How is it, general? have you not hurt your head? Oth. Dost thou mock me?

Iago. I mock you! no, by heaven. Would, you would bear your fortunes like a man. Oth. A horned man 's a monster and a beast. Iago. There's many a beast then in a populous city,

And many a civil monster.

Oth. Did he confess it?

Iago.

Good sir, be a man:

Think, every bearded fellow, that's but yoked,
May draw with you: there's millions now alive,
That nightly lie in those unproper 1 beds,

1

Which they dare swear peculiar: your case is

better.

O, 'tis the spite of hell, the fiend's arch-mock,

To lip a wanton in a secure couch,

And to suppose her chaste! No, let me know;
And, knowing what I am, I know what she shall be.
Oth. O, thou art wise; 'tis certain.
Iago.
Confine yourself but in a patient list.2

Stand you

awhile apart;

Whilst you were here, ere while mad with your

grief,

(A passion most unsuiting such a man) Cassio came hither: I shifted him away, And laid good 'scuse upon your ecstasy; 3

1 Common.

3 Alienation of mind.

2 Within the bounds of patience.

Bade him anon return, and here speak with me;
The which he promised. Do but encave yourself,
And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorus,
That dwell in every region of his face;

For I will make him tell the tale anew,
Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when
He hath, and is again to cope your wife:
I say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience;
Or I shall say, you are all in all in spleen,
And nothing of a man.

Oth.

Dost thou hear, Iago?

I will be found most cunning in my patience;
But (dost thou hear?) most bloody.

Iago.
But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw?

That's not amiss;

[Othello withdraws.

Now will I question Cassio of Bianca,

A housewife, that, by selling her desires,

Buys herself bread and clothes: it is a creature,
That dotes on Cassio: as 'tis the strumpet's plague
To beguile many and be beguiled by one;
He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain
From the excess of laughter.-Here he comes.

Re-enter CASSIO.

As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad;

And his unbookish 1 jealousy must construe
Poor Cassio's smiles, gestures, and light behavior

1 Ignorant

Quite in the wrong.-How do you now, lieutenant? Cas. The worser, that you give me the addition,1 Whose want even kills me.

Iago. Ply Desdemona well, and you are sure of't. Now, if this suit lay in Bianca's power,

How quickly should you speed!

Cas.

[speaking lower.

Alas, poor caitiff!

[aside.

Oth. Look, how he laughs already!

Iago. I never knew a woman love man so.
Cas. Alas, poor rogue! I think, i' faith, she loves

me.

Oth. Now he denies it faintly, and laughs it out.

Iago. Do you hear, Cassio?

Oth.

[aside.

Now he importunes him To tell it o'er. Go to; well said, well said. [aside. Iago. She gives it out, that you shall marry her : you intend it?

Do

Oth. Do you triumph, Roman? do you triumph ? [aside.

Cas. I marry her!-what? a customer! I pr'ythee, bear some charity to my wit; do not think it so unwholesome. Ha, ha, ha!

Oth. So, so, so, so: they laugh that win. [aside. Iago. Faith, the cry goes, that you shall marry her.

1 Title of lieutenant.

2 A common woman.

Cas. Pr'ythee, say true.

Iago. I am a very villain else.

Oth. Have you scored me?

Well.

[aside.

Cas. This is the monkey's own giving out: she is persuaded I will marry her, out of her own love and flattery, not out of my promise.

Oth. Iago beckons me: now he begins the story.

[aside.

Cas. She was here even now; she haunts me in every place. I was, the other day, talking on the sea-bank with certain Venetians; and thither comes the bauble by this hand, she falls thus about my neck ;

:

Oth. Crying, O dear Cassio! as it were: his gesture imports it.

[aside. Cas. So hangs, and lolls, and weeps upon me; so hales, and pulls me! ha, ha, ha!

Oth. Now he tells, how she plucked him to my chamber. O, I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I shall throw it to.

Cas. Well, I must leave her company.

Iago. Before me! look, where she comes.

Enter BIANCA.

[aside.

Cas. 'Tis such another fitchew!1 marry, a perfumed one. What do you mean by this haunting of me?

Bian. Let the devil and his dam haunt you!

1 A polecat.

What did you mean by that same handkerchief you gave me even now? I was a fine fool to take it! I must take out the whole work?—A likely piece of work, that you should find it in your chamber, and not know who left it there! This is some minx's token. and I must take out the work? There, give it your hobby-horse: wheresoever you had it, I'll take out no work on 't.

Cas. How now, my sweet Bianca? how now? how now?

Oth. By heaven, that should be my handkerchief!

[aside.

Bian. An you'll come to supper to-night, you may; an you will not, come when you are next prepared for.

Iago. After her, after her.

[Exit.

Cas. Faith, I must; she'll rail in the street

else.

Iago. Will you sup there?

Cas. Faith, I intend so.

Iago. Well, I may chance to see you; for I

would very fain speak with you.

Cas. Pr'ythee, come; will you?

Iago. Go to; say no more.

Oth. How shall I murder him, Iago?

[Exit Cassio.

Iago. Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice?

Oth. O, Iago!

Iago. And did you see the handkerchief?

Oth. Was that mine?

Iago. Yours, by this hand; and to see how he