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Oth. With mine officer!

Iago. That's fouler.

Oth. Get me some poison, Iago; this night. I'll not

expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty 210 unprovide my mind again: this night, Iago.

lago. Do it not with poison, strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated.

Oth. Good, good: the justice of it pleases: very good. Iago. And for Cassio, let me be his undertaker: you shall hear more by midnight.

Oth. Excellent good. [A trumpet within.] What trumpet

is that same ?

Iago. Something from Venice, sure. 'Tis Lodovico

Come from the duke: and, see, your wife is with him.

Enter Lodovico, Desdemona, and Attendants.

Lod. God save the worthy general!

Oth.

With all my heart, sir.

Lod. The duke and senators of Venice greet you.

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[Gives him a letter.

Oth. I kiss the instrument of their pleasures.

[Opens the letter, and reads.

Des. And what's the news, good cousin Lodovico?

Iago. I am very glad to see you, signior;

Welcome to Cyprus.

Lod. I thank you. How does Lieutenant Cassio ?
Iago. Lives, sir.

Des. Cousin, there's fall'n between him and my lord
An unkind breach: but you shall make all well.

Oth. Are you sure of that?

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Des. My lord?

Oth. [Reads] This fail you not to do as you will-'

Lod. He did not call; he's busy in the paper.
Is there division 'twixt my lord and Cassio ?
Des. A most unhappy one: I would do much
To atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio.

Oth. Fire and brimstone!

Des.

Oth.

Des. What, is he angry?
Lod.

My lord?

Are you wise?

May be the letter moved him ;

For, as I think, they do command him home,
Deputing Cassio in his government.

Des. By my troth, I am glad on't.

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Lod. My lord, this would not be believed in Venice,

Oth.

Though I should swear I saw't: 'tis very much:
Make her amends; she weeps.

O devil, devil!

If that the earth could teem with woman's tears,
Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile.

Out of my sight!

Des.

I will not stay to offend you.

Lod. Truly, an obedient lady:

I do beseech your lordship, call her back.

Oth. Mistress!

Des. My lord?

Oth. What would you with her, sir?
Lod.

[Going.

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Who, I, my lord?

Oth. Ay; you did wish that I would make her turn :

Sir, she can turn and turn, and yet go on,
And turn again; and she can weep, sir, weep;
And she's obedient, as you say, obedient,
Very obedient. Proceed you in your tears.
Concerning this, sir,-O well-painted passion!-
I am commanded home. Get you away;
I'll send for you anon. Sir, I obey the mandate,
And will return to Venice. Hence, avaunt!

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[Exit Desdemona.

Cassio shall have my place. And, sir, to-night,
I do entreat that we may sup together:
You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus. Goats and

monkeys!

Lod. Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate

Iago.

[Exit.

Call all in all sufficient? This the nature
Whom passion could not shake? whose solid virtue
The shot of accident nor dart of chance

Could neither graze nor pierce ?

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He is much changed.

Lod. Are his wits safe? is he not light of brain?
lago. He's that he is: I may not breathe my censure
What he might be: if what he might he is not,
I would to heaven he were!

Lod.
What, strike his wife.
lago. Faith, that was not so well; yet would I knew
That stroke would prove the worst!

Lod.

Iago.

Is it his use?

Or did the letters work upon his blood,
And new create this fault?

Alas, alas!
It is not honesty in me to speak

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What I have seen and known. You shall observe him,
And his own courses will denote him so

That I may save my speech: do but go after,
And mark how he continues.

Lod. I am sorry that I am deceived in him.

Scene II.

A room in the castle.

Enter Othello and Emilia.

Oth. You have seen nothing, then?

Emil. Nor ever heard, nor ever did suspect.
Oth. Yes, you have seen Cassio and she together.
Emil. But then I saw no harm, and then I heard

[Exeunt.

Each syllable that breath made up between them.

Oth. What, did they never whisper ?

Emil.

Never, my lord.

Oth. Nor send you out o' the way?

Emil. Never.

Oth. To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor nothing ?

Emil. Never, my lord.

Oth. That's strange.

Emil. I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest,

Oth.

Lay down my soul at stake: if you think other,
Remove your thought; it doth abuse your bosom.
If any wretch have put this in your head,
Let heaven requite it with the serpent's curse!
For if she be not honest, chaste and true,
There's no man happy; the purest of their wives
Is foul as slander.

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Bid her come hither: go. [Exit Emilia.

She says enough: yet she's a simple bawd

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That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore,
A closet lock and key of villanous secrets:

And yet she'll kneel and pray; I have seen her do't.

Enter Desdemona with Emilia.

Des. My lord, what is your will?
Oth.

Des. What is your pleasure?
Oth.

Look in my face.

Des.

Pray, chuck, come hither.

Let me see your eyes;

What horrible fancy's this?

Oth. [To Emilia] Some of your function, mistress,

Leave procreants alone and shut the door;

Cough, or cry hem, if any body come :

Your mystery, your mystery: nay, dispatch.

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[Exit Emilia.

Des. Upon my knees, what doth your speech import?
I understand a fury in your words,

But not the words.

Oth. Why, what art thou ?

Des. Your wife, my lord; your true and loyal wife.
Oth. Come, swear it, damn thyself;

Des.

Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves
Should fear to seize thee: therefore be double-

damn'd;

Swear thou art honest.

Heaven doth truly know it.

Oth. Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell.
Des. To whom, my lord? with whom? how am I false?

Oth. O Desdemona! Away! away! away!

Des. Alas the heavy day! Why do you weep?

Am I the motive of these tears, my lord?

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