Out of his scattering and unsure observance :—
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 souls:

Who steals my purse, steals trash; 'tis something, nothing;

'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,
And makes me poor indeed.

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

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 dreadful 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 souls of all my tribe defend
From jealousy!

Oth.

Why? why is this?

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,

• Endless, unbounded.

Is

once to be resolv'd: Exchange me for a goat, When I shall turn the business of my soul To such exsufflicate and blown surmises, Matching thy inference.

jealous,

'Tis not to make me

To say, my wife is fair, feeds well, loves com

pany,

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 she had eyes, and chose me: No, Iago;
I'll see, before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
And, on the proof, there is no more but this,
Away at once with love, or jealousy.

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 Cassio;
Wear your eye-thus, not jealous, nor secure :
I would not have your free and noble nature,
Out of self-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 conscience

Is

not to leave undone, but keep unknown. Oth. Dost 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 most.

Oth.

Iago.

And so she did.

Why, go to, then.

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

To seel her father's eyes up close as oak,
He thought, 't was witchcraft:

to blame;

- But I am much

I humbly do beseech you of your pardon,
For too much loving you.

4.Oth.

I am bound to thee for ever.

Iago. I see, this hath a little dash'd your spirits. Oth. Not a jot, not a jot.

Trust me, I fear it has.

Iago.
I hope, you will consider, what is spoke

Comes from my love;- But, I do see, you are

t

mov'd:

I am to pray you, not to strain my speech
To grosser issues 2, nor to larger reach,
Than to suspicion.

Oth. I will not.

Iago.

Should you do so, my lord,

My speech should fall into such vile success
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, Iago. 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 see, in all things nature tends:
But pardon me; I do not, in position,
Distinctly speak of her: though I may fear,
Her will, recoiling to her better judgment,
May fall to match you with her country forms,.
And (hapily) repent.

An expression from falconry: to seel a hawk is to sew up his eye-lids. 2 Conclusions.

Oth.

Farewell, farewell:

If more thou dost perceive, let me know more;
Set on thy wife to observe: Leave me, Iago.
Iago. My lord, I take my leave.
Oth. Why did I marry?

doubtless,

[Going.

This honest creature,

Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds. Iago. 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 Cassio have his place,
(For, sure, 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 3
With any strong or vehement importunity;
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.
Iago. I once more take my leave.

5

[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 heartstrings, 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,

3 Press hard his re-admission to his office.

• A species of hawk, also a term of reproach applied

to a wanton.

• Straps of leather by which a hawk is held on the fist

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.
But Desdemona comes! If she be false,

t

Enter DESDEMONA and EMILIA.

O, then heaven mocks itself! I'll not believe it.
Des. How now, my dear Othello?

Your dinner, and the generous islanders
By you invited, do attend your presence.
Oth. I am to blame.

Des. Why is your speech so faint? are you not well?

Oth. I have a pain upon my forehead here. Des. That is with watching; 't will away again. Let me but bind it hard, within this hour

It will be well.

Oth.

Your napkin is too little;
[He puts the Handkerchief from him, and it
drops.

Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you.
Des. I am very sorry that you are not well.

[Exeunt OTH. and DES.

Emil. I am glad I have found this napkin ; This was her first remembrance from the Moor: My wayward husband hath a hundred times Woo'd me to steal it; but she so loves the token, (For he conjur'd her, she would ever keep it,) That she reserves it ever more about her,

To kiss and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out,

And give it lago;

What he 'll do with it, heaven knows, not I;
I nothing, but to please his fantasy.