Friday, November 20, 2009

Voltaire does Othello

This is Iago giving Othello proof of Cassio's perfidy:
[Cassio] said in his sleep, ‘Dear Desdemona, let us be careful, let us hide our loves.’ In speaking, he took me [Iago] by the hand, he patted me, he cried, ‘Oh, charming creature!’ he kissed me with transport, as if he had by the roots torn up kisses planted upon my lips, he put his [1] thighs upon my legs, he sighed, he breathed short, he kissed me, he cried out, ‘Cursed fate which has given you to the Moor!’
Translator's note:
[1] Wrongly translated.

- From "Plan of 'The Orphan'", Philosophical Letters