Act 3 Scene 3

Cassio, having obtained Desdemona’s promise of help, takes his leave — but not before Othello has seen him with Desdemona. Iago is quick to rouse Othello’s suspicions, and when Desdemona begins to plead for Cassio she finds little response from her husband. Iago renews his attack on the Moor, whose trust in Desdemona begins to waver. When Desdemona drops her handkerchief it is picked up by Emilia, who gives it to her husband. Othello returns and Iago continues to stimulate his jealous suspicions. The Moor is at last convinced. His trust in Desdemona is shattered, and he vows revenge. Iago promises assistance. In this, the central scene of the play, Othello begins to lose control of the situation and Iago takes possession.
12	strangeness: unfriendliness.
13	politic: politically necessary.
14, 15, 16	The precise sense of these lines is unclear. Cassio seems to be afraid that Othello’s policy (of making Cassio’s dismissal an example of good discipline) may continue for too long, or be prolonged for such poor reasons, or even be continued without any reason.
15	nice: thin.
16	circumstance: reason.
17	supplied: taken by someone else.
19	doubt: fear.
Before: In presence of.
20	warrant: promise.
21	friendship: friendly action.
22	last article: very end.
23	watch him: keep him awake (hawks were tamed by being kept awake).
talk . . . patience: talk to him until he can endure it no longer.
24	board: table.
shrift: confessional — where the penitent is given instruction after his confession.
25	intermingle: mix.
27	solicitor: the one who pleads for him — i.e. herself.
28	give . . . away: give up your case.
31	purposes: good.
32	your discretion: as you think best.
33	I like not that: Iago begins his campaign.
47	Make peace with him at once.
49	in cunning: deliberately.
56	Desdemon: Shakespeare abbreviates Desdemona’s name, partly to let Othello speak affectionately — and partly for the rhythm of the line.
59	dinner: the meal eaten at mid-day.
65	in . . . reason: by normal standards.
66	example . . . best: even the highest officers must be made an example to the other soldiers# see 2,3,244.
67	is not . . . check: is hardly worth a private rebuke (not to mention Cassio’s public disgrace).
71	mamm’ring on: hesitating.
75	bring him in: i.e. back in favour.
By’r Lady: Desdemona swears by the Virgin Mary.
76	will: wishes.
77	boon: personal favour (for herself).
78	as: as if.
80	peculiar: personal.
profit: benefit.
82	touch . . . indeed: really put your love to the test.
83	poise . . . weight: the metaphor is from scales, where weights are balanced (poised) in different pans.
84	fearful: a serious matter.
85	Whereon: At this point.
88	straight: immediately.
89	fancies: desires.
91	wretch: the term is used affectionately.
Perdition catch my soul: Damn me.
92	But I do love thee: If I do not love you.
93	Chaos is come again: i.e. It will be the end of the world# the Elizabethans believed that at the end of the world all things would return to the state of chaos that existed before creation.
99	But . . . thought: I just wondered.
102	went between us: i.e. carrying messages.
103	Indeed: The actor playing Iago is directed how to react by Othello’s description of his behaviour at line 116.
104	Discern’st . . . that: Can you see anything wrong in that# Iago is beginning to irritate Othello.
105	honest: trustworthy# but the word has many meanings in this play.
115	of my counsel: in my confidence.
116	course of wooing: courtship.
117	contract. . . brow: frown.
118	shut up in thy brain: you were thinking in your head.
119	conceit: idea.
120	Show: Tell.
124	weigh’st: consider.
giv’st them breath: speak them.
125	stops: hesitations.
127	tricks of custom: usual.
just: trustworthy.
128	close dilations: secret utterances which are heartfelt (“working from the heart”) and which cannot be controlled (“passion cannot rule”).
132	be not: i.e. are not what they seem.
would . . . none: I wish they would not seem what they are not.
136	speak . . . thinkings: tell me what you really think.
137	As thou dost ruminate: When you really think it over.
140	to that . . . free to: to that which all slaves are free to do — i.e. think their own thoughts.
141	they: i.e. his thoughts.
142	As where’s: Where, for example.
143	Who . . . lawful: In an extended metaphor Iago asks whether anyone’s mind can be so pure that unclean thoughts do not enter into it in company with decent ideas.
144	apprehensions: ideas.
145	leets: local courts.
law-days: the days on which courts of law are held.
in sessions sit: sit like judges in a law-court.
146	meditations lawful: respectable thoughts.
147	conspire: plot.
against thy friend: i.e. against Othello himself.
148	mak’st . . . thoughts: don’t tell him what you are thinking.
150	perchance: perhaps.
vicious in my guess: badly misinterpret# Iago’s present speech is uncharacteristic, lacking the directness of his usual utterances — and its very indirectness makes Othello wary.
151	my nature’s plague: I can’t help this bad habit.
152	jealousy: suspicion.
153	Shapes: Imagines.
154	conceits: understands.
156	scattering: casual.
observance: observation.
157	quiet: peace of mind.
161	immediate: most precious, nearest the heart.
164	filches: steals.
167	Even if Othello were to kill Iago, he would not be able to find his thoughts# and as long as Iago is alive, he will not disclose them.
168	’tis . . . custody: it (i.e. his heart) is in Iago’s keeping.
169	jealousy: suspicion of sexual infidelity.
170	green-eyed monster: green is traditionally the colour of jealousy.
170	mock . . . on: the more jealous a man is, the more ridiculous he becomes.
171	That: Any.
cuckold: man cheated (sexually) by his wife.
172	certain of his fate: sure that his wife has been false.
wronger: the wife who has deceived him.
173	tells: counts.
177	fineless: infinite.
178	ever: always.
182	To follow . . . suspicions: To experience new doubts several times a month, as the moon waxes and wanes.
184	to be . . . resolved: As soon as I have any doubt, I will settle the question.
a goat: a creature reputedly lustful.
185	turn . . . soul: give my mind to thinking.
186	exsufflicate: blown up, exaggerated# the context seems to demand such a meaning — there is no other known use of the word.
blowed: fly-blown, rotten.
surmises: suspicions.
187	Matching thy inference: To equal your interpretation.
’Tis not: It does not.
191	mine own weak merits: the fact that I do not deserve to have her.
192	revolt: infidelity.
193	had eyes: knew what I was like.
194	I’ll see: I want evidence.
199	bound: in duty bound to speak.
200	Receive . . . me: Let me tell you.
201	Look to: Take care of.
202	secure: over-confident.
204	self-bounty: its own goodness.
205	our country disposition: how the people [i.e. the women] of my nation behave.
206	pranks: sexual tricks.
207	best conscience: highest moral standard.
211	Desdemona deceived Othello by pretending to be frightened of him when in fact she loved him most.
212	Why, go to, then: Then that proves it (i.e. that Desdemona is deceptive).
213	seeming: pretence.
214	seel: close up, blind.
close as oak: oak is a very strong, close-grained wood, and a door made of oak is hard to open.
215	He . . . witchcraft: Brabantio thought that witchcraft was responsible for Desdemona’s conduct.
216	Please forgive me for loving you too much.
217	bound: indebted.
219	Not a jot: Not at all.
221	moved: distressed.
222	I am to pray you: I must beg you.
strain: force.
223	issues: conclusions.
223	nor to . . . suspicion: extend beyond suspicion.
227	fall. . . success: have such a dreadful result.
228	aimed not: did not intend.
230	honest: chaste.
232	erring from itself: straying from its true self.
233	to be bold with you: to put it to you bluntly.
234	affect: like.
235	clime: country.
238	disproportions: impropriety.
239	in position: positively.
240	Distinctly: Specifically.
241	recoiling: returning.
242	fall to match: come to compare.
her country forms: the appearances of her countrymen.
243	happily: perhaps.
248	unfolds: reveals.
250	scan: consider.
251	place: position (as lieutenant).
254	means: methods.
255	strain . . . entertainment: urges his reinstatement.
256	importunity: pleading.
258	busy: interfering.
260	hold her free: think her innocent.
261	my government: my self-control.
263	qualities: types.
with a learned spirit: from experience.
264	haggard: a wild, untrained hawk.
265	jesses: the straps which secure the hawk’s legs.
266	whistle her off: cast her off.
let her down the wind: the hawk that was released to hunt down wind rarely returned to the hunter’s fist.
267	prey at fortune: take her own chances, look after herself.
Haply: Perhaps.
for: because.
268	soft . . . conversation: easy social manners.
269	chamberers: gallants, “social types”, “ladies’ men”.
269	declined . . . years: older.
271	abused: deceived.
relief: reaction.
274	appetites: desires.
toad: traditionally a loathsome creature.
275	vapour: foul air# dungeons were often the sewers of a castle.
278	Prerogatived . . . base: They have even less chance to escape cuckoldry than poor men have.
279	destiny unshunnable: inescapable fate.
280	Even then . . . do quicken: We are destined to be cuckolded from the very moment when we are born.
280	fork#aged plague: the cuckolded man was said to grow horns (forks) on his head, which could be seen by all except himself.
284	generous: noble.
285	attend: await.
286	I am to blame: Othello may be apologizing for his delay in coming into dinner# or blaming himself for his suspicion of Desdemona.
287	faintly: softly.
288	pain upon my forehead: i.e. where the cuckold’s horns would grow.
289	watching: lack of sleep.
291	napkin: handkerchief.
295	remembrance: keepsake.
296	wayward: wilful.
297	Wooed: Persuaded.
298	conjured her: made her swear.
299	reserves: keeps.
300	work: embroidery.
ta’en out: copied.
303	I. . . fantasy: I have nothing to do with it, except that I’m satisfying his whim (“fantasy”).
304	do you: are you doing.
305	thing: Iago pretends to understand the word in its Elizabethan slang sense (= the female sexual organ)# he implies that Emilia does not keep this for him, but makes it “common” — i.e. available to all.
310	that same handkerchief: i.e. the one he has talked about.
317	to th’advantage: luckily.
321	import: importance.
323	lack it: miss it.
324	Be . . . on’t: Say you know nothing about it.
325	lose: drop.
327	confirmations: evidence.
328	proofs of holy writ: words from the Bible.
330	conceits: imaginings.
331	to distaste: to be unpleasant.
332	act: action.
333	mines of sulphur: i.e. hell.
334	poppy: opium (derived from the poppy).
mandragora: another narcotic plant, and its derivative.
335	drowsy syrups: soporific drugs.
336	medicine: drug.
337	owedst: enjoyed.
340	Avaunt: Away.
rack: an instrument of torture which stretched and twisted the limbs.
342	but . . . little: than to have the least idea of it.
347	wanting: missing.
348	Let him not know’t: As long as he doesn’t know about it.
350	the general camp: the whole army.
351	Pioners: Engineers who dug trenches and were regarded as very inferior.
tasted: enjoyed.
352	So: So long as.
356	trump: trumpet.
358	all quality: every attribute.
359	circumstance: ceremony.
360	mortal engines: deadly cannons.
rude throats: loud voices.
361	Jove’s dread clamours: i.e. thunder, caused by the thunderbolts thrown by the king of the classical gods.
362	occupation: i.e. his reason for living.
365	give me the ocular proof: let me see it with my own eyes.
368	waked: aroused.
370	probation: proof.
378	O grace: Iago implores the strength of divine grace to help him endure Othello’s accusation.
380	God buy you: God be with you.
take mine office: take away my appointment (as Othello’s ensign or “ancient”).
fool: Iago addresses himself.
381	vice: fault.
383	direct: outspoken.
384	profit: lesson I have learned.
385	sith: since.
breeds such offence: causes such distress.
388	that it works for: the love which it tries to earn.
389	honest: chaste.
390	just: truthful.
392	Dian: Diana was a beautiful virgin goddess of classical mythology.
begrimed: dirtied.
393	cords: ropes.
394	suffocating streams: water for drowning.
395	Would I were satisfied: I wish I were certain.
397	put it: suggested it.
398	would: want to be.
399	how satisfied: What would make you certain.
400	the supervisor: as an eye-witness.
grossly: crudely.
401	topped: with a man on top of her.
403	prospect: situation.
404	bolster: share a pillow.
408	prime: lecherous.
hot: lustful.
409	salt . . . in pride: keen as wolves on heat.
409	fools . . . drunk: such stupid fools as drunken ignorance.
411	imputation . . . circumstance: strong circumstantial evidence.
412	to the door of truth: in the direction of truth.
414	living: valid.
415	office: task.
416	sith . . . far: now that I have come so far with this business.
417	Pricked: Spurred.
418	lay: shared a bed.
419	raging: aching.
421	loose: indiscreet.
424	wary: careful.
433	foregone conclusion: i.e. that a consummation of their love has already taken place.
434	shrewd doubt: good guess.
though . . . dream: although it was only a dream.
435	thicken: strengthen.
436	do . . . thinly: give weaker evidence.
437	yet: still.
445	any: i.e. any handkerchief.
446	speaks: witnesses.
447	the slave: Othello refers to Cassio.
451	the hollow hell: the depths of hell.
452	hearted throne: throne in my heart.
453	freight: burden.
454	aspics: poisonous snakes, whose sting would cause swelling.
be content: calm down.
456	Pontic sea: the Black Sea.
457	compulsive course: irresistable force.
458	Ne’er. . . ebb: Never ebbs back.
459	the Propontic: the Sea of Marmora.
the Hellespont: the Dardanelles.
462	capable and wide: suitably great.
463	marble: steadfast.
464	Othello swears his revenge with the solemnity of a religious promise.
465	engage: pledge.
466	ever-burning lights: i.e. the stars.
467	elements . . . about: the elements of fire, air, and water that enfold (“clip”) the earth in the early cosmology.
469	execution: activity.
wit: intellect.
471	remorse: compassion (because he is doing it for “the wronged Othello” whom he refers to in line 470).
472	What . . . ever: However murderous the job he is asked to do.
greet: welcome.
473	vain: empty.
acceptance bounteous: generous reward.
474	upon the instant: immediately.
put thee to’t: put you to the test.
479	apart: aside.
480	furnish me: equip myself.
481	Now . . . lieutenant: Iago has achieved the military position he desired.