Othello

by William Shakespeare

IAGO I am about it, but indeed my invention comes 140 from my pate as birdlime does from frieze: it 141 plucks out brains and all. But my muse labors, and 142 thus she is delivered: 143 If she be fair and wise, fairness and wit, 144 The one’s for use, the other useth it. 145 DESDEMONA Well praised! How if she be black and witty? 146 IAGO If she be black, and thereto have a wit, 147 She’ll find a white that shall her blackness ⟨hit.⟩ 148 DESDEMONA Worse and worse. 149 EMILIA How if fair and foolish? 150 IAGO She never yet was foolish that was fair, 151 For even her folly helped her to an heir. 152 DESDEMONA These are old fond paradoxes to make 153 fools laugh i’ th’ alehouse. What miserable praise 154 hast thou for her that’s foul and foolish? 155 IAGO There’s none so foul and foolish thereunto, 156 But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do. 157

IAGO I am about it, but indeed my invention comes 140 from my pate as birdlime does from frieze: it 141 plucks out brains and all. But my muse labors, and 142 thus she is delivered: 143 If she be fair and wise, fairness and wit, 144 The one’s for use, the other useth it. 145 DESDEMONA Well praised! How if she be black and witty? 146 IAGO If she be black, and thereto have a wit, 147 She’ll find a white that shall her blackness ⟨hit.⟩ 148 DESDEMONA Worse and worse. 149 EMILIA How if fair and foolish? 150 IAGO She never yet was foolish that was fair, 151 For even her folly helped her to an heir. 152 DESDEMONA These are old fond paradoxes to make 153 fools laugh i’ th’ alehouse. What miserable praise 154 hast thou for her that’s foul and foolish? 155 IAGO There’s none so foul and foolish thereunto, 156 But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do. 157