SCENE 2: ANOTHER STREET. — Shakespeare Retold

[Enter OTHELLO, IAGO, and Attendants with torches]

IAGO

Though in the trade of war I have slain men,

Although I have killed men fighting in battle,

Yet do I hold it very stuff o' the conscience

I hold the firm belief one can’t commit

To do no contrived murder: I lack iniquity

Premeditated murder. I’ve no mean streak

Sometimes to do me service: nine or ten times

That might look after me: for many times

I had thought to have yerked him here under the ribs.

I thought that I should stab him in the ribs.

OTHELLO

'Tis better as it is.

It’s better that you didn’t.

IAGO

Nay, but he prated,

No, but he blabbed

And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms

And spoke such awful and incendiary words

Against your honour

That, with the little godliness I have,

I had to muster all the goodness in me

I did full hard forbear him. But, I pray you, sir,

To stop from hurting him. But tell me, sir,

Are you fast married? Be assured of this,

Are you still safely married? Be assured

That the magnifico is much beloved,

That grand Brabantio is widely liked,

And hath in his effect a voice potential

And when he speaks, his words carry the clout

As double as the duke's: he will divorce you;

Of twice the duke’s. He’ll make sure you divorce her;

Or put upon you what restraint and grievance

Or else he will apply the punishment

The law, with all his might to enforce it on,

The law, enforced with all the power he has,

Will give him cable.

Allows for.

OTHELLO

Let him do his spite:

Let him do it out of spite:

My services which I have done the signiory

The service that I’ve done for those in power

Shall out-tongue his complaints. 'Tis yet to know,--

Speaks louder than his gripes. It’s not yet known –

Which, when I know that boasting is an honour,

And till I hear that boasting is a good thing,

I shall promulgate--I fetch my life and being

I won’t reveal it – I am a descendant

From men of royal siege, and my demerits

Of royalty, and so my own credentials

May speak unbonneted to as proud a fortune

Are unapologetically as grand

As this that I have reached: for know, Iago,

As hers who I have married. See, Iago,

But that I love the gentle Desdemona,

If I was not in love with Desdemona,

I would not my unhoused free condition

I’d not allow my carefree liberty

Put into circumscription and confine

To be constrained by marriage, not for all

For the sea's worth. But, look! What lights come yond?

The treasures of the sea. But, look! What lights come?

IAGO

Those are the raised father and his friends:

They are her woken father and his friends:

You were best go in.

You’d better go inside.

OTHELLO

Not I, I must be found:

No, let them find me.

My parts, my title and my perfect soul

My strengths, my married status, and my virtues

Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they?

Will show that I am decent. Is it them?

IAGO

By Janus, I think no.

Actually no, I do not think so.

[Enter CASSIO, and certain Officers with torches]

OTHELLO

The servants of the duke, and my lieutenant.

It’s servants of the duke, and my lieutenant.

The goodness of the night upon you, friends!

I wish you all the goodness of this night, friends!

What is the news?

CASSIO

The duke does greet you, general,

The duke sends you best wishes,

And he requires your haste-post-haste appearance,

And he insists you come to him post-haste,

Even on the instant.

Or right away.

OTHELLO

What is the matter, think you?

What do you think’s the matter?

CASSIO

Something from Cyprus as I may divine:

There’s something wrong in Cyprus, I would guess.

It is a business of some heat: the galleys

It’s something quite important: all the warships

Have sent a dozen sequent messengers

Have sent a dozen messengers, in turn

This very night at one another's heels,

Hot on each other’s heels tonight,

And many of the consuls, raised and met,

And many of the woken senators

Are at the duke's already: you have been

Are at the duke’s already. You have been

hotly called for;

keenly sent for;

When, being not at your lodging to be found,

And when they didn’t find you at your house,

The senate hath sent about three several guests

The senate sent three groups of people out

To search you out.

To find you.

OTHELLO

'Tis well I am found by you.

Then it’s good that you have found me.

I will but spend a word here in the house,

I’ll quickly tell the people in this house,

And go with you.

Then I will come with you.

[Exit]

CASSIO

Ancient, what makes he here?

Why is he here, mate?

IAGO

'Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land carack:

Tonight he’s boarded on a ship of treasure,

If it prove lawful prize, he's made for ever.

And, if it’s legal, then he’s set for life.

CASSIO

I do not understand.

IAGO

He's married.

He’s married.

CASSIO

To who?

[Re-enter OTHELLO]

IAGO

Marry, to--Come, captain, will you go?

Indeed, to… – Come on, captain, are you off?

OTHELLO

Have with you.

I’ll come with you.

CASSIO

Here comes another troop to seek for you.

Here comes another soldier looking for you.

IAGO

It is Brabantio. General, be advised;

It is Brabantio. Sir, I have to warn you:

He comes to bad intent.

He comes with bad intentions.

[Enter BRABANTIO, RODERIGO, and Officers with torches and weapons]

OTHELLO

Holla! Stand there!

Hello! Stop there!

RODERIGO

Signior, it is the Moor.

Sir, it’s the Moor.

BRABANTIO

Down with him, thief!

Get him, the thief!

[They draw on both sides]

IAGO

You, Roderigo! Come, sir, I am for you.

Hey, Roderigo! Come on then, I’ll fight you.

OTHELLO

Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.

Put down your swords; the dew will make them rusty.

Good signior, you shall more command with years

Good sir, your wisdom is more powerful than

Than with your weapons.

Your weapons are.

BRABANTIO

O thou foul thief, where hast thou stowed my daughter?

You bloody thief, where have you put my daughter?

Damned as thou art, thou hast enchanted her;

Because you’re damned, you’ve cast a spell on her.

For I'll refer me to all things of sense,

I will rely on basic common sense

If she in chains of magic were not bound,

To prove that if she hasn’t been bewitched,

Whether a maid so tender, fair and happy,

Whether a girl so beauteous and so happy,

So opposite to marriage that she shunned

And so opposed to marriage that she’d shunned

The wealthy curled darlings of our nation,

The wealthy, handsome gentry of our nation,

Would ever have, to incur a general mock,

Would ever have, to make herself look foolish,

Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom

Run from her safe home to the dirty, black heart

Of such a thing as thou, to fear, not to delight.

Of someone such as you, unless she’s spellbound.

Judge me the world, if 'tis not gross in sense

The world will be my judge, if it’s not obvious

That thou hast practised on her with foul charms,

That you have cast a wicked spell on her,

Abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals

Corrupted her weak youthfulness with drugs

That weaken motion: I'll have't disputed on;

That stop her thinking straight: experts will judge this.

'Tis probable and palpable to thinking.

I think this is the only explanation.

I therefore apprehend and do attach thee

So therefore, I’ll restrain you and I’ll charge you

For an abuser of the world, a practiser

With doing wrong within the world, conducting

Of arts inhibited and out of warrant.

Inhibited black magic that’s illegal.

Lay hold upon him: if he do resist,

Grab hold of him; if he resists arrest,

Subdue him at his peril.

Use force if needed.

OTHELLO

Hold your hands,

Hang on, wait a minute,

Both you of my inclining, and the rest:

Both you supporters, and the rest of you:

Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it

If it was time to fight, I’d be aware

Without a prompter. Where will you that I go

Without me being told. Where shall I go

To answer this your charge?

To argue what you’re claiming?

BRABANTIO

To prison, till fit time

Prison, until

Of law and course of direct session

The court of law has called you up for trial

Call thee to answer.

To answer what you’re charged.

OTHELLO

What if I do obey?

If I agree?

How may the duke be therewith satisfied,

How might the duke respond? With satisfaction?

Whose messengers are here about my side,

He’s sent these messengers – they’re here beside me –

Upon some present business of the state

To share some urgent business of the state

To bring me to him?

Which they’ve been sent to get me for.

FIRST OFFICER

'Tis true, most worthy signior;

It’s true, sir;

The duke's in council and your noble self,

The duke is in a meeting; as for you, sir,

I am sure, is sent for.

I’m sure he’s sent for you as well.

BRABANTIO

How! The duke in council!

You what? The duke is in a meeting?

In this time of the night! Bring him away:

At this late time of night! Bring him with us,

Mine's not an idle cause: the duke himself,

For right is on my side: the duke himself,

Or any of my brothers of the state,

Or any of my fellow senators,

Cannot but feel this wrong as 'twere their own;

Will feel my pain as though it is their own;

For if such actions may have passage free,

For if we grant such actions our permissions,

Bond-slaves and pagans shall our statesmen be.

Let slaves and heathens be our politicians.

[Exeunt]