Oth. With mine officer!
Iago. That's fouler.

Oth. Get me some poison, lago, this night; I'll not expostulate with her, lest her body and her beauty unprovide my mind again : this night, Iago.

Iago. Do it not with poison, strangle her in her Even in the bed she hath contaminated. [bed:

Oth. Good, good:
The justice of it pleases; very good.

Iago. And for Cassio, let me be his undertaker: You shall hear no more by midnight.

[A trumpet within. Oth. Excellent good.—What trumpet is that same ?

(Lodovico, Iago. Something from Venice, sure. - 'Tis Come from the duke: and, see, your wife is with

him. Enter Lodovico, (69) DESDEMONA, and Attend

ants, from the Palace. Lod. Save, you worthy general.

(69) Lodovico has the same prototype as Fortinbras in King Lear, drawn before in fig. 52. This seeins to be determined by his being called hereafter a proper, very handsome man; and that prototype has, in fact, more of the true human countenance than any other in the moon.

Oth. With all my heart, sir.
Lod. The duke and the senators of Venice.

greet you. [Gives him a Letter.
Oth. I kiss the instrument of their pleasures.
Des. And what's the news, good cousin Lodo-

Iago. I am very glad to see you, signior. (vico?
Welcome to Cyprus.

Lod. I thank you; how does lieutenant Cassio?
Iago. Lives, sir.

[lord
Des. Cousin, there's falln between him and my
An unkind breach : but you shall make all well,
Oth. Are you sure of that?

[Aside. 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 my Lord and Cassio?

Des. A most unhappy one; I would do much
Tatone them, for the love I bear to Cassio.

Oth. Fire and brimstone !
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. Trust me, I am glad on't.
Oth. Indeed !

[Aside.

Des. My lord !
Oth. I am glad to see you mad.
Des. Why, sweet Othello?
Oth. Devil!

[Striking her. Des. I have not deserved this. [Venice, Lod. My lord, this would not be believed in Though I should swear I saw't. 'Tis very much; Make her amends, she weeps.

Oth. Oh devil, devil! If that the earth could teem with woman's tears, Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile; (70) Out of my sight.-

Des. I will not stay ť offend you.. [Going.

Lod. Truly, an obedient lady:
I do beseech your lordship, call her back.

Oth. Mistress
Des. My lord.
Oth. What would you with her, sir ?
Lod. Who, I, my lord ?

Oth. Ay; you did wish that I would make herturn;
Sir, she can turn and turn, and yet go on ;
And turn ugain. And she can weep, sir, weep ;
And she's obedient: as you say, obedient;

(70) Compare this passage with that in Hamlet to which fig. 75 applies, as it regards the same likeness to a crocodile in the moon.

S

Very obedient-proceed you in your tears-
Concerning this, sir,—oh well-painted passion ! -
I am commanded home-get you away,
I'll send for you anon,-sir, I obey the mandate,
And will return to Venice.—Hence, avant !-

[Exit Des.
Cassio shall have my place. And, sir, to-night
I do intreat that we may sup together.
You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus-
Goats and monkeys.

[Exit.
Manent Lodovico and I ago.
Lod. Is this the noble Moor, whom our full senate
Call all-in-all sufficient? this the Nature
Which passion could not shake? whose solid virtue
The shot of accident, nor dart of change,
Could neither raze nor pierce.?

Iago. He is much changed.
Lod. Are his wits safe? is he not light of brain?
Iago. He's what he is; I may not breathe my

censure.
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 That stroke would prove the worst. [I knew.

Lod. Is it his use?
Or did the letters work upon his blood,
And new create this fault?

lago. Alas, alas ! It is not honesty in me to speak

[him, What I have seen and known. You shall observe And his own courses will denote him so, That I may save my speech, Do but go after, And mark how he continues. Lod. l'm sorry that I am deceived in him.

[Exeunt.

SCENE changes to an Apartment in the Palace.

Enter OTHELLO and ÆMILIA. Oth. You have seen nothing then ? Æmil. Nor ever heard, nor ever did suspect. Oth. Yes, you have seen Cassio and her together. Æmil. But then I saw no harm; and then I

heard Each syllable that breath made up between them.

Oth. What? did they never whisper?
Æmil. Never, my lord.
Oth. Nor send you out o'th’ way?
Æmil, Never.
Oth. To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor
Æmil. Never, my lord.

[nothing? Oth. That's strange!

Æmil. I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest, Lay down my soul at stake : if you think other, Remove your thought, it doth abuse your bosom If any wretch hath put this in your head,