Does challenge much respect.-Come, Desdemona, Once more well met at Cyprus. Iago now commences his plots against the Moor: his first movement is to put Othelle -"into a jealousy so strong, That judgment cannot cure,' and Cassio is the instrument he selects for his purpose. Under the plea of “carousing" to the health of the General and his fair wife, he leads Cassio into a drunken brawl, while the Lieutenant is on guard at the Castle. Othelio enters to learn the cause of the dis turbance. OTHELLO, LAGO, CASSIO, MONTANO, and Attendanta. Oth. What is the matter here? Mon. I bleed still, I am hurt to the death;-he dies Iago. Hold, hold, lieutenant,--sir, Montano,-gentlemen,— Hold, hold! the general speaks to you; hold, for shame! Which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites? For Christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl: From her propriety.-What is the matter, masters ?— Speak, who began this? on thy love, I charge thee. (As if some planet had unwitted men,) Swords out, and tilting one at other's breast, In opposition bloody. I cannot speak Any beginning to this peevish odds; And 'would in action glorious I had lost Oth. How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot? The gravity and stillness of your youth That you unlace your reputation thus, And spend your rich opinion, for the name Mon. Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger; Your officer, Iago, can inform you— While I spare speech, which something now offends me :- My blood begins my safer guides to rule; Mon. If partially affin'd, or leagu'd in office, Iago. Touch me not so near: I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth More of this matter can I not report :- From him that fled, some strange indignity, Oth. I know, Iago, Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter, Making it light to Cassio:-Cassio, I love the, Iago. Marry, heaven forbid ! [Exit. Cas. Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have .ost my repu tation! I have lost the immortal part.-My reputation, Iago, my reputation. Iago. As I am an honest man, I thought you had received some bodily wound; there is more offence 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: sue to him again, and he is 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. O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hadst no name to be known by, let us call thee-devil! Iago. What was he that you follow'd with your sword? What had he done to you? Cas. I know not. Iago. Is it possible? Cas. I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly; a quarrel, but nothing wherefore.-O, that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains! that we should, with joy, revel, pleasure, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts! Iago. Why, but you are now well enough: How came you thus recovered? Cas. It hath pleased the demon drunkenness, to give place to the demon wrath: one unperfectness shows me another to make me frankly despise myself. Iago. 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 as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast! O strange !-Every inordinate cup is unblessed, and the ingredient is a demon. Iago. Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well used; exclaim no more against it. And, good lieutenant, I think, you think I love you. Cas. I have well approved it, sir.—I drunk! Iago. You, or any man living, may be drunk at some time, man. I'll tell you what you shall do. Our general's wife is now the general;-I 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; she'll help to put you in your place again: she is of so free, so kind, 30 apt, so blessed a disposition, that she holds it a vice in her good less, not to do more than she is requested. 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 he 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 Iago. [Exit CASSIO ACT III. IAGO having effected the disgrace of Cassio, urges him to apply to Desdemona, to seek through her entreaties a reconciliation with Othello. Cassio believing that Iage "advises well," beseeches Desdemona to interfere in his behalf with her husband: she promises him her aid. fago artfully uses the kindness of Desdemona, as a means to excite the jealousy of Othello. 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 politic distance. Cas. Ay, but, lady, Des. Do not doubt that: before Emilia here, To the last article: my lord shall never rest; With Cassio's suit: Therefore be merry, Cassio; Than give thy cause away. And hear me speak. Cas. Madam, not now; I am very ill at ease, Unfit for mine own purposes. Des. Do your discretion.` Iago. Well, well, Ha! I like not that. Oth. What dost thou say? Iago. Nothing, my lord: or if I know not what. Iago. Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it, Seeing you coming. Oth. I do believe 'twas he. 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 For, if he be not one that truly loves you, 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. Oth. [Exit CASSIO The sooner, sweet, for you No, not to-night. Des. Shall't be to-night at supper? Des. To-morrow dinner then? I meet the captains at the citadel. I shall not dine at home; Des. Why then, to-morrow night; or Tuesday morn; Exceed three days: in faith, he's penitent. Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul, |