1

Des. Can any thing be made of this?

Clo. I know not where he lodges; and for me to devise a lodging, and say—he lies here, or he lies there, were to lie in my own throat.

Des. Can you enquire him out, and be edified by report?

Clo. I will catechize the world for him ; that is, make questions, and by them answer.

Des. Seek him, bid' him come hither : tell him, I have moved my lord in his behalf, and hope, all will be well.

Clo. To do this, is within the compass of man's wit; and therefore I will attempt the doing it. [Exit. Des. Where should I lose that handkerchief,

Emilia ?
Emil. I know not, madam.

Des. Believe me, I had rather have lost my purse
Full of cruzadoes.' And, but my noble Moor
Is true of mind, and made of no such baseness
As jealous creatures are, it were enough
To put him to ill-thinking.
Emil.

Is he not jealous ?
Des. Who, he? I think, the sun, where he was

born,
Drew all such humours from him.
Emil.

Look, where he comes.
Des. I will not leave him now, till Cassio
Be call’d to him.-How is’t with you, my lord?

Enter Othello,

Oth. Well, my good lady :-[Aside.] O, hardness

to dissemble !How do

you,

Desdemona ? Des.

Well, my good lord. Oth. Give me your hand : This hand is moist, my

lady. Des. It yet has felt no age, nor known no sorrow.

Oth. This argues fruitfulness, and liberal heart;, ! Hot, hot, and moist: This hand of yours requires A sequester from liberty, fasting and prayer, Much castigation, exercise devout; For here's a young and sweating devil here, That commonly rebels. 'Tis a good hand, A frank one.

Des. You may, indeed, say so; For 'twas that hand that gave away my

heart. Oth. A liberal hand: The hearts of old, gave

hands; But our new heraldry is—hands, not hearts. Des. I cannot speak of this. Come now your

promise.
Oth. What promise, chuck?
Des. I have sent to bid Cassio come speak with

you.
Oth. I have a salt and sullen rheum offends me;
Lend me thy handkerchief.
Des.

Here, my lord.
Oth. That which I gave you.

2 Penance, discipline.

me;

Des.

I have it not about me.
Oth. Not ?
Des. No, indeed, my lord.
Oth.

That is a fault :
That handkerchief
Did an Egyptian to my mother give;
She was a charmer,; and could almost read
The thoughts of people : she told her, while she

kept it, "Twould make her amiable, and subdue

my

father Entirely to her love; but if she lost it, Or made a gift of it, my father's

eye
Should hold her loathly, and his spirits should hunt
After new fancies : She, dying, gave it
And bid

me,
when

my

fate would have me wive,
To give it her. I did so: and take heed of't,
Make it a darling like your precious eye;
To lose or give't away, were such perdition,
As nothing else could match.
Des.

Is it possible ?
Oth. 'Tis true: there's magick in the web of it:
A sibyl, that had number'd in the world
The sun to make two hundred compasses,
In her prophetick fury sew'd the work:
The worms were hallow'd, that did breed the silk;
And it was died in mummy, which the skilful
Conserv'd of maidens' hearts.
Des.

Indeed! is't true? Oth. Most veritable; therefore look to't well. Des. Then 'would to heaven, that I had never

seen it.

3 Enchantress.

Oth. Ha! wherefore ?
Des. Why do you speak so startingly and rash ?4
Oth. Is't lost? is't gone? speak, is it out of the

way?

suit;

Des. Heaven bless us!
Oth,

Say you?
Des. It is not lost; But what an if it were ?
Oth. Ha!
Des. I say, it is not lost.
Oth.

Fetch't, let me see it.
Des. Why, so I can, sir, but I will not now;
This is a trick, to put me from my
I pray, let Cassio be receiv'd again.
Oth. Fetch me that handkerchief: my mind mis-

gives.
Des. Come, come ;
You'll never meet a more sufficient man.

Oth. The handkerchief,
Des.

I
pray,

talk me of Cassio. Oth. The handkerchief, Des.

A man that, all his time,
Hath founded his good fortune on your love;
Shar'd dangers with you ;
Oth,

The handkerchief,-
Des. In sooth,
You are to blaine.
Oth.

Away! [Exit OTHELLO. Emil.

Is not this man jealous ? Des. I ne'er saw this before. Sure, there's some wonder in this handkerchief : I am most unhappy in the loss of it.

1

4. Vehement, violent.

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.

Tago. There is no other way; 'tis she must do't; And, lo, the happiness! go, and importune her. Des. How now? good Cassio? what's the news

with you? •Cas. Madam, my former suit: 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 such mortal kind,
That neither service past, nor present sorrows,
Nor purpos'd merit in futurity,
Can ransome 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 some other course,
To fortune's alms.
Des.

Alas! thrice-gentle Cassio,
My advocation is not now in tune;
My lord is not my lord; nor should I know him,
Were he in favour, 5 as in humour, alter'd.
So help me, every spirit sanctified,
As I have spoken for you my
And stood within the blank" of his displeasure,
For my free speech! You niust a while be patient:

all

best ;

5 In countenance.

• Within the shot, of his anger.