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

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?
Indeed, sweet love, I was coming to your house.

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

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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,

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From whence you have them. You are jealous now
That this is from some mistress, some remembrance :
No, in good troth, Bianca.

Bian.

Why, whose is it?

Cas. I know not, neither: I found it in my chamber. I like the work well: ere it be demanded

(As like enough it will), I'd 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;

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

I

Bian.

Cas. Not that I love you not.
Bian.

Why, I pray you?

But that you do not love me.

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 circumstanc'd.

[Exeunt.

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Iago. Or to be with her friend an hour or more,

Not meaning any harm?

Oth.

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. If they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip:

But if I give my wife a handkerchief

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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-0, it comes o'er my memory,

As doth the raven o'er the infected house,

Boding to all-he had my handkerchief.
Tago. 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—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 assur'd,

No more than he'll unswear.

Oth.

What hath he said?

Iago. Why, that he did-I know not what he did.

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Oth. 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 shake me thus.-Is 't possible? -Confess!-handkerchief!-O devil!

[Falls in a trance.

Iago. Work on,

My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught;
And many worthy and chaste dames, even thus,

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

Enter CASSIO.

My lord, I say! Othello!-How now, Cassio?

Cas. What is the matter?

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 CASSIO. How is it, general? have you not hurt your head? Oth. Dost thou mock me?

I mock you! no, by heaven:

Iago.
Would you would bear your fortune 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 confess 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.
O, 'tis the spite 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

awhile apart;

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