Put into circumscription and confine For the sea's worth. Othello's Relation to the Senate of his wooing Desdemona. Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, The very head and front of my offending Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech, peace; And little of this great world can I speak, In speaking for myself; yet, by your gracious patience, Of my whole course of love: what drugs, what charms, What conjuration, and what mighty magic (For such proceeding I am charged withal) I won his daughter with. Her father lov'd me: oft invited me ; I ran it through, even from my boyish days, Of hair-breadth 'scapes i' the imminent deadly breach And sold to slavery; of my redemption thence, And portance* in my travel's history. Wherein of antres vast, and deserts idle,+ Rough quarries, rocks, and hills whose heads touch heaven, It was my hint to speak, such was the process; The Anthropophagi, and men whose heads These things to hear, Would Desdemona seriously incline : But still the house affairs would draw her thence, Devour up my discourse: which I observing, She swore,-in faith, 'twas strange, 't was passing strange; 'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful : She wish'd she had not heard it: yet she wish'd me; And bade me, if I had a friend that lov'd her, *Behaviour. Idle is used to signify barren. Intention and attention were once synonymous. Attentively. I should but teach him how to tell my story, And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake : She lov'd me for the dangers I had pass'd; And I lov'd her that she did pity them. This only is the witchcraft I have used. ACT II. Othello's joy at Desdemona's arrival at Cyprus. O my soul's joy! If after every tempest come such calms, May the winds blow till they have waken'd death! As hell's from heaven! If it were now to die, 'T were now to be most happy; for, I fear, ACT III. Othello's passionate love for Desdemona. Excellent wretch * Perdition catch my soul, Othello's mistaken estimate of Iago's character. I know thou art full of love and honesty, And weigh'st thy words before thou giv'st them breath,- They are close denotements, working from the heart, That passion cannot rule. Reputation. Good name, in man and woman, dear my lord, Is the immediate jewel of their souls ; Who steals my purse, steals trash; 't is 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. Trifles, light as air, Jealousy. Are, to the jealous, confirmations strong As proofs of Holy Writ. Othello's Farewell Speech. O now, for ever, Farewell the tranquil mind! farewell content! Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war! Iago's Hypocrisy. O wretched fool, That liv'st to make thine honesty a vice!— O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O world, To be direct and honest is not safe. I thank you for this profit; and, from hence, I'll love no friend, since love breeds such offence. Othello's Story of the Handkerchief. That handkerchief Did an Egyptian to my mother give; She was a charmer,* and could almost read The thoughts of people. She told her, while she kept it, 'T would make her amiable, and subdue my father Entirely to her love; but if she lost it, Or made a gift of it, my father's eye Should hold her loathly, and his spirits should hunt * * 'Tis true; there's magic in the web of it: A sibyl, that had number'd in the world The sun to make two hundred compasses, In her prophetic fury sew'd the work: The worms were hallow'd that did breed the silk; A Lover's Computation of Time. What! keep a week away? seven days and nights? Eight score eight hours? and lover's absent hours, * An Enchantress. N |