Buys herself bread and clothes: it is a creature, As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad, Whose want even kills me. Iago. Ply Desdemona well, and you are sure of't. Now, if this suit lay in Bianca's power, [Speaking lower. How quickly should you speed. Iago. Do you hear, Cassio? Oth. Now he importunes him To tell it o'er: Go to; well said, well said. [Aside. lago. She gives it out, that you shall marry her: Do you intend it? Cas. Ha, ha, ha! Oth. Do you triumph, Roman? do you triumph? [Aside. Cas. I marry her!-what? a customer! I 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. lago. am a very villain else. Oth. Have you scored me? Well. [Aside. shall marry 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'l. 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 [Exit. prepared for. lago. After her, after her. Cas. 'Faith I must, she'll rail in the street else. Iago. Well, I may chance to see you; for I would very fain speak with you. Cas. Pr'ythee come; Will you? [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? prizes the foolish woman, your wife! she gave it lago. Yours, by this hand and to see how he him, and he hath given it his whore. A Oth. I would have him nine years a killing :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. Iago. Nay, that's not your way. Oth. Hang her! I do but say what she is:-So delicate with her needle!-An admirable musician! [Aside., she will sing the savageness out of a bear!out: she of so high and plenteous wit and invention!Iago. She's the worse for all this. Cas. This is the monkey's own giving is persuaded I will marry her 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. 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 gesture 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 perfumed one. What do you mean by this haunting of me? Bian. Let the devil and his dam haunt you! What did you mean by that same handkerchief, you gave me even now? I was a fine fool to take it. Oth. I will chop her into messes :-Cuckold me! I'll not expostulate with her, lest her body and beauOth. Get me some poison, Iago; this night:ty unprovide my mind again: this night, Iago. Iago. 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, I mast take out the whole work?-A likely piece Come from the duke: and, see, your wife is with (1) Ignorant. (3) A common woman. (2) Title of lieutenant. (4) A polecat. him. (5) of so sweet a disposition. Enter Lodovico, Desdemona, and Attendants. Lod. 'Save you, worthy general ! Oth. With all my heart, sir. Lod. The duke and senators of Venice greet you. [Gives him a packet. Oth. I kiss the instrument of their pleasures. [Opens the packet and reads. Des. And what's the news, good cousin Lodovico? Iago. I am very glad to see you, signior; Welcome to Cyprus. Lod. I thank you: How goes lieutenant Cassio? lago. Lives, sir. Des. Cousin, there's fallen between him and my lord Sir, she can turn, and turn, and yet go on, 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 virtue 1) Reconcile. 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 villanous 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? Oth. Pray, chuck, come hither. Des. What is your pleasure? Oth. Let me see your eyes; Look in my face. Des. What horrible fancy's this? Oth. Some of your function, mistress; [To Emil. Leave procreants alone, and shut the door; Cough, or cry-hem, if any body come: Your mystery, your mystery;-nay, despatch. [Exit Emilia Des. Upon my knees, what doth your speech import? I understand a fury in your words, But not the words. Oth. Why, what art thou? Des. And loyal wife. Your wife, my lord; your true 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 pleas'd heaven Yet could I bear that too; well, very well: To knot and gender in!-turn thy complexion there! Des. I hope, my noble lord esteems me honest. Oth. O, ay; as summer flies are in the shambles, That quicken even with blowing. O thou weed, Who art so lovely fair, and smell'st so sweet, That the sense aches at thee.-'Would, thou hadst ne'er been born! Des. Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed? 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, That would to cinders burn up modesty, Did I but speak thy deeds.-What committed! Heaven stops the nose at it, and the moon winks; The bawdy wind, that kisses all it meets, Is hush'd within the hollow mine of earth, And will not hear it: What committed!Impudent strumpet! Des. By heaven, you do me wrong. Oth. Are you not a strumpet? Des. No, as I am a Christian: If to preserve this vessel for my lord, From any other foul unlawful touch, Be-not to be a strumpet, I am none. Oth. What, not a whore? Des. Oth. Is it possible? Des. With who? Emil. Why, with my lord, madam. Des. Who is thy lord? Emil. He that is yours, sweet lady. Des. I have none: Do not talk to me, Emilia; I cannot weep; nor answer I have none, But what should go by water. Pr'ythee, to-night Lay on my bed my wedding sheets,-remember ;And call thy husband hither. Emil. Here is a change, indeed! [Exit. Des. 'Tis meet I should be used so, very meet. How have I been behav'd, that he might stick The small'st opinion on my great'st abuse? Re-enter Emilia, with Iago. 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. Could not have laid such terms upon his callet. lago. 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 the trick upon him? Why should he call her, whore? who keeps her company? What place? what time? what form? what like. No, as I shall be saved. The Moor's abus'd by some most villanous knave, Des. O, heaven forgive us! I took you for that cunning whore of Venice, Re-enter Emilia. Fery you mercy, then ; And put in every honest hand a whip, That have the office opposite to Saint Peter, We have done our course; there's money for your pains; (1) Treasured up. Des. How now, Roderigo? |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? Jago. 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 me. Iago. What in the contrary? Rod. Every day thou doff'st me with some device, Iago; and rather (as it seems to me now,) keep'st from me all conveniency, that suppliest me with the least advantage of hope. I will, indeed, no longer endure it: Nor am I yet pursuaded, 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. lago. 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. Lago. 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. 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 Rod. I will hear further reason for this. [Exeunt. Des. All's one:-Good father! how foolish are If I do die before thee, pr'ythee, shroud me 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, The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur'd Sing willow, &c. 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 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. To the vantage, as would store the world they But, I do think, it is their husbands' faults, grace, Their wives have sense like them; they see, and Yet we have some revenge. Let husbands know, 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? Sing all a green willow must be my gar-The ills we do, their ills instruct us to. II. men! Dost thou in conscience think,-tell me, Emilia,- Emil. Why, would not you? Des. Would'st thou do such a deed for all the Emil. The world is a huge thing: 'Tis a great price For a small vice. Des. Good night, good night: Heaven me suca usage send, Not to pick bad from bad; but, by bad, mend! ACT V. [Exeunt SCENE I-A street. Enter Iago and Roderigo. Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home; Rod. Be near at hand; I may miscarry in't. And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio, Of gold, and jewels, that I bobb'd' from him, |