Cleanse the stuff'd bosom of that perilous stuff, Which weighs upon the heart? REFLECTIONS ON LIFE. To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, OTHELLO. ACT I. PREFERMENT.. 'Tis the curse of service; IAGO'S DISPRAISE OF HONESTY. We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly follow'd. You shall mark Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave, That, doting on his own obsequious bondage, Wears out his time, much like his master's ass, For nought but provender: and, when he's old, cashier'd: Whip me such honest knaves: Others there are, Who, trimm'd in forms and visages of duty, their coats, Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul; And such a one do I profess myself. It is as sure as you are Roderigo, LOVE, OTHELLO'S SOLE MOTIVE FOR MARRYING. But that I love the gentle Desdemona, OTHELLO'S DESCRIPTION TO THE SENATE OF HIS WINNING THE AFFECTIONS OF DESDEMONA. Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, My very noble and approv'd good masters, That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter, It is most true; true, I have married her; The very head and front of my offending * Outward show of civility. + Unsettled. Hath this extent, no more. speech, Rude am I in my And little bless'd with the set phrase of peace; tience, I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver [charms, Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what What conjurations, and what mighty magic, (For such proceeding I am charg'd withal) I won his daughter with. Her father lov'd me; oft invited me; I ran it through, even from my boyish days, And sold to slavery; of my redemption thence, These things to hear, * Would Desdemona seriously incline: * Best exertion. + My behaviour. She'd come again, and with a greedy ear strange; 'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful: She wish'd, she had not heard it; yet she wish'd That heaven had made her such a man: she thank'd me; And bade me, if I had a friend that lov'd her, ACT II. PERFECT CONTENT. O my soul's joy! If after every tempest come such calms, May the winds blow till they have waken'd death! And let the labouring bark climb hills of seas, Olympus-high, and duck again as low As hell's from heaven! If it were now to die, 'Twere now to be most happy; for, I fear, My soul hath her content so absolute, * Parts. + Intention and attention were once synonymous. breath, That not another comfort like to this ACT III. A LOVER'S EXCLAMATION. Farewell, my Desdemona: I will come to thee straight. Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul, But I do love thee, and when I love thee not, Chaos is come again. OTHELLO'S FIRST SUSPICION. Oth. What dost thou think? Iago. Oth. Think, my lord? Think, my lord! By heaven, he echoes me, As if there were some monster in his thought Too hideous to be shown. - Thou dost mean some thing: I heard thee say but now, -Thou lik'dst not that, Iago. My lord, you know I love you. Oth. I think, thou dost; And, for I know thou art full of love and honesty, And weigh'st thy words before thou giv'st them |