If not, he foams at mouth, and by-and-by [Exit CASSIO. How is it, general? have you not hurt your head? Oth. Dost thou mock me? Iago. I mock you! no, by heaven: 'Would you would bear your fortunes like a man. Oth. A hornéd man's a monster and a beast. Iago. There's many a beast, then, in a populous city; And many a civil monster. Oth. Did he confess it? Good sir, be a .an: Think every bearded fellow, that's but yoked, O, 't is the spite of hell, the fiend's arch-mock, To lip a wanton in a secure couch, Whilst you were here, ere while mad with your grief (A passion most unsuiting such a man), [Aside. Oth. Have you scored me? Well. Cas. This is the monkey's own giving out: she is persuaded I will marry her, out of her own love and flattery, not out of my promise. Oth. Iago beckons me: now he begins the story. [Aside. Cas. She was here even now: she haunts me in every place. I was, the other day, talking on the sea-bank with certain Venetians; and thither comes this bauble: by this hand, she falls thus about my neck,— Oth. Crying, "O dear Cassio!” as it were: his gesture imports it. [Aside. Cas. So hangs, and lolls, and weeps upon me; so hales and pulls me: ha, ha, ha! Oth. Now he tells how she plucked him to my chamber :-O, I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I shall throw it to. [Aside. Cas. Well, I must leave her company. Iago. Before me! look where she comes. Enter BIANCA. Cas. "Tis such another fitchew! marry, a perfumed one. What do you mean by this haunting of me? Bian. Let the devil and his dam haunt you! What did you mean by that same handkerchief you gave me even now? I was a fine fool to take it. I must take out the whole work!-A likely piece of work that you should find it in your chamber, and not know who left it there! This is some minx's token, and I must take out the work! There,-give it your hobby-horse: wheresoever you had it, I'll take out no work on 't. Cas. How now, my sweet Bianca? how now; how now? Oth. By heaven, that should be my handkerchief! [Aside. Bian. An you'll come to supper to-night, you mayan you will not, come when you are next prepared for. [Exit. Iago. After her, after her. Cas. 'Faith I must, she 'll rail in the street else. Cas. 'Faith, I intend so. Iago. Well, I may chance to see you; for I would very fain speak with you. Cas. Pr'y thee, come: will you? vice? Oth. O, Iago! Iago. And did you see the handkerchief? Iago. Yours, by this hand and to see how he prizes the foolish woman your wife! she gave it him, and he hath given it his whore. Oth. I would have him nine years a killing.— A fine woman! a fair woman! a sweet woman! Iago. Nay, you must forget that. Oth. Ay, let her rot and perish, and be damned to-night; for she shall not live. No, my heart is turned to stone: I strike it, and it hurts my hand.-O, the world hath not a sweeter creature: she might lie by an emperor's side, and command him tasks. Iago. Nay, that's not your way. Oth. Hang her! I do but say what she is.--So delicate with her needle! An admirable musician: O, she will sing the savageness out of a bear! Of so high and plenteous wit and invention! Iago. She's the worse for all this. Oth. O, a thousand, a thousand times.—And then, of so gentle a condition! Iago. Ay, too gentle. Oth. Nay, that's certain. But yet the pity of it, Iago!-O, Iago, the pity of it, Iago! Iago. If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her patent to offend: for if it touch not you, it comes near nobody. Oth. I will chop her into messes.-Cuckold me! Oth. With mine officer! Oth. Get me some poison, Iago: this night.I'll not expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again.—This night, Iago. Iago. Do it not with poison: strangle her in her bed; even the bed she hath contaminated. Oth. Good, good: the justice of it pleases: very good. Iago. And for Cassio, let me be his undertaker. You shall hear more by midnight. [A trumpet within. Oth. Excellent good.-What trumpet is that same? Iago. Something from Venice, sure. "Tis Lodovico, Come from the Duke: and see, your wife is with him. Enter LODOVICO, DESDEMONA, and Attendants. Lod. 'Save you, worthy general! Oth. you. With all my heart, sir. Lod. The Duke and senators of Venice greet [Gives him a packet. Oth. I kiss the instrument of their pleasures. [Opens the packet, and reads. Des. And what's the news, good cousin Lodovico? Iago. I am very glad to see you, signior : Welcome to Cyprus. Lod. I thank you. How does Lieutenant Cassio? Iago. Lives, sir. Des. Cousin, there's fallen between him and my lord An unkind breach: but you shall make all well. Oth. Are you sure of that? Sir, she can turn, and turn, and yet go on, And will return to Venice.-Hence, avaunt! senate Call all-in-all sufficient?-This the noble nature What he might be (if what he might he is not), I would to heaven he were. That stroke would prove the worst. Emil. I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest, Lay down my soul at stake: if you think other, Remove your thought: it doth abuse your bosom. If any wretch hath put this in your head, Let heaven requite it with the serpent's curse! For if she be not honest, chaste, and true, There's no man happy; the purest of their wives Is foul as slander. Oth. Bid her come hither: go. [Exit EMILIA. Re-enter EMILIA, with DESDEMONA. Let me see your eyes: Des. Upon my knees, what doth your speech import? I understand a fury in your words, But not the words. Oth. Why, what art thou? Your wife, my lord: your true And loyal wife. Oth. Come, swear it; damn thyself: Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves Should fear to seize thee: therefore be doubledamned: Swear thou art honest. Des. Heaven doth truly know it. Oth. Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell. Des. To whom, my lord? with whom? How am I false? Oth. O Desdemona!-away; away; away! An instrument of this your calling back, Yet could I bear that too: well, very well: Patience, thou young and rose-lipped cherubin : Des. I hope my noble lord esteems me honest. Oth. O, ay, as summer flies are in the shambles, That quicken even with blowing. O thou weed, Who art so lovely fair, and smell'st so sweet, That the sense aches at thee,-'would thou hadst ne'er been born! Des. Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed? Oth. Was this fair paper, this most goodly book, Made to write "whore" upon?-What committed? Committed!-0 thou public commoner, I should make very forges of my cheeks, That would to cinders burn up modesty, Did I but speak thy deeds!-What committed! |