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No Fear Shakespeare – Othello (by SparkNotes, transcription by Alex Woelffer) -46-
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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 tonight at supper?
OTHELLO
No, not tonight.
DESDEMONA
Tomorrow dinner, then?
OTHELLO
I shall not dine at home,
I meet the captains at the citadel.
Act 3, Scene 3, Page 4
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DESDEMONA
Why, then, tomorrow night, or Tuesday morn.
On Tuesday noon, or night, or Wednesday morn.
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 example
Out of her best) is not, almost, a fault
T' incur a private check. When shall he come?
Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul
What you would ask me that I should deny
Or stand so mamm'ring on. What? Michael Cassio
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
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!
DESDEMONA
Yes. He feels so bad and humble that I feel bad
along with him. My love, call him back in here.
OTHELLO
Not now, my sweet Desdemona. Some other
time.
DESDEMONA
But will it be soon?
OTHELLO
Very soon, because you want it.
DESDEMONA
Will it be tonight at supper?
OTHELLO
No, not tonight.
DESDEMONA
Then tomorrow at dinner?
OTHELLO
I won’t be eating dinner at home. I’ll be meeting
the captains at the citadel.
DESDEMONA
Well then, tomorrow night, or Tuesday morning.
Or Tuesday noon or at night, or Wednesday
morning. Please just name a time, but don’t wait
more than three days. He’s very sorry. His
mistake was hardly worth punishing him for in the
first place—though in wartime it is sometimes
necessary to make examples out of even the best
soldiers. So when should he come? Tell me,
Othello. I can’t imagine you asking me for
something and me telling you no or standing
there muttering. Michael Cassio came with you
when you were trying to win my love. Sometimes
I’d criticize you to him, and he’d defend you. And
now I have to make this big fuss about bringing
him back? I swear, I could do so much—
OTHELLO
Please, no more. He can come whenever he
wants. I won’t refuse you anything.
DESDEMONA
Don’t act like you’re doing me a favor! This is like
if I asked you to wear your gloves when it’s cold
outside, or eat nutritious food, or do something
that’s good for you. If I ever have to ask you for
something that will put your luck to the test, it’ll be
something difficult and terrible.
OTHELLO
I won’t deny you anything! But in return, please,