Emil. Never, my lord.

Oth. Nor send you out o' the way?

Emil. Never.

Oth. To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor nothing?

Emil. Never, my lord.

Oth. That's strange.

330

Emil. I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest,
Lay down my soul at stake: if you think other,
Remove your thought; it doth abuse your bosom.
If any wretch hath put this in your head,
Let heaven requite it with the serpent's curse !
For, if she be not honest, c aste, and true,
There's no man happy; the purest of their wives
Is foul as slander.

Oth. Bid her come hither;-go. [Exit ÆMILIA. She says enough ;-yet she's a simple bawd, That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore, A closet lock and key of villanous secrets:

1

And yet she'll kneel, and pray; I have seen her do't.

Re-enter EMILIA, with DESDÉMONA.

Des. My lord, what is

your will?

Oth. Pray, chuck, come hither.

Des. What is your pleasure?

Oth. Let me see your eyes;

Look in my face.

Des. What horrible fancy's this?

349

Oth. [To ÆMIL.] Some of your function, mistress, Leave procreants alone, and shut the door;

Cough, or cry-hem, if any body come:

Your

Your mystery, your mystery ;-nay, dispatch.

[Exit EMILIA.

Des. Upon my knees, what doth your speech im

port?

I understand a fury in your words,

But not the words.

Oth. Why, what art thou?

350

Des. Your wife, my lord;

Your true and loyal wife.

Oth. Come, swear it, damn thyself;

Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves Should fear to seize thee: therefore be double-damn'd. Swear-thou art honest.

Des. Heaven doth truly know it.

360

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 kind 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;

370

I should

I should have found in some place 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 cherubim ;
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, 891

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 deed.—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,
K

400

And

And will not hear it: What committed!-Impudent

strumpet!

Des. By heaven, you do me wrong.

Oth. Are not you a strumpet?

Des. No, as I am a christian :

If to preserve this vessel for my lord,
From any other foul unlawful touch,
Be-not to be a strumpet, I am none.
Oth. What, not a whore?

410

Des. No, as I shall be saved.

Oth. Is it possible?

Des. O, heaven forgive us!
Oth. I cry you mercy, then;

I took you for that cunning whore of Venice,
That married with Othello.-You, mistress,

Enter EMILIA.

That have the office opposite to Saint Peter,

And keep the gate of hell; You! you! ay, you!

We have done our course; there's money for your

pains;

I pray you, turn the key, and keep our counsel.

[Exit.

Emil. Alas! what does this gentleman conceive?— How do you, madam? how do you, my good lady? Des. 'Faith, half asleep.

Emil. Good madam, what's the matter with my lord?

Des. With who?

Emil. With my lord, madam

Des

Des. Who is thy lord?

Emil. He that is your's, sweet lady.

Des. I have none: Do not talk to me, Æmilia;
I cannot weep; nor answer have I 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!

431

[Exit, 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.

Enter IAGO, with MILIA.

lago. What is your pleasure, madam? How is it with you?

Des. I cannot tell. Those, that do teach young

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.

Iago. What is the matter, lady?

440

Emil. Alas, Iago, my lord hath so bewhor'd her, Thrown such despight and heavy terms upon her, As true hearts cannot bear.

Des. Am I that name, Iago?

lago. What name, fair lady ?

Des. Such as, she says, my lord did say I was. 450 Emil. He call'd her, whore; a beggar, in his drink, Could not have laid such terms upon his callet.

Lago. Why did he so?