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. 198 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! 211 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. 222 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. 230 [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. 240 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, Des. By my troth, I am glad on't. 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, 280 I'll send for you anon.—Sir, I obey the mandate, kies! 290 [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! 301 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, lago. Alas, alas ! ́/ It is not honesty in me, to speak What I have seen and known. him; You shall observe 310 And his own courses will denote him so, That I may save my speech: Do but go after, 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? 320 |