ture: she might lie by an emperor's side, and command him tasks.

Iago. Nay, that's not your way.

Oth. Hang her! I do but say what she is. So delicate with her needle! An admirable musician! O! she will sing the savageness out of a bear. Of so high and plenteous wit and in

vention!

Iago. She's the worse for all this.

Oth. O! a thousand thousand times. And then, of so gentle a condition.

Iago. Ay, too gentle.

Oth. Nay, that's certain: O, Iago! the pity of it, Iago!

Iago. If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her patent to offend; for if it touch not you, it comes near nobody.

Oth. I will chop her into messes. Cuckold me!
Iago. O'tis foul in her.

Oth. With mine officer!

Iago. That's fouler.

Oth. Get me some poison, Iago; this night:

I'll not ex

postulate with her, lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again. This night, Iago.

Iago. Do it not with poison, strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated.

Oth. Good, good: the justice of it pleases; very good.

Iago. And for Cassio, let me be his undertaker. You shall hear more by midnight. [A Trumpet within. What trumpet is that same? Iago. Something from Venice, sure. "T is Lodovico, Come from the duke; and, see, your wife is with him.

Oth. Excellent good.

Enter LODOVICO, DESDEMONA, and Attendants.

Lod. 'Save you, worthy general!

Oth.
Lod. The duke and senators of Venice greet you.

Sir.

With all my heart,

[Giving him a Packet.

Oth. I kiss the instrument of their pleasures.

[Opens the Packet, and reads.

Des. And what's the news, good cousin Lodovico?
Iago. I am very glad to see you, signior:

Welcome to Cyprus.

Lod. I thank you. How does lieutenant Cassio?

Iago. Lives, Sir.

Des. Cousin, there's fallen between him and my lord An unkind breach, but you shall make all well.

Oth. Are you sure of that?

Des. My lord?

Oth.

"This fail you not to do, as you will'

Lod. He did not call; he's busy in the paper. Is there division 'twixt my lord and Cassio?

Des. A most unhappy one: I would do much To atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio.

[Reading.

For, as I think, they do command him home,

Deputing Cassio in his government.

Des. By my troth, I am glad on 't.

Lod. My lord, this would not be believ'd in Venice,

Though I should swear I saw it.

Make her amends, she weeps.

Oth.

'Tis very much;

O devil, devil!

If that the earth could teem with woman's tears,

Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile.

Out of my sight!
Des.

I will not stay to offend you.
Lod. Truly an obedient lady.

I do beseech your lordship, call her back.

[Going.

Oth. Ay; you did wish, that I would make her turn: Sir, she can turn, and turn, and yet go on,

And turn again; and she can weep, Sir, weep;
And she 's obedient, as you say, obedient,
Very obedient. Proceed you in your tears.
Concerning this, Sir, -
I am commanded home.
I'll send for you anon.
And will return to Venice.

O well-painted passion!
Get you away;

- Sir, I obey the mandate,

- Hence! avaunt!

Cassio shall have my place. And,
I do entreat that we may sup together:
You are welcome, Sir, to Cyprus.

[Exit DESDEMONA.

Sir, to-night,

Goats and monkeys!

[Exit.

Lod. Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate
Call all-in-all sufficient? This the noble nature
Whom passion could not shake? whose solid virtue
The shot of accident, nor dart of chance,
Could neither graze, nor pierce?

Iago.

He is much chang'd.

Lod. Are his wits safe? is he not light of brain?

Iago. He's that he is: I may not breathe my censure What he might be, if, what he might, he is not,

I would to heaven, he were.

Lod.

What! strike his wife?

Iago. 'Faith, that was not so well; yet would I knew, That stroke would prove the worst.

Lod.

Is it his use?

Or did the letters work upon his blood,

And new-create this fault?

Iago.

Alas, alas!

It is not honesty in me, to speak

What I have seen and known. You shall observe him;
And his own courses will denote him so,

That I may save my speech. Do but go after,

And mark how he continues.

Lod. I am sorry, that I am deceiv'd in him.

SCENE II.

A Room in the Castle.

Enter OTHELLO and EMILIA.

Oth. You have seen nothing then?

Emil. Nor ever heard; nor ever did suspect.
Oth. Yes, you have seen Cassio and her together.
Emil. But then I saw no harm; and then I heard
Each syllable that breath made up between them.
Oth. What! did they never whisper?

Emil.

[Exeunt.

Never, my lord.

Never.

Oth. To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor nothing? Emil. Never, my lord.

Oth.

That's strange.

Emil. I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest,

Lay down my soul at stake: if you think other,
Remove your thought; it doth abuse your bosom.
If any wretch have put this in your head,
Let heaven requite it with the serpent's curse,
For if she be not honest, chaste, and true,
There's no man happy; the purest of their wives
Is foul as slander.

Oth.

Bid her come hither: go.

She says enough; — yet she's a simple bawd,

[Exit EMILIA.

That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore,

A closet-lock-and-key of villainous secrets:

And yet she 'll kneel, and pray; I have seen her do 't.

Re-enter EMILIA, with DEsdemona.

Des. My lord, what is your will?

Oth.

Des. What is your pleasure?

Oth.

Look in my face.

Des.

Oth.

What horrible fancy's this?

Pray, chuck, come hither.

Let me see your eyes:

[TO EMILIA.

[Exit EMILIA.

Some of your function, mistress;

Leave procreants alone, and shut the door;

Cough, or cry hem, if any body come:

Your mystery, your mystery; - nay, despatch.

Des. Upon my knees, what doth your speech import?

I understand a fury in your words,

But not the words.

Oth. Why, what art thou?

Des.

And loyal wife.

Oth.

Your wife, my lord; your true

Come, swear it, damn thyself;

Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves
Should fear to seize thee: therefore, be double-damn'd;
Swear thou art honest.

Des.

Heaven doth truly know it.

Oth. Heaven truly knows, that thou art false as hell.

Des. To whom, my lord? with whom? How am I false?
Oth. O Desdemona!

away, away, away!

Des. Alas, the heavy day! Why do you weep?

Am I the occasion of these tears, my lord?

If, haply, you my father do suspect

An instrument of this your calling back,

Lay not your blame on me: if you have lost him,
Why, I have lost him too.

Oth.

Had it pleas'd heaven

To try me with affliction; had he rain'd