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Oth. Now by heauen

My blood begins my fafer guides to rule,
And paffion hauing my best iudgement coold,
Affayes to leade the way. Zouns +, if I ftirre,
Or doe but lift this arme, the best of you
Shall finke in my rebuke: giue me to know
How this foule rout began, who fet it on,
And he that is approou'd in this offence,
Tho he had twin'd with me, both at a birth,
Shall loofe me; what, in a towne of warre,
Yet wild, the peoples hearts brim full of feare,
To mannage priuate and domefticke quarrels,
In night, and on the court and guard of safety ?
Tis monftrous. lago, who began ?

Mon. If partiality affin'd, or league in office,
Thou doeft deliuer, more or lesse then truth,
Thou art no fouldier.

lag. Touch me not so ncere,

*

I had rather ha this tongue out from my mouth,
Then it should doe offence to Michael Caffio:
Yet I perfwade my felfe to fpeake the truth,
Shall nothing wrong him. Thus it is generall :
Montanio and my felfe being in fpeech,

There comes a fellow, crying out for helpe,
And Caffio following him with determin'd fword,.
To execute vpon him: fir this gentleman
Steps in to Caffio, and intreates his pause;
My felfe the crying fellow did purfue,
Left by his clamour, as it fo fell out,

The towne might fall in fright: he swift of foote,
Out ran my purpose: and I returnd the rather,
For that I heard the clinke and fall of swords :

And Caffio high in oaths, which till to night,

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I ne're might fee + before: when I came backe,
For this was briefe, I found them close together,
At blow and thrust, euen as agen they were,
When you your felfe did part them.

More of this matter can I not report,

But men are men, the best fometimes forget;
Tho Caffio did fome little wrong to him,

As men in rage strike those that wish them best,
Yet furely Caffio, I beleeue receiu'd

From him that fled, fome ftrange indignity,
Which patience could not paffe.

Oth. I know Iago,

Thy honesty and loue doth mince this matter,
Making it light to Caffio: Caffio, I loue thee,
But never more be officer of mine.

Enter Defdemona, with others.

Looke if my gentle loue be not raisde vp:

I'le make thee an example.

Def. What is the matter?

Oth. All's well now fweeting:

Come away to bed: fir, for your hurts,

My felfe will be your furgeon; leade him off; lags, looke with care about the towne,

And filence thofe, whom this vile brawle diftracted.

Come Defdemona: tis the fouldiers life,

To haue their balmy flumbers wak'd with ftrife.

lag. What are you hurt leiutenant ?

Exit Moore, Defdemona, and attendants.

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Caf. Reputation, reputation, I§ ha lost my reputation : fir of my felfe, And what remaines is beaftiall, my reputation,

I ha loft the immortall part fir of

lago, my reputation.

lag. As I am an honeft man, I thought you had receiu'd fome bodily wound, there is more offence in that, then in reputation reputation is an idle and moft falfe impofition, oft got without merit, and loft without deferuing, you haue loft no reputation at all, vnleffe you repute your felfe fuch a lofer ; what man, there are wayes to recouer the generall agen: you are but now caft in his moode, a punishment more in policy, then in malice, euen fo, as one would beate his offencelesse dog, to affright an imperious lyon: fue to him againe, and hees yours.

Caf. I will rather fue to be defpis'd, then to deceiue fo good a commander, with fo light, fo drunken, and indifcreete an officer | O thou inuifible fpirt of wine, if thou haft no name to bee knowne by, let vs call thee diuell.

Iag. What was he, that you followed with your fword? What had he done to you?

Caf. I know not.

lag. Ift poffible?

Caf. I remember a maffe of things, but nothing distinctly; a quarrell, but nothing wherefore. O God, that men should put an enemy in there mouthes, to steale away there braines ; that wee fhould with ioy, reuell, pleafure, and applaufe, transforme our felucs into beasts.

Iag. Why, but you are now well enough: how came you thus recouered?

§ ob I.

¦ || Drunke ? and speak Parrat ? and squabble, fwagger, fweare? and difcourfe

fuftian with ones own fhaddow.

Caf.

Caf. It hath pleafde the diuell drunkennesse, to`giue place to the diuell wrath; one vnperfectneffe, fhewes me another, to make me frankely despise my selfe.

lag. Come, you are too feuere a morraler; as the time, the place, the condition of this countrey ftands, I could heartily wifh, this had not fo befalne; but fince it is as it is, mend it, for your own good.

Caf. I will afke him for my place againe, hee fhall tell me I am a drunkard: had I as many mouthes as Hydra, fuch an anfwer would stop em all: to be now a fenfible man, by and by a foole, and presently a beast. Euery vnordinate cup is vnbleft, and the ingredience is a diuell.

lag. Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well vs'd; exclaime no more against it; and good leiuteuant, I thinke you thinke I loue you.

Caf. I haue well approou'd it fir,-I drunke ?

Iag. You, or any man liuing may bee drunke at fome time *; I'le tell you what you shall do,-our generals wife is now the generall; I may fay fo in this refpect, for that he has deuoted and giuen vp himfelfe to the contemplation, marke and deuotement of her parts and graces. Confeffe your felte freely to her, importune her, fhee'll helpe to put you in your place againe she is so free, fo kind, fo apt, fo blessed a difpofition, that shee holds it a vice in her goodnesse, not to doe more then fhee is requested. This braule + betweene you and her hufband, intreate her to splinter, and my fortunes against any lay, worth naming, this cracke of your loue shall grow stronger then twas before.

Caf. You aduife me well.

lag. I proteft in the fincerity of loue and honeft kindneffe. Caf. I thinke it freely, and betimes in the morning, will I befeech the vertuous Desdemona, to vndertake for me; I am defperate of my fortunes, if they checke me here.

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lag. You are in the right:

Good night leiutenant, I muf to the watch.

Caf. Good night honeft Iago.

Exit;

lag. And what's he then, that fayes I play the villaine, When this aduice is free I giue, and honest,

Proball to thinking, and indeed the course,
To win the Moore agen? for tis moft eafie
The inclining Defdemona to fubdue,

In any honest fuite, fhe's fram'd as fruitfull,

As the free elements: and then for her

To win the Moore. Wer't to renounce his baptifme,

All feales and fymbols of redeemed fin,

His foule is fo infetter'd to her loue,

That he may make, vnmake, doe what he lift,

Euen as her appetite fhall play the god

With his weake function: how am I then a villaine?
To counfell Caffio to this parrallell course.
Directly to his good: diuinity of hell,
When diuells will their blackeft fins put on,
They doe fuggeft at first with heauenly shewes,
As I doe now: for while this honeft foole
Plyes Defdemona to repaire his fortunes,
And fhe for him, pleades ftrongly to the Moore:
I'le poure this peftilence into his eare,

That the repeales him for her bodyes luft;

And by how much fae ftriues to doe him good,
She fhall vndoe her credit with the Moore,
So will I turne her vertue into pitch,

And out of her owne goodneffe make the net
That fhall enmesh em all:

How now Roderigo?

Enter Roderigo.

Rod. I do follow here in the chafe, not like a hound that hunts, but one that filles vp the cry: my money is almost

spent,

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