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Othello

Please see the bottom of this page for full explanatory notes.
ACT III SCENE III The garden of the castle. 
 Enter DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and EMILIA. 
DESDEMONA Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do 
 All my abilities in thy behalf. 
EMILIA Good madam, do: I warrant it grieves my husband, 
 As if the case were his.
DESDEMONA O, that's an honest fellow. Do not doubt, Cassio, 
 But I will have my lord and you again 
 As friendly as you were. 
CASSIO Bounteous madam, 
 Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,
 He's never any thing but your true servant. 
DESDEMONA I know't; I thank you. You do love my lord:  10
 You have known him long; and be you well assured 
 He shall in strangeness stand no further off 
 Than in a polite distance.
CASSIO Ay, but, lady, 
 That policy may either last so long, 
 Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet, 
 Or breed itself so out of circumstance, 
 That, I being absent and my place supplied,
 My general will forget my love and service. 
DESDEMONA Do not doubt that; before Emilia here 
 I give thee warrant of thy place: assure thee,  20
 If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it 
 To the last article: my lord shall never rest;
 I'll watch him tame and talk him out of patience; 
 His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift; 
 I'll intermingle every thing he does 
 With Cassio's suit: therefore be merry, Cassio; 
 For thy solicitor shall rather die
 Than give thy cause away. 
EMILIA Madam, here comes my lord. 
CASSIO Madam, I'll take my leave.  30
DESDEMONA Why, stay, and hear me speak. 
CASSIO Madam, not now: I am very ill at ease,
 Unfit for mine own purposes. 
DESDEMONA Well, do your discretion. 
 Exit CASSIO. 
 Enter OTHELLO and IAGO. 
IAGO Ha! I like not that. 
OTHELLO What dost thou say? 
IAGO Nothing, my lord: or if--I know not what.
OTHELLO Was not that Cassio parted from my wife? 
IAGO Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it, 
 That he would steal away so guilty-like, 
 Seeing you coming. 
OTHELLO I do believe 'twas he.
DESDEMONA How now, my lord!  40
 I have been talking with a suitor here, 
 A man that languishes in your displeasure. 
OTHELLO Who is't you mean? 
DESDEMONA Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord,
 If I have any grace or power to move you, 
 His present reconciliation take; 
 For if he be not one that truly loves you, 
 That errs in ignorance and not in cunning, 
 I have no judgment in an honest face:  50
 I prithee, call him back. 
OTHELLO Went he hence now? 
DESDEMONA Ay, sooth; so humbled 
 That he hath left part of his grief with me, 
 To suffer with him. Good love, call him back.
OTHELLO Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other time. 
DESDEMONA But shall't be shortly? 
OTHELLO The sooner, sweet, for you. 
DESDEMONA Shall't be to-night at supper? 
OTHELLO No, not to-night.
DESDEMONA To-morrow dinner, then? 
OTHELLO I shall not dine at home; 
 I meet the captains at the citadel. 
DESDEMONA Why, then, to-morrow night; or Tuesday morn; 
 On Tuesday noon, or night; on Wednesday morn:  60
 I prithee, name the time, but let it not 
 Exceed three days: in faith, he's penitent; 
 And yet his trespass, in our common reason-- 
 Save that, they say, the wars must make examples 
 Out of their best--is not almost a fault
 To incur a private cheque. When shall he come? 
 Tell me, Othello: I wonder in my soul, 
 What you would ask me, that I should deny, 
 Or stand so mammering on. What! Michael Cassio,  70
 That came a-wooing with you, and so many a time,
 When I have spoke of you dispraisingly, 
 Hath ta'en your part; to have so much to do 
 To bring him in! Trust me, I could do much,-- 
OTHELLO Prithee, no more: let him come when he will; 
 I will deny thee nothing.
DESDEMONA Why, this is not a boon; 
 'Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves, 
 Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm, 
 Or sue to you to do a peculiar profit 
 To your own person: nay, when I have a suit  80
 Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed, 
 It shall be full of poise and difficult weight 
 And fearful to be granted. 
OTHELLO I will deny thee nothing: 
 Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this,
 To leave me but a little to myself. 
DESDEMONA Shall I deny you? no: farewell, my lord. 
OTHELLO Farewell, my Desdemona: I'll come to thee straight. 
DESDEMONA Emilia, come. Be as your fancies teach you; 
 Whate'er you be, I am obedient.
 Exeunt DESDEMONA and EMILIA. 
OTHELLO Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul,  90
 But I do love thee! and when I love thee not, 
 Chaos is come again. 
IAGO My noble lord-- 
OTHELLO What dost thou say, Iago?
IAGO Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my lady, 
 Know of your love? 
OTHELLO He did, from first to last: why dost thou ask? 
IAGO But for a satisfaction of my thought; 
 No further harm.
OTHELLO Why of thy thought, Iago? 
IAGO I did not think he had been acquainted with her. 
OTHELLO O, yes; and went between us very oft.  110
IAGO Indeed! 
OTHELLO Indeed! ay, indeed: discern'st thou aught in that?
 Is he not honest? 
IAGO Honest, my lord! 
OTHELLO Honest! ay, honest. 
IAGO My lord, for aught I know. 
OTHELLO What dost thou think?
IAGO Think, my lord! 
OTHELLO Think, my lord! 
 By heaven, he echoes me, 
 As if there were some monster in his thought 
 Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean something:
 I heard thee say even now, thou likedst not that, 
 When Cassio left my wife: what didst not like?  110
 And when I told thee he was of my counsel 
 In my whole course of wooing, thou criedst 'Indeed!' 
 And didst contract and purse thy brow together,
 As if thou then hadst shut up in thy brain 
 Some horrible conceit: if thou dost love me, 
 Show me thy thought. 
IAGO My lord, you know I love you. 
OTHELLO I think thou dost;
 And, for I know thou'rt full of love and honesty, 
 And weigh'st thy words before thou givest them breath, 
 Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more:  120
 For such things in a false disloyal knave 
 Are tricks of custom, but in a man that's just
 They are close delations, working from the heart 
 That passion cannot rule. 
IAGO For Michael Cassio, 
 I dare be sworn I think that he is honest. 
OTHELLO I think so too.
IAGO Men should be what they seem; 
 Or those that be not, would they might seem none! 
OTHELLO Certain, men should be what they seem. 
IAGO Why, then, I think Cassio's an honest man. 
OTHELLO Nay, yet there's more in this:  130
 I prithee, speak to me as to thy thinkings, 
 As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of thoughts 
 The worst of words. 
IAGO Good my lord, pardon me: 
 Though I am bound to every act of duty,
 I am not bound to that all slaves are free to. 
 Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile and false; 
 As where's that palace whereinto foul things 
 Sometimes intrude not? who has a breast so pure, 
 But some uncleanly apprehensions
 Keep leets and law-days and in session sit  140
 With meditations lawful? 
OTHELLO Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago, 
 If thou but think'st him wrong'd and makest his ear 
 A stranger to thy thoughts.
IAGO I do beseech you-- 
 Though I perchance am vicious in my guess, 
 As, I confess, it is my nature's plague 
 To spy into abuses, and oft my jealousy 
 Shapes faults that are not--that your wisdom yet,
 From one that so imperfectly conceits, 
 Would take no notice, nor build yourself a trouble  150
 Out of his scattering and unsure observance. 
 It were not for your quiet nor your good, 
 Nor for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom,
 To let you know my thoughts. 
OTHELLO What dost thou mean? 
IAGO Good name in man and woman, dear my lord, 
 Is the immediate jewel of their souls: 
 Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing;
 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands: 
 But he that filches from me my good name 
 Robs me of that which not enriches him  160
 And makes me poor indeed. 
OTHELLO By heaven, I'll know thy thoughts.
IAGO You cannot, if my heart were in your hand; 
 Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody. 
OTHELLO Ha! 
IAGO O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; 
 It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock
 The meat it feeds on; that cuckold lives in bliss 
 Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger; 
 But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er 
 Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves!  170
OTHELLO O misery!
IAGO Poor and content is rich and rich enough, 
 But riches fineless is as poor as winter 
 To him that ever fears he shall be poor. 
 Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend 
 From jealousy!
OTHELLO Why, why is this? 
 Think'st thou I'ld make a lie of jealousy, 
 To follow still the changes of the moon 
 With fresh suspicions? No; to be once in doubt 
 Is once to be resolved: exchange me for a goat,  180
 When I shall turn the business of my soul 
 To such exsufflicate and blown surmises, 
 Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me jealous 
 To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company, 
 Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances well;
 Where virtue is, these are more virtuous: 
 Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw 
 The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt; 
 For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago; 
 I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
 And on the proof, there is no more but this,--  190
 Away at once with love or jealousy! 
IAGO I am glad of it; for now I shall have reason 
 To show the love and duty that I bear you 
 With franker spirit: therefore, as I am bound,
 Receive it from me. I speak not yet of proof. 
 Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio; 
 Wear your eye thus, not jealous nor secure: 
 I would not have your free and noble nature, 
 Out of self-bounty, be abused; look to't:  200
 I know our country disposition well; 
 In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks 
 They dare not show their husbands; their best conscience 
 Is not to leave't undone, but keep't unknown. 
OTHELLO Dost thou say so?
IAGO She did deceive her father, marrying you; 
 And when she seem'd to shake and fear your looks, 
 She loved them most. 
OTHELLO And so she did. 
IAGO Why, go to then;
 She that, so young, could give out such a seeming, 
 To seal her father's eyes up close as oak-  210
 He thought 'twas witchcraft--but I am much to blame; 
 I humbly do beseech you of your pardon 
 

For too much loving you.
OTHELLO I am bound to thee for ever. 
IAGO I see this hath a little dash'd your spirits. 
OTHELLO Not a jot, not a jot. 
IAGO I' faith, I fear it has. 
 I hope you will consider what is spoke
 Comes from my love. But I do see you're moved: 
 I am to pray you not to strain my speech 
 To grosser issues nor to larger reach 
 Than to suspicion.  220
OTHELLO I will not.
IAGO Should you do so, my lord, 
 My speech should fall into such vile success 
 As my thoughts aim not at. Cassio's my worthy friend-- 
 My lord, I see you're moved. 
OTHELLO No, not much moved:
 I do not think but Desdemona's honest. 
IAGO Long live she so! and long live you to think so! 
OTHELLO And yet, how nature erring from itself,-- 
IAGO Ay, there's the point: as--to be bold with you-- 
 Not to affect many proposed matches
 Of her own clime, complexion, and degree,  230
 Whereto we see in all things nature tends-- 
 Foh! one may smell in such a will most rank, 
 Foul disproportion thoughts unnatural. 
 But pardon me; I do not in position
 Distinctly speak of her; though I may fear 
 Her will, recoiling to her better judgment, 
 May fall to match you with her country forms 
 And happily repent. 
OTHELLO Farewell, farewell:
 If more thou dost perceive, let me know more; 
 Set on thy wife to observe: leave me, Iago:  240
IAGO Going 
OTHELLO Why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless 
 Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds. 
IAGO Returning 
 your honour
 To scan this thing no further; leave it to time: 
 Though it be fit that Cassio have his place, 
 For sure, he fills it up with great ability, 
 Yet, if you please to hold him off awhile, 
 You shall by that perceive him and his means:
 Note, if your lady strain his entertainment  250
 With any strong or vehement importunity; 
 Much will be seen in that. In the mean time, 
 Let me be thought too busy in my fears-- 
 As worthy cause I have to fear I am--
 And hold her free, I do beseech your honour. 
OTHELLO Fear not my government. 
IAGO I once more take my leave. 
 Exit 
OTHELLO This fellow's of exceeding honesty, 
 And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,
 Of human dealings. If I do prove her haggard,  260
 Though that her jesses were my dear heartstrings, 
 I'ld whistle her off and let her down the wind, 
 To pray at fortune. Haply, for I am black 
 And have not those soft parts of conversation
 That chamberers have, or for I am declined 
 Into the vale of years,--yet that's not much-- 
 She's gone. I am abused; and my relief 
 Must be to loathe her. O curse of marriage, 
 That we can call these delicate creatures ours,
 And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad,  270
 And live upon the vapour of a dungeon, 
 Than keep a corner in the thing I love 
 For others' uses. Yet, 'tis the plague of great ones; 
 Prerogatived are they less than the base;
 'Tis destiny unshunnable, like death: 
 Even then this forked plague is fated to us 
 When we do quicken. Desdemona comes: 
 Re-enter DESDEMONA and EMILIA. 
 If she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself! 
 I'll not believe't.
DESDEMONA How now, my dear Othello! 
 Your dinner, and the generous islanders  280
 By you invited, do attend your presence. 
OTHELLO I am to blame. 
DESDEMONA Why do you speak so faintly?
 Are you not well? 
OTHELLO I have a pain upon my forehead here. 
DESDEMONA 'Faith, that's with watching; 'twill away again: 
 Let me but bind it hard, within this hour 
 It will be well.
OTHELLO Your napkin is too little: 
 He puts the handkerchief from him; and it drops 
 Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you. 
DESDEMONA I am very sorry that you are not well. 
 Exeunt OTHELLO and DESDEMONA. 
EMILIA I am glad I have found this napkin:  290
 This was her first remembrance from the Moor:
 My wayward husband hath a hundred times 
 Woo'd me to steal it; but she so loves the token, 
 For he conjured her she should ever keep it, 
 That she reserves it evermore about her 
 To kiss and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out,
 And give't Iago: what he will do with it 
 Heaven knows, not I; 
 I nothing but to please his fantasy. 
 Re-enter Iago. 
IAGO How now! what do you here alone?  300
EMILIA Do not you chide; I have a thing for you.
IAGO A thing for me? it is a common thing-- 
EMILIA Ha! 
IAGO To have a foolish wife. 
EMILIA O, is that all? What will you give me now 
 For the same handkerchief?
IAGO What handkerchief? 
EMILIA What handkerchief? 
 Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona; 
 That which so often you did bid me steal. 
IAGO Hast stol'n it from her?  310
EMILIA No, 'faith; she let it drop by negligence. 
 And, to the advantage, I, being here, took't up. 
 Look, here it is. 
IAGO A good wench; give it me. 
EMILIA What will you do with 't, that you have been
 so earnest 
 To have me filch it? 
IAGO Snatching it 
EMILIA If it be not for some purpose of import, 
 Give't me again: poor lady, she'll run mad 
 When she shall lack it.
IAGO Be not acknown on 't; I have use for it. 
 Go, leave me.  320
 Exit EMILIA. 
 I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin, 
 And let him find it. Trifles light as air 
 Are to the jealous confirmations strong
 As proofs of holy writ: this may do something. 
 The Moor already changes with my poison: 
 Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poisons. 
 Which at the first are scarce found to distaste, 
 But with a little act upon the blood.
 Burn like the mines of Sulphur. I did say so: 
 Look, where he comes! 
 Re-enter OTHELLO. 
 Not poppy, nor mandragora,  330
 Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world, 
 Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep
 Which thou owedst yesterday. 
OTHELLO Ha! ha! false to me? 
IAGO Why, how now, general! no more of that. 
OTHELLO Avaunt! be gone! thou hast set me on the rack: 
 I swear 'tis better to be much abused
 Than but to know't a little. 
IAGO How now, my lord! 
OTHELLO What sense had I of her stol'n hours of lust? 
 I saw't not, thought it not, it harm'd not me: 
 I slept the next night well, was free and merry;  340
 I found not Cassio's kisses on her lips: 
 He that is robb'd, not wanting what is stol'n, 
 Let him not know't, and he's not robb'd at all. 
IAGO I am sorry to hear this. 
OTHELLO I had been happy, if the general camp,
 Pioners and all, had tasted her sweet body, 
 So I had nothing known. O, now, for ever 
 Farewell the tranquil mind! farewell content! 
 Farewell the plumed troop, and the big wars, 
 That make ambition virtue! O, farewell!  350
 Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill trump, 
 The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife, 
 The royal banner, and all quality, 
 Pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war! 
 And, O you mortal engines, whose rude throats
 The immortal Jove's dead clamours counterfeit, 
 Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone! 
IAGO Is't possible, my lord? 
OTHELLO Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore, 
 Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof:  360
 Or by the worth of man's eternal soul, 
 Thou hadst been better have been born a dog 
 Than answer my waked wrath! 
IAGO Is't come to this? 
OTHELLO Make me to see't; or, at the least, so prove it,
 That the probation bear no hinge nor loop 
 To hang a doubt on; or woe upon thy life! 
IAGO My noble lord,-- 
OTHELLO If thou dost slander her and torture me, 
 Never pray more; abandon all remorse;
 On horror's head horrors accumulate;  370
 Do deeds to make heaven weep, all earth amazed; 
 For nothing canst thou to damnation add 
 Greater than that. 
IAGO O grace! O heaven forgive me!
 Are you a man? have you a soul or sense? 
 God be wi' you; take mine office. O wretched fool. 
 That livest to make thine honesty a vice! 
 O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O world, 
 To be direct and honest is not safe.
 I thank you for this profit; and from hence 
 I'll love no friend, sith love breeds such offence.  380
OTHELLO Nay, stay: thou shouldst be honest. 
IAGO I should be wise, for honesty's a fool 
 And loses that it works for.
OTHELLO By the world, 
 I think my wife be honest and think she is not; 
 I think that thou art just and think thou art not. 
 I'll have some proof. Her name, that was as fresh 
 As Dian's visage, is now begrimed and black
 As mine own face. If there be cords, or knives, 
 Poison, or fire, or suffocating streams, 
 I'll not endure it. Would I were satisfied!  390
IAGO I see, sir, you are eaten up with passion: 
 I do repent me that I put it to you.
 You would be satisfied? 
OTHELLO Would! nay, I will. 
IAGO And may: but, how? how satisfied, my lord? 
 Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on-- 
 Behold her topp'd?
OTHELLO Death and damnation! O! 
IAGO It were a tedious difficulty, I think, 
 To bring them to that prospect: damn them then, 
 If ever mortal eyes do see them bolster 
 More than their own! What then? how then?
 What shall I say? Where's satisfaction? 
 It is impossible you should see this, 
 Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys, 
 As salt as wolves in pride, and fools as gross 
 As ignorance made drunk. But yet, I say,
 If imputation and strong circumstances, 
 Which lead directly to the door of truth, 
 Will give you satisfaction, you may have't. 
OTHELLO Give me a living reason she's disloyal. 
IAGO I do not like the office:  400
 But, sith I am enter'd in this cause so far, 
 Prick'd to't by foolish honesty and love, 
 I will go on. I lay with Cassio lately; 
 And, being troubled with a raging tooth, 
 I could not sleep.
 There are a kind of men so loose of soul, 
 That in their sleeps will mutter their affairs: 
 One of this kind is Cassio: 
 In sleep I heard him say 'Sweet Desdemona, 
 Let us be wary, let us hide our loves;'
 And then, sir, would he gripe and wring my hand, 
 Cry 'O sweet creature!' and then kiss me hard, 
 As if he pluck'd up kisses by the roots 
 That grew upon my lips: then laid his leg 
 Over my thigh, and sigh'd, and kiss'd; and then
 Cried 'Cursed fate that gave thee to the Moor!' 
OTHELLO O monstrous! monstrous! 
IAGO Nay, this was but his dream. 
OTHELLO But this denoted a foregone conclusion: 
 'Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream.
IAGO And this may help to thicken other proofs  420
 That do demonstrate thinly. 
OTHELLO I'll tear her all to pieces. 
IAGO Nay, but be wise: yet we see nothing done; 
 She may be honest yet. Tell me but this,
 Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief 
 Spotted with strawberries in your wife's hand? 
OTHELLO I gave her such a one; 'twas my first gift. 
IAGO I know not that; but such a handkerchief-- 
 I am sure it was your wife's--did I to-day
 See Cassio wipe his beard with. 
OTHELLO If it be that-- 
IAGO If it be that, or any that was hers,  430
 It speaks against her with the other proofs. 
OTHELLO O, that the slave had forty thousand lives!
 One is too poor, too weak for my revenge. 
 Now do I see 'tis true. Look here, Iago; 
 All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven. 
 'Tis gone. 
 Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell!
 Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne 
 To tyrannous hate! Swell, bosom, with thy fraught, 
 For 'tis of aspics' tongues! 
IAGO Yet be content. 
OTHELLO O, blood, blood, blood!
IAGO Patience, I say; your mind perhaps may change. 
OTHELLO Never, Iago: Like to the Pontic sea, 
 Whose icy current and compulsive course 
 Ne'er feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on 
 To the Propontic and the Hellespont,
 Even so my bloody thoughts, with violent pace, 
 Shall ne'er look back, ne'er ebb to humble love, 
 Till that a capable and wide revenge  450
 Swallow them up. Now, by yond marble heaven, 
 Kneels. 
 In the due reverence of a sacred vow
 I here engage my words. 
IAGO Do not rise yet. 
 Kneels. 
 Witness, you ever-burning lights above, 
 You elements that clip us round about, 
 Witness that here Iago doth give up
 The execution of his wit, hands, heart, 
 To wrong'd Othello's service! Let him command, 
 And to obey shall be in me remorse, 
 What bloody business ever. 
 They rise. 
OTHELLO I greet thy love,
 Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance bounteous, 
 And will upon the instant put thee to't:  460
 Within these three days let me hear thee say 
 That Cassio's not alive. 
IAGO My friend is dead; 'tis done at your request:
 But let her live. 
OTHELLO Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her! 
 Come, go with me apart; I will withdraw, 
 To furnish me with some swift means of death 
 For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant.
IAGO I am your own for ever. 
 Exeunt 

Othello, Act 3, Scene 4

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Explanatory Notes for Act 3, Scene 3

From Othello. Ed. Brainerd Kellogg. New York: Clark & Maynard.

Abbreviations. — A.-S. = Anglo-Saxon: M.E. = Middle English (from the 13th to the 15th century) ; Fr. = French ; Ger. = German ; Gr. = Greek ; Cf. = compare (Lat. confer) ; Abbott refers to the excellent Shakespearean Grammar of Dr. Abbott; Schmidt, to Dr. Schmidt's invaluable Shakespeare Lexicon.

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12. His estrangement shall not be more serious than policy demands.

16. Increase from circumstances.

23. Hawks were tamed by being kept awake.

24. Shrift, usually confession; here a confessional.

64, sq. He has hardly committed any fault which would be popularly considered worthy of a personal punishment, except that, at these times, we have to sacrifice our best men to conciliate the enemy.

70. Mammering, desisting, standing in suspense. Possibly mammer was like stammer, onomatopoetic.

76. This is no great suit after all,

79. Peculiar, private,

83. An alarming thing to grant.

113. Purse, to wrinkle up, like a purse drawn together.

118. And, for, and, because.

123. Close delations, secret informations.

129. On that principle, Cassio is honest.

140. Leets, manor courts.

146. Vicious, wrong.

153. Iago's pretended reluctance excites Othello.

173. Fineless, infinite.

178. Still, always. See note on i. 3, 129.

180. Resolved, set free from doubt.

182. Exsufflicate, swollen, puffed out.

183. Matching, similar to.

210. If oak be the right reading, the reference is to the grain of the wood; but Staunton plausibly conjectures hawk.

212. Of, about, concerning.

215. Jot, Anglicized form of iota, the smallest Greek letter.

234. In the case I am putting.

237. Fall, begin. Cf. "Before you fall to play." — Hamlet, V. 2, 216.

238. Happily, haply, perchance,

249. Means, adopted by him to gain his end.

250. Strain his entertainment, beg for him to be employed.

253. Consider my fears officious.

260. Haggard, a wild, untrained hawk.

261. Jesses, straps by which hawks' legs were tied.

262. Falconers let fly the hawk against the wind. If down or into the wind, it seldom returns.

265. Chamberers, men of fashion or of intrigue.

274. Prerogativ'd, exempted from the evil.

275. Forked plague, the horns supposed to grow on the forehead of one whose wife had been unfaithful. The sentence is complicated by the insertion of the antecedent then.

276. Quicken, are born.

278. Here the better genius speaks.

287. Napkin, for handkerchief. "Dip their napkins in his sacred blood." (Julius Caesar, iii. 2. 138).

296. Ta'en out, subsequent allusions (sc. 4, 190) prove this to mean copied.

319. Be not acknown on 't, do not confess to the knowledge of it.

328. Act, action, operation.
Poppy, whence opium is made. Mandragora, mandrake. The root when "torn out of the earth" (Romeo and Juliet, iv. 3, 47) was thought to resemble the human figure, and to cause madness and death.

333. Owedst, ownest.

335. Avaunt, begone. Der. en avant.

369. Abandon remorse, act without regarding conscience.
The word remorse is often synonymous with pity, but not here.

376. Your simplicity of mind is here a defect.

380. Sith, since.

387. Dian's visage, the face of the moon.

402. Prick'd, instigated.

439. Fraught, load.

443. One of the Moor's nautical images. The Euxine pours into the Mediterranean a steady stream. The current from the Atlantic is also perpetual. Yet the volume of water in the Mediterranean does not increase — the influx only compensating for the evaporation caused by the sun.

454. Clip, originally to hold tight; hence (1) to embrace closely, and (2) to draw closely together the edges of a pair of shears.

How to cite the explanatory notes:

Shakespeare, William. Othello. Ed. Brainerd Kellogg. New York: Clark & Maynard, 1892. Shakespeare Online. 20 Feb. 2010. (date when you accessed the information) < http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/othello_3_3.html >.

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