Oth. Some of your function, mistress; [To Emil. Leave procreants alone, and shut the door; Cough, or cry-hem, if any body come : Your mystery, your mystery ;-nay, despatch. [Exit Emilia. Des. Upon my knees, what doth your speech import? I understand a fury in your words, But not the words. Oth. Why, what art thou? Des. And loyal wife. Oth. Your wife, my lord; your true Come, swear it, damn thyself; Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves Should fear to seize thee: therefore be doubledamn'd, Swear-thou art honest. Des. Heaven doth truly know it. Oth. Heaven truly knows, that thou art false as hell. Des. To whom, my lord? with whom? How am I false? Oth. O Desdemona!-away! away! away! Des. Alas, the heavy day!-Why do you weep? Am I the occasion of these tears, my lord? If, haply, you my father do suspect, An instrument of this your calling back, Lay not your blame on me; if you have lost him, Why, I have lost him too. Oth. Had it pleas'd heaven To try me with affliction; had he rain'd All kinds of sores, and shames, on my bare head; Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes; O! O! Yet could I bear that too; well, very well: But there, where I have garner'd' up my heart; To knot and gender in!-turn thy complexion there! Des. I hope, my noble lord esteems me honest. Oth. O, ay; as summer flies are in the shambles, That quicken even with blowing. O thou weed, Who art so lovely fair, and smell'st so sweet, That the sense aches at thee.-'Would, thou hadst ne'er been born! Des. Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed? Is hush'd within the hollow mine of earth, Des. By heaven, you do me wrong. No, as I am a Christian : If to preserve this vessel for my lord, Des. Oth. Is it possible? No, as I shall be saved. Des. O, heaven forgive us! Oth. I took you for that cunning whore of Venice, I cry you mercy, then; (1) Treasured up. That married with Othello.-You, mistress, Re-enter Emilia. That have the office opposite to Saint Peter, pains; I pray you, turn the key, and keep our counsel. [Exit. Emil. Alas, what does this gentleman conceive?— How do you, madam? how do you, my good lady? Des. 'Faith, half asleep. Emil. Good madam, what's the matter with my lord? Des. With who? Emil. Why, with my lord, madam. Des. Who is thy lord? He that is yours, sweet lady. Des. I have none: Do not talk to me, Emilia; I cannot weep; nor answer I have none, But what should go by water. Pr'ythee, to-night Lay on my bed my wedding sheets,-remember;And call thy husband hither. Emil. Here is a change, indeed! [Exit. Des. 'Tis meet I should be used so, very meet. How have I been behav'd, that he might stick The small'st opinion on my great'st abuse? Re-enter Emilia, with Iago. Iago. What is your pleasure, madam? How is it with you? Des. I cannot tell. Those, that do teach young babes, Do it with gentle means, and easy tasks: He might have chid me so; for, in good faith, Iago. What's the matter, lady? Emil. Alas, Iago, my lord hath so bewhor'd her, Thrown such despite and heavy terms upon her, As true hearts cannot bear. Des. Am I that name, lago. Iago? What name, fair lady? Des. Such as, she says, my lord did say I was. Emil. He call'd her, whore; a beggar, in his drink, Could not have laid such terms upon his callet.1 Iago. Why did he so? Des. I do not know; I am sure, I am none such. Iago. Do not weep, do not weep; Alas, the day! Emil. Has she forsook so many noble matches, Her father, and her country, and her friends, To be call'd-whore? would it not make one weep? Des. It is my wretched fortune. lago. Beshrew him for it! How comes the trick upon him? Nay, heaven doth know. Emil. I will be hang'd, if some eternal villain, Some busy and insinuating rogue, Some cogging cozening slave, to get some office, Have not devis'd this slander; I'll be hang'd else. Iago. Fie, there is no such man: it is impossible. Des. If any such there be, heaven pardon him! Emil. A halter pardon him! and hell gnaw his bones! Why should he call her, whore? who keeps her company? What place? what time? what form? what like lihood? The Moor's abus'd by some most villanous knave, To lash the rascal naked through the world, Iago. (1) His drab. (2) Fellows. (3) Inside out. Iago. You are a fool; go to. Des. O good Iago, Good friend, go to him; for by this light of heaven, Or that I do not yet, and ever did, And ever will,-though he do shake me off But never taint my love. I cannot say, whore; Des. If 'twere no other,Iago. It is but so, I warrant you. [Trumpets. Hark, how these instruments summon to supper! And the great messengers of Venice stay : Go in, and weep not; all things shall be well. [Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia. Enter Roderigo. How now, Roderigo? Rod. I do not find, that thou deal'st justly with me. Iago. What in the contrary Rod. Every day thou doff'st me2 with some device, Iago; and rather (as it seems to me now,) keep'st from me all conveniency, than suppliest me with the least advantage of hope. I will, indeed, no longer endure it: Nor am I yet persuaded, to (2) Putt'st me off. (1) Title. |