30 apt, so blessed a disposition, that she holds it a vice in her good less, not to do more than she is requested.

Cas. You advise me well.

Iago. I protest, in the sincerity of love, and honest kindness.

Cas. I think it freely; and, betimes in the morning, I will beseech he virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me: I am desperate of my fortunes, if they check me here.

Iago. You are in the right. Good night, lieutenant; I must to the watch.

Cas. Good night, honest Iago.

[Exit CASSIO

ACT III.

IAGO having effected the disgrace of Cassio, urges him to apply to Desdemona, to eck through her entreaties a reconciliation with Othello. Cassio believing that lagc "advises well," beseeches Desdemona to interfere in his behalf with her husband: she promises him her aid.

lago artfully uses the kindness of Desdemona, as a means to excite the jealousy of Othello.

Enter DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and EMILIA.

Des. Be thou assur'd, good Cassio, I will do

All my abilities in thy behalf.

Emil. Good madam, do; I know, it grieves my husband, As if the case 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,

Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,

He's never any thing but your true servant.

Des. O, sir, 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 further 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 circumstance,
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 intermingle every thing he does

With Cassio's suit: Therefore be merry, Cassio;
For thy sclicitor shall rather die,

Than give thy cause away.

And hear me speak.

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

Unfit for mine own purposes.

Des.

Do your discretion.

Iago.

Well, well,

Ha! 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?

lago. Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it, That he would steal away so guilty-like,

Seeing you 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 pr'ythee, call him back.

Oth.

Went he hence now?

Des. Ay, sooth; so humbled,

That he hath left part of his grief with me;

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

Oth. Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other time.
Des. But shall't be shortly?

Oth.

[Exit CASSIO

The sooner, sweet, for you.

Des. Shall't be to-night at supper?
Oth.

Des. To-morrow dinner then?
Oth.

I meet the captains at the citadel.

No, not to-night.

I shall not dine at home;

Des. Why then, to-morrow night; or Tuesday morn;
Or Tuesday noon, or night; or Wednesday morn ;—

I pray thee, name the time; but let it not
Exceed three days: in faith, he's penitent.

When shall he come?

Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul,
What you could ask me, that I should deny,

What! Michael Cassio,

Or stand so mammering on.

That came a wooing with you; and 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! Trust me, I could do much.-
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 will come to thee straight. Des. Emilia, come :-Be it as your fancies teach you; Whate'er you be, I am obedient.

Iago. My noble lord,

Oth.

[Exit, with EMILIA

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 ?

Honest, my lord?

Think, my lord?

Think, my lord!

Oth. What dost thou think?

Iago.
Oth.

By heaven, he echoes me,

As if there were some monster in his thought

Too hideous to be shown.-Thou dost mean something:

I heard thee say but now,-Thou lik❜dst not that,
When Cassio left my wife; What did'st not like?
And, when I told thee, he was of my counsel

In my whole course of wooing, thou cry'dst, Indeed?
And did'st contract and purse thy brow together,
As if thou then had'st shut up in thy brain
Some horrible conceit: If thou dost love me,
Show me thy thought.

I think thou dost;

Iago. My lord, you know I love you.
Oth.
And, for I know thou art full of love and honesty,
And weigh'st thy words before thou giv'st them breath.
Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more:
For such things in a false disloyal knave,
Are tricks of custom; but, in a man that's just.

They are close denotements, working from the heart,
That passion cannot rule.

Iago.

For Michael Cassio,

I dare be sworn, I think that he is honest.

Oth. I think so too.

Iago.

Men should be what they seem;

Or, those that be not, 'would they might seem none !
Oth. Certain, men should be what they seem.
Iago.

I think, that Cassio is an honest man.

Oth. Nay, yet there's more in this:

I pray thee, speak to me as to thy thinkings,

Why then,

As thou dost ruminate; and give thy worst of thoughts
The worst of words.

Iago.

Good my lord, pardon me;

Though I am bound to every act of duty,

I am not bound to that all slaves are free to.

Utter my thoughts? Why, say, they are vile and false,

As where's that palace, whereunto foul things

Sometimes intrude not? who has a breast so pure,
But some uncleanly apprehensions

Keep leets, and law-days, and in session sit
With meditations lawful?

Oth. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago,
If thou but think'st him wrong'd, and mak'st his ear
A stranger to thy thoughts.

Iago.
I do beseech you,——
Though I, perchance, am vicious in my guess.

As, I confess, it is my nature's plague

To spy into abuses; and, oft my jealousy
Shapes faults that are not,-I entreat you then,
From one that so imperfectly conjects,

You'd take no notice; nor build yourself a trouble
Out of his scattering and unsure observance :-
It were not for your quiet, nor your good,
Nor for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom,
To let you know my thoughts.

Oth.

What dost thou mean?

Iago. Good name, in man, and woman, dear my lord, Is the immediate jewel of their souls:

Who steals my purse, steals trash; 'tis something, nothi 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands; But he that filches from me my good name,

Robs me of that, which not enriches him,

And makes me poor indeed.

Oth. By heaven, I'll know thy thought.

Iago. You cannot, if my heart were in your hand:

Nor shall not, while 'tis in my custody

Oth. Ha'

g:

Iago O, beware, my lord, of jealousy

It is the green-ey'd monster, which doth mock
The meat it feeds on.

Oth. O misery!

Iago. Poor, and content, is rich, and rich enougn; But riches, fineless, is as poor as winter,

To him that ever fears he shall be poor :

Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend

From jealousy!

Oth.

Why! why is this?

Think'st thou, I'd make a life of jealousy,

To follow still the changes of the moon

With fresh suspicions? No: to be once in doubt,
Is-once to be resolv'd:

"Tis not to make me jealous,

To say-my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company
Is free of speech, sings, plays, and dances well:
Where virtue is, these are more virtuous:
Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw
The smallest fear, or doubt of her revolt;
For she had eyes, and chose me: No, Iago;
I'll see, before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
And, on the proof, there is no more but this,—
Away at once with love, or jealousy.

Iago. I am glad of this; for now I shall have reason
To show the love and duty that I bear you
With franker spirit: therefore, as I am bound,
Receive it from me:-I speak not yet of proof.
Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio:
Wear your eye-thus, not jealous, nor secure:
I would not have your free and noble nature,
Out of self-bounty, be abus'd; look to't:
She did deceive her father, marrying you;

And, when she seem'd to shake, and fear your looks,
She lov'd them most.

Why, go to, then;

She that so young, could give out such a seeming,

To seal her father's eyes up, close as oak,

He thought, 'twas witchcraft :-But I am much to blame; I humbly do beseech you of your pardon,

For too much loving you.

Oth.

I am bound to thee for ever.

Trust me, I fear it has.

Iago. I see, this hath a little dash'd your spirits.
Oth. Not a jot, not a jot.

Iago.

I hope, you will consider, what is spoke

Comes from my love :-But, I do see you are mov'd :-
I am to pray you, not to strain my speech