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lago. Long live she so! and long live you to think

so!

Oth. And yet, how nature erring from itself—

lago. Ay, there's the point: As-to be bold with

you

Not to affect many proposed matches,

Of her own clime, complexion, and degree;
Whereto, we see, in all things nature tends :
Foh! one may smell, in such, a will most rank,
Foul disproportion, thoughts unnatural.
But pardon me; I do not, in position,
Distinctly speak of her: though I may fear,
Her will, recoiling to her better judgment,
May fall to match you with her country forms,
And (happily) repent.

Oth. Farewel, farewel:

330

If more thou dost perceive, let me know more; Set on thy wife to observe: Leave me, lago. lago. My lord, I take my leave. [Going. Oth. Why did I marry? This honest creature,

doubtless,

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340

Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.

lago. My lord-I would, I might entreat your

honour,

To scan this thing no further; leave it to time:
And though it be fit that Cassio have his place
(For, sure, he fills it up with great ability),
Yet, if you please to hold him off a while,
You shall by that perceive him and his means:
Note, if your lady strain his entertainment

With any strong, or vehement importunity;
Much will be seen in that. In the mean time,
Let me be thought too busy in my fears

As worthy cause I have, to fear-I am),
And hold her free, I do beseech your honour.

Oth. Fear not my government.

350

Iago. I once more take my leave.

Oth. This fellow's of exceeding honesty,

[Exit.

And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,.
Of human dealings: If I do prove her haggard,
Though that her jesses were my dear heart-strings,
I'd whistle her off, and let her down the wind, 360
To prey at fortune. Haply, for I am black;
And have not those soft parts of conversation
That chamberers have: Or, for I am declin'd
Into the vale of years;yet that's not much;-
She's gone; I am abus'd; and my relief
Must be to loath her. O curse of marriage,
That we can call these delicate creatures ours,
And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad,
And live upon the vapour of a dungeon,
Than keep a corner in the thing I love,

370

For others' uses. Yet, 'tis the plague of great

ones;

Prerogativ'd are they less than the base:
'Tis destiny unshunnable, like death;
Even then this forked plague is, fated to us,
When we do quicken. Desdemona comes:

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Enter DESDEMONA, and ÆMILIA.

If she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself!-
I'll not believe it.

Des. How now, my dear Othello?

Your dinner, and the generous islanders
By you invited, do attend your presence.

Oth. I am to blame.

880

Des. Why is your speech so faint? are you not well? Oth. I have a pain upon my forehead here.

Des. Why, that's with watching; 'twill away again Let me but bind it hard, within this hour

It will be well.

Qth. Your napkin is too little;

Let it alone,

[She drops her Handkerchief.

Come, I'll go in with you.

Des. I am very sorry that you are not well.

[Exeunt DESD. and OTH. Emil. I am glad I have found this napkin; This was her first remembrance from the Moor:

My wayward husband hath a hundred times
Woo'd me to steal it; but she so loves the token
(For he conjur'd her, she should ever keep it),
That she reserves it evermore about her,

390

To kiss, and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out, And give it Iago:

What he'll do with it, heaven knows, not I;

I nothing, but to please his fantasy.

Enter

Enter IAGO.

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lago. How now! what do you here alone? Emil. Do not you chide; I have a thing for you. lago. You have a thing for me it is a common thing.

Emil. Ha!

lago. To have a foolish wife.

Emil. O, is that all? What will you give me now For that same handkerchief?

lago. What handkerchief?

Emil. What handkerchief?

Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona;

That which so often you did bid me steal.

lago. Hast stolen it from her?

Emil. No; but she let it drop by negligence

410

And, to the advantage, I, being here, took it up. Look, here it is.

lago. A good wench; give it me.

Emil. What will you do with it, that you have been so earnest

To have me filch it?

lago. Why, what is that to you?

[Snatching it.

Emil. If it be not for some purpose of import,

Give it me again: Poor lady! she'll run mad
When she shall lack it.

Iago. Be not you known on't; I have use for it.
Go, leave me,

420

[Exit EMILIA.

I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin,
And let him find it: Trifles, light as air,

Are,

Are, to the jealous, confirmations strong
As proofs of holy writ. This may do something.
The Moor already changes with my poison :—
Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poisons,
Which, at the first, are scarce found to distaste;
But, with a little act upon the blood,

Burn like the mines of sulphur.-I did say so:

Enter OTHELLO.

431

Look, where he comes! Not poppy, nor mandra, gora,

Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world,

Shall ever med'cine thee to that sweet sleep

Which thou owd'st yesterday.

Oth. Ha! ha! false to me? to me?

lago. Why, how now, general? no more of that.

Oth. Avaunt! be gone! thou hast set me on the

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I swear, 'tis better to be much abus'd,

Than but to know't a little.

Iago. How now, my lord?

440

Oth. What sense had I of her stolen hours of lust?

I saw it not, thought it not, it harm'd not me :

I slept the next night well, was free, and merry;

I found not Cassio's kisses on her lips:

He that is robb'd, not wanting what is stolen, Let him not know it, and he's not robb'd at all. lago. I am sorry to hear this.

Oth. I had been happy, if the general camp, Pioneers and all, had tasted her sweet body,

450

So

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