home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- Act 3 Scene 4
-
- The last scene, which charted the development of
- OthelloÆs jealousy, became terrifyingly intense.
- Now a few weak jokes from the Clown attempt to
- relax the atmosphere before the action resumes.
- Desdemona has noticed that her handkerchief is
- lost, but she persists in her efforts to bring Cassio
- back into OthelloÆs favour. Othello, however,
- demands the handkerchief, insisting on its magical
- powers. Desdemona is distressed, and Emilia is
- amazed. Othello leaves the stage, giving
- opportunity for Iago to bring Cassio to
- Desdemona. He pleads with her, and although
- Desdemona is upset, she promises to give what
- help she can and leaves Cassio so that she can
- seek out her husband. The missing handkerchief is
- produced when Cassio gives it to Bianca, his
- mistress.
- 2 lies: lodges: but the Clown pretends to
- understand ôliesö = speaks falsehoods.
- 6 stabbing: death (by stabbing).
- 8, 9 where I lie: i.e. because he does not know.
- 11 devise: invent.
- 13 to lie . . . throat: to tell a deliberate lie.
- 14 edified: instructed; the word is usually
- used in a religious context ù and the Clown
- responds to this.
- 16 catechize: a method of Christian teaching,
- by question and answer.
- 19 moved: spoken to.
- 21 compass: scope.
- 26 crusadoes: gold coins (which were
- stamped with a cross).
- but: except that.
- 31 humours: moods.
- 33 called: reconciled.
- 34 O . . . dissemble: How hard it is to
- deceive; or perhaps Othello is calling for strength
- in order to deceive.
- 36 moist: a damp, sweating palm was
- thought to indicate sexual awareness.
- 38 liberal: generous.
- 40 sequester: restraint.
- 41 castigation: discipline.
- 44 frank: revealing.
- 46 The hearts . . . hearts: In the olden days
- lovers (ôheartsö) used to give their hands (i.e. in
- marriage), but nowadays they give their hands
- only, not their hearts.
- 47 new heraldry: modern customs (the
- reference is to the heraldic coat of arms designed
- for new orders of nobility).
- 48 speak of: understand.
- 49 chuck: a term of endearment.
- 51 salt and sorry rheum: miserable running
- cold.
- 56 Egyptian: These were believed to be the
- ancestors of the modern gipsies.
- 57 charmer: enchantress.
- 59 amiable: beloved.
- 62 spirits: desires.
- 63 fancies: loves.
- 64 when . . . wived: when it was my fortune
- to marry.
- 65 her: i.e. his wife.
- heed onÆt: care of it.
- 67 perdition: disaster.
- 68 match: equal.
- 69 web: weaving.
- 70 sibyl: prophetess.
- 70 that had . . . compasses: i.e. she was two
- hundred years old.
- 72 prophetic fury: frenzy of inspiration.
- 73 hallowed: sacred.
- 74 mummy: mummia ù a preparation made
- from mummified dead bodies.
- 75 Conserved of: Prepared from.
- 76 look toÆt well: take good care of it.
- 77 would: I wish.
- 79 startingly and rash: abruptly and
- violently.
- 80 out oÆthÆway: missing.
- 81 The way these lines are divided between
- the two speakers makes for speed in their delivery.
- 82 Say you: What do you say?
- 83 an if: if perhaps.
- 87 to put . . . suit: make me forget what I
- wanted.
- 89 misgives: fears the worst.
- 90 sufficient: competent.
- 93 founded: based.
- 99 wonder: magic.
- 101 ÆTis . . . man: It doesnÆt take very long for
- us to know what men are like.
- 102 All men are merely appetites, and women
- are nothing but food to them.
- 106 the happiness: what luck (to have found
- Desdemona).
- 110 Exist: Be myself.
- 111 office: loyalty.
- 112 I would not be delayed: I donÆt want to
- waste time.
- 113 mortal: deadly.
- 114 nor. . . nor: neither . . . nor.
- 115 purposed merit: what I intend to deserve.
- in futurity: in times to come.
- 116 ransom: buy my way back.
- 117 But to know so: Only to know this (i.e. the
- hopelessness of the situation).
- be my benefit: would be a help.
- 118 Then I shall have to be satisfied with that.
- 119 shut myself up: engage myself.
- some other course: a different career.
- 120 To fortuneÆs alms: To beg a living from
- fortune.
- 121 advocation: advocacy.
- in tune: suitable.
- 123 favour: appearance.
- humour: temper.
- 124 I swear before all the blessed angels.
- 125 As: That.
- all my best: to the best of my ability.
- 126 within the blank: at the centre of the target
- (in archery).
- 127 free speech: outspokenness.
- 136 of moment: very important.
- 137 ThereÆs . . . indeed: ItÆs serious then.
- 138 sure: IÆm sure.
- 139 unhatched practice: undisclosed plot.
- 140 demonstrable: obvious.
- 141 puddled: disturbed.
- 142 wrangle with: quarrel over.
- 143 ÆTis even so: That must be it.
- 144 If our finger aches, it makes the whole of
- our body hurt.
- 147 of them: from them.
- observancy: attentiveness.
- 148 the bridal: the wedding-night.
- Beshrew me much: Desdemona swears a very mild
- oath.
- 149 unhandsome warrior: unskilled soldier;
- Desdemona remembers how Othello called her his
- ôfair warriorö when he greeted her in Cyprus (2, 1,
- 183).
- 150 Arraigning: Accusing.
- unkindness: unnatural behaviour.
- 151 suborned the witness: caused the witness
- [i.e. herself] to give false evidence.
- 152 indicted: accused.
- 153 State matters: affairs of state.
- conception: fantasy.
- 154 toy: fancy.
- 157 ever: always.
- for the cause: for some reason.
- 158 for: because.
- It: Emilia echoes her husbandÆs description of the
- monster which is the personification of jealousy.
- 166 Save you: Bianca gives a familiar greeting
- ù ôGod Save youö ù to Cassio.
- What . . . home: What are you doing away from
- home?
- 167 How . . . you: How are you?
- 170 a week: It would seem that a week has
- elapsed between this scene and the previous one.
- 171 loversÆ absent hours: the hours when
- lovers are away from each other.
- 172 dial: clock.
- 174 leaden . . . pressed: tortured (as a victim
- was pressed to death with heavy weights) by heavy
- thoughts.
- 175 continuate: uninterrupted.
- 176 Strike off this score: Cassio picks up
- ôscoreö from Bianca and uses it to mean ôdebtö; in
- an inn the customerÆs bill ù ôscoreö ù would be
- kept until he could pay ù strike it off.
- 177 Take . . . out: Copy this embroidery for
- me.
- whence came this: where did you get this?
- 178 token: i.e. love-token.
- friend: i.e. mistress.
- 191 no addition: not good for me.
- 192 womaned: with a woman.
- 198 circumstanced: put up with it.
-