T Cannot Be That Desdemona Should Long Continue Her Love to the Moor Â
-- Philip Weller, November 13, 1941 - February 1, 2021
Dr. Weller, an Eastern Washington University professor of English and Shakespearean scholar for more than 50 years.
Othello: Act 1, Scene 3
Enter DUKE, Senators and Officers.
DUKE
1There is no composition in these news
1.composition: consistency.
2That gives them credit.
First Senator
Indeed, they are disproportion'd;
2.disproportion'd: inconsistent.
3My letters say a hundred and seven galleys.
"And mine, a hundred and forty"
DUKE
4And mine, a hundred and forty.
Second Senator
And mine, two hundred!
5But though they jump not on a just account, —
5.jump: agree. just: exact. account: accounting, number.
6As in these cases, where the aim reports,
6.the aim: i.e., conjecture.
7'Tis oft with difference — yet do they all confirm
8A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus.
DUKE
9Nay, it is possible enough to judgment:
10I do not so secure me in the error
11But the main article I do approve
10-11.I do not so secure me in the error, / But the main article I do approve: I don't find so much safety in the discrepancies [in the number of Turkish ships reported] but I believe the main message [that the Turks are mounting an attack on Cyprus].
12In fearful sense.
Sailor (Within.)
What, ho! what, ho! what, ho!
Officer
13A messenger from the galleys.
Enter SAILOR.
DUKE
Now, what's the business?
Sailor
14The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes;
14.preparation: force prepared for war.
15So was I bid report here to the state
16By Signior Angelo.
DUKE
17How say you by this change?
17.by: about.
First Senator
This cannot be,
18By no assay of reason: 'tis a pageant,
18.assay of reason: test of common sense. pageant: mere show.
19To keep us in false gaze. When we consider
19.in false gaze: looking in the wrong direction.
20The importancy of Cyprus to the Turk,
21And let ourselves again but understand,
22That as it more concerns the Turk than Rhodes,
23So may he with more facile question bear it,
23.with . . . it: capture it (Cyprus) more easily.
24For that it stands not in such warlike brace,
24.brace: readiness, state of defense.
25But altogether lacks the abilities
25.abilities: defensive capabilities.
26That Rhodes is dress'd in: if we make thought of this,
27We must not think the Turk is so unskilful
27.unskilful: unable to weigh the situation, undiscriminating.
28To leave that latest which concerns him first,
28.latest: last.
29Neglecting an attempt of ease and gain,
29.of ease and gain: i.e., that will yield easy success.
30To wake and wage a danger profitless.
30.wage: risk.
DUKE
31Nay, in all confidence, he's not for Rhodes.
Officer
32Here is more news.
Enter a MESSENGER.
Messenger
33The Ottomites, reverend and gracious,
34Steering with due course towards the isle of Rhodes,
35Have there injointed them with an after fleet.
35.injointed them: joined themselves. after: second.
First Senator
36Ay, so I thought. How many, as you guess?
Messenger
37Of thirty sail: and now they do restem
37.restem: steer again.
38Their backward course, bearing with frank appearance
38.with frank appearance: openly, without disguising their intention.
39Their purposes toward Cyprus. Signior Montano,
40Your trusty and most valiant servitor,
41With his free duty recommends you thus,
41.his free duty: i.e., expressions of unwavering loyalty. recommends you: reports to you.
42And prays you to believe him.
DUKE
43'Tis certain, then, for Cyprus.
44Marcus Luccicos, is not he in town?
First Senator
45He's now in Florence.
DUKE
46Write from us to him; post-post-haste. Dispatch!
First Senator
47Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor.
Enter BRABANTIO, OTHELLO, CASSIO,
IAGO, RODERIGO, and OFFICERS.
DUKE
48Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you
49Against the general enemy Ottoman.
49.general enemy: enemy of all Christendom.
[To Brabantio.]
50I did not see you; welcome, gentle signior;
50.gentle: noble.
51We lack'd your counsel and your help tonight.
BRABANTIO
52So did I yours. Good your grace, pardon me;
53Neither my place nor aught I heard of business
54Hath raised me from my bed, nor doth the general care
55Take hold on me, for my particular grief
55.particular: private.
56Is of so flood-gate and o'erbearing nature
56.flood-gate: i.e., overwhelming (like the onrushing water when flood-gates are opened).
57That it engluts and swallows other sorrows
57.engluts: engulfs.
58And it is still itself.
DUKE
Why, what's the matter?
BRABANTIO
59My daughter! O, my daughter!
All
Dead?
BRABANTIO
Ay, to me;
60She is abus'd, stol'n from me, and corrupted
60.abus'd: deceived, deluded.
61By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks;
61.mountebanks: snake-oil salesmen.
62For nature so preposterously to err,
62.nature . . . err: human nature to make such a preposterous mistake.
63Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense,
63.deficient: defective.
64Sans witchcraft could not.
64.Sans witchcraft could not: Without witchcraft [nature] could not [make such a mistake].
DUKE
65Whoe'er he be that in this foul proceeding
66Hath thus beguiled your daughter of herself
67And you of her, the bloody book of law
68You shall yourself read in the bitter letter
68.the bitter letter: the harsh letter of the law.
69After your own sense, yea, though our proper son
69.After your own sense: giving it your own interpretation. our proper: my own.
70Stood in your action.
70.Stood in your action: was the one who faced your charges.
BRABANTIO
Humbly I thank your grace.
71Here is the man, this Moor, whom now, it seems,
72Your special mandate for the state-affairs
73Hath hither brought.
All
We are very sorry for't.
DUKE [To Othello.]
74What, in your own part, can you say to this?
BRABANTIO
75Nothing, but this is so.
OTHELLO
76Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors,
77.approv'd: proved.
77My very noble and approv'd good masters,
78That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter,
79It is most true; true, I have married her:
80.The very head and front of my offending: i.e., my offense at the utmost. front: forehead, face. 81.Rude: unpolished.
80The very head and front of my offending
81Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech,
82And little bless'd with the soft phrase of peace:
83.seven years' pith: the strength of [a boy of] seven years. 84.Till now some nine moons wasted: until some nine months ago (during which time Othello has evidently not been on active duty, but in Venice).
83For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith,
84Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used
85Their dearest action in the tented field,
86And little of this great world can I speak,
87More than pertains to feats of broil and battle,
88And therefore little shall I grace my cause
89In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience,
90.round: plain.
90I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver
91Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what charms,
92What conjuration and what mighty magic,
93.withal: with.
93For such proceeding I am charged withal,
94I won his daughter.
BRABANTIO
A maiden never bold;
95-96.her motion / Blush'd at herself: any stirring of her feelings made her blush (as if her feelings were improper).
95Of spirit so still and quiet, that her motion
96Blush'd at herself; and she, in spite of nature,
97.credit: virtuous reputation.
97Of years, of country, credit, every thing,
98To fall in love with what she fear'd to look on!
99It is a judgment maim'd and most imperfect
100.confess: concede (that), aver, or declare.
100That will confess perfection so could err
101.must: i.e., the unmaimed judgment must.
101Against all rules of nature, and must be driven
102.practices: plots.
102To find out practises of cunning hell,
103.vouch: assert, affirm.
103Why this should be. I therefore vouch again
104.blood: passions.
104That with some mixtures powerful o'er the blood,
105.conjur'd to this effect: made thus efficacious by spells.
105Or with some dram conjur'd to this effect,
106He wrought upon her.
DUKE
106 To vouch this, is no proof,
107.more wider: i.e., fuller.
107Without more wider and more overt test
108.thin habits: thin clothing; i.e., slight appearances.
108Than these thin habits and poor likelihoods
109.modern: commonplace, insignificant. seeming: assumption, supposition. prefer: present.
109Of modern seeming do prefer against him.
First Senator
110But, Othello, speak:
111Did you by indirect and forced courses
112Subdue and poison this young maid's affections?
113.question: conversation.
113Or came it by request and such fair question
114As soul to soul affordeth?
OTHELLO
I do beseech you,
115Send for the lady to the Sagittary,
116And let her speak of me before her father:
117If you do find me foul in her report,
118The trust, the office I do hold of you,
119Not only take away, but let your sentence
120Even fall upon my life.
DUKE
Fetch Desdemona hither.
OTHELLO
121Ancient, conduct them: you best know the place.
[Exeunt IAGO and Attendants.]
122And, till she come, as truly as to heaven
123.vices of my blood: my human failings. blood: passions.
123I do confess the vices of my blood,
124.justly: exactly, truthfully.
124So justly to your grave ears I'll present
125How I did thrive in this fair lady's love,
126And she in mine.
"I ran it through, even from my boyish days"
DUKE
127Say it, Othello.
OTHELLO
128Her father loved me; oft invited me;
129Still question'd me the story of my life,
129.Still: Continually.
130From year to year, the battles, sieges, fortunes,
131That I have passed.
132I ran it through, even from my boyish days,
133To the very moment that he bade me tell it;
134Wherein I spake of most disastrous chances,
135Of moving accidents by flood and field
135. moving accidents: frightening events.
136Of hair-breadth scapes i' the imminent deadly breach,
136.imminent deadly: threatening death. breach: gap made in a fortification.
137Of being taken by the insolent foe
138And sold to slavery, of my redemption thence
139And portance in my travels' history:
139.portance: conduct, behavior.
140Wherein of antres vast and deserts idle,
140.antres: caves. idle: barren, empty.
141Rough quarries, rocks and hills whose heads touch heaven
141.Rough quarries: rugged stone-masses.
142It was my hint to speak, — such was the process;
142.hint: occasion. such was the process: i.e., in order to tell my story truthfully, I had to speak of such strange things.
143And of the Cannibals that each other eat,
144The Anthropophagi and men whose heads
144.Anthropophagi: man-eaters.
145Do grow beneath their shoulders. This to hear
146Would Desdemona seriously incline:
147But still the house-affairs would draw her thence:
148Which ever as she could with haste dispatch,
149She'ld come again, and with a greedy ear
150Devour up my discourse: which I observing,
151Took once a pliant hour, and found good means
152To draw from her a prayer of earnest heart
152.prayer: request.
153That I would all my pilgrimage dilate,
153.dilate: relate in detail.
154Whereof by parcels she had something heard,
154.by parcels: by snatches, in bits and pieces.
155But not intentively: I did consent,
155.intentively: with full and continuous attention.
156And often did beguile her of her tears,
157When I did speak of some distressful stroke
158That my youth suffer'd. My story being done,
159She gave me for my pains a world of sighs:
160She swore, in faith, 'twas strange, 'twas passing strange,
161'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful:
162She wish'd she had not heard it, yet she wish'd
163That heaven had made her such a man: she thank'd me,
163. made her such a man: made such a man for her (to love).
164And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her,
165I should but teach him how to tell my story.
166And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake:
166.hint: opportunity. I spake: i.e., I asked her to marry me.
167She loved me for the dangers I had pass'd,
168And I loved her that she did pity them.
169This only is the witchcraft I have used:
170Here comes the lady; let her witness it.
Enter DESDEMONA, IAGO, ATTENDANTS.
DUKE
171I think this tale would win my daughter too.
172Good Brabantio,
173Take up this mangled matter at the best:
173.Take up this mangled matter at the best: Make the best of this complicated situation.
174Men do their broken weapons rather use
175Than their bare hands.
BRABANTIO
"but here's my husband"
I pray you, hear her speak:
176If she confess that she was half the wooer,
177Destruction on my head, if my bad blame
178Light on the man! Come hither, gentle mistress:
179Do you perceive in all this noble company
180Where most you owe obedience?
DESDEMONA
My noble father,
181I do perceive here a divided duty:
182To you I am bound for life and education;
182.education: upbringing.
183My life and education both do learn me
183.learn: teach.
184How to respect you; you are the lord of duty;
184.respect: regard.
185I am hitherto your daughter: but here's my husband,
185.I am hitherto your daughter: i.e., until now I have owed all my obedience to you as my father.
186And so much duty as my mother show'd
187To you, preferring you before her father,
188So much I challenge that I may profess
188.challenge: claim.
189Due to the Moor, my lord.
BRABANTIO
God be with you! I have done.
189.God be with you: good-bye.
190Please it your grace, on to the state affairs:
191I had rather to adopt a child than get it.
191.get: beget. (If he had adopted her, he could tell himself that her bad behavior was the fault of her bad blood.)
192Come hither, Moor:
193I here do give thee that with all my heart
194Which, but thou hast already, with all my heart
195I would keep from thee. For your sake, jewel,
195.For your sake: on your account, because of what you have done.
196I am glad at soul I have no other child:
197For thy escape would teach me tyranny,
197.escape: transgression.
198To hang clogs on them. I have done, my lord.
198.clogs: blocks of wood hung on criminals or animals to prevent their running away.
DUKE
199Let me speak like yourself, and lay a sentence,
199.like yourself: i.e., as you should in your proper temper. sentence: adage. (It's the rhymed part that follows.)
200Which, as a grise or step, may help these lovers
200.grise: degree, step.
201Into your favor.
202When remedies are past, the griefs are ended
202.remedies: i.e., hopes of remedy.
203By seeing the worst, which late on hopes depended.
203.which: i.e., the griefs. hopes: anticipations.
204To mourn a mischief that is past and gone
204.mischief: injury.
205Is the next way to draw new mischief on.
205.next: nearest.
206What cannot be preserved when fortune takes
206.What: Whatever.
207Patience her injury a mockery makes.
207.Patience . . . makes: patient endurance of a loss makes a mockery of Fortune's injury [and thus eases the pain].
208The robb'd that smiles steals something from the thief;
209He robs himself that spends a bootless grief.
209.spends a bootless grief: i.e., wastes time on useless grief.
BRABANTIO
210So let the Turk of Cyprus us beguile;
210-211.beguile . . . smile: Brabantio mocks the duke by also rhyming.
211We lose it not, so long as we can smile.
212He bears the sentence well that nothing bears
213But the free comfort which from thence he hears,
213.free: i.e., unmixed with sorrow.
214But he bears both the sentence and the sorrow
215That, to pay grief, must of poor patience borrow.
212-215.He bears . . . borrow: i.e., your maxim does well for the person who finds in it only comfort free from sorrow; but anyone whose sorrow overwhelms his patience is left with his sorrow and the guilt of not having the patience to overcome it.
216These sentences, to sugar, or to gall,
217Being strong on both sides, are equivocal:
218But words are words; I never yet did hear
219.pierced: i.e., relieved as by a surgeon's lancet.
219That the bruised heart was pierced through the ear.
220I humbly beseech you, proceed to the affairs of state.
DUKE
221The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for
221.preparation: preparation for battle.
222Cyprus. Othello, the fortitude of the place is best
222.fortitude: military strength.
223.substitute: deputy, representative.
223known to you; and though we have there a substitute
224of most allow'd sufficiency, yet opinion, a
224.allow'd: acknowledged.
225sovereign mistress of effects, throws a more safer
224-225.opinion . . . effects: public opinion, a powerful arbiter of what needs to be done.
226voice on you: you must therefore be content to
225-226.throws . . . you: says you are the safer choice.
227slubber the gloss of your new fortunes with this
227.slubber: soil, sully.
228more stubborn and boisterous expedition.
228.stubborn and boisterous: difficult and rough.
OTHELLO
229The tyrant custom, most grave senators,
230Hath made the flinty and steel couch of war
231My thrice-driven bed of down: I do agnize
231.thrice-driven: thrice-winnowed (to obtain the softest feathers). agnize: acknowledge, recognize.
232A natural and prompt alacrity
232.alacrity: readiness.
233I find in hardness, and do undertake
233.hardness: hardship.
234These present wars against the Ottomites.
235Most humbly therefore bending to your state,
235.bending to your state: i.e., bowing to your authority.
236I crave fit disposition for my wife.
236.fit disposition: suitable provision.
237Due reference of place and exhibition,
237.reference of place: assignment of residence. exhibition: allowance of money.
238With such accommodation and besort
238.accommodation: apparel. besort: suitable company.
239As levels with her breeding.
239.levels: equals, suits.
DUKE
If you please,
240Be't at her father's.
BRABANTIO
I'll not have it so.
OTHELLO
241Nor I.
DESDEMONA
Nor I; I would not there reside,
242To put my father in impatient thoughts
243By being in his eye. Most gracious duke,
244To my unfolding lend your prosperous ear;
244.my unfolding: my revelation of what I really want. prosperous: favorable.
245And let me find a charter in your voice,
245.charter: approval.
246To assist my simpleness.
DUKE
247What would you, Desdemona?
DESDEMONA
248That I did love the Moor to live with him,
249My downright violence and storm of fortunes
249.My . . . fortunes: my boldly aggressive action of taking my fortune by storm. (Instead of getting her father's permission and approval.)
250May trumpet to the world. My heart's subdued
251Even to the very quality of my lord:
250-251.subdu'd / Even to: brought completely into accord with. quality: nature, character.
252I saw Othello's visage in his mind,
253And to his honor and his valiant parts
253.parts: qualities.
254Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate.
255So that, dear lords, if I be left behind,
256A moth of peace, and he go to the war,
256.moth: meek idle consumer, parasite.
257The rites for which I love him are bereft me,
257.rites: i.e., Othello's performance as a warrior and leader of men, which make me love him.
258And I a heavy interim shall support
259By his dear absence. Let me go with him.
259.dear: emotionally costly.
 | Othello and Desdemona pleading to the Doge of Venice, by Karl Becker |
OTHELLO
260Let her have your voices.
261Vouch with me, heaven, I therefore beg it not,
262To please the palate of my appetite,
263Nor to comply with heat — the young affects
264In me defunct — and proper satisfaction.
263-264.to comply . . . defunct: to serve sexual appetite — since the excesses of youthful passion in me are over and done with. proper: personal, private.
265But to be free and bounteous to her mind:
266And heaven defend your good souls, that you think
266.defend: forbid.
267I will your serious and great business scant
268For she is with me: no, when light-wing'd toys
268.For: Because.
269Of feather'd Cupid seel with wanton dullness
269.seel: blind. wonton: sensual.
270My speculative and officed instruments,
270.My . . . instruments: My mental faculties when they have duties to perform.
271That my disports corrupt and taint my business,
271.That: so that. disports: pastimes.
272Let housewives make a skillet of my helm,
273And all indign and base adversities
273.indign: unworthy, shameful.
274Make head against my estimation!
274.Make head: raise an armed force. estimation: reputation.
DUKE
275Be it as you shall privately determine,
276Either for her stay or going: the affair cries haste,
277And speed must answer it.
First Senator
You must away tonight.
DESDEMONA
278Tonight, my lord?
DUKE
This night.
OTHELLO
With all my heart.
DUKE
279At nine i' the morning here we'll meet again.
280Othello, leave some officer behind,
281And he shall our commission bring to you;
282With such things else of quality and respect
282.of quality and respect: pertaining to your rank and privilege.
283As doth import you.
283.import: concern.
OTHELLO
So please your grace, my ancient;
284A man he is of honesty and trust.
284.honesty: honor.
285To his conveyance I assign my wife,
286With what else needful your good grace shall think
287To be sent after me.
DUKE
Let it be so.
288Good night to every one.
[To Brabantio.]
And, noble signior,
289If virtue no delighted beauty lack,
289.delighted: delightful.
290Your son-in-law is far more fair than black.
First Senator
291Adieu, brave Moor, use Desdemona well.
BRABANTIO
292Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see:
293She has deceived her father, and may thee.
Exeunt [Duke, Senators, Officers, &c.]
OTHELLO
294My life upon her faith! Honest Iago,
295My Desdemona must I leave to thee:
296I prithee, let thy wife attend on her:
297And bring them after in the best advantage.
297.in the best advantage: at the most favorable opportunity.
298Come, Desdemona: I have but an hour
299Of love, of worldly matters and direction,
299.direction: plans for the future.
300To spend with thee: we must obey the time.
Exit [with Desdemona].
RODERIGO
301Iago, —
"I will incontinently drown myself"
IAGO
302What say'st thou, noble heart?
RODERIGO
303What will I do, thinkest thou?
IAGO
304Why, go to bed, and sleep.
RODERIGO
305I will incontinently drown myself.
305.incontinently: immediately, at once.
IAGO
306If thou dost, I shall never love thee after. Why,
307thou silly gentleman?
RODERIGO
308It is silliness to live when to live is torment; and
309then have we a prescription to die when death is
309.prescription: (1) perfect right; (2) doctor's order.
310our physician.
IAGO
311O villainous! I have looked upon the world for four
311.villainous: wretched nonsense.
312times seven years; and since I could distinguish
313betwixt a benefit and an injury, I never found man
314that knew how to love himself. Ere I would say, I
315would drown myself for the love of a guinea-hen, I
315.guinea-hen: prostitute.
316would change my humanity with a baboon.
316.change: exchange.
RODERIGO
317What should I do? I confess it is my shame to be so
318fond; but it is not in my virtue to amend it.
318.fond: infatuated. virtue: strength, nature.
IAGO
319Virtue! a fig! 'tis in ourselves that we are thus or
320thus. Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our
319-320.'tis . . . thus: it is in our own power to make ourselves this or that.
321wills are gardeners: so that if we will plant nettles,
322or sow lettuce, set hyssop and weed up tine, supply
322.hyssop: a fragrant herb. tine: tares, a weed.
323it with one gender of herbs, or distract it with many,
323.gender: kind. distract: pull to pieces.
324either to have it sterile with idleness, or manured with
324.idleness: lack of cultivation. manured: fertilized.
325industry, why, the power and corrigible authority of
325.corrigible: corrective.
326this lies in our wills. If the beam of our lives had not
326.beam: balance beam.
327one scale of reason to poise another of sensuality, the
327.poise: counterbalance.
328blood and baseness of our natures would conduct us
328.blood and baseness: base passions.
329to most preposterous conclusions: but we have
330reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal
330.motions: desires, appetites.
331stings, our unbitted lusts, whereof I take this that
331.unbitted: uncontrolled.
332you call love to be a sect or scion.
332.sect or scion: cutting or offshoot.
RODERIGO
"if we will plant nettles"
333It cannot be!
IAGO
334It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission of
335the will. Come, be a man. Drown thyself! drown
336cats and blind puppies. I have professed me thy
337friend and I confess me knit to thy deserving with
338cables of perdurable toughness; I could never
338.perdurable: very durable, lasting.
339better stead thee than now. Put money in thy
339.stead: serve, help.
340purse; follow thou the wars; defeat thy favor with
340.defeat thy favor: alter your appearance.
341an usurped beard; I say, put money in thy purse. It
341.usurped beard: false beard.
342cannot be that Desdemona should long continue her
343love to the Moor, — put money in thy purse, — nor he
344his to her: it was a violent commencement, and thou
345shalt see an answerable sequestration: — put but
345.answerable sequestration: correspondingly abrupt ending.
346money in thy purse. These Moors are changeable in
347their wills: fill thy purse with money: — the food
347.wills: carnal appetites, lusts.
348that to him now is as luscious as locusts, shall be
348.locusts: the sweet fruit of the carob tree. . . . more
349to him shortly as bitter as coloquintida. She must
349.coloquintida: colocynth, or "bitter apple," used as a purgative.
350change for youth: when she is sated with his body,
351she will find the error of her choice: she must
352have change, she must: therefore put money in thy
353purse. If thou wilt needs damn thyself, do it a
354more delicate way than drowning. Make all the money
354.Make: raise, collect, get together.
355thou canst: if sanctimony and a frail vow betwixt
355.sanctimony: religious bond or ceremony.
356an erring barbarian and a super-subtle Venetian be not
356.super-subtle: highly refined and sensitive.
357too hard for my wits and all the tribe of hell, thou
358shalt enjoy her; therefore make money. A pox of
359drowning thyself! it is clean out of the way: seek
360thou rather to be hanged in compassing thy joy than
361to be drowned and go without her.
RODERIGO
362Wilt thou be fast to my hopes, if I depend on
362.fast: true.
363the issue?
IAGO
364Thou art sure of me: — go, make money: — I have told
365thee often, and I re-tell thee again and again, I
366hate the Moor: my cause is hearted; thine hath no
366.hearted: rooted in my heart, i.e., deeply and passionately felt.
367less reason. Let us be conjunctive in our revenge
367.conjunctive: united.
368against him: if thou canst cuckold him, thou dost
369thyself a pleasure, me a sport. There are many
370events in the womb of time which will be delivered.
371Traverse! go, provide thy money. We will have more
371.Traverse: go forward (a military term).
372of this tomorrow. Adieu.
RODERIGO
373Where shall we meet i' the morning?
IAGO
374At my lodging.
RODERIGO
375I'll be with thee betimes.
375.betimes: first thing in the morning.
IAGO
376Go to; farewell. Do you hear, Roderigo?
376.Go to: it's ok, forget about it, get out of here, etc. Do you hear?: listen up.
RODERIGO
377What say you?
IAGO
378No more of drowning, do you hear?
RODERIGO
379I am chang'd.
IAGO
380Go to, farewell. Put money enough in your
381purse.
RODERIGO
382I'll sell all my land.
Exit.
IAGO
383Thus do I ever make my fool my purse:
384For I mine own gain'd knowledge should profane,
385If I would time expend with such a snipe,
385.snipe: woodcock, a proverbially stupid bird.
386But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor:
387And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets
387.it is thought abroad: there is gossip.
388He has done my office: I know not if't be true;
388.done my office: done what I am entitled to do (have sex with my wife).
389But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
390Will do as if for surety. He holds me well;
390.do as if for surety: act as if on the basis of proven fact.
391The better shall my purpose work on him.
392Cassio's a proper man: let me see now:
392.proper: handsome.
393To get his place and to plume up my will
393.plume up my will: pamper my ego.
394In double knavery — How, how? Let's see: —
395After some time, to abuse Othello's ear
396That he is too familiar with his wife.
396.he: i.e., Cassio. his wife: i.e., Othello's wife.
397He hath a person and a smooth dispose
397.dispose: manner, bearing.
398To be suspected, framed to make women false.
399The Moor is of a free and open nature,
399.free: frank, generous. open: unsuspicious.
400That thinks men honest that but seem to be so,
401And will as tenderly be led by the nose
401.tenderly: readily.
402As asses are.
403I have't. It is engender'd. Hell and night
404Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light.
[Exit.]
Source: https://shakespeare-navigators.com/othello/T13.html
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