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Iago.

Act II.I

Trust me, I fear it has. Than keep a corner in the thing I love, I hope, you will consider, what is spoke Comes from my love;-But, I do see you are Prerogativ'd are they less than the base; For other's uses. Yet, 'tis the plague of great ones;

mov'd:

I am to pray you, not to strain my speech

To grosser issues,' nor to larger reach

Than to suspicion.

Oth. I will not.
Iago.

Should you do so, my lord,

My speech should fall into such vile success
As my thoughts aim not at. Cassio's my worthy

friend :

No, not much mov'd:

My lord, I see you are mov'd.
Oth.
I do not think but Desdemona's honest.
Iago. Long live she so! and long live you to
think so!

Oth. 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 position,
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. ·

Oth.

Farewell, farewell:

If more thou dost perceive, let me know more;
Set on thy wife to observe: Leave me, lago.
Iago. My lord, I take my leave.
Oth. Why did I marry?-This honest creature,
doubtless,

[Going

Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds. Iago. My lord, I would, I might entreat your honour

[Exit.

To scan this thing no further; leave it to time:
And though it be fit that Cassio have his place
(For, sure, he fills it up with great ability,)
Yet, if you please to hold him off a while,
You shall by that perceive him and his means:
Note, if your lady strain his entertainment2
With any strong or vehement opportunity;
Much may be seen in that. In the mean time,
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.
Oth. Fear not my government.
Iago. Lonce more take my leave.
Oth. This fellow's of exceeding honesty,
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'd 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 any relief
Must be to loath her. O curse of marriage,
That we can call these delicate creatures ours,
And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad,
And live upon the vapour of a dungeon,

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'Tis destiny unshunnable, like death;
Even then this forked plague is fated to us,
When we do quicken. Desdemona comes:

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Your napkin is too little; [He puts the handkerchief from him, and it drops.

Let it alone.

Come, I'll go in with you.
Des. I am very sorry that you are not well.
[Exeunt Oth. and Des.
Emil. I am glad I have found this napkin;
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,

And give it Iago:
To kiss, and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out,

I

nothing, but to please his fantasy.
What he'll do with it, heaven knows, not I;
Enter lago.

Jago. How now! what do you here alone?
Emil. Do not you chide; I have a thing for you.
Jago. A thing for me?-it is a common thing,—
Emil. Ha!

Ingo. To have a foolish wife.

Emil. O, that all? What will you give me now For that same handkerchief? lago.

What handkerchief?

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

Iago. Hast stolen 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.
Emil. What will you do with it, 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 it me again: Poor lady! she'll run mad,
When she shall lack it.
Iago. Be not you known of't; I have use for it.
Go, leave me.
[Exit Emilia.

I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin,
And let him find it: Trifles, light as air,
Are, to the jealous, confirmations strong

(5) Men of intrigue.

(6) When we begin to live.

kerchief is still used.
(7) In the north of England this term for a hand-

(8) Seem as if you knew nothing of the matter.

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:-
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'dst2 yesterday.

Oth. To me?

Ha ha! false to me?

Jago. 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.

Jago.

How now, my lord? Oth. What sense had I of her stolen hours of lust? I saw it 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 stolen, Let him not know it, and he's not robb'd at all. Iago. I am sorry to hear this.

Oth. I had been happy, if the general camp,
Pioneers 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 it possible !-My lord,-

Oth. Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore;
Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof;
[Taking him by the throat.
Or, by the worth of mine eternal soul,
Thou hadst been better have been born a dog,
Than answer my wak'd wrath.
Iago.
Is it come to this?
Oth. Make me to see it; or (at the least) so
prove it,

That the probation bear no hinge, nor loop,
To hang a doubt on: or, wo upon thy life!
Jago. My noble lord,-

Oth. If thou dost slander her, and torture me,
Never pray more abandon all remorse ;4
On horror's head horrors accumulate:

Do deeds to make heaven weep, all carth amaz'd,
For nothing canst thou to damnation add,
Greater than that.

Jago.
O grace! O heaven defend me!
Are you a man? have you a soul, or sense?-
God be wi' you; take mine office.-O wretched fool,
That liv'st to make thine honesty a vice !-
O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O world,
To be direct and honest, is not safe.-
I thank you for this profit; and, from hence,
I'll love no friend, since love breeds such offence.
Oth. Nay, stav:-Thou should'st be honest.
Iago. I should be wise; for honesty's a fool,

(1) The mandrake has a soporific quality.
(2) Possessedst.

(3) The vilest of the camp. Pioneers were generally degraded soldiers.

By the world,

And loses that it works for.
Oth.
I think my wife be honest, and think she is not;
I think that thou art just, and think thou art not;
I'll have some proof: Her name, that was as fresh
As Dian's visage, is now begrim'd and black
As mine own face.-If there be cords, or knives,
Poison, or fire, or suffocating streams,
I'll not endure it. Would, I were satisfied!
lago. I see, sir, you are eaten up with passion:
I do repent me, that I put it to you.
You would be satisfied?

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Oth.

lord?

Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on?
Behold her tupp'd?
Death and damnation! O!
lago. It were a tedious difficulty, I think,
To bring them to that prospect: Damn them then,
If ever mortal eyes do see them bolster,
More than their own! What then? how then?
What shall I say? Where's satisfaction?
It is impossible, you should see this,
Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkies,
As salt as wolves in pride, and fools as gross
As ignorance made drunk. But yet, I say,
If imputation, and strong circumstances,-
Which lead directly to the door of truth,-
Will give you satisfaction, you may have it.

Oth. Give me a living reason she's disloyal.
lago. I do not like the office:

But, sith I am enter'd in this cause so far,-
Prick'd to it by foolish honesty and love,-
I will go on. I lay with Cassio lately;
And, being troubled with a raging tooth,
I could not sleep.

There are a kind of men so loose of soul,
That in their sleeps will mutter their affairs;
One of this kind is Cassio:

In sleep I heard him say,-Sweet Desdemona,
Let us be wary, let us hide our loves!

And then, sir, would he gripe, and wring my hand,
Cry,-O, sweet creature! and then kiss me hard,
As if he pluck'd up kisses by the roots,
That grew upon my lips: then laid his leg
Over my thigh, and sigh'd, and kiss'd; and then
Cried,-Cursed fate! that gave thee to the Moor!
Oth. O monstrous! monstrous!
lago.
Nay, this was but his dream.
Oth. But this denoted a foregone conclusion;
'Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream.
Iago. And this may help to thicken other proofs,
That do demonstrate thinly.
Oth.
I'll tear her all to pieces.
Iago. Nay, but be wise: yet we see nothing.
done;

She may be honest yet. Tell me but this,-
Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief,
Spotted with strawberries, in your wife's hand?

Oth. I gave her such a one; 'twas my first gift.
Iago. I know not that: but such a handkerchief
(I am sure it was your wife's,) did I to-day
See Cassio wipe his beard with.

Oth.

If it be that,

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Oth. Well, my good lady:-[Aside.] O, hardness to dissemble!-How do you, Desdemona ? Des.

Well, my good lord. Oth. Give me your hand: This hand is moist, my lady.

Des. It yet has felt no age, nor known no sorrow. Oth. This argues fruitfulness, and liberal heart;Hot, hot, and moist: This hand of yours requires Aquester from liberty, fasting and prayer, Much castigation," exercise devout; For here's a young and sweating devil here, That commonly rebels. "Tis a good hand, A frank one.

Des.

You may, indeed, say so;
For 'twas that hand that gave away my heart.
Oth. A liberal hand: The hearts of old, gave
hands;

But our new heraldry is-hands, not hearts.
Des. I cannot speak of this.

promise.

Oth. What promise, chuck?

Come now, your

Des. I have sent to bid Cassio come speak with

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That handkerchief

That is a fault:

Did an Egyptian to my mother give;
She was a charmer, and could almost read

Clo. He is a soldier; and for me to say a soldier The thoughts of people: she told her, while she

lies, is stabbing.

Des. Go to Where lodges he?

kept it,

Twould make her amiable, and subdue my father

Clo. To tell you where he lodges, is to tell you Entirely to her love; but if she lost it, where I lie.

Des. Can any thing be made of this?

Clo. know not where he lodges; and for me to devise a lodging, and say-he lies here, or he lies there, were to lie in my own throat.

Des. Can you inquire him out, and be edified by report?

Clo. I will catechize the world for him; that is, make questions, and by them answer.

Des. Seek him, bid him come hither: tell him, I have moved my lord in his behalf, and hope, all will be well.

Clo. To do this, is within the compass of man's wit; and therefore I will attempt the doing it. [Ex. Des. Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia?

Emil. I know not, madam.

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Or made a gift of it, my father's eye

Should hold her loathly, and his spirits should hunt
After new fancies: She, dying, gave it me;
And bid me, when my fate would have me wive,
To give it her. I did so and take heed of't,
Make it a darling like your precious eve;
To lose or giv't away, were such perdition,
As nothing else could match.

Des.
Is it possible?
Oth. 'Tis true: there's magic in the web of it;
A sybil, that had number'd in the world
The sun to make two hundred compasses,
In her prophetic fury sew'd the work:
The worms were hallow'd, that did breed the silk;
And it was died in mummy, which the skilful
Conserv'd of maidens' hearts.

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Des. Why, so I can, sir; but I will not now:

This is a trick, to put me from my suit;

I pray, let Cassio be receiv'd again.

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And, certainly, in strange unquietness.
Iago. Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon,
When it hath blown his ranks into the air;
And, like the devil, from his very arm
Puff'd his own brother ;-And can he be angry?
Something of moment, then: I will go meet him;
There's matter in't indeed, if he be angry.
Des. I pr'ythee, do so.-Something, sure, of
(Exit lago.
Either from Venice; or some unhatch'd practice,*
Made démonstrable here in Cyprus to him,-
Hath puddled his clear spirit: and, in such cases,
Men's natures wrangle with inferior things,
Though great ones are their object. 'Tis even so;
For let our finger ache, and it indues

state.

Our other healthful members ev'n to that sense
Of pain: Nay, we must think, men are not gods;

Oth. Fetch me that handkerchief: my mind Nor of them look for such observances

misgives.

Des. Come, come;

You'll never meet a more sufficient man.

Oth. The handkerchief,-
Des.

I pray, talk me of Cassio.

Oth. The handkerchief,Des.

A man that, all his time,

Hath founded his good fortune on your love;

Shar'd dangers with you ;

Oth.

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The handkerchief,

[Exit Othello. Is not this man jealous? Des. I ne'er saw this before. Sure, there's some wonder in this handkerchief: I am most unhappy in the loss of it.

Emil. 'Tis not a year or two shows us a man: They are all but stomachs, and we all but food; They eat us hungerly, and when they are full, They belch us. Look you! Cassio, and my husband.

Enter Iago and Cassio.

Iago. There is no other way; 'tis she must do't; And, lo, the happiness! go, and impórtune her. Des. How now? good Cassio? what's the news with you?

Cas. Madam, my former suit: I do beseech you, That, by your virtuous means, I may again Exist, and be a member of his love,

Whom I, with all the duty of my heart,

Entirely honour; I would not be delay'd:

If my offence be of such mortal kind,

That neither service past, nor present sorrows,

Nor purpos'd merit in futurity,

Can ransom me into his love again,

But to know so must be my benefit;

So shall I clothe me in a forc'd content,

And shut myself up in some other course, To fortune's alms.

Des.

Alas! thrice-gentle Cassio,

My advocation is not now in tune;

My lord is not my lord; nor should I know him,
Were he in favour,2 as in humour, alter'd.
So help me, every spirit sanctified,

As I have spoken for you all my best;
And stood within the blank' of his displeasure,

For my free speech! You must a while be patient:
What I can do, I will; and more I will,
Than for myself I dare: let that suffice you.
Jago. Is my lord angry!
Emil.

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As fit the bridal.'-Beshrew me much, Emilia,
I was (unhandsome warrior as I am,)
Arraigning his unkindness with my soul;
But now I find, I had suborn'd the witness,
And he's indited falsely.

Emil. Pray heaven, it be state-matters, as you think;

And no conception, nor no jealous toy,
Concerning you.

Des. Alas, the day! I never gave him cause.
Emil. But jealous souls will not be answer'd so;
They are not ever jealous for the cause,
But jealous for they are jealous: 'tis a monster,
Begot upon itself, born on itself.

Des. Heaven keep that monster from Othello's mind!

Emil. Lady, amen.

Des. I will go seek him.-Cassio, walk hereabout: If I do find him fit, I'll move your suit, And seek to effect it to my uttermost. Cas. I humbly thank your ladyship.

[Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia. Enter Bianca.

Bian. Save you, friend Cassio! Cas. What make you from home? How is it with you, my most fair Bianca ? I'faith, sweet love, I was coming to your house.

Bian. And I was going to your lodging, Cassio. What! keep a week away? seven days and nights? Eight score eight hours? and lovers' absent hours, More tedious than the dial eight score times? O weary reckoning!

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Why, whose is it? Cas. I know not, sweet: I found it in my chamber. I like the work well; ere it be demanded, (As like enough it will,) I'd have it copied :

(6) Time less interrupted.

(7) The meaning is, not pick out the work, but copy this work in another handkerchief.

4 C

Take it, and do it; and leave me for this time.
Bian. Leave you! wherefore?
Cas. I do attend here on the general;
And think it no addition, nor my wish,
To have him see me woman'd.

Bian.

Cas. Not that I love you not.
Bian.

Why, I pray you?

But that you do not love me.
I pray you, bring me on the way a little;
And say, if I shall see you soon at night.
Cas. 'Tis but a little way, that I can bring you,
For I attend here: but I'll see you soon.
Bian. 'Tis very good; I must be circumstanc'd.
[Exeunt.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.-The same.

Iago. Will you think so?

Oth.

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fulsome.--Handkerchief,-confessions,-handker
chief.-To confess, and be hanged for his labour.-
First to be hanged, and then to confess :-I tremble
at it. Nature would not invest herself in such
shadowing passion, without some instruction. It is
not words, that shake me thus:-Pish!-Noses,
ears, and lips :-Is it possible?-Confess!-Hand-
kerchief!-O devil!—
[Falls in a trance.
Iago. Work on,

My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are
caught:

And many worthy and chaste dames, even thus,
All guiltless meet reproach.-What, ho! my lord!
Enter Cassio.

My lord, I say! Othello!-How now, Cassio?
Cas. What is the matter?

Fago. My lord has fallen into an epilepsy;

Enter Othello, and Iago. This is his second fit; he had one yesterday.
Cas. Rub him about the temples.
Iago.

Think so, Iago?

An unauthoriz'd kiss. lago. Or to be naked with her friend abed, An hour, or more, not meaning any harm?

What,

Oth. Naked abed, lago, and not mean harm?

It is hypocrisy against the devil:

They that mean virtuously, and yet do so,

The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt heaven.

Iago. So they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip:

But if I give my wife a handkerchief,

Oth. What then?

No, forbear:
The lethargy must have his quiet course:
If not, he foams at mouth; and, by and by,
Breaks out to savage madness. Look, he stirs :
Do you withdraw yourself a little while,
He will recover straight; when he is gone,

I would on great occasion speak with you.—

(Erit Cassio. How is it, general? have you not hurt your head? Oth. Dost thou mock me?

Iago.
I mock you! no, by heaven:
'Would you would bear your fortunes like a man.
Oth. A horned man's a monster, and a beast.
Iago. There's many a beast then in a populous

city,

Iago. Why then 'tis hers, my lord; and, being And many a civil monster. hers,

She may, I think, bestow't on any man.

Oth. She is protectress of her honour too;'

May she give that?

Iago. Her honour is an essence that's not seen; They have it very oft, that have it, not:

But, for the handkerchief,

Oth. Did he confess it?
Iago.
Good sir, be a man,
Think, every bearded fellow, that's but yok'd,
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.
O, 'tis the spite of hell, the fiend's arch-mock,

Oth. By heaven, I would most gladly have for- To lip a wanton in a secure couch,

got it:

Thou said'st,-0, it comes o'er my memory,

As doth the raven o'er the infected house,
Boding to all,'-he had my handkerchief.
lago. Ay, what of that?
Oth.

That's not so good, now. lago. What, if I had said, I had seen him do you wrong?

Or heard him say,-As knaves be such abroad,
Who having, by their own importunate suit,
Or voluntary dotage of some mistress,
Convinced or supplied them, cannot choose
But they must blab-

Oth.
Hath he said any thing?
Iago. He hath, my lord; but be you well as-
sur'd,

No more than he'll unswear.

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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 a while apart;
Confine yourself but in a patient list."
Whilst you were here, ere while mad with your grief
(A passion most unsuiting such a man,)
Cassio came hither: I shifted him away,
And laid good 'scuse upon your ecstacy;
Bade him anon return, and here speak with me;
The which he promis'd. 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. Marry, patience;
Or I shall say, you are all in all in spleen,
And nothing of a man.

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