His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift; With Cassio's suit: Therefore be merry, Cassio; Than give thy cause away. And hear me speak. Cas. Madam, not now; I am very ill at ease, Unfit for mine own purposes. Des. Do your discretion. Iago. Well, well, [Exit CASSIO. Ha! I like not that. Oth. What dost thou say? Iago. Nothing, my lord: or if-I know not what. Oth. Was not that Cassio, parted from my wife? Iago. Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it, That he would steal away so guilty-like, Seeing you coming. Oth. I do believe 'twas he. Des. How now, my lord? I have been talking with a suitor here, A man that languishes in your displeasure. Oth. Who is't, you mean? Des. Why, your lieutenant Cassio. Good my lord, If I have any grace, or power to move you, For, if he be not one that truly loves you, 7 His present reconciliation take;] To take his reconciliation, may be to accept the submission which he makes in order to be reconciled. That errs in ignorance, and not in cunning, I pr'ythee, call him back. Oth. 8 Went he hence now? Des. Ay, sooth; so humbled, That he hath left part of his grief with me; I suffer with him. Good love, call him back. time. Des. But shall't be shortly? Oth. The sooner, sweet, for you. No, not to-night. Des. To-morrow dinner then? I shall not dine at home; I meet the captains at the citadel. Des. Why then, to-morrow night; or Tuesday morn; Or Tuesday noon, or night; or Wednesday morn;- To incur a private check: When shall he come? 8 and not in cunning,] Cunning, for knowledge. 9 the wars must make examples Out of their best,] The severity of military discipline must not spare the best men of their army, when their punishment may afford a wholesome example. so mammering on.] To hesitate, to stand in suspense. To bring him in! Trust me, I could do much,Oth. Pr'ythee, no more: let him come when he will; I will deny thee nothing. Des. Why, this is not a boon ; To your own person: Nay, when I have a suit, It shall be full of poize2 and difficulty, And fearful to be granted. Oth. I will deny thee nothing: Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this, To leave me but a little to myself. Des. Shall I deny you? no: Farewell, my lord. Oth. Farewell, my Desdemona: I will come to thee straight. Des. Emilia, come :-Be it as your fancies teach you; Whate'er you be, I am obedient. [Exit, with EMILIA. Oth. Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul, But I do love thee! and when I love thee not, 2 you woo'd Oth. He did, from first to last: Why dost thou ask? full of poize] i. e. of weight. 3 Excellent wretch!] The meaning of the word wretch, is not generally understood. It is now, in some parts of England, a term of the softest and fondest tenderness. It expresses the utmost degree of amiableness, joined with an idea which perhaps all tenderness includes, of feebleness, softness, and want of protection. Iago. But for a satisfaction of my thought; No further harm. Oth. Why of thy thought, Iago? Iago. I did not think, he had been acquainted with her. Oth. O, yes; and went between us very oft. Oth. Indeed! ay, indeed :-Discern'st thou aught in that? Think, my lord! By heaven, he echoes me, As if there were some monster in his thought thing: I heard thee say but now,-Thou lik'dst not that, Iago. My lord, you know I love you. Oth. I think, thou dost ; And, for I know thou art full of love and honesty, And weigh'st thy words before thou giv'st them breath, Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more: For such things, in a false disloyal knave, Are tricks of custom; but, in a man that's just, They are close denotements, working from the heart, That passion cannot rule.* Iago. I dare be sworn, I think that he is honest. For Michael Cassio, Men should be what they seem; Oth. I think so too. Iago. Or, those that be not, 'would they might seem none ! Oth. Certain, men should be what they seem. Iago. I think that Cassio is an honest man. Oth. Nay, yet there's more in this: Why then, I pray thee, speak to me as to thy thinkings, As thou dost ruminate; and give thy worst of thoughts The worst of words. Iago. Good my lord, pardon me ; Though I am bound to every act of duty, I am not bound to that all slaves are free to.5 Utter my thoughts? Why, say, they are vile and false, As where's that palace, whereinto foul things Keep leets, and law-days, and in session sit Oth. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago, If thou but think'st him wrong'd, and mak'st his ear A stranger to thy thoughts. Iago. To spy into abuses; and, oft, my jealousy 4 They are close denotements, working from the heart, That passion cannot rule.] i. e. indications, or recoveries, not openly revealed, but involuntarily working from the heart, which cannot rule and suppress its feelings. to that all slaves are free to.] I am not bound to do that, which even slaves are not bound to do. |