1

The thoughts of people. She told her, while she kept it, "Twould make her amiable, and subdue my father Entirely to her love; but if she lost it,

Or made a gift of it, my father's eye

Should hold her loathly, and his spirits should hunt
After new fancies. She, dying, gave it me;
And bid me, when my fate would have me wive,
To give it her. I did so; and take heed of't,
Make it a darling like your precious eye:
To lose or give't away, were such perdition,
As nothing else could match.

Des. Is it possible?

Oth. 'Tis true; there's magic in the web of it. A sibyl, that had numbered in the world

The sun to make two hundred compasses,

In her prophetic fury sewed the work.

The worms were hallowed that did breed the silk;
And it was dyed in mummy,' which the skilful
Conserved of maidens' hearts.2

Des.

Indeed! is't true?

Oth. Most veritable; therefore look to't well.
Des. Then 'would to Heaven that I had never

seen it.

Oth. Ha! wherefore?

Des. Why do you speak so startingly and rash?
Oth. Is't lost? is't gone? Speak, is it out of the

way?

Des. Heaven bless us!

Des. It is not lost; but what an if it were?

Oth. Ha!

Des. I say it is not lost.

Oth.

Fetch't; let me see it.

Des. Why, so I can, sir, but I will not now;

This is a trick to put me from my suit pray, let Cassio be received again.

I

t;

1 The balsamic liquor running from mummies was formerly celebrated for its anti-epileptic virtues. This fanciful medicine held a place in the druggists' shops till lately.

2 The quarto reads "with the skilful conserves," &c.

Oth. Fetch me that handkerchief; my mind mis

You'll never meet a more sufficient man.

Oth. The handkerchief,

Des. I ne'er saw this before.

Sure there's some wonder in this handkerchief;
I am most unhappy in the loss of it.

Emil. 'Tis not a year or two shows us a man.
They are all but stomachs, and we all but food;
They eat us hungerly, and when they are full,
They belch us. Look you! Cassio, and my husband.

Enter IAGO and CASSIO.

Iago. There is no other way; 'tis she must do't; And, lo, the happiness! Go, and impórtune her. Des. How now, good Cassio? what's the news with you?

Cas. Madam, my former suit. I do beseech you, That, by your virtuous means, I may again Exist, and be a member of his love, Whom I, with all the duty 2 of my heart, Entirely honor; I would not be delayed. If my offence be of such mortal kind,

1 This and the following short speech are omitted in all the ancient editions but the first quarto. The idiom “talk me of Cassio" is familiar to the French language.

2 The folio reads "the office of my heart; " the words were, however, synonymous.

That neither service past, nor present sorrows,
Nor purposed merit in futurity,

Can ransom me into his love again,
But to know so must be my benefit;
So shall I clothe me in a forced content,
And shut myself up' in some other course,
To fortune's alms.

Des.

Alas! thrice gentle Cassio,

My advocation is not now in tune;

My lord is not my lord; nor should I know him,
Were he in favor, as in humor, altered.

So help me, every spirit sanctified,

As I have spoken for you all my best;

And stood within the blank 3 of his displeasure,
For my free speech! You must awhile be patient;
What I can do, I will; and more I will,

Than for myself I dare: let that suffice you.

Iago. Is my lord angry?

Emil.

He went hence but now,

And, certainly, in strange unquietness.

Iago. Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon, When it hath blown his ranks into the air;

And, like the devil, from his very arm

Puffed his own brother;-And can he be angry?
Something of moment, then. I will go meet him;
There's matter in't indeed, if he be angry.

Des. I pr'ythee, do so.-Something, sure, of state,-
[Exit IAGO.
Either from Venice; or some unhatched practice,*
Made démonstrable here in Cyprus to him,-
Hath puddled his clear spirit; and, in such cases,
Men's natures wrangle with inferior things,
Though great ones are their object. 'Tis even so;

1 Shut myself up evidently signifies no more than "confine myself." One of the old quartos reading "shoot myself up," by mistake, Mason contends for that reading.-"To fortune's alms" means waiting patiently for whatever bounty fortune, or chance, may bestow upon me.

2 i. e. in countenance.

3 To stand within the blank is to stand in the direct range or in the immediate course; to have his displeasure directed toward her.

4 Some undeveloped treason.

For let our finger ache, and it indues 1

Our other healthful members even to that sense
Of pain. Nay, we must think men are not gods;
Nor of them look for such observances

As fit the bridal.2-Beshrew me much, Emilia,
I was (unhandsome warrior as I am)

3

Arraigning his unkindness with my soul;
But now I find I had suborned the witness,

And he's indicted falsely

Emil. Pray Heaven it be state matters, as you

think;

And no conception, nor no jealous toy,

Concerning you.

Des. Alas, the day! I never gave him cause. Emil. But jealous souls will not be answered so; They are not ever jealous for the cause,

But jealous for they are jealous.

Begot upon itself, born on itself.

'Tis a monster,

Des. Heaven keep that monster from Othello's mind!

Emil. Lady, amen.

Des. I will go seek him.-Cassio, walk here about; If I do find him fit, I'll move your suit, And seek to effect it to my uttermost. Cas. I humbly thank your ladyship.

[Exeunt DESDEMONA and EMILIA, Enter BIANCA.

Bian. Save you, friend Cassio!
Cas.

What make you from home?

How is it with you, my most fair Bianca ?

I'faith, sweet love, I was coming to your house.
Bian. And I was going to your lodging, Cassio.
What! keep a week away? seven days and nights?
Eightscore hours? and lovers' absent hours,
More tedious than the dial eightscore times?
O weary reckoning!

1 Indue was used formerly where we now use imbue.

2 i. e. the nuptial feast.

3 Unfair assailant.

Cas.

Pardon me, Bianca ;

I have this while with leaden thoughts been pressed; But I shall, in a more continuate time,

Strike off this score of absence.

[Giving her DESDEMONA's handkerchief.

Take me this work out.1

Bian.

Sweet Bianca,

O Cassio, whence came this?

This is some token from a newer friend.
To the felt absence now I feel a cause.
Is it come to this? Well, well.

Cas.

Go to! woman,

Throw your vile guesses in the devil's teeth,
From whence you have them. You are jealous, now,
That this is from some mistress, some remembrance.
No, in good troth, Bianca.

Bian.

Why, whose is it?

Cas. I know not, sweet; I found it in my chamber. I like the work well; ere it be demanded,

(As like enough it will,) I'd have it copied.

Take it, and do't; and leave me for this time.
Bian. Leave you! wherefore?

Cas. I do attend here on the general;

And think it no addition, nor my wish,
To have him see me womaned.

Bian.

Cas. Not that I love you not.
Bian.

Why, I pray you? 2

But that you do not love me.

I pray you, bring me on the way a little ;
And say if I shall see you soon at night.

Cas. 'Tis but a little way that I can bring you,
For I attend here; but I'll see you soon.

Bian. 'Tis very good; I must be circumstanced.

1 i. e. copy this work in another handkerchief.

[Exeunt.

2 This and the following speech are wanting in the first quarto.