IAGO "abusing OTHELLO's ear, that he" (CASSIO) "is too familiar with his wife."-CASSIO entreating DESDEMONA's-assistance to obtain his reinstatement as lieutenant, of which office he had been deprived for his drunkenness.

"DES. Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do All my abilities in thy behalf.

CASS. Madam, I'll take my leave.

(The fatal handkerchief is seen in the hands of DESDEMONA.)

IAGO. Ha! I like not that.

OTн. What dost thou say?

IAGO. Nothing, my lord: or if—I know not what. OTH. Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?" ACT III. S. 3.

V.

IAGO inducing CASSIO to relate some meeting with his mistress, BIANCA, having deluded OTHELLO into the idea that it was an interview with DESDEMONA, in which he is confirmed by BIANCA bringing in DESDEMONA's handkerchief to CASSIO.

"IAGO.

Do but encave yourself,

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.

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 he shall smile, Othello shall go mad;

And his unbookish jealousy must construe

Poor Cassio's smiles, gestures, and light behaviour,
Quite in the wrong.

Отн.
OTH. Iago beckons me; now he begins the story.

(Aside.)

CASS. 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—

Отн. Crying, O dear Cassio! as it were; his gesture imports it.

CASS. So hangs, and lolls, and weeps upon me; SO hales, and pulls me: ha, ha, ha!—

OTH. Now he tells how she pluck'd him to my chamber.

Enter BIANCA.

BIAN. 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? There,-give it your hobby-horse: wheresoever you had it, I'll take out no work on't.

Oтн. By Heaven, that should be my handkerchief!"

ACT IV. S. 1.

Had it pleased Heaven

OTн. O Desdemona!-away! away! away!

To try me with affliction; had he rain'd

All kind of sores and shames on my bare head;
Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips;
Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes;
I should have found in some part of my soul

A drop of patience: but, alas! to make me
A fixed figure, for the time of scorn

To point his slow unmoving finger at,—
O! O!—

Yet could I bear that too; well, very well:
But there, where I have garner'd up my heart;
Where either I must live, or bear no life;
The fountain from the which my current runs,
Or else dries up; to be discarded thence!

DES. I hope my noble lord esteems me honest. OTн. O, ay! as summer flies are in the shambles, That quicken even with blowing. O thou weed!"

ACT IV. S. 2.

RODERIGO, urged by IAGO, attacks CASSIO.

"ROD. I know his gait : 'tis he.-Villain, thou diest. (Rushes from his post, and makes a pass at CASSIO.)

CASS. That thrust had been mine enemy indeed, But that my coat is better than thou think'st:

I will make proof of thine.

ROD.

(Draws, and wounds RODERIGO.) O, I am slain !"

(IAGO rushes from his post, cuts CASSIO behind in the leg, and exit.)

ACT V. S. 1.

VIII.

OTHELLO about to murder DESDEMONA.

❝OTH.

It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul,-
Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars!—
It is the cause.-Yet I'll not shed her blood,
Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow,
And smooth as monumental alabaster.

(Takes off his sword.)

Yet she must die, else she 'll betray more men."

ACT V. S. 2.