lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part, sir, of myself, and what remains is bestial.-My reputation, Iago, my reputation!

Iago. As I am an honest man, I thought you had received some bodily wound; there is more offence in that than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving: You have lost no reputation at all, unless you repute yourself such a loser. What, man! there are ways to recover the general again: sue to him, and he's yours.

Cas. I will rather sue to be despised, than to deceive so good a commander, with so slight, so drunken, and so indiscreet an officer. Drunk?—O, thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee-devil!

Iago. What was he that you followed with your sword? What had he done to you?

Cas. I know not.
Iago. Is it possible?

Cas. I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly; a quarrel, but nothing wherefore.--O, that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains!

Iago. Why, but you are now well enough: How came you thus recover'd?

Cas. It hath pleased the devil, drunkenness, to give place to the devil, wrath one unperfectness shows me another, to make me frankly despise myself.

Iago. I could heartily wish this had not so befallen; but, since it is as it is, mend it for your own good,

Cas. I will ask him for my place again; he shall tell me, I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast! O strange !-Every inordinate cup is unbless'd, and the ingredient is a devil.

Iago. Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well used; exclaim no more against it. And, good lieutenant, I think you think I love you.

Cas. I have well approved, it, sir.-Į drunk!

Iago. You, or any man living, may be drunk at some time, man. I tell you what you shall do. Our general's wife is now the general;-confess yourself freely to her; importune her, she'll help to put you in your place: she is of so free, so kind, so apt, so bless'd a disposition, that she holds it a vice in her goodness, not to do more than she is requested. Cas. You advise me well.

Iago. I protest, in the sincerity of love and honest kindness.

Cas. I think it freely; and, betimes in the morning, I will beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me: I am desperate of my fortunes, if they check me here.

Iago. You are in the right. Good night, lieutenant; I must to the watch.

Cas. Good night, honest Iago.

[Exit. Iago. And what's he then, that says,-I play the

villain,

When this advice is free I give, and honest, Probable to the thinking, and (indeed) the course To win the Moor again?

How am I then a villain,

To counsel Cassio to this parallel course,
Directly to his good?-Divinity of hell!
When devils will the 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.

Enter RODErigo.

How now, 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 cudgell'd: I think the issue will be--I shall have so much experience for my pains, as that comes to, and no money at all; and, with that 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, hast cashier'd Cassio;
Content thyself a while.-By the mass, 'tis morning;
Pleasure and action make the hours seem short.
Retire thee; go where thou art billetted:
Away, I say; thou shalt know more hereafter
Nay, get thee gone.

Two things are to be done,

[Exit RODERIGO.

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 when he may Cassio find
Soliciting his wife:-Ay, that's the way:
Dull not device by coldness and delay.

[Exit.

ACT THE THIRD,

SCENE I.

Cyprus.

A Room in the Castle.

Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA, and CASSIO.

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 any thing but your true servant.

lord

Des. O, sir, I thank you: You do love my You've 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,
That I being absent, and my place supply'd,
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;
I'll intermingle every thing he does

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

Than give thy cause away.

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.

Enter OTHELLO and IAGO.

Des. Well, do

your

Iago. Ha! I like not that.

Oth. What dost thou say?

Iago. Nothing, my lord: or if-I know not what. Oth. Was not that Cassio parted from my wife? Iago. 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?

Des. Why, your lieutenant Cassio. Good my lord,
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.