For fure he fills it up with great ability;
Yet, if you please to hold him off awhile,
You fhall by that perceive him, and his means.
Note if your lady ftrain his entertainment
With any ftrong or vehement opportunity;
Much will be feen in that. In the mean time,
Let me be thought too bufy in my fears,
As worthy caufe I have to fear I am;
And hold her free, I do befeech your Honour.
Oth. Fear not my government.
Iago. I once more take my leave.
Oth. This fellow's of exceeding honefty,
And knows all qualities with a learned fpirit
Of human dealings. If I prove her haggard,
Though that her jeffes were my dear heart-ftrings,
I'd whistle her off, and let her down the wind
Το prey at fortune. Haply, for I am black,
And have not those soft parts of conversation
That chamberers have; or, for I am declin'd
Into the vale of years, yet that's not much;
She's gone, I am abus'd, and my relief
Muft be to loath her. Oh the curfe 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' ufe. Yet 'tis the plague of great ones;
Prerogativ'd are they lefs than the bafe:
'Tis destiny unfhunnable, like death.
Even then this forked plague is fated to us,
When we do quicken. Defdemona comes!
Enter Defdemona and Æmilia.
If the be falfe, oh then Heaven mocks itfelf:
I'll not believe it.
Def. How now, my dear Othello?
Your dinner, and the generous Islanders
By you invited, do attend your prefence.
Oth. I am to blame.
Def. Why do you speak so faintly?
Are you not well?
Oth. I have a pain upon my forehead here.
Def. Why, that's with watching; 'twill away again : Let me but bind it hard, within this hour
Oth. Your napkin is too little.
[She drops her bandkerchief.
Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you.
Def. I am very forry that you are not well..
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 fhe fo loves the token,
For he conjur'd her she should ever keep it,
That the referves it evermore about her,
To kifs and talk.to. I'll have the work ta'en out,
And giv't lagos
What he'll do with it, Heaven knows, not I:
I nothing know. but for his fantasy.
Iago. How now! what do you here alone?
Emil. Do not you chide; I have a thing for you..
Iago. You have a thing for me?
It is a common thing
Emil. Ha?
Iago. To have a foolish wife.
Emil. Oh, is that all? What will you give me now.
For that fame handkerchief?
Iago. What handkerchief!
Emil. What handkerchief?
Why, that the Moor firft gave to Defdemona,.
That which fo often you did bid me steal.
Iago. Haft ftolen it from her?
Emil. No; but she let it drop by negligence; And to th' 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, you have been sö earnest
To have me filch it?
Iago. Why, what is that to you?
Emil. If't be not for fome purpose of import,
Give 't me again. Poor lady! fhe'll run mad
When the fhall lack it..
Iago. Be not you known on 't ::
I have use for it. Go, leave me
I will in Caffio's lodging lofe this napkin,.
And let him find it. Trifles, light as air,.
Are to the jealous confirmation ftrong
As proofs of holy writ. This may do something..
The Moor already changes with my poison:
Dangerous conceits are in their nature poifons,.
Which at the firft are scarce found to diftafte;
But, with a little act upon the blood,
Burn like the mines of fulphur.—I did fay fo..
Enter Othello.
Look, where he comes! Not poppy, nor mandragora,
Nor all the drowfy fyrups of the world,
Shall ever med'cine thee to that sweet sleep
Which thou owedit yesterday.
Oth., Ha! Falfe! To me! to me!!
Iago. Why, how now, General? No more of that.
Oth. Avaunt! be gone! thou haft fet me on the rack.
I fwear 'tis better to be much abus'd,
Than but to know 't a little..
Iago. How, my Lord?.
Oth. What fenfe had I of her ftolen hours of luft?.
I faw't not, thought it not, it harm'd not me :
I flept the next night well, was free and merry;
I found not Caffio's kiffes on her lips:
He that is robb'd, not wanting what is ftolen,
Let him not know't, and he's not robb'd at all.
Iago. I am. forry to hear this.
Oth. I had been happy, if the general camp,.
Pioneers and all, had tafted her fweet body,
So I had nothing known. Oh now, for ever.
Farewel the tranquil mind, farewel content,
Farewel the plumed troops, and the big war,
That makes ambition virtue! oh, farewel!
Farewel the neighing steed, and the fhrill trumps
The fpirit-ftirring drum, th' ear-piercing fife,
The royal banner, and all quality,
Pride, pomp, and circumftance of glorious war!
And, oh, you mortal engines, whose rude throats
The immortal Jove's dread clamours counterfeit,
Farewel! Othello's occupation's gone!
Iago. Is't poffible, my Lord?
Oth. Villain, be fure thou prove my love a whore; Be fure of it; give me the ocular proof,
Or, by the worth of mine eternal foul,
Thou hadst been better have been born a dog,
Than answer my wak'd wrath.
Iago. Is it come to this?
Oth. Make me to fee't; or, at the leaft, fo prove it, That the probation bear no hinge nor loop
To hang a doubt on: or, woe upon thy life!
Oth. If thou doft flander her, and torture me, Never pray more; abandon all remorfe;
On horror's head horrors accumulate!
Do deeds to make heaven weep, all earth amaz'd;
For nothing canst thou to damnation add,
Iago. Oh grace! oh heaven defend me!
Are you a man? have you a foul, or sense?
God be wi' you! Take mine office. O wretched fool,
That liv't to make thine honefty a vice!
Oh monftrous world! take note, take note, oh world,
To be direct and honest, is not fafe.
I thank you for this profit; and from hence
I'll love no friend, fith love breeds fuch offence.
Oth. Nay, ftay. Thou fhouldit be honeft-
Iago. I fhould be wife, for honefty's a fool,
And lofes that it works for.
I think my wife is honeft, and think she is not;
I think that thou art juft, and think thou art not.
I'll have fome proof. Her name, that was as fresh
As Dian's vifage, is now begrim'd and black
If there be cords, or knives,
Poifon, or fire, or fuffocating ftreams,
I'll not endure 't. 'Would I were fatisfied!
Iago. I fee, Sir, you are eaten up with paffion;
I do repent me that I put it to you.
You would be fatisfied?
Oth. Would? nay, I will..
Iago. And may; but how? how fatisfied, my Lord? Would you be fupervisor, grofsly gape on?
Behold her tupp'd?
Oth. Death and damnation? oh!
Iago. It were a tedious difficulty, I think,
To bring 'em to that profpect: damn them then,
If ever mortal eyes do fee them bolfter,
More than their own. What then? how then?
What fhall I fay? where's fatisfaction?
It is impoffible you fhould fee this,
Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys,
As falt as wolves in pride, and fools as grofs
As ignorance made drunk. But yet, I say,
If imputation and ftrong circumftances,
Which lead directly to the door of truth,
Will give you fatisfaction, you might have it.
Oth. Give me a living reafon fhe's disloyal.
Iago. I do not like the office;
But fince I'm enter'd in this caufe fo far,
Prick'd to't by foolish honesty and love,
I will go on. I lay with Caffio lately,
And, being troubled with a raging tooth,
I could not fleep-
There are a kind of men fo loose of foul,
That in their fleeps will mutter their affairs.
One of this kind is Caffio:
In fleep I heard him fay," Sweet Desdemona,
"Let us be wary, let us hide our loves!".
And then, Sir, would he gripe, and wring my hand;
Cry, "Ofweet creature!" and then kifs me hard,
As if he pluck'd up kiffes by the roots,
That grew upon my lips; then lay his leg
Over my thigh, and figh'd and kiss'd, and then
Cried, "Curfed fate! that gave thee to the Moor."
Oth. Oh monftrous! monstrous!
lago. Nay, this was but his dream.
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