And he that is approv'd in his offence, Tho' he had twinn'd with me, both at a birth, Mont. If partially affin'd, or leagu'd in office, Iago. Touch me not fo near: I'd rather have this tongue cut from my mouth, The town might fall in fright. He, fwift of foot, More of this matter cannot I report. As men in rage ftrike thofe that wish them best, From him that fled fome ftrange indignity, 7 What, in Oth Oth. I know, Iago, Thy honefty and love doth mince this matter, Enter Défdemona attended. Look if my gentle love be not rais'd up: I'll make thee an example. Def. What's the matter? Oth. All is well, fweeting; come, away to bed. Sir, for your hurts, my felf will be your furgeon. Lead him off: Jago, look with care about the town, And filence thofe whom this vile brawl diftracted. To have their balmy flumbers wak'd with ftrife. [Exeunt. S CE N E Manent Iago and Caffio. Jago. What, are you hurt, lieutenant ? Caf. Paft all furgery. Iago. Marry, heav'n forbid! XIV. Caf. Reputation, reputation, reputation! oh I have loft my reputation! I have loft the immortal part of my felf, and what remains is beftial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation - Iago. As I am an honeft man, I had thought you had received fome bodily wound; there is more fense in that than in reputation. Reputation is an idle, and moft falfe impofition; oft got without merit, and loft without deferving. You have loft no reputation at all, unless you repute your felf fuch a lofer. What, man there are ways to recover the General again. You are but now caft in his mood, a punishment more in policy than in malice, even fo as one would beat his offenceless dog to affright an impious lion. Sue to him again, and he's yours. Caf. I will rather fue to be defpis'd, than to deceive fo good good a commander with fo flight, fo drunken, and fo in difcreet an officer. Drunk and fpeak? parrot? and squabble? fwagger? fwear? and difcourfe fuftian with one's own fhadow? oh thou invifible fpirit of wine! if thou haft no name to be known by, let us call thee devil. Iago. What was he that you follow'd with your sword? what had he done to you? Caf. I know not. Iago. Is't poffible? Caf. I remember a mafs of things, but nothing diftin&t. ly: a quarrel, but nothing wherefore. Oh, that men fhould put an enemy in their mouths, to fteal away their brains! that we should with joy, pleasance, revel, and applause, transform our felves into beasts! Iago. Why, but you are now well enough: how came you thus recover'd? Caf. It hath pleas'd the devil drunkenness to give place to the devil wrath; one unperfectnefs fhews me another, to make me frankly defpife my felf. Iago. Come, you are too fevere a moraler. As the time, the place, the condition of this country ftands, I could heartily with this had not befall'n: but fince it is as it is, mend it for your own good. Caf. I will ask him for my place again; he fhall tell me, I am a drunkard! had I as many mouths as Hydra, fuch an answer would stop them all. To be now a fenfible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast! Every inordinate cup is unblefs'd, and the ingredient is a devil. Iago. Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well us'd: exclaim no more against it. And, good lieutenant, I think you think I love you. Caf. I have well approv'd it, Sir. I drunk! Iago. You or any man living, may be drunk at fome time, man. I tell you what you fhall do: our General's wife is now the General. I may fay fo, in this respect, for that he hath devoted and given up himself to to the contemplation, mark, and denotement of her Parts and graces. Confefs yourfelf freely to her importune her help, to put you in your place again. She is of fo free, fo kind, fo apt, fo bleffed a difpofition, fhe holds it a vice in her goodness not to do more than fhe is requested. This broken joint between you and her hufband, intreat her to fplinter. And, my fortunes against any lay worth naming, this crack of your love fhall grow ftronger than it was before. Caf. You advife me well. Iago. I proteft, in the fincerity of love, and honeft kindness. Caf. I think it freely: and betimes in the morning I will befeech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me: I am defperate of my fortunes, if they check me here. Iago. You are in the right: good night, lieutenant, I muft to the watch. Caf. Good night, honeft Iago. SCENE Manet Iago. [Exit Caffio. XV. Iago. And what's he then, that fays I play the villain ? When this advice is free I give, and honeft, Likely to thinking, and indeed the courfe To win the Moor again. For 'tis most easie In any honeft fuit: fhe's fram'd as fruitful To win the Moor, were't to renounce his baptifm, His foul is fo enfetter'd to her love That he may make, unmake, do what she lift, With his weak function. Am I then a villain, VOL. VI. 8 devotement Hh old edit. Theob. emend. When When devils will their blackeft fins put on, And the for him pleads ftrongly to the Moor; That fhe repeals him for her body's luft: So will I turn her virtue into pitch; And out of her own goodness make the net SCENE Enter Rodorigo, XVI. Rod. I follow here in the chace, not like a hound that hunts, but one that fills up the cry. My money is almoft fpent; I have been to-night exceedingly well cudgelled; and I think the iffue will be, I fhall have fo much experience for my pains; and fo with no money at all, and a little more wit, return again to Venice. Iago. How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees? Thou know't we work by wit, and not by witchcraft; And wit depends on dilatory time: Does't not go well? Caffio hath beaten thee, And thou by that small hurt haft cashier'd Caffio. Two things are to be done; [Exit Rodorigo. I'll My wife must move for Cafio to her miftrefs: 9 will first be ripe: |