Iago. I do not know ;-friends all but now, even now, In quarter and in terms like bride and groom 530 Oth. How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot? Cas. I pray you, pardon me, I cannot speak. Oth. Worthy Montano, you were wont be civil; The gravity and stillness of your youth The world hath noted, and your name is great In mouths of wisest censure; What's the matter, 540 And spend your rich opinion, for the name Of a night-brawler? give me answer to it. you While I spare speech, which something now offends me, Of all that I do know: nor know I aught, By me that's said or done amiss this night; 550 Unless self-charity be sometime a vice; And to defend ourselves it be a sin, When violence assails us. Oth. Now, by heaven, My blood begins my safer guides to rule ; And And passion, having my best judgment collied, Or do but lift this arm, the best of you Shall sink in my rebuke. Give me to know And he that is approv'd in this offence, Though he had twinn'd with me, both at a birth, Mon. If partially affin'd, or leagu'd in office, lago. Touch me not so near: 560 I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth, There comes a fellow, crying out for help; 570 580 And And Cassio high in oath; which, 'till to-night, More of this matter can I not report : 590 But men are men; the best sometimes forget: From him that fled, some strange indignity, Oth. I know, Iago, Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter, Making it light to Cassio:—Cassio, I love thee; 600 But never more be officer of mine. Enter DESDEMONA, attended. Look, if my gentle love be not rais'd up;— Des. What is the matter, dear? Oth. All's well now, sweeting: Come away to bed. Sir, for your hurts, myself will be your surgeon :Lead him off.— To MONTANO, who is led off. Iago, look with care about the town; And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted.-Come, Desdemona, 'tis the soldier's life, To have their balmy slumbers wak'd with strife. 610 Exit, &c. Manent IAGO, and CASSIO. lago. What, are you hurt, lieutenant ? Cas. Cas. Ay, past all surgery. lago. Marry, heaven forbid ! Cas. Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part, sir, of myself, and what remains is bestial.-My reputation, Iago, my reputation! 618 lago. As I am an honest man, I had thought you had receiv'd some bodily wound; there is more offence in that, than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving: You have lost no reputation at all, unless you repute yourself such a loser. What, man! there are ways to recover the general again: You are but now cast in his mood, a punishment more in policy than in malice; even so as one would beat his offenceless dog, to affright an imperi. ous lion sue to him again, and he's yours. 629 Cas. I will rather sue to be despis'd, than to deceive so good a commander, with so slight, so drunken, and so indiscreet an officer. Drunk? and speak parrot? and squabble? swagger? swear? and discourse fustian with one's own shadow ?-O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee-devil! lago. What was he that you follow'd with your sword? What had he done to you? Cas. I know not. Iago. Is it possible? 640 Cas. I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly; a quarrel, but nothing wherefore.-O, that that men should put an enemy in their mouths, to steal away their brains! that we should, with joy, revel, pleasure, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts! lago. Why, but you are now well enough; How came you thus recover'd? Cas. It hath pleas'd the devil, drunkenness, to give place to the devil, wrath: one unperfectness shews me another, to make me frankly despise myself. 651 lago. Come, you are too severe a moraler: As the time, the place, and the condition of this country stands, I could heartily wish this had not befallen; but, since it is as it is, mend it for your own good. Cas. I will ask him for my place again; he shall tell me, I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast! O strange !-Every inordinate cup is unbless'd, and the ingredient is a devil. 661 lago. Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well used; exclaim no more against it. And, good lieutenant, I think, you think I love you. Cas. I have well approv'd it, sir.—I drunk! lago. You, or any man living, may be drunk at some time, man. I tell you what you shall do. Our general's wife is now the general;-I may say so in this respect, for that he hath devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, and denotement, of her parts and graces :-confess yourself freely to her; |