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. 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 commissions 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 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 harlotry, and thither will I go to him: he knows not yet of his honour

8 - especial commission] The quarto, 1622, alone has command for “ commission." Other variations in this part of the scene, such as "within" for in, &c. are scarcely worth separate notice.

He sups to-night with a HARLOTRY,] The quarto, 1622, has harlot, and the two other old copies "harlotry:" Shakespeare uses "harlotry" in " Henry IV. Part I." Vol. iv. p. 286, and in "Romeo and Juliet," Vol. vi. p. 467.

able 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 Come, stand not amazed at it, but go along with me; I will show 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.

us.

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

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Another Room in the Castle.

Enter OTHELLO, LODOVICO, DESDEMONA, EMILIA, and Attendants.

Lod. I do beseech you, sir, trouble yourself no far

ther.

Oth. O! pardon me; 'twill do me good to walk.
Lod. Madam, good night; I humbly thank your

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;

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. Emil. I have laid those sheets you bade me on the bed.

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.

Come, come, you talk.

Emil.
Des. My mother had a maid call'd Barbara :
She was in love; and he she lov'd prov'd mad,
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 do2,
But to go hang my head all at one side,
And sing it like poor Barbara. Pr'ythee, despatch.
Emil. Shall I go fetch your night-gown?

Des.

This Lodovico is a proper man.

Emil. A very handsome man.

Des. He speaks well.

No, unpin me here.

Emil. I know a lady in Venice would have walked barefoot to Palestine for a touch of his nether lip.

1

Good father!] Thus the folio, and the quarto, 1630. The quarto, 1622, reads "Good faith!" Two lines above, the folio omits " in them."

2

I have much to do,] In the quarto, 1622, these words and all that follows them, including the song, "down to Desdemona's question, "Hark! who is it that knocks?" are not in the quarto, 1622, but in the folio, and in the quarto, 1630.

soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree,

Des. The poor

Sing all a green willow;

[Singing.

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, willow, willow:

Her salt tears fell from her, and soften'd the stones; Lay by these.

Sing willow, willow, willow.

Pr'ythee, hie thee; he'll come anon.

Sing all a green willow must be my garland.

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, willow, willow:

If I court mo 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 so1.-O, these men, these

men!

Dost thou in conscience think,-tell me, Emilia,

3 The poor soul sat SIGHING] Singing in the folio, (the Duke of Devonshire's copy has it sining,) but the original ballad, inserted in Percy's Reliques, i. p. 212, (edit. 1812,) has "sighing," and such is the reading of the quarto, 1630. Several old songs are extant, of which the burden is "willow, willow, willow :" one of these, by old John Heywood, each stanza ending, " For all the green willow is my garland," is contained in a very valuable manuscript of the time, in the possession of Mr. B. H. Bright. Like the original ballad in Percy's Reliques, it is the lamentation of a man for a woman's infidelity.

4 I have heard it said so.-] This, as well as the following speech, is omitted in the quarto, 1622, but they are found in the folio, and in the quarto, 1630.

That there be women do abuse their husbands

In such gross kind?

Emil.

There be some such, no question.

Des. Would'st 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 i̇' the dark.

Des. Would'st thou do such a deed for all the world? Emil. The world is a huge thing: 'tis a great price For a small vice.

Des.

In troth, I think thou would'st not. Emil. In 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 world; and, having the world for your labour, 'tis 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,

5

WHY, who would not] The quarto, 1622," Od's pity, who would not," &c. But, I do think,] These words and all the rest of the speech are wanting in the quarto, 1622.