Read The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) Online
Authors: WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Nay, that's certain: but yet the pity of it, Iago!
True, but that’s the sadness of it, Iago!
O Iago, the pity of it, Iago!
Iago, how sad, Iago!
IAGO
If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her
If you love her so much even when she cheats on you, then give her
patent to offend; for, if it touch not you, it comes
permission to keep doing it. If it does not bother you, it won’t be an issue
near nobody.
for anyone else.
OTHELLO
I will chop her into messes: cuckold me!
I will chop her into bits! How dare she cheat on me!
IAGO
O, 'tis foul in her.
It’s very evil.
OTHELLO
With mine officer!
With my own officer!
IAGO
That's fouler.
Even worse.
OTHELLO
Get me some poison, Iago; this night: I'll not
Iago, get me some poison tonight. I will not
expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty
argue at all with her so that her beauty
unprovide my mind again: this night, Iago.
cannot tempt me to change my mind Tonight, Iago.
IAGO
Do it not with poison, strangle her in her bed, even
Don’t do it with poison, but strangle her in her bed, the same
the bed she hath contaminated.
one that she ruined.
OTHELLO
Good, good: the justice of it pleases: very good.
Yes, I appreciate the fitting justice of it.
IAGO
And for Cassio, let me be his undertaker: you
As for Cassio, leave him to me. You
shall hear more by midnight.
Will hear from me by midnight.
OTHELLO
Excellent good.
Excellent.
A trumpet within
What trumpet is that same?
What trumpet is that?
IAGO
Something from Venice, sure. 'Tis Lodovico
It sounds like someone from Venice. It is Lodovico
Come from the duke: and, see, your wife is with him.
Sent from the duke – and look, your wife is with him.
Enter LODOVICO, DESDEMONA, and Attendants
LODOVICO
Save you, worthy general!
God bless you, worthy General!
OTHELLO
With all my heart, sir.
And all of us, sir.
LODOVICO
The duke and senators of Venice greet you.
The duke and senators from Venice send their greetings.
Gives him a letter
OTHELLO
I kiss the instrument of their pleasures.
I will gladly read and obey their requests.
Opens the letter, and reads
DESDEMONA
And what's the news, good cousin Lodovico?
What is the news, good cousin Lodovico?
IAGO
I am very glad to see you, signior.
I am glad to see you, sir.
Welcome to Cyprus.
Welcome to Cyprus.
LODOVICO
I thank you. How does Lieutenant Cassio?
Thank you, How is Lieutenant Cassio?
IAGO
Lives, sir.
Alive, sir.
DESDEMONA
Cousin, there's fall'n between him and my lord
Cousin, there has been a falling out between him and my lord.
An unkind breach: but you shall make all well.
It’s an awful thing, but you will fix it.
OTHELLO
Are you sure of that?
Are you sure?
DESDEMONA
My lord?
What do you mean, my lord?
OTHELLO
[Reads] 'This fail you not to do, as you will--'
Do not fail to do this, since then you will –
LODOVICO
He did not call; he's busy in the paper.
He didn’t speak, he’s reading.
Is there division 'twixt my lord and Cassio?
So there has been a fight between Othello and Cassio?
DESDEMONA
A most unhappy one: I would do much
A sad one, yes. I would do whatever I can
To atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio.
To have them forgive each other since I love Cassio.
OTHELLO
Fire and brimstone!
O, damnation!
DESDEMONA
My lord?
Excuse me?
OTHELLO
Are you wise?
Are you sane?
DESDEMONA
What, is he angry?
Wait, is Othello angry?
LODOVICO
May be the letter moved him;
Perhaps the letter has upset him.
For, as I think, they do command him home,
I think that they are requesting him to come home,
Deputing Cassio in his government.
Placing Cassio in charge.
DESDEMONA
Trust me, I am glad on't.
Oh, well that is good news.
OTHELLO
Indeed!
Is it really!
DESDEMONA
My lord?
Othello?
OTHELLO
I am glad to see you mad.
I am glad that you are getting angry.
DESDEMONA
Why, sweet Othello,--
Othello, why?
OTHELLO
[Striking her] Devil!
You devil!
DESDEMONA
I have not deserved this.
I haven’t done anything to deserve this.
LODOVICO
My lord, this would not be believed in Venice,
My lord, no one in Venice would believe this,
Though I should swear I saw't: 'tis very much:
Even if I swore that I saw it. This is too much.
Make her amends; she weeps.
Apologize, she is crying.
OTHELLO
O devil, devil!
O she is the debil!
If that the earth could teem with woman's tears,
The whole earth could be filled with this woman’s tears
Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile.
And I would still believe she is falsely crying.
Out of my sight!
Get out of my sight!
DESDEMONA
I will not stay to offend you.
I will not stay here to upset you then.
Going
LODOVICO
Truly, an obedient lady:
She is truly an obedient woman.
I do beseech your lordship, call her back.
I beg you, Othello, call her back.
OTHELLO
Mistress!
Madam!
DESDEMONA
My lord?
Yes, my lord?
OTHELLO
What would you with her, sir?
What do you want with her, sir?
LODOVICO
Who, I, my lord?
What do I want?
OTHELLO
Ay; you did wish that I would make her turn:
Yes, you asked me to have her come back.
Sir, she can turn, and turn, and yet go on,
She can turn around and around and
And turn again; and she can weep, sir, weep;
Keep turning. She can cry and cry.
And she's obedient, as you say, obedient,
And she is so obedient, just as you say,
Very obedient. Proceed you in your tears.
Very obedient. Go on and cry.
Concerning this, sir,--O well-painted passion!--
Now about this letter – O what fake crying! –
I am commanded home. Get you away;
It commands me to return home. Get away from me,
I'll send for you anon. Sir, I obey the mandate,
I will send for you to return soon. Sir, I will obey this order
And will return to Venice. Hence, avaunt!
And return to Venice. Away, go away!
Exit DESDEMONA
Cassio shall have my place. And, sir, tonight,
Cassio will take my spot and, sir, tonight,
I do entreat that we may sup together:
Please come and eat with me.
You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus.--Goats and monkeys!
You are welcome to Cyprus. –Horny animals everywhere!
Exit
LODOVICO
Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate
Is this the same noble Moor whom everyone in the government
Call all in all sufficient? Is this the nature
Calls the most able of the soldiers? Is this the same character
Whom passion could not shake? whose solid virtue
That passion could never shake? Whose goodness
The shot of accident, nor dart of chance,
No accident or chance misfortune
Could neither graze nor pierce?
Could destroy?
IAGO
He is much changed.
He has changed a lot.
LODOVICO
Are his wits safe? is he not light of brain?
Is he still sane? Or has he lost his mind?
IAGO
He's that he is: I may not breathe my censure
He is what he is. I will not voice any criticism
What he might be: if what he might he is not,
About what he might be – if he is not what he should be,
I would to heaven he were!
Than I wish he were!
LODOVICO
What, strike his wife!
He struck his wife!
IAGO
'Faith, that was not so well; yet would I knew
Yes, that was not very good. But I wish I knew
That stroke would prove the worst!
That that was the worst thing he could do!
LODOVICO
Is it his use?
Does he usually do things like that?
Or did the letters work upon his blood,
Or did the letters make him angry
And new-create this fault?
And lead him to this new sin?
IAGO
Alas, alas!
Oh it’s so bad!
It is not honesty in me to speak
It is not honest for me to say
What I have seen and known. You shall observe him,
What I have seen and known before. You watch him
And his own courses will denote him so
And his actions will tell you all you need to know so
That I may save my speech: do but go after,
That I do not have to say anything. But follow him,
And mark how he continues.
And watch his lifestyle.
LODOVICO
I am sorry that I am deceived in him.
I am very sad that I was wrong about him.
Exeunt