The lethargy must have his quiet course: [Exit Cassio. How is it, general? Have you not hurt your head? Oth. Dost thou mock me? Jago. I mock you! No, by heaven: And many a civil monster. Iago. Good Sir, be a man; Think, every bearded fellow, that's but yoked, May draw with you: there's millions now alive, That nightly lie in those unproper⚫ beds, Which they dare swear peculiar; your case is better. 0, 'tis the spite of hell, the fiend's arch-mock, To lip a wanton in a secure couch, And to suppose her chaste! No, let me know; And, knowing what I am, I know what she shall be. Oth. O, thou art wise; 'tis certain. Iago. Stand you awhile apart; Contine yourself but in a patient list +. [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 ges ture imports it. [Aside. Cas. 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: 0, I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I shall throw it to. Cas. Well, I must leave her company. Enter BIANCA. [Aside. Cas. Tis such another fitchew! marry, a per fumed onc.-What do you mean by this haunting Whilst you were here, ere while mad with your of me? grief (A passion most unsuiting such a man), Bade him anon return, and here speak with me; I say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience; And nothing of a man. Oth. Dost thon hear, Iago? I will be found most cunning in my patience; But (dost thou hear?) most bloody. lago. That's not amiss; But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw? [Othello withdraws. Now will I question Cassio of Bianca, A housewife, that, by selling her desires, As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad; lago. Ply Desdemona well, and you are sure of't. Now, if this suit lay in Bianca's power, How quickly should you speed? Cas. Alas, poor caitiff! [Speaking lower. [Aside. Oth. Look, how he laughs already! | Bian. Let the devil and his dam hannt you! 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?-A likely piece 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 take out no work on't. 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. Iago. And did you see the handkerchief? Iago. Yours, by this hand and to see how he 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. Oh. Ay, let her rot and perish, and be damn'd to-night; for she shall not live: no, my heart is turn'd 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. Iugo. Nay, that's not your way. Oth. Hang her! I do but say what she is :- So delicate with her needle-An admirable musi cian! O, she will sing the savageness out of a bear!-Of so high and plenteous wit and inven tion! Iago. Do you hear, Cassio? Oth. O a thousand, a thousand times:-And then | And will return to Venice ;-Hence, avannt! of so gentle a condition ⚫! [Exit Desdemona. Iago. Ay, too gentle. Cassio shall have my place. And,-Sir, to-night, I do entreat that we may sup together. You are welcome, Sir, to Cyprus.-Goats, and monkies! [Exit. Oth. Nay, that's certain: but yet the pity of it, Iago!-0, lago, the pity of it, Iago! Iago. If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her patent to offend; for, if it touch you not, it comes near nobody. Oth. I will chop her into messes :-Cuckold me! Oth. Get me some poison, Iago; this night :-I'll not expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again: this night, Iago. lago. Do it not with poison, strangle her in her bed, even in 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. Enter LODOVICO, DESDEMONA, and Attendants. Oth. I kiss the instrument of their pleasures. vico? 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 vir tue The shot of accident, nor dart of chance, Lago. He is much changed. Lod. Are his wits safe? Is he not light of brain? Iago. He is that he is; I may not breathe my censure. Emil. Never, my lord. Oth. That's strange. 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. Oth. Bid her come hither:-Go.- [Exit Emilia. She says enough :-yet she's a simple bawd, That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore, A closet-lock-and-key of villainous secrets: And yet she'll kneel, and pray; I have seen her do't. Re-enter EMILIA, with DESDEMONA. Des. My lord, what is your will? Des. What horrible fancy's this? To Emilia. Des. Heaven doth truly know it. Oth. Heaven truly knows, that thou art false as hell. Des. To whom, my lord? With whom? How am I false? 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 pleased heaven To try me with affliction; had he rain'd All kinds of sores, and shames, on my bare head; A drop of patience: but (alas!) to make me A fixed figure, for the time of scorn To point his slow unmoving finger at,- Yet could I bear that too; well, very well: The fountain from the which my current runs, To knot and gender in!-Turn thy complexion there! Patience, thou young and rose-lipp'd cherubin; Des. I hope, my noble lord esteems me honest. Des. Aias, what ignorant sin have I cominitted? Oth. Was this fair paper, this most goodly book, Made to write whore upon? What committed! Committed!-0 thou public commoner! I should make very forges of my cheeks, Des. By heaven, you do me wrong. Is to preserve this vessel for my lord, Des. No, as I shall be saved. Des. O, heaven forgive us! Oth. I cry you mercy, then ; I took you for that cunning whore of Venice, Re-enter EMILIA, with TAGO. 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: Jago. What's the matter, lady? Emil. Alas, lago, my lord hath so bewhored her, Thrown such despite and heavy terms upon her, As true hearts cannot bear. Des. Am I that name, Iago? Des. Such as, she says, my lord did say I was. 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. Iago. Beshrew him for it! How comes this trick upon him? Des. Nay, heaven doth know. Emil. I will be hang'd, if some eternal villain, Some busy and insinuating rogue, Some cogging cozening slave, to get some office, Have not devised 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 his bones! Des. O good Iago, 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, Or that I do not yet, and ever did, And ever will,-though he do shake me off mour; 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 toolishly suf fer'd. Jago. Will you hear me, Roderigo? Des. I will, my lord. [Exeunt Othello, Lodovico, and Attendant Emil. How goes it now? he looks gentler tha he did. Des. He says, he will return incontinent; And bade me to dismiss you. Rod. 'Faith, I have heard too much; for your He hath commanded me to go to bed, words and performance are no kin together. Jago. You charge me most unjustly. Rod. With nought but truth. I have wasted my self 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 return'd me expectations and comforts of sudden respect and acquaintance; but 1 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. Iago. Very well. Rod. I tell you, 'tis not very well. 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. Iago. 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 ex. ception; but, yet, I protest, I have dealt most di rectly in thy affair. Rod. It hath not appear'd. Iago. I grant, indeed, it hath not appear'd; and your suspicion is not without wit and judgment. But, Roderigo, if thon hast that within thee indeed, which I have greater reason to believe now than ever,—I mean, purpose, courage, and valour,-this night shew 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 special 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 linger'd here by some accident; wherein none can be so determinate, as the removing of Cassio. Rod. How do you mean-removing of him ? Lago. Why, by making him uncapable of Othello's place; knocking out his brains. Rod. And that you would have me do? Iago. 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 along with me; I will shew you such a necessity in 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. [Exeunt. Emil. Dismiss me! Des. It was his bidding; therefore, good Emilia Emil. I would, you had never seen him! That even his stubbornness, his checks, anc Pr'ythee, unpin me,-have grace and favour in them. Emil. I have laid those sheets you bade me on the bed. Des. All's one:-Good father! how foolish are If I do die before thee, pr'ythee, shroud me Emil. Come, come, you talk. Des. My mother had a maid call'd-Barbara ; This Lodovico is a proper man. Emil. I know a lady in Venice, who would have walk'd barefoot to Palestine, for a touch of his ne ther lip If I court mot women, you'll couch with mo men. So, get thee gone; good night. Mine eyes do itch; Doth that bode weeping? Emil. Tis neither here nor there. Des. I have heard it said so.-O, these men, these men! That there be women do abuse their husbands Emil. There be some such, no question. Des. Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world? Emil Why, would not you? Des. No, by this heavenly light! Emil. Nor I neither by this heavenly light; I might do't as well i' the dark. Des. Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world? Emil. The world is a huge thing: 'tis a great price Immediately. Wild, inconstant. Mo for more. Der. Good troth, I think thou wouldst not. Emil. By my troth, I think I should; and undo't, en I had done. Marry, I would not do such a ng for a joint-ring; nor for measures of lawn; for gowns, petticoats, nor caps, nor any petty aition: but, for the whole world,-Why, who vaid not make her husband a cuckold, to make a monarch? I should venture purgatory for't. Des. Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong the whole world. Eil. Why, the wrong is but a wrong i' the r; and, having the world for your labour, 'tis wrong in your own world, and you might quickly Make it right. 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, If wives do fall: say, that they slack their duties, Why, we have galls; and, though we have some grace, Tet we have some revenge. Let husbands know, And have their palates both for sweet and sour, I think, it doth; Is't frailty, that thus errs? Des. Good night, good night: Heaven me such Not to pick bad from bad; but, by bad, mend! ACT V. SCENE 1.-A Street. Enter IAGO and RODERIGO. [Excunt. sense, And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio, Of gold, and jewels, that I bobb'd from him, As gifts to Desdemona; It must not be: if Cassio do remain, He hath a daily beauty in his life, That makes me ugly; and, besides, the Moor No, he must die :-But so, I hear him coming. Enter CASSIO. Rod. I know his gait, 'tis he;-Villain, thon diest. Cas. That thrust had been mine enemy indeed, [Draws, and wounds Roderigo. Rod. O, I am slain! Gra. Here's one comes in his shirt, with light and weapons. Iago. Who's there? Whose noise is this, that cries on murder? Lod. We do not know. lago. Did you not hear a cry? Cas. Here, here; for heaven's sake, help me. Gra. This is Othello's ancient, as I take it. lago. O me, lieutenant! What villains have done Cas. I think, that one of them is hereabout, And cannot make away. Iago. O treacherous villains! What are you there? come in, and give some help: Rod. O, help me here! [Iago stabs Roderigo. Iago. Kill men i' the dark ;-Where be these How silent is this town!-Ho! murder! murder ! Iago. Signior Lodovico? Lod. He, Sir. Enter BIANCA. Bian. What is the matter, ho? Who is't that cried? Iago. Who is't that cried? Bian. O my dear Cassio! my sweet Cassio! Iugo. O notable strumpet!-Cassio, may you sus- Who they should be, that have thus mangled you? Gra. I am sorry, to find you thus: I have been Iago. Lend me a garter: so.-0, for a chair, [Iago rushes from his post, cuts Cassio be-To bear him easily hence! Cas. I am maim'd for ever :-Help, ho! Murder- • Our former allowance of expence. + Sensation. To the quick. Bian. Alas, he faints:-O Cassio! Cassio! Cassio! [Falls. + Unsheathed. Fished. |