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Des, To-morrow dinner then? Oth. I shall not dine at home; I meet the captains at the citadel.

Des. Why then, to-morrow night; or Tuesday morn; [morn ;Or Tuesday noon, or night; or Wednesday I pray thee, name the time; but let it not Exceed three days; in faith, he's penitent; And yet his trespass, in our common reason, (Save that, they say, the wars must make amples

Out of their best *) is not almost a fault

As if thou then had'st shut up in thy brain
Some horrible conceit: If thou dost love me,
Show me thy thought.

Iago. My lord, you know I love you.
Oth. I think, thou dost;

And,-for I know thou art full of love and
honesty,

And weigh'st thy words before thou giv'st them breath,[more: ex-Therefore these stops of thine fright me the For such things, in a false disloyal knave, Are tricks of custom; but, in a man that's just, They are close denotements, working from the heart,

To incur a private check: When shall he come?
Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul,
What you could ask me, that I should deny,
Or stand so mammering + on. What! Michael
Cassio,

That came a wooing with you; and many a time,
When I have spoke of you dispraisingly,

Hath ta'en your part; to have so much to do
To bring him in! Trust me, I could do much,-
Oth. Pr'ythee, no more let him come when
he will:

1 will deny thee nothing.

Des. Why, this is not a boon ;

'Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves, Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you

warm;

Or sue to you to do peculiar profit

To your own person: Nay, when I have a suit,
Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed,
It shall be full of poize and difficulty,
And fearful to be granted.

Oth. I will deny thee nothing:
Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this,
To leave me but a little to myself.

Des. Shall I deny you? no: Farewell, my lord.

Oth. Farewell, my Desdemona: I will come to thee straight.

Des. Emilia, come :-Be it as your fancies teach you;

Whate'er you be, I am obedient.

[Eait, with EMILIA. Oth. Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul,

But I do love thee! and, when I love thee not, Chaos is come again.

Iago. My noble lord,

Oth. What dost thou say, Iago?

That passion cannot rule.

Iago. For Michael Cassio,

I dare be sworn, I think that he is honest.
Oth, I think so too.

lago, Men should be what they seem;

Or, those that be not, 'would they might seem none !

Oth. Certain, men should be what they seem.
Iago. Why, then,

I think that Cassio is an honest man.
Oth. Nay. yet there's more in this:

I pray thee, speak to me as to thy thinkings,
As thou dost ruminate; and give thy worst of
thoughts

The worst of words.

Iago. Good my lord, pardon me; Though I am bound to every act of duty,

I am not bound to that all slaves are free to. Utter my thoughts? Why, say, they are vile and

false;

As where's that palace, whereinto foul things
Sometimes intrude not? who has a breast so pure,
But some uncleanly apprehensions

Keep leets and law-days, and in session sit
With meditations lawful?

Oth. Thou dost conspire against thy friend,
Iago,

If thou but think'st him wrong'd, and mak'st his ear

A stranger to thy thoughts.

Iago. I do beseech you,

Though I, perchance, am vicious in my guess, As, I confess, it is my nature's plague

To spy into abuses; and, oft, my jealousy Shapes faults that are not, I entreat you then, From one that so imperfectly conjects,†

Iago. Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd You'd take no notice; nor build yourself a trou.

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ble

Out of his scattering and unsure observance :-
It were not for your quiet, nor your good,
Nor for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom,
To let you know my thoughts.

Oth. What dost thou mean?

lago. Good name, in man and woman, dear my lord,

Is the immediate jewel of their souls: Who steals my purse, steals trash: 'tis something, nothing;

'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands;

But he, that filches from me my good name,
Robs me of that which not enriches him,

And makes me poor indeed.

Oth. By heaven, I'll know thy thought. lago. You cannot, if my heart were in your hand;

Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody.

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• Courts of Enquiry.

+ Conjectures.

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But riches, fineless, is as poor as winter,
To him that ever fears be shall be poor :-
Good heaven, the souls of all iny tribe defend
From jealousy!

Oth. Why? why is this?

Think'st thou, I'd make a life of jealousy,
To follow still the changes of the moon
With fresh suspicions? No: to be once in
doubt,

[goat,
Is-once to be resolv'd: Exchange me for a
When I shall turn the business of iny soul
To such exsufficate and blown surmises,
Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me
jealous,
[pany,
To say-my wife is fair, feeds well, loves com-
s free of speech, sings, plays, and dances well;
Where virtue is, these are more virtuous:
Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw
The smallest fear, or doubt of her revolt;
For she had eyes, and chose me: No, Iago ;
I'll see, before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
And, on the proof, there is no more but this,-
Away at once with love, or jealousy.

lago. I am glad of this, for now I shall have

reason

To show the love and duty that I hear you
With franker spirit: therefore, as I am bound,
Receive it from me :-I speak not yet of proof.
Look to your wife; observe her well with Cas-
sio;

Wear your eye thus, not jealous, nor secure :
I would not have your free and noble nature,
Out of self-bounty, be abus'd; look to't:
I know our country disposition well;
In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks
They dare not show their husbands; their best
conscience

Is--not to leave undone, but keep unknown.
Oth. Dost thou say so?

lago. She did deceive her father, marrying

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Oth. Not a jot, not a jot.

lago. Trust me, I fear it has.

I hope, you will consider what is spoke

Foh! one may smell, in such, a will most raut.
Foul disproportion, thoughts unnatural.—
But pardon me; I do not, in position,
Distinctly speak of her; though I may fear
Her will, recoiling to her better judginien.,
May fall to match you with her country forms,
Aud (happily) repent.

Oth. Farewell, farewell :

If more thou dost perceive, let me know more;
Set on thy wife to observe: Leave me, lago.
[Going.
Iago. My lord, I take my leave.
Oth. Why did I marry?-This honest crea.
[folds.
ture, doubtless,
Sees and knows more, much more, than he un-
lago. My lord, I would I might entreat your
honour

To scan this thing no further leave it to time:
And though it be fit that Cassio have his place,
(For, sure, he fills it up with great ability,)
Yet if you please to hold him off awhile,
You shall by that perceive him and his means :
Note, if your lady strain his entertainment *
With any strong or vehement opportunity;
In the meantime,
Much will be seen in that.
Let me be thought too busy in my fears
(As worthy cause I have to fear I am,)
And hold her free, I do beseech your honour.
Oth. Fear not my government.
Jugo. I once more take my leave.
Oth. This fellow's of exceeding honesty,
And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,
Of human dealings: If I do prove her haggard,+
Though that her jesses were my dear heart-
strings,

[Exit.

I'd whistle her off, and let her down the wind,
To prey at fortune. Haply, for I am black,
And have not those soft parts of conversation
That chamberers have ;-or, for I am de

clin'd
Into the vale of years :-yet that's not much ;—
She's gone; I am abus'd; and my relief
Must be to loathe her. O curse of marriage,
That we can call these delicate creatures ours,
And not their appetites! I had rather be a
toad,

And live upon the vapour of a dungeon,
Than keep a corner in the thing I love,
For others' uses. Yet, 'tis the plague of great

ones;

Prerogativ'd are they less than the base;
'Tis destiny unshunnable, like death;
Even then this forked plague is fated to us,
When we do quicken. Desdemona comes :

Enter DESDEMONA, and EMILIA.

If she be false, O then heaven mocks itself!-
I'll not believe it.

Des. How now, my dear Othello?
Your dinner, and the generous islanders,

Coines from my love;-But, I do see you are By you invited, do attend your presence.

mov'd :

I am to pray you, not to strain my speech

To grosser issues, nor to larger reach,

Than to suspicion.

Oth. I will not.

lago. Should you do so, my lord,

My speech should fall into such vile success

As my thoughts aim not at. Cassio's my worthy

friend :

My lord, I see you are mov'd.

Oth. No, not much mov'd :

I do not think but Desdemona's honest.

Jago. Long live she so! and long live you to
think so!

Oth. And yet, how nature erring from it.
self,-

lago. Ay, there's the point: As, to be bold

with you,

Not to affect many proposed matches,
Of her own clime, complexion, and degree;
Whereto, we see, in all things nature tends:

• Endless. + Strained, or blown. Appearance. An expression from falcoury: to seel a hawk is to sew up his eye-iids. Conclusions.

Oth. I am to blame.

Des. Why is your speech so faint? are you

not well?

Oth. I have a pain upon my forehead here.
Des. Faith, that's with watching; 'twill away
again:

Let me but bind it hard, within this hour
It will be well.

Oth. Your napkin T is too little;

[He puts the hankerchief from him and it
drops.

Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you.
Des. I am very sorry that you are not well.
[Exeunt OTH. and Des.
Emil. I am glad I have found this napkin ;
This was her first remembrance from the Moor:
My wayward husband hath a hundred times
Woo'd me to steal it: but she so loves the
token,

• Press hard his restoration to office.
A term of reproach.

1 Straps ef leather by which a hawk is held on the fist.
Intriguers.
When we began to live.
In the north of England and in Scotland this terin
for a handkerchief is still used

(For he conjur'd her, she would ever keep it,,
That she reserves it evermore about her,
To kiss and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out,
And give it lago:

What he'll do with it, heaven knows, not I;
I nothing, but to please his fantasy.

Enter IAGO.

Iago. How now! what do you here alone? Emil. Do not you chide; I have a thing for you.

Iago. A thing for me?-It is a common thing,

Emil. Ha!

Iago. To have a foolish wife.

Farewell the tranquil mind! fareweli content!
Farewell the plumed troop, and the big wars,
That make ambition virtue! O farewell!
Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill
trump,

The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife,
[war!
The royal banner; and all quality,
Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious
And, O you mortal engines, whose rude throats
The immortal Jove's dread clamours counter-
feit,

Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone!
Iago. Is it possible !-My lord,-

Oth. Villain, be sure thou prove my love a
whore ;

Emil. O is that all? What will you give me Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof;

now

For that same handkerchief?

Jago. What handkerchief?
Emil. What handkerchief?

Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona ;
That which you so often did bid me steal.
Jago. Hast stolen it from her?

Emil. No, faith; she let it drop by negli-
gence;

And, to the advantage, I being here, took❜t up.
Look, here it is.

Iago. A good wench: give it me.

[Taking him by the Throat.
Or, by the worth of mine eternal soul,
Thou hadst been better have been born a dog,
Than answer my wak'd wrath.

Jago. Is it come to this?

Oth. Make me to see it; or (at the least) so
prove it,

That the probation bear no hinge, nor loop,
To hang a doubt on: or, woe upon thy life!
Jago. My noble lord,-

Oth. If thou dost slander her, and torture me,
Never pray more abandon all remorse;

Emil. What will you do with it, that you have On horror's head horrors accumulate :

been so earnest

To have me filch it?

Iago. Why, what's that to you?

[Snatching it. Emil. If it be not for some purpose of import,

Give it me again: Poor lady! she'll run mad,
When she shall lack it.

Iago. Be not you known of't; I have use
for it.

Go, leave me.

[Exit EMILIA.
I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin,
And let him find it: Trifles, light as air,
Are, to the jealous, confirmation strong

As proofs of holy writ. This may do some-
thing.

The Moor already changes with my poison :-
Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poi-

sons,

Which, at the first, are scarce found to distaste;
But, with a little act upon the blood,

Burn like the mines of sulphur.-I did say so :

Enter OTHELLO.

Look where he comes! Not poppy, nor man-
dragora, t

Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world,
Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep
Which thou ow'dst yesterday.

Oth. Ha ha! false to me?
To me ?

Jago. Why, how now, general? no more of that.

Oth. Avaunt! begone! thou hast set me on
the rack:-

I swear, 'tis better to be much abus'd,
Than but to know't a little.

lago. How now, my lord?

Oth. What sense had of her stolen hours of
Just?

I saw it not, thought it not, it harm'd not me:
I slept the next night well, was free and

merry;

I found not Cassio's kisses on her lips:
He that is robb'd, not wanting what is stolen,
Let him not know it, and he's not robb'd at all.
Iago. I am sorry to hear this.

Oth. I had been happy, if the general camp,
Pioneers and all, had tasted her sweet body,
So I had nothing known: O now, for ever,

Scem as if you knew nothing of the matter. The mandrake, or mandragora, was an opiate of the most powerful kind. * Possessedst.

Pioneers were generally degraded soldiers.

Do deeds to make heaven weep, all earth

amaz'd,

For nothing canst thou to damnation add,
Greater than that.

Iago. O grace! O heaven defend me!
Are you a man? have you a soul, or sense?—
God be wi' you: take mine office.-O wretched
fool,

That liv'st to make thine honesty a vice!—
O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O
world,

To be direct and honest, is not safe.

I thank you for this profit; aud, from hence, I'll love no friend, since love breeds such of fence.

Oth. Nay, stay :-Thou shouldst be honest. Iago. I should be wise; for honesty's a fool, And loses that it works for.

I

Oth. By the world,

[not,

think my wife be honest, and think she is I think that thou are just, and think thou art [fresh not; I'll have some proof: Her name, that was as As Dian's visage, is now begrim'd and black be cords, or As mine own face.-If there

knives,

Poison, or fire, or suffocating streams,
I'll not endure it.-Would, I were satisfied!
Iago. I see, Sir, you are eaten up with pas-
[sion:
I do repent me that I put it to you.
You would be satisfied?

Oth. Would? nay, I will.

Jago. And may : but, how? how satisfied, my

lord?

Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on?
Behold her tupp'd?

Oth. Death and damnation! O!

Iago. It were a tedious difficulty, I think,
To bring them to that prospect: Damn them

then,

If ever mortal eyes do see them bolster,
More than their own! What then? how then?
What shall I say? Where's satisfaction?
It is imposible, you should see this,
Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys,t
As salt as wolves in pride, and fools as gross
As ignorance made drunk. But, yet, I say,
If imputation and strong circumstances,
which lead directly to the door of truth,
Will give you satisfaction, you may have it.

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Oth. Give me a living reason she's disloyal.
Jago. I do not like the office :

But, sith 1 am eutered in this cause so far,-
Pick'd to it by foolish honesty and love,-
I will go on. I lay with Cassio lately;
And, being troubled with a raging tooth,
I could not sleep.

There are a kind of men so loose of soul,
That in their sleeps will mutter their affairs;
One of this kind is Cassio:

In sleep I heard him say,-Sweet Desdemona,
Let us be wary, let us hide our loves! [hand,
And then, Sir, would he gripe, and wring my
Cry,-O sweet creature; and then kiss nie
As if he pluck'd up kisses by the roots, [bard,
That grew upon my lips: then laid his leg
Over my thigh, and sigh'd, and kiss'd; and
then
[Moor!
Cried,-Cursed fate! that gave thee to the
Oth. O monstrous ! monstrous !
Jago. Nay, this was but his dream.

Oth. But this denoted a foregone conclusion; 'Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream. lago. And this may help to thicken other That do demonstrate thinly.

[proofs,

Oth. I'll tear her all to pieces. lago. Nay, but be wise: yet we see nothing done :

She may be honest yet. Tell me but this,Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief, Spotted with strawberries, in your wife's hand? Oth. I gave her such a one; 'twas my first gift.

Iago. I know not that: but such a handkerchief,'

(I am sure it was your wife's,) did I to-day See Cassio wipe his beard with.

Oth. If it be that,

Jago. If it be that, or any that was her's,
It speaks against her with the other proofs.
Oth. O that the slave had forty thousand
lives;

Ohe is too poor, too weak for my revenge!
Now do I see 'tis true.-Look here, lago;
All my fond love thus I do blow to heaven:
'Tis gone.

Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell!
Yield up, O love, thy crown, and hearted
throne;
[fraught,

To tyrannous hate! swell, bosom, with thy
For 'tis of aspic's tongues!

Iago. Pray, be content.
Oth. O blood, Iago, blood!

lago. Patience, I say; your mind, perhaps,

may change.

Oth. Never, lago. Like to the Pontic sea, Whose icy current and compulsive course Ne'er feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on To the Propontic and the Hellespont; Even so my bloody thoughts, with violent pace, [love,

Shall ne'er look back, ne'er ebb to
Till that a capable and wide revenge
Swallow them up.-Now, by youd'
heaven,

humble

marble

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Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA, and CLOWN. Des. Do you know, Sirrah, where lieutenant Cassio lies?

Clo. I dare not say, he lies any where.
Des. Why, man?

Clo. He is a soldier; and for me to say a soldier lies, is stabbing.

Des. Go to; Where lodges he?

Clo. To tell you where he lodges, is to tell you where I lie.

Des. Can any thing be made of this?

Clo. I know not where he lodges; and for me to devise a lodging, and say, he lies here, or he lies there, were to lie in my own throat. Des. Can you inquire him out, and be edified by report?

Clo. I will catechise the world for him; that is, make questions, and by them answer.

Des. Seek him, bid him come hither: tell him I have moved my lord in his behalf, and hope all will be well.

Clo. To do this is within the compass of man's wit; and therefore I will attempt the doing it. [Exit. Des. Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia ?

Emil. I know not, madam.

Des. Believe me, I had rather have lost my

purse

Full of crusadoes. ⚫ And but my noble Moor
Is true of mind, and made of no such baseness
As jealous creatures are, it were enough
To put him to ill-thinking.

Emil. Is he not jealous?

Des. Who, he? I think the sun where he was born,

Drew all such humours from him.
Emil. Look, where he comes.

Des. I will not leave him now, till Cassio
Be call'd to him.-How is't with you, my lord?

Enter OTHELLO.

Oth. Well, my good lady.-[Aside.] O hardness to dissemble !

How do you do, Desdemona?
Des. Well, my good lord.
Oth. Give me your hand: This hand is moist,
my lady.

Des. It yet has felt no age, nor known no

sorrow.

Oth. This argues fruitfulness, and liberal heart;[quires Hot, hot, and moist: This band of your's reA sequester from liberty, fasting and prayer, Much castigation, † exercise devout; For here's a young and sweating devil here, That commonly rebels. 'Tis a good hand, A frank one.

Des. You may, indeed, say so;

For 'twas that hand that gave away my heart. Oth. A liberal hand: The hearts of old gave hands;

But our new heraldry is-hands, not hearts. Des. I cannot speak of this, Come now, your promise.

Oth. What promise, chuck?

Des. I have sent to bid Cassio come speak

with you.

Oth. I have a salt and sullen rheum offends Lend me thy handkerchief.

Des. Here, my lord.

Oth. That which I gave you.

A Portuguese coin, 3s.

[me.

Penance, discipline.

Des. I have it not about me.

Oth. Not?

Des. No, indeed, my lord.

Oth. That is a fault :

That handkerchief

Did an Egyptian to my mother give;

She was a charmer, and could almost read
The thoughts of people: she told her, while
she kept it,
[ther
'Twould make her amiable, and subdue my fa-
Entirely to her love; but if she lost it,
Or made a gift of it, my father's eye [bunt
Should hold her loathly, and his spirits should
After new fancies: She, dying, gave it me;
And bid me, when my fate would have me
wive,

To give it her. I did so and take heed of't,
Make it a darling like your precious eye;
To lose or give't away, were such perdition,
As nothing else could match.

Des. Is it possible?

Exist, and be a member of his love,
Whom I, with all the duty of my heart,
Entirely honour; I would not be delay'd:
If my offence be of such mortal kind,
That neither service past, nor present sorrows,
Nor purpos'd merit in futurity,

Can ransom me into his love again,
But to know so must be my benefit;
So shall I clothe me in a forc'd content,
And shut myself up in some other course,
To fortune's alms.

Des. Alas! thrice-gentle Cassio,
My advocation is not now in tune';
My lord is not my lord; nor should I know him,
Were he in favour, as in humour, alter'd.
So help me, every spirit sanctified,

As I have spoken for you all my best;
And stood within the blank + of his displeasure,
For my free speech! You must awhile be
patient :

What I can do, I will; and more I will,

Oth. 'Tis true, there's magic in the web of it: Than for myself I dare: let that suffice you.

A sibyl, that had number'd in the world

The sun to make two hundred compasses,

In her prophetic fury sew'd the work;

The worms were hallow'd, that did breed the
silk;

And it was died in mummy, + which the skilful
Conserv'd of maidens' hearts.

Des. Indeed! is't true?

Oth. Most veritable; therefore look to't well. Des. Then 'would to heaven that I had never seen it.

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Des. It is not lost; But what an if it were?
Oth. Ha!

Des. I say, it is not lost.

Oth. Fetch't, let me see it.

Des. Why, so I can, Sir, but I will not now;
This is a trick, to put me from my suit;
I pray, let Cassio be receiv'd again.

Oth. Fetch me that handkerchief; my mind
misgives.

Des. Come, come;

You'll never meet a more sufficient man.

Oth. The handkerchief,

Des. I pray, talk me of Cassio.

Oth. The handkerchief,

Des. A man that, all his time,

Hath founded his good fortune on your love;

Shar'd dangers with you ;

Oth. The handkerchief,

Des. In sooth,

You are to blame.

Oth. Away!

Iago. Is my lord angry?

Emil. He went hence but now,

And certainly in strange unquietness.

lago. Can he be angry? I have seen the can-
non,

When it hath blown his ranks into the air,
And, like the devil, from his very arm

Puff'd his own brother;-And can he be an-
gry?

Something of moment, then: I will go meet
him;

There's matter in't indeed, if he be angry.
Des. I pr'ythee, do so.-Something, sure, of
[Exit IAGO.
Either from Venice; or some unhatch'd prac-
tice, t

state,

Made démonstrable here in Cyprus to him,-
Hath puddled his clear spirit; and, in such
cases,

Men's natures wrangle with inferior things,
Though great ones are their object. 'Tis even
For let our finger ache, and it endues
[so;
Our other healthful members ev'n to that

sense

Of pain: Nay, we must think, men are not
Nor of them look for such observances [gods;
As fit the bridal. -Beshrew me much, Emilia,
I was (unhandsome warrior as I am,)
Arraigning his unkindness with my soul;
But now I find, I had suborn'd the witness,
And he's indited falsely.

Emil. Pray heaven, it be state matters, as
you think;

And no conception, nor no jealous toy,
Concerning you.

Des. Alas, the day! I never gave him cause.
Emil. But jealous souls will not be an-
swered so;

[Exit OTHELLO. They are not ever jealous for the cause,

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But jealous for they are jealous: 'tis a monster,
Begot upon itself, born on itself.

Des. Heaven keep that monster from Othel-
lo's mind!

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