The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Part 401

Ca.s.sIO. Ay, but, lady, That policy may either last so long, Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet, Or breed itself so out of circ.u.mstances, That I being absent and my place supplied, My general will forget my love and service.

DESDEMONA. Do not doubt that. Before Emilia here I give thee warrant of thy place, a.s.sure thee, If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it To the last article. My lord shall never rest; I'll watch him tame and talk him out of patience; His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift; I'll intermingle everything he does With Ca.s.sio's suit. Therefore be merry, Ca.s.sio, For thy solicitor shall rather die Than give thy cause away.

Enter Oth.e.l.lo and Iago, at a distance.

EMILIA. Madam, here comes my lord.

Ca.s.sIO. Madam, I'll take my leave.

DESDEMONA. Nay, stay and hear me speak.

Ca.s.sIO. Madam, not now. I am very ill at ease, Unfit for mine own purposes.

DESDEMONA. Well, do your discretion. Exit Ca.s.sio.

IAGO. Ha! I like not that.

OTh.e.l.lO. What dost thou say?

IAGO. Nothing, my lord; or if- I know not what.

OTh.e.l.lO. Was not that Ca.s.sio parted from my wife?

IAGO. Ca.s.sio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it, That he would steal away so guilty-like, Seeing you coming.

OTh.e.l.lO. I do believe 'twas he.

DESDEMONA. How now, my lord!

I have been talking with a suitor here, A man that languishes in your displeasure.

OTh.e.l.lO. Who is't you mean?

DESDEMONA. Why, your lieutenant, Ca.s.sio. Good my lord, If I have any grace or power to move you, His present reconciliation take; For if he be not one that truly loves you, That errs in ignorance and not in cunning, I have no judgement in an honest face.

I prithee, call him back.

OTh.e.l.lO. Went he hence now?

DESDEMONA. Ay, sooth; so humbled That he hath left part of his grief with me To suffer with him. Good love, call him back.

OTh.e.l.lO. Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other time.

DESDEMONA. But shall't be shortly?

OTh.e.l.lO. The sooner, sweet, for you.

DESDEMONA. Shall't be tonight at supper?

OTh.e.l.lO. No, not tonight.

DESDEMONA. Tomorrow dinner then?

OTh.e.l.lO. I shall not dine at home; I meet the captains at the citadel.

DESDEMONA. Why then tomorrow night, or Tuesday morn, On Tuesday noon, or night, on Wednesday morn.

I prithee, name the time, but let it not Exceed three days. In faith, he's penitent; And yet his trespa.s.s, in our common reason- Save that, they say, the wars must make example Out of their best- is not almost a fault To incur a private check. When shall he come?

Tell me, Oth.e.l.lo. I wonder in my soul, What you would ask me, that I should deny, Or stand so mammering on. What? Michael Ca.s.sio, That came awooing with you, and so many a time When I have spoke of you dispraisingly Hath ta'en your part- to have so much to do To bring him in! Trust me, I could do much- OTh.e.l.lO. Prithee, no more. Let him come when he will; I will deny thee nothing.

DESDEMONA. Why, this is not a boon; 'Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves, Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm, Or sue to you to do a peculiar profit To your own person. Nay, when I have a suit Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed, It shall be full of poise and difficult weight, And fearful to be granted.

OTh.e.l.lO. I will deny thee nothing, Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this, To leave me but a little to myself.

DESDEMONA. Shall I deny you? No. Farewell, my lord.

OTh.e.l.lO. Farewell, my Desdemona; I'll come to thee straight.

DESDEMONA. Emilia, come. Be as your fancies teach you; Whate'er you be, I am obedient.

Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia.

OTh.e.l.lO. Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul, But I do love thee! and when I love thee not, Chaos is come again.

IAGO. My n.o.ble lord- OTh.e.l.lO. What dost thou say, Iago?

IAGO. Did Michael Ca.s.sio, when you woo'd my lady, Know of your love?

OTh.e.l.lO. He did, from first to last. Why dost thou ask?

IAGO. But for a satisfaction of my thought; No further harm.

OTh.e.l.lO. Why of thy thought, Iago?

IAGO. I did not think he had been acquainted with her.

OTh.e.l.lO. O, yes, and went between us very oft.

IAGO. Indeed!

OTh.e.l.lO. Indeed? ay, indeed. Discern'st thou aught in that?

Is he not honest?

IAGO. Honest, my lord?

OTh.e.l.lO. Honest? Ay, honest.

IAGO. My lord, for aught I know.

OTh.e.l.lO. What dost thou think?

IAGO. Think, my lord?

OTh.e.l.lO. Think, my lord? By heaven, he echoes me, As if there were some monster in his thought Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean something.

I heard thee say even now, thou like'st not that, When Ca.s.sio left my wife. What didst not like?

And when I told thee he was of my counsel In my whole course of wooing, thou criedst, "Indeed!"

And didst contract and purse thy brow together, As if thou then hadst shut up in thy brain Some horrible conceit. If thou dost love me, Show me thy thought.

IAGO. My lord, you know I love you.

OTh.e.l.lO. I think thou dost; And for I know thou'rt full of love and honesty And weigh'st thy words before thou givest 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're close dilations, working from the heart, That pa.s.sion cannot rule.

IAGO. For Michael Ca.s.sio, I dare be sworn I think that he is honest.

OTh.e.l.lO. I think so too.

IAGO. Men should be what they seem; Or those that be not, would they might seem none!

OTh.e.l.lO. Certain, men should be what they seem.

IAGO. Why then I think Ca.s.sio's an honest man.

OTh.e.l.lO. Nay, yet there's more in this.

I prithee, 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 Sometimes intrude not? Who has a breast so pure, But some uncleanly apprehensions Keep leets and law-days, and in session sit With meditations lawful?

OTh.e.l.lO. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago, If thou but think'st him wrong'd and makest his ear A stranger to thy thoughts.

IAGO. I do beseech you- Though I perchance am vicious in my guess, As, I confess, it is my nature's plague To spy into abuses, and oft my jealousy Shapes faults that are not- that your wisdom yet, From one that so imperfectly conceits, Would take no notice, nor build yourself a trouble 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.e.l.lO. 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.e.l.lO. By heaven, I'll know thy thoughts.

IAGO. You cannot, if my heart were in your hand; Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody.

OTh.e.l.lO. Ha!

IAGO. O, beware, my lord, of jealousy!

It is the green-eyed 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 d.a.m.ned minutes tells he o'er Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves!

OTh.e.l.lO. 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.e.l.lO. Why, why is this?

Think'st thou I'ld make a life of jealousy, To follow still the changes of the moon With fresh suspicions? No! To be once in doubt Is once to be resolved. Exchange me for a goat When I shall turn the business of my soul To such exsufflicate and blown surmises, Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me jealous To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company, 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 it, 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 Ca.s.sio; Wear your eye thus, not jealous nor secure.

I would not have your free and n.o.ble nature Out of self-bounty be abused. 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't undone, but keep't unknown.

OTh.e.l.lO. Dost thou say so?

IAGO. She did deceive her father, marrying you; And when she seem'd to shake and fear your looks, She loved them most.

OTh.e.l.lO. And so she did.

IAGO. 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 'twas witchcraft- but I am much to blame; I humbly do beseech you of your pardon For too much loving you.

OTh.e.l.lO. I am bound to thee forever.

IAGO. I see this hath a little dash'd your spirits.

OTh.e.l.lO. Not a jot, not a jot.

IAGO. I'faith, I fear it has.