But I do love thee! and when I love thee not, Jago. My noble lord, Oth. What dost thou say, Iago? Iago. Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my lady, Know of your love? Oth. He did, from first to last: Why dost thou ask? lago. But for a satisfaction of my thought; No further harm. Oth. Why of thy thought, Iago? Iago. I did not think he had been acquainted with her. Oth. O, yes; and went between us very oft. Oth. Indeed! ay, indeed :-Discern'st thou aught Iago. My lord, for aught I know. Honest, my lord? Ay, honest. Think, my lord? Think, my lord! By heaven, he echoes me, As if there were some monster in his thought I heard thee say but now, -Thou lik'dst not that, Iago. My lord, you know I love you. And weigh'st thy words before thou giv'st them breath, Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more: For such things, in a false disloyal knave, Are tricks of custom; but, in a man that's just, They are close denotements, working from the heart, That passion cannot rule. Iago. 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 none Oth. Certain, men should be what they seem. Iago. I think that Cassio is an honest man. Oth. Nay, yet there's more in this: Why then, pray thee, speak to me as to thy thinkings, As thou dost ruminate; and give thy worst of thoughts The worst of words. lago. Good my lord, pardon me ; Though I am bound to every act of duty, am not bound to that all slaves are free to. Utter my thoughts? Why, say, they are vile and false, As where's that palace, whereinto foul things Keep leets, and law-days, and in session sit 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. lago. 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 (1) Courts of inquiry. Shapes faults that are not,-I entreat you then, You'd take no notice; nor build yourself a trouble Oth. What dost thou mean? Lago. 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 thousands; 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. Jago. You cannot, if my heart were in your hand; 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,2 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, (1) Conjectures. (2) Endless, unbounded. Is-once to be resolv'd: Exchange me for a goat, Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me jealous, To say-my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company, you Iago. I am glad of this, for now I shall have reason To show the love and duty that I bear 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 Is-not to leave undone, but keep unknown. Iago. She did deceive her father, marrying you; And, when she seem'd to shake, and fear your looks, She lov'd them most. Oth. Iago. And so she did. Why, go to, then; She that, so young, could give out such a seeming,2 To seel her father's eyes up, close as oak, (1) Which makes fair gifts fairer.' (2) Appearance. (3) An expression from falconry: to seel a hawk is to sew up his eyelids. VOL. VIII. S He thought, 'twas witchcraft:-But I am much to blame; I humbly do beseech you of your pardon, 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. lago. Trust me, I fear it has. I hope, you will consider, what is spoke Comes from my love;-But, I do see you are I am to pray you, not to strain my speech Than to suspicion. Oth. I will not. lago. Should you do so, my lord, Cassio's my worthy My speech should fall into such vile success friend : My lord, I see you are mov'd. Oth. No, not much mov'd : lago. Long live she so! and long live you to think so! Oth. And yet, how nature erring from itself,lago. 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, (1) Conclusions. |