Othello by Reclam Page A

not I, my love doth so approve him,
    Â Â Â Â That even his stubbornness , his check s and frown s , – [20]
    Â Â Â Â Prithee unpin me, – have grace and favour in them.
    EMILIA. I have laid those sheets you bade me on the bed.
    DESDEMONA . All’s one, good faith: how foolish are our minds!
    Â Â Â Â If I do die before thee, prithee shroud me
    Â Â Â Â In one of those same sheets.
    EMILIA. Come, come, you talk. [25]
    DESDEMONA. My mother had a maid call’d Barbary,
    Â Â Â Â She was in love, and he she lov’d prov’d mad,
    Â Â Â Â And did forsake her; she had a song of “ willow ”,
    Â Â Â Â An old thing ’twas, but it express’d her fortune,
    Â Â Â Â And she died singing it; that song to-night [30]
    Â Â Â Â Will not go from my mind ... I have much to do,
    Â Â Â Â But to go hang my head all at one side
    Â Â Â Â And sing it like poor Barbary: prithee dispatch.
    EMILIA. Shall I go fetch your night-gown?
    DESDEMONA. No, unpin me here;
    Â Â Â Â This Lodovico is a proper man. [35]
    EMILIA. A very handsome man.
    DES DEMONA. He speaks well.
    EMILIA. I know a lady in Venice would have walk’d barefoot to Palestine for a touch of his nether lip.
    DESDEMONA (singing).
    Â Â Â Â The poor soul sat sighing, by a sycamore tree, [40]
    Â Â Â Â  Sing all a green willow:
    Â Â Â Â Her hand on her bosom her head on her knee,
    Â Â Â Â  Sing willow, willow, willow.
    Â Â Â Â The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur ’d her moan s ,
    Â Â Â Â  Sing willow, willow, willow. [45]
    Â Â Â Â Her salt tears fell from her, which soften’d the stones: –
    Â Â Â Â Lay by these: –
    Â Â Â Â  Sing willow, willow, willow.
    Â Â Â Â Prithee hie thee: he’ll come anon: –
    Â Â Â Â Sing all a green willow must be my garland . [50]
    Â Â Â Â Let nobody blame him, his scorn I approve, –
    Â Â Â Â Nay, that’s not next. Hark! who’s that knocks?
    EMILIA. It is the wind.
    DESDEMONA.
    Â Â Â Â I call’d my love false love; but what said he then?
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sing willow, willow, willow: [55]
    Â Â Â Â If I court moe women, you’ll couch with moe men.
    Â Â Â Â Now get thee gone; good night: mine eyes do itch ,
    Â Â Â Â Does that bode weeping?
    EMILIA. ’Tis neither here nor there.
    DESDEMONA. I have heard it said so. O, these men, these men!
    Â Â Â Â Dost thou in conscience think, – tell me, Emilia, – [60]
    Â Â Â Â That there be women do abuse their husbands
    Â Â Â Â In such gross kind?
    EMILIA. There be some such, no question.
    DES DEMONA. Wouldst thou do such a deed, for all the world?
    EMILIA. Why, would not you?
    DESDEMONA. No, by this heavenly light!
    EMILIA. Nor I neither, by this heavenly light, [65]
    Â Â Â Â I might do it as well in the dark.
    DESDEMONA. Wouldst thou do such a thing for all the world?
    EMILIA. The world is a huge thing, it is a great price,
    Â Â Â Â For a small vice.
    DESDEMONA. Good troth , I think thou wouldst not.
    EMILIA. By my troth, I think I should, and undo ’t [70] when I had done it; marry, I would not do such a thing for a joint-ring ; or for measures of lawn , nor for gown s , or petticoats, nor caps, nor any such exhibition; but, for the whole world? ud’s pity, who would not make her husband a cuckold, to make [75] him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for it.
    DESDEMON A. Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong,
    Â Â Â Â For the whole world.
    EMILIA. Why, the wrong is but a wrong i’ the world; and having the world for your labour, ’tis a wrong in [80] your own world, and you might quickly make it right.
    DESDEMONA. I do not think there is any such woman.
    EMILIA. Yes, a dozen, and as many to the vantage , as