Are you a man? have you a soul, or sense?— God be wi' you; take mine office.-O wretched fool,

That liv'st to make thine honesty a vice!—

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,

world,

To be direct and honest, is not safe.

I thank you for this profit; and, from hence,
I'll love no friend, since love breeds such offence.
Oth. Nay, stay:-thou should'st be honest.
Iago. I should be wise; for honesty's a fool,
And loses that it works for.

Oth. By the world,

I think my wife be honest, and think she is not;
I think that thou art just, and think thou art not;
I'll have some proof: her name, that was as fresh
As Dian's visage, is now begrim'd and black
As mine own face. If there be cords, or knives,
Poison, or fire, or suffocating streams,
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.

[lord

Iago. And may; but, how? how satisfied, my Would you, the supervisor, grossly gupe on? Behold her tupp'd?

Oth. Death and damnation! O!

Iago. It were a tedious difficulty, I think, To bring them to that prospect: Damn them then,

If ever mortal eyes do see them bolster,
More than their own! what then? how then?
What shall I say? where's satisfaction?
It is impossible, you should see this,

Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys,
As salt as wolves in pride, and fools as gross
As ignorance made drunk. But yet, I say,
If imputation and strong circumstances,—
Which lead directly to the door of truth,-
Will give you satisfaction, you may have it.

Oth. Give me a living reason she's disloyal.
Iago. I do not like the office:

But, sith I am enter'd in this cause so far,-
Prick'd to it by foolish honesty and love,-
I will go on. I lay with Cassio lately;
And being troubled with a raging tooth,
I could not sleep.

There are a kind of men so loose of soul,
That in their sleeps will mutter their affairs;
One of this kind is Cassio:

In sleep I heard him say,-Sweet Desdemona,
Let us be wary, let us hide our loves!

And then, sir, would he gripe, and wring my hand,

Cry,-O sweet creature! and then kiss me hard,
As if he pluck'd up kisses by the roots,
That grew upon my lips: then laid his leg
Over my thigh, and sigh'd, and kiss'd; and then,
Cry'd, Cursed fate! that gave thee to the Moor!
Oth. O monstrous! monstrous!
Iago. Nay, this was but his dream.

Oth. But this denoted a foregone conclusion; Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream. lago. And this may help to thicken other That do demonstrate thinly. [proofs,

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 handker chief,

(I am sure, it was your wife's), did I to-day See Cassio wipe his beard with.

Oth. If it be that,

Iago. If it be that, or any that was hers, It speaks against her, with the other proofs. Oth. O, that the slave had forty thousand lives; One is too poor, too weak, for my revenge! Now do I see 'tis true.-Look here, Iago; All my fond love thus do I 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 aspics' tongues!

Iago. Pray, be content.
Oth. O, blood, Iago, blood!

Iago. Patience, I say; your mind, perhaps, may change.

Oth. Never Iago. Like to the Pontic sea, Whose icy current and compulsive course Ne'er feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on To the Propontic, 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 [heaven, Swallow them up.-Now, by yond' marble In the due reverence of a sacred vow [kneels. I here engage my words.

[kneels.

Iago. Do not rise yet.Witness, you ever-burning lights above! You elements that clip us round about! Witness, that here lago doth give up The execution of his wit, hands, heart, To wrong'd Othello's service! let him command, And to obey shall be in me remorse, What bloody work soever.

Oth. I greet thy love,

[teous.

Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance boun-
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 But let her live. [request:

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. [ereunt.

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 inquire 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.

[erit.

Des. Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia?

Emil. I know not, madam.

[purse

kept it,

'Twould make her amiable, and subdue my father
Entirely to her love; but if she lost it,
Or made a gift of it, my father's eye
Should hold her loathly, and his spirit should hunt
After new fancies: she, dying, gave it me;
And bid me, when my fate would have me wive,
To give it her. I did so and take heed of't,
Make it a darling like your precious eye;
To lose or give't away, were such perdition,
As nothing else could match.

Des. Is it possible?

Oth. 'Tis true; there's magic in the web of it; A sibyl, that had number'd in the world The sun to make two hundred compasses, In her prophetic fury sew'd the work: The worms were hallow'd, that did breed the silk; And it was died in mummy, which the skilful Conserv'd of maidens' hearts.

Des. Indeed! is't true?

Oth. Most veritable; therefore look to't well. Des. Then 'would to heaven, that I had never Oth. Ha! wherefore?

[seen it.

Des. Why do you speak so startingly and rash?
Oth. Is't lost? is't gone? speak, is it out of the
Des. Heaven bless us!
[way?
Oth. Say you?

Des. It is not lost; but what an if it were!
Oth. Ha!

Des. I say, it is not lost,

Oth. Fetch't, let me see it.

Des. Why, so I can, sir: but I will not now; This is a trick, to put me from my suit; I pray, let Cassio be receiv'd again.

Oth. Fetch me that handkerchief: my mina Des. Come, come; [misgives.

You'll never meet a more sufficient man.

Oth. The handkerchief!

Des. I pray, talk to me of Cassio.
Oth. The handkerchief!-

Des. A man that, all his time,

Hath founded his good fortune on your love
Shar'd dangers with you;-

Oth. The handkerchief!-
Des. In sooth,

You are to blame.

Oth. Away!

[exit Othello.

Emil. Is not this man jealous? Des. I ne'er saw this before. Sure, there's some wonder in this handkerchief: I am most unhappy in the loss of it.

Emil. 'Tis not a year or two shows us a man: They are all but stomachs, and we all but food; They eat us hungerly, and when they are full, They belch us. Look you! Cassio, and my husband.

Enter Iago and Cassio. Iago. There is no other way; 'tis she must do't; And, lo, the happiness! go, and impórtune her. Des. How now, good Cassio? what's the news

with you?

Cas. Madam, my former suit: I do beseech you, That by your virtuous means, I may again Exist, and be a member of his love, Whom I, with all the duty of my heart,

Entirely honour; I would not be delay'd:
If my offence be of such mortal kind,
That neither service past, nor present, soITOWS,
Nor purpos'd merit in futurity,

Can rausom me into his love again,

But to know so must be my benefit;

So shall I clothe me in a forc'd content,

And shut myself up in some other course, bo To fortune's alms.

Des. Alas! thrice-gentle Cassio,

My advocation is not now in tune;

My lord is not my lord; nor should I know him,
Were he in favour, as in humour, alter'd..
So help me, every spirit sanctified,

As I have spoken for you all my best;
And stood within the blank of his displeasure,
For my free speech! You must awhile be patient:
What I can do, I will; and more I will,
Than for myself I dare: let that suffice you.
Iago. Is my lord angry?

Emil. He went hence but now,
And, certainly, in strange unquietness.

Tago. 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'ythee, do so. Something, sure, of
state,
[exit Iago.
Either from Venice, or some unhatch'd practice,
Made demonstrable 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 indues

!

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.-Beshrew me much, Emilia,
I was (unhandsome warrior as I am)
Arraigning his unkindness with my soul;
But now I find, I had saborn'd the witness,
And he's indited falsely.

[think;

as you

Emil. Pray heaven, it be state matters, as y 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.

To kiss in private?

Oth. An unauthoriz'd kiss.

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.
Enter Bianca.

Bian. Save you, friend Cassio!
Cas. 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
But I shall, in a more continuate time, [pressed;
Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca,
[giving her Desdemona's handkerchief.

Take me this work out.
Bian. O, Cassio, whence came this? By
This is some token from a newer friend.
To the felt absence now I feel a cause:
Is it come to this? Well, well.

Cas. Woman, go to!

Iago. Or to be naked with her friend abed, An hour, or more, not meaning any harm?

Oth. Naked abed, Iago, and not mean harm? It is hypocrisy against the devil:

They that mean virtuously, and yet do so,

better.

O, 'tis the spite of hell, the fiend's arch-mock,

To lip a wanton in a secure couch,

And to suppose her chaste! No, let me know; And, knowing what I am, I know what she shall be.

Oth. O, thou art wise; 'tis certain. Iago. Stand you awhile apart; Confine yourself but in a patient list. Whilst you are here, ere while mad with your grief,

(A passion most unsuiting such a man), Cassio came hither: I shifted him away, And laid good 'scuse upon your ecstasy;

I tremble at it. Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing passion, without some instruction. It is not words, that shake.ome thus: Pish! Noses, ears, and lips: Is it possible? Confess! Handkerchief! O devil! bookswoons.

Iago. Work on,

The which he promis'd. Do but encave yourself, And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorns, That dwell in every region of his face:

For I will make him tell the tale anew,—
Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when
He hath, and is again to cope your wife;

I
say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience;
Or I shall say, you are all in all in spleen,
And nothing of a man.

Oth. Dost thou hear, Iago?

I will be found most cunning in my patience
But (dost thou hear?) most bloody.
Iago. That's not amiss;

But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw?
Now will I question Cassio of Bianca.

[Oth. retires.

་་་་་་

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

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.-
[oxit Cassio.
How is it, general? have you not hurt your head.
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.
Iago. There's many a beast then in a populous
And many a civil monster.

Oth. Did he confess it?

[city,

Iago. Good sir, be a man; Think, every bearded fellow, that's but yok'd, May draw with you: there's millions now alive, That nightly lie in those unproper beds,

He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain
From the excess of laughter. Here he comes:-
Re-enter Cassio.

As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad;
And his unbookish jealousy must construe
Poor Cassio's smiles, gestures, and light behaviour,
Quite, in the wrong.-How do you now, lieu-
tenant ?

Cas. The worser, that you gave me the addition, Whose want even kills me. [of't. Iago. Ply Desdemona well, and you are sure Now, if this suit lay in Bianca's power, [speaking lower.

How quickly should you speed?
Cas. Alas, poor caitiff!

Oth. Look, how he laughs already! [aside.
Iago. I never knew a woman love man so.
Cas. Alas, poor rogue! I think, l'faith, sho

Cas. I marry her!-what? a customer! I pr'ythee, bear some charity to my wit: do not think it so unwholesome. Ha, ha, ha!

Oth. So, so, so, so: they laugh that win.

[aside. Iago. 'Faith, the cry goes, that you shall marry her.

Cas. Pry'thee, say true.
Iago. I am a very villain else.
Oth. Have you scor'd me? Well.

[aside.

Cas. This is the monkey's own giving out: she is persuaded I will marry her, out of her own love and flattery, not out of my promise.

Oth. Iago beckons me; now he begins the story. [aside. Cas. She was here even now; she haunts me in every place. I was, the other day, talking on the sea-bank with certain Venetians; and thither comes this bauble; by this hand, she falls thus about my neck ;

Oth. Crying, O dear Cassio! as it were: his gesture imports it. [aside. Cas. So hangs, and lolls, and weeps upon me; so hales, and pulls me: ha, ha, ha!—

Oth. Now he tells, how she plucked him to my chamber: O, I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I shall throw it to.

[aside.

Cas. Well, I must leave her company.
Iago. Before me! look, where she comes.
Enter Bianca.

Cas. 'Tis such another fitchew! marry, a perfumed one. What do you mean by this haunting of me?

Bian. Let the devil and his dam haunt you! What did you mean by that same handkerchief, you gave me even now? I was a fine fool to take it. I must take out the whole work ?-A likely piece of work, that you should find it in your chamber, and not know who left it there! This is some minx's token, and I must take out the work? There,-give it your hobby-horse: wheresoever you had it, I'll take out no work on't.

Cas. How now, my sweet Bianca? how now? how now?

Oth. By heaven, that should be my handkerchief! [aside. Bian. An you'll come to supper to-night, you may: an you will not, come when you are next prepared for. [exit.

Iago. After her, after her.

Cas. 'Faith I must, she'll rail in the street else.
Iago. Will you sup there?
Cas. 'Faith, I intend so.

Iago. Well, I may chance to see you; for I would very fain speak with you.

Cas. Pr'ythee, come; will you?
Iago. Go to; say no more.

[exit Cassio. Oth. How shall I murder him, Iago? Iago. Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice?

Oth. O, Iago!

Iago. And did you see the handkerchief?
Oth. Was that mine?

Iago. Yours, by this hand and to see how he prizes the foolish woman, your wife! she gave it Lim, and he hath given it bis whore!

Oth. I would have him nine years a killing :A fine woman! a fair woman! a sweet woman! Iago. Nay, you must forget that.

Oth. Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damned to-night; for she shall not live: no, my heart is turned to stone; I strike it, and it hurts my hand. O, the world hath not a sweeter creature: she might lie by an emperor's side, and commard him tasks.

Iago. Nay, that's not your way.

Oth. Hang her! I do but say what she is:So delicate with her needle! An admirable musician! O, she will sing the savageness out of a bear!-Of so high and plenteous wit and invention !—

Iago. She's the worse for all this.

Oth. O, a thousand, a thousand times;-and then, of so gentle a condition !—

Iago. Ay, too gentle.

Oth. Nay, that's certain: but yet the pity of it, Iago!-O, Iago, the pity of it, Iago!

Iago. If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her patent to offend; for, if it touch not you, it comes near nobody.

Oth. I will chop her into messes: Cuckold me!
Iago. O, 'tis foul in her!
Oth. With mine officer!
Iago. That's fouler.

Oth. Get me some poison, Iago; this night: -I'll not expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again :—this night, Iago.

Iago. Do it not with poison; strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated. Oth. Good, good; the justice of it pleases;

very good.

Iago. And, for Cassio,-let me be his undertaker:

You shall hear more by midnight.

[a trumpet within. Oth. Excellent good.-What trumpet is that same?

Iago. Something from Venice, sure. 'Tis Lodovico,

Come from the duke: and, see, your wife is with him.

Enter Lodovico, Desdemona, and Attendants.
Lod. 'Save you, worthy general!
Oth. With all my heart, sir.

Lod. The duke and senators of Venice greet
you.
[gives him a packet.
Oth. I kiss the instrument of their pleasures.
[opens the packet, and reads.
Des. And what's the news, good cousin Lodo-

vico ?

Iago. I am very glad to see you, signior; Welcome to Cyprus.

Lod. I thank you: how does lieutenant Cassio? Iago. Lives, sir.

Des. Cousin, there's fallen between him and my lord

An unkind breach: but you shall make all well.
Oth. Are you sure of that?
Des. My lord?

Oth. This fail you not to do as you wil—
Treads