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Othello

by: William Shakespeare

Act 1 Scene 1

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Original Text	Modern Text
Enter RODMERIGO and IAGO	RODERIGO and IAGO enter.
RODERIGO Tush! Never tell me. I take it much unkindly That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this.	RODERIGO Come on, don’t tell me that. I don’t like it that you knew about this, Iago. All this time I’ve thought you were such a good friend that I’ve let you spend my money as if it was yours.
IAGO 'Sblood, but you’ll not hear me! If ever I did dream of such a matter, abhor me.	IAGO Damn it, you’re not listening to me! I never dreamed this was happening—if you find out I did, you can go ahead and hate me.
RODERIGO Thou told’st me Thou didst hold him in thy hate.	RODERIGO You told me you hated him.
IAGO Despise me If I do not. Three great ones of the city 10(In personal suit to make me his lieutenant) Off-capped to him, and by the faith of man I know my price, I am worth no worse a place. But he (as loving his own pride and purposes) Evades them with a bombast circumstance 15Horribly stuffed with epithets of war, And in conclusion Nonsuits my mediators. For “Certes,” says he, “I have already chose my officer.” And what was he? 20Forsooth, a great arithmetician, One Michael Cassio, a Florentine (A fellow almost damned in a fair wife) That never set a squadron in the field, Nor the division of a battle knows 25More than a spinster—unless the bookish theoric,	IAGO I do hate him They\’re talking about Othello, though they never mention his name. him, I swear. Three of Venice’s most important noblemen took their hats off to him and asked him humbly to make me his lieutenant, the second in command. And I know my own worth well enough to know I deserve that position. But he wants to have things his own way, so he sidesteps the issue with a lot of military talk and refuses their request. “I’ve already chosen my lieutenant,” he says. And who does he choose? A guy who knows more about numbers than fighting! This guy from Florence named Michael Cassio. He has a pretty wife but he can’t even control her. And he’s definitely never commanded men in battle. He’s got no more hands-on knowledge of warfare than an old woman—unless you count what he’s read in books,

Read the Summary of Act I, scenes i–ii

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