Out of his scattering and unsure observance :— Oth. What dost thou mean? Iago. Good name, in man, and woman, dear my lord, Is the immediate jewel of their souls: Who steals my purse, steals trash; 'tis something, nothing; 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands; But he that filches from me my good name, Robs me of that, which not enriches him, Oth. By heaven, I'll know thy thought. Iago. You cannot, if my heart were in your hand; Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody. Oth. Ha! ¡ Iago. O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-ey'd monster, which doth mock The meat it feeds on: That cuckold lives in bliss, Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger; But, O, what dreadful minutes tells he o'er, Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves! Oth. O misery! Iago. Poor, and content, is rich, and rich enough; But riches, fineless, is as poor as winter, To him that ever fears he shall be poor: Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend Oth. Why? why is this? Think'st thou, I'd make a life of jealousy, With fresh suspicions? No: to be once in doubt, • Endless, unbounded. Is once to be resolv'd: Exchange me for a goat, When I shall turn the business of my soul To such exsufflicate and blown surmises, Matching thy inference. jealous, 'Tis not to make me To say, my wife is fair, feeds well, loves com pany, Is free of speech, sings, plays, and dances well; Iago. I am glad of this, for now I shall have reason To show the love and duty that I bear you I know our country disposition well: In Venice, they do let heaven see the pranks They dare not show their husbands; their best conscience Is not to leave undone, but keep unknown. Oth. Dost thou say so? Iago. She did deceive her father, marrying you; And, when she seem'd to shake, and fear your looks, She lov'd them most. Oth. Iago. And so she did. Why, go to, then. She that, so young, could give out such a seeming, To seel her father's eyes up close as oak, to blame; - But I am much I humbly do beseech you of your pardon, 4.Oth. I am bound to thee for ever. Iago. I see, this hath a little dash'd your spirits. Oth. Not a jot, not a jot. Trust me, I fear it has. Iago. Comes from my love;- But, I do see, you are t mov'd: I am to pray you, not to strain my speech Oth. I will not. Iago. Should you do so, my lord, My speech should fall into such vile success friend : My lord, I see you are mov'd. Oth. No, not much mov'd: I do not think but Desdemona's honest. Iago. Long live she so! and long live you to think so! Oth. And yet, how nature, erring from itself, Iago. Ay, there's the point:-As,-to be bold with you, Not to affect many proposed matches, Of her own clime, complexion, and degree; An expression from falconry: to seel a hawk is to sew up his eye-lids. 2 Conclusions. Oth. Farewell, farewell: If more thou dost perceive, let me know more; doubtless, [Going. This honest creature, Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds. Iago. My lord, I would, I might entreat your honour To scan this thing no further; leave it to time: you please to hold him off a while, your honour. Oth. Fear not my government. 5 [Exit. Oth. This fellow 's of exceeding honesty. And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit, Of human dealings: If I do prove her haggard, Though that her jesses were my dear heartstrings, I'd whistle her off, and let her down the wind, To prey at fortune. Haply, for I am black; And have not those soft parts of conversation That chamberers have : Or, for I am declin'd Into the vale of years; -- yet that's not much; She's gone; I am abus'd; and my relief Must be- - to loath her. O curse of marriage, 3 Press hard his re-admission to his office. • A species of hawk, also a term of reproach applied to a wanton. • Straps of leather by which a hawk is held on the fist That we can call these delicate creatures ours Than keep a corner in the thing I love, For others' uses. Yet, 'tis the plague of great ones; Prerogativ'd are they, less than the base; t Enter DESDEMONA and EMILIA. O, then heaven mocks itself! I'll not believe it. Your dinner, and the generous islanders Des. Why is your speech so faint? are you not well? Oth. I have a pain upon my forehead here. Des. That is with watching; 't will away again. Let me but bind it hard, within this hour It will be well. Oth. Your napkin is too little; Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you. [Exeunt OTH. and DES. Emil. I am glad I have found this napkin ; This was her first remembrance from the Moor: My wayward husband hath a hundred times Woo'd me to steal it; but she so loves the token, (For he conjur'd her, she would ever keep it,) That she reserves it ever more about her, To kiss and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out, And give it lago; What he 'll do with it, heaven knows, not I; |