That thou art falfe as hell.

Def. To whom, my Lord?
With whom? how am I false?

Oth. Ah, Defdemona, away, away, away
Def. Alas the heavy day! why do you weep ?
Am I the motive of these tears, my Lord?
If haply you my father do fufpect

An inftrument of this your calling back,

Lay not your blame on me; if you have loft him,
Why I have loft him too.

Oth. Had it pleas'd heav'n

2

To try me with affliction, had it` rain'd

All kind of fores and fhames on my bare head,
Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips,
Giv'n to captivity me and my hopes;

I fhould have found in fome place of my foul
A drop of patience. But alas, to make me
A fixed figure for the hand of fcorn
To point his flow 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 muft live, or bear no life,
The fountain from the which my current runs,
Or elfe dries up; to be difcarded thence;
Or keep it as a ciftern, for foul toads.

To knot and gender in: turn thy complexion there,
Patience, thou young and rofe-lipp'd cherubin;
3There, there look grim as hell.

Def. I hope my noble Lord efteems me honeft.
Oth. Oh ay, as fummer-flies are in the fhambles,
That quicken ev'n with blowing. Oh thou weed!
Who art fo lovely fair, and fmell'ft fo fweet,
That the fenfe akes at thee

Would thou had'ft ne'er been born!

Def. Alas, what ignorant fin have I committed? Oth. Was this fair paper, this most goodly book, Made to write whore upon? What, what committed?

2 he

3 I here ... old edit. Theob. emend.

Com

Committed? oh, thou publick commoner!
I should make very forges of my cheeks,
That would to cinders burn up modefty,

Did 'I but fpeak thy deeds. What, what committed?
Heav'n ftops the nofe at it, and the moon winks;.
The bawdy wind, that kiffes all it meets,

Is hufh'd within the hollow mine of earth

And will not hear't. 5 'Committed ?-impudent ftrumpet!
Def. By heav'n, you do me wrong.
Oth. Are not you a ftrumpet?

Def. No, as I am a christian.
If to preferve this veffel for my Lord
From any other foul unlawful touch,
Be not to be a ftrumpet, I am none.
Oth. What, not a whore?
Def. No, as I fhall be faved.
Oth. Is't poffible?

Def. Oh, heav'n forgive us!
Oth. I cry you mercy, then.

I took you for that cunning whore of Venice,
That married with Othello

"'Come you, mistress,

That have the office oppofite to Saint Peter,

And keep the gate of hell; You! you! ay, you!
We have done our course, there's money for your pains;

I pray you turn the key, and keep our counfel.

Emil. Alas, what does this gentleman conceive?

[Exit.

How do you, Madam? how do you, my good Lady?
Def. 'Faith, half afleep.

Emil. Good Madam, what's the matter with my Lord?
Def. 7'With whom, Emilia ?

Emil. Why, with my Lord, Madam.

Def. Who is thy Lord?

Kk 4

Æmil

What committed? 6 You, mistress, 7 With whom?

Emil. He that is yours, fweet Lady.

Def. I have none; do not talk to me, Æmilia,
I cannot weep; nor answer have I none,
But what should go by water. Pray, to-night
Lay on my bed my wedding fheets, remember:
And call thy husband hither.

Emil. Here's a change indeed!

Def. 'Tis meet I should be us'd fo, very meet: How have I been behav'd, that he might stick The small'ft opinion of my leaft misuse?

[Exit.

Iago. What is your pleasure, Madam? how is't with you? Def. I cannot tell; thofe that do teach your babes, Do it with gentle means, and eafie tasks;

He might have chid me fo: for in good, faith,
I am a child to chiding.

Iago. What is the matter, Lady?

Emil. Alas, Iago, my Lord hath fo bewhor'd her, Thrown fuch defpight and heavy terms upon her, That true hearts cannot bear it.

Def. Am I that name, Jago?

Iago. What name, fair Lady?

Def. Such as fhe faid my Lord did fay I was.
Emil. He call'd her whore; a beggar, in his drink,
Could not have laid fuch terms upon his callat.
Iago. Why did he fo?

Def. I do not know; I'm fure I am none fuch.
Iago. Do not weep, do not weep; alas the day!
Emil. Hath the forfook fo many noble matches?
Her father? and her country? and her friends?
To be call'd whore? would it not make one weep?
Def. It is my wretched fortune.

lago. Befhrew him for't: how comes this trick upon him? Def. Nay, heav'n doth know.

Emil. I will be hang'd if fome eternal villain,

Some

1

Some bufie and infinuating rogue,

Some cogging, cozening flave, to get fome office,
Has not devis'd this flander: I'll be hang'd elfe.
Iago. Fie, there is no fuch man; it is impoffible.
Def. If any fuch there be, heav'n pardon him!
Emil. A halter pardon him, and hell gnaw his bones!
Why fhould he call her whore? who keeps her company?
What place? what time? what form? what likelyhood?
The Moor's abus'd by fome moft villainous knave,
Some base notorious knave, fome fcurvy fellow.
Oh heav'n, that fuch companion thou'dft unfold,
And put in every honeft hand a whip,

To lafh the rafcal naked through the world,
Ev'n from the eaft to th' weft!

lago. Speak within door.

Emil. Oh fie upon him! Some fuch 'fquire he was
That turn'd your wit the feamy fide without,

And made you to fufpect me with the Moor.

Iago. You are a fool; go to.

Def. Alas, Iago,

What fhall I do to win my Lord again?

Good friend, go to him; by this light of heav'n,

I know not how I loft him. Here I kneel; [Kneeling.
If e'er my will did trefpafs 'gainst his love;

Or in difcourfe, or thought, or actual deed;
Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense,
Delighted them on any other form;
Or that I do not yet, and ever did,
And ever will, though he do fhake me off
To beggarly divorcement, love him dearly,
Comfort forfwear me! Unkindness may do much ;

And his unkindness may defeat my life,

But never taint my love. I can't fay whore,
It does abhor me now I fpeak the word;
To do the act, that might th' addition earn,
Not the world's mafs of vanity could make me.
Iago. I pray you be content; 'tis but his humour;

8 them!

The

A

The bufinefs of the ftate does him offence,
And he does chide with you.

Def. If 'twere no other

lago. It is but fo, I warrant.

Hark how thefe inftruments fummon to fupper! [Trumpet. The meffenger of Venice stays the meat;

Go in, and weep not; all things fhall be well.

[Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia.

SCENE

How now, Rodorigo?

Enter Rodorigo..

XII.

Rod. I do not find that thou deal'ft juftly with me.
Iago. What in the contrary?

Rod. Every day thou doff'ft me with fome device, Iago; and rather, as it feems to me now, keep'ft from me all conveniency, than suppliest me with the leaft advantage of hope. I will indeed no longer endure it. Nor am I yet perfwaded to put up in peace what already I have foolishly fuffer'd.

Jago. Will you hear me, Rodorigo?

Rod. I have heard too much; and your words and performances are no kin together.

Iago. You charge me most unjustly.

Rod. With nought but truth: I have wafted my felf out of my means. The jewels you have had from me to deliver to Defdemona, would half have corrupted a Votarift. You have told me fhe hath receiv'd them, and return'd me expectations and comforts of fudden respect and acquittance, but I find none.

Iago. Well, go to; very well.

Rod. Very well? go to? I cannot go to, man, nor 'tis not very well; nay, I think it is fcurvy; and begin to find my felf fob'd in it.

Iago. Very well.

Rod. I tell you, 'tis not very well. I will make my felf known to Desdemona: If fhe will return me my jewels,

I will