it. And, good lieutenant, I think, you think I love

you.

Cas. I have well approved it, sir.—I drunk!

Iago. You or any man living may be drunk at some time, man. I'll tell you what you shall do. Our general's wife is now the general:-I may say so in this respect, for that he hath devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, and denotement of her parts and graces. Confess yourself freely to her; importune her; she 'll help to put you in your place again: she is of so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed a disposition, that she holds it a vice in her goodness not to do more than she is requested. This broken joint, between you and her husband, entreat her to splinter; and, my fortunes against any lay1 worth naming, this crack of your love shall grow stronger than it was before.

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 Cassia

I Wager.

Iago. And what's he then, that says 1 play the

villain?

When this advice is free I give, and honest,
Probal to thinking, and, indeed, the course
To win the Moor again? For 'tis most easy
The inclining Desdemona to subdue

In any honest suit; she's framed as fruitful?

As the free elements: and then for her

To win the Moor,-were 't to renounce his baptism, All seals and symbols of redeemed sin,—

His soul is so enfetter'd to her love,

That she may make, unmake, do what she list,
Even as her appetite shall play the god

With his weak function. How am I then a villain,
To counsel Cassio to this parallel course,

Directly to his good? Divinity of hell!

When devils will their blackest sins put on,

3

They do suggest 3 at first with heavenly shows,
As I do now: for while this honest fool
Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes,
And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor;
I'll
pour this pestilence into his ear;—

That she repeals 4 him for her body's lust;
And, by how much she strives to do him good,
She shall undo her credit with the Moor.

So will I turn her virtue into pitch;

1 For probable.

2 Liberal, bountiful.

4 Recalls.

• Tempt.

And out of her own goodness make the net
That shall enmesh them all.-How now. Roderigo?

Enter RODErigo.

Ro. I do follow here in the chase, not like a hound that hunts, but one that fills up the cry. My money is almost spent; I have been to-night exceedingly well cudgelled; and, I think, the issue will be, I shall have so much experience for my pains; and so, with no money at all, and a little more wit, return to Venice.

Iago. How poor are they that have not patience!

What wound did ever heal, but by degrees?

Thou know'st, we work by wit, and not by witchcraft;

And wit depends on dilatory time.

Does 't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee,
And thou, by that small hurt, hast cashier'd Cassio.
Though other things grow fair against the sun,
Yet fruits that blossom first will first be ripe.
Content thyself awhile.-By the mass, 'tis morning;
Pleasure and action make the hours seem short.-
Retire thee; go where thou art billeted:
Away, I say; thou shalt know more hereafter:
Nay, get thee gone. [Exit Roderigo.] Two things
are to be done ;-

My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress:
I'll set her on :

Myself, the while, to draw the Moor apart,

And bring him jump1 when he may Cassio find
Soliciting his wife :-ay, that's the way;
Dull not device by coldness and delay.

ACT II I.

[Exit.

SCENE I.

Before the castle.

Enter CASSIO and some MUSICIANS.

Cas. Masters, play here (I will content your

pains)

Something that's brief; and bid-good-morrow,

general.

Enter CLOWN.

[music.

Clown. Why, masters, have your instruments been at Naples, that they speak i̇' the nose thus ? 1 Mu. How, sir, how?

Clown. Are these, I pray you, called wind instruments?

1 Mu. Ay, marry, are they, sir.

Clown. O, thereby hangs a tail.

1 Mu. Whereby hangs a tale, sir?

Clown. Marry, sir, by many a wind instrument But, masters, here's money

that I know.

for you

and the general so likes your music, that he desires you, of all loves, to make no more noise with it.

1 Mu. Well, sir, we will not.

Clown. If you have any music that may not be heard, to 't again: but, as they say, to hear music, the general does not greatly care.

1 Mu. We have none such, sir.

Clown. Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll away. Go; vanish into air; away.

[Exeunt Musicians. Cas. Dost thou hear, my honest friend? Clown. No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear

you.

1

Cas. Pr'ythee keep up thy quillets. There's a poor piece of gold for thee: if the gentlewoman that attends the general's wife be stirring, tell her, there's one Cassio entreats her a little favor of speech. Wilt thou do this?

Clown. She is stirring, sir; if she will stir hither, I shall seem to notify unto her.

Enter IAGO.

Cas. Do, good my friend. In happy time, Iago. Iago. You have not been a-bed then?

Cas. Why, no; the day had broke

Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago,
Te send in to your wife: my suit to her
Is, that she will to virtuous Desdemona

1 Nice and frivolous distinctions.