I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
And, on the proof, there is no more but this,
Away at once with love or jealousy!
IAGO. I am glad of it; for now I shall have reason
To shew 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 Cassio;
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

190 ACT III

200

They dare not shew their husbands; their best conscience

Is not to leave't undone, but keep 't unknown.

OTH. Dost thou say so?

IAGO. She did deceive her father, marrying you;

And, when she seem'd to shake and fear your looks,
She lov'd them most.

Отн.

IAGO.

And so she did.

Why, go to, then ;

Sc. III

She that, so young, could give out such a seeming,
To seel her father's eyes up close as oak—-

210

He thought 'twas witchcraft- But I am much to

blame;

I humbly do beseech you of

For too much loving you.

Отн.

your pardon

I am bound to thee for ever.

IAGO. I see this hath a little dash'd your spirits.

OTн. Not a jot, not a jot.

IAGO.

I'faith, I fear it has.

I hope you will consider what is spoke

Comes from my love. But I do see you 're mov'd:

I am to pray you not to strain my speech

To grosser issues nor to larger reach

Than to suspicion.

ОTн. I will not.

IAGO.

Should you do so, my Lord,

My speech should fall into such vile success

220

I do not think but Desdemona's honest.

IAGO. Long live she so! and long live you to think so!
Oтн. And yet, how nature erring from itself—
IAGO. Ay, there's the point; as-to be bold with you-
Not to affect many proposed matches

Of her own clime, complexion, and degree,
Whereto we see in all things nature tends;-
Foh! one may smell, in such, a will most rank,
Foul disproportion, thoughts unnatural.
But pardon me: I do not in position1
Distinctly speak of her; though I may fear
Her will, recoiling to her better judgment,
May fall to match you with her country forms,
And happily repent.

Отн.

Farewell, farewell:

If more thou dost perceive, let me know more;
Set on thy wife to observe: leave me, Iago.
IAGO. My Lord, I take my leave.

230

240

[going.

OTн. Why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless
Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.
IAGO [returning.] My Lord, I would I might entreat
your Honour

To scan this thing no further; leave it to time:

Although 'tis 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:
Note if your Lady strain his entertainment
With any strong or vehement importunity;
Much will be seen in that. In the mean time

250

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.

Отн. Fear not my government.

IAGO. I once more take my leave.

OTн. This fellow's of exceeding honesty,

1 positive assertion.

[exit.

And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,
Of human dealings. If I do prove her haggard,
Though that her jesses were my dear heart-strings,
I'ld whistle her off, and let her down the wind,
To prey at fortune. Haply, for I am black,
And have not those soft parts of conversation
That chamberers have; or, for I am declin'd
Into the vale of years—yet that's not much ;-
She's gone; I am abus'd; and my relief
Must be to loathe her. O curse of marriage,
That we can call these delicate creatures our's,
And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad,
And live upon the vapour of a dungeon,

Than keep a corner in the thing I love

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. Look, where she comes:

Re-enter DESDEMONA and EMILIA.

If she be false, O, then Heaven mocks itself!
I'll not believe 't.

DES.

260

270

How now, my dear Othello!

280

Your dinner, and the generous islanders By you invited, do attend your presence. ОTн. I am to blame.

DES.

Are you not well?

Why do you speak so faintly?

Отн. 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.

Отн.

Your napkin is too little;

[He puts the handkerchief from
him; and it drops.

go

Let it alone. Come, I'll in with you. DES. I am very sorry that you are not well. [Exeunt OTHELLO and DESDEMONA.

ACT III

Sc. III

EMIL. I am glad I have found this napkin.

290

ACT III
Sc. III

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
(For he conjur'd her she should 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 't Iago:

What he will do with it Heaven knows, not I;
I nothing but to please his fantasy.

Re-enter IAGO.

IAGO. How now! what do you here alone?
EMIL. Do not you chide; I have a thing for you.
IAGO. A thing for me! It is a common thing—
EMIL. Ha!

IAGO. To have a foolish wife.

EMIL. O, is that all? What will you give me now

For that same handkerchief?

IAGO.

EMIL. What handkerchief!

What handkerchief?

Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona ;
That which so often you did bid me steal.

IAGO. Hast stol'n it from her?

EMIL. No, 'faith; she let it drop by negligence,
And, to the advantage, I, being here, took 't up.
Look, here it is.

IAGO.

A good wench; give it me.

300

310

EMIL. What will you do with 't, that you have been so

earnest

To have me filch it?

IAGO.

Why, what's that to you?

[snatching it.

EMIL. If it be not for some purpose of import,

Give 't me again: poor Lady, she 'll run mad
When she shall lack it.

IAGO. Be not acknown on 't; I have use for it.

As proofs of Holy Writ: this may do something.
The Moor already changes with my poison:
Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poisons,
Which at the first are scarce found to distaste,
But, with a little act upon the blood,

Burn like the mines of sulphur. I did say so :

Re-enter OTHELLO.

Look, where he comes! Not poppy, nor mandragora,
Nor all the drowsy syrups of the World,

Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep

Which thou ow'dst yesterday.

Отн.

331

Ha ha! false to me?

IAGO. Why, how now, General! no more of that.

OTH. Avaunt! be gone! thou hast set me on the

rack:

I swear 'tis better to be much abus'd

Than but to know 't a little.

IAGO.

How now, my Lord!
ОTн. What sense had I of her stol'n hours of lust?
I saw 't not, thought it not, it harm'd not me:
I slept the next night well, was free and merry;

I found not Cassio's kisses on her lips :
He that is robb'd, not wanting what is stol'n,
Let him not know 't, and he's not robb'd at all.

IAGO. I am sorry to hear this.

OTн. I had been happy, if the general camp,

Pioners and all, had tasted her sweet body,
So I had nothing known. O, now, for ever
Farewell the tranquil mind! farewell 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,
The royal banner, and all quality,

Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war!
And, O you mortal Engines, whose rude throats
The immortal Jove's dread clamours counterfeit,
Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone!

IAGO. Is 't possible, my Lord?

340

350

ACT III

Sc. III