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No Fear Shakespheare

Othello

William Shakespeare

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Act 3, Scene 4

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Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA, and CLOWN
DESDEMONA, EMILIA and the CLOWN enter.

DESDEMONA
Do you know, sirrah, where Lieutenant Cassio lies?
 DESDEMONA
Excuse me, do you know which room Lieutenant Cassio lies in?

CLOWN
I dare not say he lies anywhere.
 CLOWN
I wouldn’t dare say he lies anywhere.

DESDEMONA
Why, man?
 DESDEMONA
Why do you say that?

CLOWN
He’s a soldier, and for one to say a soldier lies, ’tis stabbing.
 CLOWN
He’s a soldier. If I accused a soldier of lying, he’d stab me.

5		 DESDEMONA
Go to. Where lodges he?
 DESDEMONA
Oh, come on. Where does he sleep?

CLOWN
To tell you where he lodges is to tell you where I lie.
 CLOWN
Telling you where he’s sleeping is like telling you where I’m lying.

DESDEMONA
Can anything be made of this?
 DESDEMONA
What on earth does that mean?

CLOWN
I know not where he lodges, and for me to devise a lodging and say he lies here, or he lies there, were to lie in mine own throat.
 CLOWN
I don’t know where he’s staying, so if I told you he’s sleeping here or there, I’d be lying.

DESDEMONA
Can you inquire him out and be edified by report?
 DESDEMONA
Can you ask around and find out?

10		 CLOWN
I will catechize the world for him, that is, make questions, and by them answer.
 CLOWN
I’ll go ask questions everywhere.

DESDEMONA
Seek him, bid him come hither. Tell him I have moved my lord on his behalf, and hope all will be well.
 DESDEMONA
Find him and tell him to come here. Tell him I’ve spoken to my husband on his behalf, and I think everything will be all right.

CLOWN
To do this is within the compass of man’s wit, and therefore I will attempt the doing it.
 CLOWN
I think I can do that. It’s not too much to ask.
Exit
CLOWN exits.
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