I warrant it grieves my husband

As if the cause were his.

DES.

O, that's an honest fellow. Do not doubt, Cassio,

But I will have my lord and you again

As friendly as you were.

CAS.

Bounteous madam,

What ever shall become of Michael Cassio,

He's never any thing but your true servant.

DES.

I know't; I thank you. You do love my lord;

You have known him long, and be you well assur'd

He shall in strangeness stand no farther off

Than in a politic distance.

CAS.

Ay, but, lady,

That policy may either last so long,

Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet,

Or breed itself so out of circumstances,

That I being absent and my place supplied,

My general will forget my love and service.

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 Othello and Iago.

 

EMIL.

Madam, here comes my lord.

CAS.

Madam, I'll take my leave.

DES.

Why, stay, and hear me speak.

CAS.

Madam, not now; I am very ill at ease,

Unfit for mine own purposes.

DES.

Well, do your discretion.

Exit Cassio.

 

IAGO. Hah? 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 your coming.

OTH.

I do believe 'twas he.

DES.

How now, my lord?

I have been talking with a suitor here,

A man that languishes in your displeasure.

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 prithee call him back.

OTH.

Went he hence now?

DES.

[Yes, faith]; so humbled

That he hath left part of his grief with me

To suffer with him. Good love, call him back.

OTH.

Not now, sweet Desdemon, some other time.

DES.

But shall't be shortly?

OTH.

The sooner, sweet, for you.

DES.

Shall't be to-night at supper?

OTH.

No, not to-night.

DES.

To-morrow dinner then?

OTH.

I shall not dine at home;

I meet the captains at the citadel.

DES.

Why then to-morrow night, [or] Tuesday morn;

On Tuesday noon, or night; on We'n'sday morn.

I prithee 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 example

Out of her best), is not almost a fault

T' incur a private check. When shall he come?

Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul

What you would ask me that I should deny,

Or stand so mamm'ring on. What? Michael Cassio,

That came a-wooing with you, and so 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! [By'r lady], I could do much –

OTH.

Prithee 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 a 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 poise and difficult weight,

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'll come to thee straight.

DES.

Emilia, come. – Be as your fancies teach you;

What e'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,

Chaos is come again.

IAGO.

My noble lord –

OTH.

What dost thou say, Iago?

IAGO.

Did Michael Cassio, when [you] woo'd my lady,

Know of your love?

OTH.

He did, from first to last. Why dost thou ask?

IAGO.

But for a satisfaction of my thought,

No further harm.

OTH.

Why of thy thought, Iago?

IAGO.

I did not think he had been acquainted with her.

OTH.

O yes, and went between us very oft.

IAGO.

Indeed!

OTH.

Indeed? ay, indeed. Discern'st thou aught in that?

Is he not honest?

IAGO.

Honest, my lord?

OTH.

Honest? ay, honest.

IAGO.

My lord, for aught I know.

OTH.

What dost thou think?

IAGO.

Think, my lord?

OTH.

Think, my lord? [By heaven], thou echo'st me,

As if there were some monster in thy thought

Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean something.

I heard thee say even now, thou lik'st not that,

When Cassio left my wife. What didst not like?

And when I told thee he was of my counsel

[In] my whole course of wooing, thou criedst, »Indeed!«

And didst contract and purse thy brow together,

As if thou then hadst shut up in thy brain

Some horrible conceit. If thou dost love me,

Show me thy thought.

IAGO.

My lord, you know I love you.