As thou dost ruminate; and give thy worst of thoughts

The worst of words.

Iago.

Good my lord, pardon me;

Though I am bound to every act of duty,

I am not bound to that all slaves are free to.

Utter my thoughts? Why, say, they are vile and false,

As where's that palace, whereunto foul things

Sometimes intrude not? who has a breast so pure,

But some uncleanly apprehenfions

Keep leets, and law-days, and in session sit
With meditations lawful?

Oth. Thou doft conspire against thy friend, Iago,
If thou but think'st him wrong'd, and mak'it his ear
A stranger to thy thoughts.

Iago.
I do beseech you,-
Though I, perchance, am vicious in my guess,
As, I confefs, it is my nature's plague
To spy into abuses; and, oft, my jealousy
Shapes faults that are not, -I entreat you then,
From one that so imperfectly conjects,

You'd take no notice; nor build yourself a trouble
Out of his scattering and unfure obfervance :-
It were not for your quiet, nor your good,
Nor for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom,

To let you know my thoughts.

Oth.

What dost thou mean?

Iago. Good name, in man, and woman, dear my lord, Is the immediate jewel of their fouls:

Who steals my purse, steals trash; 'tis something, nothing;
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been flave to thousands;
But he, that filches from me my good name,
Robs me of that, which not enriches him,

And makes me poor indeed.

Oth. By heaven, I'll know thy thought.

lago. 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;

It is the green-ey'd monster, which doth mock
The meat it feeds on: That cuckold lives in bliss,
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;
But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er,

Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves!
Oth. O misery!

Iago. Poor, and content, is rich, and rich enough;

But riches, fineless, is as poor as winter,

To him that ever fears he shall be poor :

Good heaven, the fouls of all my tribe defend

Think'st thou, I'd 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 resolv'd: Exchange me for a goat,
When I shall turn the business of my foul
To fuch exfufflicate and blown furmises,

Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me jealous,
To say-my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company,
Is free of speech, sings, plays, and dances well;
Where virtue is, these are more virtuous :
Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw
The smallest fear, or doubt of her revolt;
For the had eyes, and chose me: No, Iago;
I'll fee, before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
And, on the proof, there is no more but this,-
Away at once with love, or jealoufy.

Iago. I am glad of this; for now I shall have reason To show the love and duty that I bear you

With franker spirit: therefore, as I am bound,
Receive it from me:-I speak not yet of proof.
Look to your wife; observe her well with Caffio;
Wear your eye-thus, not jealous, nor secure:
I would not have your free and noble nature,
Out of felf-bounty, be abus'd; look to't:
I know our country disposition well;

In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks
They dare not show their husbands; their best confcience
Is-not to leave undone, but keep unknown.
Oth. Doft thou say so?

Iago. She did deceive her father, marrying you;
And, when she seem'd to shake, and fear your looks,

She lov'd them moft.

Oth.

lago.

And so she did.

Why, go to, then;

She that, so young, could give out such a seeming,

To feel her father's eyes up, close as oak,

He thought, 'twas witchcraft:-But I am much to blame;

I humbly do beseech you of your pardon,

For too much loving you.

Oth.

I am bound to thee for ever.

Iago. I fee, this hath a little dash'd your spirits.

Oth. Not a jot, not a jot.

Iago.

Trust me, I fear it has.

I hope, you will confider, what is spoke

Comes from my love;-But, I do fee you are mov'd :

I am to pray you, not to strain my speech

To groffer issues, nor to larger reach,

Than to fufpicion.

Oth. I will not.

Iago.

Should you do so, my lord,

As

My speech should fall into such vile fuccess

As my thoughts aim not at. Cassio's my worthy friend :

My lord, I see you are mov'd.

Oth.

No, not much mov'd :

I do not think, but Desdemona's honest.

Iago. Long live she so! and long live you to think so! Oth. And yet, how nature erring from itself,

lago. Ay, there's the point:-As, -to be bold with you,

Not to affect many proposed matches,

Of her own clime, complexion, and degree;
Whereto, we fee, in all things nature tends :
Foh! one may smell, in such, a will most rank,
Foul disproportion, thoughts unnatural.-
But pardon me; I do not, in position,
Distinctly speak of her: though I may fear,
Her will, recoiling to her better judgement,
May fall to match you with her country forms,

And (hapily) repent.

Oth.

Farewell, farewell:

If more thou dost perceive, let me know more;
Set on thy wife to observe: Leave me, Iago.

lago. My lord, I take my leave.

[Going.

Oth. Why did I marry? - This honest creature, doubtless,

Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.

lago. My lord, I would, I might entreat your honour To scan this thing no further; leave it to time: And though it be fit that Caffio have his place, (For, fure, he fills it up with great ability,) Yet, if you please to hold him off a while, You shall by that perceive him and his means : Note, if your lady strain his entertainment With any strong or vehement importunity; Much will be seen in that. In the mean time,

Let me be thought too bufy in my fears, (As worthy cause I have, to fear-I am,)

And

And hold her free, I do beseech your honour.
Oth. Fear not my government.
Iago. I once more take my leave.

[Exit.

Oth. This fellow's of exceeding honesty,
And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,
Of human dealings: If I do prove her haggard,
Though that her jesses were my dear heart-strings,
I'd whistle her off, and let her down the wind,
To prey at fortune. Haply, for I am black;
And have not those soft parts of conversation
That chamberers have: Or, for I am declin'd
Into the vale of years;-yet that's not much;-
She's gone; I am abus'd; and my relief
Must be to loath her. O curse of marriage,
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,
Than keep a corner in the thing I love,
For others' uses. Yet, 'tis the plague of great ones;
Prerogativ'd are they less than the base :
'Tis destiny unshunnable, like death;
Even then this forked plague is fated to us,
When we do quicken. Desdemona comes :

Enter DESDEMONA and EMILIA.

If the be false, O, then heaven mocks itself!

I'll not believe it.

Def.

How now, my dear Othello!

Your dinner, and the generous islanders
By you invited, do attend your prefence.

Oth. I am to blame.

Def. Why is your speech fo faint? are you not well? Oth. I have a pain upon my forehead here.

Def