IAGO. I did not think he had been acquainted with her. Отн. O, yes, and went between us very oft. IAGO. Indeed! Oтн. Indeed! ay, indeed: discern'st thou aught in that? Is he not honest? IAGO. Honest, my lord! OTн. Honest! ay, honest. IAGO. My lord, for aught I know. ОTн. What dost thou think? IAGO. Think, my lord! 100 ОTн. Think, my lord! By heaven, he echoes me, 110 As if there were some monster in his thought Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean something: In my whole course of wooing, thou criedst "Indeed!" Some horrible conceit: if thou dost love me, IAGO. My lord, you know I love you. I think thou dost; Отн. 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 110-111 By heaven, he echoes . . . his thought] Thus the First Quarto. The Folios read less graphically, Alas, thou eccho'st . . . thy thought. 120 Are tricks of custom; but in a man that's just IAGO. For Michael Cassio, I dare be sworn I think that he is honest. Отн. I think so too. IAGO. Men should be what they seem; Or those that be not, would they might seem none! ОTн. Certain, men should be what they seem. IAGO. Why then I think Cassio 's an honest man. Отн. Nay, yet there's more in this: I prithee, speak to me as to thy thinkings, As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of thoughts The worst of words. IAGO. Good my lord, pardon me: I am not bound to that all slaves are free to. 127 close delations] Thus Johnson. The First Quarto reads close denotements, and the First Folio and later Quartos close dilations. "Delations," which has been interpreted as "accusations," like the Latin "delatio," is not apparently found elsewhere in Elizabethan literature in that sense. It is only found as an alternative spelling of "dilations," i. e., delays, protractions. Probably "close delations" or "dilations" means mysterious or suspicious pauses. 128 That passion cannot rule] That cannot govern its emotion. 131 Or those... seem none] Or those men that be not what they seem, would they might not seem men at all, would they might have no semblance of men about them. 139–140 are free to. Utter my thoughts?] Thus the First Quarto, save that a comma follows to instead of the full stop. The Folios omit to. "Free" has the sense of "not bound," "free from any compulsion." 131 As where's that palace whereinto foul things Keep leets and law-days, and in session sit OTн. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago, IAGO. Shapes faults that are not that your wisdom yet, Would take no notice, nor build yourself a trouble 143-145 But some . . . lawful?] But that some unclean thoughts will not hold court and sit in session along with just and good thoughts. "Leets and law-days" both mean sittings of local courts of law, which took place every half-year, to revise and enforce police regulations. Kit Sly threatens to present the alewife of Wincot "at the leet.” (T. of Shrew, Induction, II, 90.) 149-153 Though I perchance ... conceits] Inasmuch as I for my part am apt to put a bad construction upon everything (indeed I confess I have the natural infirmity which leads me to pry into scandals, and often my suspicious temper imagines faults that are non-existent), I therefore beg that a man of your good sense will take no notice of suggestions coming from one that forms such defective conjectures. "Conceits," appears in line 153 in all the early editions save the First Quarto, which reads coniects. 155 scattering] random. 141 150 Nor for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom, know my thoughts. To let you What dost thou mean? IAGO. Good name in man and woman, dear my lord, Is the immediate jewel of their souls: Who steals my purse steals trash; 't is something, nothing; "T was mine, 't is 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. Отн. By heaven, I'll know thy thoughts. IAGO. You cannot, if my heart were in your hand; Nor shall not, whilst 't is in my custody. ОTH. Ha! IAGO. O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; 160 immediate] most intimate, peculiar. 172 his wronger] his faithless wife. 174 strongly] Thus the Quartos. The Folios read soundly. 160 170 Отн. O misery! IAGO. Poor and content is rich, and rich enough; 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 Отн. Why, why is this? Think'st thou I'ld make a life of jealousy, With fresh suspicions? No; to be once in doubt Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances well; The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt; For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago; 177 riches] used as a singular. Cf. II, i, 83, supra. fineless] endless; a word not known elsewhere. Cf. Hamlet, V, i, 103: "Is this the fine [i. e., the end] of his fines? " as poor as winter] winter produces no fruits. 184 resolved] freed from uncertainty. 186 exsufflicate] swollen like a bubble, inflated. The word is found nowhere else, though exsufflate, i. e., to blow out, is met with. 190 these are more virtuous] these graces make addition to virtue. 180 190 |