Othello Translated Into Modern English: The most accurate line-by-line translation available, alongside original English, stage directions and historical notes

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Othello’s patience had come to its end. No-one was prepared to tell him how this had happened. He drew himself up. ‘Now, by heaven,’ he said, ‘I’m getting angry, and I’m about to lose my temper. By God’s wounds, I’m tempted to lift this arm, and if I do, even the best of you will suffer. Tell me right now how this disgraceful fight started and who started it, and whoever it was, even if he were my twin, I will condemn him. What! In a town beset by war, still unsettled, the people living in fear, to indulge in a private and domestic quarrel, at night and in the place from which the people are being guarded! It’s monstrous. Iago, who started it?’ Lodovico found his voice. My lord,’ he said. ‘Even if I were to swear that I saw this with my own eyes no-one in Venice would believe it. It’s too much. Apologise to her. She’s crying.’

Othello filled in the rest – her dragging him to their bedroom. He was going to feed Cassio’s nose to the dogs.

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Cassio caught her in his arms. ‘Come on, my sweet Bianca. He held her close to him. ‘Come on, come on now.’ Emilia, Desdemona and Cassio sat in the state reception room. ‘You can be sure, good Cassio,’ Desdemona was saying, ‘I’ll do everything I can for you.’ Perhaps the letter has upset him,’ said Lodovico. ‘I believe they’re recalling him, replacing him with Cassio.’

They were interrupted by a commotion that was coming nearer. Someone was shouting … ‘help! help!’ Roderigo ran past them with Cassio, his sword out and raised, hot in pursuit. ‘You rogue! You rascal!’ Cassio shouted as he chased Roderigo. Iago sat down in Othello’s vacated chair. ‘What if I told you I had actually seen him doing you wrong, or heard him say – as there are such rogues who, having seduced some married woman, can’t help blabbing about it.’ Cassio frowned. ‘Yes, but that diplomacy might last so long, or become so watered down, or be overtaken by events, so that I not being there, and someone else taking my place, my General will forget me.’ One of the windows began to glow dimly and it opened. Brabantio’s nightcapped head emerged. ‘What’s all this noise?’ he said. ‘What’s going on down there?’Othello looked up at him. His eyes were wet. ‘Yes, let her rot and die and be damned tonight because she’ll not live beyond that. No, my heart has turned to stone.’ He beat his chest. ‘I strike it and it hurts my hand.’ He put his head on the desk again. ‘Oh, there’s not a sweeter creature in the world. She could lie at the side of an emperor and tell him what to do.’

Bianca responded to Cassio’s kiss then struggled free. ‘If you’d like to come to supper tonight you may,’ she said. ‘If not, come when you like.’ Iago matched his tone. ‘For God’s sake!’ he snapped. ‘You won’t even listen! If I even imagined this then hate me.’ You can also still join BIPC events and webinars and access one-to-one support. See what's available at the British Library in St Pancras or online and in person via BIPCs in libraries across London. She was here just now,’ said Cassio. ‘She haunts me wherever I go. The other day I was at the beach, talking to some Venetians, and the toy comes along and, by this hand, starts hugging and kissing me.’

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Iago got up and looked down at him. He smiled. He put his foot on his head. ‘Work on, my medicine, work,’ he whispered. ‘This is how gullible fools are caught, and so many worthy and chaste women too, all innocent, but condemned.’ He heard someone coming. He knelt down beside Othello and took his face gently in his hands. ‘’Wake up, my lord!’ he said. ‘My lord, I say! Othello!’ Montano handed his mug to a servant. ‘To the platform, gentlemen,’ he said. ‘Come, let’s set the watch.’ Not you! I’ve told you not to hang around this house. To be blunt, you’ve heard me say my daughter is not for you. And now, crazed, bloated with food and drink, you’ve come here in your drunkenness to disturb my peace.’ Iago placed his hand on Othello’s head. ‘Don’t rise yet,’ he said, and facing him, knelt too. ‘I swear,’ he said, ‘before the lights of heaven and the elements that surround us, I swear that Iago surrenders his mind, hands and heart to the service of wronged Othello. Let him command, and to obey, whatever it may be, will be my goal, however bloody the business is.’ This is what he’s like. I wouldn’t dare to breathe my judgment about what he’s capable of. If he’s not what he should be I wish to heaven he were.’

Act 4, scene 2 Othello questions Emilia about Cassio and Desdemona’s relationship, acting as if Emilia is the mistress of a brothel and Desdemona one of her prostitutes. Othello denounces Desdemona to her face as a whore. Desdemona turns for help to Iago, who reassures her.Roderigo, protesting to Iago that his gifts to Desdemona have won him no favor from her, threatens to ask for the return of the gifts. Iago counters this threat by telling Roderigo that Desdemona will leave for Mauritania with Othello unless Roderigo can delay them. The best way to do this, says Iago, is by killing Cassio. There you are then,’ said Iago. ‘She who when so young could appear so affected, and to seal her father’s eyes up so soundly that he thought it was witchcraft… But this is all my fault. I humbly beg your pardon for loving you too much.’ Act 1, scene 1 In the streets of Venice, Iago tells Roderigo of his hatred for Othello, who has given Cassio the lieutenancy that Iago wanted and has made Iago a mere ensign. At Iago’s suggestion, he and Roderigo, a former suitor to Desdemona, awake Desdemona’s father to tell him that Desdemona has eloped with Othello. This news enrages Brabantio, who organizes an armed band to search out Othello. All of our upcoming public events and our St Pancras building tours are going ahead. Read our latest blog post about planned events for more information. But tell me Sir, did you get married? Because one thing you can be sure of is that the Magnifico is very popular and can command at least twice as many votes as the Duke can. He will dissolve the marriage or penalise you as much as the law, with all his ability to enforce it, will allow him to.’Lodovico laughed. ‘He wasn’t talking to you. He’s engrossed in the letter. Has there been a quarrel between my lord and Cassio?’