Des. Can any thing be made of this?

Clo. I know not where he lodges; and for me to devise a lodging, and say-he lies here, or he lies there, were to lie in my own throat.

Des. Can you enquire him out, and be edified by report?

Clo. I will catechize the world for him; that is, make questions, and by them answer.'

Des. Seek him, bid him come hither: tell him, I have moved my lord in his behalf, and hope, all will

be well.

Clo. To do this, is within the compass of man's wit; and therefore I will attempt the doing it.

[Exit. Des. Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia?

Emil. I know not, madam.

6

Des. Believe me, I had rather have lost my purse Full of cruzadoes. And, but my noble Moor Is true of mind, and made of no such baseness As jealous creatures are, it were enough

To put him to ill thinking.

Emil.

Is he not jealous?

Des. Who, he? I think, the sun, where he was

born,

Drew all such humours from him.

Emil.

Look, where he comes.

Des. I will not leave him now, till Cassio
Be call'd to him.-How is't with you, my lord?

and by them answer.] i. e. and by them, when answered, form my own answer to you. The quaintness of the expression is in character.

6 cruzadoes.] A Portuguese coin, in value three shillings sterling. So called from the cross stamped upon it.

Enter OTHEllo.

Oth. Well, my good lady:-[Aside.] O, hardness to dissemble!

How do you, Desdemona?

Des.

Well, my good lord. Oth. Give me your hand: This hand is moist, my lady.

Des. It yet has felt no age, nor known no sorrow.
Oth. This argues fruitfulness, and liberal heart;→
Hot, hot, and moist: This hand of yours requires
A sequester from liberty, fasting and prayer,
Much castigation, exercise devout;"

For here's a young and sweating devil here,
That commonly rebels. 'Tis a good hand,
A frank one.

Des..

You may, indeed, say so; For 'twas that hand that gave away my heart. Oth. A liberal hand: The hearts of old, gavė

hands;

But our new heraldry is-hands, not hearts.

Des. I cannot speak of this.

promise.

Oth. What promise, chuck?

Come now your

Des. I have sent to bid Cassio come speak with

you.

Oth. I have a salt and sullen rheum offends me; Lend me thy handkerchief.

Des.

Here, my lord.

Oth. That which I gave you.

Des.

I have it not about me..

Oth. Not?

Des.

No, indeed, my

lord.

7

8

exercise devout ;] Exercise was the religious term.
salt and sullen rheum-] Sullen, that is, a rheum obsti-

nately troublesome.

Oth.

That handkerchief

Did an Egyptian to my mother give;

That is a fault:

She was a charmer, and could almost read

The thoughts of people: she told her, while she

kept it,

'Twould make her amiable, and subdue
my father
Entirely to her love; but if she lost it,
Or made a gift of it, my father's eye

Should hold her loathly, and his spirits should hunt
After new fancies: She, dying, gave it me;
And bid me, when my fate would have me wive,
To give it her. I did so: and take heed of❜t,
Make it a darling like your precious eye;
To lose or give't away, were such perdition,
As nothing else could match.

Des.

Is it possible?
Oth. 'Tis true: there's magick in the web of it:
A sibyl, that had number'd in the world

The sun to make two hundred compasses,
In her prophetick fury sew'd the work:

The worms were hallow'd, that did breed the silk;
And it was died in mummy, which the skilful
Conserv'd of maidens' hearts.

Indeed! is't true?

Des.
Oth. Most veritable; therefore look to't well.
Des. Then 'would to heaven, that I had never
seen it.

Oth. Ha! wherefore?

Des. Why do you speak so startingly and rash?

And it was died in mummy, &c.] The balsamick liquor running from mummies was formerly celebrated for its anti-epileptick virtues. We are now wise enough to know, that the qualities ascribed to it are all imaginary; and yet this fanciful medicine still holds a place in the principal shops where drugs are sold; and it is still much coveted by painters, as a transparent brown colour that throws a warmth into their shadows.

rash?] is vehement, violent.

Oth. Is't lost? is't gone? speak, is it out of the

way?

Des. Heaven bless us!

Oth.

Say you?

Des. It is not lost; But what an if it were?
Oth. Ha!

Des. I say, it is not lost.

Oth.

Fetch't, let me see it.

Des. Why, so I can, sir, but I will not now; This is a trick, to put me from my suit;

I pray, let Cassio be receiv'd again.

Oth. Fetch me that handkerchief: my mind misgives.

Des. Come, come;

You'll never meet a more sufficient man.

Oth. The handkerchief,

Des.

Oth. The handkerchief,

Des.

A man that, all his time,

Hath founded his good fortune on your love;

Shar'd dangers with you;

.Oth.

Des. In sooth,

You are to blame.

Oth.

Emil.

The handkerchief,

Away!

[Exit OTHELLO.

Is not this man jealous?

Des. I ne'er 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. Look you! Cassio, and my husband.

Enter IAGO and CASSIO.

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

And, lo, the happiness! go, and impórtune 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 duty of my heart, Entirely honour; I would not be delay'd: If my offence be of such mortal kind, That neither service past, nor present sorrows, Nor purpos'd merit in futurity,

Can ransome 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.2

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 favour,3 as in humour, 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 a while be patient:
What I can do, I will; and more I will,

Than for myself I dare: let that suffice
Iago. Is my lord angry?

you.

He went hence but now,

Emil.
And, certainly, in strange unquietness.

Iago. Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon,

2 And shut myself up in some other course,

To fortune's alms.] Being discarded from the military line, he purposes to confine or shut himself up, as he formerly had, within the limits of a new profession.

4

his anger.

in favour,] In look, in countenance.

within the blank of his displeasure,] Within the shot of