O Cassius! you are yoked with a lamb, Cas. Hath Cassius liv'd, To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus, When grief, and blood ill-temper'd, vexeth him? Cas. O Brutus! Bru. What's the matter? Cas. Have you not love enough to bear with me, When that rash humour which my mother gave me Makes me forgetful? Bru. Yes, Cassius, and from henceforth, When you are overearnest with your Brutus, SHAKSPEARE. CHAP. XXI. OTHELLO AND IAGO. Iago. My noble Lord Oth. What dost thou say, Iago? Lago. Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my Lady, Know of your love? Oth. He did, from first to last: why dost thou ask? No farther harm. Oth. Why of thy thought, Iago? Iago. I did not think he'd been acquainted with it. Iago. Indeed! Oth. Indeed! ay, indeed. Discern'st thou aught in that? Is he not honest? Iago. Honest, my Lord? Oth. Honest! ay, honest. Iago. My Lord, for aught I know. Oth. What dost thou think? Iago. Think, my Lord! Oth. Think, my Lord! Why, by Heav'n! thou echo'st mie, As if there were some monster in thy thought Thou dost mean something: I heard thee say but now, " thou lik'st not that,”- In my whole course of wooing, thou criedst, "Indeed!" Iago. My Lord, you know I love you. And, for I know thou'rt full of love and honesty, Are tricks of custom; but in a man that's just, Jago. For Michael Cassio, I dare be sworn, I think, that he is honest. Iago. Men should be what they seem; Or, those that be not, would they might seem knaves. I Iago. Why, then I think Cassio's an honest man. pray thee speak to me as to thy thinkings; As thou dost ruminate; and give thy worst of thoughts Iago. Good, my Lord, pardon me; Though I am bound to ev'ry act of duty, I am not bound to that all slaves are free to. Utter my thoughts!-Why, say they're vile and false; Keep leets and law-days, and in sessions sit With meditation lawful? Oth. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago, If thou but think'st him wrong'd, and mak'st his ear A stranger to thy thoughts. Iago. I do beseech you, Think I perchance am vicious in my guess, Your wisdom would not build yourself a trouble Oth. What dost thou mean? Iago. Good name in man or 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 thousands; But he that filches from me my good name, Robs me of that which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed. Oth. I'll know thy thoughts Iago. You cannot, if my heart were Nor shall not, while 'tis in my custody. Oth. Ha! in your hand; Iago. O beware, my Lord, of jealousy! It is a green-ey'd monster, which doth mock Who doats, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves! Iago. Poor and content is rich, and rich enough; To him that ever fears he shall be poor. Good Heav'n! the souls of all my tribe defend 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?—Tis not to make me jealous Iago. I'm glad of this: for now I shall have reason, To show the love and duty that I bear you With franker spirit. Therefore, as I'm bound, I know our country disposition well ; In Venice they do let Heav'n see the pranks Oth. Dost thou say so? Iago. She did deceive her father, marrying you; And when she seem'd to shake, and fear your looks, She lov'd them most. She that, so young, could give out such a seeming, He thought 'twas witchcraft-But I'm much to blame : I humbly do beseech you of your pardon, For too much loving you. Oth. I am bound to you for ever. Iago. I see this hath a little dash'd your spirits. Iago. Trust me, I fear it has : I hope you will consider what is spoke Comes from my love. But I do see you're mov'd- Than to suspicion. Oth. I will not. Iago. Should you do so, my Lord, My speech would fall into such vile success, My Lord, I see you're mov'd Oth. No, not much mov'd Cassio's my worthy friend 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's 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, Oth. Farewell, farewell; If more thou dost perceive, let me know more: Set on thy wife t' observe. Leave me, Iago. Iago. My Lord, I take my leave. 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 Honour, To scan this thing no farther; leave it to time: Although 'tis fit that Cassio have his place, For, sure, he fills it up with great ability; SHAKSPEARE |