Rod. And that you would have me do?

Iago. Ay; if you dare do yourself a profit and a right. He sups to-night with a harlotry, and thither will I go to him he knows not yet of his honourable fortune. If you will watch his going thence (which I will fashion to fall out between twelve and one), you may take him at your pleasure I will be near to second your attempt, and he shall fall between us. Come, stand not amazed at it, but go along with me: I will show you such a necessity in his death, that you shall think yourself bound to put it on him. It is now high supper-time, and the night grows to waste about it.

:

Rod. I will hear farther reason for this.

Iago. And you shall be satisfied.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. Another Apartment in the Castle.

Enter OTHELLO, LODOVICO, DESDEMONA, EMILIA, and

Attendants.

Lod. I do beseech you, sir, trouble yourself no farther. Oth. O! pardon me ; 'twill do me good to walk.

Lod. Madam, good night; I humbly thank your lady

Oth. Get you to bed on the instant; I will be returned forthwith. Dismiss your attendant there: look, it be done. Des. I will, my lord.

[Exeunt OTHELLO, LODOVICO, and Attendants.

Emil. How goes it now? he looks gentler than he did.

Des. He says he will return incontinent :

He hath commanded me to go to bed,

And bade me to dismiss you.

Emil.

Dismiss me !

Des. It was his bidding; therefore, good Emilia, Give me my nightly wearing, and adieu :

We must not now displease him.

Emil. I would you had never seen him.

Des. So would not I: my love doth so approve him, That even his stubbornness, his checks, and frownsPrithee, unpin me-have grace and favour in them.

Emil. I have laid those sheets you bade me on the bed. Des. All's one. Good faith!2 how foolish are Our minds!

If I do die before thee, prithee, shroud me

In one of those same sheets.

Come, come, you talk.

Emil.
Des. My mother had a maid call'd Barbara :
She was in love; and he she lov'd prov'd mad,
And did forsake her: she had a song of-Willow;
An old thing 'twas; but it express'd her fortune,
And she died singing it: that song to-night
Will not go from my mind; I have much to do,
But to go hang my head all at one side,
And sing it like poor Barbara. Prithee, dispatch.
Emil. Shall I go fetch your night-gown?
Des.

This Lodovico is a proper man.

Emil. A very handsome man.

No, unpin me here.—

* Good FAITH!] Misprinted "Good father" in the folio 1623.

Des. He speaks well.

Emil. I know a lady in Venice would have walked bare

foot to Palestine for a touch of his nether lip.

Des. [Singing.]

The poor soul sat sighing3 by a sycamore tree,

Sing all a green willow;

Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee,

Sing willow, willow, willow:

The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur'd her moans;

Sing willow, willow, willow:

Her salt tears fell from her, and soften'd the stones;

Lay by these.—

Sing willow, willow, willow;

Prithee, hie thee; he'll come anon :—

Sing all a green willow must be my garland.

II.

Let nobody blame him, his scorn I approve,

Nay, that's not next.-Hark! who is it that knocks?
Emil. It is the wind.

Des. [Singing.]

I call'd my love, false love; but what said he then?

Sing willow, willow, willow:

If I court mo women, you'll couch with mo men.

So, get thee gone; good night. Mine eyes do itch;
Doth that bode weeping?

Emil.

'Tis neither here nor there.

Des. I have heard it said so. O, these men, these men !

The poor soul sat SIGHING] See the original ballad in Percy's Reliques, i, 175; edit. 1765. "Sighing" is singing in the folio. Several old songs are extant of which the burden is "willow, willow, willow."

Dost thou in conscience think-tell me, Emilia-
That there be women do abuse their husbands

In such gross kind?

Emil.

There be some such, no question.

Des. Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?

Emil. Why, would not you?

Des.

No, by this heavenly light.

Emil. Nor I neither by this heavenly light:

I might do 't as well i' the dark.

Des. Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world? Emil. The world is a huge thing: 'tis a great price For a small vice.

Des. In troth, I think thou wouldst not. Emil. In troth, I think I should; and undo't when I had done. Marry, I would not do such a thing for a jointring, nor for measures of lawn, nor for gowns, petticoats, nor caps, nor any petty exhibition; but, for the whole world,-why, who would not make her husband a cuckold, to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for 't.

Des. Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong For the whole world.

Emil. Why, the wrong is but a wrong i' the world; and, having the world for your labour, 'tis a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly make it right.

Des. I do not think there is any such woman.

Emil. Yes, a dozen; and as many

To the vantage as would store the world they play'd for.

But I do think it is their husbands' faults

If wives do fall. Say that they slack their duties,
And pour our treasures into foreign laps;

Or else break out in peevish jealousies,
Throwing restraint upon us: or, say they strike us,
Or scant our former having in despite,

Why, we have galls; and though we have some grace,
Yet have we some revenge. Let husbands know,
Their wives have sense like them: they see, and smell,
And have their palates both for sweet and sour,
As husbands have. What is it that they do,
When they change us for others? Is it sport?
I think it is; and doth affection breed it?

I think it doth is 't frailty that thus errs?
It is so too and have not we affections,
Desires for sport, and frailty, as men have?
Then, let them use us well; else, let them know,

The ills we do their ills instruct us so.

Des. Good night, good night: heaven me such uses send, Not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend!

[Exeunt.

OTHE

AN

ACT V.

SCENE I-A Street in Cyprus.

Enter IAGO and RODERIGO.

Iago. Here, stand behind this bulk; straight will he

come:

Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home.