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

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?
Oth.

[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.
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 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.
lago. 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, Iago? Iago. Did you perceive how he laughed at his

vice?

Oth. O, Iago!

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

prizes the foolish woman, your wife! she gave it
Iago. Yours, by this hand and to see how he

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!
Iago. O, 'tis foul in her.
Oth. With mine officer!..
Iago. That's fouler.

I'll not expostulate with her, lest her body and beau-
Oth, Get me some poison, Iago; this night:
[Asidety unprovide my mind again: this night, lago.

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.
Iago. Before me! look where she comes.

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.
4 D

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.

No, as I shall be saved. The Moor's abus'd by some most villanous knave,
Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow :
O, heaven, that such companions thou'dst unfold;
And put in every honest hand a whip,
To lash the rascal naked through the world,
Even from the east to the west!

Des.

O good lago,
What shall I do to win my lord again?
Good friend, go to him; for by this light of heaven,
I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel
If e'er my will did trespass 'gainst his love,
Either in discourse of thought, or actual deed;
Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense,
Delighted them in any other form;
Or that I do not yet, and ever did,

And ever will, though he do shake me off
To beggarly divorcement,-love him dearly,
Comfort forswear me ! Unkindness may do much;
And his unkindness
may defeat my life,

But never taint my love. I cannot say, whore;
It does abhor me, now I speak the word;
To do the act that might the addition! earn,
Not the world's mass of vanity could make me.
lago. I pray you, be content; 'tis but his humour;
The business of the state does him offence,
And he does chide with you.

Des.
If 'twere no other,-
Iago. It is but so, I warrant you. [Trumpets.
Hark, how these instruments summon to supper!
And the great messengers of Venice stay:
Go in, and weep not; all things shall be well.
[Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia.
Enter Roderigo.

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
put it on him. It is now high supper-time, and the
night grows to waste: about it.

Rod. I will hear further reason for this.
Iago. And you shall be satisfied.

[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
He hath commanded me to go to bed,
And bade me to dismiss you.

Emil.
Dismiss me!
Des. It was his bidding; therefore, good Emilia,
Give me my nightly wearing, and adieu:
We must not now displease him.

Emil. I would, you had never seen him!
Des. So would not I; my love doth so approve

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
our minds !-

If I do die before thee, pr'ythee, shroud me
In one of those same sheets.

Emil.
Come, come, you talk.
Des. My mother had a maid call'd-Barbara ;
She was in love; and he, she lov'd, prov'd mad,1
And did forsake her: she had a song of-willow,
An old thing 'twas, but it express'd her fortune,
And she died singing it: That song, to-night,
Will not go from my mind; I have much to do,
But to go hang my head all at one side,

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
Emil. Shall I go fetch your night-gown?
No, unpin me here.—

Des.

This Lodovico is a proper man.
Emil. A very handsome man.
Des.

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,
Sing willow, willow, willow:

The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur'd||
her moans;

Sing willow, &c.

a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly
make it right.

Des. I do not think there is any such woman.
Emil. Yes, a dozen; and as many

To the vantage, as would store the world they
play'd for.

But, I do think, it is their husbands' faults,
If wives do fall: Say, that they slack their duties,
And pour our treasures into foreign laps;
Or else break out in peevish jealousies,
Throwing restraint upon us; or, say, they strike us,
Or scant our former having in despite ;
Why, we have galls; and, though we have some

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 is; And doth affection breed it?

I think, it doth; Is't frailty, that thus errs?
It is so too: And have not we affections?
Desires for sport? and frailty, as men have?
Then, let them use us well: else, let them know,

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
usage send,

Not to pick bad from bad; but, by bad, mend!
[Exeunt.

ACT V.

SCENE I.—A street. Enter Iago and Roderigo.
lago. Here, stand behind this bulk; straight will
he come :

Wear thy good rapier bare,5 and put it home;
"Tis neither here nor there.Quick, quick; fear nothing; I'll be at thy elbow:
It makes us, or it mars us: think on that,
And fix most firm thy resolution.

Des. I have heard it said so.-O, these men, these
men!-

Dost thou in conscience think,-tell me, Emilia,-
That there be women do abuse their husbands

Rod. Be near at hand; may miscarry in't.
Iago. Here, at thy hand; be bold, and take thy
sword. [Retires to a little distance.
Rod. I have no great devotion to the deed;
And yet he has given me satisfying reasons:--
'Tis but a man gone :-forth, my sword; he dies.
[Goes to his stand.
Iago. I have rubb'd this young quat almost to
the sense.6

And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio,
Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,
Every way makes my gain: Live Roderigo,
He calls me to a restitution large

Of gold, and jewels, that I bobb'd' from him,
As gifts to Desdemona;