That he would steal away so guilty-like,
Seeing you coming.

Oth. I do believe 'twas he.

Des. How now, my lord?

I have been talking with a suitor here,

A man that languishes in your displeasure.
Oth. who is't you mean?

Oth. He did, from first to last: Why dost thou ask?

Jago. But for a satisfaction of my thought;

Des. Why, your lieutenant Cassio. Good No further harm.
my lord.

If I have any grace, or power to move you,
His present reconciliation take;

For, if he be not one that truly loves you,
That errs in ignorance, and not in cunning*
I have no judgement in an honest face:
I pr'ythee, call him back.

Oth. Went he hence now?
Des. Ay, sooth; so humbled,

That he hath left part of his grief with me ;
I suffer with him. Good love, call him back.
Oth. Not now, sweet Desdemona; some
other time.

Des. But shal't be shortly?

Oth. The sooner, sweet, for you.
Des. Shal't be to-night at supper?
Oth. No, not to-night.

Des. To-morrow dinner then?
Oth. I shall not dine at home;

I meet the captains at the citadel.
Des. why then, to-morrow night; or Tues-
day morn;
[morn;

Or Tuesday noon, or night: or Wednesday
I pray thee, name the time; but let it not
Exceed three days: in faith, he's penitent;
And yet his trespass, in our common reason,
(Save that, they say, the wars must make ex-
amples

Oth. Why of thy thought, lago?

Iago. I did not think, he had been acquaint

ed with her

Oth. O, yes; and went between us very oft. lago. Indeed?

Oth. Indeed! ay, indeed :-Discern'st thou aught in that?

Is he not honest ?

Jago. Honest, my lord?

Oth. Ay, honest.

Iago. My lord, for aught I know.
Oth. What dost thou think?
Iago. Think, my lord?

Oth. Think, my lord!

By heaven, he echoes me,

As if there were some monster in his thought
Too hideous to be shown.-Thou dost mean

something:

[that,

I heard thee say but now,-Thou lik'dst not
When Cassio left my wife; What didst not

like?

And, when I told thee-he was of my counsel
In my whole course of wooing, thou criedst,
Indeed:
[ther,
And didst contract and purse thy brow toge-
As if thou then had'st shut up in thy brain
Some horrible conceit: If thou dost love me,
Show me thy thought.

Iago. My lord, you know I love you.
Oth. I think, thou dost;
[honesty,
And, for I know thou art full of love and
And weigh'st thy words before thou giv'st
them breath,-

Out of their best,t) is not almost a fault
To incur a private check: When shall he come?
Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul,
What you could ask me, that I should deny,
Or stand so mammeringt on. What! Michael
[more:
Cassio,
[time, Therefore these stops of thine fright me the
That came a wooing with you; and many a For such things is a false disroyal knave,
When I have spoke of you dispraisingly, Are tricks of custom; but, in a man that's just,
Hath ta'en your part; to have so much to do They are close denotements, working from the
To bring him in! Trust me, I could do That passion cannot rule.

much,

Oth. Pr'ythee, no more; let him come when he will:

I will deny thee nothing.

Des. Why, this is not a boon;

Iago. For Michael Cassio,

[heart,

I dare be sworn, I think that he is honest.
Oth. I think so too.

Iago. Men should be what they seem;
Or, those that be not, 'would they might seem

none!

'Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves,
Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you
Or sue to you to do peculiar profit [warm; Jago. Why, then,
To your own person: Nay, when I have a suit, I think that Cassio is an honest man.
Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed,

Oth. Certain, men should be what they seem.

Oth. Nay, yet there's more in this :

I pray thee, speak to me as to thy thinkings,

Koowledge,

Hesitating,

Best men,

Weight.

As thou dost ruminate; and give thy worst of Where virtue is, these are more virtuous:* tuoughts

As where's that palace, whereinto foul things
Sometimes intrude not? who has a breast so To show the love and duty that I bear you
But some uncleanly apprehensions [pure, With franker spirit: therefore, as I am bound,
Keep leets, and law days, and in session sit Receive it from me :-I speak not yet of proof.
With meditations lawful?
Look to your wife; observe her well with Cas-
sio;

Who, certain of his fate, loves not bis wrong-My speech should fall into such vile success
But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er
Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly
loves!

Think'st thou, I'd make a life of jealousy, Not to affect many proposed matches, To follow still the changes of the moon Of her own clime, complexion, and degree; With fresh suspicions? No: to be once in Whereto, we see, in all things nature tends: doubt, [goat, Foh one may smell, in such, a will most

Is-once to be resolv'd: Exchange me for a
When I shall turn the business of my soul Foul disproportion, thoughts unnatural.-- }
To such exsufficate and blown surinises, But pardon me; I do not, in position,
Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me Distinctly speak of her; though I may fear,
jealous,
[pany, Her will, recoiling to her better judgement,
To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves com- May fall to match you with her country forms,
Is free of speech, sings, plays, and dances And (happily) repent.

Oth. Farewell, farewell:

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 crea-
ture, doubtless,
[unfolds.
Sees and knows more, much more, than he
Iago. 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 awhile,
You shall by that perceive him and his means:
Note, if your lady strain his entertainment*
With any strong or vehement opportunity;
Much will be seen in that. In the meantime,
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.
Iago. I once more take my leave.
Oth. This fellow's of exceeding honesty.
And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,
Of human dealings: If I do prove her, hag
gard,t
[strings,
Though that her jessest were my dear heart-
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 de-
clin'd

[Exit.

Into the vale of years;-yet that's not much;-
She's gone; I am abus'd; and my relief
Must be to loathe 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, [ones:
For others' uses. Yet, 'tis the plague of great
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:
Enter DESDEMONA, and EMILIA.

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.

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 OтH. and DES.
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,

*Press hard his re-admission to his pay and office.
† A species of hawk, also a term of reproach applied to a

wanton.

Straps of leather by which a hawk is held on the fist.
Men of intrigue. When we begin to live.
In the north of England and in Scotland this term for a
handkerchief is still used.

(For he conjur'd her, she would ever keep it,)
That she reserves it evermore about her,
To kiss, and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en
And give it lago:
[out,
What he'll do with it, heaven knows, not I:
nothing, but to please his fantasy.
Enter IAGO.

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

For that same handkerchief?

Jago. What handkerchief?
Emil. What handkerchief?

Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona ;
That which so often you did bid me steal.
Jago. Hast stolen it from her?

Emil. No, faith: she let it drop by negli
gence;

And, to the advantage, I being here, took't up.
Look, here it is.

Jago. A good wench: give it me.

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

To have me filch it?

Jago. Why, what's that to you?

[Snatching it. Emil. If it be not for some purpose of im port,

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

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

[Exit EMILIA. And let him find it: Trifles, light as air, I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin, Are, to the jealous, confirmation strong As proofs of holy writ. This may do something.

The Moor already changes with my poison :Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poi[taste;

sons,

Which, at the first are scarce, found to dis-
But, with a little act upon the blood, [so ;-
Burn like the mines of sulphur.-I did say
Enter OTHELLO.

Look where he comes! Not poppy, nor man-
dragora,t

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?

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

Oth. Avaunt! begone 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:
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 s'o'en,
Let him not know it, and he's not robb'd at all.
Iago. I am sorry to hear this.

*Seem as if you knew nothing of the matter.
†The mandrake has a soporific quality.
Possessed'st.

Oth. I had been happy, if the general camp. [It is impossible, you should see this,
Pioneers and all, had tasted her sweet body, Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys,
So I had nothing known: O now, for ever, As salt as wolves in pride, and fools as gross
Farewell the tranquil mind! farewell content! As ignorance made drunk. But yet, I say,
Farewell the plumed troop, and the big wars,
That make ambition virtue! O, farewell!
Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill
trump,

If imputation, and strong circumstances,-
Which lead directly to the door of truth,-
Will give you satisfaction, you may have it.
Oth. Give me a living" reason she's disloyal.

The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife, Iago. I do not like the office:
The royal banner; and all quality, [war! But, sitht I am enter'd in this cause so far,-
Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious Prick d to it by foolish honesty and love,-
And O you mortal engines, whose rude throats I will go on. I lay with Cassio lately;
The immortal Jove's dread clamours counter And, being troubled with a raging tooth,
feit,
I could not sleep.

Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone!
Iago. Is it possible:-My lord,

There are a kind of men so loose of soul,
That in their sleeps will mutter their affairs;

Oth. Villain, be sure thou prove my love a One of this kind is Cassio:

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.

lago Is it come to this?

Oth. Make me to see it; or (at the least) so
prove it,

That the approbation bear no hinge or loop,
To hang a doubt on: or, woe upon thy life!
Iago. My noble lord,-

Oth. If thou dost slander her, and torture
Never pray more: abandon all remorse, [me,
On horror's head horrors accumulate :
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.

I thank you for this profit; and, from hence, I'll love no friend, since love breeds such offence.

Oth. Nay, stay:-Thou shouldst be honest. Iago. I should be wise; for honesty's a fool, And loses that it works for.

Oth. By the world,

1

In sleep I heard him say,--Sweet Desdemona.
Let us be wary, let us hide our loves! [hand.
And then, Sir, would he gripe, and wring my
Cry,--0, sweet creature! and then kiss me
As if he pluck'd up kisses by the roots, [hard,
That grew upon my lips: then laid his leg
Over my thigh, and sigh'd, and kiss'd; and
then
[Moor!
Cried,-Cursed fate! that gave thee to the
Oth. O monstrous! monstrous !
Iago. Nay, this was but his dream.

Oth. But this denoted a foregone conclusion;
'Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream.
lago. And this may help to thicken other
That do demonstrate thinly.
[proofs,

Oth. I'll tear her all to pieces.
Iago. Nay, but be wise: yet we see nothing

done :

lives;

One is too poor, too weak for my revenge! [not; Now do I see 'tis true. Look here. Iago; I think my wife be honest, and think she is All my fond love thus I do blow to heaven: I think that thou art just and think thou art 'Tis gone.

not;

[fresh Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell! I'll have some proof: Her name, that was as Yield up, O love, thy crown, and hearted As Dian's visage, is now begrim'd and black

throne,

[fraught, As mine own face.-If there be cords, or To tyrannous hate! swell, bosom, with thy knives,

Poison, or fire, or suffocating streams,
I'll not endure it.-Would, I were satisfied!
lago. I see, Sir, you are eaten up with pas-
I do repent me, that I put it to you. [sion:
You would be satisfied?

Oth. Would? nay, I will.

Ingo. And may but, how? how satisfied,
my lord?

Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on?
Behold her tupp'd?

For 'tis of aspic's tongues!
lago. Pray, be content.
Oth. O, blood, lago, blood!

lago. Patience, I say; your mind, perhaps,
may change.

Oth. Never, Iago. Like to the Pontic sea,
Whose icy current and compulsive course
Ne'er feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on
To the Propontic, and the Hellespont:
Even so my bloody thoughts, with violent
pace,
[love,
Shall ne'er look back, ne'er ebb to humble
Till that a capable§ and wide revenge

Oth. Death and damnation! O! Iago. It were a tedious difficulty, I think, To bring them to that prospect: Damn them Swallow them up--Now, by yond' marble If ever mortal eyes do see them bolster, [then, More than their own! What then? how then? In the due reverence of a sacred vow [Kneels, I here engage my words.

What shall I say? Where's satisfaction?

The vilest of the camp. Pioneers were generally degraded soldiers. All tenderness all pity.

heaven,

[quires Hot, hot, and moist: This hand of yours recom-A sequester from liberty, fasting and prayer, Much castigation,* exercise devout; For here's a young and sweating devil here, That commonly rebels. 'Tis a good hand, A frank one.

Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance
bounteous,

And will upon the instant put thee to't:
Within these three days let me hear thee say,
That Cassio's not alive.

Iago. My friend is dead; 'tis done, at your
But let her live.
[request:

Oth. Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her!
Come, go with me apart; I will withdraw,
To furnish me with some swift means of death
For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieuten-

ant.

Des. Why, man?

Des. You may, indeed, say so;

For 'twas that hand that gave away my heart. Oth. A liberal hand: The hearts of old gave hands;

But our new heraldry is-hands, not hearts. Des. I cannot speak of this. Come now, your promise.

Oth. What promise, chuck?

Des. I have sent to bid Cassio come speak
with you.

Oth. I have a salt and sullen rheum offends
Lend me thy handkerchief.
Des. Here, my lord.

Oth. That which I gave you.

Des. I have it not about me.

Oth. Not?

Des. No, indeed, my lord.

Oth. That is a fault;

That kandkerchief

[me;

Did an Egyptian to my mother give;
She was a charmer,t and could almost read

Clo. He is a soldier; and for me to say a The thoughts of people: she told her, while

soldier lies, is stabbing.

she kept it,

Des. Go to where lodges he? Clo. To tell you where he lodges, is to tell Entirely to her love: but if she lost it, you where I lie.

[ther Twould make her amiable, and subdue my-fa

Or made a gift of it, my father's eye [hunt
After new fancies: She, dying, gave it me;
Should hold her loathly, and his spirits should
And bid me, when my fate would have me
wive,

Des. Can any thing be made of this? Clo. I know not where he lodges; and for me to devise a lodging, and say-he lies here, or he lies there, were to lie in my own throat. Des. Can you inquire him out, and be edi-To give it her. I did so and take heed of't, fied by report? To lose or give't away, were such perdition, Make it a darling like your precious eye; As nothing else could match.

that

Clo. I will chastise the world for him; is, make questions, and by them answer. Des. Seek him, bid him come hither: tell him, I have moved my lord in his behalf, and hope all will be well.

Des. Is it possible?

Oth. 'Tis true, there's magic in the web of it: Clo. To do this, is within the compass of The sun to make two hundred compasses, A sibyl, that had number'd in the world man's wit; and therefore I will attempt the In her prophetic fury sew'd the work: doing it. [Exit. The worms were hallow'd, that did breed the

Des. Where should I lose that handkerchief,
Emilia ?

Emil. I know not, madam.

Des. Believe me, I had rather have lost my

purse

Full of crusadoes. And, but my noble Moor
Is true of mind, and made of no such baseness
As jealous creatures are, it were enough
To put him to ill-thinking.

Emil. Is he not jealous?

Des. Who, he? I think, the sun, where he was born,

Drew all such humours from him.

Emil. Look, where he comes,

Des. I will not leave him now, till Cassio
Be call'd to him.-How is't with you, my lord?