Othello: Act 3, Scene 4 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 3, Scene 4 of Othello from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Desdemona, Emilia, and Clown. DESDEMONA Do you know, sirrah, where Lieutenant Cassio lies? CLOWN I dare not say he lies anywhere. DESDEMONA Why, man? CLOWN He’s a soldier, and for me to say a soldier lies, 5 ’tis stabbing. DESDEMONA Go to! Where lodges he? CLOWN To tell you where he lodges is to tell you where I lie. DESDEMONA Can anything be made of this? 10 CLOWN I know not where he lodges; and for me to devise a lodging and say he lies here, or he lies there, were to lie in mine own throat. DESDEMONA Can you inquire him out, and be edified by report? 15 CLOWN I will catechize the world for him—that is, make questions, and by them answer. DESDEMONA Seek him, bid him come hither. Tell him I have moved my lord on his behalf and hope all will be well. 20 CLOWN To do this is within the compass of man’s wit, and therefore I will attempt the doing it. Clown exits.	Desdemona chats with the clown and asks him to bring a message to Cassio that he should come visit her. She wants the clown to make it clear that she's been good to her word about asking Othello for Cassio's reinstatement. She hopes all will be well.
DESDEMONA Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia? EMILIA I know not, madam. DESDEMONA Believe me, I had rather have lost my purse 25 Full of crusadoes. And but my noble Moor Is true of mind and made of no such baseness As jealous creatures are, it were enough To put him to ill thinking. EMILIA Is he not jealous? 30 DESDEMONA Who, he? I think the sun where he was born Drew all such humors from him. EMILIA Look where he comes.	Alone with Emilia, Desdemona asks Emilia where on earth her handkerchief could've gone. She's obviously upset, and she says that if Othello were the kind of guy to be jealous—which, of course, he isn't—her loss of the handkerchief would make him suspicious. She claims Othello has no such jealousy because the sun of his native land sapped it up from him.
Enter Othello. DESDEMONA I will not leave him now till Cassio 35 Be called to him.—How is ’t with you, my lord?	As Othello approaches the two women, Desdemona declares that she won't leave Othello alone until he's agreed to see Cassio.
OTHELLO Well, my good lady. Aside. O, hardness to dissemble!— How do you, Desdemona? DESDEMONA Well, my good lord. 40 OTHELLO Give me your hand. He takes her hand. This hand is moist, my lady. DESDEMONA It yet has felt no age nor known no sorrow.	Othello asks Desdemona for her hand, and notes that it is moist. A moist hand was thought to be a sure mark of a lascivious person.
OTHELLO This argues fruitfulness and liberal heart. Hot, hot, and moist. This hand of yours requires 45 A sequester from liberty, fasting and prayer, Much castigation, exercise devout; For here’s a young and sweating devil here That commonly rebels. ’Tis a good hand, A frank one. 50 DESDEMONA You may indeed say so, For ’twas that hand that gave away my heart. OTHELLO A liberal hand! The hearts of old gave hands, But our new heraldry is hands, not hearts.	Othello waxes on about Desdemona's hand; he says her hot, moist indicates that she's bound to get into mischief if she doesn't pray, fast, and lock herself away from temptation. Next, he calls her hand "frank," which she takes to mean honest and open. Well, he does mean open, but he means it in the sense of too open, like she's willing to give her hand to anyone. He says that in the old days, when someone gave up their hand in marriage, they gave up their heart. These days, though, people give up their hands without their hearts, (i.e., casual sex).
DESDEMONA I cannot speak of this. Come now, your promise. 55 OTHELLO What promise, chuck? DESDEMONA I have sent to bid Cassio come speak with you.	Desdemona's had enough of all this talk about her hands. She changes the subject and reminds Othello that he promised to see Cassio. (Her timing is as bad as Iago's is good.)
OTHELLO I have a salt and sorry rheum offends me. Lend me thy handkerchief. DESDEMONA Here, my lord. 60 OTHELLO That which I gave you. DESDEMONA I have it not about me. OTHELLO Not? DESDEMONA No, faith, my lord. OTHELLO That’s a fault. That handkerchief 65 Did an Egyptian to my mother give. She was a charmer, and could almost read The thoughts of people. She told her, while she kept it, ’Twould make her amiable and subdue my father 70 Entirely to her love. But if she lost it, Or made a gift of it, my father’s eye Should hold her loathèd, and his spirits should hunt After new fancies. She, dying, gave it me, And bid me, when my fate would have me wived, 75 To give it her. I did so; and take heed on ’t, Make it a darling like your precious eye. To lose ’t or give ’t away were such perdition As nothing else could match.	This, of course, only inflames Othello's suspicions. He declares that his eyes are watering strangely, and asks if perhaps Desdemona has her handkerchief about her. When Desdemona hands him a normal handkerchief, Othello asks her where her special handkerchief is. Desdemona simply says she doesn't have. Oh really? says Othello. He then tells her the story of the handkerchief. It's a family heirloom and totally sacred. A psychic informed his mom that, as long as she had the handkerchief, Othello's dad would love her. But, if she lost it or gave it away, Othello's dad would hate her and go back on the prowl. Othello's mom gave the handkerchief to her son on her deathbed, telling him to give it to the woman he'd have for his wife. Othello explains this is why he told Desdemona to take care of the handkerchief. Losing it would be the worst thing ever. E-ver.
DESDEMONA Is ’t possible? 80	Desdemona says, "Seriously?"
OTHELLO ’Tis true. There’s magic in the web of it. A sybil that had numbered in the world The sun to course two hundred compasses, In her prophetic fury sewed the work. The worms were hallowed that did breed the silk, 85 And it was dyed in mummy, which the skillful Conserved of maidens’ hearts. DESDEMONA I’ faith, is ’t true? OTHELLO Most veritable. Therefore, look to ’t well. DESDEMONA Then would to God that I had never seen ’t! 90 OTHELLO Ha? Wherefore? DESDEMONA Why do you speak so startingly and rash?	Othello assures her that yes, he's totally serious. This is basically a magic hankie, and she'd better take good care of it. Desdemona is a little freaked out by the story. She says if that's the case, she wishes she'd never seen it. (You have to admit, the way Othello's describing it, it's kind of a messed up gift to give someone.) Othello seizes on this and Desdemona asks what on earth is wrong with him. Why is he acting so strange?
OTHELLO Is ’t lost? Is ’t gone? Speak, is ’t out o’ th’ way? DESDEMONA Heaven bless us! OTHELLO Say you? 95	Othello asks point-blank if the handkerchief is lost.
DESDEMONA It is not lost, but what an if it were? OTHELLO How? DESDEMONA I say it is not lost. OTHELLO Fetch ’t. Let me see ’t! DESDEMONA Why, so I can. But I will not now. 100 This is a trick to put me from my suit. Pray you, let Cassio be received again.	Desdemona, clearly upset by Othello's strange questioning, says it's not lost, but what if it was? Othello again demands to see it, and Desdemona says that she could get it right now if she wanted to, but she's not going to. And then she turns the conversation back to Cassio. (Yikes. This couldn't possibly be going worse.)
OTHELLO Fetch me the handkerchief! Aside. My mind misgives. DESDEMONA Come, come. 105 You’ll never meet a more sufficient man. OTHELLO The handkerchief! DESDEMONA I pray, talk me of Cassio. OTHELLO The handkerchief! DESDEMONA A man that all his time 110 Hath founded his good fortunes on your love; Shared dangers with you— OTHELLO The handkerchief! DESDEMONA I’ faith, you are to blame. OTHELLO Zounds! Othello exits. 115	The discussion over the handkerchief escalates into a huge fight. Othello keeps demanding to see it and Desdemona keeps refusing and telling him that he needs to forgive Cassio (which is really not helping matters). Eventually, Othello swears and storms out.
EMILIA Is not this man jealous? DESDEMONA I ne’er saw this before. Sure, there’s some wonder in this handkerchief! I am most unhappy in the loss of it. EMILIA ’Tis not a year or two shows us a man. 120 They are all but stomachs, and we all but food; They eat us hungerly, and when they are full They belch us. Enter Iago and Cassio. Look you—Cassio and my husband.	Emilia says, "This is the guy you said doesn't get jealous?" Desdemona can't understand it. She's never seen this side of her husband, and she doesn't know what's going on. Emilia declares this is no big deal, since women are like food to men.
IAGO, to Cassio There is no other way; ’tis she must do ’t, 125 And, lo, the happiness! Go and importune her. DESDEMONA How now, good Cassio, what’s the news with you? CASSIO Madam, my former suit. I do beseech you That by your virtuous means I may again Exist, and be a member of his love 130 Whom I with all the office of my heart Entirely honor. I would not be delayed. If my offense be of such mortal kind That nor my service past nor present sorrows Nor purposed merit in futurity 135 Can ransom me into his love again, But to know so must be my benefit. So shall I clothe me in a forced content, And shut myself up in some other course To fortune’s alms. 140	Cassio and Iago choose this moment to show up. Iago encourages Cassio to make his case to Desdemona, and he does.
DESDEMONA Alas, thrice-gentle Cassio, My advocation is not now in tune. My lord is not my lord; nor should I know him Were he in favor as in humor altered. So help me every spirit sanctified 145 As I have spoken for you all my best, And stood within the blank of his displeasure For my free speech! You must awhile be patient. What I can do I will; and more I will Than for myself I dare. Let that suffice you. 150 IAGO Is my lord angry? EMILIA He went hence but now, And certainly in strange unquietness.	Desdemona explains that now is not a great time for her to talk to Othello. He's in bad spirits, and she doesn't understand why.
IAGO Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon When it hath blown his ranks into the air 155 And, like the devil, from his very arm Puffed his own brother—and is he angry? Something of moment then. I will go meet him. There’s matter in ’t indeed if he be angry.	Iago, all innocence, says that Othello's behavior sounds really strange, but being the good guy that he is, he'll try to find out what's wrong.
DESDEMONA I prithee do so. He exits. 160 Something, sure, of state, Either from Venice, or some unhatched practice Made demonstrable here in Cyprus to him, Hath puddled his clear spirit; and in such cases Men’s natures wrangle with inferior things, 165 Though great ones are their object. ’Tis even so. For let our finger ache, and it endues Our other healthful members even to a sense Of pain. Nay, we must think men are not gods, Nor of them look for such observancy 170 As fits the bridal. Beshrew me much, Emilia, I was—unhandsome warrior as I am!— Arraigning his unkindness with my soul. But now I find I had suborned the witness, And he’s indicted falsely. 175	Desdemona slowly convinces herself that she shouldn't be angry at Othello for his behavior. Surely, she reasons, there must be some cause for it beyond the handkerchief, and it's probably something to do with Othello's work in Venice or Cyprus. She decides that sometimes men, worried about big things, take it out on women, over little things. She then blames herself for being upset with his behavior. She should be more patient and understanding.
EMILIA Pray heaven it be State matters, as you think, and no conception Nor no jealous toy concerning you. DESDEMONA Alas the day, I never gave him cause! EMILIA But jealous souls will not be answered so. 180 They are not ever jealous for the cause, But jealous for they’re jealous. It is a monster Begot upon itself, born on itself. DESDEMONA Heaven keep that monster from Othello’s mind! EMILIA Lady, amen. 185	Emilia, who, by the way, is totally at fault, says she hopes that Othello is just upset over things related to work, because it sure seems like he's jealous. Desdemona says she's never given him reason to be jealous, and both ladies pray that's not what's going on, because jealousy is a dangerous monster.
DESDEMONA I will go seek him.—Cassio, walk hereabout. If I do find him fit, I’ll move your suit And seek to effect it to my uttermost. CASSIO I humbly thank your Ladyship. Desdemona and Emilia exit.	Desdemona promises Cassio that she'll try again when Othello calms down, and she and Emilia leave.
Enter Bianca. BIANCA ’Save you, friend Cassio! 190 CASSIO What make you from home? How is ’t with you, my most fair Bianca? I’ faith, sweet love, I was coming to your house. BIANCA And I was going to your lodging, Cassio. 195 What, keep a week away? Seven days and nights, Eightscore eight hours, and lovers’ absent hours More tedious than the dial eightscore times? O weary reck’ning!	Bianca, Cassio's lover, comes in and yells at Cassio for not coming to see her often enough.
CASSIO Pardon me, Bianca. 200 I have this while with leaden thoughts been pressed, But I shall in a more continuate time Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca, Giving her Desdemona’s handkerchief. Take me this work out.	Cassio apologizes and says he's had a lot on his mind. Then he hands Bianca Desdemona's handkerchief, asking her to copy the pattern.
BIANCA O, Cassio, whence came this? 205 This is some token from a newer friend. To the felt absence now I feel a cause. Is ’t come to this? Well, well. CASSIO Go to, woman! Throw your vile guesses in the devil’s teeth, 210 From whence you have them. You are jealous now That this is from some mistress, some remembrance. No, by my faith, Bianca. BIANCA Why, whose is it? 215 CASSIO I know not neither. I found it in my chamber. I like the work well. Ere it be demanded, As like enough it will, I would have it copied. Take it, and do ’t, and leave me for this time.	Bianca gets all worried that Cassio has a new woman who's given him this as a token of affection, but Cassio explains that he found the handkerchief in his bedroom (thanks to Iago, unbeknownst to Cassio). Cassio thinks surely someone will ask for the lovely handkerchief back, in which case he'd like to have his own copy, so could Bianca please take a break from being jealous and start embroidering? Like, somewhere else, not here?
BIANCA Leave you? Wherefore? 220 CASSIO I do attend here on the General, And think it no addition, nor my wish, To have him see me womaned.	Bianca asks why he's trying to get rid of her and Cassio says it's because he's waiting to meet Othello, and the last thing he needs is for Othello to see him with his lover. He doesn't want his general to think he's less than serious about his job.
BIANCA Why, I pray you? CASSIO Not that I love you not. 225 BIANCA But that you do not love me! I pray you bring me on the way a little, And say if I shall see you soon at night. CASSIO ’Tis but a little way that I can bring you, For I attend here. But I’ll see you soon. 230 BIANCA ’Tis very good. I must be circumstanced. They exit.	Bianca takes this as a slight and convinces Cassio to walk with her just a little ways. He says fine, but not far, because he's meeting Othello here. He promises to come see her later and she says, "Fine."

Othello: Act 3, Scene 4 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 3, Scene 4 of Othello from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text

Translated Text

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