DES.

Is't possible?

OTH.

'Tis true; there's magic in the web of it.

A sibyl, that had numb'red in the world

The sun to course two hundred compasses,

In her prophetic fury sew'd the work;

The worms were hallowed that did breed the silk,

And it was dy'd in mummy which the skillful

Conserv'd of maidens' hearts.

DES.

[I' faith]! is't true?

OTH.

Most veritable, therefore look to't well.

DES.

Then would to [God] that I had never seen't!

OTH.

Ha? wherefore?

DES.

Why do you speak so startingly and rash?

OTH.

Is't lost? Is't gone? Speak, is't out o' th' way?

DES.

[Heaven] bless us!

OTH.

Say you?

DES.

It is not lost; but what and if it were?

OTH.

How?

DES.

I say, it is not lost.

OTH.

Fetch't, let me see't.

DES.

Why, so I can, [sir,] but I will not now.

This is a trick to put me from my suit.

Pray you let Cassio be receiv'd again.

OTH.

Fetch me the handkerchief, my mind misgives.

DES.

Come, come;

You'll never meet a more sufficient man.

OTH.

The handkerchief!

[DES.

I pray talk me of Cassio.

OTH.

The handkerchief!]

DES.

A man that all his time

Hath founded his good fortunes on your love,

Shar'd dangers with you –

OTH.

The handkerchief!

DES.

[I' faith], you are to blame.

OTH.

['Zounds!]

 

Exit Othello.

 

EMIL.

Is not this man jealious?

DES.

I nev'r saw this before.

Sure, there's some wonder in this handkerchief;

I am most unhappy in the loss of it.

EMIL.

'Tis not a year or two shows us a man:

They are all but stomachs, and we all but food;

They eat us hungerly, and when they are full

They belch us.

 

Enter Iago and Cassio.

 

Look you, Cassio and my husband!

IAGO.

There is no other way: 'tis she must do't;

And lo the happiness! Go, and importune her.

DES.

How now, good Cassio, what's the news with you?

CAS.

Madam, my former suit. I do beseech you

That by your virtuous means I may again

Exist, and be a member of his love

Whom I, with all the office of my heart,

Entirely honor. I would not be delay'd.

If my offense be of such mortal kind

That nor my service past, nor present sorrows,

Nor purpos'd merit in futurity,

Can ransom me into his love again,

But to know so must be my benefit;

So shall I clothe me in a forc'd content,

And shut myself up in some other course,

To fortune's alms.

DES.

Alas, thrice-gentle Cassio,

My advocation is not now in tune.

My lord is not my lord; nor should I know him

Were he in favor as in humor alter'd.

So help me every spirit sanctified,

As I have spoken for you all my best,

And stood within the blank of his displeasure

For my free speech! You must awhile be patient.

What I can do, I will; and more I will

Than for myself I dare. Let that suffice you.

IAGO.

Is my lord angry?

EMIL.

He went hence but now;

And certainly in strange unquietness.

IAGO.

Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon

When it hath blown his ranks into the air,

And like the devil from his very arm

Puff'd his own brother – and is he angry?

Something of moment then. I will go meet him.

There's matter in't indeed, if he be angry.

DES.

I prithee do so.

 

Exit [Iago].

 

Something sure of state,

Either from Venice, or some unhatch'd practice

Made demonstrable here in Cyprus to him,

Hath puddled his clear spirit; and in such cases

Men's natures wrangle with inferior things,

Though great ones are their object. 'Tis even so;

For let our finger ache, and it endues

Our other healthful members even to a sense

Of pain. Nay, we must think men are not gods,

Nor of them look for such observancy

As fits the bridal. Beshrew me much, Emilia,

I was (unhandsome warrior as I am)

Arraigning his unkindness with my soul;

But now I find I had suborn'd the witness,

And he's indicted falsely.

EMIL.

Pray heaven it be state matters, as you think,

And no conception nor no jealious toy

Concerning you.

DES.

Alas the day, I never gave him cause.

EMIL.

But jealious souls will not be answer'd so;

They are not ever jealious for the cause,

But jealious for they're jealious. It is a monster

Begot upon itself, born on itself.

DES.

Heaven keep the monster from Othello's mind!

EMIL.

Lady, amen.

DES.

I will go seek him. Cassio, walk hereabout;

If I do find him fit, I'll move your suit

And seek to effect it to my uttermost.

CAS.

I humbly thank your ladyship.

 

Exeunt [Desdemona and Emilia].

 

Enter Bianca.

 

BIAN.

'Save you, friend Cassio!

CAS.

What make you from home?

How is't with you, my most fair Bianca?

[I'faith], sweet love, I was coming to your house.

BIAN.

And I was going to your lodging, Cassio.

What? keep a week away? seven days and nights?

Eightscore eight hours? and lovers' absent hours,

More tedious than the dial eightscore times?

O weary reck'ning!

CAS.

Pardon me, Bianca.

I have this while with leaden thoughts been press'd,

But I shall in a more continuate time

Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca,

 

[Giving her Desdemona's handkerchief.]

 

Take me this work out.

BIAN.

O Cassio, whence came this?

This is some token from a newer friend;

To the felt absence now I feel a cause.

Is't come to this? Well, well.

CAS.

Go to, woman!

Throw your vild guesses in the devil's teeth,

From whence you have them. You are jealious now

That this is from some mistress, some remembrance;

No, [by my faith], Bianca.

BIAN.

Why, whose is it?

CAS.

I know not, neither; I found it in my chamber.

I like the work well; ere it be demanded

(As like enough it will) I would have it copied.

Take it, and do't, and leave me for this time.

BIAN.

Leave you? Wherefore?

CAS.

I do attend here on the general,

And think it no addition, nor my wish,

To have him see me woman'd.

BIAN.

Why, I pray you?

CAS.

Not that I love you not.

BIAN.

But that you do not love me.

I pray you bring me on the way a little,

And say if I shall see you soon at night.

CAS.

'Tis but a little way that I can bring you,

For I attend here; but I'll see you soon.

BIAN.

'Tis very good; I must be circumstanc'd.

 

Exeunt omnes.

 

 

Act IV,

Scene I

Enter Othello and Iago.

 

IAGO.

Will you think so?

OTH.

Think so, Iago?

IAGO.

What,

To kiss in private?

OTH.

An unauthoriz'd kiss!

IAGO.

Or to be naked with her friend in bed

An hour, or more, not meaning any harm?

OTH.

Naked in bed, Iago, and not mean harm?

It is hypocrisy against the devil.

They that mean virtuously, and yet do so,

The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt heaven.

IAGO.

If they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip;

But if I give my wife a handkerchief –

OTH.

What then?

IAGO.

Why then 'tis hers, my lord, and being hers,

She may, I think, bestow't on any man.

OTH.

She is protectress of her honor too;

May she give that?

IAGO.

Her honor is an essence that's not seen;

They have it very oft that have it not.

But for the handkerchief –

OTH.

By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it.

Thou saidst (O, it comes o'er my memory,

As doth the raven o'er the infectious house,

Boding to all) he had my handkerchief.

IAGO.

Ay; what of that?

OTH.

That's not so good now.

IAGO.

What

If I had said I had seen him do you wrong?

Or heard him say – as knaves be such abroad,

Who having by their own importunate suit,

Or voluntary dotage of some mistress,

Convinced or supplied them, cannot choose

But they must blab –

OTH.

Hath he said any thing?

IAGO.

He hath, my lord, but be you well assur'd,

No more than he'll unswear.

OTH.

What hath he said?

IAGO.

[Faith], that he did – I know not what he did.

OTH.

What? what?

IAGO.

Lie –

OTH.

With her?

IAGO.

With her? On her; what you will.

OTH. Lie with her? lie on her? We say lie on her, when they belie her. Lie with her! ['Zounds,] that's fulsome! Handkerchief – confessions – handkerchief! To confess, and be hang'd for his labor – first to be hang'd, and then to confess. I tremble at it. Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing passion without some instruction. It is not words that shakes me thus. Pish! Noses, ears, and lips.