Is free of speech; sings, plays, and dances well: Iago. I am glad of this; for now I shall have reason To shew the love and duty that I bear you In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks They dare not shew their husbands: their best conscience Is not to leave undone, but keep unknown. Iago. She did deceive her father, marrying you; And when she seemed to shake and fear your looks, She loved them most. [Exit. To scan this thing no further: leave it to time. Enter DESDEMONA and EMILIA. If she be false, O then heaven mocks itself!-I'll not believe it. Des. How now, my dear Othello? Your dinner, and the generous islanders Des. Why is your speech so faint? are you not well? Oth. I have a pain upon my forehead here. Des. Faith, that 's with watching; 't will away again : Let me but bind it hard, within this hour Oth. Your napkin is too little : [He puts the handkerchief from him, and Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you. [Exeunt OTHELLO and DESDEMONA. Emil. I am glad I have found this napkin : This was her first remembrance from the Moor. My wayward husband hath a hundred times Wooed me to steal it; but she so loves the token (For he conjúred her she would ever keep it), That she reserves it evermore about her, To kiss and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out, What he 'll do with it, heaven knows, not I; I saw it not, thought it not, it harmed not me: He that is robbed, not wanting what is stolen, Oth. 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 pluméd 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 you 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. Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore : Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof; On horror's head horrors accumulate : Iago. O grace! O heaven defend me! That liv'st to make thine honesty a vice!- I thank you for this profit; and from hence Oth I think my wife be honest, and think she is not; I think that thou art just, and think thou art not: I'll have some proof. Her name, that was as fresh As salt as wolves in pride, and fools as gross But sith I am entered in this cause so far, There are a kind of men so loose of soul In sleep I heard him say,-"Sweet Desdemona, And this may help to thicken other proofs, Iago. If it be that, or any that was her's, Arise, black vengeance, from the hollow hell ! O, blood, Iago, blood! Iago. Patience, I say: your mind, perhaps, may change. Oth. Never, Iago. Like to the Pontic sea, Whose icy current and compulsive course SCENE IV.-The same. [Exeunt. Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA, and Clown. Des. Do you know, sirrah, where Lieutenant Cassio lies? Clo. I dare not say he lies any where. Clo. He is a soldier; and for me to say a soldier lies, is stabbing. Des. Go to: where lodges he! Clo. To tell you where he lodges, is to tell you where I lie. Des. Can anything be made of this? Clo. I know not where he lodges; and for me to devise a lodging, and say he lies here, or he lies there, were to lie in my own throat. Des. Can you inquire him out, and be edified by report ? Clo. I will catechise the world for him: that is, make questions, and by them answer. Des. Seek him; bid him come hither: tell him I have moved my lord in his behalf, and hope all will be well. Clo. To do this is within the compass of man's wit; and therefore I will attempt the doing it. [Exit. Oth. Well, my good lady :-[Aside] O, hardness to dissemble !-- How do you, Desdemona? Oth. Give me your hand. - This hand is moist, my lady. Des. It yet has felt no age, nor known no sorrow. Oth. This argues fruitfulness and liberal heart: Hot, hot, and moist. This hand of yours requires A sequester from liberty, fasting and prayer, Much castigation, exercise devout: For here's a young and sweating devil here, Des. Why, so I can, sir, but I will not now: This is a trick to put me from my suit. I pray, let Cassio be received again. Oth. Fetch me that handkerchief.-My mind misgives. Des. Come, come: You'll never meet a more sufficient man. Oth. The handkerchief! Hath founded his good fortune on your love; Shared dangers with you;— Sure there's some wonder in this handkerchief: I am most unhappy in the loss of it. Emil. 'Tis not a year or two shews us a man: They are all but stomachs, and we all but food: They eat us hungrily, and when they are full, They belch us.-Look you! Cassio and my husband. Enter IAGO and CASSIO. Iago. There is no other way; 't is she must do 't: And lo, the happiness! Go, and importune her. |