And certainly in strange unquietness.
lago. Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon,
When it hath blown his ranks into the air,
And, like the devil, from his very arm
Puff'd his own brother; and can he be angry?
Something of moment then : I will go meet him :
There's matter in 't indeed if he be angry.

Des. I prithee, do so.

Something sure of state,

[Exit lago.

Either from Venice some unhatch'd practice
Made demonstrable here in Cyprus to him,
Hath puddled his clear spirit; and in such cases
Men's natures wrangle with inferior things,
Though great ones are their object. 'Tis even so;
For let our finger ache, and it indues

Our other healthful members even to that sense
Of pain: nay, we must think men are not gods,
Nor of them look for such observancy

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As fits the bridal. Beshrew me much, Emilia, 150
I was, unhandsome warrior as I am,

Arraigning his unkindness with my soul;
But now I find I had suborn'd the witness,
And he's indicted falsely.

Emil. Pray heaven it be state-matters, as you think,
And no conception nor no jealous toy
Concerning you.

Des. Alas the day, I never gave him cause!
Emil. But jealous souls will not be answer'd so;
They are not ever jealous for the cause,
But jealous for they are jealous': 'tis a monster
Begot upon itself, born on itself.

Des. Heaven keep that monster from Othello's mind!

160

Emil. Lady, amen.

Des. I will go seek him. Cassio, walk hereabout:

If I do find him fit, I'll move your suit,

And seek to effect it to my uttermost.

Cas. I humbly thank your ladyship.

[Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia.

Enter Bianca.

Bian. Save you, friend Cassio!
Cas.

What make you from home?

How is it with you, my most fair Bianca ?
I' faith, sweet love, I was coming to your house.

Bian. And I was going to your lodging, Cassio.

Cas.

What, keep a week away? seven days and nights ?
Eight score eight hours? and lovers' absent hours,
More tedious than the dial eight score times?

O weary reckoning!

Pardon me, Bianca :

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I have this while with leaden thoughts been press'd;

But I shall in a more continuate time

Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca,

[Giving her Desdemona's handkerchief.

Take me this work out.

Bian.

Cas.

O Cassio, whence came this?
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This is some token from a newer friend :
To the felt absence now I feel a cause:
Is't come to this? Well, well.

Go to, woman!

Throw your vile guesses in the devil's teeth,
From whence you have them. You are jealous now
That this is from some mistress, some remembrance :
No, by my faith, Bianca.

Bian.

Why, whose is it?

Cas. I know not, sweet: I found it in my chamber.
I like the work well: ere it be demanded-
As like enough it will-I'ld have it copied :
Take it, and do't; and leave me for this time.
Bian. Leave you! wherefore?
Cas. I do attend here on the general;

Bian.

And think it no addition, nor my wish,
To have him see me woman'd.

Cas. Not that I love you not.
Bian.

Why, I pray you?

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But that you do not love me.

I pray you, bring me on the way a little; And say if I shall see you soon at night. Cas. 'Tis but a little way that I can bring you; For I attend here: but I'll see you soon. Bian. 'Tis very good; I must be circumstanced. [Exeunt.

ACT FOURTH,

Scene I.

Cyprus. Before the castle.

Enter Othello and Iago.

200

lago. Will you think so?

Oth.

Think so, Iago!

Iago.

What,

Oth.

To kiss in private ? An unauthorized kiss. lago. Or to be naked with her friend in bed

An hour or more, not meaning any harm? Oth. Naked in bed, Iago, 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.

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

But if I give my wife a handkerchief

Oth. What then?

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

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

10

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.

lago. Ay, what of that?

Oth.

Iago.

That's not so good now.

What,

If I had said I had seen him do you wrong?
Or heard him say-as knaves be such abroad,
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 anything?
Iago. He hath, my lord; but be you well assured,
No more than he'll unswear.

Oth.
What hath he said?
lago. Faith, that he did I know not what he did.
Oth. What, what?

20

30

Iago. Lie-
Oth.

Iago.

With her?

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! 'Zounds, that's fulsome! Handkerchief - confessions handkerchief!-To confess, and be hanged for his labour; first, to be hanged, and then to confess. I tremble at it. Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing passion without some instruction. It is not words that shakes me thus. Pish! Noses, ears and lips. Confess?- Handkerchief? O devil!

Iago. Work on,

Is 't possible ?

40

[Falls in a trance.

My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught :

And many worthy and chaste dames even thus,

All guiltless, meet reproach. What, ho! my lord!

My lord, I say! Othello!

Enter Cassio.

Cas. What's the matter?

How now, Cassio!

50

Iago. My lord is fall'n into an epilepsy :

This is his second fit; he had one yesterday.

Cas. Rub him about the temples.

lago.

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,