Oth. O, Iago! Iago. And did you see the handkerchief? Iago. Yours, by this hand: and to see how he prizes the foolish woman, your wife! she gave it him, and he hath given it his whore. Oth. I would have him nine years a killing: A fine woman! a fair woman! a sweet woman! Iago. Nay, you must forget that. Oth. Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damned to-night; for she shall not live: No, my heart is turned to stone; I strike it, and it hurts my hand. O, the world hath not a sweeter créature: she might lie by an emperor's side, and command him tasks. Iago. Nay, that's not your way. So Oth. Hang her! I do but say what she is: delicate with her needle! - An admirable musician! O, she will sing the savageness out of a bear! — Of so high and plenteous wit and invention! Iago. She's the worse for all this. Oth. O, a thousand, a thousand times:- And then, of so gentle a condition! Iago. Ay, too gentle. Oth. Nay, that's certain: But yet the pity of it, Iago! O, Iago, the pity of it, lago! Iago. If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her patent to offend; for, if it touch not you, comes near nobody. Oth. I will chop her into messes: Oth. With mine officer ! Cuckold me! Oth. Get me some poison, Iago; this night: — I'll not expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again:- this night, Iago. Iago. Do it not with poison, strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated. Oth. Good, good: the justice of it pleases; very [A trumpet within. Enter LODOVico, Desdemona, and Attendants. Oth. I kiss the instrument of their pleasures. Lod. I thank you: how does lieutenant Cassio? Des. Cousin, there's fallen between him and my lord An unkind breach: but you shall make all well. This fail you not to do, as you will 1 [Reads. Oth My lord? Are you wise? 'May be, the letter mov'd him; Oth. Des. Oth. I am glad to see you mad. Oth. Devil!! Indeed? My lord? How, sweet Othello? [Striking her. I have not deserv'd this. Oth. O devil, devil! I will not stay to offend you. [Going What would you with her, sir? Lod. Who, I, my lord? Oth. Ay; you did wish, that I would make her Iago. 'Faith, that was not so well; Yet 'would I Should fear to seize thee: therefore be doubleknew, That stroke would prove the worst. Lod. damn'd, Heaven doth truly know it. Oth. Heaven truly knows, that thou art false as Oth. O Desdemona!-away! away! away! An instrument of this your calling back, Oth. Had it pleas'd heaven To point his slow unmoving finger at, — Yet could I bear that too; well, very well : To knot and gender in'-turn thy complexion there! Patience, thou young and rose-lipp'd cherubin ; Ay, there, look grim as hell! Des. I hope, my noble lord esteems me honest. Oth. O, ay; as summer flies are in the shambles, That quicken even with blowing. O thou weed, Who art so lovely fair, and smell'st so sweet, That the sense aches at thee.-'Would, thou had'st ne'er been born! Des. Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed? Oth. Was this fair paper, this most goodly book, Made to write whore upon? What committed! Committed!-0 thou public commoner! I should make very forges of my cheeks, That would to cinders burn up modesty, Did I but speak thy deeds. What committed Heaven stops the nose at it, and the moon winks; The bawdy wind, that kisses all it meets, Is hush'd within the hollow mine of earth, And will not hear it: What committed! Impudent strumpet! Des. By heaven, you do me wrong. Oth. Are not you a strumpet? Des. No, as I am a christian . He that is yours, sweet lady. Emil. Here is a change, indeed! Des. 'Tis meet I should be us'd so, very meet. Re-enter EMILIA, with Iago. Iago. What is your pleasure, madam? How is To lash the rascal naked through the world, Iago. Or that I do not yet, and ever did, And ever will, though he do shake me off But never taint my love. I cannot say, whore; Do it with gentle means, and easy tasks: What's the matter, lady? Des. Am I that name, Iago? What name, fair lady? Could not have laid such terms upon his callet. Des. I do not know; I am sure, I am none Iago. Do not weep, do not weep; Alas the day! Des. It is my wretched fortune. Beshrew him for it! Some cogging cozening slave, to get some office, company? Iago. What in the contrary? 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. Iago. Will you hear me, Roderigo? Rod. 'Faith, I have heard too much; for your words, and performances, are no kin together. Iago. You charge me most unjustly. 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 has received them, and returned me expectations and comforts of sudden respect and acquittance; but I find none. Iago. 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 fobbed in it. Iago. Very well. Rod. I tell you, 'tis not very well. I will make myself known to Desdemona: If she will return me What place? what time? what form? what like-my jewels, I will give over my suit, and repent my lihood? The Moor's abus'd by some most villainous knave, unlawful solicitation; if not, assure yourself, I will seek satisfaction of you. Iago. You have said now. Rod. Ay, and I have said nothing, but what I protest intendment of doing. Iago. 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, Roderige 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 appeared. Iago. I grant, indeed, it hath not appeared; 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 show 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? Iago. Sir, there is especial commission come from Venice, to depute Cassio in Othello's place, Rod. Is that true? why, then Othello and Desdemona return again to Venice, Jago. O, no; he goes into Mauritania, and takes away with him the fair Desdemona, unless his abode | be lingered here by some accident; wherein none can be so determinate, as the removing of Cassio. Rod. How do you mean removing of him? Iago. Why, by making him uncapable of Othello's place; knocking out his brains, Rod. And that you would have me do? Iago. Ay; if you dare 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 amazed at it, but go along with me; I will show you such a necessity in his death, that you shall think yourself bound to put it on him. It is now high suppertime, and the night grows to waste about it. Rod. I will hear further reason for this. Iago. And you shall be satisfied. [Exeunt. Oth. Get you to bed on the instant; I will be returned forthwith: dismiss your attendant there; look, it be done. If I do die before thee, pr'ythee, shroud me Des. This Lodovico is a proper man. And he speaks well. Emil. I know a lady in Venice, who would have walked barefoot to Palestine, for a touch of his nether lip. I. Des. The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree, Sing all a green willow; [Singing. Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee, Sing willow, willow, willow: The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur'd her moans; Sing willow, &c. Her salt tears fell from her, and soften'd the stones; Lay by these! Sing willow, willow, willow; Sing all a green willow must be my gariind. Let nobody blame him, his scorn I approve, — Nay, that's not next.- Hark! who is it that knocks? Emil. It is the wind. Des. I call'd my love, false love; but what said he then? Sing willow, &c. If I court mo women, you'll couch with mo men. So, get thee gone; good night. Mine eyes do itch; Doth that bode weeping? Emil. 'Tis neither here nor there. Des. I have heard it said so. — O, these men, these men ! Dost thou in conscience think, tell me, Emilia, Emil. How goes it now? he looks gentler than That there be women do abuse their husbands he did. In such gross kind? Emil. Nor I neither by this heavenly light; 'I might do't as well i'the dark. Des. Would'st thou do such a deed for all the world? Emil. The world is a huge thing: 'Tis a great price For a small vice. Des. Good troth, I think thou would'st not. Emil. By my troth, I think I should; and undo't, when I had done. Marry, I would not do such a thing for a joint-ring; nor for measures of lawn; nor for gowns, petticoats, nor caps, nor any petty exhibition: but, for the whole world,- Why, who would not make her husband a cuckold, to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for't. Des. Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong 'for the whole world. Emil. Why, the wrong is but a wrong i'the world; and, having the world for your labour, 'tis a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly 'make it right. Des. I do not think there is any such woman. To the vantage, as would store the world they play'd for. But, I do think, it is their husbands' faults," Yet we have some revenge. Let husbands know, Des. Good night, good night: Heaven me such usage send, Not to pick bad from bad; but, by bad, mend! [Exeunt. ACT V. Rod. SCENE I. -A Street. Enter IsGo and RODERICO. Iago. Here, stand behind this bulk; straight will he come : Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home; Rod. Be near at hand; I may miscarry in't. Jago. Here, at thy hand; be bold, and take thy sword. [Retires to a little distance. Rod. I have no great devotion to the deed; And yet he has given me satisfying reasons: 'Tis but a man gone: -forth, my sword; he dies. [Goes to his stand. Iago. I have rubb'd this young quat almost to the O, I am slain ! Rod. O, villain that I am! Oth. Hark! 'tis even so, Cas. O, help! ho! light! a surgeon! Oth. 'Tis he; - O brave Iago, honest, and just, That hast such noble sense of thy friend's wrong! Thou teachest me,— Minion, your dear lies dead, And your fate hies apace: -- Strumpet, I come: Forth of my heart those charms, thine eyes, 'are blotted; Thy bed, lust-stain'd, shall with lust's blood be spotted. [Exit OTHELLO. Enter LODOVICO and GRATIANÓ, at a distance. Cas. What, ho! no watch? no passage? murder! |