Tago. Away, I say! go out, and cry—a mutiny. Nay, good lieutenant, alas, gentlemen,— hold; You will be sham'd for ever. [MONTANO is wounded,-ANTONIO and JULIO support him. Enter OTHELLO, MARCO, PAULO, GIOVANNI, LUCA, and SERVANTS with Torches. Oth. Hold, for your lives. Why, how now, ho! from whence ariseth this? [Exit MARCO, and returns. Honest Jago, that look'st dead with grieving, Speak, who began this?-on thy love I charge thee. Iago. I do not know ;-friends all but now, even now In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom Oth. How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot? The world hath noted, and your name is great And spend your rich opinion, for the name While I spare speech, which something now offends me, Of all that I do know: nor know I aught, Oth. Now, by Heaven, My blood begins my safer guides to rule; Mont. If partially affin'd, or leagu'd in office, Iago. Touch me not so near: I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth, Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio; Yet, I persuade myself, to speak the truth There comes a fellow, crying out for help; Lest, by his clamour,-as it so fell out,- More of this matter can I not report : : But men are men; the best sometimes forget:- From him that fled, some strange indignity, Oth. I know, Iago, Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter, Sir, for your hurts, myself will be your surgeon :— [MONTANO is led off by JULIO and ANTONIO. Iago, look with care about the town; And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted. [Exeunt all but CASSIO and IAGO. Iago. What, are you hurt, lieutenant? Cas. Ay, past all surgery. Iago. Marry, Heaven forbid ! Cas. Reputation, reputation, reputation! I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part sir, of myself, and what remains is bestial.--My reputation, Iago, my reputation! Iago. As I am an honest man, I thought you had received some bodily wound; there is more offence in that, than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving: You have lost no reputation at all, unless you repute yourself such a loser. What, man! there are ways to recover the general again: sue to him, and he's yours. Cas. I will rather sue to be despised, than to deceive so good a commander, with so slight, so drunken, and so indiscreet an officer. Drunk ?-O, thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee-devil! Jago. What was he that you followed with your sword? What had he done to you? Cas. I know not. Iago. Is it possible? Cas. I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly; a quarrel, but nothing wherefore. -O, that men should put an enemy in their mouths, to steal away their brains! Iago. Why, but you are now well enough: How came you thus recover'd? Cas. It hath pleas'd the devil, drunkenness, to give place to the devil, wrath: one unperfectness shows me another, to make me frankly despise myself. Iago. I could heartily wish this had not so befallen; but, since it is as it is, mend it for your own good. Cas. I will ask him for my place again; he shall tell me, I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast! O strange !-Every inordinate cup is unbless'd, and the ingredient is a devil. Iago. Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well us'd; exclaim no more against it. And, good lieutenant, I think, you think I love you. Cas. I have well approv'd it, sir.—I drunk! Iago. You, or any man living, may be drunk at some time, man. I tell you what you shall do. Our general's wife is now the general;-confess yourself freely to her; importune her, she'll help to put you in your place: she is of so free, so kind, so apt, so bless'd a disposition, that she holds it a vice in her goodness, not to do more than she is requested. Cas. You advise me well. Iago. I protest, in the sincerity of love and honest kindness. Cas. I think it freely; and, betimes in the morning, I will beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me: I am desperate of my fortunes, if they check me here. Iago. You are in the right. Good night, lieutenant; I must to the watch. Cas. Good night, honest Iago. [Exit. Iago. And what's he then, that says,-I play the villain,- When this advice is free, I give, and honest, Probable to the thinking, and (indeed) the course How am I then a villain, To council Cassio to this parallel course, |