:

Des.

Indeed! 'is't true? || And, certainly, in strange unquietness.

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

Oth. Ha! wherefore?

Des. Why do you speak so startingly and rash? Oth. Is't lost? is't gone? speak, is it out of the way?

Des. Heaven bless us!

Say you?

Oth.

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

Iago. Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon,
When it hath blown his raaks into the air;
And, like the devil, from his very arm
Puff'd his own brother; -And can he be angry?
Something of moment, then: I will go meet him;
There's matter in't indeed, if he be angry.

state.

Des. I pr'ythee, do so. Something, sure, of [Exit lago. Either from Venice; or some unhatch'd practice,4 Made démonstrable here in Cyprus to him,Hath puddled his clear spirit: and, in such cases, Men's natures wrangle with inferior things,

Fetch't, let me see it. Though great ones are their object. 'Tis even so,

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.

For let our finger ache, and it indues

Our other healthful members ev'n to that sense

Of pain: Nay, we must think, men are not gods;

Oth. Fetch me that handkerchief: my mind Nor of them look for such observances

lago. There is no other way; 'tis she must do't; And, lo, the happiness! go, and impórtune her. Des. How now? good Cassio? what's the news with you?

Cas. Madam, my former suit: I do beseech you,
That, by your virtuous means, I may again
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, 2 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 a while be patient:
What I can do, I will; and more I will,

Than for myself I dare: let that suffice you.

lago. Is my lord angry?

Emil.

He went hence but now,

(1) Vehement, violent. (2) In countenance.

(3) Within the shot of his anger.

(4) Treason. (5) The nuptial feast.

What make you from home?

How is it with you, my most fair Bianca?
I'faith, sweet love, I was coming to your house.

Bian. And I was going to your lodging, Cassio.
What! keep a week away? seven days and nights?
Eight score eight hours? and lovers' absent hours,
More tedious than the dial eight score times?

O weary reckoning!

Cas.

Pardon me, Bianca;

I have this while with leaden thoughts been press'd;
But I shall, in a more continuate time, 6

Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca,

[Giving her Desdemona's handkerchief.

Take me this work out.7
Bian.

O, Cassio, whence came this?

This is some token from a newer friend.

To the felt absence now I feel a cause:

Is it come to this? Well, well.

Cas.

Woman, go to!

Throw your vile guesses in the devil's teeth,
From whence you have them. You are jealous now,

That this is from some mistress, some remembrance:

No, in good troth, Bianca.

Bian.

Why, whose is it?

Cas. I know not, sweet: I found it in my chamber.

I like the work well; ere it be demanded,

(As like enough it will,) I'd have it copied:

(6) Time less interrupted.

(7) The meaning is, not pick out the work, but

copy this work in another handkerchief,

My lord, I say! Othello!---How now, Cassio ?
Cas. What is the matter?

lago. My lord has fallen into an epilepsy;

SCENE I.-The same. Enter Othello and Iago. This is his second fit; he had one yesterday.

Cas. Rub him about the temples.
Iago.

No, forbear:

The lethargy must have his quiet course:
If not, he foams at mouth; and, by and by,
Breaks out to savage madness. Look, he stirs :
Do you withdraw yourself a little while,
He will recover straight; when he is gone,
I would on great occasion speak with you.-

[Exit Cassio. How is it, general? have you not hurt your head? Oth. Dost thou mock me?

lago. I mock you! no, by heaven: 'Would you would bear your fortunes like a man. Oth. A horned man's a monster, and a beast. Iago. There's many a beast then in a populous

city,

lago. Why then 'tis hers, my lord; and, being And many a civil monster.

hers,

She may, I think, bestow't on any man.

Oth. She is protectress of her honour too;

May she give that?

Iago. Her honour is an essence that's not seen; They have it very oft, that have it not :

But, for the handkerchief,

Oth. Did he confess it?
Iago.
Good sir, be a man;
Think, every bearded fellow, that's but yok'd,
May draw with you: there's millions now alive,
That nightly lie in those unproper beds,
Which they dare swear peculiar; your case is better.
O, 'tis the spite of hell, the fiend's arch-mock,

Oth. By heaven, I would most gladly have for- To lip a wanton in a secure couch,

And to suppose her chaste! No, let me know;
And, knowing what I am, I know what she shall be.

Oth. O, thou art wise; 'tis certain.

Iagó.

Stand you a while apart;

Confine yourself but in a patient list. 5.
Whilst you were here, ere while mad with your grief
(A passion most unsuiting such a man,)
Cassio came hither: I shifted him away,
And laid good 'scuse upon your ecstacy;
Bade him anon return, and here speak with me;
The which he promis'd. Do but encaves yourself,
And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorns,
That dwell in every region of his face;
For I will make him tell the tale anew,-
Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when
He hath, and is again to cope your wife;
I say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience;
Or I shall say, you are all in all in spleen,
And nothing of a man..

Oth.

Dost thou hear, Iago?
I will be found most cunning in my patience;
But (dost thou hear?) most bloody.
That's not amiss;
But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw?
[Othello withdraws.

Iago.

Now will I question Cassio of Bianca,
A housewife, that, by selling her desires,

(3) A proverbial saying. (4) Common.
(5) Within the bounds of patience. (6) Hide.

Sir, she can turn, and turn, and yet go on,
And turn again; and she can weep, sir, weep:
And she's obedient, as you say, obedient, -
Very obedient;-Proceed you in your tears.-
Concerning this, sir,-O well-painted passion!
I am commanded home:-Get you away;
I'll send for you anon.-Sir, I obey the mandate,
And will return to Venice;--Hence, avaunt!
[Exit Desdemona.
Cassio shall have my place. And,-sir, to-night,
I do entreat that we may sup together.
You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus.-Goats, and
monkies!

Oth.

Bid her come hither :-go.-
[Exit Emilia.

She says enough:-yet she's a simple bawd,
That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore,
A closet-lock-and-key of villanous secrets:
And yet she'll kneel, and pray; I have seen her do't.
Re-enter Emilia, with Desdemona.

Des. My lord, what is your will?

Oth.

Pray, chuck, come hither.

Des. What is your pleasure?

Oth.

Look in my face.
Des.

Let me see your eyes;

What horrible fancy's this?

Oth. Some of your function, mistress; [To Emil.
Leave procreants alone, and shut the door;
Cough, or cry-hem, if any body come:
Your mystery, your mystery; -nay, despatch.

[Exit Emilia.

Des. Upon my knees, what doth your speech import? [Exit. I understand a fury in your words,

Lod. Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate Call-all-in-all sufficient?-this the noble nature Whom passion could not shake? whose solid virtue (1) Reconcile.

But not the words.

Oth. Why, what art thou?

Des.

And loyal wife.

Your wife, my lord; your true

Otr.

Come, swear it, damn thyself;
Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves
Should fear to seize thee therefore be double-
damn'd,
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!
Des. Alas, the heavy day!-Why do you weep?

Am I the occasion of these tears, my lord?
If, haply, you my father do suspect,

An instrument of this your calling back,
Lay not your blame on me; if you have lost him,
Why, I have lost him too.

Oth.

Had it pleas'd heaven
To try me with affliction; had he rain'd
All kinds of sores, and shames, on my bare head;
Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips;

Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes;
I should have found in some part of my soul
A drop of patience: but (alas!) to make me
A fixed figure, for the time of scorn

To point his slow unmoving finger at,-
Ο!Ο!

Yet could I bear that too; well, very well :
But there, where I have garner'd1 up my heart;
Where either I must live, or bear no life;
The fountain from the which my current runs,
Or else dries up; to be discarded thence!
Or keep it as a cistern, for foul toads
To knot and gender in!-turn thy complexion there!
Patience, thou young and rose-lipp'd cherubim ;
Ay, there, look grim as hell!

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!-O thon 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!
Heaven stops the nose at it, and the moon winks;
The bawdy wind, that kisses all it meets,
Is hush'd within the hollow mine of earth,
And will not hear it: What committed!-

Impudent strumpet!

Des.

By heaven, you do me wrong.

Oth. Are not you a strumpet?
Des.

No, as I am a Christian :

If to preserve this vessel for my lord,
From any other foul unlawful touch,
Be-not to be a strumpet, I am none.

Oth. What, not a whore?
Des.

Oth. Is it possible?

Des. Who is thy lord?
Emil.

He that is yours, sweet lady.
Des. I have none: Do not talk to me, Emilia;
I cannot weep; nor answer I have none,
But what should go by water. Pr'ythee, to-night
Lay on my bed my wedding sheets,-remember;-
And call thy husband hither.

Emil. Here is a change, indeed! [Exit.
Des. 'Tis meet I should be used so, very meet.
How have I been behav'd, that he might stick
The small'st opinion on my great'st abuse?
Re-enter Emilia, with Iago.

Iago. What is your pleasure, madam? How is
it with you?

Des. I cannot tell. Those, that do teach young
babes,.

Do it with gentle means, and easy tasks:
He might have chid me so; for, in good faith,
I am a child to chiding.

Iago.

What's the matter, lady?

Emil. Alas, Iago, my lord hath so bewhor'd her,
Thrown such despite and heavy terms upon her,
As true hearts cannot bear.

Des. Am I that name, Iago ?
lago.
What name, fair lady?
Des. Such as, she says, my lord did say I was.
Emil. He call'd her, whore; a beggar, in his

drink,

Nay, heaven doth know.

Emil. I will be hang'd, if some eternal villain,
Some busy and insinuating rogue,

Some cogging cozening slave, to get some office,
Have not devis'd this slander; I'll be hang'd else.
Iago. Fie, there is no such man: it is impossible.
Des. If any such there be, heaven pardon him!
Emil. A halter pardon him! and hell gnaw his
bones!

Why should he call her, whore? who keeps her
company?
What place? what time? what form? what like-
lihood?

No, as I shall be saved. The Moor's abus'd by some most villanous knave,

Des. O, heaven forgive us!

Oth.

I cry you mercy, then;

I took you for that cunning whore of Venice,
That married with Othello. - You, mistress,

Re-enter Emilia.

That have the office opposite to Saint Peter,

And keep the gate of hell; You! you! ay, you!

We have done our course; there's money for your