ACT II The gravity and stillness of your youth 180 While I spare speech, which something now offends me Of all that I do know: nor know I aught Отн. Now, by Heaven, My blood begins my safer guides to rule; And passion, having my best judgment collied,1 Or do but lift this arm, the best of you Shall sink in my rebuke. Give me to know 2 Yet wild, the people's hearts brimful of fear, In night, and on the court and guard of safety !3 MON. If, partially affin'd, or leagu'd in office, Thou dost deliver more or less than truth, Thou art no soldier. IAGO. Touch me not so near: I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth Yet, I persuade myself, to speak the truth Montano and myself being in speech, There comes a fellow crying out for help; And Cassio following him with determin'd sword 190 200 210 To execute upon him. Sir, this gentleman Lest by his clamour (as it so fell out) The town might fall in fright: he, swift of foot, I ne'er might say before. When I came back (For this was brief) I found them close together, At blow and thrust; even as again they were When you yourself did part them. More of this matter cannot I report: But men are men; the best sometimes forget. From him that fled some strange indignity, Which patience could not pass. Отн. I know, Iago, Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter, Re-enter DESDEMONA, attended. Look, if my gentle love be not rais'd up! I'll make thee an example. DES. What's the matter? Отн. All's well now, Sweeting; come away to bed. 220 230 240 [to MONTANO, who is led off. Iago, look with care about the Town, And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted. Come, Desdemona: 'tis the soldiers' life To have their balmy slumbers wak'd with strife. [Exeunt all but IAGO and CASSIO. IAGO. What, are you hurt, Lieutenant? CAS. Ay, past all surgery. IAGO. Marry, Heaven forbid ! 250 CAS. Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost ACT II Sc. III ACT II my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation! IAGO. As I am an honest man, I thought you had receiv'd some bodily wound; there is more sense in that than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving: you have lost no reputation at all, unless you repute yourself such a loser. What, Man! there are ways to recover the General again: you are but now cast in his mood, a punishment more in policy than in malice; even so as one would beat his offenceless dog to affright an imperious lion: sue to him again, and he's your's. 265 CAS. I will rather sue to be despis'd than to deceive so good a commander with so slight, so drunken, and so indiscreet an officer. Drunk, and speak parrot? and squabble, swagger, swear? and discourse fustian with one's own shadow? O thou invisible Spirit of Wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee Devil! 272 IAGO. What was he that you follow'd with your sword? CAS. I know not. IAGO. Is't possible? CAS. I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly; a quarrel, but nothing wherefore. O God, that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains! that we should, with joy, pleasance, revel, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts! 281 IAGO. Why, but you are now well enough: how came thus recover'd? you CAS. It hath pleas'd the Devil Drunkenness to give place to the Devil Wrath: one unperfectness shews 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. 290 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 unbless'd, and the ingredient is a Devil. 300 IAGO. Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, CAS. You advise me well. 313 IAGO. I protest, in the sincerity of love and honest kind ness. 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. 321 [exit. IAGO. And what's he, then, that says I play the villain? ACT II Sc. III 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 fram'd as fruitful As the free elements. And then for her To win the Moor-were 't to renounce his baptism, 330 ACT II His soul is so enfetter'd to her love, That she may make, unmake, do what she list, With his weak function. How am I, then, a villain As I do now: for whiles this honest fool pour I'll 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; And out of her own goodness make the net Re-enter RODERIGO. 340 How now, Roderigo! 349 ROD. I do follow here in the chase, not like a hound that IAGO. How poor are they that have not patience! Does 't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee, And thou, by that small hurt, hast cashier'd Cassio. Content thyself awhile. By the Mass, 'tis morning; Retire thee; go where thou art billeted. Away, I say; thou shalt know more hereafter: 1 urge, incite to. 360 |