Emil. Lady, amen.

Des. I will go seek him.

about:
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 !

Cas.

Pardon me, Bianca;

949

I have this while with leaden thoughts been press'd ;

But I shall, in a more continuate time,
Strike off this score of absence.

Sweet Bianca,

[Giving her DESDEMONA's handkerchief.

Take me this work out.

Bian.

O, Cassio, whence came this?

This is some token from a newer friend.
To the felt absence now I feel a cause
Is it come to this? Well, well.
Cas.

Woman, go to!

Throw your vile guesses in the devil's teeth,
From whence you have them. You are jealous now
That this is from some mistress, some remembrance :
No, in good troth, Bianca.

Bian.

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 : Take it, and do't; 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.

:5

4

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.

[Exit 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 mnan.
Oth. A horned man's a monster, and a beast.
Iago. There's many a beast then in a populous city,
And many a civil monster.

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, To lip a wanton in a secure couch, 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. Jago.

42

And his unbookish jealousy must construe
Poor Cassio's smiles, gestures, and light behaviour,
Quite in the wrong.-How do you now, lieutenant?
Cas. The worser, that you give me the addition,
Whose want even kills me.

Iago. Ply Desdemona well, and you are sure of't. Now, if this suit lay in Bianca's power,

How quickly should you speed?

Cas.

[Speaking lower.

Alas, poor caitiff! Oth. Look, how he laughs already! [Aside. Iago. I never knew a woman love man so. Cas. Alas, poor rogue! I think i'faith, she loves

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. [Aside.
Iago. 'Faith, the cry goes, that you shall marry her.
Cas. Pr'ythee, say true.

Iago. I am a very villain else.
Oth. Have you scored me? Well.

[Aside.

Cas. This is the monkey's own giving out she is persuaded I will marry her, out of her own love and flattery, not out of my promise.

(A passion most unsuiting such a man,)
Cassio came hither: I shifted him away,
And laid good 'scuse upon your ecstasy;
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.

Oth.

Dost thou hear, Iago?

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 plucked 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.
Iago. Before me! look, where she comes.

Enter BIANCA.

[Aside.

Bian. Let the devil and his dam haunt you! What did you mean by that same handkerchief, you I gave me even now? I was a fine fool to take it. must take out the whole work? - A likely piece 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'll take out no work on't.

Cas. How now, my sweet Bianca? how now? how now?

Oth. By heaven, that should be my handkerchief! [Asuie.

Bian. An you'll come to supper to-night, you

Lod. I thank you: how does lieutenant Cassio? Iago. Lives, sir.

may: an you will not, come when you are next prepared for.

Iago. After her, after her.

[Exit.

Cas. 'Faith, I must, she'll rail in the street else.
Iago. Will you sup there?
Cas. 'Faith, I intend so.

Iago. Well, I may chance to see you; for I would very fain speak with you.

Cas. Pr'ythee, come; Will you?
Iago. Go to; say no more.

[Exit CASSIO. Oth. How shall I murder him, Iago? Iago. Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice?

Oth. O, Iago!

Jago. And did you see the handkerchief?
Oth. Was that mine?

Iago. Yours, by this hand: and to see how he prizes the foolish woman, your wife! she gave it him, and he hath given it his whore.

Oth. I would have him nine years a killing: :A 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: delicate with her needle! - An admirable musician! O, she will sing the savageness out of a bear! so high and plenteous wit and invention! Iago. She's the worse for all this.

So

· Of

Oth. Get me some poison, Iago; this night: — I'll not expostulate with her, lest her body_and beauty 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? Lago. Something from Venice, sure. 'Tis Lodovico, Come from the duke: and, see, your wife is with him.

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.

Oth. Devil!
Des.
Lod. My lord, this would not be believ'd in Venice,
Though I should swear I saw it: 'Tis very much;
Make her amends, she weeps.

Oth.
O devil, devil!
If that the earth could teem with woman's tears,
Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile : -
Out of my sight!
Des.

I will not stay to offend you.

Lod. Truly, an obedient lady:

I do beseech your lordship, call her back. Oth. Mistress

Des.

Oth.

My lord?

[Going.

What would you with her, sir?

Lod. Who, I, my lord?

Oth. Ay; you did wish, that I would make her

Sir, she can turn, and turn, and yet go on,
And turn again; and she can weep, sir, weep;
And she's obedient, as you say, - · obedient,
Very obedient: - Proceed you in your tears.
Concerning this, sir, - O well-painted passion!
I am commanded home: - Get you away:
I'll send for you anon. — Sir, I obey the mandate,
And will return to Venice; Hence, avaunt!
[Exit DESDEMONA.
sir, to-night,

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 villainous 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. Look in

Des.

Let me see your eyes; my face. What horrible fancy's this? Oth. Some of your function, mistress; [TO EMILIA. Leave procreants alone, and shut the door; Cough, or cry-hem, if any body come : Your mystery, your mystery ;- - nay, despatch. [Exu 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. Come, swear it, damn thyself; Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves

3 heimpften 4 1

damn'd,

thou art honest.

Heaven doth truly know it. Oth. Heaven truly knows, that thou art false as

hell.

Des. To whom, my lord? with whom? How am I false?

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 To try me with affliction; had he rain'd All kinds of sores, and shames, on my bare head; Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips;

Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes;
I should have found in some part of my soul
A drop of patience: but (alas!) to make me
A fixed figure, for the time of scorn
To point his slow unmoving finger at,
O! O!
Yet could I bear that too well, very well:
But there, where I have garner'd up my heart;
Where either I must live, or bear no life;
The fountain from the which my current runs,
Or else dries up; to be discarded thence!
Or keep it as a cistern, for foul toads
To knot and gender in!

there!

- turn thy complexion

Patience, thou young and rose-lipp'd cherubin ;
Ay, there, look grim
as hell!

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 had'st
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! · O 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 not you 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.

No, as I shall be saved.