“Otello” by Giuseppe Verdi libretto (English)

Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two; Act Three; Act Four

ACT THREE

The great hall of the castle.
On the right a broad colonnade. This colonnade
is adjacent to a hall of smaller proportions.
A terrace at the far end.

A HERALD
(from the colonnade, to Othello who is with Iago in the hall)
The harbour watch has signalled
the arrival of the Venetian galley
which brings the ambassadors to Cyprus.

OTHELLO
Good.
(He makes a sign to dismiss the herald. The herald leaves.)
(to Iago)
Continue.

IAGO
I will bring Cassio here, and cunningly
will lure him on to gossip.
(indicating the embrasure on the terrace)
Hidden there,
you can observe his manner,
his words, his gibes, his gestures.

Have patience, or the proof will escape you.
Here comes Desdemona. ‘Twere expedient to
dissemble ...I’ll leave you.
(He starts to walk towards the door, then stops and
returns to say one last word to Othello.)
The handkerchief...

OTHELLO
Go! I would most gladly have forgot it.
(Iago goes out. Desdemona enters by the door on the left.)

DESDEMONA (still standing near the door)
God keep you happy, my husband,
sovereign of my soul!

OTHELLO
(going to meet Desdemona and taking her hand in his)
Thank you, my lady.
Give me your ivory hand.
Warm moistness bedews
its soft beauty.

DESDEMONA
It knows not yet the imprint
of sorrow or of age.

OTHELLO
And yet here lurks the plausible
devil of ill counsel,
who emblazons the ivory beauty
of this little claw-like limb.
With soft deceit he poses
as prayer and pious fervour...

DESDEMONA
And yet with this same hand
I gave my heart to you.
But I must speak again to you of Cassio.

OTHELLO
I have that pain again;
bind you my forehead.

DESDEMONA (unfolding a handkerchief)
Here, my lord.

OTHELLO
No! I would have the handkerchief
that I gave to you.

DESDEMONA
I have it not about me.

OTHELLO
Desdemona, woe if you should lose it! Woe!
A powerful sibyl devised
the magic web of it:
within it there reposes the high witchcraft
of a talisman.
Take heed! To lose it,
or give it away, were perdition!

DESDEMONA
Speak you the truth?

OTHELLO
I speak the truth.

DESDEMONA
You frighten me!...

OTHELLO
What!? Have you lost it then?

DESDEMONA
No...

OTHELLO
Fetch it.

DESDEMONA
In a little while... I shall fetch it...

OTHELLO
No, now!

DESDEMONA
You are making sport of me!
Thus you put me from my suit for Cassio;
your thought is cunning.

OTHELLO
By heaven! My soul is roused!
The handkerchief...

DESDEMONA
Cassio is your very dearest friend.

OTHELLO
The handkerchief!

DESDEMONA
To Cassio, to Cassio extend forgiveness...

OTHELLO
The handkerchief!

DESDEMONA
Great God! I hear a note
of menace in your voice!

OTHELLO
Raise your eyes!

DESDEMONA
Horrible fancy!

OTHELLO
(seizing her forcibly under the chin and by the
shoulders so that she has to look at him)
Look in my face!
Tell me who you are!

DESDEMONA
Othello’s faithful wife.

OTHELLO
Come, swear it, damn yourself...

DESDEMONA
Othello esteems me honest,

OTHELLO
Unchaste do I esteem you.

DESDEMONA
God help me!

OTHELLO
Hasten to your damnation,
swear that you are chaste.

DESDEMONA (meeting Othello’s eyes)
I am chaste.

OTHELLO
Swear it and damn yourself!

DESDEMONA
Horror-struck, I gaze into
your stern and terrifying eyes,
I hear a fury in your words

but do not comprehend them.
Look at me! My face, my soul
I show you; my stricken heart
search well... I pray to heaven
for you with these my tears;
for you these burning drops
I shed upon the ground.
Behold the first tears ever wrung
from me by suffering.
The first tears!

OTHELLO
If your daemon were to see you now
he’d take you for an angel
and not seize you.

DESDEMONA
The Eternal sees my innocence!

OTHELLO
No! Hell sees it!

DESDEMONA
Your justice, I implore, my lord!

OTHELLO
Ah! Desdemona! Away!
Away! Away!

DESDEMONA
You also weep?! and groaning
stem the anguish of your heart!
And am I then the innocent
motive of these tears!
What sin have I committed?

OTHELLO
And would you ask?
The blackest of crimes
upon the lily fairness
of your brow is written.

DESDEMONA
Alas!

OTHELLO
What? Are you not a common courtesan?

DESDEMONA
Heaven!

No ... no ... by the baptism
of the Christian faith!

OTHELLO
What?

DESDEMONA
Ah! I am not the thing expressed
by that horrendous word!
(Othello’s mood changing suddenly from the most
towering rage to an even more terrifying ironic calm, he
takes Desdemona’s hand and leads her to the door by
which she had previously entered.)

OTHELLO
Give me your ivory hand again,
I would make amends.
I took you (forgive me
if my thought displeases you)
for that common courtesan
that married with Othello.
(With a movement of his arm alone, Othello pushes
Desdemona out of the door without losing his
composure. Then, in the very depths of despair, he
returns to the middle of the hall.)
God! Thou couldst have rained upon my head
every affliction of poverty and shame,
made of my heroic battle-honours
a heap of ruination and a lie ...
and I should have borne the cruel cross
of torment and disgrace
with patience
and resigned me to the will of heaven.
But – oh tears, oh pain! –
to rob me of that vision
in which my soul was garnered joyfully!
That sun has been snuffed out,
that smile, that ray
which gives me life and happiness!
That sun has been snuffed out, etc.
Mercy, thou immortal
rose-lipped cherubin,
cover at the last thy holy face
with the horrid mask of hell!
Ah! Damnation!
Let her first confess her crime,
then die!
Confession! Confession!
(Iago enters.)

The proof!...

IAGO (pointing to the door)
Cassio is here!

OTHELLO
Here?! Heaven! Oh joy!
(recoiling)
Oh horror! Torture most foul!

IAGO
Restrain yourself!
(rapidly leading Othello to the back of the hall on the
left, where there is a recess on the terrace)
Hide.
(As soon as Iago has led Othello onto the terrace, he
runs to the end of the colonnade. There he meets
Cassio, who is hesitating to enter the hall.)
(to Cassio)
Come; the hall’s deserted.
Enter, O Captain.

CASSIO
This honourable name
still rings hollow for me.

IAGO
Take heart; your cause is in such hands
that victory is certain.

CASSIO
I had thought to have found Desdemona here.

OTHELLO (hidden)
He spoke her name!

CASSIO
I looked to speak further with her
to ask if I am pardoned.

IAGO
Wait for her;
(leading Cassio to the first pillar of the colonnade)
and meanwhile, seeing that you never tire
in the recital of mad and merry tales,
tell me a little about her whom you love.

CASSIO
Of whom?

IAGO
Of Bianca.

OTHELLO (aside)
He smiles!

CASSIO
What nonsense!

IAGO
Her charming eye has you in thrall.

CASSIO
You make me laugh.

IAGO
He laughs who wins.

CASSIO (laughing)
In such exchanges, truly,
he wins who laughs! Ah, ah!

IAGO (laughing)
Ah, ah!

OTHELLO (on the terrace)
The villain mocks me,
his scorn is mortal to me.
Oh God, restrain the torment in my heart!...

CASSIO
I am already sated with kisses and reproaches.

IAGO
You make me laugh!

CASSIO
O fleeting love!

IAGO
Another beauty beckons with her charms.
Have I hit the mark?

CASSIO
Ah, ah!

IAGO
Ah, ah!

OTHELLO (as before)
The villain mocks me,
his scorn is mortal to me.
Oh God, restrain the torment in my heart!

CASSIO
You have hit the mark.
Yes, I confess it. Listen.

IAGO
Speak softly. I’am listening.
(Iago leads Cassio to a place further away from Othello).

CASSIO
Iago, you know my lodging...
(The words are lost.)

OTHELLO
(coming cautiously a little nearer to overhear the conversation)
Now he recounts the manner,
the place and time...

CASSIO
... by an unknown hand...
(The words are lost again.)

OTHELLO
I cannot hear the words ...
alas!... and I would hear them!
To what am I come!

CASSIO
... a fine embroidered handkerchief.

IAGO
’Tis strange! ’Tis strange!

OTHELLO
Iago beckons me.
(emerging with caution and hiding behind the pillars)

IAGO
By an unknown hand? Nonsense!

CASSIO
Truly.
(Iago signs to him to speak softly.)

How I long to know who it might be.

IAGO
(aside, glancing quickly towards Othello)
Othello is looking.
(to Cassio)
You have it with you?

CASSIO
(taking Desdemona’s handkerchief from his doublet)
Look.

IAGO (taking the handkerchief)
What a miracle!
(aside)
Othello listens. He approaches
with wary steps.
(to Cassio, playfully)
Fine cavalier, in your abode
angels lose their haloes and their veils.
(putting his hands behind his back so that Othello can
see the handkerchief)

OTHELLO
(looking closely at the handkerchief behind Iago’s back,
remaining hidden behind the pillar)
’Tis the one! ’Tis the one!
Destruction and death!

IAGO (aside)
Othello is listening.

OTHELLO
All is gone, love and grieving both.
Nothing more can touch my heart.

IAGO (eyeing Cassio, indicating the handkerchief)
This is a spider’s web,
‘twill your heart catch,
in spite of complaining
‘twill trap and dispatch.
Too much you’re admiring,
too long you are eyeing,
beware of such transports
abortive and lying.
This is a spider’s web, etc.

CASSIO
(looking at the handkerchief which he has taken again from Iago)
Fair miracle, wrought by the needle, which caught

rays of light by transmuting the linen so fair,
whiter and lighter than snowflakes,
and brighter than clouds which are woven from
heaven’s sweet air!

IAGO
This is a spider’s web,
’twill your heart catch ...
... in spite of complaining
’twill trap and dispatch.

CASSIO
Fair miracle ...

IAGO
This is a spider’s web, etc.

OTHELLO
(hidden behind the pillar and casting glances from time
to time at the handkerchief in Cassio’s hand)
Betrayal,
betrayal, betrayal,
the proof,
the terrifying proof
thou displayest to the sun!

IAGO
Too much you’re admiring, etc.
Ah, beware,
this is a spider’s web, etc.

CASSIO
... whiter and lighter, etc.
Miracle, fair miracle ...
... fair miracle!

OTHELLO
Betrayal! ...

IAGO
Too much you admire it!

OTHELLO
... betrayal!
(returning to the terrace)

IAGO
Beware! Beware!
(Distant trumpets are heard. Others answer them from
the castle. A cannon shot.)

That is the signal to announce
the arrival of the Venetian trireme.
(Trumpets sound from different directions).
Listen.
All the castle’s trumpeters reply.
If you do not want to meet Othello here, go now.

CASSIO
Farewell.

IAGO
Go.
(Cassio leaves hurriedly through the back end.)

OTHELLO (coming up to Iago)
How shall I kill her?

IAGO
Did you perceive well how he laughed?

OTHELLO
I saw!

IAGO
And the handkerchief?

OTHELLO
I saw it all.

VOICES IN THE DISTANCE
Hurrah!
To the shore! To the landing-place!

OTHELLO
She is condemned!

DISTANT VOICES
Hurrah!

OTHELLO
Get me some poison
for tonight.

IAGO
Poison, no...

DISTANT VOICES
Long live the Lion of St. Mark!

IAGO
... rather suffocate her,
there in her bed,
even the bed where she has sinned.

OTHELLO
Your sense of justice pleases me.

IAGO
As for Cassio, I shall see to him.

OTHELLO
Iago, from this moment
I name you my captian

IAGO
My General, I give you thanks.
Here come the ambassadors.
Do you receive them.
But to avoid suspicion
Desdemona should come before these lords.

OTHELLO
Yes, bring her here.
(Iago leaves by the door on the left; Othello
goes towards the far end of the hall to receive
the ambassadors. Trumpets sound again,
Iago re-enters with Lodovico, the herald,
Desdemona with Emilia, dignitaries of the
Venetian Republic, ladies and gentlemen,
soldiers, trumpeters and then Cassio.)

MEN AND WOMEN
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Long live the Lion of St. Mark!
Hurrah! Hurrah! etc.
Long live the Lion of St. Mark!

LODOVICO
(holding a rolled-up parchment in his hand)
The Duke and senators of Venice greet
the triumphant hero of Cyprus.
I place in your hands
the ducal document.

OTHELLO
(taking the parchment and kissing the seal)
I kiss the seal of sovereign majesty.
(opens it and reads)

LODOVICO (going up to Desdemona)
My lady, may heaven
keep You in its care.

DESDEMONA
May heaven heed your prayer.

EMILIA (aside to Desdemona)
How sad you look!

DESDEMONA (aside to Emilia)
Emilia! There’s a great shadow fallen
upon Othello’s mind
and upon my destiny.

IAGO (to Lodovico)
Signor, I am very glad to see you.

LODOVICO
Iago, what’s the news?...
I do not see Cassio amongst you.

IAGO
Othello is angered with him.

DESDEMONA
I think he will be restored to favour.

OTHELLO
(continuing to read; rapidly aside to Desdemona)
Are you sure of that?

DESDEMONA
My lord?

LODOVICO
He reads, and speaks not to you.

IAGO
Perhaps he will be restored to favour.

DESDEMONA
Iago, I hope so;
you know what real affection
I have for Cassio...

OTHELLO
(still reading, but speaking feverishly under his breath to
Desdemona)
Restrain your babbling tongue...

DESDEMONA
Forgive me, my lord...

OTHELLO (flinging himself at Desdemona)
Devil, be silent!

LODOVICO
(preventing Othello from striking Desdemona)
Stop!

MEN AND WOMEN
Oh horror! Oh horror!

LODOVICO
I dare not believe
that my eyes have truly seen.

OTHELLO (to the herald)
Send Cassio to me!
(The herald leaves.)

IAGO (aside to Othello)
What would you do?

OTHELLO (aside to Iago)
Watch her as he enters.

MEN AND WOMEN
Ah! Unhappy bride!

LODOVICO
(approaching Iago and speaking to him aside)
Is this then the hero?
Is this the warrior
of such noble daring?

IAGO (to Lodovico, shrugging his shoulders)
He’s that he is.

LODOVICO
Explain what you mean.

IAGO
It is better to hold one’s tongue.

OTHELLO (who has been watching the door fixedly)
Here he is! ’Tis he!
(Cassio appears.)

(to Iago:)
Watch him well.
(aloud, to the company:)
My lords!... The Duke...
(aside to Desdemona, who is weeping:)
– oh well-painted passion –
(to the company:)
... has recalled me to Venice.

RODERIGO (aside)
Unjust fate!

OTHELLO
And as my successor in Cyprus elects
he who stood by my standard –
Cassio.

IAGO (surprised, in a fierce aside)
Death and the devil take it!

OTHELLO
(continuing his speech and showing the document)
The ducal command is our law.

CASSIO (bowing to Othello)
I will obey.

OTHELLO
(rapidly to Iago, nodding towards Cassio)
You see?...The villain does not seem well pleased.

IAGO
No.

OTHELLO (to the company)
The ship’s crew and garrison...
(aside, to Desdemona)
– Proceed you in your tears –
(aloud)
... the ships and castle,
I leave in charge of my successor.

LODOVICO
(pointing to Desdemona who approaches Othello supplicatingly)
Othello, prithee comfort her,
or you will break her heart.

OTHELLO (to Lodovico and Desdemona)
We shall embark tomorrow.
(He seizes Desdemona in fury. She falls.)
(to Desdemona)
Down!... And weep!
(Othello, in his act of violence, has thrown the document
to the ground; Iago picks it up and reads it, taking care
not to be seen. Lodovico and Emilia sympathetically
support Desdemona.)

DESDEMONA
Down!... yes... in the livid slime
stricken... I lie... I weep...
chilled by the icy touch
of death upon my soul.
And once upon a time my smile
would quicken hope and kisses,
and now... I have anguish in my face
and agony in my heart!
That sun so calm and bright
that brings joy to sky and sea,
can never dry the bitter drops
of my pain,
the bitter teardrops of my pain!

EMILIA (aside)
Innocent of heart, no word
of hate she speaks, no gesture makes,
but locks her pain within her heart
with sorrowful restraint.

CASSIO (aside)
Fate hangs upon the hour! A flash
of lightning shows it on my path;
the highest prize that fate affords
is offered to my passive hand.

RODERIGO (aside)
Darkness falls upon my world,
mist shrouds my destiny;
that angel sweet and golden-haired
vanishes from my path.

LODOVICO (aside)
His funerary fist
he shakes and pants with rage,
she her ethereal face
turns weeping to the sky.

WOMEN (to Othello)
Have pity!... Have pity!

MEN
...’Tis strange!

LODOVICO
His funerary fist...

WOMEN
Have pity! Have pity!

DESDEMONA
And once upon a time my smile
would quicken hope and kisses...

EMILIA
The tears fall silently
upon her sorrowing cheek;...

CASSIO
Reeling Fortune presses hard
upon the swift heels of time.

RODERIGO
That angel sweet
vanishes from my path.

LODOVICO
... he shakes and pants with rage,
she her ethereal face
turns weeping to the sky!

WOMEN
Have pity! Have pity! etc.

MEN
’Tis strange! ’Tis strange!
(Iago draws close to Othello who has collapsed onto a
chair.)

IAGO
A word with you.

OTHELLO
What is it?

IAGO
Make haste!

Let your vengeance be swift!
Time flies.

OTHELLO
You speak truly.

IAGO
Angry words are idle gossip. Act!
Aim at the objective, that alone!
I shall deal with Cassio.
He shall pay for his intrigues,
and hell shall swallow up his guilty soul!

OTHELLO
Who will pluck it from him?

IAGO
I myself.

OTHELLO
You?

IAGO
I have sworn.

OTHELLO
So be it.

IAGO
You shall hear more tonight.

DESDEMONA
... and now with anguish in my face
and agony in my heart...
on the ground... in the slime... stricken...
I lie...
chilled by the icy touch
of death upon my soul.

EMILIA
... no, he who weeps not for her
has no pity in his heart.
Innocent of heart, etc.

CASSIO
That which lifts me up so high
is a storm-driven tidal wave.
Reeling Fortune presses hard

upon the swift heels of time.
That which lifts me up, etc.

RODERIGO
Darkness falls upon my world, etc.

LODOVICO
She her ethereal face
turns weeping to the sky.
To see such tears as these
Pity itself might sigh,
and a stirring of compassion
melt an icy heart.

WOMEN
Mortal care weighs sullenly upon
these souls who writhe in long-drawn agony.

MEN
This black man has a graveyard air,
a sightless shadow sits within
of death and terror made!

EMILIA
The tears fall silently
upon her sorrowing cheek...

CASSIO
Reeling Fortune presses, etc.

RODERIGO
Darkness falls upon my world, etc.

LODOVICO
To see such tears as these, etc.

WOMEN
O cruel sight!
Mortal care, etc.

MEN
His nails tear at his fearsome breast!
His eyes are fixed upon the ground.
Now his dusky fist he shakes at heaven,
raising his shaggy face
towards the darts of the sun.

DESDEMONA
And once upon a time my smile...

EMILIA
... no, he who weeps not for her
has no pity.

CASSIO
That which lifts me up so high
is a storm-driven tidal wave.

RODERIGO
That angel sweet and golden-haired
vanishes from my path.

LODOVICO
... a stirring of compassion...

WOMEN
O cruel sight!

MEN
His nails tear, etc.
(Iago turns his attention to Roderigo.)

IAGO
Your dreams will be upon the seas tomorrow,
and you on the bitter shore!

RODERIGO
Ah, misery!

IAGO
Ah stupidity! Stupidity!
If you will, you may hope yet;
come, show yourself a man! Gird your loins, and listen.

RODERIGO
I hear you.

IAGO
The ship departs at first light.
Now Cassio is governor.
However, if some accident should befall him,
Othello must linger here.
Your hand on your sword!
When it is dark I’ll supervise his steps
and watch his destination and the hour,
the rest is up to you. I will be near.

A-hunting we will go!
Arm yourself for the fray!

RODERIGO
Yes! I have sold you my honour and faith.
(The voices of Iago and Roderigo become lost among
the others.)

DESDEMONA
... quickened hope and kisses, etc.

EMILIA
No, he who weeps not for her
has no pity in his heart, etc.

CASSIO
Reeling Fortune presses, etc.

LODOVICO
... melt an icy heart.
He who weeps not for her, etc.

WOMEN
O cruel sight! He struck her!
That saint-like face, so pale and gentle,
is mutely bowed, and weeps and dies.
In heaven do the angels
shed such tears as these
when before them, lost, the sinner lies.

MEN
His eyes are fixed upon the ground.
His dusky fist, etc.

WOMEN
That saint-like face...

EMILLIA
Innocent of heart, no word...

CASSIO
Reeling Fortune presses...

RODERIGO (walking away from Iago)
The die is cast!

IAGO (aside, watching Roderigo)
Go, chase the rainbow!

LODOVICO
To see such tears as these...

WOMEN
... so pale and gentle...

MEN
This black man has a graveyard air!

WOMEN
... is mutely bowed...

EMILIA
... of hate she speaks nor gesture makes,...

CASSIO
... at the swift heels of time,...

RODERIGO
The die is cast!

IAGO
Go, chase the rainbow!

LODOVICO
Pity heaves a sigh...

WOMEN
... and weeps and dies.

MEN
This black man has a graveyard air!

DESDEMONA
And once upon a time my smile...
... would quicken hope and kisses, etc.

EMILIA
... of hate she speaks, etc.

CASSIO
... Reeling Fortune presses, etc.

LODOVICO
... Pity heaves a sigh, etc.

IAGO
Go, chase the rainbow ! Your enfeebled sense
is by a web of lying dreams enmeshed, etc.

Follow the scheme my shrewd, swift wit presents,
deluded lover, I follow but myself, etc.

RODERIGO
The die is cast! Undaunted, I await
the final outcome, hidden destiny, etc.
Love spurs me on, and yet my path is plagued
by death’s dark planet, avid, menacing, etc.

WOMEN/MEN (as before)

OTHELLO
(rising and turning on the crowd
with menacing fury)
Hence, avaunt!

ALL
Heaven!

OTHELLO (hurling himself upon the crowd)
All flee Othello!

IAGO (to everyone)
He is assailed by some enchantment
that deprives him of his wits.

OTHELLO
Whoever does not remove himself
is in rebellion against me!

LODOVICO (trying to drag Desdemona away)
Come with me.

MEN (in the distance)
Hurrah!
(Fanfares are heard in the distance.)

DESDEMONA
(tearing herself away from Lodovico and running to Othello)
My lord!

OTHELLO
My soul, I curse you!

MEN AND WOMEN
Oh horror!

(Overwhelmed by horror, all leave the hall; Desdemona
leaves supported by Lodovico and Emilia. Iago and
Othello remain alone.)

OTHELLO
I alone cannot flee myself!
Blood!... O vile thought!
(becoming breathless)
I like not that!
(convulsively, raving)
To see them clasped together...
The handkerchief! The handkerchief!
O! O! O!
(faints)

IAGO (aside)
My poison’s working.

MEN (within)
Long live Othello!

IAGO (listening to the cries)
His victory is hailed...

MEN
Hurrah! Hurrah!

IAGO
... for the last time.

MEN
Hurrah!

IAGO
(eyeing Othello stretched on the ground unconscious)
Who can stop me crushing
this head beneath my heel?

MEN (nearer)
Hurrah! Long live Othello!
Hail to the Lion of Venice!

IAGO
(standing erect and, with a loathsome gesture of
triumph, pointing to the inert Othello)
Behold the Lion!

libretto by Avril Bardoni

Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two; Act Three; Act Four