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No Fear Shakespeare – Othello (by SparkNotes, transcription by Alex Woelffer) -26-
Act 2, Scene 1, Page 8
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DESDEMONA
Oh, heavy ignorance! Thou praisest the worst best.
But what praise couldst thou bestow on a deserving
woman indeed, one that in the authority of her merit
did justly put on the vouch of very malice itself?
IAGO
She that was ever fair and never proud,
Had tongue at will and yet was never loud,
Never lacked gold and yet went never gay,
Fled from her wish and yet said “Now I may,”
She that being angered, her revenge being nigh,
Bade her wrong stay and her displeasure fly,
She that in wisdom never was so frail
To change the cod’s head for the salmon’s tail,
She that could think and ne'er disclose her mind,
See suitors following and not look behind,
She was a wight, if ever such wights were—
DESDEMONA
To do what?
IAGO
To suckle fools and chronicle small beer.
DESDEMONA
Oh, most lame and impotent conclusion! Do not
learn of him, Emilia, though he be thy husband. How
say you, Cassio? Is he not a most profane and
liberal counselor?
CASSIO
He speaks home, madam. You may relish him more
in the soldier than in the scholar.
DESDEMONA
You don’t know a thing! You give your best
praise to the worst women. But how would you
praise a truly good woman, someone who had no
reason to worry about what anyone said about
her?
IAGO
A woman who was beautiful but never proud,
who could speak well but knew when to be quiet,
who dressed well but was never overdressed,
who had self-restraint even when she could get
what she wanted, a woman who never took
revenge, who overlooked it when people hurt
her, who was too wise to do anything stupid, who
could think without revealing her thoughts, and
who could refrain from flirting with men in love
with her, that kind of woman, if she ever existed,
would—
DESDEMONA
Would do what?
IAGO
Would raise babies and clip coupons.
DESDEMONA
Oh, that’s pathetic! Don’t listen to him, Emilia,
even though he’s your husband. What do you
think about him, Cassio? Isn’t he a horrible man?
CASSIO
He speaks bluntly, madam. He’s more of a
soldier than a wise man.
CASSIO takes DESDEMONA'S hand CASSIO takes DESDEMONA'S hand.
IAGO
(aside) He takes her by the palm. Ay, well said,
whisper! With as little a web as this will I ensnare as
great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do, I will
gyve thee in thine own courtship. You say true, 'Tis
so, indeed.
Act 2, Scene 1, Page 9
If such tricks as these strip you out of your
lieutenantry, it had been better you had not kissed
your three fingers so oft, which now again you are
most apt to play the sir in. Very good, well kissed,
and excellent courtesy! ’tis so, indeed. Yet again
your fingers to your lips? Would they were clysterpipes
for your sake!—
IAGO
(to himself) He’s taking her hand. That’s right, go
ahead and whisper together. This is all I need to
get Cassio. Yes, keep smiling at her, Cassio.
Your fine manners around women will be your
downfall. Oh, I’m sure you’re saying something
very clever.
If you lose your job because of little flirtations like
this, you’ll wish you hadn’t been so courteous
with her. Oh, how nice, you’re kissingyour own
hand, one finger at a time? I wish those fingers
were enema tubes!—
Trumpet within A trumpet plays offstage.
165 The Moor! I know his trumpet. That’s the Moor! I recognize his trumpet.
CASSIO CASSIO