Sir, this gentleman

Steps in to Cassio and entreats his pause;

Myself the crying fellow did pursue,

Lest by his clamor (as it so fell out)

The town might fall in fright. He, swift of foot,

Outran my purpose; and I return'd [the] rather

For that I heard the clink and fall of swords,

And Cassio high in oath; which till to-night

I ne'er might say before. When I came back

(For this was brief), I found them close together

At blow and thrust, even as again they were

When you yourself did part them.

More of this matter cannot I report.

But men are men; the best sometimes forget.

Though Cassio did some little wrong to him,

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.

OTH.

I know, Iago,

Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter,

Making it light to Cassio. Cassio, I love thee,

But never more be officer of mine.

 

Enter Desdemona attended.

 

Look if my gentle love be not rais'd up!

I'll make thee an example.

DES.

What is the matter, dear?

OTH.

All's well [now], sweeting;

Come away to bed.

 

[To Montano.]

 

Sir, for your hurts,

Myself will be your surgeon. – Lead him off.

 

[Some lead Montano off.]

 

Iago, look with care about the town,

And silence those whom this vild brawl distracted.

Come, Desdemona, 'tis the soldiers' life

To have their balmy slumbers wak'd with strife.

 

Exit [with Desdemona, Gentlemen, and Attendants].

 

IAGO. What, are you hurt, lieutenant?

CAS. Ay, past all surgery.

IAGO. Marry, [God] forbid!

CAS. Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation!

IAGO. As I am an honest man, I had thought you had receiv'd some bodily wound; there is more sense 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 more 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 offenseless dog to affright an imperious lion. Sue to him again, and he's yours.

CAS. I will rather sue to be despis'd 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? O 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 follow'd with your sword? What had he done to you?

CAS. I know not.

IAGO. Is't possible?

CAS. I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly; a quarrel, but nothing wherefore. O [God], that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains! that we should, with joy, pleasance, revel, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts!

IAGO. Why, but you are now well enough. How came you thus recover'd?

CAS. It hath pleas'd the devil drunkenness to give place to the devil wrath: one unperfectness shows me another, to make me frankly despise myself.

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 befall'n; but since it is as it is, mend it for your own good.

CAS.