Enter EMILIA.

Emil. Good morrow, good lieutenant; I am sorry
For your displeasure ;? but all will soon be well.
'The general, and his wife, are talking of it;
And she speaks for you stoutly. The Moor replies,
That he you hurt, is of great fame in Cyprus,
And great affinity; and that, in wholesome wisdom,
He might not but refuse you. But, he protests, he loves

you;
And needs no other suitor, but his likings,
To take the saf'st occasion by the front,
To bring you in again.
Cas.

Yet, I beseech you,—
If you think fit, or that it may be done,
Give me advantage of some brief discourse
With Desdemona alone.
Emil.

'Pray you, come in ;
I will bestow you where you shall have time
To speak your bosom freely.
Cas.
I am much bound to you.'

(Exeunt.

SCENE II. A Room in the Castle.

Enter OTHELLO, Iago, and Gentlemen.
Oth. These letters give, Iago, to the pilot;
And, by him, do my duties to the state.
That done, I will be walking on the works ;
Repair there to me.
Iago.

Well, my good lord, I'll do’t. Oth. This fortification, gentlemen,-shall we see't? Gent. We'll wait upon your lordship. [Excunt.

Cassio means to say, I never experienced more honesty and kindness even in one of my own countrymen.

1 i. e. the displeasure you have incurred from Othello.
2 This line is wanting in the folio.
3 This speech is omitted in the first quarto.
4 Thus the quarto 1622; folio, “to the senate.”

SCENE III. Before the Castle.

you again

Enter DESDEMONA, Cassio, and Emilia. Des. Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do All my abilities in thy behalf. Emil. Good madam, do; I know it grieves my

husband, As if the case' were his. Des. O, that's an honest fellow.–Do not doubt,

Cassio,
But I will have my lord and
As friendly as you were.
Cas.

Bounteous madam,
Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,
He's never any thing but your true servant.

Des. O sir, I thank you. You do love my lord;
You have known him long; and be you well assured
He shall in strangeness stand no further off
Than in a politic distance.
Cas.

Ay, but, lady,
That policy may either last so long,
Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet,
Or breed itself so out of circumstance,
That, I being absent, and my place supplied,
My general will forget my love and service.

Des. Do not doubt that; before Emilia here,
I give thee warrant of thy place; assure thee,
If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it
To the last article: my lord shall never rest;
I'll watch him tame, and talk him out of patience;
His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;
I'I intermingle every thing he does
With Cassio's suit. Therefore be merry, Cassio;
For thy solicitor shall rather die,
Than give thy cause away.

1 Folio reads, “ As if the cause were his." 2 Thus the quarto of 1622. The folio reads, “ I know't, I thank you.' 3 Hawks and other birds are tamed by keeping them from sleep.

Enter OTHELLO and lago, at a distance. Emil.

Madam, here comes My lord.

Cas. Madam, I'll take my leave. .
Des.

Why, stay,
And hear me speak.

Cas. Madam, not now; I am very ill at ease;
Unfit for mine own purposes.
Des.

Well, well,
Do your discretion.

[Exit Cassio. Iago.

Ha! I like not that.
Oth. What dost thou say?
Iago. Nothing, my lord; or if-I know not what.
Oih. Was not that Cassio, parted from my wife?
Iago. Cassio, my lord ? No, sure, I cannot think it,
That he would steal away so guiltylike,
Seeing you coming.
Oth.

I do believe 'twas he.
Des. How now, my lord ?
I have been talking with a suitor here,
A man that languishes in your displeasure.

Oth. Who is't you mean?

Des. Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord,
If I have any grace, or power to move you,
His present reconciliation take;
For, if he be not one that truly loves you,
That errs in ignorance, and not in cunning,
I have no judgment in an honest face.
I prythee call him back.
Oth.

Went he hence now?
Des. Ay, sooth ; so humbled,
That he hath left part of his grief with me;
I suffer with him. Good love, call him back.

Oth. Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other time.
Des. But shall't be shortly ?
Oth.

The sooner, sweet, for you. .

1 i. e. “ take his present atonement,” or submission. The words were formerly synonymous.

2 Cunning here signifies knowledge, the ancient sense of the word.

Des. Shall’t be to-night at supper?
Oth.

No, not to-night.
Des. To-morrow dinner, then ?
Oth.

I shall not dine at home; I meet the captains at the citadel.

Des. Why then, to-morrow night; or Tuesday morn; Or Tuesday noon, or night; or Wednesday morn.I pray thee, name the time; but let it not Exceed three days. In faith, he's penitent; And yet his trespass, in our common reason, (Save that, they say, the wars must make examples Out of their best,') is not almost a fault To incur a private check. When shall he come? Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul, What you could ask me, that I should deny, Or stand so mammering on. What, Michael Cassio, That came a wooing with you, and so many a time, When I have spoke of you dispraisingly, Hath ta’en your part; to have so much to do To bring him in! Trust me, I could do much,

Oth. 'Pr’ythee, no more. Let him come when he will; I will deny thee nothing. Des.

Why, this is not a boon; 'Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves, Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm; Or sue to you to do peculiar profit To your own person. Nay, when I have a suit, Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed, It shall be full of poize * and difficulty, And fearful to be granted. Oth.

I will deny thee nothing;
Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this,
To leave me but a little to myself.

Des. Shall I deny you ? no. Farewell, my lord.
Oth. Farewell, my Desdemona; I will come to thee

straight.

1 The severity of military discipline must not spare the best men of the army, when their punishment may afford a wholesome example.

2 So hesitating, in such doubtful suspense. 3 See Act i. Sc. 2.

4 i. e. of weight.

Des. Emilia, come. Be it as your fancies teach you; Whate'er you be, I am obedient. [Exit with Emilia.

Oth. Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul,
But I do love thee! and when I love thee not,
Chaos is come again.”

Iago. My noble lord,-
Oth.

What dost thou say, lago?
Iago. Did Michael Cassio, when you wooed
Know of your love?

Oth. He did, from first to last. Why dost thou ask?

Iago. But for a satisfaction of my thought;
No further harm.
Oth.

Why of thy thought, Iago ?
Iago. I did not think he had been acquainted with

my lady,

her.

Oth. O yes; and went between us very oft.
Iago. Indeed?
Oih. Indeed! ay, indeed.—Discern’st thou aught

in that ? Is he not honest? Iago.

Honest, my lord ? Oth.

Ay, honest. Iago. My lord, for aught I know. Oth. What dost thou think? Iago.

Think, my lord ? Oth.

Think, my lord! By Heaven, he echoes me, As if there were some monster in his thought Too hideous to be shown.-Thou dost mean something; I heard thee say but now—Thou lik’dst not that, When Cassio left my wife. What didst not like? And, when I told thee, he was of my counsel

1 « The meaning of the word wretch is not generally understood. It is now in some parts of England a term of the fondest and softest tenderness. It expresses the utmost degree of amiableness, joined with an idea, which perhaps all tenderness includes, of feebleness, scstness, and want of protection.” Sir W. Davenant, in his Cruel Brother, uses the word twice with the same meaning : _“ Excellent wretch! with a timorous modesty she stifleth up her utterance."

2 Ere I cease to love thee, the world itself shall be reduced to its primitive chaos.