Bian. And I was going to your lodging, Cassio. What! keep a week away? seven days and nights? Eight score eight hours? and lovers' absent hours, More tedious than the dial eight score times? O weary reckoning! Cas. Pardon me, Bianca; I have this while with leaden thoughts been press'd; But I shall, in a more continuate time, Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca, [Giving her DESDEMONA's handkerchief. Take me this work out. Bian. O, Cassio, whence came this? This is some token from a newer friend. To the felt absence now I feel a cause: Is it come to this? Well, well. Cas. Woman, go to! Throw your vile guesses in the devil's teeth, From whence you have them. You are jealous now, That this is from some mistress, some remembrance: No, in good troth, Bianca. Bian. Why, whose is it? Cas. I know not, sweet: I found it in my chamber. I like the work well; ere it be demanded, (As like enough, it will,) I'd have it copied : Take it, and do't; and leave me for this time. Cas. I do attend here on the general; To have him see me woman'd. Bian. Why, I pray you? Cas. Not that I love you not. Bian. But that you do not love me. I pray you, bring me on the way a little; Cas. Tis but a little way, that I can bring you, Bian. 'Tis very good; I must be circumstanc'd. VOL. XVII. F [Exeunt, lago. Will ACT IV. SCENE I.-The same. Enter OTHELLO and IAGO. you think so? Oth. Think so, Iago? Iago. What, To kiss in private? Oth. An unauthoriz'd kiss. Iago. Or to be naked with her friend abed, It is hypocrisy against the devil: They that mean virtuously, and yet do so, The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt heaven. Iago. So they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip; But if I give my wife a handkerchief, Oth. What then? Iago. Why, then 'tis hers, my lord; and, being hers, She may, I think, bestow't on any man. Oth. She is protectress of her honour too; May she give that? Iago. Her honour is an essence that's not seen; They have it very oft, that have it not : But, for the handkerchief, Oth. By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot Thou said'st,-O, it comes o'er my memory, Boding to all, he had my handkerchief. Oth. That's not so good, now. Iago. What, if I had said, I had seen him do you wrong? Or heard him say,-As knaves be such abroad, Who having, by their own importunate suit, Oth. Hath he said any thing? Iago. He hath, my lord; but be you well assur'd, No more than he'll unswear. Oth. What hath he said? Iago. 'Faith, that he did,-I know not what he did. Oth. What? what? Iago. Lie Oth. With her? Iago. With her, on her; what you will. Oth. Lie with her! lie on her!-We say, lie on her, when they belie her: Lie with her! that's fulsome.-Handkerchief,-confessions,-handkerchief.-To confess, and be hanged for his labour.-First, to be hanged, and then to confess :-I tremble at it. Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing passion, without some instruction. It is not words, that shake me thus: -Pish!-Noses, ears, and lips :-Is it possible?-Confess!-Handkerchief!-O devil! [Falls in a trance. Iago. Work on, My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught; And many worthy and chaste dames, even thus, Enter CASSIO. My lord, I say! Othello!-How now, Cassio? Iago. My lord is fallen into an epilepsy; Iago. No, forbear: The lethargy must have his quiet course: Breaks out to savage madness. Look, he stirs: I would on great occasion speak with you.— [Exit CASSIO. How is it, general? have you not hurt your head? Iago. I mock you! no, by heaven : 'Would, you would bear your fortunes like a man. Oth. A horned man's a monster, and a beast. Iago. There's many a beast then in a populous city, And many a civil monster. Oth. Did he confess it? Iago. Good sir, be a man; Think, every bearded fellow, that's but yok'd, Which they dare swear peculiar; your case is better. To lip a wanton in a secure couch, |