tainly in a little time have done the deed; and sure never were times so favourable-everything conspires, for a' the auld political post-horses are broken-winded and foundered and cannot get on; and as till the rising generation, the vanity of surpassing one another in what they foolishly call taste and elegance binds them hand and foot in the chains of luxury, which will always set them up till the best bidder; so that, if they can but get wherewithal to supply their dissipation, a minister may convert the political morals of a' sic voluptuaries intill a vote that would sell the nation till Prester John, and their boasted liberties till the Great Mogul.

Othello. Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul, But I do love thee! and when I love thee not,

Chaos is come again.

Tago. 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? Iago. 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 often.
Iago. Indeed!

Oth. Indeed! ay, indeed :-discern'st thou aught in that? Is he not honest?

Oth. Think, my lord! By heaven he echoes me, As if there were some monster in his thought Too hideous to be shown!-Thou dost mean some

thing:

I heard thee say but now,-thou lik'dst not that,
When Cassio left my wife: what didst not like?
And, when I told thee he was of my counsel
In my whole course of wooing, thou criedst, Indeed!
And didst contract and purse thy brow together,
As if thou then hadst shut up in thy brain

Some horrible conceit. If thou dost love me,
Show me thy thought.

Iago. My lord, you know I love you.

I think thou dost.

Oth.
And, for I know thou'rt full of love and honesty,

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're close dilations, working from the heart
That passion cannot rule.

Iago.

For Michael Cassio,

I dare be sworn I think that he is honest.

Oth. I think so too.

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. Why, then, I think Cassio's an honest man. Oth. Nay, yet there's more in this;

I pr'ythee speak to me as to thy thinkings,

As thou dost ruminate; and give thy worst of thoughts

The worst of words.

Iago.

Good my lord, pardon me:

Though I am bound to every act of duty,

I 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
Sometimes intrude not?-

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.

I do beseech you,

Iago.
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
Shapes faults that are not,)—that your wisdom

From one that so imperfectly conceits,

Would take no notice; nor build yourself a trouble
Out of his scattering and unsure observance :—
It were not for your quiet nor your good,

Nor for my manhood, honesty, and wisdom,
To let you know my thoughts.

Oth.

What dost thou mean? Iago. Good name in man and woman, dear my lord, Is the immediate jewel of their souls:

Who steals my purse steals trash; 't is somethingnothing;

'T was mine, 't is 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 thoughts!

Iago. You cannot, if my heart were in your hand; Nor shall not, whilst 't is 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 husband 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 soundly loves! Oth. O, misery!

Iago. Poor and content is rich, and rich enough;

But riches fineless 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,
Is once to be resolv'd. 'T is not to make me jealous,

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. [Returning.] My lord, I would I might entreat your honour

To scan this thing no farther; leave it to time:
Although 't is fit that Cassio have his place,—
For, sure, he fills it up with great ability,-
Yet, if you please to hold him off awhile,
You shall by that perceive him and his means:
Note, if your lady strain his entertainment
With any strong, or vehement importunity;
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 jesses 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