No Fear Shakespeare – Othello (by SparkNotes, transcription by Alex Woelffer) -1- Original Text Modern Text Act 1, Scene 1 Enter RODMERIGO and IAGO RODERIGO and IAGO enter. RODERIGO RODERIGO Tush! Never tell me. I take it much unkindly Come on, don’t tell me that. I don’t like it that you That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse knew about this, Iago. All this time I’ve thought As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this. you were such a good friend that I’ve let you spend my money as if it was yours. IAGO IAGO 'Sblood, but you’ll not hear me! If ever I did dream of Damn it, you’re not listening to me! I never such a matter, abhor me. dreamed this was happening—if you find out I did, you can go ahead and hate me. RODERIGO RODERIGO Thou told’st me You told me you hated him. Thou didst hold him in thy hate. IAGO IAGO Despise me I do hate him, I swear. Three of Venice’s most If I do not. Three great ones of the city important noblemen took their hats off to him and 10 (In personal suit to make me his lieutenant) asked him humbly to make me his lieutenant, the Off-capped to him, and by the faith of man second in command. And I know my own worth I know my price, I am worth no worse a place. well enough to know I deserve that position. But But he (as loving his own pride and purposes) he wants to have things his own way, so he Evades them with a bombast circumstance sidesteps the issue with a lot of military talk and 15 Horribly stuffed with epithets of war, refuses their request. “I’ve already chosen my And in conclusion lieutenant,” he says. And who does he choose? A Nonsuits my mediators. For “Certes,” says he, guy who knows more about numbers then “I have already chose my officer.” fighting! This guy from Florence named Michael And what was he? Cassio. He has a pretty wife but he can’t even 20 Forsooth, a great arithmetician, control her. And he’s definitely never commanded One Michael Cassio, a Florentine men in battle. He’s got no more hands-on (A fellow almost damned in a fair wife) knowledge of warfare than an old woman— That never set a squadron in the field, unless you count what he’s read in books, Nor the division of a battle knows 25 More than a spinster—unless the bookish theoric, Act 1, Scene 1, Page 2 Wherein the toged consuls can propose which any peace-lover can do. His military As masterly as he. Mere prattle without practice understanding is all theory, no practice. But Is all his soldiership. But he, sir, had th' election Cassio’s been chosen over me. My career is cut And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof short by some bookkeeper, even though the 30 At Rhodes, at Cyprus, and on other grounds general saw my fighting skills first-hand in Christian and heathen, must be belee’d and calmed Rhodes and Cyprus. This accountant is now By debitor and creditor. This counter-caster lieutenant, while I end up as the Moor’s flag- He (in good time) must his lieutenant be bearer. And I, bless the mark, his Moorship’s ancient. RODERIGO RODERIGO 35 By heaven, I rather would have been his hangman. By God, I’d rather be his executioner. IAGO IAGO Why, there’s no remedy. 'Tis the curse of service. And there’s nothing I can do about it. That’s the Preferment goes by letter and affection, curse of military service. You get promoted when And not by old gradation, where each second someone likes you, not because you’re next in Stood heir to th' first. Now sir, be judge yourself, line. Now, you tell me: should I feel loyal to the 40 Whether I in any just term am affined Moor? No Fear Shakespeare – Othello (by SparkNotes, transcription by Alex Woelffer) -2- Original Text Modern Text To love the Moor. RODERIGO RODERIGO I would not follow him then. If you don’t like him you should quit. IAGO IAGO O sir, content you. No, calm down. I’m serving under him to take I follow him to serve my turn upon him. advantage of him. We can’t all be masters, and 45 We cannot all be masters, nor all masters not all masters should be followed. Look at all the Cannot be truly followed. You shall mark devoted servants who work for their masters their Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave whole lives for nothing but their food, and then That (doting on his own obsequious bondage) when they get old they’re terminated. They ought Wears out his time much like his master’s ass to be whipped for being so stupid. But then 50 For naught but provender, and when he’s old, there’s another kind of servant who looks dutiful cashiered. and devoted, but who’s really looking out for Whip me such honest knaves. Others there are himself. By pretending to serve their lords, these Who, trimmed in forms and visages of duty, men get rich, and when they’ve saved up enough Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves they can be their own masters. Guys like that 55 And, throwing but shows of service on their lords, have soul, and that’s the kind of guy I am. Let me Do well thrive by them. And when they have lined tell their coats, Do themselves homage. These fellows have some soul, Act 1, Scene 1, Page 3 And such a one do I profess myself. For, sir, you, as sure as your name’s Roderigo, if I were It is as sure as you are Roderigo, the Moor I wouldn’t want to be Iago. I may seem Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago. to love and obey him, but in fact, I’m just serving 60 In following him, I follow but myself. him to get what I want. If my outward appearance Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty, started reflecting what I really felt, soon enough But seeming so, for my peculiar end. I’d be wearing my heart on my sleeve for birds to For when my outward action doth demonstrate peck at. No, it’s better to hide it. I’m not who I The native act and figure of my heart appear to be. 65 In compliment extern, ’tis not long after But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve For daws to peck at. I am not what I am. RODERIGO RODERIGO What a full fortune does the Thick-lips owe Thick-lips sure is lucky if he can pull this off! If he can carry’t thus! IAGO IAGO Call up her father. Let’s shout up to Desdemona’s father, wake him, 70 Rouse him. Make after him, Poison his delight, pester him, spoil his happiness, spread rumors Proclaim him in the streets. Incense her kinsmen, about him in the streets, enrage his relatives, and And, though he in a fertile climate dwell, irritate him endlessly. However real his happiness Plague him with flies. Though that his joy be joy is, it will vanish in light of this. Yet throw such changes of vexation on’t, 75 As it may lose some color. RODERIGO RODERIGO Here is her father’s house, I’ll call aloud. Here’s her father’s house. I’ll call out. IAGO IAGO Do, with like timorous accent and dire yell Do it, and shout like the city’s on fire. As when, by night and negligence, the fire Is spied in populous cities. RODERIGO RODERIGO 80 What, ho, Brabantio! Signior Brabantio, ho! Hey, Brabantio! Signor Brabantio, hey! No Fear Shakespeare – Othello (by SparkNotes, transcription by Alex Woelffer) -3- Original Text Modern Text IAGO IAGO Awake! What, ho, Brabantio! Thieves! Thieves! Wake up, Brabantio! Wake up! Thieves! Thieves! Look to your house, your daughter, and your bags! Check on your daughter, your house, your Thieves! thieves! money! Thieves! Thieves! Enter BRABANTIO, above BRABANTIO enters, above. Act 1, Scene 1, Page 4 BRABANTIO BRABANTIO What is the reason of this terrible summons? What’s the reason for this horrible shouting? 85 What is the matter there? What’s the matter? RODERIGO RODERIGO Signior, is all your family within? Sir, is everyone in your family at home? IAGO IAGO Are your doors locked? Are your doors locked? BRABANTIO BRABANTIO Why, wherefore ask you this? Why are you asking me that? IAGO IAGO Zounds, sir, you’re robbed! For shame, put on your For God’s sake, sir, you’ve been robbed. Get gown. dressed. Your heart’s going to break. It’s like half 90 Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul. your soul’s been ripped out. At this very minute Even now, now, very now, an old black ram an old black ram is having sex with your little Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise, white lamb. Wake up, wake up, ring a bell and Awake the snorting citizens with the bell wake up all the snoring citizens. If you wait too Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you. long you’ll have black grandchildren. Get up, I tell Arise, I say! you! BRABANTIO BRABANTIO What, have you lost your wits? Are you crazy? RODERIGO RODERIGO 95 Most reverend signior, do you know my voice? Do you recognize my voice, noble lord? BRABANTIO BRABANTIO Not I.