The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (994 page)

BOOK: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)
5.14Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub

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

Other books

Nobody Girl by Leslie Dubois
A Shiver of Wonder by Daniel Kelley
The First Man in Rome by Colleen McCullough
Shotgun Nanny by Nancy Warren
Los asesinatos de Horus by Paul Doherty
Knight In My Bed by Sue-Ellen Welfonder
Frozen Heart of Fire by Julie Kavanagh
Political Suicide by Robert Barnard