SC E NE II.

A Room in the Castle.

Enter OTHELLO, IAGO, and Gentlemen.

Oth. These letters give, Iago, to the pilot;
And, by him, do my duties to the state:
That done, I will be walking on the works,
Repair there to me.

Iago. Well, my good lord, I'll do't.
Oth. This fortification, gentlemen,

see't?

Gent. We'll wait upon your lordship.

shall we

[Exeunt.

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.

doubt, Cassio,

But I will have my lord and you again
As friendly as you were.

Cas. Bounteous madam,

Do not

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 farther off
Than in a politick 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 supply'd,
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 watch him tame, and talk him out of

pa.

tience;

His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift; I'll intermingle every thing he does

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

Than give thy cause away.)

Emil. Madam, here comes my lord..
Cas. Madam, I'll take my leave.

Des. Why, stay, and hear me speak.

Cas. Madam, not now; I am very

Unfit for mine own pur am very ill at ease,

Des. Well, do your discretion. [Exit Cassio.
Iago. Ha! I like not that.

Oth. What dost thou say?

Jago. Nothing, my lord: or if I know not sbeonbow what, i 10

Oth, Was not that Cassio, parted from my
Com a wife ?!

Jago. Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot
think it, t

That he would steal away, so guilty-like,
Seeing you coming,

Des. How how, my lord?

I have been

A man talking with a suitor here,

A man that languishes in your displeasure.
Oth, Who is't, you mean?

Y

DesWhy, 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. The sooner, sweet, for you.
Des. Shall't be to-night at supper?
Oth. No, not to-night.

Des. To-morrow dinner then?

Oth. I shall not dine at home; I meet the captains at the citadel,

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;
And yet his trefspafs in our common reason,
(Save that, they say, the wars must make ex-
amples

Out of their best,) is not almost a fault,
To incur a private check: When shall he come?
Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul,

What you could ask me, that I should deny,
Or stand so mammering on. What! Michael

Cassio,

That came a wooing with you;

time,

and many a

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. Pr'ythee, no more: let him come when he will;

I will deny thee nothing.

Des. Why, this is not a boon;

'Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves, Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you

warm;

Or sue to you to do a peculiar profit

To your own person: Nay, when I have
suit,

Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed,
It shall be full of poize and difficulty,
And fearful to be granted.

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: Farewel, my lord.

Oth. Farewel, 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.

[Exit, with Emilia.

Oth. Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my

soul,

But I do love thee! and when I love thee not,

Chaos is come again.

Iago. My noble lord,—

Oth. What dost thou say, Iago?

Iago. Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my lady,

Know of your love?