Def. Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia? Amil. I know not, Madam.

my purfe

Def. Believe me, I had rather have loft
Full of Cruzadoes. And but my noble Moor
Is true of mind, and made of no fuch baseness
As jealous creatures are, it were enough
To put him to ill thinking.d

Emil. Is he not jealous

Def. Who, he? I think, the Sun, where he was born, Drew all fuch humours from him.

Emil. Look, where he comes.

Def. I will not leave him now, till Caffio be Call'd to him. How is it with you my Lord ?

Enter Othello.

Oth. Well, my good lady. Oh, hardnefs to diffemble! How do you, Defdemona ?

Def. Well, my Lord.

Oth. Give me your hand; this hand is moist, my lady.
Def. It yet hath felt no age, nor known no forrow.
Oth. This argues fruitfulness, and liberal heart: :
Hot, hot, and moift-this hand of yours requires
A fequefter from liberty; fafting and prayer,
Much caftigation, exercife devout;

For here's a young and fweating devil here,
That commonly rebels; 'tis a good hand,
A frank one.

Def. You may, indeed, fay fo;

For 'twas that hand, that gave away my heart.

Oth. A liberal hand. The hearts, of old, gave hands;

But our new heraldry is hands, not hearts."

Def. I cannot speak of this; come, now your promise.

Oth. What promife, chuck?

Def. I've fent to bid Caffio come speak with you. Oth. I have a falt and forry Rheum offends me; Lend me thy handkerchief.

Def. Here, my Lord..

Oth. That, which I gave you.

Def. I have it not about me.

Oth. Not?

Dej.

Def. No, indeed, my Lord.

Oth. That's a fault. That handkerchief Did an Egyptian to my mother give;

She was a Charmer, and could almoft read

The thoughts of people. She told her, while he kept it,
"Twould make her amiable, fubdue my fatherone, 22
Intirely to her love; but if the loft ita od 14)
Or made a gift of it, my father's eyelin
Should hold her loathed, and his fpirits hunt
After new fancies. She, dying, gave it me;
And bid me, when my fate would have me wir'd,
To give it her. I did fo; and take heed on't ;—
Make it a darling, like your precious eye;

To lofe't, or give't away, were fuch perdition,
As nothing elfe could match.

Def. Is't poffible?

Oth. 'Tis true; there's magick in the web of it; A Sybil, that had numbred in the world

The Sun to courfe two hundred compaffes,
In her prophetick fury few'd the Work:

The worms were hallowed, that did breed the filk;
And it was dy'd in Mummey, which the skilful
Conferv'd of Maidens' hearts.

Def. Indeed! is't true?

Oth. Most veritable, therefore look to't well,
Def. Then would to heav'n, that I had never seen't!
Oth. Ha wherefore?

Def. Why do you fpeak fo ftartingly, and rash?
Oth. Is't loft is't gone? fpeak, is it out o'th' way?
Def. Bless us!

Oth. Say you?

Def. It is not loft; but what, an if it were?

Oth. Ha!

Def. I fay, it is not loft.

Oth. Fetch't, let me fee't.

Def. Why, fo I can, Sir; but I will not now:

This is a trick to put me from my fuit,

Pray you, let Caffio be receiv'd again.

Óth. Fetch me the handkerchief-my mind mifgivesDef. Come, you'll ne'er meet a more fufficient man.

Oth.

Oth. The handkerchief

Def. A man, that, all his time,

Hath founded his good fortunes on your love;

Shar'd dangers with you.

Oth. The handkerchief

Def. Infooth, you are to blame.

Oth. Away!

[Exit Othello.

.90

Manent Defdemona and Emilia.

Emil. Is not this man jealous?

Def. I ne'er faw this before.

Sure, there's fome wonder in this handkerchief:
I'm most unhappy in the lofs of it.

Amil. 'Tis not a year, or two, fhews us a man: I
They are all but ftomachs, and we all but food;
They eat us hungerly, and, when they're full,
They belch us. Look you! Caffio, and my husband,
Enter Iago and Caffio.

Fago. There is no other way, 'tis she must do't;
And lo, the happiness! go and importune her.
Def. How now, good Caffio, what's the news with you?
Caf. Madam, my former fuit. I do befeech you,
That by your virtuous means I may again

Exift, and be a member of his love:
Whom I, with all the office of my heart,
Intirely honour. I would not be delay'd;
If my offence be of fuch mortal kind,

That not my fervice paft, nor prefent forrows,
Nor purpos'd merit in futurity,

Can ranfom me into his love again;
But to know fo, must be my benefit.
So fhall I clothe me in a forc'd content,.

And fhut myself up in fome other course,
To fortune's alms.

Def. Alas! thrice-gentle Caffio,

My advocation is not now in tune;

My Lord is not my Lord; nor fhould I know him,
Were he in favour, as in humour, alter'd,

So help me every fspirit fanctified,

As

As I have spoken for you all my beft

And flood within the blank of his difpleasure,

For my free speech! You must a-while be patient;
What I can do, I will: and more I will

cannon

Than for myself I dare. Let that fuffice you,
Iago. Is my Lord angryd?er 9s Boy
Emil. He went hence but now;
And, certainly, in ftrange unquietnefs.
Lago. Can he be angry? I have feen the
When it hath blown his ranks into the air,
And, like the Devil, from his very arm
Puft his own brother; and can he be angry
Something of moment then; I will
go meet
There's matter in't indeed, if he be an

angry

?

him:

Manent Defdemona, Emilia, and Caffio.

[Exit

Def. I pr'ythee, do fo.-Something, fure, of State,
Either from Venice, or fome unhatch'd practice,
Made here demonftrable in Cyprus to him,

Hath puddled his clear fpirit; and, in fuch cafes,"
Mens' natures wrangle with inferior things,
Tho' great ones are their object. 'Tis ev'n fo.
For let our finger ake, and it endues

Our other healthful members with a fenfe

Of pain. Nay, we must think, Men are not Gods;
Nor of them look for fuch obfervance always,
As fits the bridal. Befhrew me much, Emilia,
I was (unhandfome warrior, as I am,)
Arraigning his unkindness with my foul;
But now I find, I had fuborn'd the witness,
And he's indited falfely.

Emil. Pray heav'n, it be

State-matter, as you think; and no conception,
Nor jealous toy concerning you.

1.

Def. Alas-the-day, I never give him cause.
Emil. But jealous fouls will not be anfver'd fo;
They are not ever jealous for a caufe;

But jealous, for they're jealous. It's a monster
Begot upon itself, born on itfelf,

Def. Heav'n keep that moniter from Othello's mind!

1

Emil. Lady, amen.

Def. I will go feek him. Caffio, walk hereabout
If I do find him fit, I'll move your fuit,
And feek t' effect it to my uttermoft.

Caf. I humbly thank your Ladyfhip.

[Exeunt Defdem. and Emil. at one door; Caffio, at the other.

SCENE changes to the Street before the Palace.

Bian.

Re-enter Caffio, meeting Bianca.

you, friend

Savey. What make you from home?

How is it with you, my moft fair Bianca?
Indeed, fweet Love, I was coming to your house.
Bian. And I was going to your lodging, Caffio.
What? keep a week away? feven days and nights ?
Eightfcore eight hours? and lovers' abfent hours,
More tedious than the dial, eightscore times?
Oh weary reck'ning!

Caf. Pardon me, Bianca:

I have this while with leaden thoughts been preft;
But I fhall in a more convenient time

Strike off this fcore of abfence. Sweet Bianca,

[Giving her Desdemona's Handkerchief.

Take me this work out.

Bian. Oh Caffio, whence came this?

This is fome token from a newer friend:
Of thy felt abfence now I feel a caufe:
Is't come to this? well, well....

Caf. Go to, woman:

Throw your vile gueffes in the Devil's teeth,

From whence you have them.

You are jealous now,

That this is from fome miftrefs, fome remembrance? No, in good troth, Bianca.

Bian. Why, whofe is it?

Caf. I know not neither; I found it in my chamber; I like the work well: ere it be demanded,

As like enough it will, I'd have it copied:

Take