To seal her father's eyes up, close as oak,

He thought 'twas witchcraft :-But I am much to blame;

I humbly do beseech you of your pardon,

For too much loving you.

Oth. I am bound to thee for ever.

Iago. I see this hath a little dash'd your spirits. Oth. Not a jot, not a jot.

Iago. Trust me, I fear it has.

I hope you will consider what is spoke

Comes from my love:

ved :

-But I do see you are mo

I am to pray you not to strain my speech
To grosser issues, nor to larger reach,
Than to suspicion.

Oth. I will not.

Iago. Should you do so, my lord,

My speech should fall into such vile success

As my thoughts aim not at: Cassio's my trusty friend,

My lord, I see you're moved.

Oth. No, not much moved;

I do not think but Desdemona's honest.

Iago. Long live she so! and long live you to think so!

Oth. And yet, how nature, erring from itself,Iago. Ay, there's the point; as,-to be bold with you,

Not to affect many proposed matches,

Of her own clime, complexion, and degree;
Whereto, we see, in all things nature tends:-
Fie! one may smell in such a will most rank,
Foul disproportion, thoughts unnatural.—
But pardon me; I do not, in position,
Distinctly speak of her; though I may fear
Her will, recoiling to her better judgment,
May fall to match you with her country forms,
And (hapily) repent.

Oth. Farewell, farewell ;

If more thou dost perceive, let me know more ;-
Set on thy wife to observe.-Leave me, Iago.
Iago. My lord, I take my leave.

[Exit Oth. Why did I marry -This honest creature, doubtless,

Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.

Enter IAGO.

Iago. My lord,-I would I might entreat your ho

nour

To scan this thing no further; leave it to time;
Though it be fit that Cassio have his place,
(For, sure, he fills it up with great ability,)
Yet, if you please to hold him off a while,
You shall by that perceive him and his means;
Note, if your lady strain his entertainment
With any strong or vehement importunity;
Much will be seen in that. In the mean time,
Let me be thought too busy in my fears,
(As worthy cause I have to fear-I am,)
And hold her free, I do beseech

your

Oth, Fear not my government.
Iago. I once more take my leave.

honour.

[Exit.

Oth. This fellow's of exceeding honesty,
And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,
Of human dealings.-If I do prove her haggard,
Though that her jesses were my dear heart-strings,
I'd whistle her off, and let her down the wind,
To prey at fortune.-Haply, for I am black;—
And have not those soft parts of conversation
That chamberers have ;-Or, for I am declined
Into the vale of years;-yet that's not much:---
She's gone; I am abused; and my relief

Must be to loath her.-O curse of marriage,
That we can call these delicate creatures ours,
And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad,

And live

upon the vapour of a dungeon, Than keep a corner in the thing I love, For others' uses.

Desdemona comes :

If she be false, O, then, Heaven mocks itself!-
I'll not believe it,

Enter DESDEMONA and EMILIA.

Des. How now, my dear Othello? Your dinner, and the generous islanders By you invited, do attend your presence. Oth. I am to blame.

Des. Why is your speech so faint? are you not well? Oth. I have a pain upon my forehead, here.

Des. Why that's with watching; 'twill away again; Let me but bind it hard, within this hour

It will be well.

Oth. Your napkin is too little;

[He puts the Handkerchief from him, and it drops. Let it alone.-Come, I'll go in with you. Des. I am very sorry that you are not well.

[Exeunt DESDEMONA and OTHELLO. Emil. I am glad I have found this napkin; This was her first remembrance from the Moor: My wayward husband hath a hundred times Woo'd me to steal it; but she so loves the token (For he conjured her she should ever keep it,) That she reserves it evermore about her,

To kiss and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out,
And give it lago;

What he will do with it, Heaven knows, not I;
I nothing, but to please his fantasy.

Enter IAGO.

Iago. How now! what do

you here alone?

Emil. Do not you chide; I have a thing for you.

EZ

Iago. You have a thing for me?—it is a common

thing,

Emil. Ha?

Iago. To have a foolish wife.

Emil. O, is that all? What will you give me now For that same handkerchief?

Iago. What handkerchief?

Emil. What handkerchief?

Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona;
That which so often you did bid me steal.
lago. Hast stolen it from her?

Emil. No; but she let it drop by negligence;
And, to the advantage, I being here, took't up.
Look, here it is.

Iago. A good wench; give it me.

Emil. What will you do with't, that you've been

so earnest

To have me filch it?

Iago. Why, what's that to you?

[Snatching it. Emil. If't be not for some purpose of import, Give't me again: Poor lady! she'll run mad When she shall lack it.

Iago. Be not you known of't; I have use for it. Go, leave me. [Exit EMILIA. I will in Cassio's lodgings lose this napkin, And let him find it: Trifles, light as air, Are, to the jealous, confirmations strong

As proofs of holy writ. This may do something.The Moor already changes with my poison: Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poisons, Which, at the first, are scarce found to distaste; But, with a little act upon the blood,

Burn like the mines of sulphur.—I did say so :-
Look, where he comes! Not poppy, nor mandragora,
Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world,

Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep
Which thou owedst yesterday.

Enter OTHELlo.

Oth. Ha! ha! false to me? to me?

Iago. Why, how now, general? no more of that. Oth. Avaunt! begone! thou'st set me on the rack:

I swear, 'tis better to be much abused,

Than but to know't a little.

Iago. How now, my lord?

Oth. What sense had I of her stol'n hours of lust ?
I saw't not, thought it not, it harm'd not me:
I slept the next night well, was free and merry;
I found not Cassio's kisses on her lips:

He, that is robb'd, not wanting what is stol'n,
Let him not know't, and he's not robb'd at all.
Iago. I am sorry to hear this.

Qth. I had been happy, if the general camp,
Pioneers and all, had tasted her sweet body,
So I had nothing known: O now, for ever,
Farewell the tranquil mind! farewell content!
Farewell the plumed troop, and the big wars,
That make ambition virtue, O, farewell!
Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill trump,
The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife,
The royal banner,-and all quality,

Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war!
And O, ye mortal engines, whose rude throats
The immortal Jove's dread clamours counterfeit,
Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone.
Iago. Is it possible?-My lord,-

Oth. [Seizing him.] Villain! be sure thou prove my love a whore;

Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof,
Or, by the worth of mine eternal soul,
Thou hadst better have been born a dog,
Than answer my waked wrath,
Iago. Is't come to this?