And live upon the vapour of a dungeon, Desdemona comes: If she be false, O, then Heaven mocks itself!- Enter DESDEMONA and EMILIA. 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. Why, 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 DESDEMONA and OTHELLO. 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, (For he conjur❜d her, she should ever keep it,) That she reserves it evermore about her, To kiss and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out, What he will do with't, Heaven knows, not I; Enter IAGO. Iago. How now! what do you here alone? Iago. You have a thing for me?-it is a common thing, Emil. Ha? Iago. To have a foolish wife. Emil. O, is that all? What will you give me now For that same handkerchief? Iago. What handkerchief? Emil. What handkerchief? Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona; Emil No; but she let it drop by negligence; Lago. A good wench; give it me. Emil. What will you do with't, that you've been so earnest To have me filch it? Iago. Why, what's that to you? [Snatching it. Emil. If't be not for some purpose of import, Give't me again: Poor lady! she'll run mad When she shall lack it. Iago. Be not you known on't? I have use for it. Go, leave me. [Exit EMILIA. I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin, As proofs of holy writ. This may do something.- Burn like the mines of sulphur.-I did say so :- Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep Enter OTHELLO. Oth. Ha! ha! false to me? to me? Iago. Why, how now, general? no more of that. Oth. Avaunt! begone! thou'st set me on the rack: I swear, 'tis better to be much abus'd, Than but to know't a little. Iago. How now, my lord? Oth. What sense had I of her stol'n hours of lust? Oth. I had been happy, if the general camp, Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war! Iago. Is it possible?-My lord, Oth. [Seizing him.] Villain! be sure thou prove my love a whore; Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof, Or, by the worth of mine eternal soul, Thou hadst been better have been born a dog, Iago. Is't come to this? Oth. Make me to see't; or, (at the least,) so prove it, That the probation bear no hinge, nor loop, To hang a doubt on; or, woe upon thy life! Oth. If thou dost slander her, and torture me, On horror's head horrors accumulate; Do deeds to make Heaven weep, all earth amaz'd; Iago. O grace! O Heaven defend me! Are you a man? have you a soul, or sense ?Heaven be wi' you; take mine office.-O wretched fool, That liv'st to make thine honesty a vice ! O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O world, I thank you for this profit; and, from hence, [Going. I think my wife be honest, and think she's not: 'Would I were satisfy'd! Iago. I see, sir, you are eaten up with passion; I do repent me, that I put it to you.— You would be satisfy'd? Oth. Would? nay, I will. Iago. And may: But, how? how satisfy'd, my lord? Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on? Behold her Oth. Death and damnation! O! Iago. It were a tedious difficulty, I think, To bring them to that prospect: Damn them then, Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys, But, sith I am enter'd in this cause so far,— There are a kind of men so loose of soul, That in their sleeps will mutter their affairs; In sleep I heard him say,-" Sweet Desdemona, And then, sir, would he gripe, and wring my hand; Cry,--" O, sweet creature!"-and then kiss me hard, As if he pluck'd up kisses by the roots, That grew upon my lips: And then Cry" Cursed fate, that gave thee to the Moor!" Oth. O monstrous! monstrous! Iago. Nay, this was but his dream. Oth. But this denoted a foregone conclusion. Iago. "Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream: And this may help to thicken other proofs, That do demonstrate thinly. Oth. I'll tear her all to pieces. |