CLARENCE AND BRAKENBURY. Brakenbury. Why looks your grace so heavily to-day? So full of ugly sights, of ghastly dreams, I would not spend another such a night, Though 'twere to buy a world of happy days; So full of dismal terror was the time. Brak. What was your dream, my lord? I pray you tell me. Clar. Methought that I had broken from the tower, And was embark'd to cross to Burgundy, And in my company my brother Gloucester, Who from my cabin tempted me to walk Upon the hatches. Thence we look'd toward England, That had befallen us. As we pass'd along Methought that Gloucester stumbled, and in falling, Lord, Lord, methought, what pain it was to drown! All scatter'd in the bottom of the sea. Some lay in dead men's sculls; and in those holes And mock'd the dead bones that lay scatter'd by. Brak. Had you such leisure in the time of death, To gaze upon the secrets of the deep? Clar. Methought I had; and often did I strive I pass'd, methought, the melancholy flood, The first that there did greet my stranger soul, Clar. O Brakenbury, I have done those things But thou wilt be aveng'd on my misdeeds, Yet execute thy wrath on me alone: O spare my guiltless wife, and my poor children! My soul is heavy, and I fain would sleep. OTHELLO AND IAGO. Iago. My noble lord SHAKSPERE. Othello. What dost thou say, Iago? Iago. Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd Know of your love? my lady, Oth. He did, from first to last. Why dost thou ask? Iago. But for a satisfaction of my thought; No further harm. Oth. Why of that 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. Honest, my lord? Oth. Ay, honest, Iago. My lord, for aught I know. Oth. What dost thou think? Iago. Think, my lord? Oth. 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 likedst 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? As if thou then hadst shut up in thy brain Iago. My lord, you know I love you. Oth. I think thou dost; And for I know thou art full of love and honesty, And weigh'st thy words before thou givest them breath Are tricks of custom; but, in a man that's just, 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, Iago. Why then, I think that Cassio is 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're vile and false - Keep leets, and law days, and in session sit, Oth. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago, If thou but think'st him wrong'd, and makest his ear Iago. I do beseech you, Though I, perchance, am vicious in my guess, 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, You'd take no notice; nor build yourself a trouble 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, while 'tis in my custody. Oth. Ha! Iago. O beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock Who doats, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves! Lago. Poor, and content, is rich, and rich enough ; To him that ever fears he shall be poor : : |