The smallest fear, or doubt of her revolt;
For she had eyes, and choose me: No, Iago;
I'll see, before I doubt; when I doubt, prove:
And, on the proof, there is no more but this,-
Away at once with love, or jealousy.

Iago. I am 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 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
They dare not show their husbands; their best con-
science

Is-not to leave undone, but keep unknown.
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.

Oth.
Iago.

And so she did.

Why, go to, then ; She that, so young, could give out such a seeming*, To seelt her father's eyes up, close as oak,He thought 'twas witchcraft :-But I am much to

blame;

I humbly do beseech you of your pardon,

For too much loving you.

Oth.

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.

Iago.

Trust me, I fear it has :

I hope, you will consider, what is spoke

Comes from my love;-But I do see you are mov'd:

I am to pray you, not to strain my speech

Appearance.

An expression from falconry: to seel a hawk is to sew up his eye-lids.

To grosser issues*, nor to larger reach,

Than to suspicion.

Oth. I will not.

Iago.

Should you do so, my lord,

Cassio's my worthy

My speech should fall into such vile success
As my thoughts aim not at.

friend :

My lord, I see you are mov'd.

Oth.

No, not much mov'd :

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 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;
Whereto, we see, in all things nature tends:
Foh! one may smell, in such, a will most rank,
Foul disproportion, thoughts unnatural.-
But pardon me; I do not, in position,
Distinctly speak of her: though I may fear,
Her will, recoiling to her better judgment,
May fall to match you with her country forms,
And (happily) repent.

Oth.

Farewell, farewell: If more thou dost perceive, let me know more; Set on thy wife to observe: Leave me, Iago. Iago. My lord, I take my leave. [Going. 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 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 a while,
You shall by that perceive him and his means:

*Conclusions.

Note, if your lady strain his entertainment*
With any strong or vehement opportunity;
Much will be seen in that. In the mean time,
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.

[Exit.

Oth. This fellow's of exceeding honesty, And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit, Of human dealings: If I do prove her haggard †, Though that her jessest were my dear heart strings, 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 declin'd Into the vale of years ;—yet that's not much ;— She's gone; I am abus'd; and my relief Must be to loath 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, For others' uses. Yet, 'tis the plague of great ones; 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.

* 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. When we begin to live.

§ Men of intrigue.

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 Oth. 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 (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 out, And give it lago :

What he'll do with it, heaven knows, not I;

I nothing, but to please his fantasy.

Enter Iago.

Iago. How now! what do you here alone?
Emil. Do not you chide; I have a thing for you.
Iago. A thing for me?-it is a common thing.-
Emil. Ha!

Iago. To have a foolish wife.

Emil. O, is that all? What will you give me now For that same handkerchief?

Iago.

Emil. What handkerchief?

What handkerchief?

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

Emil. No, faith; she let it drop by negligence ; And, to the advantage, I, being here, took❜t up. Look, here it is.

* In the north of England this term for a handkerchief is still used.

Iago.

A good wench: give it me. Emil. What will you do with it, that you have been so earnest

To have me filch it?

Iago.

Why, what's that to you?

[Snatching it. Emil. If it be not for some purpose of import, Give it me again: Poor lady! she'll run mad, When she shall lack it.

Iago. Be not you known of't*; I have use for it. Go, leave me. [Exit Emilia. I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin, And let him find it: Trifles, light as air, Are, to the jealous, confirmations strong

As proofs of holy writ. This may do something. The Moor already changes with my poison: Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poisons, Which, at the first, are scarce found to distaste; But, with a little act upon the blood,

Burn like the mines of sulphur.-I did say so :

Enter Othello.

Look, where he comes! Not poppy, nor mandragorat,

Nor all thy drowsy syrups of the world,

Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep

Which thou owd'st‡ yesterday.

Oth.

To me?

Ha ha! false to me?

Iago. Why, how now, general? no more of that. Oth. Avaunt! be gone! 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 ;

* Seem as if you knew nothing of the matter. + The mandrake has a soporific quality.

Possessedst.