plation, 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 goodness, not to do more than she is requested; This broken joint between you and her husband, entreat 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.

lago. 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.

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

Cas. Good night, honest lago.

[Exit CAS. Iago. And what's he then, that says,-I play

the villain?

When this advice is free, I give, and honest, Probal to thinking, aud (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 and 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 list,
Even as her appetite shall play the god

With his weak function. How am I then a vil

lain,

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 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 bim 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, Rode-
rigo?

Enter RODERIGO.

Rod. I 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.

Iago. 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, hath cashier'd Cassio;

Though other things grow fair against the sun, Yet fruits, that blossom first, will first be ripe: Content thyself awhile.-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. [Exit.

ACT III.

SCENE I. Before the Castle.

Enter CASSIO and some Musicians.

Cas. Masters, play here, I will content your pains,

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

general.

Enter Clown.

[Musick.

Clo. Why, masters, have your instruments been at Naples, that they speak i'the nose thus? 1 Mus. How, sir, how!

Clo. Are these, I pray you, called wind instruments?

1 Mus. Ay, marry, are they, sir. Clo. O, thereby hangs a tail.

1 Mus. Whereby hangs a tale, sir?

Clo. Marry, sir, by many a wind instrument that I know. But, masters, here's money for you; and the general so likes your musick, that he desires you, of all loves, to make no more noise with it.

1 Mus. Well, sir, we will not.

Clo. If you have any musick that may not be heard, to't again: but, as they say, to hear mu. sick, the general does not greatly care.

1 Mus. We have none such, sir.

Clo. Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll away: Go; vanish into air; away.

[Exeunt Musicians. Cas. Dost thou hear, my honest friend? Clo. No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear you.

Cas. Pr'ythee keep up thy quillets. There's a poor piece of gold for thee: if the gentlewoman that attends the general's wife be stirring, tell her, there's one Cassio entreats her a little favour of speech: Wilt thou do this?

Clo. She is stirring, sir; if she will stir hither, I shall seem to notify unto her.

Enter IAGO.

[Exit.

Cas. Do, good my friend.-In happy time,

Iago.

Iago. You have not been abed then?

Cas. Why, no; the day had broke Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago, To send into your wife: My suit to her Is, that she will to virtuous Desdemona Procure me some access.

lago.

I'll send her to you presently;

And I'll devise a mean to draw the Moor
Out of the way, that your converse and business
May be more free.

[Exit. Cas. I humbly thank you for't. I never knew A Florentine more kind and honest.

Enter EMILIA.

Emil. Good morrow, good lieutenant: I am

sorry

For your displeasure; but all will soon be well. The general, and his wife, are talking of it; And she speaks for you stoutly: The Moor replies,

That he, you hurt, is of great fame in Cyprus, And great affinity; and that, in wholesome wisdom,

He might not but refuse you: but, he protests, he loves you;

And needs no other suitor, but his likings,
To take the saf'st occasion by the front,

To bring you in again.

Cas.

Yet, I beseech you,

If you think fit, or that it may be done,
Give me advantage of some brief discourse
With Desdemona alone.

Emil.

'Pray you, come in; I will bestow you where you shall have time To speak your bosom freely.

Cas. I am much bound to you. [Exeunt.

SCENE II. A Room in the Castle.

Enter OTHELLO, IAGO, and Gentlemen. Oth. These letters give, Iago, to the pilot; And, by him, do my duties to the state: That done, I will be walking on the works, Repair there to me.

Iago.

Well, my good lord, I'll do't. Oth. This fortification, gentlemen,-shall we see't?

Gent. We'll wait upon your lordship. [Exeunt.

SCENE III. Before the Castle.

Enter DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and EMILIA. Des. Be thou assur'd, good Cassio, I will do All my abilities in thy behalf.

Emil. Good madam, do; I know, it grieves my husband,

As if the case were his.

Des. O, that's an honest fellow.-Do not doubt, Cassio,

But I will have my lord and you again
As friendly as you were.

Cas.

Bounteous madam,
Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,
He's never any thing but your true servant.
Des. O, sir, I thank you: You do love my lord,
You have known him long; and be you well
assur'd,

He shall in strangeness stand no further off
Than in a politick distance.

Cas.
Ay, but, lady,
That policy may either last so long,
Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet,
Or breed itself so out of circumstance,
That, I being absent, and my place supplied,
My general will forget my love and service.

Des. Do not doubt that; before Emilia bere, I give thee warrant of thy place: assure thee, If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform t To the last article: my lord shall never rest; I'll watch him tame, and talk him out of patience;

His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift; I'll intermingle every thing he does

With Cassio's suit: Therefore be merry, Cassio; For thy solicitor shall rather die,

Than give thy cause away.

Enter OTHELLO, and IAGO, at a distance.

Emil.

My lord.

Cas.

Des.

Madam, here comes

Why, stay,

Madam, I'll take my leave.

And hear me speak.

Cas. Madam, not now; I am very ill at ease, Unfit for mine own purposes.