<p>[Before the castle． Enter DESDEMONA， EMILIA，and Clown．]</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Do you know，sirrah，where Lieutenant Cassio lies？</p>
<p>Clown</p>
<p>I dare not say he lies any where．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Why， man？</p>
<p>Clown</p>
<p>He’s a soldier and for one to say a soldier lies，</p>
<p>is stabbing．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Go to：where lodges he？</p>
<p>Clown</p>
<p>To tell you where he lodges，is to tell you where I lie．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Can any thing be made of this？</p>
<p>Clown</p>
<p>I know not where he lodges，and for me to devise a</p>
<p>lodging and say he lies here or he lies there，were</p>
<p>to lie in mine own throat．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Can you inquire him out， and be edified by report？</p>
<p>Clown</p>
<p>I will catechise the world for him； that is，make</p>
<p>questions，and by them answer．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Seek him，bid him come hither：tell him I have</p>
<p>moved my lord on his behalf，and hope all will be well．</p>
<p>Clown</p>
<p>To do this is within the compassof man’s wit ：and</p>
<p>therefore I will attempt the doing it．</p>
<p>[Exit]</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Where shoud I lose that handkerchief， Emilia？</p>
<p>EMILIA</p>
<p>I know not， madam．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Believe me，I had rather have lost my purse</p>
<p>Full of crusadoes：and，but my noble Moor</p>
<p>Is true of mind and made of no such baseness</p>
<p>As jealous creatures are，it were enough</p>
<p>To put him to ill thinking</p>
<p>EMILIA</p>
<p>Is he not jealous？</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Who， he？ I think the sun where he was born</p>
<p>Drew all such humours from him．</p>
<p>EMILIA</p>
<p>Look，where he comes</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>I will not leave him now till Cassio</p>
<p>Be call’d to him．</p>
<p>[Enter OTHELLO．]</p>
<p>How is’t with you，my lord</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Well， my good lady．</p>
<p>[Aside]</p>
<p>O， hardness to dissemble！——</p>
<p>How do you，Desdemona？</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Well，my good lord．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Give me your hand：this hand is moist，my lady．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>It yet hath felt no age nor known no sorrow．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>This argues fruitfulness and liberal heart：</p>
<p>Hot，hot，and moist：this hand of yours requires</p>
<p>A sequester from liberty， fasting and prayer，</p>
<p>Much castigation，exercise devout ；</p>
<p>For here’s a young and sweating devil here，</p>
<p>That commonly rebels．’Tis a good hand，</p>
<p>A frank one．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>You may，indeed，say so；</p>
<p>For’twas that hand that gave away my heart．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>A liberal hand：the hearts of old gave hands；</p>
<p>But our new heraldry is hands，not hearts．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>I cannot speak of this． Come now， your promise．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>What promise，chuck？</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>I have sent to bidCassio come speak with you．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>I have a salt and sorry rheumoffendsme；Lend me thy handkerchief．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Here，my lord．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>That which I gave you ．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>I have it not about me．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Not？</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>No，indeed，my lord．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>That is a fault．</p>
<p>That handkerchief</p>
<p>Did an Egyptian to my mother give；</p>
<p>She was a charmer，and could almost read</p>
<p>The thoughts of people：she told her，while</p>
<p>she kept it，</p>
<p>‘Twould make her amiableand subdue my father</p>
<p>Entirely to her love， but if she lost it</p>
<p>Or made gift of it ， my father’s eye</p>
<p>Should hold her loathed and his spirits should hunt</p>
<p>After new fancies：she， dying，gave it me；</p>
<p>And bid me，when my fate would have me wive，</p>
<p>To give it her．I did so：and take heed on’t；</p>
<p>Make it a darling like your preciouseye；</p>
<p>To lose’t or give’t away were such perdition</p>
<p>As nothing else could match．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Is’t possible？</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>‘Tis true：there’s magic in the webof it：</p>
<p>A sibyl，that had number’d in the world</p>
<p>The sun to course two hundred compasses，</p>
<p>In her prophetic furysew’d the work；</p>
<p>The worms were hallow’d that did breed the silk；</p>
<p>And it was dyed in mummywhich the skilful</p>
<p>Conserved of maidens’ hearts．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Indeed！is’t true？</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Most veritable ；therefore look to’t well．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Then would to God that I had never seen’t！．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Ha！wherefore？．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Why do you speak so startingly and rash？</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Is’t lost？is’t gone？speak，is it out</p>
<p>o’ the way？</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Heaven bless us！</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Say you？</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>It is not lost；but what an if it were？</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>How！</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>I say，it is not lost．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Fetch’t，let me see’t．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Why，so I can，sir，but I will not now．</p>
<p>This is O trick to put me from my suit：</p>
<p>Pray you，let Cassio be received again．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Fetch me the handkerchief：my mind misgives．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Come，come；</p>
<p>You’ll never meet a more sufficientman．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>The handkerchief！</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>I pray， talk me of Cassio．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>The handkerchief！</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>A man that all his time</p>
<p>Hath founded his good fortuneson your love，</p>
<p>Shared dangers with you，——</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>The handkerchief！</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>In sooth， you are to blame．</p>
<p>OTHELLO</p>
<p>Away！［Exit］</p>
<p>EMILIA</p>
<p>Is not this man jealous？</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>I ne’er saw this before．</p>
<p>Sure，there’s same wonderin this handkerchief：</p>
<p>I am most unhappy in the loss of it！．</p>
<p>EMILIA</p>
<p>‘Tis not a year or two shows us a man：</p>
<p>They are all but stomachs，and we all but food；</p>
<p>To eat us hungerly，and when they are full，</p>
<p>They belchus．Look you，Cassio and my husband！</p>
<p>［Enter CASSIO and IAGO］</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>There is no other way；’tis she must do’t：</p>
<p>And，lo，the happiness！go，and importuneher．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>How now，good Cassio！what’s the news with you？</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Madam，my former suit：I do beseech you</p>
<p>That by your virtuous means I may again</p>
<p>Exist，and be a member of his love</p>
<p>Whom I with all the office Of my heart</p>
<p>Entirelyhonour：I would not be delay’d．</p>
<p>If my offence be of such mortal kind</p>
<p>That nor my service past，nor present sorrows，</p>
<p>Nor purposed merit in futurity，</p>
<p>Can ransomme into his love again，</p>
<p>But to know so must be my benefit；</p>
<p>So shall I clothe me in a forced content，</p>
<p>And shut myself up in some other course，</p>
<p>To fortune’s alms．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Alas，thrice-gentle Cassio！</p>
<p>My advocationis not now in tune；</p>
<p>My lord is not my lord；nor should I know him，</p>
<p>Were he in favour as in humour alter’d．</p>
<p>So help me every spirit sanctified，</p>
<p>As I have spoken for you all my best</p>
<p>And stood within the blankof his displeasure</p>
<p>For my free speech！you must awhile be patient ：</p>
<p>What I can do I will；and more I will</p>
<p>Than for myself I dare：let that suffice you．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Is my lord angry？</p>
<p>EMILIA</p>
<p>He went hence but now，</p>
<p>And certainly in strange unquietness．</p>
<p>IAGO</p>
<p>Can he be angry？I have seen the cannon，</p>
<p>When it hath blown his ranksinto the air，</p>
<p>And，like the devil，from his very arm</p>
<p>Puff’dhis own brother：——and can he be angry？</p>
<p>Something of moment then：I will go meet him：</p>
<p>There’s matter in’t indeed，if he be angry．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>I prithee，do so．</p>
<p>［Exit IAGO］</p>
<p>Something，sure，of state，</p>
<p>Either from Venice，or some unhatch’dpractise</p>
<p>Made demonstrablehere in Cyprus to him，</p>
<p>Hath puddledhis clear spirit：and in such cases</p>
<p>Men’s natures wranglewith inferiorthings，</p>
<p>Though great ones are their object．’Tis even so；</p>
<p>For let our finger ache，and it indues</p>
<p>Our other healthful members even to that sense</p>
<p>Of pain：nay，we must think men are not gods，</p>
<p>Nor of them look for such observances</p>
<p>As fit the bridal．Beshrewme much，Emilia，</p>
<p>I was， unhandsome warrior as I am，</p>
<p>Arraigning’his unkindness with my soul；</p>
<p>But now I find I had suborn’d’the witness，</p>
<p>And he’s indictedfalsely．</p>
<p>EMILIA</p>
<p>Pray heaven it be state－matters，as you think，</p>
<p>And no conception nor no jealous toy</p>
<p>Concerning you．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Alas the day！I never gave him cause．</p>
<p>EMILIA</p>
<p>But jealous souls will not be answer’dso；</p>
<p>They are not ever jealous for the cause，</p>
<p>But jealous for they are jealous：’tis a monster</p>
<p>Begot upon itself，born on itself．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>Heaven keep that monster fromOthello’s mind！</p>
<p>EMILIA</p>
<p>Lady，amen．</p>
<p>DESDEMONA</p>
<p>I will go seekhim．Cassio，walk hereabout：</p>
<p>If I do find him fit， I’ll move your suit</p>
<p>And seek to effect it to my uttermost．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>I humbly thank your ladyship．</p>
<p>［Exeunt DESDEMONA and EMILIA Enter BIANCA］</p>
<p>BIANCA</p>
<p>Save you，friend Cassio！</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>What make you from home？</p>
<p>How is it withyou，my most fair Bianca？</p>
<p>I’faith，sweet love，Iwas coming to your house．</p>
<p>BIANCA</p>
<p>And I was going to your lodging，Cassio．</p>
<p>What，keep a week away？seven days and nights？</p>
<p>Eight scoreeight hours？and lovers’absent hours，</p>
<p>More tediousthan the dialeight score times？</p>
<p>O wearyreckoning！</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Pardon me，Bianca：</p>
<p>I have this whilewith leadenthoughts been press’d：</p>
<p>But I shall，in a more continuate time，</p>
<p>Strike off score of absence．Sweet Bianca，</p>
<p>［Giving her DESDEMONA’s handkerchief］</p>
<p>Take me this work out．</p>
<p>BIANCA</p>
<p>O Cassio，whence came this？</p>
<p>This is some token from a newer friend：</p>
<p>To the felt absence now I feel a cause：</p>
<p>Is’t come to this？Well，well．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Go to，woman！</p>
<p>Throw your vileguesses in the devil’s teeth，</p>
<p>From whence you have them．You are jealous now</p>
<p>That this is from some mistress，some remembrance：</p>
<p>No，in good troth，Bianca．</p>
<p>BIANCA</p>
<p>Why，whose is it？</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>I know not，sweet： I found it in my chamber．</p>
<p>I like the work well：ere it be demanded——</p>
<p>As like enough it will——I’ld have it copied：</p>
<p>Take it，and do’t；and leave me for this time．</p>
<p>BIANCA</p>
<p>Leave you！wherefore？</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>I do attend here on the general；</p>
<p>And think it no addition，nor my wish，</p>
<p>To have him see me woman’d．</p>
<p>BIANCA</p>
<p>Why，I pray you？</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>Not that I love you not．</p>
<p>BIANCA</p>
<p>But that you do not love me．</p>
<p>I pray you，bring me on the way a little，</p>
<p>And say ifI shall see you soon at night．</p>
<p>CASSIO</p>
<p>‘Tis but a little way that Ican bring you；</p>
<p>For I attend here：but I’ll see you soon．</p>
<p>BIANCA</p>
<p>‘Tis very good；I must be circumstanced．</p>
<p>［Exeunt］</p>