To win the Moor again? For, 'tis most easy
The inclining* Desdemona to subdue

In any honest suit; she's framed as fruitful
As the freet elements. And then for her

To win the Moor,-were't to renounce his baptism,
All seals and symbols of redeemed sin,-
His soul is so enfetter'd to her love,

That she may make, unmake, do what she list,
Even as her appetite shall play the god

With his weak function. How am I then a villain,
To counsel Cassio to this parallel course,
Directly to his good? Divinity of hell!
When devils will their blackest sins put on,
They do suggest § at first with heavenly shows,
As I do now: For while this honest fool
Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes,
And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor,
I'll pour this pestilence into his ear,-
That she repeals || him for her body's lust;
And, by how much she strives to do him good,
She shall undo her credit with the Moor.
So will I turn her virtue into pitch;

And out of her own goodness make the net,
That shall enmesh them all.-How now, Roderigo?

Enter RODERIGO.

Rod. I do follow here in the chase, not like a hound that hunts, but one that fills up the cry. My money is almost spent: I have been to-night exceedingly well cudgelled; and, I think, the issue will be-I shall have so much experience for my pains: and so, with no money at all, and a little more wit, return to Venice.

Iago. How poor are they, that have not patience!-
What wound did ever heal but by degrees ?

Thou know'st we work by wit, and not by witchcraft;
And wit depends on dilatory time.

Does't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee,

And thou, by that small hurt, hath cashier'd Cassio:
Though other things grow fair against the sun,
Yet fruits, that blossom first, will first be ripe:
Content thyself awhile.-By the mass, 'tis morning;
Pleasure, and action, make the hours seem short.-
Retire thee; go where thou art billeted

Away, I say; thou shalt know more hereafter.

Nay, get thee gone. [Exit ROD.] Two things are to be done,My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress;

I'll set her on;

Myself, the while, to draw the Moor apart,

And bring him jump T when he may Cassio find
Soliciting his wife :-Ay, that's the way;

Dull not device by coldness and delay.

[Exit.

§ Tempt.

Just at the time.

Even.

ACT III.

SCENE I-Before the Castle.

Enter CASSIO and some MUSICIANS.

Cas. Masters, play here, I will content your pains, Something that's brief; and bid-good morrow, general. [Music. Enter CLOWN.

Clo. Why, masters, have your instruments been at Naples, that they speak i' the nose thus ?

1 Mus. How, Sir, how!

Clo. Are these, I pray you, called wind instruments?

1 Mus. Ay, marry, are they, Sir.

Clo. O, thereby hangs a tail.

1 Mus. Whereby hangs a tale, Sir?

Clo. Marry, Sir, by many a wind instrument that I know. But, masters, here's money for you: and the general so likes your music, that he desires you, of all loves, to make no more noise with it.

1 Mus. Well, Sir, we will not.

Clo. If you have any music that may not be heard, to't again: but, as they say, to hear music, the general does not greatly care. 1 Mus. We have none such, Sir.

Clo. Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll away: Go; vanish into air; away. [Exeunt MUSICIANS.

Cas. Dost thou hear, my honest friend?

Clo. No, I hear not your honest friend. I hear you.

Cas. Pr'ythee, keep up thy quillets.* There's a poor piece of gold for thee; if the gentlewoman that attends the general's wife, be stirring, tell her, there's one Cassio entreats her a little favour of speech: wilt thou do this?

Clo. She is stirring, Sir; if she will stir hither, I shall seem to notify unto her.

Enter IAGO.

Cas. Do, good my friend.-In happy time, Iago.

Iago. You have not been a-bed then?

Cas. Why, no; the day had broke

Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago,
To send in to your wife: My suit to her
Is, that she will to virtuous Desdemona
Procure me some access.

Iago. I'll send her to you presently;
And I'll devise a mean to draw the Moor
Out of the way, that your converse and business
May be more free.

Cas. I humbly thank you for't. I never knew
A Florentine more kind and honest.

Enter EMILIA.

Emil. Good morrow, good lieutenant: I am sorry For your displeasure; † but all will soon be well.

*Nice distinctions.

[Exit.

[Exit.

+ The displeasure you have incurred.

The general, and his wife, are talking of it,

And she speaks for you stoutly: The Moor replies,
That he, you hurt, is of great fame in Cyprus,

And great affinity; and that, in wholesome wisdom,

He might not but refuse you: but, he protests, he loves you; And needs no other suitor, but his likings,

To take the saf'st occasion by the front,

To bring you in again.

Cas. Yet, I beseech you,

If you think fit, or that it may be done,
Give me advantage of some brief discourse
With Desdemona alone.

Emil. Pray you, come in;

I will bestow you where you shall have time
To speak your bosom freely.

Cas. I am much bound to you.

SCENE II-A Room in the Castle.

Enter OTHELLO, IAGO, and GENTLEMEN.

Oth. These letters give, Iago, to the pilot; And, by him, do my duties to the state:

That done, I will be walking on the works,

Repair there to me.

fago. Well, my good lord, I'll do't.

Oth. This fortification, gentlemen, shall we see't?

Gent. We'll wait upon your lordship.

SCENE III.-Before the Castle.

[Exeunt.

[Exeunt.

Enter DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and EMILIA.

Des. Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do

All my abilities in thy behalf.

Emil. Good madam, do; I know it grieves my husband, As if the case were his.

Des. O, that's an honest fellow.-Do not doubt, Cassio, But I will have my lord and you again

As friendly as you were.

Cas. Bounteous madam,

Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio.

He's never anything but your true servant.

Des. O, Sir, I thank you: You do love my lord:

You have known him long; and be you well assured,

He shall in strangeness stand no further off

Than in a politic distance.

Cas. Ay, but, lady,

That policy may either last so long,

Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet,
Or breed itself so out of circumstance,

That, I being absent and my place supplied,
My general will forget my love and service.

Des. Do not doubt that; before Emilia here,
I give thee warrant of thy place: assure thee,
If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it

To the last article: my lord shall never rest;

I'll watch him tame,* and talk him out of patience;
His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;
I'll intermingle everything he does

With Cassio's suit: Therefore be merry,
For thy solicitor shall rather die,

Than give thy cause away.

Cassio;

Enter OTHELLO, and IAGO, at a distance.

Emil. Madam, here comes

My lord.

Cas. Madam, I'll take my leave.

Des. Why, stay,

And hear me speak.

Cas. Madam, not now: I am very ill at ease,

Unfit for mine own purposes.

Des. Well, well,

Do your discretion.

Iago. Ha! I like not that

Oth. What dost thou say?

[Exit CASSIO.

Iago. Nothing, my lord: or if-I know not what.
Oth. Was not that Cassio, parted from my wife?
Tago. Cassio, my lord? No, sure I cannot think it,
That he would steal away so guilty-like,
Seeing you coming.

Oth. I do believe 'twas he.

Des. How now, my lord?

I have been talking with a suitor here,
A man that languishes in your displeasure.
Oth. Who is't you mean?

Good my lord,

Des. Why, your lieutenant Cassio.
If I have any grace, or power to move you,
His present reconciliation + take;

For, if he be not one that truly loves you,
That errs in ignorance, and not in cunning,+
I have no judgment in an honest face:

I pr'ythee, call him back.

Oth. Went he hence now?

Des. Ay, sooth; so humbled,

That he hath left part of his grief with me;

I suffer with him. Good love, call him back.

Oth. Not now, sweet Desdemona, some other time

Des. But shall't be shortly?

Oth. The sooner, sweet, for you.

Des. Shall't be to-night at supper?

Oth. No, not to-night.

Des. To-morrow dinner then ?

Oth. I shall not dine at home;

I meet the captains at the citadel.

Des. Why then, to-morrow night; or Tuesday morn; Or Tuesday noon, or night; or Wednesday morn;

Hawks are tamed by keeping them from sleep.

+ Submission.

VOL. IV.

2 L

* Knowledge.

I pray thee, name the time; but let it not
Exceed three days: in faith, he's penitent;
And yet his trespass, in our common reason

(Save that, they say, the wars must make examples
Out of their best *), is not almost a fault

To incur a private check: When shall he come?
Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul,

What you could ask me, that I should deny,

Or stand so mammering + on. What! Michael Cassio,
That came a wooing with you; and many a time,
When I have spoke of you dispraisingly,

Hath ta'en your part; to have so much to do

To bring him in! Trust me, I could do much,-
Oth. Pr'ythee no more: let him come when he will;

I will deny thee nothing.

Des. Why this is not a boon,

"Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves,
Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm;
Or sue to you to do peculiar profit

To your own person; Nay, when I have a suit,
Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed,
It shall be full of poize ‡ and difficulty,
And fearful to be granted.

Oth. I will deny thee nothing:

Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this,

To leave me but a little to myself.

Des. Shall I deny you? no: Farewell, my lord.

Oth. Farewell, my Desdemona: I will come to thee straight.

Des. Emilia, come :-Be it as your fancies teach you;

Whate'er you be, I am obedient.

[Exit, with EMILIA.

Oth. Excellent wretch! § Perdition catch my soul,

But I do love thee! and when I love thee not,

Chaos is come again.

Iago. My noble lord,

Oth. What dost thou say, Iago?

Iago. Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my lady, Know of your love?

Oth. He did, from first to last: Why dost thou ask?

Iago. But for a satisfaction of my thought;

No further harm.

Oth. Why of thy thought, Iago?

Iago. I did not think, he had been acquainted with her.

Oth. O, yes, and went between us very oft.

Iago. Indeed ?

Oth. Indeed! ay, indeed :-Discern'st thou aught in that ?