It is as sure as you are Roderigo, But that I love the gentle Desdemona, I would not my unhoused† free condition Put into circumscription and confine For the sea's worth. OTHELLO'S DESCRIPTION ΤΟ THE SENATE OF HIS WINNING THE AFFECTIONS OF DESDEMONA. Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech In speaking for myself: Yet, by your gracious pa tience, I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what charms, What conjurations, and what mighty magic, (For such proceeding I am charg'd withal) * Outward show of civility. + Best exertion. † Unsettled. / won his daughter with. Her father lov'd me; oft invited me; From year to year; the battles, sieges, fortunes, I ran it through, even from my boyish days, Of hair-breadth 'scapes i' the imminent deadly breach; Of being taken by the insolent foe, And sold to slavery: of my redemption thence, These things to hear, * Would Desdemona seriously incline: But still the house affairs would draw her thence; She swore,-In faith, 'twas strange, 'twas passing strange; 'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful; She wish'd, she had not heard it; yet she wish'd That heaven had made her such a man: she thank'd me; And bade me, if I had a friend that lov'd her, I should but teach him how to tell my story, *My behaviour. + Parts. Intention and attention were once synonymous. And that would woo her. Upon this hint, I spake: ACT II. PERFECT CONTENT. O my soul's joy! If after every tempest come such calms, May the winds blow till they have waken'd death! As hell's from heaven! If it were now to die, ACT III. A LOVER'S EXCLAMATION. Farewell, my Desdemona. I will come to thee straight. * [Exit DESDEMona. Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul, Oth. What dost thou think? Iago. Oth. OTHELLO'S FIRST SUSPICION. Think, my lord? 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, In my whole course of wooing, thou cry'dst, Indeed? Some horrible conceit: If thou dost love me, Iago. My lord, you know I love you. Oth. I think, thou dost; And, for I know thou art 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: Are tricks of custom; but in a man that's just, REPUTATION. Good name, in man and woman, dear my lord, Is the immediate jewel of their souls: 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. OTHELLO'S JEALOUSY GAINING GROUND. This fellow's of exceeding honesty, And knows all qualities with a learned spirit, Must be to loath her. O curse of marriage, * A species of hawk, also a term of reproach applied to wanton. † Straps of leather by which a hawk is held on the fist. + Men of intrigue. Than keep a corner in the thing I love, For other's uses. DEFINITION OF JEALOUSY. Trifles, light as air, Are, to the jealous, confirmations strong Iago. Look, where he comes! Not poppy, nor mandragora,* [Enter Othello. Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world, Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep Oth. To me? Ha! ha! false to me? Iago. Why, how now, general? no more of that. Oth. Avaunt! be gone! thou hast set me on the rack: I swear, 'tis better to be much abus'd, Iago. How now, my lord? Oth. What sense had I of her stolen hours of lust? I saw it not, thought it not, it harm'd not me: I slept the next night well, was free and merry; I found not Cassio's kisses upon her lips: He that is robb'd, not wanting what is stolen, Let him not know it, and he's not robb'd at all. Iago. I am sorry to hear this. Oth. I had been happy, if the general camp, Pioneers and all, had tasted her sweet body, So I had nothing known: O now, for ever, Farewell the tranquil mind! farewell content! Farewell the plumed troop, and the big wars, That make ambition virtue! O, farewell! Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill trump, The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife, The royal banner; and all quality, Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war And O`you mortal engines, whose rude throats * The mandrake has a soporific quality. + Possessed'st. The vilest of the camp. degraded soldiers. Pioneers were generally |