The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (990 page)

This is within my intelligence, and

therefore I will attempt the doing it.

therefore I will do it.

Exit

DESDEMONA

Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia?

Where did I lose my handkerchief, Emilia?

EMILIA

I know not, madam.

I don’t know, madam.

DESDEMONA

Believe me, I had rather have lost my purse

Believe me, I would have rather lost my purse

Full of crusadoes: and, but my noble Moor

Full of money. It’s a good thing that the noble Moor

Is true of mind and made of no such baseness

Is so honest and not made of such evilness

As jealous creatures are, it were enough

As jealous men are – or else that would be enough

To put him to ill thinking.

To make him think awful things.

EMILIA

Is he not jealous?

He does not get jealous?

DESDEMONA

Who, he? I think the sun where he was born

Who, Othello? I think the sun where he was born was so hot

Drew all such humours from him.

That it sapped him from those feelings.

EMILIA

Look, where he comes.

Look, here he comes.

DESDEMONA

I will not leave him now till Cassio

I will not leave him until he calls Cassio

Be call'd to him.

To him.

Enter OTHELLO

How is't with you, my lord?

How are you, my lord?

OTHELLO

Well, my good lady.

I am well, good lady.

Aside

O, hardness to dissemble!--

It is so hard to pretend! –

How do you, Desdemona?

How are you, Desdemona?

DESDEMONA

Well, my good lord.

I am well, my lord.

OTHELLO

Give me your hand: this hand is moist, my lady.

Give me your hand – it is moist with love, my lady.

DESDEMONA

It yet hath felt no age nor known no sorrow.

It has gotten old and has not been sad at all.

OTHELLO

This argues fruitfulness and liberal heart:

This hand says that you have a giving heart and are fertile.

Hot, hot, and moist: this hand of yours requires

Hot, hot and moist – with a hand like this you need to

A sequester from liberty, fasting and prayer,

Take a break from freedom. You need to fast and pray

Much castigation, exercise devout;

And become devout,

For here's a young and sweating devil here,

Since a young, horny devil could be near,

That commonly rebels. 'Tis a good hand,

One that rebels against their devotion. This is a good hand,

A frank one.

An honest one.

DESDEMONA

You may, indeed, say so;

You are right –

For 'twas that hand that gave away my heart.

This hand gave you my heart.

OTHELLO

A liberal hand: the hearts of old gave hands;

A free hand – long ago, hearts gave hands,

But our new heraldry is hands, not hearts.

But now people give each other their hands, but not their hearts.

DESDEMONA

I cannot speak of this. Come now, your promise.

I have nothing to say about that. Now then, you have a promise for me.

OTHELLO

What promise, chuck?

What promise, dear?

DESDEMONA

I have sent to bid Cassio come speak with you.

I have sent away to ask Cassio to speak with you.

OTHELLO

I have a salt and sorry rheum offends me;

I have a cold and a cough bothers me –

Lend me thy handkerchief.

Can you lend me your handkerchief?

DESDEMONA

Here, my lord.

Here it is, my lord.

OTHELLO

That which I gave you.

The one I gave you, I mean.

DESDEMONA

I have it not about me.

I don’t have it with me.

OTHELLO

Not?

No?

DESDEMONA

No, indeed, my lord.

No, I don’t, my lord.

OTHELLO

That is a fault.

This is not good.

That handkerchief

That handkerchief

Did an Egyptian to my mother give;

Was given to my mother by an Egyptian –

She was a charmer, and could almost read

She was a magician and could almost read

The thoughts of people: she told her, while she kept it,

People’s thoughts. She told her, while she kept it,

'Twould make her amiable and subdue my father

That it would make her obedient to my father

Entirely to her love, but if she lost it

Entirely, but that if she ever lost it

Or made gift of it, my father's eye

Or gave it away, my father

Should hold her loathed and his spirits should hunt

Would hate her and his desires would hunt

After new fancies: she, dying, gave it me;

After other women. When she was dying, she gave it to me

And bid me, when my fate would have me wive,

And told me that when I found a wife,

To give it her. I did so: and take heed on't;

To give it to her. I did, so look:

Make it a darling like your precious eye;

Treat it like your own child to your eye;

To lose't or give't away were such perdition

To lose it or give it away is a sin

As nothing else could match.

That nothing could match.

DESDEMONA

Is't possible?

Is that true?

OTHELLO

'Tis true: there's magic in the web of it:

Yes, there is magic in its threads.

A sibyl, that had number'd in the world

A witch, who had lived in the world

The sun to course two hundred compasses,

For two hundred years

In her prophetic fury sew'd the work;

Sewed it in a prophetic fury.

The worms were hallow'd that did breed the silk;

She used holy worms for the silk

And it was dyed in mummy which the skilful

And it was dyed in the mummified

Conserved of maidens' hearts.

preserves of virgins’ hearts.

DESDEMONA

Indeed! is't true?

Really! It’s true?

OTHELLO

Most veritable; therefore look to't well.

Yes, very true. So keep an eye on it.

DESDEMONA

Then would to God that I had never seen't!

Then I wish I had never seen it!

OTHELLO

Ha! wherefore?

Ha! Why do you say that?

DESDEMONA

Why do you speak so startingly and rash?

Why do you speak so aggressively?

OTHELLO

Is't lost? is't gone? speak, is it out

Is it lost? Gone? Tell me, is it

o' the way?

no longer here?

DESDEMONA

Heaven bless us!

Heaven help me!

OTHELLO

Say you?

What are you saying?

DESDEMONA

It is not lost; but what an if it were?

It is not lost, but what if it was?

OTHELLO

How!

How!

DESDEMONA

I say, it is not lost.

I will say it again, it’s not lost.

OTHELLO

Fetch't, let me see't.

Then get it and let me see it.

DESDEMONA

Why, so I can, sir, but I will not now.

Well I could, but I will not now.

This is a trick to put me from my suit:

This is a trick to keep me from my request.

Pray you, let Cassio be received again.

Please, let Cassio be reinstated.

OTHELLO

Fetch me the handkerchief: my mind misgives.

Please get the handkerchief, my mind doubts.

DESDEMONA

Come, come;

Come, now.

You'll never meet a more sufficient man.

You will never meet a more able soldier.

OTHELLO

The handkerchief!

The handkerchief!

DESDEMONA

I pray, talk me of Cassio.

Please, talk to me about Cassio.

OTHELLO

The handkerchief!

The handkerchief!

DESDEMONA

A man that all his time

He has spent all his time

Hath founded his good fortunes on your love,

Centering himself on his love for you,

Shared dangers with you,--

And even went through dangerous situations with you–

OTHELLO

The handkerchief!

The handkerchief!

DESDEMONA

In sooth, you are to blame.

Truly, you are to blame for acting poorly.

OTHELLO

Away!

Go away!

Exit

EMILIA

Is not this man jealous?

And you said this man is not jealous?

DESDEMONA

I ne'er saw this before.

I never saw him act like this before.

Sure, there's some wonder in this handkerchief:

But yes, there is something special about the handkerchief.

I am most unhappy in the loss of it.

I am very upset that I lost it.

EMILIA

'Tis not a year or two shows us a man:

Only a year or two will truly teach you about a man.

They are all but stomachs, and we all but food;

They are all desire, and we are all they desire – 

To eat us hungerly, and when they are full,

They want to take us, and then when they are satisfied,

They belch us. Look you, Cassio and my husband!

They treat us poorly. Here is Cassio and Iago!

Enter CASSIO and IAGO

IAGO

There is no other way; 'tis she must do't:

There is no other way – she must help you.

And, lo, the happiness! go, and importune her.

And here she is, what luck! Go and beg her.

DESDEMONA

How now, good Cassio! what's the news with you?

How are you, good Cassio! What is the news?

CASSIO

Madam, my former suit: I do beseech you

Madam, only my previous case. I beg you

That by your virtuous means I may again