Iago. Did you perceive how he laughed at his | An unkind breach; but you shall make all vice? lago. 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! lago. 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. 193 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! Oth. Excellent good. What trumpet is that same? Iago. Something from Venice, sure. 'Tis Lodovico, well. May be the letter mov'd him; For, as I think, they do command him home, Deputing Cassio in his government. Des. Trust me, I am glad on 't. Oth. Des. Indeed! Oth. I am glad to see you mad. Des. Oth. Devil! My lord? Why, sweet Othello! Strikes her. 250 Des. I have not deserv'd this. Though I should swear I saw 't; 'tis very much; Oth. O devil, devil! If that the earth could teem with woman's tears, Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile. I will not stay to offend you. Going. Lod. Truly, an obedient lady: I do beseech your lordship, call her back. Des. Oth. Lod. Who, I, my lord? 260 Oth. Ay; you did wish that I would make Sir, she can turn, and turn, and yet go on, Come from the duke; and, see, your wife is Cassio shall have my place. And, sir, to-night, with him. What he might be, if what he might he is not, Des. Cousin, there's fall'n between him and I would to heaven he were! my lord Heaven doth truly know it 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. Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell. Des. To whom, my lord? with whom? how Oth. Ah! Desdemona; away, away, away! Am I the motive of these tears, my lord! Why, I have lost him too. To try me with affliction, had they rain'd All kinds of sores and shames on my bare head, Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips, Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes, I should have found in some place of my soul A drop of patience; but, alas! to make me Oth. What! did they never whisper? The fixed figure for the time of scorn Emil. Never, my lord. To point his slow and moving finger at: Oth. Nor send you out o' the way? Emil. Never. Oth. To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, Where either I must live or bear no life, nor nothing? Emil. Never, my lord. Oth. That's strange. Yet could I bear that too; well. very well: 10 The fountain from the which my current runs f there, Rod. I tell you 'tis not very well. I will make myself known to Desdemona; if she will return me my jewels. I will give over my suit and repent my unlawful solicitation; if not, assure yourself I will seek satisfaction of you. Iago. You have said now. Rod. Ay, and I have said nothing but what I protest intendment of doing. Iago. Why, now I see there's mettle in thee, and even from this instant do build on thee a better opinion than ever before. Give me thy hand, Roderigo; thou hast taken against me a most just exception; but yet I protest I have dealt most directly in thy affair. Rod. It hath not appeared. 213 Iago. I grant indeed it hath not appeared, and your suspicion is not without wit and judgment. But, Roderigo, if thou hast that in thee indeed, which I have greater reason to believe now than ever, I mean purpose, courage, and valour, this night show it if thou the next night following enjoy not Desdemona, take me from this world with treachery and devise engines for my life. 223 Rod. Well, what is it? is it within reason and compass? Iago. Sir, there is especial commission come from Venice to depute Cassio in Othello's place. Rod. Is that true? why, then Othello and Desdemona return again to Venice. Iago. O! no, he goes into Mauritania, and takes away with him the fair Desdemona, unless his abode be lingered here by some accident; wherein none can be so determinate as the removing of Cassio. 234 Rod. How do you mean, removing of him? Iago. Ay; if you dare do yourself a profit and a right. He sups to-night with a harlotry, and thither will I go to him; he knows not yet of his honourable fortune. If you will watch his going thence, which I will fashion to fall out between twelve and one, you may take him at your pleasure; I will be near to second your attempt, and he shall fall between us. Come, stand not amazed at it, but go along with me; I will show you such a necessity in his death that you shall think yourself bound to put it on him. It is now high supper-time, and the night grows to waste; about it. That even his stubbornness, his checks and Prithee, unpin me,-have grace and favour in them. Emil. I have laid those sheets you bade me on the bed. Des. All's one. Good faith! how foolish are If I do die before thee, prithee, shroud me Come, come, you talk. 251 Rod. I will hear further reason for this. Exeunt. The fresh streams ran by her, and murmurd Prithee, hie thee; he'll come anon. Her salt tears fell from her, and soften'd the stones; Lay by these. Sing willow, willow, willow. Iago. Here, stand behind this bulk; straight will he come: Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home. Quick, quick; fear nothing; I'll be at thy elbow. It makes us, or it mars us; think on that, Rod. Be near at hand; I may miscarry in 't. Rod. I have no great devotion to the deed; And yet he has given me satisfying reasons: 'Tis but a man gone: forth, my sword; he dies. Iago. I have rubb'd this young quat almost to the sense, 11 And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other, No, he must die. But so: I hear him coming. 21 Rod. I know his gait; 'tis he. Villain, thou diest! Makes a pass at CASSIO. Cas. That thrust had been mine enemy indeed But that my coat is better than thou know'st; I will make proof of thine. Rod. Draws, and wounds RODERIGO. O!I am slain. IAGO from behind wounds CASSIO in the ley, and exit. Help, ho! murFalls. Cas. I am maim'd for ever. der! murder! Cas. O, help! ho! light! a surgeon! Oth. 'Tis he. O brave Iago, honest and just! That hast such noble sense of thy friend's wrong; Thou teachest me. Minion, your dear lies dead, And your unblest fate hies; strumpet, I come! Forth of my heart those charms, thine eyes, are 100 blotted; Thy bed lust-stain'd shall with lust's blood be spotted. Exit. |