ACT III.
Scene I. Before the castle.
Enter Cassio and some Musicians.[5749]
Cas. Masters, play here; I will content your pains;[5750]
Something that's brief; and bid 'Good morrow, general.' [Music.
Enter Clown.[5751]
Clo. Why, masters, have your instruments been in[5752]
Naples, that they speak i' the nose thus?[5753]
First Mus. How, sir, how![5754] 5
Clo. Are these, I pray you, wind-instruments?[5755]
First Mus. Ay, marry, are they, sir.[5754]
Clo. O, thereby hangs a tail.[5756]
First Mus. Whereby hangs a tale, sir?[5757]
Clo. Marry, sir, by many a wind-instrument that I know. 10
But, masters, here's money for you: and the general so[5758]
likes your music, that he desires you, for love's sake, to[5759]
make no more noise with it.[5760]
First Mus. Well, sir, we will not.
Clo. If you have any music that may not be heard, 15
to 't again: but, as they say, to hear music the general
does not greatly care.
First Mus. We have none such, sir.[5761]
Clo. Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll away:[5762]
go; vanish into air; away! [Exeunt Musicians.[5763] 20
Cas. Dost thou hear, my honest friend?[5764]
Clo. No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear you.[5765]
Cas. Prithee, 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[5766] 25
her a little favour of speech: wilt thou do this?[5767]
Clo. She is stirring, sir: if she will stir hither, I shall
seem to notify unto her.[5768]
Cas. Do, good my friend. [Exit Clown.[5769]
Enter Iago.[5770]
In happy time, Iago.
Iago. I'll send her to you presently;[5777] 35
And I'll devise a mean to draw the Moor
Out of the way, that your converse and business
May be more free.
Enter Emilia.
Emil. Good morrow, good lieutenant: I am sorry
For your displeasure; but all will sure be well.[5781]
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 45
And great affinity, and that in wholesome wisdom[5782]
He might not but refuse you; but he protests he loves you,[5783]
And needs no other suitor but his likings[5784]
To take the safest occasion by the front[5785]
To bring you in again.
Cas. Yet, I beseech you, 50
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:[5786]
I will bestow you where you shall have time
To speak your bosom freely.
Cas. I am much bound to you. [Exeunt.[5787]55
Scene II. A room in the castle.[5788]
Enter Othello, Iago, and Gentlemen.
Oth. These letters give, Iago, to the pilot;
And by him do my duties to the senate:[5789]
That done, I will be walking on the works;[5790]
Repair there to me.
Iago. Well, my good lord, I'll do't.[5791]
Oth. This fortification, gentlemen, shall we see't? 5
Gent. We'll wait upon your lordship. [Exeunt.[5792]
Scene III. The garden of the castle.[5793]
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 warrant it grieves my husband[5794]
As if the case were his.[5795]
Des. O, that's an honest fellow. Do not doubt, Cassio,[5796] 5
But I will have my lord and you again
As friendly as you were.
Cas. Bounteous madam,[5797]
Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,
He's never any thing but your true servant.
Des. I know't: I thank you. You do love my lord:[5798] 10
You have known him long; and be you well assured[5799]
He shall in strangeness stand no farther off[5800]
Than in a politic distance.
Cas. Ay, but, lady,
That policy may either last so long,[5801]
Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet, 15
Or breed itself so out of circumstance,[5802]
That, I being absent and my place supplied,
My general will forget my love and service.[5803]
Des. Do not doubt that; before Emilia here
I give thee warrant of thy place: assure thee,[5804] 20
If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it
To the last article: my lord shall never rest;[5805]
I'll watch him tame and talk him out of patience;
His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;
I'll intermingle every thing he does 25
With Cassio's suit: therefore be merry, Cassio;
For thy solicitor shall rather die
Than give thy cause away.[5806]
Enter Othello and Iago, at a distance.[5807]
Emil. Madam, here comes my lord.
Cas. Madam, I'll take my leave. 30
Des. Nay, stay and hear me speak.[5808]
Cas. Madam, not now: I am very ill at ease,[5809]
Unfit for mine own purposes.[5810]
Des. Well, do your discretion. [Exit Cassio.[5811]
Iago. Ha! I like not that. 35
Oth. What dost thou say?
Iago. Nothing, my lord: or if—I know not what.[5812]
Oth. Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?
Iago. Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it,[5813]
That he would steal away so guilty-like,[5814] 40
Seeing you coming.
Des. How now, my lord![5816][5817]
I have been talking with a suitor here,
A man that languishes in your displeasure.
Oth. Who is't you mean? 45
Des. Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord,[5818]
If I have any grace or power to move you,
His present reconciliation take;[5819]
For if he be not one that truly loves you,
That errs in ignorance and not in cunning, 50
I have no judgement in an honest face:
I prithee, call him back.
Des. Ay, sooth; so humbled,[5820][5821]
That he hath left part of his grief with me,[5822]
To suffer with him. Good love, call him back.[5823] 55
Oth. Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other time.[5824]
Des. But shall't be shortly?
Oth. The sooner, sweet, for you.[5825]
Des. Shall't be to-night at supper?
Des. To-morrow dinner then?
Oth. I shall not dine at home;
I meet the captains at the citadel. 60
Des. Why then to-morrow night; or Tuesday morn;[5827]
On Tuesday noon, or night; on Wednesday morn:[5828]
I prithee, name the time; but let it not[5829]
Exceed three days: in faith, he's penitent;[5830]
And yet his trespass, in our common reason— 65
Save that, they say, the wars must make examples[5831]
Out of their best—is not almost a fault[5832]
To incur a private check. When shall he come?
Tell me, Othello: I wonder in my soul,
What you would ask me, that I should deny,[5833] 70
Or stand so mammering on. What! Michael Cassio,[5834]
That came a-wooing with you, and so many a time[5835]
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—[5836] 75
Oth. Prithee, 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,[5837]
Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm,[5838]
Or sue to you to do a peculiar profit[5839] 80
To your own person: nay, when I have a suit[5840]
Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed,
It shall be full of poise and difficult weight,[5841]
And fearful to be granted.
Oth. I will deny thee nothing:
Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this, 85
To leave me but a little to myself.
Des. Shall I deny you? no: farewell, my lord.
Oth. Farewell, my Desdemona: I'll come to thee straight.[5842]
Des. Emilia, come. Be as your fancies teach you;[5843]
Whate'er you be, I am obedient. 90
[Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia.[5844]
Oth. Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul,[5845]
But I do love thee! and when I love thee not,
Chaos is come again.
Oth. What dost thou say, Iago?
Oth. He did, from first to last: why dost thou ask?[5849]
Iago. But for a satisfaction of my thought;[5850]
No further harm.
Oth. Why of thy thought, Iago?
Iago. I did not think he had been acquainted with her.[5851] 100
Oth. O, yes, and went between us very oft.[5852]
Iago. Indeed!
Oth. Indeed! ay, indeed: discern'st thou aught in that?[5853]
Is he not honest?
Iago. Honest, my lord! 105
Oth. Honest! ay, honest.[5854]
Iago. My lord, for aught I know.
Oth. What dost thou think?
Iago. Think, my lord!
Oth. Think, my lord! By heaven, he echoes me,[5855] 110
As if there were some monster in his thought[5856]
Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean something:[5857]
I heard thee say even now, thou likedst not that,[5858]
When Cassio left my wife: what didst not like?
And when I told thee he was of my counsel 115
In my whole course of wooing, thou criedst 'Indeed!'[5859]
And didst contract and purse thy brow together,
As if thou then hadst shut up in thy brain
Some horrible conceit: if thou dost love me,[5860]
Show me thy thought. 120
Iago. My lord, you know I love you.
Oth. I think thou dost;
And for I know thou'rt full of love and honesty[5861]
And weigh'st thy words before thou givest them breath,[5862]
Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more:[5863]
For such things in a false disloyal knave 125
Are tricks of custom; but in a man that's just
They're close delations, working from the heart,[5864]
That passion cannot rule.
Iago. For Michael Cassio,
I dare be sworn I think that he is honest.[5865]
Oth. I think so too.
Iago. Men should be what they seem;[5866] 130
Or those that be not, would they might seem none![5867]
Oth. Certain, men should be what they seem.[5868]
Iago. Why then I think Cassio's an honest man.[5869]
Oth. Nay, yet there's more in this:
I prithee, speak to me as to thy thinkings,[5870] 135
As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of thoughts[5871]
The worst of words.[5872]
Iago. Good my lord, pardon me:
Though I am bound to every act of duty,[5873]
I am not bound to that all slaves are free to.[5874]
Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile and false;[5875] 140
As where's that palace whereinto foul things
Sometimes intrude not? who has a breast so pure,[5876]
But some uncleanly apprehensions[5877]
Keep leets and law-days, and in session sit[5878]
With meditations lawful? 145
Oth. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago,
If thou but think'st him wrong'd and makest his ear[5879]
A stranger to thy thoughts.
Iago. I do beseech you—[5880]
Though I perchance am vicious in my guess,[5880][5881]
As, I confess, it is my nature's plague 150
To spy into abuses, and oft my jealousy[5882][5883]
Shapes faults that are not—that your wisdom yet,[5883][5884]
From one that so imperfectly conceits,[5885]
Would take no notice, nor build yourself a trouble[5886]
Out of his scattering and unsure observance.[5887] 155
It were not for your quiet nor your good,
Nor for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom,[5888]
To let you know my thoughts.
Oth. What dost thou mean?[5889]
Iago. Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,[5890]
Is the immediate jewel of their souls:[5891] 160
Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing;[5892]
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him[5893]
And makes me poor indeed. 165
Oth. By heaven, I'll know thy thoughts.[5894]
Iago. You cannot, if my heart were in your hand;
Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody.
Oth. Ha!
Iago. O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;[5895]
It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock[5896][5897] 170
The meat it feeds on: that cuckold lives in bliss[5897][5898]
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;[5899]
But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er
Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves![5900]
Oth. O misery! 175
Iago. Poor and content is rich, and rich enough;
But riches fineless is as poor as winter[5901]
To him that ever fears he shall be poor:
Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend[5902]
From jealousy!
Oth. Why, why is this?[5903] 180
Think'st thou I'ld make a life of jealousy,
To follow still the changes of the moon
With fresh suspicions? No; to be once in doubt
Is once to be resolved: exchange me for a goat,[5904]
When I shall turn the business of my soul 185
To such exsufflicate and blown surmises,[5905]
Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me jealous[5906]
To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company,
Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances well;[5907]
Where virtue is, these are more virtuous:[5908] 190
Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw
The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt;
For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago;[5909]
I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
And on the proof, there is no more but this, 195
Away at once with love or jealousy![5910]
Iago. I am glad of it; for now I shall have reason[5911][5912]
To show the love and duty that I bear you
With franker spirit: therefore, as I am bound,[5911]
Receive it from me. I speak not yet of proof.[5913] 200
Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio;
Wear your eye thus, not jealous nor secure:[5914]
I would not have your free and noble nature
Out of self-bounty be abused; look to't:
I know our country disposition well; 205
In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks[5915]
They dare not show their husbands; their best conscience[5916]
Is not to leave't undone, but keep't unknown.[5917]
Iago. She did deceive her father, marrying you; 210
And when she seem'd to shake and fear your looks,
She loved them most.
Oth. And so she did.
Iago. Why, go to then;[5919]
She that so young could give out such a seeming,
To seel her father's eyes up close as oak—[5920]
He thought 'twas witchcraft—but I am much to blame;[5911][5921] 215
I humbly do beseech you of your pardon
For too much loving you.
Iago. I see this hath a little dash'd your spirits.
Oth. Not a jot, not a jot.
Iago. I'faith, I fear it has.[5923]
I hope you will consider what is spoke 220
Comes from my love; but I do see you're moved:[5924]
I am to pray you not to strain my speech
To grosser issues nor to larger reach
Than to suspicion.
Oth. I will not.
Iago. Should you do so, my lord, 225
My speech should fall into such vile success[5925]
As my thoughts aim not at. Cassio's my worthy friend—[5926]
My lord, I see you're moved.[5927]
Oth. No, not much moved:
I do not think but Desdemona's honest.[5928]
Iago. Long live she so! and long live you to think so![5929] 230
Oth. And yet, how nature erring from itself—[5930]
Iago. Ay, there's the point: as—to be bold with you—[5931]
Not to affect many proposed matches
Of her own clime, complexion and degree,
Whereto we see in all things nature tends—[5932] 235
Foh! one may smell in such a will most rank,[5933]
Foul disproportion, thoughts unnatural.[5934]
But pardon me: I do not in position[5935]
Distinctly speak of her; though I may fear[5936]
Her will, recoiling to her better judgement, 240
May fall to match you with her country forms,[5937]
And happily repent.
Oth. Farewell, farewell:[5938]
If more thou dost perceive, let me know more;
Set on thy wife to observe: leave me, Iago.[5939]
Iago. [Going] My lord, I take my leave.[5940] 245
Oth. Why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless[5941]
Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.
Iago. [Returning] My lord, I would I might entreat your honour[5942][5943]
To scan this thing no further; leave it to time:[5943][5944]
Though it be fit that Cassio have his place,[5945] 250
For sure he fills it up with great ability,
Yet, if you please to hold him off awhile,[5946]
You shall by that perceive him and his means:
Note if your lady strain his entertainment[5947]
With any strong or vehement importunity; 255
Much will be seen in that. In the mean time,
Let me be thought too busy in my fears—
As worthy cause I have to fear I am—
And hold her free, I do beseech your honour.
Oth. Fear not my government. 260
Iago. I once more take my leave. [Exit.[5948]
Oth. This fellow's of exceeding honesty,[5949]
And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,[5950][5951]
Of human dealings. If I do prove her haggard,[5951][5952]
Though that her jesses were my dear heart-strings, 265
I'ld whistle her off and let her down the wind[5953]
To prey at fortune. Haply, for I am black[5911][5954]
And have not those soft parts of conversation
That chamberers have, or for I am declined
Into the vale of years,—yet that's not much—[5955] 270
She's gone; I am abused, and my relief[5956]
Must be to loathe her. O curse of marriage,[5957]
That we can call these delicate creatures ours,
And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad,
And live upon the vapour of a dungeon,[5958] 275
Than keep a corner in the thing I love[5959]
For others' uses. Yet, 'tis the plague of great ones;[5960]
Prerogatived are they less than the base;[5961]
'Tis destiny unshunnable, like death:[5962]
Even then this forked plague is fated to us 280
When we do quicken. Desdemona comes:
Re-enter Desdemona and Emilia.[5963]