With her?

Oth. Iago. With her, on her; what you will. Oth. Lie with her! lie on her!-We say, lie on her, when they belie her: Lie with her! that's fulsome.-Handkerchief,-confessions,- handkerchief. To confess, and be hanged for his labor.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[Falls in a Trance.

kerchief!-0, devil!—

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?

The raven was thought to be a constant attendant on a house infected with the plague.

Old spelling of suppled, i. e. softened.

Cas. What is the matter?

Iago. My lord is fallen into an epilepsy;
This is his second fit; he had one yesterday.
Cas. Rub him about the temples.
Iago.

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.-

[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 man. Oth. A horned man's a monster, and a beast. lago. 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 yoked,
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.
Iago.
Confine yourself but in a patient list."
Stand you awhile apart;
Whilst you were here, erewhile mad with your grief,
(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;

Oth.

I say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience;
Or I shall say, you are all in all in spleen,
And nothing of a man.
Dost thou hear, Iago?
I will be found most cunning in my patience;
But (dost thou hear?) most bloody.
Iago.
That's not amiss;
But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw?
Now will I question Cassio of Bianca,
[OTHELLO withdraws.
A housewife, that, by selling her desires,
That dotes on Cassio,-as 'tis the strumpet's plague,
Buys herself bread and clothes: it is a creature,
To beguile many, and be beguil'd by one;

He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain
From the excess of laugher:-Here he comes:-
Re-enter CASSIO.

As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad;
And his unbookish' jealousy must construe
Poor Cassio's smiles, gestures, and light behavior
Quite in the wrong.-How do you now, lieu-
tenant?

Within the bounds of patience.

Hide.

Oth. Now he denies it faintly, and laughs it out. [Aside.

Ha, ha, ha!

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. 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. 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.

Oth. Iago beckons me; now he begins the story.

[Aside. Cas. She was here even now: she haunts me in every place. I 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: O, I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I shall throw it to. [Aside.

Cas. Well, I must leave her company.
Iago. Before me! look where she comes.

Enter BIANCA.

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. I 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!

[Aside.

Bian. An you'll come to supper to-night, you may: an you will not, come when you are next prepared for.

Iago. After her, after her.

1 Title of lieutenant.

• A polecat.

[Exit.

2 A common woman.

Oth. O, Iago!

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

lago. 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! lago. 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! O, she will sing the savageness out of a bear!Of so high and plenteous wit and invention!lago. She's the worse for all this.

Oth. O, a thousand, a thousand times:-And then, of so gentle a condition!"

lago. Ay, too gentle.

Oth. Nay, that's certain: But yet the pity of it, Iago!-O, Iago, the pity of it, Iago!

Iago. If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her patent to offend; for, if it touch not you, it comes near nobody.

Oth. I will chop her into messes:-Cuckold me!
Iago. O, 'tis foul in her.
Oth. With mine officer!
Iago. That's fouler.

Oth. Get me some poison, Iago; this night:I'll not expostulate with her, lest her body and beau ty unprovide my mind again:-this night, Iago.

lago. 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.

Jago. 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? lago. I am very glad to see you, signior; Welcome to Cyprus.

Lod. I thank you; How does lieutenant Cassio? Of so sweet a disposition.

[Striking her.

Oth. Devil!
Des.
I have not deserv'd this.
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.
[Going.

Lod. Truly, an obedient lady :-
I do beseech your lordship, call her back.

Oth. Mistress,

Des.

Oth.

My lord?

What would you with her, sir? Lod. Who, I, my lord?

Oth. Ay; you did wish that I would make her turn: 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. Cassio shall have my place. And,-sir, to-night, I do entreat that we may sup together. You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus.-Goats and monkies! [Exit.

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 The shot of accident, nor dart of chance, Could neither graze, nor pierce? Iago. He is much changed. Lod. Are his wits safe? is he not light of brain? Iago. He is that he is; I may not breathe my

Or did the letters work upon his blood,
And new-create this fault?
Iago.

Alas, alas!

It is not honesty in me, to speak
What I have seen and known. You shall observe
him;

And his own courses will denote him so,
That I may save my speech: Do but go after,
And mark how he continues.

Lod. I am sorry, that I am deceiv'd in him.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II-A Room in the Castle.

Enter OTHELLO and EMILIA. Oth. You have seen nothing then? Emil. Nor ever heard; nor ever did suspect. Oth. Yes, you have seen Cassio and she together. Emil. But then I saw no harm: and then I heard Each syllable, that breath made up between them. Oth. What, did they never whisper? Emil.

Never, my lord.

Oth. Nor send you out of the way? Emil.

Never.

Oth. To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor nothing? Emil. Never, my lord.

Oth.

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 EMILIA.
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 im-
port?

I understand a fury in your words,
But not the words.

Oth. Why, what art thou?
Des.

And loyal wife.

Oth.

Your wife, my lord; your true

Come, swear it, damn thyself; Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves Should fear to seize thee: therefore be doubledamn'd, Swear-thou art honest. Des. 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!

Or that I do not yet, and ever did,

And ever will,-though he do shake me off
To beggarly divorcement,-love him dearly,
Comfort forswear me! Unkindness may do much;
And his unkindness may defeat my life,
But never taint my love. I can't say, whore;
It does abhor me, now I speak the word;
To do the act that might the addition' earn,
Not the world's mass of vanity could make me.
Iago. I pray you be content; 'tis but his humor;
The business of the state does him offence,
And he does chide with you.

Des.

If 'twere no other, Iago. It is but so, I warrant you. [Trumpets. Hark, how these instruments summon to supper! And the great messengers of Venice stay: Go in, and weep not; all things shall be well.

How now,

[Exeunt DESDEMONA and EMILIA.

Enter RODERIGO.

Roderigo?

Rod. I do not find that thou deal'st justly with 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, than suppliest me with the least advantage of hope. I will, indeed, no longer endure it: Nor am I yet persuaded, to put up in peace what already I have foolishly suffered. Iago. Will you hear me, Roderigo?

Rod. I have heard too much; for your words, and performances, are no kin together.

Iago. 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; '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. Iago. 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.

lago. 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. But, Roderigo, if thou hast that within thee indeed, which I have greater reason to believe now than ever, I mean, purpose, courage, and valor, -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?

lago. Sir, there is especial commission come from Venice, to depute Cassio in Othello's place. * Requital.

1 Title.

2 Put'st me off.

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? lago. Why, by making him uncapable of Othello's place; knocking out his brains.

Rod. And that you would have me do?

lago. 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 honorable 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 along with me; I will show you such a necessity in his death, that you shall think yourself bound to put it on him. It is now high supper-time, and the night grows to waste: about it. Rod. I will hear further reason for this.

lago. And you shall, be satisfied. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.-Another Room in the Castle.

Enter OTHELLO, LODOVICO, DESDEMONA, EMILIA,

and Attendants.

Dismiss me!

Emil. Des. It was his bidding; therefore, good Emilia, Give me my nightly wearing, and adieu: We must not now displease him.

Emil. I would you had never seen him! Des. So would not I; my love doth so approve him, That even his stubbornness, his checks, and frowns,

Pr'ythee, unpin me,- have grace and favor in them.

Emil. I have laid those sheets you bade me on the bed.

Des. All's one :-Good father! how foolish are our minds!

If I do die before thee, pr'ythee, shroud me
In one of those same sheets.
Emil.
Come, come, you talk
Des. My mother had a maid call'd-Barbara;
She was in love; and he, she lov'd, proved mad,'
And did forsake her: she had a song of-willow,
An old thing 'twas, but it express'd her fortune,
And she died singing it: That song, to-night,
Will not go from my mind; I have much to do
But to go hang my head all at one side,
And sing it like poor Barbara. Pr'ythee, despatch.
•Immediately.
• Wild, inconstant.