As my thoughts aim not at. Cassio's my worthy

friend.My lord, I see you are moved. Oth.

No, not much moved ;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;
Whereto, we see, in all things nature tends :
Foh! one may smell, in such, a will? most rank,
Foul disproportion, thoughts unnatural.—
But pardon me; I do not, in position,
Distinctly speak of her: though I may fear,
Her will, recoiling to her better judgment,
May fall to match you with her country forms,
And (happily) repent.

Farewell, farewell.
If more thou dost perceive, let me know more ; .
Set on thy wife to observe. Leave me, Iago.
Iago. My lord, I take my leave.

[Going Oth. Why did I marry?—This honest creature,

doubtless, Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.

Ingo. My lord, I would I might entreat your honor To scan this thing no further; leave it to time; And though it be fit that Cassio have his place. (For, sure, he fills it up with great ability,) Yet, if you please to hold him off a while, You shall by that perceive him and his means.? Note, if your lady strain his entertainment 3 With any strong or vehement importunity; Much will be seen in that. In the mean time, Let me be thought too busy in my fears,

Oth.

(As worthy cause I have to fear-I am,)
Ànd hold her free, I do beseech your honor.

Oth. Fear not my government."
Iago. I once more take my leave.

[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 4 were my dear heart-strings,
I'd whistle her off, and let her down the wind,
To prey at fortune. Haply, for I am black;
And have not those softs parts of conversation
That chamberers have; 5_or, for I am declined
Into the vale of years ;-yet that's not much;-
She's gone; I am abused ; and my relief
Must be to loathe her. O, curse of marriage,
That we can call these delicate creatures ours,
And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad,
And live upon the vapor of a dungeon,
Than keep a corner in the thing I love,
For others' uses. Yet 'tis the plague of great ones,
Prerogatived are they less than the base ;
'Tis destiny unshunnable, like death ;
Even then this forked plague 6 is fated to us,
When we do quicken. Desdemona comes.

1 Do not distrust my ability to contain my passion. 2 Learned for experienced.

3 Haggard is wild, and therefore libertine. A haggard falcon was a wild hawk that had preyed for herself long before she was taken; sometimes also called a ramage falcon. Haggard was also a term of reproach, sometimes applied to a wanton.

4 Jesses are short straps of leather tied about the foot of a hawk, by which she is held on the fist.-" The falconers always let fly the hawk against the wind; if she flies with the wind behind her, she seldom returns. If, therefore, a hawk was for any reason to be dismissed, she was let down the wind, and from that time shifted for herself and preyed at fortune."

5 Men of intrigue.

6 One of sir John Harington's Epigrams will illustrate this forked plague.

“ Actæon guiltless unawares espying

Naked Diana bathing in her bowre
Was plagued with hornes ; his dogs did him devoure;
Wherefore take heed, ye that are curious, prying,
With some such forked plague you be not smitten,

And in your foreheads see your faults be written." 7 i. e. when we begin to live.

Enter DESDEMONA and Emilia.
If she be false, 0, then Heaven mocks itself !-
I'll not believe it.
Des.

How now, my dear Othello?
Your dinner, and the generous islanders
By you invited, do attend your presence.

Oth. I am to blame.
Des. Why is your speech so faint ? Are you not well ?
Oth. I have a pain upon my forehead here.

Des. 'Faith, that's with watching ; 'twill away again.
Let me but bind it hard, within this hour
It will be well.
Oth.

Your napkin is too little ; [He puts the handkerchief from him, and it drops. Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you. Des. I am very sorry that you are not well.

[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 Wooed me to steal it; but she so loves the token, (For he conjured her she would ever keep it,) That she reserves it evermore about her, To kiss, and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out, a And give 't Iago. What he'll do with it, Heaven knows, not I; I nothing, but to please his fantasy.

Enter Iago. Iago. How now! what do you here alone ? Emil. Do not you chide; I have a thing for you. Tago. A thing for me?- It is a common thingEmil. Ha!

Emin , clar. al - Tu vil v rit me now IT 1. We make

u bantener

17. 12. 2 M in. 970 DESIRE : Tu v11 s u un out ini me sien.

I P a Itu je

En Kit 1: WIE I 1 zeghance:
As 2 x arzio : I eng jen most
Lot 1 1
In

good wri: Feme.
Em V
T

vou bave been

To are beli?

WIT. w 's that so you?

[Scatching st. Eml. lit be trk for yoe moose of import, Gise it me again. Poor beristet run mad. When she shei: lack it

Jago. Be DA a kooma oft:' I have ese for it. Go, leare de

Eni EMUA. I will in Cassia's lodging lose this napkin, And let him find it. Trifles light as air, Are, to the jealous, confirmations strong As profs of bols writ. This mar do something. The Moor already changes with my poison. Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poisons, Which, at the first, are scarce found to distaste; But, with a little act upon the blood, Burn like the mines of sulphur.-I did say so ;

Enter OTHELLO. Look, where he comes! Not poppy, nor mandragora, Nor all the drowsy sirups of the world,

Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep
Which thou ow’dst? yesterday.
Oth.

Ha! ha! false to me? To me ?

Iago. Why, how now, general ? No more of that.
Oth. Avaunt! be gone! thou hast set me on the

rack.-
I swear 'tis better to be much abused,
Than but to know't a little.
Tago.

How now, my lord ?
Oth. What sense had I of her stolen hours of lust?
I saw it not, thought it not; it harmed not me;
I slept the next night well, was free and merry;
I found not Cassio's kisses on her lips.
He that is robbed, not wanting what is stolen,
Let him not know it, and he's not robbed at all.

Iago. I am sorry to hear this.

Cih. I had been happy, if the general camp,
Pioneers 2 and all, had tasted her sweet body,
So I had nothing known. O, now, forever,
Farewell the tranquil mind! farewell content!
Farewell the plumed troop, and the big wars,
That make ambition virtue! O, farewell !
Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill trump,
The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife,
The royal banner; and all quality,
Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war!
And, O you mortal engines, whose rude throats
The immortal Jove's dread clamors counterfeit,
Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone!

lago. Is it possible !-My lord, —

Oih. Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore; Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof;

[Taking him by the throat. Or, by the worth of mine eternal soul, Thou hadst been better have been born a dog, Than answer my waked wrath.