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Home : Othello : Act 4, scene iii : page 250 Read the Study Guide: Othello
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Othello
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 DESDEMONA
  Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?
DESDEMONA
Would you ever do such a thing for all the world?
 EMILIA
50 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.
 DESDEMONA
55 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.
 DESDEMONA
60 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

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