He shall in strangeness stand no further off Cas. Ay, but, lady, That, I being absent, and my place supplied, Des. Do not doubt that; before Emilia here, To the last article: my lord shall never rest; With Cassio's suit: Therefore be merry, Cassio; Than give thy cause away. Enter OTHELLO, and IAGO, at a distance. And hear me speak. Cas. Madam, not now; I am very ill at ease, Unfit for mine own purposes. Des. Do your discretion. Iago. Well, well, [Exit CASSIO. 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, 3 Hawks are tamed by keeping them from sleep. That he would steal away so guilty-like, Oth I do believe 't was he. Des. How now, my lord? I have been talking with a suitor here, A man that languishes in your displeasure. Des. Why, your lieutenant Cassio. Good my If I have any grace, or power to move you, For, if he be not one that truly loves you, Oth. Went he hence now? Des. Ay, sooth; so humbled, That he hath left part of his grief with me; I suffer with him. Good love, call him back. time. Des. But shall 't be shortly? Oth. Des. To-morrow dinner then? you. No, not to-night. I shall not dine at home; I meet the captains at the citadel. Des. Why then, to-morrow night; or Tuesday morn; Or Tuesday noon, or night; or Wednesday morn; Exceed three days: in faith, he's penitent; And yet his trespass, in our common reason, (Save that, they say, the wars must make examples Out of their best 4,) is not almost a fault To incur a private check: When shall he come? 4 Best men. Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul, Cassio, 5 What! Michael That came a wooing with you; and many a time, I will deny thee nothing. Des. To your own person: Nay, when I have a suit, 6 And fearful to be granted. Oth. I will deny thee nothing: Des. Shall I deny you? no: Farewell, my lord. Oth. Farewell, my Desdemona: I will come to thee straight. Des. Emilia, come: Be it as your fancies teach you; Whate'er you be, I am obedient. [Exit, with EMILIA. Oth. Excellent wench! Perdition catch my soul, But I do love thee! and when I love thee not, What dost thou say, Iago? Iago. Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my lady, Know of your love? Oth. He did, from first to last: Why dost thou ask? Iago. But for a satisfaction of my thought; No further harm. Oth. Why of thy thought, Iago? Iago. I did not think, he had been acquainted with her. Oth. O, yes; and went between us very oft. Oth. Indeed! Thou dost mean some As if there were some monster in his thought Too hideous to be shown. thing: I heard thee say but now,. Thou lik'dst not that, When Cassio left my wife; What did'st not like? And did'st contract and purse thy brow together, Some horrible conceit: If thou dost love me, Show me thy thought. Iago. My lord, you know I love you. Oth. I think, thou dost : And, for I know thou art full of love and honesty, And weigh'st thy words before thou giv'st them breath, Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more: For such things, in a false disloyal knave, Are tricks of custom; but, in a man that's just, They are close denotements, working from the heart, That passion cannot rule. Iago. I dare be sworn, I think that he is honest. For Michael Cassio, Iago. Men should be what they seem ; Oth. I think so too. Or, those that be not, 'would they might seem none ! Oth. Certain, men should be what they seem. I think that Cassio is an honest man. Oth. Nay, yet there's more in this: Why then, I pray thee, speak to me as to thy thinkings, 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, whereinto foul things Keep leets, and law-days, and in session sit Oth. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago, If thou but think'st him wrong'd, and mak'st his ear A stranger to thy thoughts. Iago. To spy into abuses; and, oft, my jealousy I entreat you then, Shapes faults that are not, You'd take no notice; nor build yourself a trouble 7 Courts of enquiry. VOL. X. 3 Conjectures. D D |