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Iago. What was he that you followed with your sword? what had he done to you?

Cas. I know not.

Iago. Is't possible?

Cas. I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly: a quarrel, but nothing wherefore. Oh, that men should put an enemy in their mouths, to steal away their brains! that we should with joy, pleasance, revel, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts! (52)

Iago. Why, but you are now well enough: how came you thus recovered?

Cas. It has pleased the devil Drunkenness, to give place to the devil Wrath; one unperfectness shews me another, to make me frankly despise myself.

As

lago. Come, you are too severe a moraler. 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 shall tell me I am a drunkard!-had I as many mouths

(52) Beasts and bestial, ante. The upper part of Cassio's person has the shape of a boar's head, and of a goose and a pelican, as drawn in fig. 70, while the lower part is frequently likened to a cow, an ass, a pig, and other beasts.

as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast!-Every inordinate cup is unblessed, and the ingredient is a devil.

Iago. Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature if it is well used: exclaim no more against it. And, good lieutenant, I think you think I love you.

Ι

Cas. I have well approved it, Sir. I drunk! Iago. You, or any man living, may be drunk at some time, man. I tell you what you shall do: our general's wife is now the general. 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 help, to put you in your place again. She is of so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed a disposition, she holds it a vice in her goodness not to do more than she is requested. This broken joint, between you and her husband, intreat her to splinter: and my fortunes against any lay worth naming, this crack of your love shall grow stronger than it was before.

Cas. You advise me well.

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

Cas. I think it freely; and betimes in the morning I will beseech the virtuous Desdemona

to undertake for me: I am desperate of my fortunes, if they check me here.

Iago. You are in the right: good-night, lieutenant, I must to the watch.

Cas. Good night, honest lago. [Exit Cassio.

Manet IAGO.

Iago. And what's he then that says I play the villain?

When this advice is free, I give, and honest,
Likely to thinking, and, indeed, the course
To win the Moor again. For 'tis most easy
Th' inclining Desdemona to subdue

In any honest suit; she's framed 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 enfettered to her love

That she may make, unmake, do what she list,
Even as her appetite shall play the god

With his weak function. 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 shews,
As I do now. For while this honest fool
Plies Desdemona to repair his fortune,
And she form pleads 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, Rodorigo!
Enter RODORIGO.

Rod. I do follow here in the chace, not like a (53) 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 again to Venice.

Iago. How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees? [craft; Thou knowest we work by wit, and not by witchAnd wit depends on dilatory Time.

Does't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee,
And thou by that small hurt hast cashiered Cassio.

(53) If the north side of the moon be on the left hand, and the person of Rodorigo (Hudibras) be looked at horizontally, it will be found to resemble a dog running; its head is towards the right hand, and this dog was before noticed by Iago's likening Rodorigo to a brach of quick

scent.

Tho' other things grow fair against the sun,
Yet fruits that blossom first will first be ripe:
Content thyself a while. In troth, '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 Rodorigo.

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. [Exit.

АСТ III.

SCENE, before Othello's Palace.

Enter CASSIO with Musicians.

Cassio. Masters, play here, I will content your

pains,

[general:

Something that's brief; and bid, good-morrow,

[Music plays, and enter Clown from the House.

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