Act 3
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DESDEMONA
60Why, then, tomorrow night, or Tuesday morn.
On Tuesday noon, or night, or Wednesday morn.
I prithee name the time, but let it not
Exceed three days. In faith, he’s penitent,
And yet his trespass, in our common reason
65(Save that, they say, the wars must make example
Out of her best) is not, almost, a fault
T' incur a private check. When shall he come?
Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul
What you would ask me that I should deny
70Or stand so mamm'ring on. What? Michael Cassio
That came a-wooing with you, and so many a time,
When I have spoke of you dispraisingly,
Hath ta'en your part, to have so much to do
To bring him in? Trust me, I could do much—
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DESDEMONA Well then, tomorrow night, or Tuesday morning. Or Tuesday noon or
at night, or Wednesday morning. Please just name a time, but
don’t wait more than three days. He’s very
sorry. His mistake was hardly worth punishing him for in the first
place—though in wartime it is sometimes necessary to make
examples out of even the best soldiers. So when should he come? Tell
me, Othello. I can’t imagine you asking me for something
and me telling you no or standing there muttering. Michael Cassio
came with you when you were trying to win my love. Sometimes
I’d criticize you to him, and he’d defend you.
And now I have to make this big fuss about bringing him back? I
swear, I could do so much—
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OTHELLO
75Prithee, no more. Let him come when he will,
I will deny thee nothing.
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OTHELLO Please, no more. He can come whenever he wants. I won’t
refuse you anything.
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DESDEMONA Why, this is not a
boon,
'Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves,
Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm,
Or sue to you to do a peculiar profit
80To your own person. Nay, when I have a suit
Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed
It shall be full of poise and difficult weight
And fearful to be granted.
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DESDEMONA Don’t act like you’re doing me a favor! This
is like if I asked you to wear your gloves when it’s cold
outside, or eat nutritious food, or do something that’s
good for you. If I ever have to ask you for something that will put
your luck to the test, it’ll be something difficult and
terrible.
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OTHELLO I will deny thee
nothing!
Whereon I do beseech thee, grant me this,
85To leave me but a little to myself.
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OTHELLO I won’t deny you anything! But in return, please, do
one thing for me: leave me alone for a little while.
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DESDEMONA Shall I deny you? No. Farewell, my lord.
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DESDEMONA Would I ever deny you anything? No. Goodbye, my husband.
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OTHELLO Farewell, my Desdemona. I’ll come to thee
straight.
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OTHELLO Goodbye, my Desdemona. I’ll come see you right
away.
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More Help
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Plot Analysis
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