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Iago. I do beseech you,

Though I, perchance, am vicious in my guess(As, I confess, it is my nature's plague

To spy into abuse; and oft my jealousy

Shapes faults that are not ;) I entreat you then,
From one that so imperfectly conceits,

Your wisdom would not build yourself a trouble
Out of my scattering and unsure observánce:
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

Is the immediate jewel of their souls. [lord, 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. I'll know thy thoughts

Iago. You cannot, if my heart were in your

hand;

Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody.

Oth. Ha!

Iago. Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is a green-eyed monster, which doth make

The meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss, (58)

Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;
But, oh, what damned minutes tells he o'er,
Who doats, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly
Oth. Oh misery!

[loves! Iago. Poor, and content, is rich, and rich But riches endless, is as poor as winter, [enough; 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 resolved. Exchange me for a goat, (59).
When I shall turn the business of my soul
To such exsufficate and blown surmises,

Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me jealous,
To say, my
wife is fair, feeds well, loves company,

(58) Observe the resemblance of horns on the head of Othello's prototype, such as are introduced in his figure, 98, ante.

(59) Exchange me for a goat. If the south side of the moon be placed uppermost, in which case Othello will be upside down, the shadows which constitute his person will be found to resemble a goat, with its face to the right, as drawn in figure 103. The goat, so designated, has the

Is free of speech, sings, plays, and dances well; Where virtue is, these are most virtuous.

Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw

The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt;

For she had eyes, and chose 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.

[son Iago. I'm glad of this; for now I shall have reaTo shew the love and duty that I bear you

With franker spirit.

Receive it from me.

Therefore as I'm bound,

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 abused: look to't.

appearance of a number of bubbles blown on his body, as alluded to in the same speech.

Fig. 103,

I know our country disposition well;

In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks

They dare not shew their husbands; their best

conscience

Is not to leave't undone, but keep't unknown.
Oth. Dost thou say so?

Iago. She did deceive her father, marrying you; And when she seemed to shake, and fear your looks, She loved them most.

Oth. And so she did.

Iago. Go to then;

She, that, so young, could give out such a seeming
To seal her father's eyes up, close as oak――
He thought 'twas witchcraft-but I'm much to
I humbly do beseech you of your pardon, [blame:
For too much loving you.

Oth. I'm bound to you for ever.

Iago. I see this hath a little dashed 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're moved-I am to pray you, not to strain my speech

To grosser issues, nor to larger reach,

Than to suspicion.

Oth. I will not.

Iago. Should you do so, my Lord,

My speech would fall into such vile success,

Which my thoughts aim not at. worthy friend.

My Lord, I see you're moved

Oth. No, not much moved

Cassio's my

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 itselfIago. Ay, there's the point;-as (to be bold with Not to affect many proposed matches

[you,)

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 disproportions, thoughts unnatural,
But, pardon me, I do not in position
Distinctly speak of her; tho' I may fear,

Her will, recoiling to her better judgment,
May fall to match you with her country forms,
And, haply, so repent.

Oth. Farewel, farewel;

If more thou dost perceive, let me know more; Set on thy wife t'observe. Leave me, Iago, Iago. My lord, I take my leave.

Oth. Why did I marry ?

This honest creature, doubtless,

[Going.

Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds. Iago. My lord, I would I might entreat your

honour

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