A stranger to thy thoughts.
Iago.
I do beseech you,-
Though I, perchance, am vicious in my guess,
As, I confess, it is my nature's plague
To spy into abuses; and, oft, my jealousy
Shapes faults that are not, -I entreat you then,
From one that so imperfectly conjects,
You'd take no notice; nor build yourself a trouble
Out of his scattering and unsure observance:-
It were not for your quiet, nor your good,
Nor for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom,
To let you know my thoughts.
Oth.
What dost thou mean? Iago. Good name, in man, and woman, dear my
, lord, Is the immediate jewel of their souls: Who steals my purse, steals trash; 'tis something,
nothing: 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thou
sands;
But he, that filches from me my good name,
Robs me of that, which not enriches him,
And makes me poor indeed.
Oth. By heaven, I'll know thy thought.
Iago. You cannot, if my heart were in your
Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody.
Oth. Ha!
Iago. O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-ey'd monster, which doth mock The meat it feeds on: That cuckold lives in bliss, Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;
But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er,
Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves!
Oth. O misery!
Iago. Poor, and content, is rich, and rich enough;
But riches, fineless, is as poor as winter,
To him that ever fears he shall be
poor:
Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend
From jealousy!
Oth.
Why? why is this?
Think’st thou, I'd make a life of jealousy,
To follow still the changes of the moon
With fresh suspicions? No: to be once in doubt,
Is—once to be resolv’d: Exchange me for a goat,
When I shall turn the business of my soul
To such exsufflicate and blown surmises,
Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me
jealous, To say-my wife is fair, feeds well, loves com
pany, Is free of speech, sings, plays, and dances well; Where virtue is, these are more virtuous: Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw The smallest fear, or doubt of her revolt; For she had eyes, and chose me: No, lago; I'll see, before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; And, on the proof, there is no more but this,Away at once with love, or jealousy.
Iago. I am glad of this; for now I shall have
To show the love and duty that I bear you
With franker spirit: therefore, as I am bound,
Receive it from me:-I speak not yet of proof.
Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio;
Wear your eye-thus, not jealous, nor secure:
I would not have your free and noble nature,
Out of self-bounty, be abus’d; look to't:
I know our country disposition well;
In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks
They dare not show their husbands; their best con-
science
Is--not to leave undone, bat keep unknown.
Oth. Dost thou say so?
. lago. She did deceive her father, marrying you; And, when she seem'd to shake, and fear your
looks, She lov'd them most. Oth.
And so she did. Iago.
Why, go to, then; She that, so young, could give out such a seeming, To seel her father's eyes up, close as oak,He thought, 'twas witchcraft:-But I am much to
blame; I humbly do beseech
you
your pardon, For too much loving you. Oth.
I am bound to thee for ever. Iago. I see, this hath a little dash'd your spirits. Oth. Not a jot, not a jot. Iago.
I fear it has.
I hope, you will consider, what is spoke
Comes from my love;—But, I do see you are
mov'd :-
I am to pray you, not to strain my speech
To grosser issues, nor to larger reach,
Than to suspicion.
Oth. I will not.
Iago.
Should
you
do
so, my lord, My speech should fall into such vile success As my thoughts aim not at. Cassio's my worthy
friend:My lord, I see you are mov’d. Oth.
No, not much mov’d;I do not think, but Desdemona's honest. Iago. Long live she so! and long live you to
think so! Oth. And yet, how nature erring from itself,Iago. 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 (hapily) repent.
Oth.
Farewel, farewel:
If more thou dost perceive, let me know more;
Set on thy wife to observe: Leave me, Iago.
Iago. My lord, I take my leave. [Going
Oth. Why did I marry?—This honest creature,
doubtless, Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds. Iago. My lord, I would, I might entreat your
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
Oth. Fear not my government.
Iago. I once more take my leave. [Exit.
Oth. This fellow's of exceeding honesty,
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,
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,
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,
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