Emil.

He went hence but now,

And, certainly, in strange unquietness.

Iago. Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon, When it hath blown his ranks into the air; And, like the devil, from his very arm

Puff'd his own brother; And, can he be angry? Something of moment, then: I will go meet him; There's matter in 't indeed, if he be angry.

Des. I pr'y thee, do so.

state,

Something, sure of [Exit IAGO. Either from Venice; or some unhatch'd practice 2, Made démonstrable here in Cyprus to him,Hath puddled his clear spirit: and, in such cases, Men's natures wrangle with inferior things,

Though great ones are their object. 'Tis even so; For let our finger ache, and it endues

Our other healthful members ev'n to that sense
Of pain: Nay, we must think, men are not gods;
Nor of them look for such observances

As fit the bridal 3. Beshrew me much, Emilia,
I was (unhandsome warrior as I am,)
Arraigning his unkindness with my soul;

But now I find, I had suborn'd the witness,
And he's indited falsely.

Emil. Pray heaven, it be state matters, as you think;

And no conception, nor no jealous toy,

Concerning you.

Des. Alas, the day! I never gave him cause. Emil. But jealous souls will not be answer'd so; They are not ever jealous for the cause,

But jealous for they are jealous: 'tis a monster,
Begot upon itself, born on itself.

Des. Heaven keep that monster from Othello's mind!

Emil. Lady, amen.

2 Treason.

3 The nuptial feast.

Des. I will go seek him. O Cassio walk here

about:

If I do find him fit, I'll move your suit,
And seek to effect it to my uttermost.
Cas. I humbly thank your ladyship.

[Exeunt DESDEMONA and EMILIA.

Bian. Save you,

Cas.

Enter BIANCA.

friend Cassio!

What make you from home?
How is it with you, my most fair Bianca?
I' faith, sweet love, I was coming to your house.
Bian. And I was going to your lodging, Cassio.
What! keep a week away! seven days and nights?
Eight score eight hours? and lovers' absent hours,
More tedious than the dial eight score times?
O weary reckoning!

'Cas.

Pardon me, Bianca;
I have this while with leaden thoughts been press'd;
But I shall, in a more continuate time *,

Strike off this score of absence.

Sweet Bianca, [Giving her DESDEMONA'S Handkerchief.

Take me this work out. "

Bian.
This is some token from a newer friend.
To the felt absence now I feel a cause:

O, Cassio, whence came this?

Is it come to this? Well, well.

Cas.

Woman, go to!
Throw your vile guesses in the devil's teeth,
From whence you have them. You are jealous

4 Time less interrupted.

5 The meaning is not pick out the work, but copy this work in another handkerchief.

Cas. I know not, sweet: I found it in my cham

ber.

I like the work well; ere it be demanded,
(As like enough, it will,) I'd have it copied :
Take it, and do 't; and leave me for this time.
Bian. Leave you! wherefore?

Cas. I do attend here on the general;
And think it no addition, nor my wish,
To have him see me woman'd.

Bian.

Cas. Not that I love you not.
Bian.

Why, I pray you?

But that you do not love me.

I pray you, bring me on the way a little;

And say, if I shall see you soon again.

Cas. 'Tis but a little way, that I can bring you,

For I attend here: but I'll see you soon.

Bian. 'Tis very good; I must be circumstanc'd. [Exeunt.

ACT THE FOURTH.

SCENE I.

The same.

Enter OTHELLO and IAGO.

Iago. Will you think so?

Oth.

Think so, Iago?

Iago. But if I give my wife a handkerchief,

Oth. What then?

Iago. Why then 'tis hers, my lord; and, being hers,

She may, I think, bestow 't on any man.

Oth. She is protectress of her honour too; May she give that?

Iago. Her honour is an essence that 's not seen; They have it very oft, that have it not :

But, for the handkerchief,

Oth. By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it:

Thou said'st, O, it comes o'er my memory,

As doth the raven o'er the infected house,
Boding to all, he had my handkerchief.
Iago. Ay, what of that?

Oth.

That's not so good, now.

Iago. What, if I had said, I had seen him do you

wrong?

Or heard him say, As knaves be such abroad,
Who having, by their own importunate suit,
Or voluntary dotage of some mistress,

7

Convinced or supplied them, cannot choose
But they must blab

Oth.

Hath he said any thing?

Iago. He hath, my lord; but be you well as

sur'd,

No more than he 'll unswear.

Oth.

What hath he said ?

Iago. 'Faith, that he did, I know not what he

did.

Oth. What? what? chief. I tremble at it. herself in such shadowing

confessions, handkerNature would not invest passion, without some in

struction. It is not words, that shake me thus:

The raven was thought to be a constant attendant on a house infected with the plague.

7 Old spelling of suppled, i. e. softened,

And many worthy and chaste dames, even thus, All guiltless meet reproach. What, ho! my lord!

Enter CASSIO.

My lord, I say! Othello! - How
Cas. What is the matter?

now, Cassio?

Iago. My lord is fallen into an epilepsy; This is his second fit; he had one yesterday. Cas. Rub him about the temples.

Iago. No, forbear: The lethargy must have his quiet course: If not, he foams at mouth; and, by and by, Breaks out to savage madness. Look, he stirs. Do you withdraw yourself a little while, He will recover straight; when he is gone, I would on great occasion speak with you.

[Exit CASSIO.

How is it, general? have you not hurt
Oth. Dost thou mock me?

Iago. I mock you! no, by heaven: 'Would you would bear your fortunes like a man. Oth. A horned man's a monster, and a beast. Jago. There's many a beast then in a populous city,

And many a civil monster.
Oth. Did he confess it?

Iago.

This is the spite of hell.
And, knowing what I am,
Oth. O, thou art wise;
Iago.

Good sir, be a man.
But let me know;

I know what she shall be.
'tis certain.

Stand you awhile apart;

Confine yourself but in a patient list.

Whilst you were here, ere while mad with your

grief,

* Within the bounds of patience.