The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Part 405

May she give that?

IAGO. Her honor is an essence that's not seen; They have it very oft that have it not.

But for the handkerchief- OTh.e.l.lO. By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it.

Thou said'st- O, it comes o'er my memory, As doth the raven o'er the infected house, Boding to all- he had my handkerchief.

IAGO. Ay, what of that?

OTh.e.l.lO. That's not so good now.

IAGO. What, If I had said I had seen him do you wrong?

Or heard him say- as knaves be such abroad, Who having, by their own importunate suit, Or voluntary dotage of some mistress, Convinced or supplied them, cannot choose But they must blab- OTh.e.l.lO. Hath he said anything?

IAGO. He hath, my lord; but be you well a.s.sured, No more than he'll unswear.

OTh.e.l.lO. What hath he said?

IAGO. Faith, that he did- I know not what he did.

OTh.e.l.lO. What? what?

IAGO. Lie- OTh.e.l.lO. With her?

IAGO. With her, on her, what you will.

OTh.e.l.lO. Lie with her! lie on her! We say lie on her, when they belie her. Lie with her! 'Zounds, that's fulsome! Handkerchief- confessions- handkerchief! To confess and be hanged for his labor- first, to be hanged, and then to confess. I tremble at it.

Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing pa.s.sion without some instruction. It is not words that shakes me thus. Pish!

Noses, ears, and lips. Is't possible? Confess? Handkerchief? O devil!

Falls in a trance.

IAGO. Work on, My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught, And many worthy and chaste dames even thus, All guiltless, meet reproach. What, ho! My lord!

My lord, I say! Oth.e.l.lo!

Enter Ca.s.sio.

How now, Ca.s.sio!

Ca.s.sIO. What's the matter?

IAGO. My lord is fall'n into an epilepsy.

This is his second fit; he had one yesterday.

Ca.s.sIO. Rub him about the temples.

IAGO. No, forbear; The lethargy must have his quiet course.

If not, he foams at mouth, and by and by Breaks out to savage madness. Look, he stirs.

Do you withdraw yourself a little while, He will recover straight. When he is gone, I would on great occasion speak with you. Exit Ca.s.sio.

How is it, general? Have you not hurt your head?

OTh.e.l.lO. Dost thou mock me?

IAGO. I mock you? No, by heaven.

Would you would bear your fortune like a man!

OTh.e.l.lO. A horned man's a monster and a beast.

IAGO. There's many a beast then in a populous city, And many a civil monster.

OTh.e.l.lO. Did he confess it?

IAGO. Good sir, be a man; Think every bearded fellow that's but yoked May draw with you. There's millions now alive That nightly lie in those unproper beds Which they dare swear peculiar. Your case is better.

O, 'tis the spite of h.e.l.l, the fiend's arch-mock, To lip a wanton in a secure couch, And to suppose her chaste! No, let me know, And knowing what I am, I know what she shall be.

OTh.e.l.lO. O, thou art wise; 'tis certain.

IAGO. Stand you awhile apart, Confine yourself but in a patient list.

Whilst you were here o'erwhelmed with your grief- A pa.s.sion most unsuiting such a man- Ca.s.sio came hither. I shifted him away, And laid good 'scuse upon your ecstasy; Bade him anon return and here speak with me The which he promised. Do but encave yourself And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorns, That dwell in every region of his face; For I will make him tell the tale anew, Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when He hath and is again to cope your wife.

I say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience, Or I shall say you are all in all in spleen, And nothing of a man.

OTh.e.l.lO. Dost thou hear, Iago?

I will be found most cunning in my patience; But (dost thou hear?) most b.l.o.o.d.y.

IAGO. That's not amiss; But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw?

Oth.e.l.lo retires.

Now will I question Ca.s.sio of Bianca, A housewife that by selling her desires Buys herself bread and clothes. It is a creature That dotes on Ca.s.sio, as 'tis the strumpet's plague To beguile many and be beguiled by one.

He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain From the excess of laughter. Here he comes.

Re-enter Ca.s.sio.

As he shall smile, Oth.e.l.lo shall go mad; And his unbookish jealousy must construe Poor Ca.s.sio's smiles, gestures, and light behavior Quite in the wrong. How do you now, lieutenant?

Ca.s.sIO. The worser that you give me the addition Whose want even kills me.

IAGO. Ply Desdemona well, and you are sure on't.

Now, if this suit lay in Bianco's power, How quickly should you speed!

Ca.s.sIO. Alas, poor caitiff!

OTh.e.l.lO. Look, how he laughs already!

IAGO. I never knew a woman love man so.

Ca.s.sIO. Alas, poor rogue! I think, i'faith, she loves me.

OTh.e.l.lO. Now he denies it faintly and laughs it out.

IAGO. Do you hear, Ca.s.sio?

OTh.e.l.lO. Now he importunes him To tell it o'er. Go to; well said, well said.

IAGO. She gives it out that you shall marry her.

Do you intend it?

Ca.s.sIO. Ha, ha, ha!

OTh.e.l.lO. Do you triumph, Roman? Do you triumph?

Ca.s.sIO. I marry her! What? A customer! I prithee, bear some charity to my wit; do not think it so unwholesome. Ha, ha, ha!

OTh.e.l.lO. So, so, so, so. They laugh that win.

IAGO. Faith, the cry goes that you shall marry her.

Ca.s.sIO. Prithee, say true.

IAGO. I am a very villain else.

OTh.e.l.lO. Have you scored me? Well.

Ca.s.sIO. This is the monkey's own giving out. She is persuaded I will marry her, out of her own love and flattery, not out of my promise.

OTh.e.l.lO. Iago beckons me; now he begins the story.

Ca.s.sIO. She was here even now; she haunts me in every place. I was the other day talking on the sea bank with certain Venetians, and thither comes the bauble, and, by this hand, she falls me thus about my neck- OTh.e.l.lO. Crying, "O dear Ca.s.sio!" as it were; his gesture imports it.

Ca.s.sIO. So hangs and lolls and weeps upon me; so hales and pulls me. Ha, ha, ha!

OTh.e.l.lO. Now he tells how she plucked him to my chamber. O, I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I shall throw it to.

Ca.s.sIO. Well, I must leave her company.

IAGO. Before me! look where she comes.

Ca.s.sIO. 'Tis such another fitchew! marry, a perfumed one.

Enter Bianca.

What do you mean by this haunting of me?

BIANCA. Let the devil and his dam haunt you! What did you mean by that same handkerchief you gave me even now? I was a fine fool to take it. I must take out the work? A likely piece of work that you should find it in your chamber and not know who left it there! This is some minx's token, and I must take out the work?

There, give it your hobbyhorse. Wheresoever you had it, I'll take out no work on't.

Ca.s.sIO. How now, my sweet Bianca! how now! how now!

OTh.e.l.lO. By heaven, that should be my handkerchief!

BIANCA. An you'll come to supper tonight, you may; an you will not, come when you are next prepared for. Exit.

IAGO. After her, after her.

Ca.s.sIO. Faith, I must; she'll rail i' the street else.

IAGO. Will you sup there?

Ca.s.sIO. Faith, I intend so.

IAGO. Well, I may chance to see you, for I would very fain speak with you.

Ca.s.sIO. Prithee, come; will you?

IAGO. Go to; say no more. Exit Ca.s.sio.

OTh.e.l.lO. [Advancing.] How shall I murther him, Iago?

IAGO. Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice?