And 'would in action glorious I had lost Oth. How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot ?9 The gravity and stillness of your youth The world hath noted, and your name is great Mon. Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger; me; Of all that I do know: nor know I aught By me that's said or done amiss this night; When violence assails us. Oth. Now, by heaven, My blood begins my safer guides to rule; And he that is approv'd3 in this offence, 2 Though he had twinn'd with me, both at a birth, i.e. You have thus forgot yourself. 2 Darkened. 'Care of one's self. 3 Convicted by proof. z2 Shall lose me. - What! in a town of war, Mon. If partially affin'd,4 or leagu'd in office, Thou dost deliver more or less than truth, Thou art no soldier. Iago. Touch me not so near: I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth, + Related by nearness of office. As men in rage strike those that wish them best,Yet, surely, Cassio, I believe, receiv'd, From him that fled, some strange indignity, Which patience could not pass. I know, Iago, Oth. Enter DESDEMONA, attended. Look, if my gentle love be not rais'd up ; I'll make thee an example. Des. What's the matter, dear? Oth. All's well now, sweeting; Come away to bed. Sir, for your hurts, Myself will be your surgeon: Lead him off. [ΤΟ ΜΟΝΤΑΝO, who is led off. Iago, look with care about the town; And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted. Come, Desdemona; 'tis the soldiers' life, To have their balmy slumbers wak'd with strife. [Exeunt all but IAGO and CASSIO. Iago. What, are you hurt, lieutenant ? Cas. Ay, past all surgery. Iago, Marry, heaven forbid ! Cas. Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, 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: You are but now cast in his mood, a punishment more in policy than in malice; even so as one would beat his offenceless dog, to affright an imperious lion: sue to him again, 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? and speak parrot? and squabble? swagger? swear ? and discourse fustian with one's own shadow? thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee-devil! Iago. 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.-0, that men should put an enemy in their mouths, to steal away their brains! that we should, with joy, revel, pleasure, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts! Iago. Why, but you are now well enough: How came you thus recovered? Cas. It hath pleased the devil, drunkenness, to give place to the devil, wrath: one unperfectness shows me another, to make me frankly despise myself. 5 Dismissed in his anger. 6 Talk idly. Iago. Come, you are too severe a moraler: As the time, the place, and the condition of this country stands, I could heartily wish this had not 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 unblessed, and the ingredient is a devil. Iago. Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well used; exclaim no more against 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 lay worth naming, this crack of your love shall grow stronger than it was before. Cas. You advise me well. 7 Bet or wager. |