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We have done our course ; there's money for your

I

pains;

pray you, turn the key, and keep our counsel.

[Exit. Emil. Alas, what does this gentleman conceive? How do you, madam? how do you, my good lady? Des. 'Faith, half a sleep.

Emil. Good madam, what's the matter with my lord?

Des. With who?

Emil.

Why, with my lord, madam.

Des. Who is thy lord?

Emil.

He that is yours, sweet lady. Des. I have none: Do not talk to me, Emilia ; I cannot weep; nor answer I have none,

But what should go by water. Pr'y thee, to-night Lay on my bed my wedding sheets,- remember ;And call thy husband hither.

Emil.

Here is a change, indeed!

[Exit. Des. 'Tis meet I should be us'd so, very meet. How have I been behav'd, that he might stick The small'st opinion on my great'st abuse?

Re-enter EMILIA, with IAGO.

Iago. What is your pleasure, madam? How is it with you?

Des. I cannot tell. Those that do teach young babes,

Do it with gentle means, and easy tasks:

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

What's the matter, lady?

Iago. Emil. Alas, Iago, my lord hath so bewhor'd her, Thrown such despite and heavy terms upon her,

As true hearts cannot bear.

Des. Am I that name, Iago?

Iago.

What name, fair lady?

Des. Such as, she says, my lord did say I was. Emil. He call'd her, whore; a beggar, in his drink,

Could not have laid such terms upon his callet. 7
Iago. Why did he so?

Des. I do not know; I am sure, I am none such.
Iago. Do not weep, do not weep; Alas the day!
Emil. Has she forsook so many noble matches,
Her father, and her country, and her friends,
To be call'd-whore? would it not make one
weep?

Des. It is my wretched fortune.
Iago.

Beshrew him for it!

How comes this trick upon him?
Des.
Nay, heaven doth know.
Emil. I will be hang'd, if some eternal villain,
Some busy and insinuating rogue,

Some cogging cozening slave, to get some office,
Have not devis'd this slander; I'll be hang'd else.
Iago. Fye, there is no such man; it is impossible.
Des. If any such there be, heaven pardon him!
Emil. A halter pardon him. Who keeps her
company?

What place? what time? what form? what likelihood?

The Moor 's abus'd by some most villainous knave, Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow :. O, heaven, that such companions thou 'dst unfold; And put in every honest hand a whip,

8

To lash the rascal naked through the world,
Even from the east to the west!

Iago.

Speak within door.

Emil. O, fye upon him! some such squire he

was,

That turn'd your wit the seamy side without,
And made you to suspect me with the Moor.
Iago. You are a fool; go to.

7 His drab.

8 Fellows.

9 Inside out.

Des.

O, good Iago,

What shall I do to win my lord again?

Good friend, go to him; for by this light of heaven,

I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel :-
If e'er my will did trespass 'gainst his love,
Either in discourse of thought, or actual deed;
Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense,
Delighted them in any other form;

Or that I do not yet, and ever did,

And ever will, though he do shake me off
To beggarly divorcement, love him dearly,
Comfort forswear me! Unkindness may do much;
And his unkindness may defeat my life,
But never taint my love. I can't say, whore;
It does abhor me, now I speak the word;
To do the act that might the addition ' earn,
Not the world's mass of vanity, could make me.
Iago. I pray you, be content; 'tis but his hu-

mour;

The business of the state does him offence,

And he does chide with you.

Des.

If 't were no other,

Iago. It is but so, I warrant you. [Trumpets. Hark, how these instruments summon to supper! And the great messengers of Venice stay:

Go in, and weep not; all things shall be well. [Exeunt DESDEMONA and EMILIA.

Enter RODerigo.

How now, Roderigo?

Rod. I do not find, that thou deal'st justly with

me.

Iago. What in the contrary?

Rod. Every day thou doff'st' me with some device, Iago; and rather (as it seems to me now,)

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keep'st from me all conveniency, than suppliest me with the least advantage of hope. I will, indeed, no longer endure it: Nor am I yet persuaded, to put up in peace what already I have foolishly suffered.

Iago. Will you hear me, Roderigo?

Rod. I have heard too much; for your words, and performances, are no kin together.

Iago. You charge me most unjustly.

she has

Rod. With nought but truth. I have wasted myself out of my means. The jewels you have had from me, to deliver to Desdemona, would half have corrupted a votarist: You have told me received them, and returned me expectations and comforts of sudden respect and acquittance 3; but I find none.

Iago. Well; go to; very

well,

Rod. Very well! go to! I cannot go to, man; nor 'tis not very well: By this hand, I say, it is very scurvy; and begin to find myself fobbed in it. Iago. Very well.

Rod. I tell you, 'tis not very well. I will make myself known to Desdemona: If she will return me my jewels, I will give over my suit, and repent my unlawful solicitation; if not, assure yourself, I will seek satisfaction of you.

Iago. You have said now.

Rod. Ay, and I have said nothing, but what I protest intendment of doing.

Iago. Why, now I see there's mettle in thee; and even, from this instant, do build on thee a better opinion than ever before. Give me thy hand, Roderigo: Thou hast taken against me a most just exception; but, yet, I protest, I have dealt most directly in thy affair.

Rod. It hath not appeared.

3 Requital.

Iago. I grant, indeed, it hath not appeared; and your suspicion is not without wit and judgment. But, Roderigo, if thou hast that within thee indeed, which I have greater reason to believe now than I mean, purpose, courage, and valour,this night show it if thou the next night following enjoyest not Desdemona, take me from this world with treachery, and devise engines for my life.

ever,

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Rod. Well, what is it? is it within reason, and compass?

1

Iago. Sir, there is especial commission come from Venice, to depute Cassio in Othello's place.

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

Iago. O, no; he goes into Mauritania, and takes away with him the fair Desdemona, unless his abode be lingered here by some accident; wherein none can be so determinate, as the removing of Cassio. Rod. How do you mean- removing of him? Iago. Why, by making him uncapable of Othello's place; knocking out his brains.

Rod. And that you would have me do?

Iago. Ay; if you dare do yourself a profit and a right. He sups 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 pleasure; I will be near to second your attempt, and he shall fall between us. Come, stand not amazed at it, but go along with me; I will show you such a necessity in his death, that you shall think yourself bound to put it on him. It is now high suppertime, and the night grows to waste: about it. Rod. I will hear further reason for this. Iago. And you shall, be satisfied.

[Exeunt.

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