Othello Translated Into Modern English: The most accurate line-by-line translation available, alongside original English, stage directions and historical notes

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Desdemona arrived just then, attended by some soldiers and a group of women. Othello stretched his hand out to her. Montano was wincing with the pain of his wounds. ‘Worthy Othello,’ he said. ‘Your officer, Iago, will tell you. I don’t want to talk, I don’t want to make trouble. I don’t know of anything that I’ve said or done wrong tonight, unless self protection is a failing and to defend ourselves is a sin when we’re victims of violence.’ No, that’s certain!’ Othello shook his head. ‘But yet, the pity of it, Iago. Oh, Iago, the pity of it, Iago!’ Othello sprang up and bore down on Iago. He grasped the front of his tunic. ‘Villain!’ he exclaimed. ‘Be sure you can prove my love’s a whore. Be sure of it. Give me visual proof or by everything I am it would be better that you had been born a dog than that you should have to answer my awakened wrath!’ Iago sneered. ‘How poor those without patience are. What wound didn’t heal in stages? You know we’re working with our brains, not by witchcraft, and that means it takes time.’ Roderigo looked doubtful. ‘Don’t you think it’s going well?’ said Iago. ‘Cassio’s beaten you and by that small hurt you’ve destroyed him. Although all plants grow differently, the fruits that blossom first will ripen first. Be patient for a while.’

Roderigo understood the pretence and drew his sword too, but before he could find out how such a situation was going to be resolved Othello came between them. Nothing I can do about it. It’s the curse of military service – promotion goes by favouritism and not by seniority, where you work yourself up step by step.’ Iago took Roderigo’s arm and stopped him. ‘Now, Sir,’ he said. ‘Judge for yourself whether I have any reason to love the Moor.’ Cassio, my lord? No, surely not. I can’t believe Cassio would sneak away so guiltily, seeing you coming.’Well,’ he said. ‘How did this start? Have we become Turks that we are doing what the Ottomites’ religion has forbidden even them? For Christian shame, stop this barbarous brawl. Whichever of you moves again has no regard for his soul: he dies instantly.’ He turned to one of his attendants. ‘Silence that dreadful bell. It’s disturbing the people of the island.’ The monkey has spread the rumours herself. She flatters herself. She does it out of self love, not because of any promise I made her.’

I don’t like doing this,’ said Iago. ‘But since I’ve gone so far, moved to it by my foolish honesty and love, I’ll tell you. I stayed with Cassio recently, and being troubled with a raging toothache, I couldn’t sleep. There are some people who are so unguarded that they expose their private affairs by talking in their sleep. Cassio is one of those. I heard him say, while still asleep: ‘Sweet Desdemona, we must be careful, we must hide our love.’ And then, Sir, he gripped my hand and wrung it, and cried ‘Oh sweet creature!’ and kissed me passionately as though he was pulling up by the roots the kisses that grew on my lips. Then he put his leg over my thigh and sighed and kissed me and then cried ‘Cursed fate, that gave you to the Moor!’’ Iago stepped in front of Othello and drew his sword. ‘You, Roderigo,’ he said. ‘Come on, I am for you.’ I learnt it in England where they’re great boozers,’ said Iago. ‘Your Dane, your German, and your swag-bellied Hollander… Hey, more wine!… are nothing to your English.’ Our Family Station in St Pancras is open from 10.00-12.00 every Friday and we're continuing to welcome schools, as well as families and adult learners to our courses and access events. All our in-person and livestreamed events are going ahead. Other servicesMontano handed his mug to a servant. ‘To the platform, gentlemen,’ he said. ‘Come, let’s set the watch.’ Othello went and stood behind the pillar. Cassio would arrive in a minute. Iago knew exactly how he was going to do it. He would question Cassio about Bianca, a housewife who sold herself to buy food and clothes. She doted on Cassio. Iago grinned. It was the fate of prostitutes to beguile many men and be in love with just one. As soon as he mentioned her name Cassio wouldn’t be able to stop himself from laughing about her. And here he was. When Othello saw him laughing he would go mad. His naïve jealousy would completely misconstrue Cassio’s smiles, gestures and frivolous behaviour. Act 3, scene 1 Cassio arrives with musicians to honor Othello and Desdemona. As Iago has recommended, Cassio asks Emilia to arrange a meeting with Desdemona, even though Emilia assures him that Desdemona is already urging Othello to reinstate him.

Iago got up and looked down at him. He smiled. He put his foot on his head. ‘Work on, my medicine, work,’ he whispered. ‘This is how gullible fools are caught, and so many worthy and chaste women too, all innocent, but condemned.’ He heard someone coming. He knelt down beside Othello and took his face gently in his hands. ‘’Wake up, my lord!’ he said. ‘My lord, I say! Othello!’

In Venice, at the start of Othello, the soldier Iago announces his hatred for his commander, Othello, a Moor. Othello has promoted Cassio, not Iago, to be his lieutenant. Othello laughed and kissed her. ‘Please, no more; he can come whenever he likes. I won’t deny you anything.’