Othello

by: William Shakespeare

Act 4 Scene 3

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Original Text	Modern Text
DESDEMONA Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?	DESDEMONA Would you ever do such a thing for all the world?
EMILIA 50Why, would not you?	EMILIA Why, wouldn’t you?
DESDEMONA No, by this heavenly light!	DESDEMONA By the light of heaven, no, I would not!
EMILIA Nor I neither, by this heavenly light. I might do ’t as well i' th' dark.	EMILIA I wouldn’t either, by daylight. It would be easier to do it in the dark.
DESDEMONA Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?	DESDEMONA Could you really do such a thing, for all the world?
EMILIA The world’s a huge thing. It is a great price for a small vice.	EMILIA The world’s huge. It’s a big prize for such a small sin.
DESDEMONA 55In troth, I think thou wouldst not.	DESDEMONA I don’t think you would.
EMILIA In troth, I think I should, and undo ’t when I had done. Marry, I would not do such a thing for a joint-ring, nor for measures of lawn, nor for gowns, petticoats, nor caps, nor any petty exhibition. But for the whole world? Why, who would not make her husband a cuckold to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for ’t.	EMILIA Actually I think I would, and then I’d undo it after I did it. I wouldn’t do it for a nice ring, or fine linen, or pretty gowns or petticoats or hats. But for the whole world? Who wouldn’t cheat on her husband to make him king? I’d risk my soul for that.
DESDEMONA Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong For the whole world.	DESDEMONA I’d never do such a bad thing, not for the whole world!
EMILIA Why the wrong is but a wrong i' th' world, and having the world for your labor, ’tis a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly make it right.	EMILIA Why, a bad action is just a wrong in this world, but when you’ve won the whole world, it’s a wrong in your own world, so you can make it right then.
DESDEMONA 60I do not think there is any such woman.	DESDEMONA I don’t think any woman like that exists.
EMILIA Yes, a dozen, and as many to th' vantage as would store the world they played for. But I do think it is their husbands' faults If wives do fall. Say that they slack their duties	EMILIA Yes, a dozen of them—as many as there are women in the world, in fact. But I do think it’s the husband’s fault if we wives cheat on them. For instance, our husbands

Read the Summary of Act IV, scenes ii–iii

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