Iago. Faith, the cry goes that you shall Cas. Prithee, say true. Iago. I am a very villain else. marry her. Oth. [aside] 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. [aside] Iago beckons me; now he begins the story. 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 the bauble, and falls me thus about my neck, 66 Oth. [aside] Crying "O dear Cassio!" as it were: his gesture imports it. Cas. So hangs, and lolls, and weeps upon me; so hales and pulls me :-ha, ha, ha! Oth. [aside] 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. Cas. Well, I must leave her company. Iago. Before me! look, where she comes. Cas. 'Tis such another fitchew! marry, a perfumed one. Enter BIANCA. 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 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 hobbyhorse: wheresoever you had it, I'll take out no work on't. Cas. How now, my sweet Bianca! how now! how now! Oth. [aside] By heaven, that should be my handkerchief! Bian. An you'll come to supper to-night, you may; an you will not, come when you are next prepared for. Iago. After her, after her. Cas. Faith, I must; she'll rail in the street else. [Exit. Iago. Will you sup there? Cas. Yes, I intend so. lago. Well, I may chance to see you; for I would very fain speak with you. Cas. Prithee, come; will you? Iago. Go to; say no more. [Exit Cassio. Oth. [coming forward] How shall I murder him, Iago? Iago. Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice? Oth. O Iago! Iago. And did you see the handkerchief? Oth. Was that mine? 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- 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! Iago. O, 'tis foul in her. 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. Oth. Excellent good. [A trumpet within.] 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. With all my heart, sir. Lod. The duke and senators of Venice greet you. [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? Welcome to Cyprus. Lod. I thank you. How does Lieutenant Cassio? Des. Cousin, there's fall'n between him and my lord Des. My lord? Oth. [reads] "This fail you not to do, as you will—” For, as I think, they do command him home, Deputing Cassio in his government. Des. Trust me, I am glad on 't. Indeed! Lod. My lord, this would not be believ'd in Venice, Oth. O devil, devil! If that the earth could teem with woman's tears, Des. I will not stay t' offend you. Oth. Mistress! [Going. Des. Oth. My lord? What would you with her, sir? Lod. Who, I, my lord? Oth. Ay; you did wish that I would make her turn: [Exit Desdemona. Cassio shall have my place. And, sir, to-night Lod. Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate Could neither graze nor pierce? Iago. He is much chang'd. Lod. Are his wits safe? is he not light of brain? [Exit. Iago. He's that he is: I may not breathe my censure. What he might be,-if, what he might, he is not,— I would to heaven he were ! Lod. What, strike his wife! Iago. Faith, that was not so well; yet would I knew That stroke would prove the worst! Lod. Is it his use? Or did the letters work upon his blood, And new-create this fault? Iago. Alas, alas! It is not honesty in me to speak What I have seen and known. You shall observe him; And his own courses will denote him So, That I may save my speech: do but go after, And mark how he continues. Lod. I'm sorry that I am deceiv'd in him. [Exeunt. SCENE II. A room in the castle. Enter OTHELLO and EMILIA. Oth. You have seen nothing, then? Emil. Nor ever heard, nor ever did suspect. Oth. Nor send you out o' the way? Never, my lord. Oth. To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor nothing? Emil. Never, my lord. Oth. That's strange. Emil. I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest, |