To win the Moor again? For, 'tis most easy
The inclining Desdemona to subdue

In any honest suit; she's fram'd as fruitfull

As the free elements. And then for her

To win the Moor,-were't to renounce his baptisın, All seals and symbols of redeemed sin,

His soul is so enferter'd to her love,

That she may make, unmake, do what she list,
Even as her appetite shall play the god

With his weak function. How am I then a villain,
To counsel Cassio to this parallel2 course,
Directly to his good? Divinity of hell!
When devils will their blackest sins put on,
They do suggest3 at first with heavenly shows,
As I do now: For while this honest fool
Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes,
And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor,
I'll pour this pestilence into his ear,-
That she repeals4 him for her body's lust;
And, by how much she strives to do himn good,
She shall undo her credit with the Moor.
So will I turn her virtue into pitch;

And out of her own goodness make the net,
That shall enmesh them all.-How now, Roderigo?
Enter Roderigo.

Rod. I do follow here in the chace, not like a hound that hunts, but one that fills up the cry. My money is almost spent; I have been to-night exceedingly well cudgelled; and, I think, the issue will be I shall have so much experience for my pains and so, with no money at all, and a little more wit, return to Venice.

Iago. How poor are they, that have not pa

tience!

What wound did ever heal, but by degrees? Thou know'st we work by wit, and not by witch craft;

(2) Even.

(4) Recalls.

(1) Liberal, bountiful. (3) Tempt.

And wit depends on dilatory time.

Does't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee,
And thou, by that small hurt, hast cashier'd Cassio:
Though other things grow fair against the sun,
Yet fruits, that blossom first, will first be ripe:
Content thyself a while.--By the mass, 'tis morning;
Pleasure, and action, make the hours seem short.-
Retire thee; go where thou art billeted:

Away, I say; thou shalt know more hereafter : Nay, get thee gone. [Exit Rod.] Two things are to be done,

My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress;
I'll set her on ;

Myself, the while, to draw the Moor apart,
And bring him jump' when he may Cassio find
Soliciting his wife :-Ay, that's the way;
Dull not device by coldness and delay.

[Exit.

ACT III.

SCENE I-Before the castle. Enter Cassio, and some Musicians.

Cas. Masters, play here, I will content your pains. Something that's brief; and bid--good-morrow, [Music.

general.

Enter Clown.

Clo. Why, masters, have your instruments been

at Naples, that they speak i'the nose thus?

1 M. How, sir, how?

Clo. Are these, I pray you, called wind instru ments?

1 Mus. Ay, marry, are they, sir.

Clo. O, thereby hangs a tail.

1 Mus. Whereby hangs a tale, sir?

(1) Just at the time.

Clo. Marry, sir, by many a wind instrumen that I know. But, masters, here's money for you and the general so likes your music, that he desires you, of all loves, to make no more noise with it. 1 Mus. Well, sir, we will not.

Clo. If you have any music that may not be heard, to't again: but, as they say, to hear music, the general does not greatly care.

1 Mus. We have none such, sir.

Clo. Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll away: Go; vanish into air; away.

[Exeunt Musicians. Cas. Dost thou hear, my honest friend? Clo. No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear you.

Cas. Pr'ythee, keep up thy quillets. There's a poor piece of gold for thee: if the gentlewoman that attends the general's wife, be stirring, tell her, there's one Cassio entreats her a little favour of speech: Wilt thou do this?

Clo. She is stirring, sir; if she will stir hither, I shall seem to notify unto her.

Enter Iago.

[Exit.

Cas. Do, good my friend.-In happy time, Iago.
Iago. You have not been a-bed then?
Cas. Why, no; the day had broke

Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago,
To send in to your wife: My suit to her
Is, that she will to virtuous Desdemona
Procure me some access.

Iago.

I'll send her to you presently;

And I'll devise a mean to draw the Moor

Out of the way, that your converse and business
May be more free.

[Exit.

Cas. I humbly thank you for't. I never knew A Florentine more kind and honest.

(1) Nice distinctions.

VOL. VIII.

2 C

Enter Emilia.

Emil. Good-morrow, good lieutenant : I am

sorry

For your displeasure; but all will soon be well.
The general, and his wife, are talking of it;
And she speaks for you stoutly: The Moor replies,
That he you hurt, of great fame in Cyprus,
And great affinity; and that, in wholesome wisdom,
He might not but refuse you: but, he protests, he
loves you;

And needs no other suitor, but his likings,
To take the saf'st occasion by the front,
To bring you in again.

Cas.

If you think fit, or that it may be done,
Give me advantage of some brief discourse
With Desdemona alone.

Emil.

Yet, I beseech you,—

Pray you, come in ;

I am much bound to you.

[Exeunt.

I will bestow you where you shall have time
To speak your bosom freely.

Cas.

SCENE II-A room in the castle. Enter
Othello, Iago, and Gentlemen.

Oth. These letters give, Iago, to the pilot;
And, by him, do my duties to the state:
That done, I will be walking on the works,
Repair there to me.

Iago.

Well, my good lord, I'll do't.

Oth. This fortification, gentlemen,-shall we

see't?

Gent. We'll wait upon your lordship. [Exeunt. SCENE III-Before the castle.

Enter Desde

mona, Cassio, and Emilia.

Des. Be thou assur'd, good Cassio, I will do

(1) The displeasure you have incurred from Othello.

All my abilities in thy behalf.

Emil. Good madam, do; I know it grieves my husband,

As if the case were his.

Des. O, that's an honest fellow.---Do not doubt,

Cassio,

But I will have my lord and you again

As friendly as you were.

Cas.

Bounteous madam,

Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,

He's never any thing but your true servant.

Des. O, sir, I thank you: You do love my lord: You have known him long; and be you well assur'd, He shall in strangeness stand no further off Than in a politic distance.

Cas.

Ay, but, lady,
That policy may either last so long,
Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet,
Or breed itself so out of circumstance,
That, I being absent, and my place supplied,
My general will forget my love and service.

Des. Do not doubt that; before Emilia here,
I give thee warrant of thy place: assure thee,
If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it

To the last article: my lord shall never rest;
I'll watch him tame, and talk him out of patience;
His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;
I'll intermingle every thing he does

With Cassio's suit: Therefore be merry, Cassio;
For thy solicitor shall rather die,

Than give thy cause away.

Enter Othello, and Iago, at a distance.

(1) Hawks are tamed by keeping them from

sleep.