Cleanse the stuff'd bosom of that perilous stuff, Which weighs upon the heart? REFLECTIONS ON LIFE. To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle; Life's but a walking shadow; a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.———— OTHELLO. ACT I. PREFERMENT.. 'Tis the curse of service; Preferment goes by letter, and affection, IAGO'S DISPRAISE OF HONESTY. We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly follow'd. You shall mark Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave, That, doting on his own obsequious bondage, Wears out his time, much like his master's ass, For nought but provender: and, when he's old, cashier'd: Whip me such honest knaves: Others there are, Who, trimm'd in forms and visages of duty, Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul; And such a one do I profess myself. It is as sure as you are Roderigo, LOVE, OTHELLO'S SOLE MOTIVE FOR MARRYING. But that I love the gentle Desdemona, OTHELLO'S DESCRIPTION TO THE SENATE OF HIS WINNING THE AFFECTIONS OF DESDEMONA. Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, My very noble and approv'd good masters, That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter, It is most true; true, I have married her; The very head and front of my offending * Outward show of civility. + Unsettled. Hath this extent, no more. speech, Rude am I in my peace; And little bless'd with the set phrase of In speaking for myself: Yet, by your gracious pa tience, I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver [charms, Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what What conjurations, and what mighty magic, (For such proceeding I am charg'd withal) I won his daughter with. Her father lov'd me; oft invited me; Still question'd me the story of my life, From year to year; the battles, sieges, fortunes, I ran it through, even from my boyish days, And sold to slavery; of my redemption thence, * These things to hear, Would Desdemona seriously incline: But still the house affairs would draw her thence; Which ever as she could with haste dispatch, * Best exertion. + My behaviour. She'd come again, and with a greedy ear And often did beguile her of her tears, 'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful: She wish'd, she had not heard it; yet she wish'd That heaven had made her such a man: she thank'd me; And bade me, if I had a friend that lov'd her, ACT II. PERFECT CONTENT. O my soul's joy! If after every tempest come such calms, As hell's from heaven! If it were now to die, * Parts. + Intention and attention were once synonymous. That not another comfort like to this ACT III. A LOVER'S EXCLAMATION. Farewell, my Desdemona: I will come to thee straight. [Exit DESDEMONA. Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul, As if there were some monster in his thought I heard thee say but now,-Thou lik'dst not that, Some horrible conceit: If thou dost love me, Iago. My lord, you know I love you. Oth. I think, thou dost; And, for I know thou art full of love and honesty, And weigh'st thy words before thou giv'st them breath, |