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That I extend my manners: 'tis my breeding
That gives me this bold show of courtesy.

Iago. Sir, would she give you so much of her lips,
As of her tongue she oft bestows on me,
You'd have enough.

Des. Alas, she has no speech.

Iago. I know, too much ;

I find it still, when I have list to sleep:
Marry, before your ladyship, I grant,
She puts her tongue a little in her heart,
And chides with thinking.

Emil. You have little cause to say so.

Iago. Come on, come on; you are pictures out of doors,

Bells in your parlours, wild cats in your kitchens,
Saints in your injuries, devils being offended,

Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your

beds.

Des. O, fie upon thee, slanderer!

Iago. Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk:
You rise to play, and go to bed to work.
Emil. You shall not write my praise.

Jago. No, let me not.

Des. What wouldst thou write of me, if thou shouldst praise me?

Iago. O gentle lady, do not put me to't; For I am nothing, if not critical.

Des. Come on, assay:-There's one gone to the harbour?

Cas. Ay, madam.

Des. I am not merry; but I do beguile The thing I am, by seeming otherwise.

Come, what praise couldst thou bestow on a deserving woman indeed; one that, in the authority of her merits, did justly put on the vouch of very malice itself?

Iago. I am about it; but, indeed, my invention Comes from my pate, as birdlime does from frieze,

It plucks out brain and all: But my muse labours,
And thus she is deliver'd.-

She that was ever fair, and never proud;

Had tongue at will, and yet was never loud;
Never lack'd gold, and yet went never gay;
Fled from her wish, and yet said-now I may !.
She that, being anger'd, her revenge being nigh,
Bade her wrong stay, and her displeasure fly;
She that could think, and ne'er disclose her mind,
See suitors following, and not look behind;
She was a wight,-if ever such wight were,-
Des. To do what?

Iago. To suckle fools, and chronicle small beer.› Des. O most lame and impotent conclusion !-Do not learn of him, Emilia, though he be thy husband. -How say you, Cassio? is he not a most profane · and liberal counsellor?

Cas. He speaks home, madam; you may relish him more in the soldier, than in the scholar.

[CASSIO takes DESDEMONA by the Hand, to introduce her to the Gentlemen of Cyprus: ke talks with her during IAGO's Speech.

Tago. [Aside.] He takes her by the palm: Ay, well said, whisper :-As little a web as this, will ensnare as great a fly as Cassio:- -Ay, smile upon her, do:-I will give thee in thine own courtship:-You say true; 'tis so, indeed :-If such tricks as these strip you out of your lieutenantry, it had been better you had not kiss'd your three fingers so oft.

[Cannon fired.-Trumpet sounds.

The Moor:-I know his trumpet.

Des. Let's meet him, and receive him.

Enter ANTONIO, LUCA, GIOVANNI, LORENZO, and

CANNO.

Oth. O my fair warrior!

Des. My dear Othello !

Oth. It gives me wonder great as my content,
To see you here before me.-O my soul's joy !→
If after every tempest come such calms,

May the winds blow till they have waken'd death!
And let the labouring bark climb hills of seas
Olympus-high; and duck again as low

As hell's from heaven! If it were now to die,
'Twere now to be most happy; for, I fear,
My soul hath her content so absolute,
That not another comfort like to this
Succeeds in unknown fate.

Des. The heavens forbid,

But that our loves and comforts should increase,
Even as our days do grow!

Oth. Amen to that, sweet powers !

And this, and this, the greatest discord be

That e'er our hearts shall make !

[Embracing her.

Iago. [Aside.] O, you are well tun'd now! But I'll set down the pegs that make this music, As honest as I am.

Oth. Come, let's to the castle.

News, friends; our wars are done, the Turks are drown'd.

How do our old acquaintance of the isle -
Honey, you shall be well desir'd in Cyprus ;

I've found great love amongst them. O my sweet,→
I prattle out of fashion, and I dote

In mine own comforts.I pr'ythee, good fago,
Go to the bay, and disembark my coffers;
Bring thou the master to the citadel;

He is a good one, and his worthiness

Does challenge much respect.-Come, Desdemona, Once more well met at Cyprus!

[Trumpet sounds:

[Exeunt all but IAGO and RODERIGO,

Iago. Do thou meet me presently at the harbour.— Come hither :--list mc. -The lieutenant to-night

watches on the court of guard :-First, I will tell thee this,-Desdemona is directly in love with him. Rod. With him!-why, 'tis not possible.

Iago. Lay thy finger-thus, and let thy soul be instructed. Mark me, with what violence she first lov'd the Moor, but for bragging, and telling her fantastical lies: And will she love him still for prating? Let not thy discreet heart think it: Her eye must be fed; and what delight shall she have to look on the devil?

Rod. I cannot believe that in her; she is full of most bless'd condition.

Iago. Bless'd fig's end! the wine she drinks is made of grapes: if she had been bless'd, she would never have lov'd the Moor: Bless'd pudding! Didst thou not see her paddle with the palm of his hand? didst not mark that?

Rod. Yes; but that was but courtesy.

Iago. Lechery, by this hand; an index and obscure prologue to the history of lust and foul thoughts.Sir, be you rul❜d by me: I have brought you from Venice: Watch you to-night; for the command, I'll lay't upon you: Cassio knows you not;-I'll not be far from you: Do you find some occasion to anger Cassio, either by speaking too loud, or tainting his discipline; or from what other cause you please, which the time shall more favourably minister.

Rod. Well,

Tago. Sir, he is rash, and very sudden in choler; and, haply, may strike at you :-Provoke him that he may; for, even out of that, will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny; whose qualification shall come into no true taste again, but by the displanting of Cassio.

Rod. I will do this, if you can bring it to any opportunity.

Iago. I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the

citadel: I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewell.

Rod. Adieu.

[Exit RODERIGO.
Iago. That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it;
That she loves him, 'tis apt, and of great credit:
The Moor-howbeit that I endure him not,-
Is of a constant, loving, noble nature;

And, I dare think, he'll prove to Desdemona
A most dear husband. Now I do love her too;
Not out of absolute lust, (though, peradventure,
I stand accountant for as great a sin,)
But partly led to diet my revenge,

For that I do suspect the lusty Moor

Hath leap'd into my seat: the thought whereof
Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards;
And nothing can nor shall content my soul,
Till I am even with him, wife for wife:
Or, failing so, yet that I put the Moor
At least into a jealousy so strong
That judgment cannot cure.
Which thing to do,-
If this poor brach of Venice, whom I trash
For his quick hunting, stand the putting on,
I'll have our Michael Cassio on the hip;
Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb,-
For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too,-
Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me,
For making him egregiously an ass,

And practising upon his peace and quiet,

Even to madness.-'Tis here, but yet confus'd;
Knavery's plain face is never seen till us'd.

[Exit.

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