Des. Ay, sooth; so humbled, That he hath left part of his grief with me ; Too hideous to be shown.-Thou dost mean something: The sooner, sweet, for you. Des. To-morrow dinner then? I shall not dine at home; I meet the captains at the citadel. Des. Why then, to-morrow night; or Tuesday morn; To incur a private check: When shall he come ? Or stand so mammering on. What! Michael Cassio, Des. To your own person: Nay, when I have a suit, Oth. I will deny thee nothing: Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this, To leave me but a little to myself, Des. Shall I deny you? No: Farewell, my lord. Oth. Farewell, my Desdemona: I will come to thee straight. Des. Emilia, come:-Be it as your fancies teach you; Whate'er you be, I am obedient. [Exit, with Emil. Oth. Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul, But I do love thee! and when I love thee not, Chaos is come again. Oth. What dost thou say, Iago? As where's that palace, whereinto foul things Keep leets, and law-days, and in session sit Oth. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, laga, If thou but think'st him wrong'd, and mak’at his ea A stranger to thy thoughts. Iago. Tago. Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my lady, From one that so imperfectly conjects, Know of your love? You'd take no notice; nor build yourself a trouble Oth, He did, from first to last. Why dost thou ask? Out of his scattering and unsure observance :Iago. But for a satisfaction of my thought; No further harm. It were not for your quiet, nor your good, Oth. Who steals my purse, steals trash; 'tis something, nothing; 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands, Oth. By heaven, I'll know thy thought. Iago. O, beware, my lord, of jealousy ; It is the green-ey'd monster which doth mork The meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss, Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger; But. O, what damned minutes tells he o'er, Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves! Oth. O misery! Iago. Poor, and content, ís rich, and rich enough; But riches, fineless, is as poor as winter, To him that ever fears he shall be poor :- Oth. Why? why is this? Think'st thou, I'd make a life of jealousy, lage. I am glad of this: for now I shall have reason I know our country disposition well; In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks They dare not show their husbands; their best conscience Is-not to leave undone, but keep unknown. Oth. Dost thou say so? Iago. She did deceive her father, marrying you ; And, when she seem'd to shake, and fear your looks, She lov'd them most. I hope, you will consider, what is spoke Iago. Long live she so! and long live you to think so! Oth. And yet, how nature erring from itself,→ Not to affect many proposed matches Oth. Why did I marry? This honest creature, doubtless, Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds. Iago. My lord, I would, I might entreat your honour For others' uses. Yet, 'tis the plague of great ones; Comes from my love;-But, I do see you are mov'd :- If she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself! I am to pray you, not to strain my speech To grosser issues, nor to larger reach, Than to suspicion. I'll not believe it. 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. Faith, that's with watching; 'twill away again: Let me but bind it hard, within this hour It will be well. [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 Othello and Desdemona. Emil. I am glad I have found this napkin ; This was her first remembrance from the Moor: My wayward husband bath 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'll do with it, heaven knows, not I; Iago. Why, what's that to you? [Snatching it. Emil. If it be not for some purpose of import, Give it me again: Poor lady! she'll run fad, When she shall lack it. lago. Be not you known of't: I have use for it. Go, leave me. [Exit Emilia. I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin, Burn like the mines of sulphur.-I did say so :- Look, where he comes! Not poppy, nor mandragora, Oth. To me? Ha ha! false to me? Iago. I am sorry to hear this. Oth. I had been happy, if the general camp Pioneers and all, had tasted her sweet body, So I had nothing known: O now, for ever, Farewell the tranquil mind! Farewell content Farewell the plumed troop, and the big wars, That make ambition virtue! O, farewell! Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill trump, The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife, The royal banner; and all quality, Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war! And O, you mortal engines, whose rude throats The immortal Jove's dread clamours counterfeit, Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone! Iago. Is it possible?-My lord, Oth. Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof; [Taking him by the thre Or, by the worth of mine eternal soul, Iago. lago. My noble lord,—— Oth. If thou dost slander her, and torture me, Do deeds to make heaven weep, all earth amaz'l, Iago. O grace! O heaven defend me ! Are you a man? have you a soul, or sense?— God 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 work, 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 offences Oth. Nay, stay-Thou should'st be honest. Iago. I should be wise; for honesty's a fool, And loses that it works for. Oth. By the world, I think my wife be honest, and think she is not I think that thou art just, and think thou art not; I'll have some proof: Her name, that was as fresh As Dian's visage, is now begrim'd and black As mine own face,-If there be cords, or knives, Poison, or fire, or suffocating streams, I'll not endure it.-Would, I were satisfied! Iago. I see, sir, you are eaten up with passion: I do repent me, that I put it to you. You would be satisfied? Oth. Death and damnation! O! Iago. It were a tedious difficulty, I think, To bring them to that prospect: Damn them then, If ever mortal eyes do see them bolster, More than their own! What then? how then? What shall I say? Where's satisfaction? It is impossible, you should see this, Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys, Will give you satisfaction, you may have it. Bat, 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, Oth. Oth If it be that,Iago. If it be that, or any that was hers, It speaks against her with the other proofs. Oth. O, that the slave had forty thousand lives; One is too poor, too weak for my revenge! Now do I see 'tis true.-Look here, Lago; All my fond love thus I do blow to heaven: 'Tis gone. Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell! Yield up, O love, thy crown, and hearted throne, To tyrannous hate! swell, bosom, with thy fraught, For 'tis of aspics' tongues! Iago. Pray, be content. SCENE IV.-The same. Enter Desdemona, Emilia, and Clown. Des. Do you know, sirral, where lieutenant Cassio Clown. I dare not say, he lies any where. Clown. He is a soldier; and for me to say a soldier lies, is stabbing. Des. Go to; where lodges he? Clown. To tell you where he lodges, is to tell you where I lie. Des. Can any thing be made of this? Clown. I know not where he lodges; and for me to devise a lodging, and say-he lies here, or he lies there, were to lie in my own throat. Des. Can you inquire him out, and be edified by report? Clown. I will catechize the world for him; that is, make questions, and by them answer. Des. Seek him, bid him come hither: tell him, I have moved my lord in his behalf, and hope, all will be well. Clown. To do this, is within the compass of man's wit; and therefore I will attempt the doing it. [Exit. Des. Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia? Emil. I know not, madam. Des. Believe me, I had rather have lost my purse Full of cruzadoes. And, but my noble Moor Is true of mind, and made of no such baseness As jealous creatures are, it were enough To put hira to ill thinking. Emil. Is he not jealous: Des. Who, he? I think, the sun, where he was born, Drew all such humours from him. Emil. Look, where he comes. Des. I will not leave him now, till Cassio Be call'd to him.-How is't with you, my lord? 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, Des. Is it possible? Oth. "Tis true: there's magic in the web of it: The worms were hallow'd that did breed the silk; Des. Des. Why do you speak so startingly and rash? 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. And, lo, the happiness! go. and importune her. Des. How now, good Cassio? what's the news with you? Cas. Madam, my former suit: I do beseech you, Can ransome me into his love again; Des. Alas! thrice-gentle Castio, So help me, every spirit sanctified, As I have spoken for you all my best; He went hence but now, Des. I pr'ythee, do so.-Something, sure, of state,Either from Venice; or some unhatch'd practice, Made demonstrable here in Cyprus to him,Hath puddled his clear spirit: and, in such cases, Men's natures wrangle with inferior things, Though great ones are their object. 'Tis even so For let our finger ache, And it endues our other healthful members Nor of them look for such observances Oth. Fetch me that handkerchief: my mind misgives. I was (unhandsome warrior as I am.) Des. Come, come; You'll never meet a more sufficient man. O:h. The handkerchief,- Oth. The handkerchief,- I pray, talk me of Cassio. Arraigning his unkindness with my soul; But now I find, I had suborn'd the witness, And he's indited falsely. Emil. Pray heaven, it be state-matters, as you think; And no conception, nor no jealous toy A man that, all his time, Concerning you. Hath founded his good fortune on your love; Shar'd dangers with you ;—— Oh. Des. In sooth, You are to blame. Oth. Emil. Away! The handkerchief,— [Exit Othello. Is not this man jealous? Des. I ne'er saw this before. Emil. "Tis not a year or two shows us a man: They belch us. Look you! Cassio, and my husband. Enter lago and Cassio. Jago. There is no other way; 'tis she must do't; Des. Alas, the day! I never gave him cause. Emil. But jealons souls will not be answer'd so; They are not ever jealous for the cause, But jealous for they are jealous: 'tis a monster, Begot upon itself, born on itself. Des. Heaven keep that monster from Othello's mind! Emil. Lady, amen! Des. I will go seek him.-Cassio, walk hereabout: If I do find him fit, I'll move your suit, And seek to effect it to my uttermost. Cas. I humbly thank your ladyship. [Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia, Enter Bianca. Bian. Save you, friend Cassio! Cas. What make you from home How is it with you, my most fair Bianca? |