Oth. Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damn'd to-night; for she shall not live: no, my heart is turn'd to stone; I strike it, and it hurts my hand.-O, the world hath 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 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 plenteous wit and invention!

201

Iago. Do it not with poison, strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated. Oth. Good, good: the justice of it pleases: very good.

Iago. And for Cassio,-let me be his undertaker:2 you shall hear more by midnight. Oth. Excellent good. [A trumpet within.] What trumpet is that same?

Iago. Something from Venice, sure. "T is Lodovico

Come from the duke: and, see, your wife is with him.

Enter LODOVICO, DESDEMONA, and Attendants. Lod. Save you, worthy general!

Oth. With all my heart, sir. Lod. The duke and senators of Venice greet [Gives him a packet. Oth. I kiss the instrument of their pleasures. [Opens the packet, and reads.

you.

An unkind breach: but you shall make all well.

Oth. Are you sure of that?
Des. My lord? .

239

Oth. [Reads]"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 lord and Cassio?

1 Unprovide my mind, i.e. make my mind waver.

2 Let me be his undertaker, let me deal with him.

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 obedient, as you say,-obedient,-
Very obedient.-Proceed you in your tears.-
Concerning this, sir,-O well-painted pas-
sion!-

I am commanded home.-Get you away;
I'll send for you anon.-Sir, I obey the mandate,
And will return to Venice.-Hence, avaunt!
[Exit Desdemona.

273

Cassio shall have my place. And, sir, to-night I do entreat that we may sup together: You're welcome, sir, to Cyprus.-Goats and monkeys! [Exit.

1 Atone, reconcile.

Oth. Ah, Desdemona!-away! away! away! Des. Alas the heavy day!-Why do you weep? Am I the motive of these tears, my lord? If haply you my father do suspect An instrument of this your calling back,1 Lay not your blame on me: if you have lost him, Why, I have lost him too.

50

Oth.
Had it pleas'd heaven
To try me with affliction; had they rain'd
All kinds of sores and shames on my bare head;
Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips;
Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes;
I should have found in some place of my soul
A drop of patience: but, alas, to make me
The fixed figure for the time, for scorn,

To point his slow and moving finger at!-
Yet could I bear that too; well, very well:
But there, where I have garner'd up my heart,
Where either I must live, or bear no life,-
The fountain from the which my current runs,
Or else dries up; to be discarded thence!
Or keep it as a cistern for foul toads

60

To knot and gender in !-turn thy complexion

Oth. Was this fair paper,2 this most goodly book,

Made to write "whore" upon?] What committed!

[Committed!-0 thou public commoner! I should make very forges of my cheeks, That would to cinders burn up modesty, Did I but speak thy deeds.-] What committed!

Heaven stops the nose at it, and the moon winks;

The bawdy wind, that kisses all it meets,
Is hush'd within the hollow mine of earth,
And will not hear it.-What committed!—
Impudent strumpet!

Des.

By heaven, you do me wrong. Oth. Are not you a strumpet?

Des.

83

No, as I am a Christian: If to preserve this vessel for my lord From any other foul unlawful touch, Be not to be a strumpet, I am none. Oth. What, [not a whore? Des.

No, as I shall be sav'd.

Why should he call her whore? who keeps her company?

What place? what time? what form? what likelihood?

The Moor's abus'd by some most villanous knave,

Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow:

O heaven, that such companions3 thou❜dst unfold,

And put in every honest hand a whip
To lash the rascals naked through the world
Even from the east to the west!

Iago. [Aside to Emil.] Speak within door.
Emil. O, fie upon them! Some such squire