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; pray, let Cassio be receiv'd again.

I

Oth. Fetch me that handkerchief; my mind misgives.

Des. Come, come;

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!

Iago. 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.

state,

Emil. Is not this man jealous? Des. I ne'er saw this before. Sure, there's some wonder in this handerchief: 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 hus

band.

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 sorrows,
Nor purpos'd merit in futurity,
Can ransome 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,
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 a while 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.

Emil. Pray heaven, it be state matters, as you think;

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

Emil. Lady, amen.

Des. I will go seek him.-Cassio, walk hereabout:

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 press'd;

But I shall, in a more continuate time,
Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca,
Giving her Desdemona's handkerchief.
Take me this work out.

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

Bian. Leave you! wherefore?

Cas. I do attend here on the general; And think it no addition, nor my wish, To have him see me woman'd.

Bian. Why, I pray you?

Cas. Not that I love you not.

Bian, But that you do not love me,

I pray you, bring me on the way a little;
And say, if I shall see you soon at night.

Cas. "Tis but a little way, that I can bring you,
For I attend here: but I'll see you soon.
Bian. 'Tis very good; I must be circumstanc'd.
[Exeunt.

SCENE I.-The same.

Enter OTHELLO and IAGO.

Iago. Will you think so?

Oth. Think so, Iago?

Iago. What,

To kiss in private?

Oth. An unauthoriz'd kiss.

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, The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt heaven.

Iago. So they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip: But if I give my wife a handkerchief,

Oth. What then?

Iago. With her, on her; what you will. Oth. Lie with her! lie on her!We say, lie on her, when they belie her: Lie with her! that's fulsome.-Handkerchief-confessions,handkerchief. To confess, and be hanged for his labour.-First, to be hanged, and then to confess:-I tremble at it. Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing passion, without some instruction. It is not words, that shake me thus:-Pish!-Noses, ears, and lips :-Is it possible?-Confess!-Handkerchief! O devil! [Falls in a trance.

Iago. Work on,

My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught;

And many worthy and chaste dames, even thus, All guiltless meet reproach.-What, ho! my

lord!

Enter CASSIO.

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.[Exit 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 city,

And many a civil monster.

Oth. Did he confess it?

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,
Which they dare swear peculiar; your case is
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 were 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;
Bade him anon return, and here speak with me;
The which he promis'd. Do but encave your-
self,

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?
[Othello withdraws.
Now will I question Cassio of Bianca,
A housewife, that, by selling her desires,
Buys herself bread and clothes: it is a creature,
That dotes on Cassio,-as 'tis the strumpet's
plague,

To beguile many, and be beguil'd by one ;-
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 beha-
viour,

Quite in the wrong.-How do you now, lieute

nant?

Cas. Ha, ha, ha!

Oth. Do you triumph, Roman? do you triumph?

Aside. 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. Pr'ythee, say true.
Iago. I am a very villain else.

Oth. Have you scored 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, Tago? Iago. Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice?

Oth. O, Iago!

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

lago. Yours, by this hand: and to see how he prizes the foolish woman, your wife! she gave it him, and he hath given it his 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 command 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. 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.

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

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

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

per.

Is there division 'twixt thy lord and Cassio?
Des. A most unhappy one; I would do much
To atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio.
Oth. Fire and brimstone!
Des. My lord?
Oth. Are you wise?

Des. What, is he angry?

Lod. 'May be, the letter mov'd him; For, as I think, they do command him home, Deputing Cassio in his government. Des. By my troth, I am glad on't. Oth. Indeed?

Oth. Mistress,

Des. My lord?

Oth. What would you with her, sir?
Lod. Who, I, my lord?

Oth. Ay; you did wish, that I would make
her turn:

Sir, she can turn, and turn, and yet go on,
And turn again; and she can weep, sir, weep;
And she's obedient, as you say,-obedient,-
Very obedient ;-Proceed you in your tears.-
Concerning this, sir,-O well-painted passion!
I am commanded home :-Get you away;
I'll send for you anon.-Sir, I obey the mandate,
And will return to Venice ;-Hence, avaunt!
[Exit Desdemona.
Cassio shall have my place. And, sir, to-night,
I do entreat that we may sup together.
You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus.-Goats and
monkies!
[Exit.
Lod. Is this the noble Moor, whom our full

senate

Call-all-in-all sufficient?-This the noble nature,

Whom passion could not shake? whose solid vir

tue

The shot of accident, nor dart of chance,
Could neither graze, nor pierce?

Iago. He is much chang'd.

Lod. Are his wits safe? is he not light of brain? Iago. He is that he is; I may not breathe my

censure.

What he might be,-if, what he might, he is

not,

I would to heaven, he were.

Lod. What, strike his wife!

Oth. To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor nothing?

Emil. Never, my lord.

Oth. That's strange.

Emil. I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest, Lay down my soul at stake: if you think other, Remove your thought; it doth abuse your bosom. If any wretch hath put this in your head, Let heaven requite it with the serpent's curse! For, if she be not honest, chaste, and true, There's no man happy; the purest of their wives Is foul as slander.

Oth. Bid her come hither:-go.—

[Exit Emilia. She says enough ;-yet she's a simple bawd, That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore, A closet-lock-and-key of villainous secrets: And yet she'll kneel, and pray; I have seen her do't.

Re-enter EMILIA, with DESDEMONA.
Des. My lord, what is your will ?
Oth. Pray, chuck, come hither.
Des. What is your pleasure?
Oth. Let me see your eyes;

Look in my face.

I knew,

That stroke would prove the worst.

Lod. Is it his use?

Or did the letters work upon his blood,

And new-create this fault?

Iago. Alas, alas!

It is not honesty in me, to speak

[Exit Emilia. Des. Upon my knees, what doth your speech

import ?

I understand a fury in your words,
But not the words.

Oth. Why, what art thou?

Des. Your wife, my lord; your true