Iago. Well, go to; very well.

Rod. Very well, go to; I cannot go to, man, nor 'tis not very well; nay, I think, it is fcurvy, and begin to find my self fob’d in it.

Iago. Very well.

Rod. I tell you, 'tis not very well. I will make my felf known to Desdemona: If he will return me my jewels, I will give over my fuit, and repent my unlawful follicitation: if not, affure yourself, I will seek fatisfaction of you.

Iago. You have faid now

Rod. Ay, and faid nothing, but what, I proteft, intendment of doing.

Iago. Why, now, I fee, there's mettle in thee; and even from this inftant do I build on thee a better opinion than ever before. Give my thy hand, Rodorigo, thou haft taken against me a moft juft exception; but, I proteft, I have dealt moft directly in thy affair.

Rod. It hath not appear'd.

Iago. I grant, indeed, it hath not appear'd; and your fufpicion is not without wit and judgment. But, Rodorigo, if thou haft That in thee indeed, which I have greater reason to believe now than ever, (I mean, purpofe, courage, and valour) this night fhew it. If thou the next night following enjoy not Desdemona, take me from this world with treachery, and devise engines for my life.

Rod. Well; what is it? is it within reason and compass? Iago. Sir, there is efpecial Commiffion come from Venice to depute Caffio in Othello's Place.

Rod. Is that true? why, then Othello and Desdemona return again to Venice.

Iago. Oh, no; he goes into Mauritania, and taketh away with him the fair Desdemona, unless his abode be lingred here by fome accident: Wherein none can be fo determinate, as the removing of Caffio.

Rod. How do you mean removing him?

Iago. Why, by making him uncapable of Othello's Place; knocking out his brains.

Rod. And that you would have me to do?

lago. Ay, if you dare do yourself a profit and a right. He fups to night with a harlot; and thither will I go to him. He knows not yet of his honourable fortune; if you will watch his going thence, (which I will fashion to fall out between twelve and one) you may take him at your pleasure. I will be near to fecond your attempt, and he shall fall between us. Come, ftand not amaz'd at it, but go along with me; I will fhew you fuch a neceffity in his death, that you fhall think yourself bound to put it on him. It is now high fupper-time; and the night grows to waste. About it.

Rod. I will hear further reafon for this.
lago. And you shall be satisfied.

[Exeunt. Enter Othello, Lodovico, Defdemona, Emilia, and Attendants.

Lod. I do befeech you, Sir, trouble yourself no further.
Oth. Oh, pardon me; 'twill do me good to walk.
Lod. Madam, good night; I humbly thank your
ladyship.

Def. Your Honour is most welcome.

Oth. Will you walk, Sir? oh Defdemona!·
Def. My lord.

Oth. Get you to bed on th' inftant, I will be return'd forthwith; difmifs your attendant there; look, it be done.

Def. I will, my Lord.

[Exit.

Emil. How goes it now? he looks gentler than he did.

Def. He fays, he will return incontinent;

And hath commanded me to go to bed,

And bid me to dismiss you.

Emil. Difmifs me?

Def. It was his bidding; therefore, good Æmilia, Give me my nightly Wearing, and adieu.

We must not now displease him.

Em:l. I would, you had never feen him!

Def. So would not I; my love doth so approve him, That even his ftubbornness, his checks, and frowns, (Pr'ythee, unpin me) have grace and favour in them.

05

Emil.

Emil. I have laid thofe fheets, you bad me, on the bed.

Def. All's one good father! how foolish are our minds?

If I do die before thee, pr'ythee, shroud me
In one of these fame sheets.

Emil. Come, come; you talk.

Def. My Mother had a maid call'd Barbara,
She was in love; and he, fhe lov'd, proved mad,
And did forfake her. She had a fong of willow,
An old thing 'twas, but it exprefs'd her fortune,
And the dy'd finging it. That fong to night
Will not go from my mind; I've much ado,
But to go hang my head all at one fide,
And fing it like poor Barbara. Pry'thee, dispatch.
Emil. Shall I go fetch your night-gown?

Def. No, unpin me here;

This Lodovico is a proper man.

Emil. A very handsom man.

Def. He speaks well.

Emil. I know a lady in Venice would have walk'd barefoot to Palestine for a touch of his nether lip. Def. The poor foul fat finging by a sycamore-tree, Sing all a green willow:

[finging.

Her hand on her bofom, her head on her knee,
Sing willow, willow, willow:

The fresh fireams ran by her, and murmur'd her moans;
Sing willow, &c.

Her falt tears fell from her, and foftned the fiones;
Sing willow, &c.

Willow, willow, &c.

(Pr'ythee, hye thee, he'll come anon) Sing all a green willow must be my garland. Let no body blame him, his fcorn I approve.

Nay that's not next

Emil. It's the wind.

Hark, who is it that knocks?

Def. Icall'd my love falfe love; but what said he then?
Sing willow, &c.

If I court more women, you'll couch with more men. So, get thee gone, good night; mine eyes do itch,

Doth

Doth that boad weeping?

Emil. 'Tis neither here nor there.

Def. I have heard it faid fo; oh these men, these men! Doit thou in confcience think, tell me, Æmilia,

That there be women do abuse their husbands

In fuch grofs kind?

Emil. There be fome fuch, no question.

Def. Would't thou do fuch a deed for all the world? Emil. Why, would not you?

Def. No, by this heav'nly light.

Emil. Nor I neither, by this heav'nly light: I might do't as well i'th' dark.

Def. Would't thou do fuch a deed for all the world? Emil. The world's a huge thing,

It is a great price, for a fmall vice.

Def. In troth, I think, thou would'st not.

Emil. In troth, I think, I should; and undo't, when I had done. Marry, I would not do fuch a thing for a joint-ring, nor for measures of lawn, nor for gowns, petticoats, nor caps; nor any petty exhibition. But for all the whole world; why, who would not make her husband a cuckold, to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for't.

Def. Befhrew me, if I would do fuch a wrong For the whole world.

Emil. Why, the wrong is but a wrong i'th' world; and having the world for your labour, 'tis a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly make it right. Def. I do not think, there is any fuch woman.

Emil. Yes, a dozen; and as many to th' vantage, as Would ftore the world they plaid for.

But, I do think, it is their husbands' faults,

If wives do fall: fay, that they flack their duties,
And pour our treafures into foreign laps;

Or elfe break out in peevish jealoufies,

Throwing restraint on us; or fay, they ftrike us,
Or fcant our former Having in defpight;

Why, we have galls, and though we have fome grace,
Yet have we fome revenge. Let husbands know,
Their wives have fenfe like them; they fee and fmell,

And

And have their palates both for fweet and fower,
As husbands have. What is it that they do,
When they change us for others? is it fport?
I think, it is; and doth affection breed it?
I think, it doth: is't frailty, that thus errs?
It is fo too. And have not we affections?
Defires for fport? and frailty, as men have?
Then let them ufe us well; elfe let them kuow,
The ills we do, their ills inftruct us to.

Def. Good night, good night; heaven me fuch ufes fend,

Not to pick bad from bad; but by bad, mend! [Exeunt.

A CT V.

SCENE, a Street before the Palace.

H

Enter Iago and Rodorigo.

IAGO.

ERE, ftand behind this bulk. Straight will he

come:

Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home; Quick, quick, fear nothing; I'll be at thy elbow. It makes us, or it marrs us: think on That, And fix most firm thy resolution.

Rod. Be near at hand, I may miscarry in't.

Iago. Here, at thy hand; be bold and take thy fword. Rod. I have no great devotion to the deed,

Yet he hath giv'n me fatisfying reasons:

'Tis but a man gone. Forth, my fword; he dies. [Stands apart. lago. I've rubb'd this young Knot almoft to the

fenfe, (28)

(28) I've rubb'd this young Gnat almost to the Sense,

And

And he grows angry.] The rubbing a Gnat to Senfe, is, I

believe