I found not Cassio's kisses on her lips: Oth. I had been happy, if the general camp, Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war! And, O you mortal engines, whose rude throats The immortal Jove's dread clamours counterfeit, Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone! Iago. Is it possible?-My lord,—— Oth. Villain, be sure thou prove my love a 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. Iago. Is it come to this? Oth. Make me to see it; or (at the least) so prove it, That the probation bear no hinge, nor loop, Oth. If thou dost slander her, and torture me, Never pray more: abandon all remorse† ; 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?— • The vilest of the camp. Pioneers were generally degraded soldiers. + All tenderness, all pity. 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, I thank you for this profit; and, from hence, Oth. By the world, I think my wife be honest, and think she is not; As mine own face. If there be cords, or knives, I'll not endure it.-Would, I were satisfied! Iago. I see, sir, you are eaten up with passion : I do repent me, that I put it to you. You would be satisfied? Oth. Would? nay, I will. Iago. And may: but how? how satisfied, my lord? Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on? Oth. Death and damnation! O! Iago. It were a tedious difficulty, I think, To bring them to that prospect: Damn them then, More than their own! What then? how then? Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys, Oth. Give me a living* reason she's disloyal. But, sith+ I am enter'd in this cause so far,— There are a kind of men so loose of soul, In sleep I heard him say,-Sweet Desdemona, And then, sir, would he gripe, and wring my hand, That grew upon my lips: then laid his leg Iago. Oth. I'll tear her all to pieces. Iago. Nay, but be wise: yet we see nothing done; She may be honest yet. Tell me but this,Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief, Spotted with strawberries, in your wife's hand? Oth. I gave her such a one; 'twas my first gift. Iago. I know not that: but such a handkerchief (I am sure it was your wife's,) did I to-day See Cassio wipe his beard with. Oth. If it be that, It speaks against her with the other proofs. * Speaking, manifest. + Since. my All fond love thus I do blow to heaven: 'Tis gone. Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell! Yield up, O love, thy crown, and hearted throne*, To tyrannous hate! swell, bosom, with thy fraught†, For 'tis of aspick's tongues! Iago. Pray, be content. Oth. O, blood, Iago, blood! Iago. Patience, I say; your mind, perhaps, may change. Oth. Never, lago. Like to the Pontick sea, Whose icy current and compulsive course Ne'er feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on To the Propontick, and the Hellespont; Even so my bloody thoughts, with violent pace, Shall ne'er look back, ne'er ebb to humble love, Till that a capable‡ and wide revenge Swallow them up.-Now, by yond' marble heaven, In the due reverence of a sacred vow I here engage my words. Iago. [Kneels. Witness you ever burning lights above! To wrong'd Othello's service! let him command, What bloody work soever. Oth. I greet thy love, Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance boun teous, 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 request: The heart on which thou wast enthroned. + Freight, load. Capacious. § Embrace. But let her live. 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 lieutenant. Iago. I am your own for ever. SCENE IV. The same. [Exeunt. Enter Desdemona, Emilia, and Clown. Des. Do you know, sirrah, where lieutenant Cassio lies? Clo. I dare not say, he lies any where. Des. Why, man? Clo. He is a soldier; and for me to say a soldier lies, is stabbing. Des. Go to; Where lodges he? Clo. To tell you where he lodges, is to tell you where I lie. 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 enquire him out, and be edified by report? Clo. I will catechise the world for him; that 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. Clo. To do this, is within the compass of man's wit; and therefore I will attempt the doing it. [Exit. Des. Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia ? Emil. I know not, madam. Des. Believe me, I had rather have lost my purse |