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Enter OTHELLO, and Attendants.

Oth. What is the matter here?

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Mont. I bleed still, I am hurt, but not to th'

Oth. Hold, for your lives.

[death.

Iago. Hold, ho! lieutenant-Sir-Montanogentlemen

Have you forgot all sense of place and duty?
The general speaks to you-hold, hold, for shame-
Oth. Why, how now, ho! from whence ariseth

this?

Are we turned 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 (50)
From her propriety. What is the matter?
Honest Iago, that looks dead with grieving,
Speak, who began this? on thy love, I charge thee.
Iago. I do not know; friends all, but now, ev'n
In quarter and in terms like bride and groom [now
Divesting them for bed; and then, but now→→
(As if some planet had unwitted men,)

Swords out, and tilting one at other's breasts,
In opposition bloody. I can't speak

(50) It has been already observed, that the upper part of Cassio's person is like a bell.

Any beginning to this peevish odds ;
And 'would in action glorious I had lost
Those legs that brought me to a part of it !
Oth. How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot?
Cas. I pray you, pardon me, I cannot speak.
Oth. Worthy Montano, you were wont be civil:
The gravity and stillness of your youth

The world hath noted, and your name is great
In mouths of wisest censure. What's the matter,
That you unlace
your reputation thus,

And spend your rich opinion, for the name
Of a night-brawler? give me answer to it.
Mont. Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger;

Your officer lago can inform you,

While I spare speech, which something now offends Of all that I do know; nor know I aught

By me that's said or done amiss this night,

[me,

Unless self-charity be sometimes 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 cholered, Assays to lead the way. If once I 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 approved in this offence,

Tho' he had twinned 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 of guard and safety?
'Tis monstrous. Say, lago, who began't?

Mont. If partially affined, or leagued in office,
Thou dost deliver more or less than truth,
Thou art no soldier.

Iago. Touch me not so near:

I'd rather have this tongue cut from my mouth
Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio:
Yet I persuade myself, to speak the truth
Shall nothing wrong him. Thus 'tis, general:
Montano and myself being in speech,
There comes a fellow crying out for help,
And Cassio following with determined sword
To execute upon him. Sir, this gentleman
Steps in to Cassio and intreats 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; I returned, the rather

For that I heard the clink and fall of swords,

And Cassio high in oath;

I ne'er might say before.

which till to-night

When I came back,

(For this was brief) I found them close together At blow and thrust; even as again they were

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When

you yourself did part them.

More of this matter cannot I report.

But men are men; the best sometimes forget:
Tho' Cassio did some little wrong to him,

As men in rage strike those that wish them best,
Yet surely, Cassio, I believe, received

From him that fled some strange indignity,
Which patience could not pass.

Oth. I know, lago,

Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter, 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 raised up:
I'll make thee an example.

Des. What's the matter?

Oth. All is well, sweeting, come away to bed. Sir, for your hurts, myself will be your surgeon. Lead him off.

Iago, look with care about the town,

[(51)

And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted.
Come, Desdemona, 'tis the soldier's life,
To have their balmy slumbers waked with strife.

[Exeunt.

(51) Myself will be your surgeon. This alludes to the circumstance that Othello's body and Montano's are nearly the same in their prototypes; so that one may be said to restore or make good the other.

Manent IAGO and CASSIO.

Iago. What, are you hurt, lieutenant?
Cas. Past all surgery.

Iago. Marry, Heaven forbid!

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

Iago. As I am an honest man, I had thought you had received some bodily wound; there is more sense 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 fright an imperious lion. Sue to him again, and he's 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? oh thou invincible spirit of wine! if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee devil.

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