As doth the raven o'er th' infected house,
Boading to all, he had my handkerchief.
Iago. Ay, what of that?

Oth. That's not fo good now.

Jago. What if I faid, I had feen him do you wrong? Or heard him fay? as knaves be fuch abroad, Who having by their own importunate fuit

Or voluntary, dotage of fome mistress

Convinc'd or 'fuppled them, 'then` cannot chuse
But they must blab.

Oth. Hath he faid any thing?

lago. He hath, my Lord; but be you well affur'd, No more than he'll unfwear.

Oth. What hath he faid?

Jago. Why, that he did I know not what he did-
Oth. What? what?

Iago. Lye

Oth. With her?

Iago. With her! on her what you will

2

Oth. Lye with her! lye on her! lye with her! that's fulfom: handkerchief- Confeffions HandkerchiefI tremble at it-Nature would not inveft her felf in fuch fhadowing without fome induction. It is not words that shake me thus pifh Nofes, ears, and lips-is't poffible! confefs! - handkerchief! [Falls in a Trance.

Oh devil!

lago. Work on!

My medicine works. Thus credulous fools are caught;
And many worthy and chafte dames even thus

All guiltless meet reproach. What hoa! my Lord!
My Lord, I fay, Othello.

S C E N E II.

Iago. My Lord is fall'n into an epilepfie.
This is the fecond fit; he had one yesterday.
Caf. Rub him about the temples.
Iago. No, forbear,

The lethargy muft have his quiet courfe;
If not, he foams at mouth, and by and by
Breaks out to favage madnefs: look, he ftirs.
Do you withdraw your felf a little while,
He will recover ftraight; when he is gone,
I would on great occafion fpeak with you.

[Exit Caffio.

How is it, General? have you not hurt your head?.. Oth. Doft thou mock me?

Iago. I mock you not, by heav'n;

Would you would bear your fortune like a man!

Oth. A horned man's a monfter and a beast.
Iago. There's many a beast then in a populous city,
And many a civil monster.

Oth. Did he confefs it?

Iago. Good Sir, be a man:

Think every bearded fellow that's but yoak'd
May draw with you. Millions are now alive,
That nightly lye in those unproper beds,
Which they dare fwear peculiar. Your cafe
Is better: oh, it is the fpight of hell,
The fiend's arch-mock, to lip a wanton in
A fecure couch, and to fuppofe her chafte.
No, let me know, and knowing what I am
I know what she shall be.

Oth. Oh, thou art wife :

'Tis certain.

Iago. Stand you now a while` apart,
Confine your felf but in a patient lift.

Whilst you were here o'er-whelmed with your grief,
(A paffion moft unfitting fuch a man)
Caffio came hither. I fhifted him away,
And laid good 'fcufes on your ecftafie;
Bad him anon return, and here speak with me;

8 you a while

1

The

The which he promis'd. Do but encave your felf,
And mark the fleers, the gibes and notable fcorns,
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 fay, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience;
Or I fhall fay you're all in all in spleen,
And nothing of a man.

Otb. Dolt thou hear, Tago?

I will be found most cunning in my patience;
But, doft thou hear, moft bloody.

Iago. That's not amifs;

But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw?

Now will I queftion Caffio of Bianca,

A hufwife, that by felling her defires,

[Othello withdraw

Buys her felf bread and cloth. It is a creature
That dotes on Caffio, as 'tis the ftrumpet's plague
To beguile many, and be beguil'd by one;
He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain
From the excefs of laughter. Here he comes.

As he shall smile, Othello fhall go mad;
And his unbookish jealousie must construe
Poor Caffio's fmiles, geftures, and light behaviour,
Quite in the wrong. How do you now, lieutenant?
Caf. The worfer, that you gave me the addition,
Whose want even kills me.

Iago. Ply Desdemona well, and you are fure on't: Now, if this fuit lay in Bianca's power, [Speaking lower. How quickly fhould you speed!

Caf. Alas, poor caitiff!

Oth. Look how he laughs already.

Lago. I never knew a woman love a man fo.

Caf.

Caf. Alas, poor rogue, I think indeed the loves me.
Oth. Now he denies it faintly, and laughs out.
Iago. Do you hear, Caffio?

Oth. Now he importunes him

To tell it o'er: go to, well faid, well faid.
Fago. She gives it out, that you shall marry her.
Do you intend it?

Caf. Ha, ha, ha.

Oth. Do you triumph, Roman? do you triumph? Caf. I marry!- What? a cuftomer? pr'ythee bear fome charity to my wit, do not think it fo unwholfome. Ha, ha, ha.

Oth. So, fo: they laugh that win.

Iago. Why, the cry goes, that you shall marry her.
Caf. Pr'ythee fay true.

Jago. I am *'a villain` elfe.

Oth. Have you fcor'd me? well.

Caf. This is the monkey's own giving out: fhe is perfwaded I will marry her, out of her own love and flattery, not out of my promise.

Oth. Iago beckons me: now he begins the story.

Caf. She was here even now; fhe haunts me in every place. I was the other day talking on the fea-bank with certain Venetians, and thither comes the bauble, and falls me thus about my neck

Oth. Crying, oh dear Caffio, as it were: his gesture imports it.

Caf. So hangs, and lolls, and weeps upon me, so shakes, and pulls me. Ha, ha, ha

Oib. Now he tells how the pluckt him to my chamber: oh, I fee that nofe of yours, but not that dog I fhall throw it to.

Caf. Well, I must leave her company.
Lago. Before me! look where the comes.

4 a very villain

SCENE

S

CEN E

Enter Bianca.

IV.

Caf. 'Tis fuch another fitchew! marry, a perfum❜d one:What do you mean by this haunting of me?

Bian. Let the devil and his dam haunt you! what did yo mean by that fame handkerchief you gave me even now I was a fine fool to take it: I muft take out the work: a likely piece of work, that you should find it in your chamber, and know not who left it there. This is fome minx's token, and I must take out the work: there giv it your hobbey-horse: wherefoever you had it, I'll take out no work on't.

Caf. How now, my fweet Bianca? how now? how now? Oth. By heav'n, that should be my handkerchief. Bian. If you'll come to fupper to-night, you may; f you will not, come when you are next prepar'd for. (Exit. Iago. After her, after her.

Caf. I muft, fhe'll rail in the streets elfe.

Iago. Will you fup there?

Caf. Yes, I intend fo.

Iago. Well, I may chance to fee you; for I would very

fain speak with

you.

Caf. Pr'ythee come, will you?

Iago. Go to, fay no more.

Manent Othello and Iago.

Oth. How fhall I murther him, Iago?

[Exit Caffio.

V.

Iago. Did you perceive how he laugh'd at his vice?
Oth. Oh, Iago!

Iago. And did you fee the handkerchief?

Oth. Was that mine?

lago. Yours, by this hand: and to fee how he prizes the foolish woman your wife-She gave it him, and he hath given it his whore.

Otb.