Buys herself bread and clothes: it is a creature, 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 From the excess of laughter :--Here he comes :-- take out no work on't. Oth. Now he denies it faintly, and laughs it out Iago. Do you hear, Cassio? [Aside. Now he importunes him To tell it o'er: Go to; well said, well said. [Aside. Iago. She gives it out, that you shall marry her: Do you intend it? Čas. Ha, ha, ha! Oth. Do you triumph, Roman? do you triumph: [Aside Cas. I marry her!-what? a customer !31 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. Oth. Have you scored me? Well. [Aside. Cas. This is the monkey's own giving out: she is persuaded I will marry he, 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 [Aside gesture imports it. Cas. So hangs, and lolls, and weeps upon me; so bales, and pulls me: ha, ha, ha! 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. Well, I may chance to see you; for I 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? 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. Ingo. 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 !5 Iago. Ay, too gentle. Oth. Nay, that's certain: But yet the pity of it, Iago!-O, lago, 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! I'll not expostulate with her, lest her body and beau- Oth. Now he tells, how she pluck'd him to my chamber: O, I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I shall throw it to Cas. Well, I must leave her company. lago. 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. (5) Of so sweet a disposition. The shot of accident, nor dart of chance, 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 Lodovico? 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 Iago. Alas, alas! It is not honesty in me, to speak What I have seen and known. You shall observe 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. [Going. O devil, devil! If that the earth could teem with woman's tears, Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile :--Out of my sight! Des. I will not stay to offend you. Sir, she can turn, and turn, and yet go on, [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 virtue (1) Reconcile. Oth. your Bid her come hither:-go.- I understand a fury in your words, Oth. Why, what art thou? Your wife, my lord; your true Oth. O Desdemona !-away! away! away! Des. Alas, the heavy day!-Why do you weep? Am I the occasion of these tears, my lord? If, haply, you my father do suspect, An instrument of this your calling back, Lay not your blame on me; if you have lost him, Why, I have lost him too. Oth. Had it pleas'd heaven Yet could I bear that too; well, very well: Des. I hope, my noble lord esteems me honest. Des. Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed? Oth. Was this fair paper, this most goodly book, Made to write whore upon? What committed! Committed!-0 tho public commoner! I should make very forges of my cheeks, That would to cinders burn up modesty, Did I but speak thy deeds.-What committed! Heaven stops the nose at it, and the moon winks; The bawdy wind, that kisses all it meets, Is hush'd within the hollow mine of earth, And will not hear it: What committed!Impudent strumpet! Des. By heaven, you do me wrong. Oth. Are not you a strumpet? Des. No, as I am a Christian : If to preserve this vessel for my lord, From any other foul unlawful touch, Be-not to be a strumpet, I am none. Oth. What, not a whore? Des. Oth. Is it possible? Des. With who? Emil. Why, with my lord, madam. Des. Who is thy lord? Emil. He that is yours, sweet lady. Des. I have none: Do not talk to me, Emilia; I cannot weep; nor answer I have none, But what should go by water. Pr'ythee, to-night Lay on my bed my wedding sheets,-remember ;And call thy husband hither. Emil. Here is a change, indeed! [Exit. Des. 'Tis meet I should be used so, very meet. How have I been behav'd, that he might stick The small'st opinion on my great'st abuse? Re-enter Emilia, with Iago. Iago. What is your pleasure, madam? How is it with you? Des. I cannot tell. Those, that do teach young babes, Do it with gentle means, and easy tasks: Iago. Des. Am I that name, Iago? drink, Could not have laid such terms upon his callet.? Iago Why did he so? Des. I do not know; I am sure, I am none such. Iago. Do not weep, do not weep; Alas, the day! Emil. Has she forsook so many noble matches, Her father, and her country, and her friends, To be call'd-whore? would it not make one weep? Des. It is my wretched fortune. lago. How comes the trick upon him? Des. Nay, heaven doth know. Emil. I will be hang'd, if some eternal villain, Some busy and insinuating rogue, Beshrew him for it! Some cogging cozening slave, to get some office, Have not devis'd this slander; I'll be hang'd else. Iago. Fie, there is no such man: it is impossible. Des. If any such there be, heaven pardon him! Emil. A halter pardon him! and hell gnaw bones! his : No, as I shall be saved. The Moor's abus'd by some most villanous knave, Des. O, heaven forgive us! Oth. cry you mercy, then; I took you for that cunning whore of Venice, That married with Othello.-You, mistress, Iago. Speak within door. Emil. O, fie upon him! some such squire he That turn'd your wit the seamy side4 without, And made you to suspect me with the Moor. lago. You are a fool; go to. (3) Fellows. (4) Inside out. Des. O good lago, And ever will, though he do shake me off But never taint my love. I cannot say, whore; Des. How now, Roderigo? me. But, Roderigo, if thou hast that within thee indeed, which I have greater reason to believe now than ever,-I mean, purpose, courage, and valour,―this night show it: if thou the next night following enjoyest not Desdemona, take me from this world with treachery, and devise engines for my life. Rod. Well, what is it? is it within reason, and compass? Iago. Sir, there is especial commission come from Venice, to depute Cassio in Othello's place. Rod. Is that true? why, then Othello and Desdemona return again to Venice. Iago. O, no; he goes into Mauritania, and takes away with him the fair Desdemona, unless his abode be lingered here by some accident; wherein none can be so determinate, as the removing of Cassio Rod. How do you mean-removing of him? Iago. Why, by making him incapable of Othello's place; knocking out his brains. Rod. And that you would have me do? lago. Ay, if you dare do yourself a profit, and a right. He sups to-night with a harlot, and thither will I go to him;-he knows not yet of his honourable fortune: if you will watch his going thence (which I will fashion to fall out between twelve and one,) you may take him at your pleasure; I will be near to second your attempt, and he shall fall between us. Come, stand not amazed at it, but go Rod. I do not find, that thou deal'st justly with along with me; I will show you such a necessity in Iago. What in the contrary? Rod. Every day thou doff'st me2 with some device, Jago; and rather (as it seems to me now,) keep'st from me all conveniency, than suppliest me with the least advantage of hope. I will, indeed, no longer endure it: Nor am I yet persuaded, to|| put up in peace what already I have foolishly suffered. Iago. Will you hear me, Roderigo? Rod. 'Faith, I have heard too much; for your words and performance are no kin together. Iago You charge me most unjustly. Rod. With nought but truth. I have wasted myself out of my means. The jewels you have had from me, to deliver to Desdemona, would half have corrupted a votarist: You have told me-she has received them, and returned me expectations and comforts of sudden respect and acquittance ;3 but I find none. Iago. Well; go to; very well. Rod Very well! go to! I cannot go to, man; nor 'tis not very well: By this hand, I say, it is very scurvy: and begin to find myself fobbed in it.. Jago. Very well. well. Rod. I tell you, 'tis not very I will make myself known to Desdemona: if she will return me my jewels, I will give over my suit, and repent my unlawful solicitation; if not, assure yourself, I will seek satisfaction of you. Jago. You have said now. Rod. Ay, and I have said nothing, but what I protest intendment of doing. Iago. Why, now I see there's mettle in thee; and even, from this instant, do build on thee a better opinion than ever before. Give me thy hand, Roderigo: Thou hast taken against me a most just exception; but, yet, I protest, I have dealt most directly in thy affair. Rod. It hath not appeared. Iago. I grant, indeed, it hath not appeared; and your suspicion is not without wit and judgment. his death, that you shall think yourself bound to Rod. I will hear further reason for this. [Exeunt. Oth. Get you to bed on the instant, I will be returned forthwith: dismiss your attendant there; look, it be done. Des. I will, my lord. [Exeunt Othello, Lodovico, and Attendants. Emil. How goes it now? he looks gentler than he did. Des. He says, he will return incontinent ;4 Emil. Emil. I would, you had never seen him! him, That even his stubbornness, his checks, and frowns, Pr'ythee, unpin me,-have grace and favour in them. Des. All's one :-Good father! how foolish are If I do die before thee, pr'ythee, shroud me Emil. Des. Good troth, I think thou would'st not. Emil. By my troth, I think I should; and undo't, when I had done. Marry, I would not do such a thing for a joint-ring; nor for measures of lawn; nor for gowns, petticoats, nor caps, nor any petty exhibition: but, for the whole world,- Why, who would not make her husband a cuckold, to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for't. Des. Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong for the whole world. Emil. Why, the wrong is but a wrong i'the And sing it like poor Barbara. Pr'ythee, despatch.world; and, having the world for your labour, 'tis Des. This Lodovico is a proper man. And he speaks well. Emil. I know a lady in Venice, who would have walked barefoot to Palestine, for a touch of his nether lip. Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee, The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur'd|| Sing willow, &c. a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly Des. I do not think there is any such woman. To the vantage, as would store the world they But, I do think, it is their husbands' faults, grace, Yet we have some revenge. Let husbands know, Their wives have sense like them: they see, and smell, And have their palates both for sweet and sour, Her salt tears fell from her, and soften'd the As husbands have. What is it that they do, stones; Lay by these: Sing willow, willow, willow: Pr'ythee, hie thee; he'll come anon. When they change us for others? Is it sport? I think, it doth; Is't frailty, that thus errs? Sing all a green willow must be my gar- The ills we do, their ills instruct us to. lánd. II. Let nobody blame him, his scorn I approve,— Nay, that's not next.-Hark! who is it that knocks? Emil. It is the wind. Des. I call'd my love, false love; but what said he then? Sing willow, &c. If I court mo2 women, you'll couch with mo men. So, get thee gone; good night. Mine eyes do itch; Doth that bode weeping? Emil. Des. Good night, good night: Heaven me such Not to pick bad from bad; but, by bad, mend! ACT V. SCENE I.—A street. Enter Iago and Roderigo. Wear thy good rapier bare,5 and put it home; Des. I have heard it said so.-O, these men, these Dost thou in conscience think,-tell me, Emilia,- Rod. Be near at hand; may miscarry in't. And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio, Of gold, and jewels, that I bobb'd' from him, |