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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! lago. Nay, you must forget that.

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Oth. Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damn'd to-night; for she shall not live: No, my heart is turn'd 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.

lago. 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!

lago. She's the worse for all this.

Oth. O, a thousand, a 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!

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lago. 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! lago. O, 'tis foul in her.

Oth. With mine officer!

Iago. That's fouler.

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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.

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[A Trumpet within. Oth. Excellent good.-What trumpet is that same? lago. 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 Letter.

Oth. I kiss the instrument of their pleasures.

Des. And what's the news, good cousin Lodovico ? lago. I am very glad to see you, signior:

Welcome to Cyprus.

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

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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?

Oth.

Oth. This fail you not to do, as you will—

[Reads.

Lod. He did not call; he's busy in the paper. Is there division 'twixt thy lord and Cassio?

Des. A most unhappy one; I would do much 250 To atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio.

Oth. Fire and brimstone!

Des. My lord?

Oth. Are you wise?

Des. What, is he angry?

Lod. 'May be, the letter mov'd him;

For, as I think, they do command him home,
Deputing Cassio in his government.

Des. By my troth, I am glad on't.

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Led. My lord, this would not be believ'd in

Venice,

Though I should swear I saw it: 'Tis very much; Make her amends, she weeps.

Oth. O devil, devil!

If that the earth could teem with woman's tears, 270

Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile ;

Out of my sight!

Des. I will not stay to offend you.

[Going. Led.

Lod. Truly, an obedient lady :

I do beseech your lordship, call her back,

Oth. Mistress

Des. My lord?

Oth. What would you with her, sir?

Lod. Who, I, 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:

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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 mon-

kies!

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[Exit. Lod. Is this the noble Moor, whom our full senate Call-all-in-all sufficient? This the noble nature Whom passion could not shake? whose solid virtue The shot of accident, nor dart of chance, Could neither graze, nor pierce ?

lago. He is much chang'd.

Lod. Are his wits safe? is he not light of brain? Iago. He is that he is; I may not breathe my

censure.

What

What he might be—if what he might, he is not—

I would to heaven, he were.

Lod. What, strike his wife!

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lago. '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?

lago. Alas, alas ! ́/

It is not honesty in me, to speak

What I have seen and known.

him;

You shall observe

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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 am sorry, that I am deceiv'd in him.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Another Apartment in the Castle. Enter OTHELLO, and

ÆMILIA.

Oth. You have seen nothing then?

Emil. Nor ever heard; nor ever did suspect.. Oth. Yes, you have seen Cassio and she together. Emil. But then I saw no harm; and then I heard Each syllable, that breath made up between them. Oth. What, did they never whisper?

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