Othello. Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, My very noble and approved good masters, That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter,
It is most true; true, I have married her: The very head and front of my offending Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech, And little bless'd with the soft phrase of peace: For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith, Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used Their dearest action in the tented field, And little of this great world can I speak, More than pertains to feats of broil and battle, And therefore little shall I grace my cause In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience, I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what charms, What conjuration and what mighty magic, For such proceeding I am charged withal, I won his daughter.
奥瑟罗 威严无比、德高望重的各位大人,我的尊贵贤良的主人们,我把这位老人家的女儿带走了,这是完全真实的；我已经和她结了婚,这也是真的；我的最大的罪状仅止於此,别的就不是我所知道的了.我的言语是粗鲁的,一点不懂得那些温文尔雅的辞令；因为自从我这双手臂长了七年的膂力以后,直到最近这九个月以前,它们一直都在战场上发挥它们的本领；对於这一个广大的世界,我除了冲锋陷阵以外,几乎一无所知,所以我也不能用什麼动人的字句替我自己辩护.可是你们要是愿意耐心听我说下去,我可以向你们讲述一段质朴无文的、关於我的恋爱的全部经过的故事；告诉你们我用什麼药物、什麼符咒、什麼驱神役鬼的手段、什麼神奇玄妙的魔法,骗到了他的女儿,因为这是他所控诉我的罪名.
Othello. Her father loved me; oft invited me; Still question'd me the story of my life, From year to year, the battles, sieges, fortunes, That I have passed. I ran it through, even from my boyish days, To the very moment that he bade me tell it; Wherein I spake of most disastrous chances,
Of moving accidents by flood and field Of hair-breadth scapes i' the imminent deadly breach, Of being taken by the insolent foe And sold to slavery, of my redemption thence And portance in my travels' history: Wherein of antres vast and deserts idle, Rough quarries, rocks and hills whose heads touch heaven It was my hint to speak,—such was the process; And of the Cannibals that each other eat, The Anthropophagi and men whose heads Do grow beneath their shoulders. This to hear Would Desdemona seriously incline: But still the house-affairs would draw her thence: Which ever as she could with haste dispatch, She'ld come again, and with a greedy ear Devour up my discourse: which I observing, Took once a pliant hour, and found good means To draw from her a prayer of earnest heart That I would all my pilgrimage dilate, Whereof by parcels she had something heard, But not intentively: I did consent, And often did beguile her of her tears, When I did speak of some distressful stroke That my youth suffer'd. My story being done, She gave me for my pains a world of sighs: She swore, in faith, twas strange, 'twas passing strange, 'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful: She wish'd she had not heard it, yet she wish'd That heaven had made her such a man: she thank'd me, And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her, I should but teach him how to tell my story. And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake:
She loved me for the dangers I had pass'd, And I loved her that she did pity them. This only is the witchcraft I have used: Here comes the lady; let her witness it.
[Enter DESDEMONA, IAGO, and Attendants]
奥瑟罗 她的父亲很看重我,常常请我到他家里,每次谈话的时候,总是问起我过去的历史,要我讲述我一年又一年所经历的各次战争、围城和意外的遭遇；我就把我的一生事实,从我的童年时代起,直到他叫我讲述的时候为止,原原本本地说了出来.我说起最可怕的灾祸,海上陆上惊人的奇遇,间不容发的脱险,在傲慢的敌人手中被俘为奴,和遇赎脱身的经过,以及旅途中的种种见闻；那些广大的岩窟、荒凉的沙漠、突兀的崖嶂、巍峨的峰岭；接著我又讲到彼此相食的野蛮部落,和肩下生头的化外异民；这些都是我的谈话的题目.苔丝狄蒙娜对於这种故事,总是出神倾听；有时为了家庭中的事务,她不能不离座而起,可是她总是尽力把事情赶紧办好,再回来孜孜不倦地把我所讲的每一个字都听了进去.我注意到她这种情形,有一天在一个适当的时间,从她的嘴里逗出了她的真诚的心愿：她希望我能够把我的一生经历,对她作一次详细的复述,因为她平日所听到的,只是一鳞半爪、残缺不全的片段.我答应了她的要求；当我讲到我在少年时代所遭逢的不幸的打击的时候,她往往忍不住掉下泪来.我的故事讲完以后,她用无数的叹息酬劳我；她发誓说,那是非常奇异而悲惨的；她希望她没有听到这段故事,可是又希望上天为她造下这样一个男子.她向我道谢,对我说,要是我有一个朋友爱上了她,我只要教他怎样讲述我的故事,就可以得到她的爱情.我听了这一个暗示,才向她吐露我的求婚的诚意.她为了我所经历的种种患难而爱我,我为了她对我所抱的同情而爱她：这就是我的唯一的妖术.她来了；让她为我证明吧.
苔丝狄蒙娜、伊阿古及吏役等上.
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Duke of Venice. I think this tale would win my daughter too. Good Brabantio, Take up this mangled matter at the best: Men do their broken weapons rather use Than their bare hands.
公爵 像这样的故事,我想我的女儿听了也会著迷的.勃拉班修,木已成舟,不必懊恼了.刀剑虽破,比起手无寸铁来,总是略胜一筹.