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 cashiered Cassio :
Content thyself awhile. By the mass, 't is 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.

Two things are to be done,

[Exit Roderigo.

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

CURTAIN.

[Exit.

Scene First.

Act Third.

BEFORE THE Castle, as in Act Second.
DESDEMONA, seated, and CASSIO AND
EMILIA DISCOVERED.

Des.

Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do

All

my abilities in thy behalf.

Emil.

Good madam, do: I warrant it grieves my husband,
As if the case were his.

Des.

O, that's an honest fellow.
But I will have my lord and
As friendly as you were.

Bounteous madam,

Do not doubt, Cassio, you again

Cas.

Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio, anything but your true servant.

He's never

Des.

I know 't, I thank you. You do love my lord:
You have known him long; and be you well assured
He shall in strangeness stand no further off
Than in a politic distance.

Ay, but, lady,

Cas.

That policy may either last so long,
Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet,
Or breed itself so out of circumstance,
That, I being absent, and my place supplied,
My general will forget my love and service,

Des.

Do not doubt that; before Emilia here
I give thee warrant of thy place: assure thee,
If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it

To the last article: my lord shall never rest;
I'll watch him tame, and talk him out of patience;
I'll intermingle everything he does

With Cassio's suit: therefore be merry, Cassio;
For thy solicitor shall rather die

Than give thy cause away.

Madam, not now; I am very ill at ease,

Unfit for mine own purposes.

Nothing, my lord: or if-I know not what.

Oth.

Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?

Iago.

Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it,
That he would steal away so guilty-like,

I have been talking with a suitor here,

A man that languishes in your displeasure.

Who is 't you mean?

Oth.

Des.

Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord,

If I have any grace or power to move you,
His present reconciliation take;

For if he be not one that truly loves you,
That errs in ignorance, and not in cunning,
I have no judgment in an honest face:
I pr'ythee, call him back.

Went he hence now?

Oth.

Des.

Ay, sooth; so humbled,

That he hath left part of his grief with me,

To suffer with him. Good love, call him back.

Oth.

Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other time.

Des.

But shall 't be shortly?

Oth.

The sooner, sweet, for you.

Des.

Shall 't be to-night at supper?

Oth.

No, not to-night.

Des.

To-morrow dinner, then?

Oth.

I shall not dine at home;

I meet the captains at the citadel.

Des.

Why, then, to-morrow night, or Tuesday morn;

On Tuesday noon, or night; on Wednesday morn :— I pr'ythee, name the time; but let it not

Exceed three days: in faith, he's penitent;

When shall he come?

Tell me, Othello: I wonder in my soul,

What you could ask me, that I should deny,

Or stand so mammering on. What! Michael Cassio,
That came a-wooing with you; and so many a time,
When I have spoke of you dispraisingly,

Hath ta'en your part; to have so much to do
To bring him in. Trust me, I could do much

Oth.

Pr'ythee, no more: let him come when he will;

I will deny thee nothing. [Re-enter Iago and Emilia. Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this,

To leave me but a little to myself.

Des.

Shall I deny you? no: farewell, my lord.

Oth.

Farewell, my Desdemona: I'll come to thee straight.