Def.

A man that, all his time,

Hath founded his good fortune on your love;

Shar'd dangers with you ;

Def. I ne'er faw this before.

Sure, there's some wonder in this handkerchief:

I am most unhappy in the loss of it.

Emil. 'Tis not a year or two shows us a man :
They are all but stomachs, and we all but food;
They eat us hungerly, and when they are full,
They belch us. Look you! Cassio, and my husband.

Enter IAGO and CASSIO.

Iago. There is no other way; 'tis she must do't;
And, lo, the happiness! go, and impórtune her.
Def. How now, good Caffio? what's the news with you?
Caf. Madam, my former fuit: I do beseech you,

That, by your virtuous means, I may again
Exist, and be a member of his love,
Whom I, with all the duty of my heart,
Entirely honour; I would not be delay'd:
If my offence be of fuch mortal kind,
That neither service past, nor present sorrows,
Nor purpos'd merit in futurity,
Can ransom me into his love again,
But to know so must be my benefit;
So shall I clothe me in a forc'd content,
And shut myself up in fome other course,
To fortune's alms.

Def. Def.

Alas! thrice-gentle Caffio,

My advocation is not now in tune;
My lord is not my lord; nor should I know him,
Were he in favour, as in humour, alter'd.

So help me every spirit sanctified,
As I have spoken for you all my best;

And stood within the blank of his displeasure,
For my free speech! You must a while be patient:
What I can do, I will; and more I will,

Than for myself I dare: let that fuffice you.

lago. Is my lord angry?

Emil.

He went hence but now,

And, certainly, in strange unquietness.

Iago. Can he be angry? I have feen the cannon,
When it hath blown his ranks into the air;
And, like the devil, from his very arm
Puff'd his own brother;-And can he be angry?
Something of moment, then: I will go meet him;
There's matter in't indeed, if he be angry.
Def. I pr'ythee, do fo.-Something, fure, of state,-
[Exit IAGO.

Either from Venice; or some unhatch'd practice,
Made démonstrable here in Cyprus to him,-
Hath puddled his clear spirit: and, in such cafes,
Men's natures wrangle with inferior things,
Though great ones are their object. 'Tis even so;
For let our finger ach, and it indues

Our other healthful members ev'n to that sense
Of pain: Nay, we must think, men are not gods;
Nor of them look for fuch observances
As fit the bridal.-Beshrew me much, Emilia,
I was (unhandsome warrior as I am,)

Arraigning his unkindness with my foul;

But

But now I find, I had fuborn'd the witness,

And he's indited falfely.

Emil. Pray heaven, it be state matters, as you think;

And on conception, nor no jealous toy,

Concerning you.

Def. Alas, the day! I never gave him cause.

Emil. But jealous fouls will not be answer'd fo;

They are not ever jealous for the cause,

But jealous for they are jealous: 'tis a monster,

Begot upon itself, born on itself.

Def. Heaven keep that monster from Othello's mind! Emil. Lady, amen.

Def. I will go seek him. Caffio, walk hereabout :

If I do find him fit, I'll move your fuit,

And seek to effect it to my uttermoft.

Caf. I humbly thank your ladyship.

[Exeunt DESDEMONA and EMILIA.

Enter BIANCA.

Bian. Save you, friend Caffio ?
Caf.

What make you from home?

How is it with you, my most fair Bianca ?
I' faith, sweet love, I was coming to your house.

Bian. And I was going to your lodging, Caffio.
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!

Caf.

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 abfence. Sweet Bianca,

[Giving her DESDEMONA'S handkerchief.

Take me this work out.

Bian.

O, Caffio, whence came this?

This is some token from a newer friend.

To the felt abfence now I feel a caufe:

Is it come to this? Well, well.

Caf.

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 fome mistress, some remembrance :

No, in good troth, Bianca.

Bian.

Why, whose is it?

Caf. 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. Bian. Leave you! wherefore?

Caf. I do attend here on the general;

And think it no addition, nor my wish,

To have him see me woman'd.

Bian.

Why, I pray you?

Caf. Not, that I love you not.
Bian.

But that you do not love me.

I pray you, bring me on the way a little;

And fay, if 1 shall fee you foon at night.

Caf. 'Tis but a little way, that I can bring you,

For I attend here: but I'll see you foon.

Bian. 'Tis very good; I must be circumstanc'd.

[Exeunt.

ACT

Iago. Or to be naked with her friend abed, An hour, or more, not meaning any harm?

Oth. Naked abed, Iago, and not mean harm?
It is hypocrify 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 flip:

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 it :

Thou faid'st,-O, it comes o'er my memory,

As doth the raven o'er the infected house,

Boding to all, he had my handkerchief.