Des. To-morrow dinner then?
Gth.

I shall not dine at home;

I meet the captains at the citadel.
Des. Why then to-morrow night; or Tuesday morn;

On Tuesday noon, or night; on Wednesday morn:
I prithee, name the time; but let it not
Exceed three days: in faith, he's penitent;
And yet his trespass, in our common reason-

Save that, they say, the wars must make examples
Out of their best is not almost a fault

To incur a private check. When shall he come?

60

Tell me, Othello: I wonder in my soul,

What you would ask me, that I should deny,

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Or stand so mammering on. What! Michael Cassio,
That came a-wooing with you, and so 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. Prithee, no more: let him come when he will;
I will deny thee nothing.

Des.

Oth.

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 a suit
Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed,
It shall be full of poise and difficult weight,

And fearful to be granted.

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.

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Oth. Farewell, my Desdemona: I'll come to thee straight. Des. Emilia, come. Be as your fancies teach you;

Whate'er you be, I am obedient.

[Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia.

Oth. Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul,
But I do love thee! and when I love thee not,
Chaos is come again.

lago. My noble lord,Oth.

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?
lago. But for a satisfaction of my thought;

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No further harm.

Oth.

Why of thy thought, Iago?

lago. I did not think he had been acquainted with her.

Oth. O, yes, and went between us very oft.

Iago. Indeed!

100

Oth. Indeed! ay, indeed: discern'st thou aught in that?

Is he not honest ?

Iago. Honest, my lord!

Oth. Honest! ay, honest.

lago. My lord, for aught I know.

Oth. What dost thou think?

Iago. Think, my lord!

Oth. 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 even now, thou likedst not that,
When Cassio left my wife: what didst not like? IIO
And when I told thee he was of my counsel

In my whole course of wooing, thou criedst 'Indeed!'

And didst contract and purse thy brow together,
As if thou then hadst shut up in thy brain
Some horrible conceit: if thou dost love me,
Show me thy thought.

Iago. My lord, you know I love you.
Oth.

lago.

I think thou dost;

And for I know thou 'rt full of love and honesty
And weigh'st thy words before thou givest 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're close delations, working from the heart,
That passion cannot rule.

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;

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Or those that be not, would they might seem none !

Oth. Certain, men should be what they seem.

lago. Why then I think Cassio's an honest man.

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

lago.

I prithee, speak to me as to thy thinkings,

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As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of thoughts

The worst of words.

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;
And where's that palace whereinto 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,

Lago.

Oth.

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If thou but think'st him wrong'd and makest his ear
A stranger to thy thoughts.

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 that your wisdom yet,
From one that so imperfectly conceits,
Would 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.

151

What dost thou mean?

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

Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something,
nothing;

'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 thoughts.

lago. You cannot, if my heart were in your hand;

Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody.

Oth. Ha!

Iago.

O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;

It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock

160 The meat it feeds on: that cuckold lives in bliss

Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;
But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er

Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves! Oth. O misery!

lago. Poor and content is rich, and rich enough;

Oth.

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!

Why, why is this!

171

Think'st thou I'ld 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 resolved: exchange me for a goat, 180
When I shall turn the business of my soul
To such exsufflicate and blown surmises,
Matching thy inference. '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!

lago. I am glad of it; for now I shall have reason
To show the love and duty that I bear you
With franker spirit: therefore, as I am bound,
I speak not yet of proof.
observe her well with Cassio ;

Receive it from me.

Look to your wife:

190