seen it!

Othello

Ha? wherefore?

What? Why?

Desdemona

Why do you speak so startingly and rash?

Why are you speaking so wildly and sharply?

Othello

Is’t lost? is’t gone? speak, is it out of the way?

Is it lost? Is it gone? Tell me, is it missing?

Desdemona

Heaven bless us!

Heaven help us!

Othello

Say you?

What did you say?

Desdemona

It is not lost, but what and if it were?

It isn't lost, but what if it were?

Othello

How?

What?

Desdemona

I say it is not lost.

I said it isn't lost.

Othello

Fetch’t, let me see ’t.

Bring it here. Let me see it.

Desdemona

Why, so I can, sir, but I will not now.This is a trick to put me from my suit.Pray you, let Cassio be receiv’d again.

Well, I can, sir, but I won't right now. This is a trick to distract me from my request. Please welcome Cassio back into your service.

Othello

Fetch me the handkerchief! My mind misgives.

Bring me the handkerchief! I have a bad feeling about this.

Desdemona

Come, come.You’ll never meet a more sufficient man.

Come on, now. You'll never meet a more capable man.

Othello

The handkerchief!

The handkerchief!

Desdemona

I pray, talk me of Cassio.

Please, talk to me about Cassio.

Othello

The handkerchief!

The handkerchief!

Desdemona

A man that all his timeHath founded his good fortunes on your love,Shar’d dangers with you,—

A man who has always built his success on your affection, who has shared dangers with you—

Othello

The handkerchief!

The handkerchief!

Desdemona

In sooth, you are to blame.

Honestly, you're behaving badly.

Othello

Away!

Get away!

Emilia

Is not this man jealous?

Isn't this man jealous?

Desdemona

I ne’er saw this before.Sure there’s some wonder in this handkerchief,I am most unhappy in the loss of it.

I've never seen him like this before. There must be some magic in this handkerchief. I'm terribly unfortunate to have lost it.

Emilia

’Tis not a year or two shows us a man:They are all but stomachs and we all but food;They eat us hungerly, and when they are full,They belch us.

It takes more than a year or two to know a man. They're all just stomachs, and we're all just food. They devour us hungrily, and when they're full, they burp us out.

Iago

There is no other way; ’tis she must do ’t,And, lo, the happiness! Go and importune her.

There's no other way. She's the one who must do it, and look, what good luck! Go and press her for help.

Desdemona

How now, good Cassio, what’s the news with you?

Hello, dear Cassio. What news do you have?

Cassio

Madam, my former suit: I do beseech youThat by your virtuous means I may againExist, and be a member of his love,Whom I, with all the office of my heart,Entirely honour. I would not be delay’d.If my offence be of such mortal kindThat nor my service past, nor present sorrows,Nor purpos’d merit in futurity,Can ransom me into his love again,But to know so must be my benefit;So shall I clothe me in a forc’d content,And shut myself up in some other courseTo fortune’s alms.

Madam, I have the same request as before. I beg you to use your goodness to help restore me to the affection of the man I honor with all my heart. I would not want to be kept waiting. If my offense is so deadly that neither my past service, my present sorrow, nor the good I intend to do in the future can win back his affection, at least let me have the comfort of knowing that. Then I will force myself to be content and take some other path, living on whatever charity fortune offers me.

Desdemona

Alas, thrice-gentle Cassio,My advocation is not now in tune;My lord is not my lord; nor should I know himWere he in favour as in humour alter’d.So help me every spirit sanctified,As I have spoken for you all my best,And stood within the blank of his displeasureFor my free speech! You must awhile be patient.What I can do I will; and more I willThan for myself I dare. Let that suffice you.

Oh, my dear, gentle Cassio, this is not a good time for me to plead for you. My husband is not himself. If his appearance had changed as much as his mood, I would not recognize him. May every holy spirit help me, I have spoken for you as well as I could, and made myself the target of his anger by speaking so freely! You must be patient for a while. I will do whatever I can, and dare to do more for you than I would for myself. Let that satisfy you.

Iago

Is my lord angry?

Is my lord angry?

Emilia

He went hence but now,And certainly in strange unquietness.

He left just now, and he was certainly strangely upset.

Iago

Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon,When it hath blown his ranks into the airAnd, like the devil, from his very armPuff’d his own brother, and can he be angry?Something of moment then. I will go meet him.There’s matter in’t indeed if he be angry.

Can he be angry? I have seen cannons blow his soldiers into the air and, like the devil, blast his own brother right out of his arms. And can he be angry? Then it must be something important. I will go find him. Something serious must be happening if he is angry.

Desdemona

I prithee do so.

Please do.

Emilia

Pray heaven it be state matters, as you think,And no conception nor no jealous toyConcerning you.

Heaven grant that it is a matter of state, as you think, and not some suspicion or jealous fancy about you.

Desdemona

Alas the day, I never gave him cause!

Oh, I have never given him any reason!

Emilia

But jealous souls will not be answer’d so;They are not ever jealous for the cause,But jealous for they are jealous: ’tis a monsterBegot upon itself, born on itself.

But that answer will not satisfy jealous people. They are not always jealous for a reason, but simply because they are jealous. Jealousy is a monster that fathers itself and gives birth to itself.

Desdemona

Heaven keep that monster from Othello’s mind!

Heaven keep that monster out of Othello’s mind!

Emilia

Lady, amen.

Amen, my lady.

Desdemona

I will go seek him. Cassio, walk hereabout:If I do find him fit, I’ll move your suit,And seek to effect it to my uttermost.

I will go look for him. Cassio, stay around here. If I find him in the right mood, I will bring up your request and do everything in my power to make it happen.

Cassio

I humbly thank your ladyship.

I humbly thank you, my lady.

Bianca

Save you, friend Cassio!

God bless you, my dear Cassio!

Cassio

What make you from home?How is it with you, my most fair Bianca?I’ faith, sweet love, I was coming to your house.

What brings you away from home? How are you, my beautiful Bianca? Honestly, my sweet love, I was just coming to your house.

Bianca

And I was going to your lodging, Cassio.What, keep a week away? Seven days and nights?Eight score eight hours, and lovers’ absent hours,More tedious than the dial eight score times?O weary reckoning!

And I was going to your lodgings, Cassio. What, you stay away a whole week? Seven days and nights? A hundred and sixty-eight hours, when every hour lovers spend apart feels a hundred and sixty times longer than the clock says? Oh, what an exhausting count!

Cassio

Pardon me, Bianca.I have this while with leaden thoughts been press’d,But I shall in a more continuate timeStrike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca,

Forgive me, Bianca. Heavy thoughts have weighed me down all this time. But when I have more uninterrupted time, I will pay off this debt of absence. Sweet Bianca,

Bianca

O Cassio, whence came this?This is some token from a newer friend.To the felt absence now I feel a cause.Is’t come to this? Well, well.

Oh, Cassio, where did this come from? This is a gift from some new lover. Now I see the reason for the absence I have felt so painfully. Has it come to this? Well, well.

Cassio

Go to, woman!Throw your vile guesses in the devil’s teeth,From whence you have them. You are jealous nowThat this is from some mistress, some remembrance.No, in good troth, Bianca.

Stop it, woman! Throw your nasty suspicions back in the devil’s face, where they came from. Now you are jealous, thinking this is a keepsake from some mistress. Honestly, Bianca, it is not.

Bianca

Why, whose is it?

Well, whose is it?

Cassio

I know not neither. I found it in my chamber.I like the work well. Ere it be demanded,As like enough it will, I’d have it copied.Take it, and do ’t, and leave me for this time.

I do not know either. I found it in my room. I like the embroidery very much. Before someone asks for it back, as they probably will, I want to have it copied. Take it, do that for me, and leave me for now.

Bianca

Leave you, wherefore?

Leave you? Why?

Cassio

I do attend here on the general,And think it no addition, nor my wish,To have him see me woman’d.

I am waiting here for the general, and I do not think it would improve his opinion of me, nor do I want him to see me with a woman.

Bianca

Why, I pray you?

Why, please tell me?

Cassio

Not that I love you not.

Not because I do not love you.

Bianca

But that you do not love me.I pray you bring me on the way a little,And say if I shall see you soon at night.

But because you do not love me. Please walk a little way with me, and tell me whether I will see you early tonight.

Cassio

’Tis but a little way that I can bring you,For I attend here. But I’ll see you soon.

I can only walk a little way with you, because I have to wait here. But I will see you soon.

Bianca

’Tis very good; I must be circumstanc’d.

Very well. I must accept the circumstances.