Repair there to me. Well, my good lord, I'll do't. Oth. This fortification, gentlemen,-shall we see't? Gent. We'll wait upon your lordship. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Before the Castle. Enter DESDEMONA, Cassio, and EMILIA. Des. Be thou assur’d, good Cassio, I will do All my abilities in thy behalf. Emil. Good madam, do; I know it grieves my husband, As if the case were his. Des. O, that's an honest fellow. Do not doubt, Cassio, Bounteous madam, lord : Ay, but, lady, Des. Do not doubt that; before Emilia here, I give thee warrant of thy place : assure thee, If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it To the last article: my lord shall never rest; I'll watch him tame, and talk him out of patience; His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift; I'll intermingle every thing he does With Cassio's suit : Therefore be merry, Cassio; For thy solicitor shall rather die, Than give thy cause away. Enter OTELLO, and IAGO, at a distance. Emil. Madam, here comes My lord. Cas. Madam, I'll take my leave. Why, stay, And hear me speak. Cas. Madam, not now; I am very ill at ease, Well, well, [Exit Cassio. Jugo. Ha! I like not that. Oth. What dost thou say? Iago. Nothing, my lord: or if-I know not what. Oth. Was not that Cassio, parted from my wife? Iago. Cassio, my lord ? No, sure, I cannot think it, That he would steal away so guilty-like, Seeing you coming. Oth, I do believe 'twas he. lord ? 7 Knowledge. I have been talking with a suitor here, Oth. Who is't, you mean? Des. Why, your lieutenant Cassio. Good my lord, If I have any grace, or power to move you, His present reconciliation take; For, if he be not one that truly loves you, That errs in ignorance, and not in cunning,?. I have no judgment in an honest face: I pr’ythee, call him back. Oth. Went he hence now? time. The sooner, sweet, for you. No, not to-night. I shall not dine at home; morn ; Or Tuesday noon, or night; or Wednesday morn;I pray thee, name the time; but let it not Exceed three days : in faith, he's penitent; And yet his trespass, in our common reason, (Save that, they say, the wars must make examples Out of their best,8) is not almost a fault : 7 Knowledge. 8 Best men, To incur a private check: When shall he come? you could ask me, that I should deny, Or stand so mammering' on. What! Michael Cassio, That came a wooing with you; and many a time, When I have spoke of you dispraisingly, Hath ta’en your part; to have so much to do To bring him in! Trust me, I could do much, Oth. Pr’ythee, no more: let him come when he will; I will deny thee nothing. Des. Why, this is not a boon; 'Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves, Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm; Or sue to you to do peculiar profit To your own person: Nay, when I have a suit, Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed, It shall be full of poize' and difficulty, And fearful to be granted. Oth. I will deny thee nothing: Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this, To leave me but a little to myself. Des. Shall I deny you ? no: Farewell, my lord. Oth. Farewell, my Desdemona: I will come to thee straight. Des. Emilia, come :- -Be it as your fancies teach you; Whate'er you be, I am obedient. [Exit, with EMILIA. Oth. Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul, But I do love thee! and when I love thee not, a 9 Hesitating. I Weight. a Chaos is come again. Iago. My noble lord, - What dost thou say, Iago ? lago. Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my lady, Know of your love ? Oth. He did, from first to last: Why dost thou ask ? Why of thy thought, Iago ? with her. Oth. O, yes ; and went between us very oft. Tago. Indeed ? Oth. Indeed! ay, indeed :-Discern'st thou aught in that? Is he not honest? Tago. Honest, my lord ? Oth. Ay, honest. Iago. My lord, for aught I know. Oth. What dost thou think? Iago. Think, my lord ? Oth. Think, my lord ! By heaven, he echoes me, As if there were some monster in his thought Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean some thing: I heard thee say but now,-Thou lik’dst not that, When Cassio left my wife; What did'st not like? And, when I told thee-he was of my counsel VOL. X. Α Α A |