Iago. Why then 'tis hers, my lord; and, being

hers,

She may, I think, bestow't on any man.

Oth. She is protectress of her honour too; May she give that?

fago. Her honour is an essence that's not seen; They have it very oft, that have it not : But, for the handkerchief,

Oth. By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it :

Thou said'st,-O, it comes o'er my memory,
As doth the raven o'er the infected house,
Boding to all,1-he had my handkerchief.
Iago. Ay, what of that?

Oth.

That's not so good, now. Iago. What, if I had said, I had seen him do you wrong?

Or heard him say,-As knaves be such abroad,
Who having, by their own importunate suit,
Or voluntary dotage of some mistress,

Convinced or supplied2 them, cannot choose
But they must blab-

Oth.

Hath he said any thing?

Iago. He hath, my lord; but be you well as

sur'd,

No more than he'll unswear.

Oth.

What hath he said?

Jago. 'Faith, that he did,-I know not what he

Iago.

With her?

With her, on her; what

you will. Oth. Lie with her! lie on her!-We say, lie on her, when they belie her: Lie with her! that's fulsome. Handkerchief,-confessions,-handker

(1) The raven was thought to be a constant attendant on a house infected with the plague. (2) Old spelling of suppled, i, e. softened.

chief. To confess, and be hanged for his labour. 1— First to be hanged, and then to confess :-I tremble at it. Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing passion, without some instruction. It is not words, that shake me thus:-Pish!-Noses, ears, and lips-Is it possible?-Confess!--Handkerchief! O devil!— [Falls in a trance.

lago. Work on,

My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are

caught;

And many worthy and chaste dames, even thus,
All guiltless meet reproach.-What, ho! my lord!
Enter Cassio.

My lord, I say! Othello!-How now, Cassio?
Cas. What is the matter?

lago. My lord has fallen into an epilepsy; This is his second fit; he had one yesterday. Cas. Rub him about the temples.

Iago. No, forbear: The lethargy must have his quiet course: If not, he foams at mouth; and, by and by, Breaks out to savage madness. Look, he stirs : Do you withdraw yourself a little while, He will recover straight; when he is gone, I would on great occasion speak with you.

[Exit Cassio. How is it, general? have you not hurt your head? Oth. Dost thou mock me?

lago. I mock you! no, by heaven : 'Would you would bear your fortunes like a man. Oth. A horned man's a monster, and a beast. Iago. There's many a beast then in a populous city,

And many a civil monster.

Oth. Did he confess it?

Iago.

Good sir, be a man;

Think, every bearded fellow, that's but yok'd,

(1) A proverbial saying.

May draw with you: there's millions now alive,
That nightly lie in those unproper1 beds,
Which they dare swear peculiar; your case is better.
O, 'tis the spite of hell, the fiend's arch-mock,
To lip a wanton in a secure couch,

And to suppose her chaste! No, let me know;
And, knowing what I am, I know what she shall be.
Oth. O, thou art wise; 'tis certain.

Iago.
Stand you a while apart;
Confine yourself but in a patient list.2

Whilst you were here, ere while mad with your grief
(A passion most unsuiting such a man,)
Cassio came hither: I shifted him away,
And laid good 'scuse upon your ecstacy;
Bade him anon return, and here speak with me;
The which he promis'd. Do but encave yourself,
And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorns,
That dwell in every region of his face;
For I will make him tell the tale anew,-
Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when
He hath, and is again to cope your wife;

I say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience;
Or I shall say, you are all in all in spleen,
And nothing of a man.

Oth.

Dost thou hear, Iago? I will be found most cunning in my patience; But (dost thou hear?) most bloody.

Iago.

That's not amiss;

But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw? [Othello withdraws.

Now will I question Cassio of Bianca,

A housewife, that, by selling her desires,

Buys herself bread and clothes: it is a creature,
That dotes on Cassio,-as 'tis the strumpet's plague,
To beguile many, and be beguil'd by one;
He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain
From the excess of laughter :-Here he comes:-

(1) Common.

(2) Within the bounds of patience. (3) Hide.

Re-enter Cassio.

As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad;
And his unbookish1 jealousy must construe
Poor Cassio's smiles, gestures, and light behaviour
Quite in the wrong.-How do you now, lieutenant?
Cas. The worser, that you give me the addition,2
Whose want even kills me.

Iago. Ply Desdemona well, and you are sure of't. Now, if this suit lay in Bianca's power,

How quickly should you speed.

Cas.

[Speaking lower.

Alas, poor caitiff!
Oth. Look, how he laughs already! [Aside.
Iago. I never knew a woman love man so.
Cas. Alas, poor rogue! I think, i'faith, she loves

me.

Oth. Now he denies it faintly, and laughs it out.

Iago. Do you hear, Cassio?

[Aside.

Oth. Now he importunes him To tell it o'er: Go to; well said, well said. [Aside. Iago. She gives it out, that you shall marry her: Do you intend it? Cas.

Ha, ha, ha!

Oth. Do you triumph, Roman? do you triumph?

[Aside. Cas. I marry her!-what? a customer !3 I pr'ythee, bear some charity to my wit; do not think it so unwholesome. Ha, ha, ha!

Oth. So, so, so, so: They laugh that win.

[Aside. Iago. 'Faith, the cry goes, that you shall marry

her.

Cas. Pr'ythee, say true.

Iago. I am a very villain else.

Oth. Have you scored me? Well. [Aside. Cas. This is the monkey's own giving out: she

(1) Ignorant.

(3) A common woman.

(2) Title of lieutenant.

is persuaded I will marry her, out of her own love and flattery, not out of my promise.

Oth. Iago beckons me; now he begins the story.

Aside. Cas. She was here even now; she haunts me in every place. I was, the other day, talking on the sea-bank with certain Venetians; and thither comes this bauble; by this band, she falls thus about my neck ;

Oth. Crying, O dear Cassio! as it were: his gesture imports it. [Aside. Cas. So hangs, and lolls, and weeps upon me; so hales, and pulls me: ha, ha, ha!

Oth. Now he tells, how she pluck'd him to my chamber: O, I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I shall throw it to.

{Aside.

Cas. Well, I must leave her company.
Iago. Before me! look where she comes.

Enter Bianca.

Cas. 'Tis such another fitchew! marry, a perfumed one. What do you mean by this haunting of me?

Bian. Let the devil and his dam haunt you! What did you mean by that same handkerchief, you gave me even now? I was a fine fool to take it. I must take out the whole work?-A likely piece of work, that you should find it in your chamber, and not know who left it there! This is some minx's token, and I must take out the work? There,-give it your hobby-horse: wheresoever you had it, I'll take out no work on't.

Cas. How now, my sweet Bianca? how now? how now?

Oth. By heaven, that should be my handker

chief!

[Aside. Bian. An you'll come to supper to-night, you may: an you will not, come when you are next prepared for.

[Erit.

(1) A polecat.