invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee devil!

Iago. What was he that you followed with your sword? What had he done to you?

Cas. I know not.
Iago. Is it possible?

Cas. I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly; a quarrel, but nothing wherefore.-0, that men should put an enemy in their mouths, to steal away their brains! that we should, with joy, revel, pleasure, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts!

Iago. Why, but you are now well enough: how came you thus recovered?

Cas. It hath pleased the devil, drunkenness, to give place to the devil, wrath: one unperfectness shows me another, to make me frankly despise myself.

Iago. Come, you are too severe a moraler. As the time, the place, and the condition of this country stands, I could heartily wish this had not befallen; but, since it is as it is, mend it for your own good.

Cas. I will ask him for my place again; he shall tell me, I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast! O strange! Every inordinate cup is unblessed, and the ingredient is a devil.

Iago. Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well used; exclaim no more against

it. And, good lieutenant, I think, you think I love

you.

Cas. I have well approved it, sir.—I drunk!

Iago. You or any man living may be drunk at some time, man. I'll tell you what you shall do. Our general's wife is now the general:-I may say so in this respect, for that he hath devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, and denotement of her parts and graces. Confess yourself freely to her; importune her; she 'll help to put you in your place again: she is of so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed a disposition, that she holds it a vice in her goodness not to do more than she is requested. This broken joint, between you and her husband, entreat her to splinter; and, my fortunes against any lay worth naming, this crack of your love shall grow stronger than it was before.

Cas. You advise me well.

Iago. I protest, in the sincerity of love, and honest kindness.

Cas. I think it freely; and, betimes in the morning, I will beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me. I am desperate of my fortunes, if they check me here.

Iago. You are in the right. Good night, lieutenant; I must to the watch.

Cas. Good night, honest Iago.

[Exit Cassio.

I Wager.

Iago. And what's he then, that says 1 play the

villain?

When this advice is free I give, and honest,
Probal to thinking, and, indeed, the course
To win the Moor again? For 'tis most easy
The inclining Desdemona to subdue

In

any honest suit; she's framed as fruitful 2 As the free elements: and then for her

To win the Moor,-were 't to renounce his baptism, All seals and symbols of redeemed sin,—

His soul is so enfetter'd to her love,

That she may make, unmake, do what she list,

Even as her appetite shall play the god

With his weak function.

To counsel Cassio to this

Directly to his good?

How am I then a villain,

parallel course,

Divinity of hell!

When devils will their blackest sins put on,

3

They do suggest at first with heavenly shows,
As I do now: for while this honest fool

Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes,
And she for hím pleads strongly to the Moor;
I'll pour this pestilence into his ear;—

4

That she repeals him for her body's lust;

And, by how much she strives to do him good,
She shall undo her credit with the Moor.
So will I turn her virtue into pitch;

1 For probable.

3 Tempt.

2 Liberal, bountiful.
4 Recalls.

And out of her own goodness make the net
That shall enmesh them all.-How now, Roderigo ?

Enter RODERIGO.

Ro. I do follow here in the chase, not like a hound that hunts, but one that fills up the cry. My money is almost spent; I have been to-night exceedingly well cudgelled; and, I think, the issue will be, I shall have so much experience for my pains; and so, with no money at all, and a little more wit, return to Venice.

Iago. How poor are they that have not patience!

What wound did ever heal, but by degrees? Thou know'st, we work by wit, and not by witchcraft;

And wit depends on dilatory time.

Does 't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee,
And thou, by that small hurt, hast cashier'd Cassio.
Though other things grow fair against the sun,
Yet fruits that blossom first will first be ripe.
Content thyself awhile. By the mass, 'tis morning;
Pleasure and action make the hours seem short.—
Retire thee; go where thou art billeted :
Away, I say; thou shalt know more hereafter :
Nay, get thee gone. [Exit Roderigo.] Two things
are to be done ;-

My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress;

I'll set her on :

Myself, the while, to draw the Moor apart,

And bring him jump1 when he may Cassio find
Soliciting his wife :-ay, that's the way;
Dull not device by coldness and delay.

ACT II I.

[Exit.

SCENE I.

Before the castle.

Enter CASSIO and some MUSICIANS.

Cas. Masters, play here (I will content your

pains)

Something that's brief; and bid-good-morrow,

general.

Enter CLOWN.

[music.

Clown. Why, masters, have your instruments been at Naples, that they speak i' the nose thus ? 1 Mu. How, sir, how?

Clown. Are these, I pray you, called wind instruments?

1 Mu. Ay, marry, are they, sir. Clown. O, thereby hangs a tail.

1 Mu. Whereby hangs a tale, sir?

Clown. Marry, sir, by many a wind instrument that I know. But, masters, here's money for you;

Just at the time.