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Home : Othello : Act 4, scene i : page 192 Read the Study Guide: Othello
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Othello
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 IAGO
  Her honor is an essence that's not seen,
  They have it very oft that have it not.
  But for the handkerchief—
IAGO
You can't see a reputation. A lot of people don't even deserve the reputations they have. But a handkerchief—
 OTHELLO
  By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it.
20 Thou saidst—Oh, it comes o'er my memory,
  As doth the raven o'er the infectious house,
  Boding to all—he had my handkerchief.
OTHELLO
God, I wish I could forget about the handkerchief! What you told me it haunts me like a nightmare—he's got my handkerchief!
 IAGO
  Ay, what of that?
IAGO
Yes, what about it?
 OTHELLO
                  That's not so good now.
OTHELLO
That's not good.
 IAGO
  What if I had said I had seen him do you wrong?
25 Or heard him say—as knaves be such abroad,
  Who having, by their own importunate suit,
  Or voluntary dotage of some mistress,
  Convincèd or supplied them, cannot choose
  But they must blab—
IAGO
What if I'd said I saw him do something to hurt you? Or heard him say something about it. You know there are jerks out there who have to brag about bedding some woman.—
 OTHELLO
                                  Hath he said any thing?
OTHELLO
Has he said anything?
 IAGO
30 He hath, my lord, but be you well assured
  No more than he'll unswear.
IAGO
Yes, but he'd deny it all.
 OTHELLO
                                  What hath he said?
OTHELLO
What did he say?
 IAGO
  Why, that he did—I know not what he did.
IAGO
He said he did—I don't know.
 OTHELLO
  What? what?
OTHELLO
He what?
 IAGO
                  Lie—
IAGO
He was in bed with—
 OTHELLO
                  With her?
OTHELLO
With her?

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