How have I been behaved, that he might stick
The finalleft opinion of my least misuse!

Enter IAGO and EMILIA.

Jago. What is your pleasure, Madam? how is't with you?

Def. I cannot tell; thofe, that do teach your babes, Do it with gentle means, and easy tasks;

He might have chid me fo: for, in good faith,
I am a child to chiding.

Iago. What's the matter, Lady?

Emil. Alas, lago, my Lord hath fo bewhored her, Thrown fuch delpight and heavy terms upon her, That true hearts cannot bear it. Def. Am I that name, lago? Lago. What name, fair Lady?

Def. Such as the faid, my Lord did say I was. Emil. He called her whore; a beggar in his drink Could not have laid fuch terms upon his callet. Lago. Why did he fo?

Def. I do not know; I'm fure I am none fuch. lago. Do not weep, do not weep; alas, the day! Emil. Hath fhe forfook fo many noble matches, Her father, and her country, and her friends, To be called whore? would it not make one weep? Def. It is my wretched fortune.

lago. Befhrew him for't! how comes this trick upon him!

Def. Nay, Heaven doth know.

mil. I will be hanged, if some eternal villain, Some bufy and infinuating regue,

Some cogging, cozening flave, to get fome office, Has not devifed this flander: I'll be hanged elfe. lago. Fy, there is no fuch man; it is impoffible. Def. If any fuch there be, Heaven pardon him! Emil. A halter pardon him, and hell

bones!

gnaw

his

Why should he call her whore? who keeps her company?

What place? what time? what form? what likeli

hood?

The Moor's abused by fome most villainous knave,
Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow.
Oh Heaven, that fuch companions thou'dft unfold,
And put in every honeft hand a whip,

To lath the rafcal naked through the world,
Even from the east to th' weft!

Iago. Speak within door.

Emil. Oh fy upon them! Some such 'fquire he

was,

That turned your wit the feamy fide without; And made you to fufpect me with the Moor. lago. You are a fool; go to.

Def. Alas, Iago,

What fhall I do to win my Lord again?

Good friend, go to him; by this light of Heav'n, I know not how I loft him. Here I kneel;

[Kneeling.
If e'er my will did trefpafs 'gainst his love,
Or in difcourfe, or thought, or actual deed;
Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense,
Delighted them on any other form;
Or that I do not yet, and ever did,

And ever will, though he do fhake me off
To beggarly divorcement, love him dearly,
Comfort forfwear me! Unkindness may do much;
And his unkindness may defeat my life,

But never taint my love. I can't fay, whore ;
It does abhor me, now I speak the word:
To do the act, that might th' addition earn,
Not the world's mafs of vanity could make me.
lago. I pray you, be content; 'tis but his humour;
The bufinefs of the State does him offence,

And he does chide with you.

Mef. If 'twere no other,

Iago. It is but fo, I warrant.

[Trumpets.

Hark, how thefe inftruments fummon to fupper! The meffenger of Venice stays the meat;

Go in, and weep not; all things fhall be well.

[Exeunt Defdemona and Emilia.

Enter RODORIGO to IAGO.

How now, Rodorigo?

Rod. I do not find that thou deal'ft juftly with me. lago. What in the contrary?

Rod. Every day thou doft'ft me with fome device, lago; and rather, as it feems to me now, keepeft from me all conveniency, than fuppliest me with the leaft advantage of hope. I will, indeed, no longer endure it. Nor am I yet perfuaded to put up in peace what already I have foolishly fuf fered.

Iago. Will you hear me, Rodorigo?

Rad. 'Faith, I have heard too much; and your words and performances are no kin together. Jago. You charge me moft unjustly.

Rod. With nought but truth: I have wafted myfelf out of my means. The jewels you have had from me, to deliver to Defdemona, would half have corrupted a votarist. You have told me, the hath received them, and returned me expectations and comforts of fudden refpect and acquittance; (48) but I find none.

(48) You have told me, he hath received them, and returned me expectations and ca- forts of fudden refpe& and acquaintance.] This was firft the reading of the player-editors, who, I prefume, did not understand the reading of the old Quarto, which I take to have been the Poet's word acquittance; i. e. aequital, a proper return of her favours.

Iago. Well, go to; very well.

Kod. Very well, go to; I cannot go to, man, nor 'tis not very well; nay, I think, it is fcurvy, and begin to find myself fobbed in it.

lago. Very well.

Rod. I tell you, 'tis not very well. I will make myself known to Desdemona : if the will return me my jewels, I will give over my fuit, and repent my unlawful folicitation: if not, affure yourself I will feek fatisfaction of you.

Iago. You have faid now

Red. Ay, and faid nothing but what I protest intendment of doing.

Ro

lago. Why, now, I fee there's mettle in thee; and even from this inftant do I build on thee a better opinion than ever before. Give me thy hand, dorigo: thou haft taken against me a moft juft exception; but, I protest, I have dealt moft directly in thy affair.

Rod. It hath not appeared.

Iago, I grant, indeed, it hath not appeared; and your fufpicion is not without wit and judginent. But, Rodorigo, if thou haft that in thee indeed, which I have greater reafon to believe now than ever, (I mean, purpofe, courage, and valour) this night thew it. If thou the next night following enjoy not Desdemona, take me from this world with treachery, and deviie engines for my life.

Rod. Well, what is it? is it within reafon and compafs?

Lago. Sir, there is efpecial commiffion come from Venice to depute Caffio in Othello's place.

So in Henry V.

And thall forget the office of our hand,
Sooner than 'quittance of defert and merit,
According to the weight and worthiness.

Rod. Is that true? why, then Othello and Defdemona return again to Venice.

lago. Oh, no; he goes into Mauritania, and taketh away with him the fair Desdemona, unless his abode be lingered here by fome accident: wherein none can be fo determinate, as the removing of Caffio.

Rod. How do you mean removing him?

Jago. Why, by making him uncapable of Othello's place; knocking out his brains.

Rod. And that you would have me to do?

Iago. Ay, if you dare do yourself a profit and a right. He fups to-night with a harlot; 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 pleafure. I will be near to fecond your attempt, and he fhall fall between us. Come, ftand not amazed at it, but go along with me; I will fhew you fuch a neceffity in his death, that you fhall think yourfelf bound to put it on him. It is now high fupper-time; and the night grows to waste. About

it.

Rod. I will hear further reason for this.
Iago. And you fhall be fatisfied.

[Exeunt.

Enter OTHELLO, LODOVICO, DESDEMONA,

LIA, and Attendants.

FEMI

Lod. I do befeech you, Sir, trouble yourself no further.

Oth. Oh, pardon me; 'twill do me good to walk. Lod. Madam, goodnight; I humbly thank your Ladyfhip.

Def. Your honour is moft welcome.

Oth. Will you walk, Sir? Oh Defdemona !-----