Iago. My lord, I take my leave. [Going. Oth. Why did I marry?--This honest creature, doubt less, Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds. To scan this thing no further; leave it to time: Yet, if You shall by that perceive him and his means: (As worthy cause I have, to fear-I am,) [Exit. Oth. This fellow's of exceeding honesty, Must be to loath her. O curse of marriage, Than keep a corner in the thing I love, 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, Enter DESDEMONA and EMILIA. If she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself!- Des. How now, my dear Othello? Your dinner, and the generous islanders Des. Why is your speech so faint? are you not well? Oth. I have a pain upon my forehead here. Des. Faith, that's with watching; 'twill away again: Let me but bind it hard, within this hour It will be well. Oth. Your napkin is too little; [He puts the handkerchief from him, and it drops. Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you. Des. I am very sorry that you are not well. [Exeunt ОTH. and DES. Emil. I am glad I have found this napkin; That she reserves it evermore about her, To kiss, and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out, What he'll do with it, heaven knows, not I; Enter IAGO. Iago. How now! what do you here alone? Iago. To have a foolish wife. Emil. O, is that all? What will you give me now For that same handkerchief? Iago. What handkerchief? Emil. What handkerchief? Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona; Iago. Hast stolen it from her? Emil. No, faith; she let it drop by negligence; And, to the advantage, I, being here, took't up. Iago. A good wench; give it me. Emil. What will you do with it, that you have been so earnest To have me filch it? Iago. Why, what's 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 of't; I have use for it. Go, leave me. [Exit EMILIA. I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin, And let him find it: Trifles, light as air, Are, to the jealous, confirmation strong As proofs of holy writ. This may do something. Burn like the mines of sulphur.-I did say so :— Enter OTHELLO. Look, where he comes! Not poppy, nor mandragora, Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world, Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep Which thou ow'dst yesterday. Oth. Ha! ha! false to me? To me? Iago. Why, how now, general? no more of that. Oth. Avaunt! be gone! thou hast set me on the rack : I swear, 'tis better to be much abus'd, Than but to know't a little. Iago. How now, my lord? Oth. What sense had I of her stolen hours of lust? I saw it not, thought it not, it harm'd not me: He that is robb'd, not wanting what is stolen, Oth. I had been happy, if the general camp, That make ambition virtue! O, farewell! Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill trump, Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war! Iago. Is it possible?-- My lord,———— Oth. Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore; Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof; [Taking him by the throat. Or, by the worth of mine eternal soul, Thou hadst been better have been born a dog, Than answer my wak'd wrath. Iago. Is it come to this? Oth. Make me to see it; or (at the least) so prove it, That the probation bear no hinge, nor loop, To hang a doubt on: or, woe upon thy life! Iago. My noble lord, Oth. If thou dost slander her, and torture me, Never pray more: abandon all remorse On horror's head horrors accumulate: e; Do deeds to make heaven weep, all earth amaz'd, For nothing canst thou to damnation add, Greater than that. Iago. O grace! O heaven defend me! Are you a man? have you a soul, or sense?— God be wi' you; take mine office.-O wretched fool, That liv'st to make thine honesty a vice!— O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O world, To be direct and honest, is not safe. |