Sure, there's some wonder in this handkerchief: Emil. 'Tis not a year or two shows us a man: Iago. There is no other way; 'tis she must do't; Can ransom me into his love again, So shall I clothe me in a forc'd content, Des. Alas! thrice-gentle Cassio, My advocation is not now in tune; My lord is not my lord; nor should I know him, So help me, every spirit sanctified, As I have spoken for you all my best; For my free speech! You must awhile be patient: What I can do, I will; and more I will, Than for myself I dare: let that suffice you. lago. Is my lord angry? Emil. He went hence but now, And, certainly, in strange unquietness. Lago. Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon, When it hath blown his ranks into the air ; And, like the devil, from his very arm Puff'd his own brother ;-And can he be angry? Des. I pr'ythee, do so.—Something, sure, of state.-- Our other healthful members ev'n to that sense And he's indited falsely. Emil. Pray heaven, it be state matters, as you think; And no conception, nor no jealous toy, Concerning you. Des, Alas, the day! I never gave him cause. Emil. But jealous souls will not be answer'd so; They are not ever jealous for the cause, But jealous for they are jealous: 'tis a monster, Des. Heaven keep that monster from Othello's mind! Des. I will go seek him.-Cassio, walk hereabout: If I do find him fit, I'll move your suit, And seek to effect it to my uttermost. Cas. I humbly thank your ladyship. [Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia. Enter BIANCA. Bian. Save you, friend Cassio! What make you from home? How is it with you, my most fair Bianca? Bian. And I was going to your lodging, Cassio. Cas. Pardon me, Bianca; I have this while with leaden thoughts been press'd; Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca, Take me this work out. Bian. O, Cassio, whence came this? Cas. Throw your vile guesses in the Woman, go to ! devil's teeth, You are jealous now; some remembrance: Why, whose is it? Cas. I know not, sweet: I found it in my chamber. I like the work well; ere it be demanded (As like enough it will), I'd have it copied : Take it, and do't; and leave me for this time. Bian. Leave you! wherefore? Cas. I do attend here on the general; And think it no addition, nor my wish, To have him see me woman'd. Bian. Cas. Not that I love you not. Why, I pray you? But that you do not love me. I pray you, bring me on the way a little ; Bian. "Tis very good; I must be circumstanc'd. [Exeunt. Oth. lago. Or to be naked with her friend abed, An hour, or more, not meaning any harm? Oth. Naked abed, Iago, and not mean harm? It is hypocrisy against the devil: They that mean virtuously, and yet do so, The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt heaven. Iago. So they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip: But if I give my wife a handkerchief, Oth. What then? lago. 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? E lago. 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, Oth. That's not so good, now. lago. 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 supplied them, cannot choose But they must blab Oth. Hath he said any thing? lago. He hath, my lord; but be you well assur'd, No more than he'll unswear. Oth. What hath he said? lago 'Faith, that he did,-I know not what he did. Oth. What? what? lago. Lie Oth. lago. 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 falsome.— Handkerchief,-confessions,-handkerchief.-To confess, and be hanged for his labour.-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; Enter CASSIO. My lord, I say! Othello!-How now, Cassio? |