Iago. Look, here he comes! Neither poppy seeds, nor mandrakes, nor all the soporific juices in the world combined will ever restore to you that sweet sleep you had yesterday—
Othello (to himself)
Ha! She is unfaithful to me!
Jago.
How, how are things, General? Nothing like that anymore!
Othello. Away! away! You torture me: I swear it is better to see with one’s own eyes that one is deceived, than to fear that one is.
Jago:
What, my lord?
Othello. What knew I of their secret debauchery? I saw them not, I thought of them not, they did me no harm. I slept well that night, was calm and glad; I found not Cassio’s kisses upon their lips. Let him who was robbed, and does not miss what was stolen, let him know nothing of it, and it will be as if he had not been robbed at all.
Jago.
I’m sorry I have to hear such things.
Othello. And had the whole camp, down to the camp-boys, tasted her fair body, and I knew nothing of it, I were happy. But, O! now forever farewell, peace of mind! Farewell, contentment! Farewell, plumed hordes; and you, proud war, that fills the swelling soul with noble desire for glory: O farewell! Farewell neighing mares, blaring trumpet, cheer-inspiring drum, and you merry queer fife, royal ensign, and all the pomp and circumstance of glorious war! And, O! you deadly instruments, whose brazen jaws imitate Jupiter’s terrible thunder, farewell! Othello’s work is done!
Jago.
Is it possible, my lord?—
Othello.
Wretched man, be sure you can prove me that my
love is a whore; be sure of it, give me a visible
proof—
(He grabs him angrily.)
Or, by the worth of the immortal soul of man, it were better for you to have been born a dog than to encounter my alarmed wrath.
Jago.
Did it come to that?
Othello. Let me see it; or at least prove it so that no shadow of doubt shall remain: or woe to thy life!
Iago.
My noble lord—
Othello. When you have accused them innocently, and screwed me to this rack, pray no more; stifle your conscience, heap abomination upon abomination, commit sins that heaven shall weep, and earth shall be astonished; you can do nothing worse to fill the measure of your damnation than you have already done.
Iago. Oh! Mercy! Heaven help me! Are you a man? Have you a soul? Or a human feeling? God be with you! Take away my office, and if you will, my life as well! Oh, unfortunate fool that I am, that I should see my honesty made a crime! Oh, world! World! That is your course; honest and upright is one’s own enemy. I thank you for this instruction; henceforth I will bid goodnight to friendship, and love no one more than myself.
Othello:
No, wait—you should be honest—
Iago. I should be wise; honesty is a fool, who does good to all and harms only himself.
Othello. By all that is in the world, I think my wife is innocent, and think she is not; I think you are upright, and think you are not; I will have proof. Her name, that was as fresh as Diana’s face, is now as black as my own. Nay, if there be strike, or dagger, or poison, or fire, or water, in the world, I will bear this pain no longer—I would I were certain of my fate!
Iago. I see, my lord, you are consumed by your passion. I regret having given cause to it. You wish to be certain of your fate?
Othello.
Yes, I will.
Jago. And you can; but how? how certain, my lord? Would you be an eyewitness—watch with wide-open eyes? See how they—
Othello.
Death and damnation! Oh!
Iago. I think it would be hard to make them so familiar: at such games, one does not like strange eyes to be spectators. What then? How then? What shall I say? What do you call certainty? It is impossible that you can see it with your eyes; though they were as insolent as goats, as fierce as the wood-devils, and as rash as a fool filled with wine. And yet I say, if probabilities, if circumstances that lead straight to the door of truth, can give you certainty, you may have it.
Othello.
Give me convincing proof that she is unfaithful.
Iago. You impose an unpleasant duty on me; but since I have now, out of rash candor and friendship, ventured thus far into this matter, I will go further. I was lately lying in bed with Cassio; a raging tooth made it impossible for me to sleep. There is a kind of people whose souls are so feeble that their most secret thoughts escape them in their sleep. Such is Cassio. He talked in his sleep. Dearest Desdemona, I heard him say, let us be cautious. Let us make our understanding of love unsearchable to the keenest eye! And then, gracious sir, he groped about him and pressed my hand, exclaiming—O enchanting creature! and then he kissed me as if he wanted to pull out by the roots the kisses that grew on my lips, then he put his leg over my thigh and sighed and kissed me and cried, cursed fate that gave you to the Moor!
Othello.
O Scheusal! Scheusal!
Jago.
No, that was just a dream.
Othello.
But a dream that clearly shows what has happened.
Jago.
That’s a damned doubt, even if it’s only a dream. It can always serve to reinforce
other indications that are too weak in themselves .
Othello.
I’ll tear her to pieces from limb to limb.
Iago. Not so violently! Control yourselves; we see nothing yet, she may still be innocent—Tell me only this, have you never seen a handkerchief embroidered with strawberries in your wife’s hand?
Othello.
I gave her one of these; it was my first gift.
Iago. I know nothing of that; but with such a handkerchief (and I am sure it was your wife’s) I saw Cassio wipe his beard today.
Othello.
If it were the same—
Jago. Whether it be this or something else, it was still hers, and, taken with the other evidence, it does not speak to her advantage.
Othello. Oh, that the wretch had a thousand lives! One is too few for my revenge. Now I see at last—Look, Iago, so I blow all my love to heaven: she is gone;—arise, black Vengeance, from thy wretched grave! And you, Love, yield thy throne and thy crown to tyrannical hate! How my heart swells as if it were filled with vipers’ tongues!
Jago.
Be content.
Othello.
O blood, blood, blood!—
Jago.
Patience, I say; perhaps you may change your mind.
Othello. Never, Iago—never shall my bloody thoughts, rolling on in a tempestuous flood, flow back to gentle love, until a far-sufficing revenge shall have swallowed them up—I swear,
(he kneels,)
Hear, heaven, the terrible, irrevocable vow!—By your indestructible fortress I swear vengeance!
Iago (kneeling) Rise not yet—Be witnesses, you ever-burning lamps above, and you elements that surround us; be witnesses that Iago here devotes all that his mind, his hand, and his heart can to the service of the offended Othello! Let him command! And I will obey, obey without hesitation, however bloody the command may be!
Othello. I welcome your friendship not with vain thanks, but with a willing acceptance; and the same moment I’ll tell you what I need it for. Within the next three days, let me hear from you that Cassio is no more.
Iago. My friend is dead; you will it, it is done. But they—let them live!
Othello. Ruin upon her, the lewd hypocrite! Oh! Ruin, ruin upon her! Come, go with me to one side; I must think of some speedy means to rid the fair devil of the world. Now you are my lieutenant—
Jago.
I am yours forever.
(They leave.)
