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Iago. And did you see the handkerchief?

Oth. Was that mine?

Iago. Yours, by this hand: and to see how he prizes the foolish woman, your wife! she gave it him, and he hath given it his whore.

Oth. I would have him nine years a killing:-A fine woman! a fair woman! a sweet woman! Iago. Nay, you must forget that.

Oth. Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damned to-night; for she shall not live: No, my heart is turned to stone; I strike it, and it hurts my hand. O, the world hath not a sweeter creature: she might lie by an emperor's side, and command him tasks.

Iago. Nay, that's not your way.

Oth. Hang her! I do but say what she is :-So delicate with her needle! - An admirable musician! O, she will sing the savageness out of a bear!Of so high and plenteous wit and invention!

Iago. She's the worse for all this.

Oth. O, a thousand, a thousand times :-And then, of so gentle a condition!3

lago. Ay, too gentle.

Oth. Nay, that's certain: But yet the pity of it, Iago!-O, Iago, the pity of it, Iago !

Iago. If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her patent to offend; for, if it touch not you, it comes néar nobody.

Oth. I will chop her into messes: -Cuckold me! Iago. O, 'tis foul in her.

Oth. With mine officer!

Iago. That's fouler.

3 Of so sweet a disposition.

Oth. Get me some poison, Iago; this night:-I'll not expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again: this night, Iago.

Iago. Do it not with poison, strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated.

Oth. Good, good: the justice of it pleases; very good..

Iago. And, for Cassio, let me be his undertaker: You shall hear more by midnight.

[A Trumpet within.

Oth. Excellent good. - What trumpet is that same? 'Tis Lo

Iago. Something from Venice, sure.

dovico,

Come from the duke: and, see, your wife is with him.

Enter LODOVICO, DESDEMONA, and Attendants.

Lod. 'Save you, worthy general!
Oth.

With all my heart, sir.

Lod. The duke and senators of Venice greet you. [Gives him a Packet.

Oth. I kiss the instrument of their pleasures.

[Opens the Packet, and reads.

Des. And what's the news, good cousin Lodovico? Iago. I am very glad to see you, signior;

Welcome to Cyprus.

Lod. I thank you: How does lieutenant Cassio ? Iago. Lives, sir.

Des. Cousin, there's fallen between him and my

lord

An unkind breach: but you shall make all well.

Oth. Are you sure of that?

Des. My lord?
Oth.

This fail you not to do, as you will

[Reads.

Lod. He did not call; he's busy in the paper. Is there division 'twixt thy lord and Cassio ?

Des. A most unhappy one; I would do much To atone 4 them, for the love I bear to Cassio.

Oth. Fire and brimstone!

Des.

Oth.

Des. What, is he angry?

Lod.

My lord?

Are you wise?

'May be, the letter mov'd him;

For, as I think, they do command him home,

Deputing Cassio in his government.

Des. By my troth, I am glad on't.

Lod. My lord, this would not be believ'd in Venice,

Though I should swear I saw it: 'Tis very much;

Make her amends, she weeps.

Oth.

1

O devil, devil!
If that the earth could teem with woman's tears,
Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile :-

Out of my sight!
Des.

I will not stay to offend you.

Lod. Truly, an obedient lady :

[Going.

I do beseech your lordship, call her back.

Oth. Ay; you did wish, that I would make her

turn:

Sir, she can turn, and turn, and yet go on,
And turn again; and she can weep, sir, weep;
And she's obedient, as you say, -obedient, -
Very obedient; -Proceed you in your tears.-
Concerning this, sir,-O well-painted passion!
I am commanded home:-Get you away;
I'll send for you anon. --Sir, I obey the mandate,
And will return to Venice;-Hence, avaunt!

[Exit DESDEMONA.

Cassio shall have my place. And,-sir, to-night,
I do entreat that we may sup together.

You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus.-Goats, and [Exit.

monkies!

Lod. Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate

Call-all-in-all sufficient? - This the noble nature Whom passion could not shake? whose solid virtue The shot of accident, nor dart of chance,

Could neither graze, nor pierce?

He is much chang'd.

Iago.
Lod. Are his wits safe? is he not light of brain?
Iago. He is that he is; I may not breathe my

censure.

What he might be,-if, what he might, he is not, I would to heaven, he were.

cc2

Lod.

What, strike his wife!

Iago 'Faith, that was not so well; Yet 'would I

knew,

That stroke would prove the worst.
Lod.

Is it his use ?

Or did the letters work upon his blood,
And new-create this fault?

Iago.

Alas, alas!

It is not honesty in me, to speak

What I have seen and known. You shall observe

him;

And his own courses will denote him so,

That I may save my speech: Do but go after,

And mark how he continues.

Lod. I am sorry, that I am deceiv'd in him.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

A Room in the Castle.

Enter OTHELLO and EMILIA.

Oth. You have seen nothing then ?
Emil. Nor ever heard; nor ever did suspect.
Oth. Yes, you have seen Cassio and she together.
Emil. But then I saw no harm: and then I heard

Each syllable, that breath made up between them.

Oth. What, did they never whisper ?

Emil.

Oth. Nor send you out o'the way?
Emil.

Never, my lord.

Never.

Oth. To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor

nothing?