Till that a capable3 and wide revenge
Swallow them up.-Now, by yond' marble heaven,
In the due reverence of a sacred vow

I here engage my words.

[Kneels.

Iago. Do not rise yet. - [Kneels. Witness, you ever-burning lights above! You elements that clip us round about! Witness, that here Iago doth give up The execution of his wit, hands, heart,

To wrong'd Othello's service! let him command, And to obey shall be in me remorse 3,

What bloody work soever.

Oth.

I greet thy love,

Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance boun

teous,

And will upon the instant put thee to 't:

Within these three days let me hear thee say,
That Cassio 's not alive.

Iago. My friend is dead; 'tis done, at your re: quest:

But let her live.

Oth.

Come, go

Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her! with me apart; I will withdraw,

To furnish me with some swift means of death

For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant. lago. I am your own for ever.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

The same.

Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA, and Clown.

Des. Do you know where lieutenant Cassio

lodges?

3

* Capacious.

4 Embrace.

s Not of malice to others, but of tenderness for him.

Clo. I know not where he lodges.

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 hmuours from him.

Emil.

Des. I will not leave him now, till Cassio

Be call'd to him.

Look, where he comes."

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. 'Tis a good hand, a frank one.

Des. You may, indeed, say so;

For 't was 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.

promise.

Oth. What promise, chuck?

Come now your

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.

Oth. That which I gave you.

Here, my lord.

Des.

I have it not about me.

Did an Egyptian to my mother give;

She was a charmer 7, and could almost read

The thoughts of people: she told her, while she

kept it,

'T would 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 me;
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

7 Enchantress.

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.

Oth. Ha! wherefore?

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

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 can, sir, but I will not now; This is a trick, to put me from my suit; pray, let Cassio be receiv'd again.

I

Oth. Fetch me that handkerchief:

gives.

Des. Come, come;

my

mind mis

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;

Des. I ne'er saw 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: But look you! Cassio, and my husband, come.

Enter IAGO and CASSIO.

Iago. There is no other way; 'tis she must do't; And, lo, the happiness! go, and impórtune 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: my offence be of such mortal kind,

If

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 as in humour alter'd.

9

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 suffice you.
Iago. Is my lord angry?

9 In countenance.

I Within the shot of his anger.