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No Fear Shakespheare

Othello

William Shakespeare

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Act 3, Scene 4, Page 9

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CASSIO
    What make you from home?
How is ’t with you, my most fair Bianca?
Indeed, sweet love, I was coming to your house.
 CASSIO
Why are you so far from home? How are you, my pretty Bianca? To tell you the truth, I was just going to your house.

160



 BIANCA
And I was going to your lodging, Cassio.
What, keep a week away? Seven days and nights?
Eight score eight hours? And lovers' absent hours
More tedious than the dial eightscore times!
Oh weary reckoning!
 BIANCA
And I was just going to yours. You’ve kept away from me for a week? Seven days and seven nights? A hundred and sixty-eight hours? And lovers' hours are a hundred and sixty times longer than normal ones! What a tedious wait!


165



 CASSIO
    Pardon me, Bianca,
I have this while with leaden thoughts been pressed,
But I shall, in a more continuate time,
Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca,
(giving her DESDEMONA’s handkerchief)
Take me this work out.
 CASSIO
I’m sorry, Bianca. All this time I’ve been depressed and had problems on my mind. When I get some free time I’ll make it up to you. (he gives her DESDEMONA ’s handkerchief) Sweet Bianca, would you copy this embroidery pattern for me?


170

 BIANCA
    O Cassio, whence came this?
This is some token from a newer friend!
To the felt absence now I feel a cause.
Is ’t come to this? Well, well.
 BIANCA
Oh, Cassio, where did you get this? This is a gift from another woman, a new lover! Now I know why you’ve been staying away from me. Has it come to this? Well, well.




175
 CASSIO
    Go to, woman,
Throw your vile guesses in the devil’s teeth
From whence you have them. You are jealous now
That this is from some mistress, some remembrance.
No, in good troth, Bianca.
 CASSIO
Oh, come on, woman. Stop jumping to silly conclusions. Now you’re jealous, thinking that this is from some mistress of mine, but I swear it’s not, Bianca.

BIANCA
    Why, whose is it?
 BIANCA
Well, whose is it?




180		 CASSIO
I know not neither, I found it in my chamber.
I like the work well. Ere it be demanded,
As like enough it will, I would have it copied.
Take it and do ’t, and leave me for this time.
 CASSIO
I don’t even know. I found it in my room. It’s pretty. Someone is certainly looking for it, and I’ll have to give it back. So I’d like it copied. Take it and do that for me, and leave me alone for a while.

BIANCA
Leave you! Wherefore?
 BIANCA
Leave you alone! Why?
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