ACT IV.

SCENE I.

The same.

Enter OTHELLO, and Iago.

Iago. Will you think so?

Oth. Think so, Iago?

Iago. What,

To kifs in private?

Oth. An unauthoriz'd kifs.

Iago. Or to be naked with her friend abed, And hour, or more, not meaning any harm? Oth. Naked abed, lago, and not mean harm? It is hypocrisy against the devil:

They that mean virtuously, and yet do so,
The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt `

heaven.

Iago. So they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip:

But if I give my wife a handkerchief,

Oth. What then?

Iago. Why, then 'tis hers, my lord; and, being hers,

She may, I think, bestow't on any man.

Oth. She is protectress of her honour too; May she give that?

Iago. Her honour is an essence that's not

seen;

They have it very oft, that have it not:
But, for the handkerchief,

Oth. By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it:

Thou said'st, O, it comes o'er my memory, As doth the raven o'er the infected house, Boding to all, he had my handkerchief.

--

Iago, Ay, what of that?

Oth. That's not so good now.

Iago. What, if I had said, I had seen him do you wrong?

Or heard him say,

abroad,

As knaves he such

Who having, by their own importunate suit, Or voluntary dotage of some mistress, Convinced or supplied them, cannot choose But they must blab

Oth. Hath he said any thing?

Jago. He hath, my lord; but be you well assur'd,

No more than he'll unswear.

Oth. What hath he said?

Iago. 'Faith, that he did,

he did.

Oth. What? what?

Iago. Lie

Oth. With her?

I know not what

Jogo. With her, on her; what you will.

Oth. Lie with her! lie on her! We say, lie on her, when they belie her: Lie with her! that's fulsome. Handkerchief, confessions, handkerchief. To confefs, and be hang'd for his labour. First, to be hang'd, and then to confels: I tremble at it. Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing passion, without some instruction. It is not words, that shake me thus: Pish! Noses, ears, and lips: Is it possible? Confefs! - Handkerchief! O devil![falls in a trance.

lago. Work on, My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are

caught;

And many worthy and chaste dames, even thus, All guiltlefs meet reproach.

lord!

Enter CASSIO.

My lord, I say! Othello!

sio?

Cas. What's the matter?

What, ho! my

How now, Cas

Iago. My lord is fallen into an epilepsy; This is his second fit; he had one yesterday. Cas. Rub him about the temples.

Iago. No, forbear:

The lethargy must have his quiet course:
If not, he foams at mouth; and, by and by,
Breaks out to savage madness. Look, he stirs:
Do you withdraw yourself a little while,
He will recover straight; when he is gone,
I would on great occasion speak with you.
[Exit CASS10.

.

How is it, general? have you not hurt your

head?

Oth. Dost thou mock me?

Iago. I mock you! no, by heaven:

'Would, you would bear your fortunes like a

man.

Oth. A horned man's a monster, and a beast.

Iago. There's many a beast then in a populous city,

And many a civil monster.

Oth. Did he confefs it?

Iago. Good sir, be a man;

Think, every bearded fellow, that's but yok'd, May draw with you: there's millions now alive,

That nightly lie in those unproper beds,

Which they dare swear peculiar; your case is

better.

O, 'tis the spight of hell, the fiend's arch-mock, To lip a wanton in a secure couch,

And to suppose her chaste! No, let me know; And, knowing what I am, I know what she

shall be.

Oth. O, thou art wise; 'tis certain.
Iago. Stand you a while apart;
Confine yourself but in a patient list.
Whilst you were here, ere while mad with
your grief,

(A passion most unsuiting such a man,)
Cassio came hither: I shifted him away,
And laid good 'scuse upon your ecstasy;
Bade him anon return, and here speak with

me;

The which he promis'd. Do but encave your

self,

And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable

scorns,

That dwell in every region of his face;
For I will make him tell the tale anew,

Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when

He hath, and is again to cope your wife;
I say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience;
Or I shall say, you are all in all in spleen,
And nothing of a man.

Oth. Dost thou hear, Iago?

I will be found most cunning in my patience; But (dost thou hear?) most bloody.

Iago. That's not amifs;

But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw?

[Othello withdraws. Now will I question Cassio of Bianca,

A housewife, that, by selling her desires,
Buys herself bread and cloaths: it is a creature,
That dotes on Cassio, as 'tis the strumpet's

plague,

To beguile many, and be beguil'd by one;
He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain,
From the excels of laughter:

comes:

Enter CASSIO.

Here he

As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad;
And his unbookish jealousy must construe
Poor Cassio's smiles, gestures, and light behavi-

our,

Quite in the wrong.

lieutenant?

How do you now,

Cas. The worser, that you give me the addition,

Whose want even kills me.

Iago. Ply Desdemona well, and you are sure

of't.

Now, if this suit lay in Bianca's power,

How quickly should you speed?
Cas. Alas, poor caitiff!

[speaking lower.