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Othello scene translations

scene 5, 10

Enter OTHELLO and OTHELLO enters with

attendants attendants.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
Oh my fair warrior! My beautiful warrior!

DESDEMONA DESDEMONA
My dear Othello! My darling Othello!

OTHELLO OTHELLO
It gives me wonder great as I’m amazed you got here
my content before me. But I’m
170 To see you here before me. overjoyed! My love, if the
Oh, my soul’s joy! calm after the storm could
If after every tempest come always be this wonderful, I’d
such calms, want the wind to blow until it
May the winds blow till they waked the dead, and
175 have wakened death, whipped up waves as tall as
And let the laboring bark climb mountains! If I died right
hills of seas now I’d be completely
Olympus-high, and duck again happy, since I’ll probably
as low never be as happy as this
As hell’s from heaven! If it again in my life.
were now to die,
'Twere now to be most happy,
for I fear
My soul hath her content so
absolute
That not another comfort like
to this
Succeeds in unknown fate.

DESDEMONA DESDEMONA
The heavens forbid God willing, our love and our
But that our loves and happiness will only increase
180 comforts should increase, as we get older.
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Even as our days do grow.

ORIGINAL TEXT MODERN TEXT

OTHELLO OTHELLO
Amen to that, sweet powers! Amen to that! I can’t talk about my
I cannot speak enough of this content. happiness anymore. It’s too much. I hope
It stops me here, it is too much of joy. these kisses I’m about to give you are the
And this, and this, the greatest discords closest we ever come to fighting.(they kiss)
be (kissing her)
That e'er our hearts shall make!

IAGO IAGO
185 (aside) (to himself) Oh, you’re happy now, but I’ll
Oh, you are well tuned now, ruin your happiness, for all my supposed
But I’ll set down the pegs that make this honesty.
music,
As honest as I am.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
Come, let us to the castle. Let’s go up to the castle. Good news,
News, friends! Our wars are done, the Turks friends. The war’s over and the Turks are
are drowned. drowned. How are my old friends from this
190 How does my old acquaintance of this island doing?—Honey, they’ll love you here
isle?— in Cyprus. They’ve been very good to me
Honey, you shall be well desired in Cyprus, here. Oh, my dear, I’m blabbing on and on
I have found great love amongst them. O because I’m so happy.—Iago, would you be
my sweet, good enough to go get my trunks from the
195 I prattle out of fashion, and I dote ships? And bring the ship’s captain to the
In mine own comforts.—I prithee, good Iago, castle. He’s a good man.—Let’s go,
Go to the bay and disembark my coffers. Desdemona. I’ll say it again: I’m so happy
Bring thou the master to the citadel. to see you here in Cyprus!
He is a good one, and his worthiness
Does challenge much respect.—Come,
Desdemona,
Once more, well met at Cyprus.

Exeunt OTHELLO, DESDEMONA, and OTHELLO, DESDEMONA, and attendants

attendants exit.
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scene 9

RIGINAL TEXT MODERN TEXT

Enter OTHELLO, IAGO, OTHELLO, IAGO and GENTLEMEN enter.

and GENTLEMEN

OTHELLO OTHELLO
These letters give, Iago, to Iago, give these letters to the ship’s captain
the pilot, who brought me here, and ask him to pay my
And by him do my duties to respects to the Senate of Venice. Now that’s
the senate. done, I’m going to walk on the fortification
That done, I will be walking walls. Look for me there when you come
on the works, back.
Repair there to me.

scene 10

Exit CASSIO CASSIO exits.

IAGO IAGO
Ha! I like not that. Hey! I don’t like that.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
What dost thou say? What did you say?

IAGO IAGO
35 Nothing, my lord, or if—I know Nothing, my lord, or if I did—I
not what. don’t know what.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
Was not that Cassio parted Wasn’t that Cassio leaving
from my wife? my wife?

IAGO IAGO
Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I Cassio, my lord? No, I don’t
cannot think it think so. He wouldn’t sneak
That he would steal away so away looking so guilty when
guilty-like he saw you coming.
Seeing you coming.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
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40 I do believe ’twas he. I really think it was him.

ORIGINAL TEXT MODERN TEXT

DESDEMONA DESDEMONA
How now, my lord? What’s this, my lord? I was
I have been talking with a talking to a petitioner here just
suitor here, now, someone who’s suffering
A man that languishes in your from your anger.
displeasure.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
Who is ’t you mean? Who do you mean?

DESDEMONA DESDEMONA
Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. Your lieutenant, Cassio. Oh, if
45 Good my lord, I’ve got any influence over you
If I have any grace or power to at all, please patch things up
move you with him. In my judgment, this
His present reconciliation take. man truly loves you, and his
For if he be not one that truly mistake was innocent rather
50 loves you, than wicked. Please call him
That errs in ignorance and not and tell him to come back here.
in cunning,
I have no judgment in an
honest face.
I prithee, call him back.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
Went he hence now? Was that him just now?

DESDEMONA DESDEMONA
Ay, sooth, so humbled Yes. He feels so bad and
That he hath left part of his humble that I feel bad along
grief with me with him. My love, call him
To suffer with him. Good love, back in here.
call him back.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
55 Not now, sweet Desdemona. Not now, my sweet
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Some other time. Desdemona. Some other time.

DESDEMONA DESDEMONA
But shall ’t be shortly? But will it be soon?

OTHELLO OTHELLO
The sooner, sweet, for Very soon, because you want
you. it.

DESDEMONA DESDEMONA
Shall ’t be tonight at supper? Will it be tonight at supper?

OTHELLO OTHELLO
No, not tonight. No, not tonight.

DESDEMONA DESDEMONA
Tomorrow dinner, then? Then tomorrow at dinner?

OTHELLO OTHELLO
I shall not dine at I won’t be eating dinner at
home, home. I’ll be meeting the
I meet the captains at the captains at the citadel.
citadel.

DESDEMONA DESDEMONA
Why, then, tomorrow night, Well then, tomorrow night, or
or Tuesday morn. Tuesday morning. Or Tuesday
On Tuesday noon, or night, noon or at night, or
or Wednesday morn. Wednesday morning. Please
I prithee name the time, but just name a time, but don’t
let it not wait more than three days.
Exceed three days. In faith, He’s very sorry. His mistake
he’s penitent, was hardly worth punishing
And yet his trespass, in our him for in the first place—
common reason though in wartime it is
(Save that, they say, the sometimes necessary to make
wars must make example examples out of even the best
Out of her best) is not, soldiers. So when should he
almost, a fault come? Tell me, Othello. I can’t
T' incur a private check. imagine you asking me for
When shall he come? something and me telling you
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Tell me, Othello. I wonder in no or standing there muttering.

my soul Michael Cassio came with you
What you would ask me that when you were trying to win
I should deny my love. Sometimes I’d
Or stand so mamm'ring on. criticize you to him, and he’d
What? Michael Cassio defend you. And now I have to
That came a-wooing with make this big fuss about
you, and so many a time, bringing him back? I swear, I
When I have spoke of you could do so much—
dispraisingly,
Hath ta'en your part, to have
so much to do
To bring him in? Trust me, I
could do much—

OTHELLO OTHELLO
75 Prithee, no more. Let him Please, no more. He can
come when he will, come whenever he wants. I
I will deny thee nothing. won’t refuse you anything.

DESDEMONA DESDEMONA
Why, this is not a Don’t act like you’re doing me
boon, a favor! This is like if I asked
'Tis as I should entreat you you to wear your gloves when
wear your gloves, it’s cold outside, or eat
80 Or feed on nourishing dishes, nutritious food, or do
or keep you warm, something that’s good for you.
Or sue to you to do a peculiar If I ever have to ask you for
profit something that will put your
To your own person. Nay, luck to the test, it’ll be
when I have a suit something difficult and terrible.
Wherein I mean to touch your
love indeed
It shall be full of poise and
difficult weight
And fearful to be granted.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
I will deny thee I won’t deny you anything! But
nothing! in return, please, do one thing
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85 Whereon I do beseech thee, for me: leave me alone for a

grant me this, little while.
To leave me but a little to
myself.

DESDEMONA DESDEMONA
Shall I deny you? No. Would I ever deny you
Farewell, my lord. anything? No. Goodbye, my
husband.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
Farewell, my Desdemona. I’ll Goodbye, my Desdemona. I’ll
come to thee straight. come see you right away.

ORIGINAL MODERN TEXT

TEXT

DESDEMONA DESDEMONA
Emilia, come.—Be as your fancies Come here, Emilia.—Do whatever
teach you. you feel like doing, my husband,
Whate'er you be, I am obedient. and I’ll obey you.

Exeunt DESDEMONA and EMILIA DESDEMONA and EMILIA exit.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
90 Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my What a wonderful girl! God help
soul me, I love you! And when I stop
But I do love thee! And when I love loving you, the universe will fall
thee not back into the chaos that was there
Chaos is come again. when time began.

IAGO IAGO
My noble lord— My noble lord—

OTHELLO OTHELLO
What dost thou say, Iago? What is it, Iago?

IAGO IAGO
95 Did Michael Cassio, when you wooed When you were wooing
my lady, Desdemona, did Michael Cassio
Know of your love? know about it?
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OTHELLO OTHELLO
He did, from first to last. Yes, he knew about it the whole
Why dost thou ask? time. Why do you ask?

IAGO IAGO
But for a satisfaction of my thought, I was just curious. No reason.
100 No further harm.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
Why of thy thought, Iago? Why are you curious, Iago?

IAGO IAGO
I did not think he had been I didn’t realize he knew her.
acquainted with her.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
Oh, yes, and went between us very Oh, yes. He carried messages
oft. back and forth between us very
often.

IAGO IAGO
Indeed? Oh, really?

OTHELLO OTHELLO
Indeed? Ay, indeed! Discern’st thou Oh, really? Yes, really. Do you see
105 aught in that? something wrong with that? Isn’t he
Is he not honest? an honest man?

IAGO IAGO
Honest, my lord? Honest, my lord?

OTHELLO OTHELLO
Honest, ay, honest. Honest, yes, honest.

IAGO IAGO
My lord, for aught I know. As far as I know, sir.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
What dost thou What are you thinking?
think?

IAGO IAGO
Think, my lord? Thinking, my lord?
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OTHELLO OTHELLO
110 “Think, my lord?” Alas, thou “Thinking, my lord?” My God,
echo’st me you keep repeating everything I
As if there were some say as if you were thinking
monster in thy thought something too horrible to say
Too hideous to be shown. out loud. You’re thinking
115 Thou dost mean something. something. Just a minute ago I
I heard thee say even now heard you say you didn’t like it
thou lik’st not that when Cassio left my wife. What
When Cassio left my wife. didn’t you like? And when I told
What didst not like? you he was involved the whole
120 And when I told thee he was time I was trying to get
of my counsel Desdemona, you were like,
Of my whole course of “Oh, really?” And then you
wooing, thou cried’st frowned and wrinkled up your
“Indeed?” forehead as if you were
And didst contract and purse imagining something horrible. If
thy brow together you’re my friend, tell me what
As if thou then hadst shut up you’re thinking.
in thy brain
Some horrible conceit. If thou
dost love me
Show me thy thought.

IAGO IAGO
My lord, you know I love you. My lord, you know I’m your
friend.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
I think thou dost. I think you are. And I know
And for I know thou 'rt full of you’re full of love and honesty,
love and honesty and you think carefully before
125 And weigh’st thy words before you speak. That’s why these
thou giv’st them breath, pauses of yours frighten me. If
Therefore these stops of thine some fool were withholding
fright me the more. things from me, I wouldn’t think
For such things in a false twice about it. If some lying,
disloyal knave cheating villain acted like that,
Are tricks of custom, but in a it would just be a trick. But
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man that’s just when an honest man acts like

They are close dilations, that, you know he’s wrestling
working from the heart, with bad thoughts and can’t
That passion cannot rule. help it.

IAGO IAGO
For Michael Cassio, As for Michael Cassio, I think it
130 I dare be sworn, I think, that would be safe for me to swear
he is honest. that he’s honest.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
I think so too. I think so too.

IAGO IAGO
Men should be what they seem, People should be what they appear to be. If
Or those that be not, would they might they’re not honest, they shouldn’t look like
seem none! they are!

OTHELLO OTHELLO
Certain, men should be what they seem. Absolutely, people should be what they
appear to be.

IAGO IAGO
Why then I think Cassio’s an honest man. In that case, I think Cassio’s an honest man.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
135 Nay, yet there’s more in this. No, I think there’s more to this than you’re
I prithee speak to me as to thy thinkings, letting on. Please tell me what you’re
As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst thinking—even your worst suspicions.
of thoughts
The worst of words.

IAGO IAGO
Good my lord, pardon me, Please don’t make me do that, sir. I have to
Though I am bound to every act of duty obey all your orders, but surely I’m not
140 I am not bound to that all slaves are free obligated to reveal my deepest thoughts—
to. even slaves aren’t expected to do that. You
Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile want me to say what I’m thinking? What if my
and false, thoughts are disgusting and wrong? Even
As where’s that palace whereinto foul good people think horrible things sometimes.
145 things Who is so pure that they never think a bad
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Sometimes intrude not? Who has that thought?

breast so pure
Wherein uncleanly apprehensions
Keep leets and law-days and in sessions
sit
With meditations lawful?

OTHELLO OTHELLO
Thou dost conspire against thy friend, You’re not being a good friend, Iago, if you
Iago, even thinkyour friend has been wronged and
If thou but think’st him wronged and you don’t tell him about it.
mak’st his ear
A stranger to thy thoughts.

IAGO IAGO
I do beseech you, Please don’t ask me to tell you. I might be
150 Though I perchance am vicious in my completely wrong. I have a bad tendency to
guess, be suspicious of people and to look too
As, I confess, it is my nature’s plague closely into what they’re doing. Often I
To spy into abuses, and oft my jealousy imagine crimes that aren’t really there. You
Shapes faults that are not, that your would be wise to ignore my weak guesses
155 wisdom, and imaginary suspicions, and don’t worry
From one that so imperfectly conceits, yourself about the meaningless things I’ve
Would take no notice, nor build yourself a noticed. For me to tell you my thoughts would
trouble only destroy your peace of mind, and
Out of his scattering and unsure
observance.
It were not for your quiet nor your good,

Nor for my manhood, it wouldn’t be wise, honest, or

honesty, and wisdom responsible for me to tell them.
To let you know my
thoughts.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
What dost thou What are you talking about?
mean?

IAGO IAGO
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160 Good name in man and A good reputation is the most

woman, dear my lord, valuable thing we have—men
Is the immediate jewel of their and women alike. If you steal
souls. my money, you’re just stealing
Who steals my purse steals trash. It’s something, it’s
165 trash. 'Tis something, nothing: nothing: it’s yours, it’s mine,
'Twas mine, ’tis his, and has and it’ll belong to thousands
been slave to thousands. more. But if you steal my
But he that filches from me my reputation, you’re robbing me
good name of something that doesn’t make
Robs me of that which not you richer, but makes me much
enriches him poorer.
And makes me poor indeed.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
I’ll know thy thoughts. I’m going to find out what
you’re thinking.

IAGO IAGO
You cannot, if my heart were You can’t find that out, even if
in your hand, you held my heart in your hand
Nor shall not, whilst ’tis in my you couldn’t make me tell you.
custody. And as long my heart’s inside
my body, you never will.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
Ha! What?

IAGO IAGO
170 Oh, beware, my lord, of Beware of jealousy, my lord!
jealousy! It’s a green-eyed monster that
It is the green-eyed monster makes fun of the victims it
which doth mock devours. The man who knows
The meat it feeds on. That his wife is cheating on him is
175 cuckold lives in bliss happy, because at least he isn’t
Who, certain of his fate, loves friends with the man she’s
not his wronger, sleeping with. But think of the
But, oh, what damnèd minutes unhappiness of a man who
tells he o'er worships his wife, yet doubts
Who dotes, yet doubts— her faithfulness. He suspects
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suspects, yet soundly loves! her, but still loves her.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
Oh, misery! Oh, what misery!

IAGO IAGO
Poor and content is rich, and The person who’s poor and
rich enough, contented is rich enough. But
But riches fineless is as poor infinite riches are nothing to
180 as winter someone who’s always afraid
To him that ever fears he shall he’ll be poor. God, help us not
be poor. be jealous!
Good heaven, the souls of all
my tribe defend
From jealousy!

OTHELLO OTHELLO
Why, why is this? Why are you telling me this?
Think’st thou I’d make a life Do you think I would live a life
of jealousy, of jealousy, tormented by new
To follow still the changes of suspicions every hour? No. If
the moon there’s any doubt, there is no
With fresh suspicions? No! doubt. I might as well be a
To be once in doubt goat if I ever let myself
Is to be resolved. Exchange become obsessed with the
me for a goat kind of suspicions you’re
When I shall turn the implying. If you say my wife is
business of my soul beautiful, eats well, loves good
To such exsufflicate and company, speaks freely, sings,
blowed surmises, plays music, and dances well,
Matching thy inference. 'Tis you’re not making me jealous.
not to make me jealous When a woman is virtuous,
To say my wife is fair, feeds talents like these just make
well, loves company, her better. And I’m not going
Is free of speech, sings, to start feeling inferior. She
plays, and dances. had her eyes wide open when
Where virtue is, these are she chose me. No, Iago, I’ll
more virtuous. have to see some real
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Nor from mine own weak evidence before I start

merits will I draw suspecting her of anything
The smallest fear or doubt of bad, and when I suspect her,
her revolt, I’ll look for proof, and if there’s
For she had eyes and chose proof, that’s when I’ll let go of
me. No, Iago, my love and my jealousy.
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 IAGO
I am glad of this, for now I I’m glad to hear you say that.
shall have reason Now I can show you my
200 To show the love and duty that devotion and my duty with
I bear you more honesty. So please
With franker spirit. Therefore, listen to me. I’m not talking
as I am bound, about proof yet. Watch your
Receive it from me. I speak wife. Watch how she is with
205 not yet of proof. Cassio. Just watch—don’t be
Look to your wife, observe her either completely suspicious
well with Cassio. or completely trustful. I
Wear your eyes thus, not wouldn’t want to see you
jealous nor secure. taken advantage of because
I would not have your free and you’re such an open and
noble nature trusting guy. Watch out! I
Out of self-bounty be abused. know the people of Venice
Look to ’t. well. They let God see things
I know our country disposition they wouldn’t show their
well. husbands. They don’t avoid
In Venice they do let God see doing things that are wrong,
the pranks they just try not to get caught.
They dare not show their
husbands. Their best
conscience
Is not to leave ’t undone, but
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keep’t unknown.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
210 Dost thou say so? Do you really think so?

IAGO IAGO
She did deceive her father, She lied to her father to marry
marrying you, you. And when she pretended
And when she seemed to to be afraid of you, she loved
shake and fear your looks, you the most.
She loved them most.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
And so she did. That’s right, she did.

IAGO IAGO
Why, go to then. Well, there you go. She was so
She that, so young, could give young, but she deceived her
215 out such a seeming, father so thoroughly he thought
To seel her father’s eyes up it was witchcraft! But I’m sorry
close as oak, I’ve blurted all this out. I beg
He thought ’twas witchcraft. your pardon for loving you too
But I am much to blame. much.
I humbly do beseech you of
your pardon
For too much loving you.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
I am bound to thee I’m indebted to you forever.
forever.

IAGO IAGO
I see this hath a little dashed You seem a little depressed
your spirits. about this.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
220 Not a jot, not a jot. Not at all, not at all.

IAGO IAGO
Trust me, I fear it has. Really, I’m afraid you are. I
I hope you will consider what is hope you remember that I said
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spoke all this because I love you. But

Comes from my love. But I do I see you’re troubled. Please
see you’re moved. don’t take what I said more
225 I am to pray you not to strain seriously than it deserves to be
my speech taken.
To grosser issues nor to larger
reach
Than to suspicion.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
I will not. I won’t.

IAGO IAGO
Should you do so, my lord, If you take it too seriously, it’ll
My speech should fall into have bad effects that I didn’t
such vile success want it to have. Cassio’s a
230 Which my thoughts aimed not good friend of mine—My lord, I
at. Cassio’s my worthy friend— can see you’re upset.
My lord, I see you’re moved.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
No, not much No, not too upset. I’m sure
moved. Desdemona would never
I do not think but cheat on me.
Desdemona’s honest.

IAGO IAGO
Long live she so. And long live I hope she never does! And I
you to think so. hope you keep on thinking she
wouldn’t.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
And yet how nature, erring But still, it’s true that good
from itself— things can go bad, away from
their true natures—

IAGO IAGO
Ay, there’s the point. As, to be That’s the point I’m trying to
235 bold with you, make. If I can be frank with
Not to affect many proposèd you, she veered away from her
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matches own nature in turning down all

Of her own clime, complexion, those young men from her own
and degree, country, with her skin color,
240 Whereto we see in all things with her status—everything her
nature tends— nature would have drawn her
Foh! One may smell in such a to—Ugh! You can almost smell
will most rank, the dark and ugly desires
Foul disproportions, thoughts inside her, the unnatural
unnatural. thoughts—But—I’m sorry—I
But—pardon me—I do not in didn’t mean to refer to her
position specifically just now. I only
Distinctly speak of her, though worry that she might snap back
I may fear to her natural taste in men one
Her will, recoiling to her better day, and compare you
judgment, unfavorably to other Italians.
May fall to match you with her
country forms,
And happily repent.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
Farewell, farewell. Goodbye, goodbye. If you see
245 If more thou dost perceive, let anything else, let me know.
me know more. Tell your wife to watch her.
Set on thy wife to observe. Leave me alone now, Iago.
Leave me, Iago.

IAGO IAGO
My lord, I take my My lord, I’ll say goodbye
leave. (going) now. (beginning to exit)

OTHELLO OTHELLO
(aside) Why did I marry? This (to himself) Why did I ever get
honest creature doubtless married? I’m sure this good
Sees and knows more, much and honest man sees and
more, than he unfolds. knows more, much more, than
he’s telling me.

IAGO IAGO
250 (returns) My lord, I would I (returning) My lord, please
might entreat your honor don’t think about this any more.
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To scan this thing no farther. Time will tell. It’s right for
Leave it to time. Cassio to have his lieutenancy
Although ’tis fit that Cassio back—he’s very talented. But
255 have his place, keep him away for a while, and
For sure, he fills it up with you’ll see how he goes about
great ability, getting it back. Notice whether
Yet, if you please to hold him your wife insists on your
off awhile,
You shall by that perceive him
and his means.
Note if your lady strain his
entertainment

ORIGINAL TEXT MODERN TEXT

With any strong or vehement giving it back to him. That will

importunity. tell you a lot. But in the
Much will be seen in that. In meantime, just assume that
260 the meantime, I’m paranoid—as I’m pretty
Let me be thought too busy in sure I am—and keep thinking
my fears— she’s innocent, please.
As worthy cause I have to fear
I am—
And hold her free, I do
beseech your honor.

OTHELLO OTHELLO
Fear not my government. Don’t worry about how I
handle it.

IAGO IAGO
I once more take my I’ll say goodbye once more.
leave.

Exit IAGO exits.