Cas. She was here even now; she haunts me in every place. I was, the other day, talking on the seabank with certain Venetians; and thither comes this bawble; by this hand,' she falls thus about my neck; Oth. Crying, O dear Cassio! as it were: his gesture imports it. [Aside. Cas. So hangs, and lolls, and weeps upon me; so hales, and pulls me. Ha, ha, ha!— Oth. Now he tells how she plucked him to my chamber. O, I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I shall throw it to. Cas. Well, I must leave her company. Iago. Before me! look where she comes. Enter BIANCA. Cas. 'Tis such another fitchew! 2 [Aside. marry, a perfumed one. What do you mean by this haunting of me? Bian. Let the devil and his dam haunt you! What did you mean by that same handkerchief you gave me even now? I was a fine fool to take it. I must take out the whole work?—A likely piece of work that you should find it in your chamber, and not know who left it there! This is some minx's token, and I must take out the work! There,-give it your hobby-horse. Wheresoever you had it, I'll take out no work on't. Cas. How now, my sweet Bianca? how now? how now ? Oth. By Heaven, that should be my handkerchief. [Aside. Bian. An you'll come to supper to-night, you may; an you will not, come when you are next prepared for. [Exit. Iago. After her, after her. 1 The folio omits "by this hand ;" and reads "thither comes the bauble and falls me thus," &c. 2 Shakspeare has alluded to the lust of this animal in King Lear. He tells lago that Bianca is as lewd, but of a better scent. Iago. Will you sup there? Cas. 'Faith, I intend so. Iago. Well, I may chance to see you; for I would very fain speak with you. Cas. Pr'ythee, come; will you? Iago. Go to; say no more. Oth. How shall I murder him, Iago? [Exit CASSIO. Iago. Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice? Oth. O Iago! 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 tonight; 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 is the worse for all this. Oth. O, a thousand, a thousand times.-And then, of so gentle a condition! Iago. Ay, too gentle. Oth. Nay, that's certain. But yet the pity of it, Iago! O lago, the pity of it, Iago! Iago. If you are so fond over her inquity, give her patent to offend; for, if it touch not you, it comes near nobody. Oth. I will chop her into messes!—Cuckold me! Oth. Get me some poison, lago, this night.—I'll not expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again; this night, lago. 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. lago. 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? Iago. Something from Venice, sure. 'Tis Lodovico, Come from the duke; and, see, your wife is with him. Enter LODOVICO, DESDEMONA, and Attendants. 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, seignior; 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 them, for the love I bear to Cassio. Oth. Fire and brimstone! 1 The quarto reads, "God save the worthy general." Des. My lord? Oth. Are you wise? Des. What, is he angry? Lod. May be, the letter moved him; For, as I think, they do command him home, Deputing Cassio in his government. Des. By my troth, I am glad on't. Oth. Des Oth. I am glad to see you mad. Oth. Devil! Des. Indeed! My lord? How, sweet Othello? [Striking her. I have not deserved this. Lod. My lord, this would not be believed in Venice, Though I should swear I saw it. 'Tis very much; Make her amends, she weeps. Oth. Des. I will not stay to offend you. Lod. Truly, an obedient lady. I do beseech your lordship, call her back. Oth. What would you with her, sir? Lod. Who, I, my lord? [Going. 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; 1 "If women's tears could impregnate the earth." Shakspeare here alludes to the fabulous accounts which make the crocodile the most deceitful of animals, whose tears are proverbially fallacious. "It is written that he will weep over a man's head when he hath devoured the body, and will then eat up the head too." To fall in this passage, is a verb active. I am commanded home.'-Get you away; [Exit DESDEMONA. keys! [Exit 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? Iago. He is much changed. Lod. Are his wits safe? is he not light of brain? Jago. He is that he is; I may not breathe my What he might be,-if what he might, he is not,I would to Heaven he were. Lod. What, strike his wife! Iago. 'Faith, that was not so well. Yet 'would I Or did the letters work upon his blood, Iago. Is it his use? 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 deceived in him. 1 The quarto reads, "I am commanded here" [Exeunt. |