But is he often thus ? lago. 'Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep: He'll watch the horologe a double set,

If drink rock not his cradle.

Mom.

It were well, The general were put in mind of it. Perhaps, he sees it not; or his good nature Prizes the virtue that appears in Cassio, And looks not on his evils; Is not this true?

Mon. What's the matter, lieutenant?
Cas. A knave!-teach me my duty!

I'll beat the knave into a twiggen bottle.
Rod. Beat me!

Cas. Dost thou prate, rogue?
Mon. Nay, good lieutenant;

I pray you, sir, hold your hand.
Cas.

Or I'll knock you o'er the mazzard.
Mon.

Let me go, sir,

Oth.

gentlemen,

-

sir, Montano, Have you forgot all sense of place and duty? Hold,hold! the general speaks to you; hold, for sham! Oth. Why, how now, ho! from whence ariseth this! Are we turn'd Turks; and to ourselves do that, Which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites? For Christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl: He that stirs next to carve for his own rage, Holds his soul light; he dies upon his motion.Silence that dreadful bell, it frights the isle From her propriety.-What is the matter, masters? Honest lago, that look'st dead with grieving, Speak, who began this? on thy love, I charge thee. lago. I do not know;-friends all but now,even now, In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom Devesting them for bed: and then, but now, (As if some planet had unwitted men,) Swords out, and tilting one at other's breast, In oppositor oloody. I cannot speak

And spend your rich opinion, for the name
Of a night-brawler? give me answer to it.
Mon. Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger;
Your officer, Iago, can inform you—
While I spare speech, which something now offends
Of all that I do know: nor know I aught [me-
By me that's said or done amiss this night;

Unless self-charity be sometime a vice;

And to defend ourselves it be a sin,

When violence assails us.

Oth.

Now, by heaven, My blood begins my safer guides to rule; And passion, having my best judgment collied, Assays to lead the way: If I once stir, Or do but lift this arm, the best of you Shall sink in my rebuke. Give me to know How this foul rout began, who set it on ; And he that is approv'd in this offence,

Though he had twinn'd with me, both at a birth,
Shall lose me.- -What! in a town of war,

Yet wild, the people's hearts brimful of fear,
To manage private and domestic quarrel,
In night, and on the court and guard of safety!
'Tis monstrous.-Iago, who began it?

Mon. If partially affin'd, or leagu'd in office,
Thou dost deliver more or less than truth,
Thou art no soldier.

lago.

Touch me not so near:
I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth,
Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio;
Yet, 1 persuade myself, to speak the truth
Shall nothing wrong him. Thus it is, general.
Montano and myself being in speech,
There comes a fellow, crying out for help;
To execute upon him: Sir, this gentleman
And Cassio following him with determin'd sword,
Steps in to Cassio, and entreats his pause;
Myself the crying fellow did pursue,
Lest, by his clamour, (as it so fell out,)
The town might fall in fright: he, swift of foot,
Outran my purpose; and I return'd the rather
For that I heard the clink and fall of swords,
And Cassio high in oath; which, till to-night,
I ne'er might say before: When I came back,
At blow, and thrust; even as again they were,
(For this was brief,) I found them close together,
When you yourself did part them.

More of this matter can I not report :-
Though Cassio did some little wrong to him,-
Bu men are men: the best sometimes forget:-
As men in rage strike those that wish them best,-
Yet, surely Cassio, I believe, receiv'd,
Which patience could not pass.
From him that fled, some strange indignity,

Oth.
Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter,
I know, Iago,
Making it light to Cassio :-Cassio, I love thee.
But never more be officer of mine.-

Enter DESDEMONA, attended.
Look, if my gentle love be not rais'd up ;-
I'll make thee an example.

Des.

Oth. All's well now, sweeting; Come away to bed. Sir, for your hurts,

Myself will be your surgeon: Lead him off. [To MONTANO, who is led off. lago, look with care about the town;

And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted.-
Come, Desdemona; 'tis the soldier's life,

To have their balmy slumbers wak'd with strife.
[Exeunt all but LAGO and CASSIO.
Iago. What, are you hurt, lieutenant?
Cas. Ay, past all surgery.
Iago. Marry, heaven forbid !

Cas. Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! have lost the immortal part, sir, of myself, and what remains is bestial.-My reputation, Iago, my reputation.

lago. As I am an honest man, I thought you had received some bodily wound; there is more offence in that, than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving: you have lost no reputation at all, unless you repute yourself such a loser. What. man! there are ways to recover the general again: You are but now cast in his mood, a punishment more in policy than in malice; even so as one would beat his offenceless dog, to affright an imperious lion: sue to him again, and he is yours.

Cas. I will rather sue to be despised, than to deceive so good a commander, with so slight, so drunken, and so indiscreet an officer. Drunk? and speak parrot? and squabble? swagger? swear? and discourse fustian with one's own shadow ?-0 thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hadst no name to be known by. let us call thee-devil!

lago. What was he that you follow'd with your sword? What had he done to you?

Cas. I know not. lago. Is it possible?

Cas. I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly; a quarrel, but nothing wherefore.-O, that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains! that we should, with joy, revel, pleasure, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts! lago. Why, but you are now well enough: How came you thus recovered?

Cas. It hath pleased the devil, drunkenness, to give place to the devil, wrath one unperfectness shews me another to make me frankly despise myself.

lago. Come, you are too severe a moraler: As the time, the place, and the condition of this country stands, I could heartily wish this had not befallen; but, since it is as it is, mend it for your own good. Cas. I will ask him for my place again; he shal. tell me, I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast! O strange !-Every inordinate cup is unblessed, and the ingredient is a devil.

lago. Come, come, good wine is a good familiat creature, if it be well used; exclaim no more against it. And, good lieutenant, I think, you think I love you. Cas. I have well approved it, sir.-I drunk! lago. You, or any man living, may be drunk at some time, man. I'll tell you what you shall do. Our general's wife is now the general;-I may say so in this respect, for that he hath devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, and denotement of her parts and graces:-confess yourself freely to her; importune her; she'll help to put you in your place again: she is of so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed a disposition, that she holds it a vice in her

Cas. You advise me well.

lago. I protest, in the sincerity of love, and honest kindness.

Cas. I think it freely; and, betimes in the morn ing, I will beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me: I am desperate of my fortunes, if they check me here.

lago. You are in the right. Good night, lieutenant; I must to the watch.

Cas. Good night, honest Iago. [Exit CASSIO. lago. And what's he then, that says,-I play the villain?

When this advice is free, I give, and honest,
Probal to thinking, and (indeed) the course
To win the Moor again? For 'tis most easy
The inclining Desdemona to subdue
In any honest suit; she's fram'd as fruitful
As the free elements. And then for her
To win the Moor,-were't to renounce his baptism,
All seals and symbols of redeemed sin,—
His soul is so enfetter'd to her love,
That she may make, unmake, do what she lists,
Even as her appetite shall play the god
With his weak function. How am I then a villain,
To counsel Cassio to this parallel course,
Directly to his good? Divinity of hell!
When devils will their blackest sins put on,
They do suggest at first with heavenly shows,
As I do now: For while this honest fool
Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes,
And she for him plies strongly to the Moor,
I'll pour this pestilence into his ear,—
That she repeals him for her body's lust;
And, by how much she strives to do him good,
She shall undo her credit with the Moor.
So will I turn her virtue into pitch;
And out of her own goodness make the net,
That shall enmesh them all.-How now, Roderigo?

Enter RODERIGO.

Rod. 1 do follow here in the chase, not like a hound that hunts, but one that fills up the cry. My money is almost spent; I have been to-night exceedingly well cudgelled; and, I think, the issue will be I shall have so much experience for my pains: and so, with no money at all, and a little more wit, return to Venice.

lago. How poor are they, that have not patience!—
What wound did ever heal, but by degrees?
Thou know'st, we work by wit, and not by witchcraft,
And wit depends on dilatory time.
Does't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee,
And thou, by that small hurt, hast cashier'd Cassio:
Though other things grow fair against the sun,
Yet fruits, that blossom first, will first be ripe:
Content thyself a while. By the mass, 'tis morning;
Pleasure, and action, make the hours seem short.-
Retire thee; go where thou art billeted:
Away, I say, thou shalt know more hereafter:
Nay, get thee gone. [Exit ROD.] Two things are to be
done,-

My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress;
I'll set her on;

Myself, the while, to draw the Moor apart,
And bring him jump when he may Cassio find
Soliciting his wife :-Ay, that's the way;
Dull not device by coldness and delay.

Des. Ay, sooth; so humbled,
That he hath left part of his grief with me;
I suffer with him. Good love, call him back.
Oth. Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other time.
Des. But shall't be shortly?
Oth.
The sooner, sweet, for you.
Des. Shall't be to-night at supper?
Oth.

Des. To morrow dinner then?
Oth.

No, not to-night.

I shall not dine at home; I meet the captains at the citadel.

Des. Why then, to morrow night; or Tuesday morn; Or Tuesday noon, or night; or Wednesday morn ;I pray thee, name the time; but let it not Exceed three days in faith, he's penitent; And yet his trespass in our common reason, (Save that, they say, the wars must make examples Out of their best,) is not almost a fault To incur a private check: When shall he come? Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul, What you could ask me, that I should deny, Or stand so mammering on. What! Michael Cassio, That came a wooing with you; and many a time, When I have spoke of you dispraisingly, Hath ta'en your part; to have so much to do To bring him in! Trust me, I could do much,Oth. Pr'ythee, no more: let him come when he will; I will deny thee nothing. Des.

Why, this is not a boon;
'Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves,
Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm;
Or sue to you to do peculiar profit

To your own person: Nay, when I have a suit,
Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed,
It shall be full of poize and difficulty,
And fearful to be granted.

Oth.
I will deny thee nothing:
Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this,
To leave me but a little to myself.
Des. Shall I deny you? no: Farewell, my lord.
Oth. Farewell, my Desdemona: I will come to thee
straight.
[you;
Des. Emilia, come :-Be it as your fancies teach
Whate'er you be, I am obedient. [Exit, with EMILIA.
Oth. Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul,
But I do love thee! and when I love thee not,
Chaos is come again.
lago. My noble lord,

Oth. What dost thou say, Iago? Iago. Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my lady, Know of your love?

Oth. He did, from first to last: Why dost thou ask? Iago. But for a satisfaction of my thought; No further harm.

Oth. Why of thy thought, Iago?

[her.

Iago. I did not think, he had been acquainted with
Oth. O, yes; and went between us very oft.
Iago. Indeed?

Oth. Indeed! ay, indeed :-Discern'st thou aught
Is he not honest?
[in that?
Ay, honest.

Iago.

Oth

Honest, my lord?

lago. My lord, for aught I know. Oth. What dost thou think?

I heard thee say but now,--Thou lik'dst not that,
When Cassio left my wife; What did'st not like?
And, when I told thee,-he was of my counsel
In my whole course of wooing, thou cry'dst, Indeed?
And did'st contract and purse thy brow together,
As if thou then had'st shut up in thy brain
Some horrible conceit: If thou dost love me,
Shew me thy thought.

Iago. My lord, you know I love you.
Oth.
I think thou dost:
And, for I know thou art full of love and honesty,
And weigh'st thy words before thou giv'st them breath,
Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more:
For such things in a false disloyal knave,
Are tricks of custom; but, in a man that's just,
They are close denotements, working from the heart,
That passion cannot rule.
lago.
For Michael Cassio,-
I dare be sworn, I think that he is honest.
Oth. I think so too.

Iago.

Men should be what they seem;

Or, those that be not, 'would they might seem none
Oth. Certain, men should be what they seem.
Iago.

I think, that Cassio is an honest man.
Oth. Nay, yet there's more in this :

Why then,

I pray thee, speak to me as to thy thinkings,
As thou dost ruminate; and give thy worst of thoughts
The worst of words.

lago.
Good my lord, pardon me;
Though I am bound to every act of duty,
I am not bound to that all slaves are free to.
Utter my thoughts? Why, say, they are vile and false,
As where's that palace, whereunto foul things
Sometimes intrude not? who has a breast so pure,
But some uncleanly apprehensions

Keep leets, and law-days, and in session sit
With meditations lawful?

Oth. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, lago,
If thou but think'st him wrong'd, and mak'st his ear
A stranger to thy thoughts.
lago.
I do beseech you,—
Though I, perchance, am vicious in my guess,
As, I confess, it is my nature's plague
To spy into abuses; and, oft my jealousy
Shapes faults that are not,-1 entreat you then,
From one that so imperfectly conjects,
You'd take no notice; nor build yourself a trouble
Out of his scattering and unsure observance :-
It were not for your quiet, nor your good,
Nor for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom,
To let you know my thoughts.
Oth.
What dost thou mean!
lago. Good name, in man, and woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls: [nothing:
Who steals my purse, steals trash; 'tis something,
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
But he, that filches from me my good name,
Robs me of that, which not enriches him,
And makes me poor indeed.

Oth. By heaven, I'll know thy thought. lago. You cannot, if my heart were in your hand Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody.

Oth. Ha! Iago.

O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-ey'd monster, which doth mock The meat it feeds on: That cuckold lives in bliss, Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger; But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er, Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves! Oth. O misery!

lago. Poor, and content, is rich, and rich enough ›

But riches, fineless, is as poor as winter,
To him that ever fears he shall be poor :-
Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend
From jealousy!

Why! why is this?

Oth. Think'st thou, I'd make a life of jealousy, To follow still the changes of the moon With fresh suspicions? No: to be once in doubt, Is-once to be resolv'd: Exchange me for a goat, When I shall turn the business of my soul To such exsufficate, and blown surmises, Matching thy inference. "Tis not to make me jealous, To say--my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company, Is free of speech, sings, plays, and dances well. Where virtue is, these are more virtuous : Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw l'he smallest fear, or doubt of her revolt; For she had eyes, and chose me: No, Iago; I'll see, before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; And, on the proof, there is no more but this,A way at once with love, or jealousy.

lago. I am glad of this; for now I shall have reason To shew the love and duty that I bear you With franker spirit: therefore, as I am bound, Receive it from me :-I speak not yet of proof. Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio. Wear your eye-thus, not jealous, nor secure: I would not have your free and noble nature, Out of self-bounty, be abus'd; look to't: I know our country disposition well; In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks They dare not shew their husbands; their best conIs-not to leave undone, but keep unknown. [science Oth. Dost thou say so?

Iago. She did deceive her father, marrying you, And, when she seem'd to shake, and fear your looks, She lov'd them most. And so she did.

Oth. Jago.

Why, go to, then;
She that so young, could give out such a seeming,
To seel her father's eyes up, close as oak,
He thought, 'twas witchcraft:-But I am much to
I humbly do beseech you of your pardon, [blame;
For too much loving you.

Oth.
I am bound to thee for ever.
Tago. I see, this hath a little dash'd your spirits.
Oth. Not a jot, not a jot.
lago.

Trust me, I fear it has.
I hope, you will consider, what is spoke
Comes from my love:-But, I do see you are 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.

[Exit.

See and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.
lago. My lord, I would, I might entreat your honour
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 awhile,
You shall by that perceive him and his means:
Note, if your lady strain his entertainment
With any strong or vehement importunity;
Much will 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. I once 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 my 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,
Than keep a corner in the thing I love,
For others' uses. Yet 'tis the plague of great ones;
Prerogativ'd are they less than the base;
'Tis destiny unshunnable, like death;
Even then this forked plague is fated to us,
When we do quicken. Desdemona comes

Enter DESDEMONA and EMILIA.
If she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself!—
I'll not believe it.

Des.
How now, my dear Othello?
Your dinner, and the generous islanders
By you invited, do attend your presence.
Oth. I am to blame.

Des. Why is your speech so faint? are you not well!
Oth. I have a pain upon my forehead here.
Des. Faith, that's with watching; 'twill away
again :

Let me but bind it hard, within this hour
It will be well.
Oth.

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 OтH. 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 would ever keep it,) That she reserves it evermore about her,

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

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