Come, Desdemona; 'tis the soldiers' life, To have their balmy slumbers wak'd with strife. [Exeunt all but IAGO and CASSIO. Iago. What, are you hurt, lieutenant? Cas. Ay, past all surgery. lago. Marry, heaven forbid !

Cas. Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part, Sir, of myself; and what remains is bestial.-My reputation, Iago, my reputation.

Iago. As I am an honest man, I thought you had received some bodily wound; there is more offence in that, than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving: You have lost no reputation at all, unless you repute yourself such a loser. What, man! there are ways to recover the general again: You are but now cast in his mood, a punishment more in policy than in malice; even so as one would beat his offenceless dog, to affright an imperious lion: sue to him again, and he's yours.

Cas. I will rather sue to be despis'd, than to deceive so good a commander, with so slight, so drunken, and so indiscreet an officer. Drunk? and speak parrot?t and squabble? swagger? swear? and discourse fustian with one's own shadow?-O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee-devil!

Iago. What was he that you followed with your sword? What had he done to you? Cas. I know not.

Iago. Is it possible?

Cas. I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly; a quarrel, but nothing wherefore.-O, that men should put an enemy in their mouths, to steal away their brains! that we should, with joy, revel, pleasure, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts! lago. Why, but you are now well enough: How came you thus recovered?

Cas. It hath pleased the devil, drunkenness, to give place to the devil, wrath: one unperfectness shows me another, to make me frankly despise myself.

Iago. Come, you are too severe a moraler: As the time, the place, and the condition of this country stands, I could heartily wish this had not befallen; but, since it is as it is, mend it for your own good.

Cus. I will ask him for my place again; he shall tell me, I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast! O strange! -Every inordinate cup is unblessed, and the ingredient is a devil.

lago. Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well used; exclaim no more against it. And, good lieutenant, I think, you think I love you.

Cas. I have well approved it, Sir.-I drunk! lago. You, or any man living, may be drurk at some time, man. I'll tell you what you shall do. Our general's wife is now the general;I may say so in this respect, for that he hath devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, and denotement of her parts and graces-confess yourself freely to her; importune her; she'll help to put you in your place again: she is of so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed a disposition, that she holds it a

vice in her goodness, not to do more than she is requested: This broken joint, between you and her husband, entreat her to splinter; and, my fortunes against any lay worth naming, this crack of your love shall grow stronger than it was before.

Cas. You advise me well.

lago. I protest in the sincerity of love, and honest kindness.

Cas. I think it freely; and, betimes in the morning, I will beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me: I am desperate of my fortunes, if they check me here.

Tago. You are in the right. Good night, lieutenant; I must to the watch.

Cas. Good night, honest Iago. [Exit CASSIO. lago. And what's he then, that says,-1 play

the villain?

When this advice is free, I give, and honest,
Probal to thinking, and (indeed) the course
To win the Moor again? For, 'tis most easy
The inclining Desdemona to subdue
In any honest suit; she's fram'd as fruitfult
As the free elements. And then for her
To win the Moor,-were't to renounce his
baptism,
All seals and symbols of redeemed sin,—
His soul is so enfetter'd to her love,
That she may make, unmake, do what she list,
Even as her appetite shall play the god
With his weak function. How am I then a
villain,

To counsel Cassio to this parallelt course,
Directly to his good? Divinity of hell!
When devils will their blackest sins put on,
They do suggest at first with heavenly shows,
As I do now: For while this honest fool
Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes,
And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor,
I'll pour this pestilence into his ear,-
That she repeals him for her body's lust;
And, by how much she strives to do him good,
She shall undo her credit with the Moor.
So will I turn her virtue into pitch;
And out of her own goodness make the net.
That shall enmesh them all.-How now, Ro-
derigo ?

Enter RODERIGO.

Rod. I do follow here in the chase, not like a hound that hunts, but one that fills up the cry. My money is almost spent; I have been to-night exceedingly well cudgelled; and, I think, the issue will be-I shall have so much experience for my pains: and so, with no money at all, and a little more wit, return to Venice.

lago. How poor are they, that have not patience!What wound did ever heal, but by degrees? Thou know'st we work by wit, and not by witchcraft;

And wit depends on dilatory time.
Does't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee,
And thou, by that small hurt, hath cashier'd
Cassio:

Though other things grow fair against the sun,
Yet fruits, that blossom first, will first be ripe:
Content thyself awhile.-By the mass, 'tis
morning;

Pleasure, and action, make the hours seem short.

Retire thee; go where thou art billeted: Away, I say; thou shalt know more hereafter:

* Bet, or wager. + Liberal, bountiful, + Even. Tempt. Recalls

Cas. Madam, not now; I am very ill at ease,

Unfit for mine own purposes.

Des. Well, well,

Do your discretion.

lago. Ha! I like not that. Oth. What dost thou say?

[Exit CASSIO.

lago. Nothing, my lord: or if I know not what.

Oth. Was not that Cassio, parted from my wife?

Iago. Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it,

That he would steal away so guilty-like,
Seeing you coming.

Oth. I do believe 'twas he.

Des. How now, my lord?

I have been talking with a suitor here,

A man that languishes in your displeasure.
Oth. Who is't you mean?

Des. Why, your lieutenant Cassio. Good my lord,

If I have any grace, or power to move you,
His present reconciliation take;

For, if he be not one that truly loves you,
That errs in ignorance, and not in cunning
I have no judgement in an honest face:
I pr'ythee, call him back.

Oth. Went he hence now?

Des. Ay, sooth; so humbled,

That he hath left part of his grief with me;
I suffer with him. Good love, call him back.
Oth. Not now, sweet Desdemona; some
other time.

Des. But shall't be shortly?

Oth. The sooner, sweet, for you.
Des. Shall't be to-night at supper?
Oth. No, not to-night.

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; [mornOr 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 examples

Out of their best,+) is not almost a fault
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,
[time,
That came a wooing with you; and many a
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;

I 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 Or sue to you to do peculiar profit [warm; To your own person: Nay, when I have a suit, Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed, + Best men.

* Knowledge.

+ Hesitating.

And didst contract and purse thy brow toge As if thou then had'st shut up in thy brain Some horrible conceit: If thou dost love me, Show me thy thought.

lago. My lord, you know I love you. Oth. I think, thou dost; [honesty, And, for I know thou art full of love and And weigh'st thy words before thou giv'st them breath,[more: 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, That passion cannot rule.

lago. For Michael Cassio,

I dare be sworn, I think that he is honest.

Oth. I think so too.

Iago. 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,

* Weight.

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 But some uncleanly apprehensions [pure, 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,t
You'd take no notice; nor build yourself a
trouble

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. Iago. You cannot, if my heart were in your hand;

Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody.
Oth. Ha!

Iago. O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;
It is the green-ey'd monster, which doth mock
The meat it feeds on: That cuckold lives in
bliss,

[er;

Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wrongBut, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er, Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves!

enough;

But riches, fineless, is as poor as winter,
To him that ever fears he shall be poor:—
Good heaven, the souls of all my 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 my soul To such exsufflicate and blown surmises, Matching thy inference. "Tis not to make me jealous, [pany, To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves comIs free of speech, sings, plays, and dances well;

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, Lago;
I'll see, before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
And, on the proof, there is no more but
Away at once with love, or jealousy. [this,-
Iago. I am glad of this, for now I shall have

reason

To show the love and duty that I bear 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?

Lugo. She did deceive her father, marrying

you;

And, when she seem'd to shake, and fear your looks,

She lov'd them most.
Oth. And so she did.
lago. Why, go to, then;

She that, so young, could give out such a seeming,t

To seelt her father's eyes up, close as oak,He thought, 'twas witchcraft :-But I an much to blame;

I humbly do beseech you of your pardon,
For too much loving you.

Oth. I am bound to thee for ever.

Iago. I see, this hath a little dash'd your spirits.

Oth. Not a jot, not a jot.

lago. Trust me, I fear it has.

I hope, you will consider, what is spoke Comes from my love;-But, I do see you are

To

mov'd:

I am to pray you, not to strain my speech grosser issues, nor to larger reach, Than to suspicion.

Oth. I will not.

Iago. 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.
lago. Long live she so! and long live you to

think so!

Oth. And yet, how nature erring from itself,

Iago. 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:
Foh! one may smell, in such, a will most
rank,

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 judgement,
May fall to match you with her country forms,
And (happily) repent.

"Which makes fair gifts fairer." + Appearance. I An expression from fasonry: to seel a hawk is to sew up his eye-lids. Conclusions.

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;
Much will be seen in that. In the meantime,
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.
lago. 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 hag.
gard,t
[strings,
Though that her jesses were my dear heart-
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

[Exit.

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, [ones;
For others' uses. Yet, 'tis the plague of great
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, By you invited, do attend your presence. 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¶ is too little;

[He puts the Handkerchief 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 ОTH. 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 re-admission to his pay and office. + A species of hawk, also a term of reproach applied to a

wanton.

+ Straps of leather by which a hawk is held on the fist. Men of intrigue. When we begin to live. In the north of England and in Scotland this term for a handkerchief is still used.

For that same handkerchief? lago. What handkerchief?

Emil. What handkerchief?

Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona; That which so often you did bid me steal.

Iago. 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.

Emil. What will you do with it, that you have 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 im

port,

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. And let him find it: Trifles, light as air, I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin, Are, to the jealous, confirmation strong As proofs of holy writ. This may do something.

The Moor already changes with my poison:→→ Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poi{taste;

sons,

Which, at the first, are scarce found to disBut, with a little act upon the blood, [s0:Burn like the mines of sulphur.-I did say