Des. I do not know; I am sure, I am none such. Iago. Do not weep, do not weep; Alas, the day! Emil. Hath she forsook so many noble matches, Her father, and her country, and her friends, To be call'd-whore? would it not make one weep? Des. It is my wretched fortune.

Iago. Beshrew him for it!

How comes this trick upon him?

Des. Nay, heaven doth know.

Emil. I will be hang'd, if some eternal villain, Some busy and insinuating rogue,

460

Some cogging cozening slave, to get some office, Has not devis'd this slander; I'll be hang'd else. lago. Fie, there is no such man; it is impossible. Des. If any such there be, heaven pardon him! Amil. A halter pardon him! and hell gnaw his bones!

Why should he call her, whore? who keeps her 470

company?

What place? what time? what form? what likeli

The Moor's abus'd by some most villanous knave,
Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow :→
O, heaven, that such companions thoud'st unfold;
And put in honest hand a whip,
every

1

To lash the rascal naked through the world,
Even from the east to the west!

lago. Speak within door.

Emil. O, fie upon him! some such squire he was, That turn'd your wit the seamy side without,

480

And

And made you to suspect me with the Moor.

lago. You are a fool; go to.

Des. O good Iago,

What shall I do to win my lord again?

:

Good friend, go to him; for, by this light of heaven,
I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel :-
If e'er my will did trespass 'gainst his love,
Either in discourse, or thought, or actual deed;
Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense,
Delighted them in any other form:

Or that I do not yet, and ever did,

And ever will, though he do shake me off
To beggarly divorcement,-love him dearly,
Comfort forswear me! Unkindness may do much,
And his unkindness may defeat my life,

But never taint my love. I cannot say, whore;
It does abhor me, now I speak the word;
To do the act that might the addition earn,
Not the world's mass of vanity could make me.

490

Iago. I pray you, be content; 'tis but his humour; The business of the state does him offence,

And he does chide with you.

Des. If 'twere no other

lago. It is but so, I warrant you.

501

[Trumpets.

Hark, how these instruments summon to supper!

And the great messengers of Venice stay:

Go in, and weep not; all things shall be well.

[Exeunt DESDEMONA, and ÆMILIA.

Enter RODERIGO.

How now, Roderigo ?

Rod. I do not find, that thou deal'st justly with me. lago. What in the contrary?

510 Rod. Every day thou doff'st me with some device, Iago; and rather (as it seems to me now) keep'st from me all conveniency, than suppliest me with the least advantage of hope. I will, indeed, no longer endure it: Nor am I yet persuaded, to put up in peace what already I have foolishly suffered,

lago. Will you hear me, Roderigo ?

Rod. Faith, I have heard too much; for your words and performances, are no kin together. lago. You charge me most unjustly.

520 Rod. With nought but truth. I have wasted myself out of my means. The jewels you have had from me, to deliver to Desdemona, would half have corrupted a votarist: You have told me she hath received them, and return'd me expectations and comforts of sudden respect and acquaintance; but I find

none.

lago. Well; go to; very well.

:

Rod. Very well! go to! I cannot go to, man; nor 'tis not very well: By this hand, I say, it is very Scurvy; and begin to find myself fobb'd in it.

lago. Very well.

531

Rod. I tell you, 'tis not very well. I will make myself known to Desdemona; if she will return me my jewels, I will give over my suit, and repent my unlawful

unlawful solicitation; if not, assure yourself, I will seek satisfaction of you.

lago. You have said now.

Rod. Ay, and I have said nothing, but what I protest intendment of doing.

540

lago. Why, now, I see there's mettle in thee; and even from this instant, do build on thee a better opinion than ever before. Give me thy hand, Roderigo: Thou hast taken against me a most just exception; but yet, I protest, I have dealt most directly in thy affair.

Rod. It hath not appear'd.

547 lago. I grant, indeed, it hath not appear'd; and your suspicion is not without wit and judgment. But, Roderigo, if thou hast that within thee indeed, which I have greater reason to believe now than ever,→ I mean, purpose, courage, and valour, this night shew it: If thou the next night following enjoyest not Desdemona, take me from this world with treachery, and devise engines for my life.

Rod. Well, what is it? is it within reason, and compass?

lago. Sir, there is especial commission come from Venice, to depute Cassio in Othello's place.

559 Rod. Is that true? why, then Othello and Desdemona return again to Venice,

Iago. O, no; he goes into Mauritania, and taketh away with him the fair Desdemona, unless his abode be linger'd here by some accident; wherein none can be so determinate, as the removing of Cassio.

Rod.

Rod. How do you mean-removing of him? lago. Why, by making him uncapable of Othello's place; knocking out his brains.

Rod. And that you would have me to do?

569

lago. Ay; if you dare to do yourself a profit, and a right. He sups to-night with a harlot, and thither will I go to him :—he knows not yet of his honourable fortune if you will watch his going thence, (which I will fashion to fall out between twelve and one) you may take him at your pleasure; I will be near to second your attempt, and he shall fall between us. Come, stand not amaz'd at it, but go along with me; I will shew you such a necessity in his death, you shall think yourself bound to put it on him. It is now high supper-time, and the night grows to waste

that

about it.

Rod. I will hear further reason for this.

Jago. And you shall be satisfied.

581

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

A Room in the Castle. Enter OTHELLO, LODOVICO, DESDEMONA, EMILIA, and Attendants.

Lod. I do beseech you, sir, trouble yourself no further.

Oth. O, pardon me; 'twill do me good to walk.

Lod. Madam, good night; I humbly thank your

ladyship.

Des.