Original: That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it;
Modern: I really believe that Cassio is in love with her;

Original: That she loves him, ‘tis apt and of great credit:
Modern: That she loves him back seems likely and believable:

Original: The Moor, howbeit that I endure him not,
Modern: Othello, even though I can’t stand him,

Original: Is of a constant, loving, noble nature,
Modern: Has a faithful, loving, and honorable character,

Original: And I dare think he’ll prove to Desdemona
Modern: And I’m sure he’ll be to Desdemona

Original: A most dear husband. Now, I do love her too;
Modern: A devoted husband. Now, I’m attracted to her too;

Original: Not out of absolute lust, though peradventure
Modern: Not from pure sexual desire, though perhaps

Original: I stand accountant for as great a sin,
Modern: I’m guilty of just as great a sin,

Original: But partly led to diet my revenge,
Modern: But partly to feed my need for revenge,

Original: For that I do suspect the lusty Moor
Modern: Because I suspect that passionate Othello

Original: Hath leap’d into my seat; the thought whereof
Modern: Has slept with my wife; this thought

Original: Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards;
Modern: Eats away at my insides like poison;

Original: And nothing can or shall content my soul
Modern: And nothing will satisfy me

Original: Till I am even’d with him, wife for wife,
Modern: Until I get even with him, wife for wife,

Original: Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor
Modern: Or if that fails, at least I’ll drive Othello

Original: At least into a jealousy so strong
Modern: Into such powerful jealousy

Original: That judgment cannot cure. Which thing to do,
Modern: That reason cannot heal it. To accomplish this,

Original: If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trash
Modern: If this worthless Venetian, whom I hold back

Original: For his quick hunting, stand the putting on,
Modern: Because he hunts too eagerly, can handle being used,

Original: I’ll have our Michael Cassio on the hip,
Modern: I’ll get Michael Cassio at my mercy,

Original: Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb—
Modern: Slander him to Othello in the vilest way—

Original: For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too—
Modern: Because I suspect Cassio has slept with my wife too—

Original: Make the Moor thank me, love me and reward me.
Modern: Make Othello grateful to me, love me and reward me.

Original: For making him egregiously an ass
Modern: For making him into a complete fool

Original: And practising upon his peace and quiet
Modern: And destroying his peace of mind

Original: Even to madness. ‘Tis here, but yet confused:
Modern: To the point of madness. The plan is here, but still unclear:

Original: Knavery’s plain face is never seen tin used.
Modern: Evil schemes must be disguised when they’re put into action.

In Act II, Scene 1 of Othello, the action shifts to Cyprus where Montano, the island’s governor, discusses the fierce storm at sea with other gentlemen. They observe that the Turkish fleet has likely been destroyed by the tempest, eliminating the immediate military threat to Cyprus. Cassio arrives first, having been separated from Othello’s ship during the storm, and expresses concern for his general’s safety. Soon after, Iago arrives with Desdemona and Emilia, followed by Roderigo. While they await Othello’s arrival, the group engages in conversation, during which Iago makes crude jokes about women that reveal his cynical nature, much to Desdemona’s displeasure.

When Othello finally arrives safely, he joyfully reunites with Desdemona, expressing that his happiness is so complete that he fears no greater joy could follow. After Othello departs to inspect the fortifications, Iago begins manipulating Roderigo by suggesting that Desdemona is already growing tired of Othello and has set her sights on the handsome Cassio. Iago convinces the gullible Roderigo that Cassio must be removed from the picture and devises a plan for Roderigo to provoke Cassio into a fight that evening during Cassio’s watch duty. The scene concludes with Iago’s soliloquy, in which he reveals his true motivations: his suspicion that Othello has slept with his wife Emilia, and his growing plan to use Cassio to destroy Othello by making the Moor believe that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair.

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.