Act 4 Scene 1

Iago continues to stir up Othello’s jealousy until the Moor is completely overwhelmed by his passion. Cassio arrives on the scene, but he is quickly sent away for a few moments, and Iago devises a new torment for Othello, which he puts into operation as soon as Cassio reappears. Whilst Othello listens, Iago jests with Cassio about a woman who is in love with him. The woman is, of course, Bianca: but Othello assumes that Desdemona is being referred to. Just as he is swearing vengeance, he is interrupted by an embassy from Venice. Lodovico watches in horror as Othello strikes his wife and humiliates her. After Othello and Desdemona have left the stage, Lodovico turns to Iago# and he is told that this is the Moor’s normal behaviour.
1	Will . . . so: Iago gives the appearance of trying to reason with Othello’s suspicion — and all the time inflames it.
3	friend: with overtones of “lover”.
6	hypocrisy against the devil: i.e. they would be cheating the devil if they appeared to be sinful when in fact they were innocent.
7	mean virtuously: have innocent intentions.
8	The devil . . . tempts: The devil puts a severe strain on their virtue.
they tempt heaven: they put a serious strain on God’s understanding and forgiveness.
9	venial: trivial human misdeed (not a mortal sin).
16	essence: entity.
17	have it very oft: very often appear to have it.
20	o’er: into.
21	the raven: This was thought to be a bird of ill omen, especially when it perched on a house whose inmates were suffering from the plague.
22	Boding: Promising ill.
25	as . . . abroad: there are such villains about.
26	importunate suit: persistent wooing.
27	voluntary dotage: weakness of will.
28	Convinc#aged . . . them: Conquered or seduced by them.
cannot choose: can’t help it.
29	blab: talk about it.
31	unswear: deny. Here again, lines are divided between the two speakers, as each reacts quickly to the other.
35	belie: tell lies about.
Lie with her: Sleep with her — i.e. make love to her.
36	fulsome: disgusting.
37	confess and be hanged: A proverbial expression which was a way of accusing someone of lying.
38	I tremble: Othello’s emotion is physically as well as mentally overpowering. In the next few lines he struggles to control himself.
39	invest: clothe.
shadowing: overwhelming.
40	instruction: reason.
41	Noses, ears, and lips: Othello may be thinking that their noses and lips may have touched in kissing, and their ears have been close together for whispering.
45	meet reproach: are shamed.
48	epilepsy: epileptic fit# but this — and the information that Othello “had one yesterday” — is probably an invention of Iago’s, designed to mislead Cassio.
51	lethargy: coma.
his quiet course: its way undisturbed.
55	When he is gone: When the fit is over.
56	great occasion: a serious matter.
57	hurt your head: Iago can ask the question with apparent innocence, concerned that Othello may have hurt himself in falling# but Othello hears a mocking reference to the cuckold’s horns.
59	Would: I wish.
fortune: i.e. your bad luck in having a faithless wife.
62	civil: civilized.
65	bearded fellow: adult male.
yoked: married# and (of oxen) harnessed to a plough.
66	draw: pull the plough.
67	unproper beds: beds which their wives have shared with other men.
68	peculiar: their own alone.
Your . . . better: Othello is luckier than those men who do not know they have been cuckolded.
69	arch-mock: supreme mockery.
70	lip: kiss.
wanton: faithless woman.
secure: free from suspicion.
71	let me know: I would rather know.
72	what I am: i.e. a cuckold.
what shall be: what must be done.
74	Keep within the bounds of patience (a “list” was a barrier).
77	shifted him away: got rid of him.
78	laid good ’scuse: made a good excuse.
ecstasy: frenzied behaviour.
79	anon: immediately.
80	encave: conceal.
81	fleers: mocks.
gibes: jeers.
notable: obvious.
82	dwell . . . face: show all over his face.
85	cope: copulate with.
87	all . . . spleen: utterly consumed with passion (which was thought to reside in the spleen).
89	cunning: careful.
91	keep time: be controlled.
92	Now . . . Bianca: Now I will talk to Cassio about Bianca# Iago takes the audience into his confidence.
93	her desires: sexual desires — her body.
100	unbookish: uneducated.
conster: interpret# the image is that of the poor scholar who cannot translate his lesson.
103	addition: title.
104	Whose want: The lack of which.
108	caitiff: wretch (affectionate).
115	gives it out: tells people.
117	triumph: gloat# conquerors in ancient Rome were given a ceremonial procession of triumph — and this may account for the reference to Cassio as “Roman”.
118	customer: whore.
118	bear . . . wit: give me credit for some sense.
119	unwholesome: unhealthy.
121	So, so, so: The call of a huntsman encouraging his hounds.
122	cry: rumour# and the cry from hounds who have picked up the scent of their quarry.
123	say true: not really.
125	scored: wounded, marked.
128	flattery: i.e. she flatters herself.
130	even now: just now.
132	bauble: plaything.
133	falls . . . neck: throws her arms round my neck.
135	imports: suggests.
138	plucked: drew.
139	that nose: Othello thinks of cutting off Cassio’s nose and throwing it to a dog.
141	leave her company: stop seeing her.
142	Before me: An exclamation of surprise (= Upon my soul!).
143	such another: no other than.
fitchew: polecat, a creature noted for its smell when sexually aroused.
perfumed: prostitutes were often highly-scented.
145	the devil and his dam: A proverbial expression.
147	take out: copy.
148	piece of work: story.
151	hobby-horse: whore — something that any man can ride for fun.
155	should: must.
157	next prepared for: next time you feel like it.
159	rail: shout.
else: otherwise.
162	very fain: very much like to.
165	Go to: Off you go.
171	by this hand: I swear it.
174	a-killing: dying a slow death.
182	You should not be thinking like this# Iago turns Othello’s thoughts away from his love.
186	invention: imagination.
189	so gentle a condition: well-bred# and with such a gentle nature.
190	too gentle: i.e. too yielding.
193	fond over: foolish about.
patent: licence.
194	if . . . nobody: if it doesn’t hurt you, it won’t affect anyone else.
195	messes: little bits of meat.
200	expostulate: argue.
201	unprovide: weaken.
205	be his undertaker: look after him.
207	Excellent good: Blank verse and a degree of formality return to the scene.
216	Othello shows his respect to the state by kissing the letter from Venice.
217	cousin: a polite form of address which did not necessarily indicate relationship.
223	breach: quarrel.
227	in the paper: reading the letter.
228	division: difference of opinion.
230	atone: bring them together.
231	Othello reacts to Desdemona’s words, not to the letter from Venice.
245	“If life were to be bred from the earth whenever women weep, each of her tears would produce a crocodile”# it was thought that the crocodile shed false tears to deceive its prey.
245	teem: give birth.
246	falls: sheds.
250	Mistress: Othello calls to Desdemona as though she were a prostitute in a brothel, where Lodovico is the customer.
254	turn: come back.
255	turn: turn on her back, change her mind, and change her loyalty.
258	proceed . . . tears: carry on crying.
259	well painted passion: a good show of grief.
261	mandate: command.
262	avaunt: get out of my sight.
263	place: position.
264	sup: eat supper.
265	Goats and monkeys: Lecherous beasts# Othello’s passion breaks through his self-control.
266	full: wise.
267	all-in-all sufficient: totally competent.
268	solid: steady.
269	shot of accident: cannon shot of fortune.
dart of chance: arrow of fate.
271	his wits safe: in his right mind.
light of brain: going insane.
272	He’s . . . were: Iago does not wish to be fully understood, and his cryptic comment is not easily paraphrased.
272	that: what.
breathe my censure: give my opinion.
273	might be: i.e. mad.
274	would: wish# perhaps Iago is hoping that Othello will become mad.
276	Is . . . use: Does he often do this?
277	work . . . blood: anger him.
278	new-create: initiate.
281	courses: actions.
denote: reveal.