My advocation is not now in tune;

My lord is not my lord, nor should I know him
Were he in favour as in humour alter'd.

So help me every spirit sanctified,

As I have spoken for you all my best

And stood within the blank of his displeasure

For my free speech! You must awhile be patient:
What I can do I will; and more I will

Than for myself I dare: let that suffice you.

IAGO. IS my lord angry?

EMIL.

He went hence but now,

And certainly in strange unquietness.

IAGO. 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.

[Exit Iago.

Something sure of state,
Either from Venice or some unhatch'd practice
Made demonstrable here in Cyprus to him,
Hath puddled his clear spirit; and in such cases

124 advocation] advocacy; a rare word.

126 in favour] in look, in countenance.

129 within the blank] full within the range. The "blank" was the white mark on the centre of the target.

138 Puff'd his own brother] There is aposiopesis here. Some words like "yet he stood unruffled" are understood after brother.

142 unhatch'd practice] unrevealed or undeveloped plot or conspiracy. 144 puddled] clouded or mudded.

180

140

Men's natures wrangle with inferior things,
Though great ones are their object. "T is 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

As fits the bridal. Beshrew me much, Emilia,
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!

150

EMIL. But jealous souls will not be answer'd so; 160 They are not ever jealous for the cause,

But jealous for they are jealous: 't is a monster

Begot upon itself, born on itself.

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.

150 observancy] watchful attendance.
152 unhandsome warrior] ungenerous assailant;
Othello's "my sweet warrior" (II, i, 180, supra).
157 jealous toy] suspicious fancy.

a reminiscence of

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.
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!

CAS.

Pardon me, Bianca:

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.

O Cassio, whence came this?

This is some token from a newer friend:
To the felt absence now I feel a cause:

Is't come to this? Well, well.

CAS.

Go to, woman!

devil's teeth,

You are jealous now

Throw your vile guesses in the
From whence you have them.
That this is from some mistress, some remembrance:
No, by my faith, Bianca.

179 continuate] continuous, uninterrupted, unbroken. Thus all the early editions, save the First Quarto, which gives conuenient.

181 Take me this work out] Copy this embroidery for me. Cf. III, iii, 300,

supra.

170

180

BIAN.

chamber.

190

Why, whose is it?
CAS. I know not, sweet: I found it in my
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;
And think it no addition, nor my wish,
To have him see me woman'd.

BIAN.

CAS. Not that I love
BIAN.

Why, I pray you?

you not.

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. "T is 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.

195 addition] title of credit.

196 woman'd] in the company of a woman.

[Exeunt.

196-197 Why . . . love you not] These speeches are omitted from the

First Quarto.

202 be circumstanced] conform to circumstance, submit to neglect.

200

yet do so,

The devil their virtue tempts and they tempt heaven.

IAGO. So they do nothing, 't is a venial slip:

But if I give my wife a handkerchief

ОTн. What then?

10