No Fear Shakespeare

Othello

William Shakespeare

Get this No Fear to go!

Act 4, Scene 3, Page 4

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?

50
EMILIA
Why, 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.

55
DESDEMONA
In 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.

60
DESDEMONA
I 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

More Help

Watch the Video SparkNote

A quick and easy plot summary of Othello.

Read the Othello SparkNote

Summary, analysis, themes, essay topics, and more

Download the iPhone app

Download No Fear Shakespeare for iPhone®/iPod touch™ from iTunes for $.99

Buy No Fear Othello at BN.com

Get the No Fear Shakespeare you can hold in your hand at BN.com

EVEN MORE HELP! ↓

Take a Study Break

Green YOUR SCHOOL!

Click here to get involved with dosomething.org!

John Krasinski's BIG MIRACLE

Click to watch the trailer and read exclusive star interviews!

Do you like Anna?

Read Dear Albert... from ANNA's perspective!

BATTLESHIP, the movie

Here's why we're super jazzed about it.

Do energy juices actually work?

Our blogger puts 'em to the test!