Iago. Should you do so, my lord, My speech should fall into such vile success As my thoughts aim not at. Cassio's my worthy friend : My lord, I see you are mov'd. Oth. No, not much mov'd : I do not think but Desdemona's honest. Iago. Long live she so! and long live you to think so ! Oth. And yet, how nature erring from itself, Iago. Ay, there's the point:-As, -to be bold with you, Not to affect many proposed matches, Of her own clime, complexion, and degree; Oth. Farewell, farewell : If more thou dost perceive, let me know_more; Oth. Why did I marry?-This honest creature, doubtless, Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds. Iago. My lord, I would, I might entreat your honor To scan this thing no further; leave it to time: Oth. This fellow's of exceeding honesty, [Going. [Exit. That chamberers have: Or, for I am declin'd Enter DESDEMONA, and EMILIA. If she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself!- Des. How now, my dear Othello? Your dinner, and the generous islanders By you invited, do attend your presence. Oth. I am to blame. Des. Why is your speech so faint? are you not well? Oth. I have a pain upon my forehead here. Des. Faith, that's with watching; 'twill away again: Let me but bind it hard, within this hour It will be well. Oth. Your napkin is too little; [He puts the handkerchief from him, and it drops Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you. Des. I am very sorry that you are not well. [Exeunt Отн. and Des. Emil. I am glad I have found this napkin; What he'll do with it, heaven knows, not I; Enter IAGO. Iago. How now! what do you here alone? Emil. Ha! Iago. To have a foolish wife. Emil. O, is that all? What will you give me now For that same handkerchief? Iago. Emil. What handkerchief? What handkerchief? Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona; That which so often you did bid me steal. Iago. Hast stolen it from her ? Emil. No, faith; she let it drop by negligence; And, to the advantage, I, being here, took 't up. Look, here it is. Iago. Give it me. Emil. What will you do with it, that you have been so earnest To have me filch it? Iago. Why, what's that to you ? Emil. If it be not for some purpose of import, Give it me again: Poor lady! she'll run mad, When she shall lack it. Iago. Be not you known of't; I have use for it. I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin, Enter OTHELLO. Look, where he comes! Not poppy, nor mandragora, Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world, Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep Which thou ow'dst yesterday. Oth. To me? [Snatching it. [Exit EMILIA. Ha! ha! false to me? Iago. Why, how now, general? no more of that? Oth. O now, for ever, Farewell the tranquil mind! farewell content! Pride, pomp, and circumstance, of glorious war ! Iago. Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief, See Cassio wipe his beard with. Oth. If it be that, Iago. If it be that, or any that was hers, It speaks against her, with the other proofs. Oth. O, that the slave had forty thousand lives: One is too poor, too weak for my revenge! Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell! Iago. Pray, be content. Oth. O, blood, Iago, blood ! Iago. Patience, I say; your mind, perhaps, may change. Whose icy current and compulsive course Till that a capable and wide revenge In the due reverence of a sacred vow I here engage my words. Iago. Do not rise yet. Witness, you ever-burning lights above! You elements that clip us round about! The execution of his wit, hands, heart, To wrong'd Othello's service! let him command, And to obey shall be in me remorse, What bloody work soever. Oth. I greet thy love, Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance bounteous, And will upon the instant put thee to't: Within these three days let me hear thee say, That Cassio's not alive. Iago. My friend is dead; 'tis done, at your request: But let her live. SCENE IV. - The same. Enter DESDEMONA, and EMILIA. Des. Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia ? Emil. I know not, madam. Des. Believe me:-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 humors from him. Emil. Look, where he comes. Des. I will not leave him now, till Cassio [Kneels [Kneels. [Exeunt. 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: '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, gave hands: But our new heraldry is hands, not hearts. Des. I cannot speak of this. Come now your promise. Oth. What promise, chuck? 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. Oth. That which I gave you. Des. Here, my lord. Des. I have it not about me. Did an Egyptian to my mother give; 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 Des. Is it possible? Oth. 'Tis true; There's magic in the web of it. A sibyl, that had number'd in the world The sun to make two hundred compasses, In her prophetic fury sew'd the work: The worms were hallow'd that did breed the silk; And it was dy'd in mummy, which the skilful Conserv'd of maidens' hearts. Des. Indeed! is't true? 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? |