Original: Thus do I ever make my fool my purse:
Modern: This is how I always make money off of fools:

Original: For I mine own gain’d knowledge should profane,
Modern: I would be wasting my hard-earned wisdom

Original: If I would time expend with such a snipe.
Modern: if I spent time with such an idiot for any reason

Original: But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor:
Modern: other than my own entertainment and gain. I hate Othello:

Original: And it is thought abroad, that ‘twixt my sheets
Modern: And there are rumors going around that in my bed

Original: He has done my office: I know not if’t be true;
Modern: he has done my job as a husband: I don’t know if it’s true;

Original: But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
Modern: but I, just based on that kind of suspicion alone,

Original: Will do as if for surety. He holds me well;
Modern: will act as if I know it for certain. He thinks well of me;

Original: The better shall my purpose work on him.
Modern: which will make my plan work even better on him.

Original: Cassio’s a proper man: let me see now:
Modern: Cassio’s a handsome, respectable man: let me think:

Original: To get his place and to plume up my will
Modern: How can I get his position and feed my pride

Original: In double knavery—How, how? Let’s see:—
Modern: with a double dose of evil scheming—How, how? Let’s see:

Original: After some time, to abuse Othello’s ear
Modern: After a while, I’ll poison Othello’s mind by telling him

Original: That he is too familiar with his wife.
Modern: that Cassio is too close with Othello’s wife.

Original: He hath a person and a smooth dispose
Modern: Cassio has the looks and smooth personality

Original: To be suspected, framed to make women false.
Modern: that would make him seem suspicious, the type to seduce women.

Original: The Moor is of a free and open nature,
Modern: Othello is trusting and honest by nature,

Original: That thinks men honest that but seem to be so,
Modern: the type who believes men are honest just because they appear to be,

Original: And will as tenderly be led by the nose
Modern: and he can be easily manipulated

Original: As asses are.
Modern: like a donkey.

Original: I have’t. It is engender’d. Hell and night
Modern: I’ve got it! My plan is born. Hell and darkness

Original: Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light.
Modern: must help bring this evil creation into the light of day.

In Act I, Scene 3 of Othello, the Duke of Venice and his senators are meeting in council to address the Turkish threat to Cyprus when Brabantio arrives with Othello, whom he accuses of using witchcraft to seduce his daughter Desdemona. Othello calmly denies the charges and requests that Desdemona be summoned to speak for herself. When she arrives, Desdemona publicly declares her love for Othello and states that while she owes obedience to her father for her upbringing, her duty now lies with her husband, just as her mother’s duty transferred from Desdemona’s grandfather to Brabantio when she married.

The Duke accepts Desdemona’s testimony and dismisses Brabantio’s accusations, then turns to urgent military matters, appointing Othello to lead the defense of Cyprus against the Turkish fleet. Othello agrees to depart that night, and Desdemona requests permission to accompany him rather than stay with her father. The Duke grants this, and arrangements are made for Desdemona to follow Othello to Cyprus under Iago’s escort, with Iago’s wife Emilia as her companion. After the others exit, Iago remains with Roderigo, who despairs over losing Desdemona, but Iago convinces him that Desdemona’s love for Othello will fade and encourages Roderigo to sell his lands, gather money, and follow them to Cyprus where opportunities may arise.

Othello opens in Venice, where the Moorish general Othello has secretly married Desdemona, the daughter of the Venetian senator Brabantio. When Iago, Othello’s ensign who harbors deep resentment for being passed over for promotion in favor of Cassio, reveals this marriage to Brabantio, the senator accuses Othello of using witchcraft to seduce his daughter. However, when the Duke of Venice summons Othello to lead the Venetian forces against a Turkish invasion of Cyprus, Desdemona herself testifies that she married Othello willingly out of love. The Duke dismisses Brabantio’s charges, and Othello departs for Cyprus with Desdemona, Iago, and his officers.

Once in Cyprus, the Turkish fleet is destroyed by a storm, but Iago begins executing his plan for revenge. He manipulates Cassio into a drunken brawl that results in Cassio’s demotion, then convinces Cassio to seek Desdemona’s help in regaining Othello’s favor. Iago uses these innocent meetings between Desdemona and Cassio as evidence to plant seeds of jealousy in Othello’s mind, suggesting that his wife is having an affair with the former lieutenant. To strengthen his deception, Iago arranges for Othello to overhear him speaking suggestively with Cassio about Bianca, Cassio’s mistress, while Othello believes they are discussing Desdemona.

The manipulation reaches its climax when Iago obtains Desdemona’s handkerchief—Othello’s first gift to her—through his wife Emilia, who serves as Desdemona’s attendant. Iago plants the handkerchief in Cassio’s chambers and later shows it to Othello as proof of the affair. Consumed by jealousy and convinced of Desdemona’s infidelity, Othello smothers her in their bed. When Emilia discovers the murder, she reveals Iago’s treachery before he kills her. Othello, realizing he has murdered his innocent wife, stabs himself and dies beside Desdemona. Iago is arrested, Cassio is appointed to govern Cyprus, and Iago is taken away to face torture and execution for his crimes.