Des.

Do your discretion.

Iago.

Well, well,
[Exit CASSIO.

Ha! I like not that.

Oth. What dost thou say?

Iago. Nothing, my lord: or if I know not

what.

Oth. Was not that Cassio, parted from my wife? Iago. Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it,

That he would steal away so guiltylike,

Seeing you coming.
Oth.

I do believe 'twas be.

Des. How now, my lord?

I have been talking with a suitor here,

A man that languishes in your displeasure.
Oth. Who is't you mean?

Des. Why, your lieutenant Cassio. Good my lord,

If I have any grace or power to move you,
His present reconciliation take;

For, if he be not one that truly loves you,
That errs in ignorance, and not in cunning,
I have no judgment in an honest face:
I pr'ythee call him back.

Oth.

Went he hence now?

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.

No, not to-night.

Des. To-morrow dinner then?
Oth.

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 ex-

amples

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. 'Pry'thee, 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.

Des. Emilia, come :-Be it as your fancies teach you;

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?

Lago. But for a satisfaction of my thought; No further harm.

Oth.

Why of thy thought, Iago?

Iago. I did not think he had been acquainted with her.

Oth. O, yes; and went between us very oft. Iago. Indeed?

Oth. Indeed! ay, indeed :-Discern'st thou aught in that?

Is he not honest?

Iago.

Oth.

Honest, my lord?

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

Iago.
Oth.

Ay, honest.

Think, my lord?

Think, my lord!

By heaven, he echoes me,

As if there were some monster in his thought Too hideous to be shown.-Thou dost mean something:

I heard thee say but now,-Thou lik'dst not that, When Cassio left my wife; What didst not like? And, when I told thee-he was of my counsel In my whole course of wooing, thou cry'dst, Indeed?

And didst contract and purse thy brow together, As if thou then bad'st shut up in thy brain Some horrible conceit: If thou dost love me, Show me thy thought.

Iago. My lord, you know I love yon. Oth. I think, thou dost : And, for I know thou art full of love and ho

nesty,

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.

Iago.

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.

Lago. Why then, I think Cassio's an honest

man.

Oth. Nay, yet there's more in this:

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

The worst of words.

Iago. 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, whereinto 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,
Iago,

If thou but think'st him wrong'd, and mak'st his

ear

A stranger to thy thoughts.

Iago. I do beseech you,→ Though I, perchance, am vicious in my gness, As, I confess, it is my nature's plague To spy into abuses: and, oft, my jealousy Shapes faults that are not,-I 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?
Iago. Good name, in man, and woman, dear
my lord,

Is the immediate jewel of their souls:

Who steals my purse, steals trash; 'tis something, nothing;

'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.

Iago. 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 make
The meat it feeds on: That cuckold lives in bliss,
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;
But, 0, what damned minutes tells he o'er,
Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly
loves!

Oth. O misery!

Iago. 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!

Oth.

Why! why is this? 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 exsufflicate and blown surmises, Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me jealous,

To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves com

pany,

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
The smallest fear, or doubt of her revolt;
For she had eyes, and chose me: No, lago;
I'll see, before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
And, on the proof, there is no more but this,-
Away at once with love, or jealousy.

Iago. I am glad of this, for now I shall have

reason

To show 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: