Iago.
Will you think so?

Oth.
Think so, Iago! ^note

Iago.
What,
To kiss in private? ^{note note}

Oth.
An unauthorized kiss. ^note

Iago.
Or to be naked with her friend ^note in bed ^note
An hour or more, not meaning any harm?

Oth.
Naked in bed ^note, Iago, and not mean harm!
It is hypocrisy against the devil:
They that mean virtuously and yet do so,
The devil their virtue tempts and ^note they tempt heaven.

Iago.
So ^note they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip:
But if I ^note give my wife a handkerchief— ^note

Oth.
What then?

Iago.
Why, then, ^note 'tis hers, my lord; and being hers,
She may, I think, bestow 't on any man.

Oth.
She is protectress ^note of her honour too ^note:
May she give that?

Iago.
Her honour is an essence that's not seen;
They have it very oft that have it not:
But for the handkerchief— ^note

Oth.
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 ^note house,
Boding to all ^note—he had my handkerchief.

Iago.
Ay, what of that?

Oth.
That's not so good now.

Iago.
What,
If I had said ^{note note}I had seen him do you wrong? ^note
Or heard ^note him say—as knaves be such abroad,
Who having, by their own importunate suit,

Or ^note voluntary dotage of some mistress,
Convinced ^note or ^note supplied ^note them, cannot ^note choose
But they must blab— ^note

Oth.
Hath he said any thing?

Iago.
He hath, my lord; but be you well assured,
No more than he 'll unswear.

Oth.
What hath he said?

Iago.
Faith ^note, that he did—I know not what he did. ^note

Oth.
What? what? ^note

Iago.
Lie— ^note

Oth.
With her?

Iago.
With her, on ^note her; what you will.

Oth.

Lie with her! lie on her!—We say lie on her, when they belie her. ^note—Lie with her! 'Zounds, ^note that's fulsome! Handkerchief ^note—confessions ^note—handkerchief ^note!—To confess, and be hanged for his labour; first, to be hanged, and then to confess. ^note I tremble at it. Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing ^note passion ^note without some instruction ^note. It is not

words that shakes ^note me thus. Pish! Noses, ears and lips. Is 't possible?—Confess?—Handkerchief?—O devil! ^note

Iago.
Work on,
My medicine, work! ^note 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! Othello! ^{note note} Enter Cassio.
How now, Cassio!

Cas.
What's the matter?

Iago.
My lord is fall'n ^note into an epilepsy:
This is his ^note second fit; he had one yesterday.

Cas.
Rub him about the temples.

Iago.
No, forbear; ^note
The lethargy must have his ^note quiet course:
If not, he foams at mouth, and by and by
Breaks out to savage madness. Look, he stirs ^note:
Do you withdraw yourself a little while,
He will recover straight: when he is gone,
I would on great occasion speak with you. [Exit Cassio. ^note
How is it, general? have you not hurt your head ^note?

Oth.
Dost thou ^note mock me?

Iago.
I mock you! no, by ^note heaven. ^note
Would you would bear your fortune ^note like ^note a man!

Oth.
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.
Did he confess it ^note?

Iago.
Good sir ^note, be a man;
Think every ^note bearded fellow that 's but yoked
May draw with you: there's millions ^note now alive
That nightly lie ^note in those unproper beds
Which they dare swear peculiar ^note: your case ^note is better.
O, 'tis ^note the spite of hell, the fiend's arch-mock,
To lip a wanton in a secure couch,
And to suppose her chaste! No, let ^note me know;
And knowing what I am, I know what she ^note shall be.

Oth.
O, thou art wise; 'tis ^note certain.

Iago.
Stand you ^note awhile apart; ^note
Confine yourself but in a patient list.
Whilst you were here o'erwhelmed ^note with your grief—
A passion most unsuiting ^note such a man—
Cassio came hither: I shifted him away,
And laid ^note good 'scuse upon ^note your ecstasy;
Bade ^note him anon return ^note and here ^note speak with me;
The which he promised. Do ^note but encave yourself,
And mark the fleers ^note, the gibes ^note 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 ^note and is again to cope your wife:
I say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience;
Or I shall say you are ^note all in all in spleen ^note,
And nothing of a man.

Oth.
Dost thou ^note hear, Iago?
I will be found most cunning ^note in my patience;
But—dost thou hear?—most bloody.

Iago. ^note
That's not amiss;
But yet ^note keep time in all. Will you withdraw? [Othello retires. ^note
Now will I question Cassio of Bianca,
A housewife that by selling her desires
Buys herself bread and clothes ^note: it is a creature ^note
That dotes on Cassio; as 'tis the strumpet's plague
To beguile many and be beguiled by one.
He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain ^note
From the excess of laughter. Here he comes. Re-enter Cassio. ^{note note}
As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad;
And his unbookish jealousy must construe ^note

Poor ^note Cassio's smiles, gestures and light behaviour ^note,
Quite in the wrong. How do you now ^note, lieutenant?

Cas.
The worser ^note that you give ^note me the addition
Whose want even kills me.

Iago.
Ply Desdemona well, and you are sure on 't. ^note
Now, if this suit lay in Bianca's power ^note,
How quickly should you speed!

Cas.
Alas, poor caitiff ^note! ^note

Oth.
Look, how he laughs already!

Iago.
I never knew a woman ^note love man so.

Cas.
Alas, poor rogue! I think, i' faith ^note, she loves me.

Oth.
Now he denies it ^note faintly and laughs it out.

Iago.
Do you hear, Cassio?

Oth.
Now he importunes ^note him
To tell it o'er ^note: go to; well said, well said. ^note

Iago.
She gives it out that you shall marry her:
Do you intend it?

Cas.
Ha, ha, ha!

Oth.
Do you triumph, ^note Roman ^note? do you ^note triumph?

Cas.

I marry her! ^note what, a customer! ^note I prithee ^note, bear some charity to my wit; do not think it so unwholesome. Ha, ha, ha! ^note

Oth.

So, so, so, so: ^note they ^note laugh that win ^note.

Iago.

Faith ^note, the cry goes that ^note you shall ^note marry her.

Cas.

Prithee, say true.

Iago.

I am very ^note villain else.

Oth.

Have ^note you scored me? ^note Well. ^note

Cas.

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. ^note

Oth.

Iago beckons ^note me; now he begins the story.

Cas.

She was here even now; she haunts me in every place. I was the other ^note day talking on the sea-bank with certain Venetians; and thither comes the ^note bauble, and, by this hand, she falls me thus ^note about my neck— ^note

Oth.

Crying ‘O dear Cassio!’ as it were: his gesture ^note imports it.

Cas.

So hangs and lolls ^note and weeps upon me; so hales ^note and pulls me: ha, ha, ha! ^note

Oth.

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

Cas.

Well, I must leave her company.

Iago.

Before me! look, where she comes. ^note

Cas.

'Tis such another fitchew ^note! marry, a perfumed one. ^{note note}Enter Bianca. ^note What do you mean by this haunting of me?

Bian.

Let the devil and his dam haunt you! What did you mean by that same handkerchief ^note you gave me even now? I was a fine fool to take it. I must take out the work ^note? A likely piece of work, that you should find it in your chamber, and not know ^note who left it there! This is some minx's token, and I must take out the work? There; give it your ^note hobby-horse: wheresoever you had it, I'll take out ^noteno work on't.

Cas.

How now, my sweet Bianca! how now! how now! ^note

Oth.

By heaven, that should be my handkerchief ^note!

Bian.

An ^note you'll come to supper to-night, you may; an ^note you will not, come when you are next prepared for.

Iago.

After her, after her.

Cas.

Faith ^note, I must; she'll rail i' the ^note street ^note else.

Iago.

Will you sup there? ^note

Cas.

Faith ^note, I intend so.

Iago.

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

Cas.

Prithee, come; will you?

Iago.

Go to; say ^note no more.

^note

Oth. [Advancing] ^note

How shall I murder him, Iago?

Iago.

Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice?

Oth.

O Iago ^note!

Iago.

And did you see the handkerchief ^note?

Oth.

Was that mine?

Iago.

Yours, by this hand: and to see how he prizes the foolish woman your wife! she gave it him, and he hath given it his whore.

Oth. ^note

I would have him nine years a-killing. A fine woman! a fair woman! a sweet woman! ^note

Iago.

Nay, you must forget that. ^note

Oth.

Ay, ^note let her rot, and perish, and be damned to-night; for she shall not live: no, my heart is turned to stone ^note; I strike it, and it hurts my hand. O, the world hath ^note not a sweeter creature: she might lie by an emperor's side, and command him tasks.

Iago.

Nay, that's not your way.

Oth.

Hang her! I do but ^note say what she is: so delicate with her needle: an admirable musician: O, she will sing the savageness out of a bear: of so high and ^note plenteous wit and invention:— ^note

Iago.

She 's the worse for all this.

Oth.

O, ^note a thousand thousand ^note times: and then, of so gentle a condition ^note! ^note

Iago.

Ay, too gentle.

Oth.

Nay, ^note that's certain: ^note but yet the pity of it, Iago! O Iago, the pity of it, Iago! ^note

Iago.

If you are ^note so fond over her iniquity, give her patent to offend; for, if it touch ^note not you, it comes near nobody.

Oth.

I will chop her into messes: cuckold me!

Iago.

O, 'tis foul in her.

Oth.

With mine officer!

Iago.

That 's fouler.

Oth.

Get me some poison, Iago; this night. I'll ^note not expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty ^note unprovide my mind again: this night, Iago.

Iago.

Do it not with poison, strangle her in ^note her bed, even ^note the bed she hath contaminated.

Oth.

Good, good: ^note the justice of it pleases: very ^note good.

Iago.

And for Cassio, let me be his undertaker: you shall hear more by midnight. ^note

Oth.
Excellent good. [A trumpet within.] ^note What trumpet is that same? ^note

Iago.
Something from Venice, sure. 'Tis ^note Lodovico
Come from the duke: and, see, your wife is with him. ^note Enter ^note Lodovico, Desdemona, and Attendants.

Lod.
God save the ^note worthy general!

Oth.
With all my heart, sir ^note.

Lod.
The duke and senators ^note of Venice greet you. [Gives him a letter. ^note

Oth.
I kiss the instrument of their pleasures ^note. [Opens ^note the letter, and reads.

Des.
And what's the news, good cousin Lodovico?

Iago.
I am very ^note glad to see you, signior;
Welcome to Cyprus. ^note

Lod.
I thank you ^note. How does Lieutenant Cassio?

Iago.
Lives, sir.

Des.
Cousin, there's fall'n between him and my lord
An unkind breach: but you shall make all well.

Oth.
Are you sure of that?

Des.
My lord? ^note

Oth. [Reads] ^note
‘This fail you not to do, as you will—’

Lod.
He did not call; he's busy in the paper.
Is there division 'twixt my ^note lord and Cassio?

Des.
A most unhappy one: I would do much
To atone ^note them, for the love I bear to Cassio.

Oth.
Fire and brimstone!

Des.
My lord? ^note

Oth.
Are you wise?

Des.
What, is he angry?

Lod.
May be the letter moved him;
For, as I think, they do commend him home,
Deputing Cassio in his government.

Des.
By my troth ^note, I am ^note glad on't.

Oth.
Indeed!

Des.
My lord? ^note

Oth.
I am glad to see you mad. ^note

Des.
Why ^note, sweet Othello? ^note

Oth.
Devil! [Striking her. ^note

Des.
I have not deserved this.

Lod.
My lord, this would not be believed in Venice,
Though I should swear I saw 't: 'tis very much:
Make her amends; she weeps.

Oth.
O devil, devil!
If that the earth could teem with woman's ^note tears,
Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile.
Out of my sight!

Des.
I will not stay to offend you. [Going. ^note

Lod.
Truly, an ^note obedient lady:
I do beseech your lordship, call her back.

Oth.
Mistress!

Des.
My lord?

Oth.
What would you with her, sir?

Lod.
Who, I, my lord?

Oth.
Ay; you did wish that I would make her turn:
Sir, she can turn and turn, and yet go on,
And turn again; and she can weep, sir, weep;
And she's ^note obedient, as you say, obedient,
Very obedient. Proceed you in your tears. ^note
Concerning this, sir,—O well-painted passion!—
I am commanded home ^note. Get you away;
I'll send for you anon. Sir, I obey the mandate, ^note
And will return to Venice. Hence, avaunt! [Exit Desdemona. ^note
Cassio shall have my place. And, sir to-night,
I do entreat that we may sup together:
You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus. Goats and monkeys ^note! [Exit. ^note

Lod.
Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate
Call all in all sufficient? This the nature ^note

Whom ^note passion could not shake? whose solid virtue
The shot of accident ^note nor ^note dart of chance ^note
Could neither graze ^note nor pierce?

Iago.
He is much changed.

Lod.
Are his wits safe? is he not light of ^note brain?

Iago.
He's that ^note he is: I may not breathe ^note my censure
What ^note he might be: if what ^note he might he is not,
I would to heaven he were!

Lod.
What, strike his wife!

Iago.
Faith, that was not so well; yet would I knew
That stroke would prove the worst!

Lod.
Is it ^note his use?
Or did the letters work upon his blood,
And new create this ^note fault?

Iago.
Alas, alas!
It is not honesty in me to speak
What I have seen and known. You shall observe him ^note,
And his own courses will denote him so
That I may save my speech: do but go after ^note,
And mark how he continues.

Lod.
I am sorry ^note that I am ^note deceived in him. [Exeunt.

^note

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