Clo. Are these, I pray you, called wind instruments?

1 Mus. Ay, marry, are they, Sir. Clo. Oh! thereby hangs a tail.

1 Mus. Whereby bangs a tale, Sir?

Clo. Marry, Sir, by many a wind instrument that I know. But, masters, here's money for you and the general so likes your music, that he desires you, of all loves to make no more noise with it.

1 Mus. Well, Sir, we will not.

Clo. If you have any music that may not be heard, to't again: but, as they say, to hear music, the general does not greatly care.

1 Mus. We have noue such, Sir. Clo. Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll away: Go; vanish into air; away. [Exeunt MUSICIANS. Cas. Dost thou hear, my honest friend? Clo. No, I hear not your honest friend. I hear you.

Des. O that's an honest fellow.-Do not
doubt, Cassio,

But I will have my lord and you again
As friendly as you were.

Cas. Bounteous madam,

Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,
He's never any thing but your true servant.
Des. O Sir, I thank you: You do love my
lord:

You have known him long; and be you well
assur'd,

He shall in strangeness stand no further off
Than in a politic distance.
Cas. Ay, but, lady,

Cas. Pr'ythee, keep up thy quillets. There's
a poor piece of gold for thee: if the gentlewo-That policy may either last so long,
man that attends the general's wife be stirring,
tell her, there's one Cassio entreats her a little
favour of speech: Wilt thou do this?
Clo. She is stirring, Sir: if she will stir hither,
I shall seem to notify unto her.

Enter IAGO.

[Exit.

Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet,
Or breed itself so out of circumstance,
That, I being absent, and my place supplied,
My general will forget my love and service.

Des. Do not doubt that; before Emilia here,
I give thee warrant of thy place: assure thee,
If I do vow a friendship, l'il perform it

Cas. Do, good my friend.-In happy time, To the last article: my lord shall never rest;

For your displeasure! + but all will soon be well.
The general and his wife are talking of it,
And she speaks for you stoutly: The Moor re-
plies,

That he you hurt is of great fame in Cyprus,
And great affinity; and that, in wholesome wis-
dom,

He might not but refuse you: but, he protests
he loves you;

And needs no other suitor, but his likings,
To take the saf'st occasion by the front,
To bring you in again.

Cas. Yet, I beseech you,

If you think fit, or that it may be done,
Give me advantage of some brief discourse
With Desdemona alone.

Emil. Pray you, come in;

I will bestow you where you shall have time
To speak your bosom freely.
Cas. I am much bound to you.

[Exeunt.

I'll watch him tame, and talk him out of pa

tience;

His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;
I'll intermingle every thing he does

With Cassio's suit: Therefore be merry, Cassio ;
For thy solicitor shall rather die,

Than give thy cause away.

Enter OTHELLO, and Iaco, at a distance.
Emil. Madam, here comes

My lord.

Oth. Was not that Cassio, parted from my wife?

Iago. Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot
think it,

That he would steal away so guilty-like,
Seeing you coming.

Oth. I do believe 'twas be.
Des. How now, my lord?

I have been talking with a suitor here,

A man that languishes in your cispleasure.
Oth. Who is't you mean?

Des. Why, your lieutenant Cassio. Good my
lord,

If I have any grace, or power to move you,
His present reconciliation take; t

For, if he be not one that truly loves you,
That errs in ignorance, and not in cunning,
I have no judginent in an honest face :

I pr'ythee, call him back.

Oth. Went he hence now?

Des. Ay, sooth; so humbled,

That he hath left part of his grief with me;

I suffer with him. Good love, call him back.

Oth. Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other time.

Des. But shall't be shortly?

Oth. The sooner, sweet, for you,

Des. Shall't be to-night at supper?
Oth. No, not to-night.

Hawks are tamed by keeping them from sleep.

1 Accept his submission.

Scene III.

OTHELLO, THE MOOR OF VENICE.

Des, To-morrow dinner then? Oth. I shall not dine at home; I meet the captains at the citadel.

morn;

Des. Why then, to-morrow night; or Tuesday [morn ;Or Tuesday noon, or night; or Wednesday I pray thee, uame the time; but let it not Exceed three days; in faith, he's penitent; And yet his trespass, in our common reason, (Save that, they say, the wars must make examples

Out of their best *) is not almost a fault

To incur a private check: When shall he come?
Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul,
What you could ask me, that I should deny,
What! Michael
Or stand so mammering on.

Cassio,

That came a wooing with you; and many a time,
When I have spoke of you dispraisingly,

Hath ta'en your part; to have so much to do
To bring him in! Trust me, I could do much,-
Oth. Pr'ythee, no more: let him come when
be will:

I will deny thee nothing.

Des. Why, this is not a boon;

'Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves,
Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you

warm;

Or sue to you to do peculiar profit

To your own person: Nay, when I have a suit,
Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed,
It shall be full of poize and difficulty,
And fearful to be granted.

Oth. I will deny thee nothing:
Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this,
To leave me but a little to myself.

Des. Shall I deny you? no: Farewell, my
lord.

Oth. Farewell, my Desdemona: I will come to thee straight.

Des. Emilia, come :-Be it as your fancies teach you;

Whate'er you be, I am obedient.

[Exit, with EMILIA. Oth. Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul,

Bat I do love thee! and, when I love thee not,
Chaos is come again.

Jage. My noble lord,

Oth. What dost thou say, Iago?

217

As if thou then had'st shut up in thy brain
Some horrible conceit: If thou dost love me,
Show me thy thought.

Iago. My lord, you know I love you.
Oth. I think, thou dost;

honesty,
And,-for I know thou art full of love and

And weigh'st thy words before thou giv'st them
[more :
breath,-
Therefore these stops of thine fright me the
For such things, in a false disloyal knave,
Are tricks of custom; but, in a man that's just,
heart,
They are close denotements, working from the
That passion cannot rule.

lago. For Michael Cassio,

I dare be sworn, I think that he is honest.
Oth. I think so too.

lago. Men should be what they seem;

Or, those that be not, 'would they might seem
none !

Oth. Certain, men should be what they seem.
Iago. Why, then,

I think that Cassio is an honest man.

Oth. Nay. yet there's more in this:

I pray thee, speak to me as to thy thinkings,
As thou dost ruminate; and give thy worst of

thoughts

The worst of words.

lago. Good my lord, pardon ine;
Though I am bound to every act of duty,

I am not bound to that all slaves are free to.
Utter my thoughts? Why, say, they are vile and
false;

As where's that palace, whereinto foul things
Sometimes intrude not? who has a breast so pure,
But some uncleanly apprehensions

Keep leets and law-days, and in session sit
With meditations lawful?

Oth. Thou dost conspire against thy friend,

Iago,

If thou but think'st him wrong'd, and mak'st

his ear

A stranger to thy thoughts.

lago. I do beseech you,

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

To spy into abuses; and, oft, my jealousy
Shapes faults that are not,-I entreat you then,
From one that so imperfectly conjects,t

lago. Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd You'd take no notice; nor build yourself a trou

my lady,

Know of your love?

Oth. He did, from first to last: Why dost

thou ask?

lego. But for a satisfaction of my thought; No further harm.

Oth. Why of thy thought, Iago?

lage. I did not think, he had been acquainted

with her.

Oth. O yes; and went between us very oft. lage. Indeed ?

Oth. Indeed! ay, indeed:-Discern'st thou aught in that?

Is he not honest?

lage. Honest, my lord?

Oth. Ay, honest.

lege. My lord, for aught I know.

Oth. What dost thou think?

lage. Think, my lord?

Oth. Think, my lord!

By braven, he echoes me,

As if there were some monster in his thought

Tuo hideous to be shown.

something:

Thou dost mean

I beard thee say but now,-Thou lik'dst not that,
Bbca Cassio left my wife.-What didst not
like?

And, when I told thee he was of my counsel
la my whole course of wooing, thou criedst,
Indeed?

And didst contract and purse thy brow together,

ble

Out of his scattering and unsure observance :—
It were not for your quiet, nor your good,
Nor for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom,
To let you know my thoughts.

Oth. What dost thou mean?

Iago. Good name, in man and woman, dear
my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls:

Who steals my purse, steals trash: 'tis some-
thing, 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. By heaven, I'll know thy thought.
if my heart were in your
lago. You cannot,

hand;

Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody.

Oth. Ha!

Iago. O beware, my lord, of jealousy ;
It is the green-ey'd monster, which doth mock
The meat it feeds on: That cuckold lives in
bliss,

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

Oth. O misery!

lago. Poor, and content, is rich, and rich
enough;

• Courts of Enquiry.

↑ Conjectures.

2 F

N

But riches, fineless, is as poor as winter,
To him that ever fears be shall be poor :-
Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defeud
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,

Oth. Farewell, farewell:

[Going.

If more thou dost perceive, let me know more;
Set on thy wife to observe: Leave me, lago.
Iago. My lord, I take my leave.
Oth. Why did I marry?-This honest crea-
ture, doubtless,
[folds.
Sees and knows more, much more, than he un-
lago. My lord, I would I might entreat your

honour

[goat,
Is once to be resolv'd: Exchange me for a
When I shall turn the business of iny soul
To such exsufilicate and blown surmises,
Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me
jealous,
[pany,
To say-my wife is fair, feeds well, loves com-
s free of speech, sings, plays, and dances well;
Where virtue is, these are inore 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 1 doubt; when I doubt, prove ;
And, on the proof, there is no more but this,-Note, if your lady strain his entertainment
Away at once with love, or jealousy.

lago. I am glad of this, for now I shall have

reason

To show the love and duty that I bear you
With franker spirit: therefore, as I am bound,
Receive it from me :-I speak not yet of proof.
Look to your wife; observe her well with Cas-
sio;

Wear your eye thus, not jealous, nor secure :
I would not have your free and noble nature,
Out of self-bounty, be abus'd; look to't:
I know our country disposition well;
In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks
They dare not show their husbands; their best

She lov'd them most.

Oth. And so she did.

lago. Why, go to, then;

To scan this thing no further leave it to time:
And though it be fit that Cassio have his place,
(For, sure, he fills it up with great ability,)
Yet if you please to hold him off awhile,
You shall by that perceive him and his means:

With any strong or vehement opportunity;
Much will be seen in that. In the meantime,
Let me be thought too busy in my fears
(As worthy cause I have to fear I am,)
And hold her free, I do beseech your honour.
Oth. Fear not my government.
lago. I once more take my leave.
Oth. This fellow's of exceeding honesty,
And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,
Of human dealings: If i do prove her haggard,+
Though that her jesses were my dear beart-
strings,

I'd whistle her off,
To prey at fortune.
And have not those
That chamberers

clin'd

[Erit.

and let her down the wind,
Haply, for I am black,
soft parts of conversation
have ;-Or, for I am de

Into the vale of years :-yet that's not much;-
She's gone; I ain abus'd; and my relief
Must be to loathe her. O curse of marriage,
That we can call these delicate creatures ours,
And not their appetites! I had rather be a
toad,

And live upon the vapour of a dungeon,

She that, so young, could give out such a seem- Than keep a corner in the thing I love,
ing, I

To seel her father's eyes up, close as oak,—
He thought 'twas witchcraft :-But I am much

to blame;

I humbly do beseech you of your pardon,

For too much loving you.

Oth. I am bound to thee for ever.

Jago. I see, this hath a little dash'd your

spirits.

Oth. Not a jot, not a jot.

lago. Trust me, I fear it has.

1 hope, you will consider what is spoke

For others' uses. Yet, 'tis the plague of great
ones;

Prerogativ'd are they less than the base;
'Tis destiny unshunnable, like death;
Even then this forked plague is fated to us,
When we do quicken. Desdemona comes :

Enter DESDEMONA, and EMILIA.

If she be false, O then heaven mocks itself!—
I'll not believe it.

Des. How now, my dear Othello?
Your dinner, and the generous islanders,

Comes from my love;-But, I do see you are By you invited, do attend your presence.

Oth. I am to blame.

Des. Why is your speech so faint? are you
not well?

Oth. I have a pain upon my forehead here.
Des. Faith, that's with watching; 'twill away

again :

Let me but bind it hard, within this hour
It will be well.

Oth. Your napkin is too little;

[He puts the hankerchief from him and it
drops.

Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with yon.
Des. I am very sorry that you are not well.
[Exeunt OTH. and DES.
Emil. I am glad I have found this napkin;
This was her first remembrance from the Moor:
My wayward husband hath a hundred times
Woo'd me to steal it: but she so loves the
token,

• Press hard his restoration to office.
A term of reproach.

Straps of leather by which a hawk is held on the fist.
Intriguers.
When we began to live.
In the north of England and in Scotland this term
for a handkerchief is still used

(For he conjur'd her, she would ever keep it,)
That she reserves it evermore about her,
To kiss and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out,
And give it lago:

What he'll do with it, heaven knows, not I;
I nothing, but to please his fantasy.

Enter IAGO.

Iago. How now! what do you here alone?
Emil. Do not you chide; I have a thing for

you.

Jago. A thing for me?-It is a common thing,

Emil. Ha!

lago. To have a foolish wife.

OF VENICE

tranquil mind! farewel 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,
[war!
The royal banner; and all quality,
Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious
And, O you mortal engines, whose rude throats
The immortal Jove's dread clamours counter-
feit,

Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone!
Jago. Is it possible !-My lord,

Oth. Villain, be sure thou prove my love a
whore;

Emil. O is that all? What will you give me Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof;

DOW

For that same handkerchief?

Jago. What handkerchief?

Emil. What handkerchief?

Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona;
That which you so often did bid me steal.
lago. Hast stolen it from her?

Emil. No, faith; she let it drop by negli-
gence;

And, to the advantage, I being here, took't up.
Look, here it is.

Jago. A good wench: give it me.

[Taking him by the Throat.
Or, by the worth of mine eternal soul,
Thou hadst been better have been born a dog,
Than answer my wak'd wrath.

Iago. Is it come to this?

Oth. Make me to see it; or (at the least) so
prove it,

That the probation bear no hinge, nor loop,
To hang à doubt on: or, woe upon thy life!
Iago. My noble lord,--

Oth. If thou dost slander her, and torture me,
Never pray more abandon all remorse;

Emil. What will you do with it, that you have On horror's head horrors accumulate :

been so earnest

To have me filch it?

lago. Why, what's that to you?

[Snatching it. Emil. If it be not for some purpose of import,

Give it me again: Poor lady ! she'll run mad,
When she shall lack it.

lage. Be not you known of't; I have use
for it.

Go, leave me.

[Exit EMILIA.
I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin,
And let him find it: Trifles, light as air,
Are, to the jealous, confirmation strong
As proofs of holy writ.

thing.

This may do some

The Moor already changes with my poison:-
Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poi-

sons,

Which, at the first, are scarce found to distaste;
Bat, with a little act upon the blood,
Bura like the mines of sulphur.-I did say so :-

I swear, 'tis better to be much abus'd,
Than but to know't a little.

Jago. How now, my lord?

Oth. What sense bad I of her stolen hours of
Just?

I saw it not, thought it not, it harm'd not me:
I slept the next night well, was free and

merry;

1 found not Cassio's kisses on 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.
Jago. 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,

• Scem as if you knew nothing of the matter.
The mandrake, or mandragora, was an opiate of the
most powerful kind.
1 Possessedst.

1 Pioneers were generally degraded soldiers.

For nothing canst thou to damnation add,
Greater than that.

Iago. O grace! O heaven defend me!
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!-
O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O
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 of

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

knives,

Poison, or fire, or suffocating streams,
I'll not endure it.-Would, I were satisfied!
lago. I see, Sir, you are eaten up with pas
[sion:
I do repent me that I put it to you.
You would be satisfied?

Oth. Would? nay, I will.

lago. And may but, how? how satisfied, my
lord?

Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on?
Behold her tupp'd?

Oth. Death and damnation! O!

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

It were to be wished that this and many of the suc ceeding passages could be expunged; but the facts which are adduced as proofs of adultery, are necessarily of such a nature as cannot be expressed in terms of per fect delicacy.