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Iago. Or to be naked with her friend, abed, An hour, or more, not meaning any harm?

Oth. Naked abed, Iago. and not mean harm?

It is hypocrisy against the devil:

They that mean virtuously, and yet do so,

The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt heaven.
Ingo. So they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip:

But if I give my wife a handkerchief,

Oth. What then?

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Iago.

With her?

With her, on ber; what you will. Oth. Lie with her! lie on her!-We say. lie on her, when they belie her: Lie with her! that's fulsome.Handkerchief-confessions,-handkerchief. To confess, and be hanged for his labour.-First, to be hanged, and then to confess :-I tremble at it. Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing passion, without some instruction. It is not words, that shake me thus :-Pish!-Noses, ears, and lips :-Is it possible?-Confess!-Handkerchief!-O devil!-[Falls in a trance.

Iago. Work on,

My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught
And many worthy and chaste dames, even thus,
All guiltless meet reproach.-What, ho! my lord!
Enter Cassio.

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

Iago. My lord is fallen into an epilepsy;
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 Cas.
-How is it, general? have you not hurt your head?
Oth. Dost thou mock me?

Iago.
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.
Jago. There's many a beast then in a populous city,
And many a civil monster.

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 heil, the fiend's arch-mock,

Iago. Why, then 'tis hers, my lord: and, being hers, To lip a wanton in a secure couch,

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

Oh. 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. By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it:-
Thou said'st,-O, it comes o'er my memory,
As doth the raven o'er the infected house,
Beding to all, he had my handkerchief.

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.
Iago.
Stand you awhile apart;
Confine yourself but in a patient list.
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 encave yourself,
And mark the fleurs, 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;
but mark his gesture. Marry, patience;
I say.
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.
Iago.
That's not amiss;
But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw?
[Othello withdraws.
Now will I question Cassio of Bianca,
A housewife, that, by selling her desires,
Buys herself bread and clothes : it is a creature,
That dotes on Cassio,-as 'tis the strumpet's plague.
To beguile many, and be beguil'd by one ;-
He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain
From the excess of laughter :-Here he comes →

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Iago. I am a very villain else.

you

[Aside.

Oth. 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. Iago beckons me; now he begins the story.

[Aside. Case She was here even now; she haunts me in every place. I was, the other day, talking on the sca-bank with certain Venetians; and thither comes this bauble; by this hand, she falls thus about my neck ;Oth. Crying, O dear Cassio! as it were: his gesture imports it. [Aside. Cas. So hangs, and lolls, and weeps upon me; so hales, and pulis me: ha, ha, ha!

Oth. Now he tells, how she plucked him to my

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Cas. 'Tis such another fitchew! marry, a perfund one. What do you mean by this haunting of ret 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 whole work ?-A likely piece of work, that you should find it in your chamber, and not know who k it there! This is some minx's token, and I must tak out the work? There,-give it your hobby-le wheresoever you had it, I'll take out no work out.

Cas. How now, my sweet Bianca? how now? how now?

Oth. By heaven, that should be my handkerchief! [An Bian. An you'll come to supper to-night, you may; an you will not, come when you are next prepard for. [Exit Bian

Iage. After her, after her.

Cas. 'Faith I must, she'll rail in the street ele.

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Oth. How shall I murder him, Iago?
Iago. Did you perceive how he laughed at his vi
Oth. O, Iago!

Iago. And did you see the handkerchief?

Oth. Was that mine?

Lago. Yours, by this hand: and to see how he pr the foolish woman, your wife! she gave it him, and he hath given it his whore.

Oth. I would have him nine years a killingA fine woman! a fair woman! a sweet woman! lago. 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. 0 the world hath not a sweeter creature: she might be, an emperor's side, and command bim tasks. Ingo. Nay, that's not your way.

Oth. Hang her! I do but say what she is :cate with her needle !-An admirable musicas/ 0, she will sing the savageness out of a bear!-Of ligh and plenteous wit and invention !—

lago. She's the worse for all this.

Oth. O, a thousand, a thousand times :-And thes. of so gentle a condition!

Ingo. Ay, too gentle.

Oth. Nay, that's certain: But yet the pity of it Iago!-O, Lago the pity of it, Iago!

Lago. If you are so fond over her inquity, give her patent to offend; for, if it touch not you, it c near nobody.

Oth. I will chop her into messes :-Cuckold me!
Iago. O, 'tis foul in her.
Oth. With mine officer!
Iago. That's fouler.

Oth. Get me some poison, Iago; this night:expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty unpro vide my mind again :-this night, Iago.

Iago. Do it not with poison, strangle her in het bel even the bed she hath contaminated.

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Oth. Good, good: the justice of it pleases; very good. lago. And, for Cassio,-let me be his undertaker: You shall hear more by midnight. [A trumpet within. Oth. Excellent good.-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? Ingo, I am very glad to see you, signior; Welcome to Cyprus.

Lod. I thank you: How does lieutenant Cassio? Iago. Lives, sir.

Des. Cousin, there's fallen between him and my lord An unkind breach : but you shall make all well. Oth. Are you sure of that!

Des. My lord?

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My lord?

Des.

Oth.

What would you with her, sir? Led. Who, L, my lord?

Oth. Ay; you did wish, that I would make her turn: 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.

[Exit.

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Oth. Why, what art thou?
Des.

And loyal wife.

Oth.

Your wife, my lord; your true

Come, swear it, damn thyself;

Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves
Should fear to sieze 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,-
O! O!

Yet could I bear that too; well, very well:
But there, where I have garner'd 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 cherubin;
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!-0 thou 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!

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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! [Er
Des. 'Tis meet I should be us'd 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 Ingo.

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

Des. I cannot tell. Those, that do teach you 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.
lago.

What's the matter, lady! Emil. Alas, Iago, my lord hath so bewhor'd be, Thrown such despite and heavy terms upon her, As true hearts cannot bear.

Des. Am I that name, Iago?

Jage. 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, Could not have laid such terms upon his callet.

Iago. Why did he so?

Des. I do not know; I am sure, I am cone sach logo. Do not weep, do not weep: Alas the day! Emil. Has she forsook so many noble matches, Her father, and her country, and her friends, To be call'd-whore? Would it not make one weep! Des. It is my wretched fortune. Iago.

How comes this trick upon him?

Des.

Beshrew him for it!

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 bell gnaw his

bones!

Why should he call her, whore? who keeps her ca pany?

What place? what time? what form? what likelihood
The Moor's abus'd by some most villanous kuave,
Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow:-
O, heaven, that such companions thou'dst unfold;
And put in every honest hand a whip,
To lash the rascal naked through the world,
Even from the east to the west!

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Des.

O, good Iago,
What shall I do to win my lord again?

Good friend, go to him; for, by this light of heaven,
I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel:-
If e'er my will did trespass 'gainst his love,
Either in discourse of thought, or actual deed;
Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense,
Delighted them in any other form;
Or that I do not yet, and ever did,

And ever will, though he do shake me off
To beggarly divorcement,-love him dearly,
Comfort forswear me! Unkindness may do much ;
And his unkindness may defeat my life,

But never taint my love. I cannot say, whore;

It does abhor me, now I speak the word;
To do the act that might the addition earn,
Not the world's mass of vanity could make me.
Iago. I pray you, be content; 'tis but his humour;
The business of the state does him offence,

And he does chide with you.

Des.

If 'twere no other,

Iago. It is but so, I warrant you. [Trumpets.
Hark, how these instruments summon to supper!
And the great messengers of Venice stay:
Go in, and weep not; all things shall be well.
[Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia.
Enter Roderigo.

How now, Roderigo?

Rod. It hath not appeared.

logo. I grant, indeed, it hath not appeared; and your suspicion is not without wit and judgement. But, Roderigo, if thou hast that within thee indeed, which I have greater reason to believe now than ever, -I mean, purpose, conrage, and valour,-this night show it: if thou the next night following enjoyest not Desdemona, take me from this world with treachery, and devise engines for my life.

Rod. Well, what is it? is it within reason, and compass?

Iago. Sir, there is especial commission come from Venice, to depute Cassio in Othello's place.

Rod. Is that true? why, then Othello and Desde mona return again to Venice.

Iago O, no; he goes into Mauritania, and takes away with him the fair Desdemona, unless his abode be lingered here by some accident; wherein none can be so determinate, as the removing of Cassio.

Rod. How do you mean-removing of him? Iago. Why, by making him uncapable of Othello's place; knocking out his brains.

Rod. And that you would have me do?

Iago. Ay; if you dare do yourseif a profit, and a right. He sups to night with a harlot, and thither will I go to him ;-he knows not yet of his honourable fortune: if you will watch his going thence, (which I will fashion to fail out between twelve and one,) you may take him at your pleasure; I will be near to see. ond your attempt, and he shall fall between us. Come, stand not amaz'd at it, but go along with me; I will show you such a necessity in his death, that you shall think yourself bound to put it on him. It is now

Rod. I do not find, that thou deal'st justly with me. high supper-time, and the night grows to waste: a

Iago. What in the contrary?

Red. Every day thou doff'st me with some device, Iago; and rather (as it seems to me now,) keep'st from me all conveniency, than suppliest me with the least advantage of hope. I will, indeed, no longer endure it. Nor am I yet persuaded, to put up in peace what already I have foolishly suffered.

Iago. Will you hear me, Roderigo ?

Rod. 'Faith, I bave heard too much; for your words, and performances, are no kin together.

Iago. You charge me most unjustly.

Rod. With nought but truth. I have wasted myself out of my means. The jewels you have had from me, to deliver to Desdemona, would half have corrupted a votarist: You have told me she has received them, and returned me expectations and comforts of sudden respect and acquittance; but I find none. Iago. Well; go to; very well.

Rod. Very well! go to! I cannot go to, man; nor 'tis not very well: By this hand, I say, it is very scur vy; and begin to find myself fobbed in it.

Jago. Very well.

Rod. I tell you, 'tis not very well. I will make my. self known to Desdemona: If she will return me my jewels, I will give over my suit, and repent may unlaw ful solicitation; if not, assure yourself, I will seek satisfaction of you.

Lago, You have said now.

bout it.

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Des. It was his bidding: therefore, good Emilia,

Rod. Ay, and I have said nothing, but what I pro- Give me my nightly wearing, and adieu : test intendment of doing.

Jago. Why, now I see there's mettle in thee; and even, from this instant, do build on thee a better opinjon than ever before. Give me thy hand, Roderigo: Thou hast taken against me a most just exception; but, yet, I protest, I have dealt most directly in thy affair.

We must not now displease him.

Emil. I would, you had never seen him!

Des. So would not I; my love doth so approve him That even stabboness, his checks, and frowns,-Pr'ythee, unpin me,-have grace and favour in them. Emil. I have laid those sheets you bae me on the

bed.

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