CHAP. XXVII.

OTHELLO AND JAGO.

JAGO. MY noble Lord,-
OTH. What dost thou say, lago?

IAGO. Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my Lady,
Know of your love ?
OTH. He did, from first to last ; why dost thou ask ?

;
JAGO. But for a satisfaction of my thoughtt
No farther harm.

OTH. Why of thy thought, Iago ?
IAGO. I did not think he'd been acquainted with it.
OTH. Oh, yes, and went between us very oft.
IAGO. Indeed !

OTH. Indeed! ay, indeed. Discern'st thou aught in that? Is he not honest ?

IAGO. Honest, my Lord ?
OTM. Honest ! aye, honest.
IAGO. My Lord, for aught I know.
OTH. What dost thou think?
IAGO. Think, my Lord !
OTH. Think, my Lord! Why by Heav'n, thou echo'st

me,
As if there were some monster in thy thought,
Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean something ;
I heard thee

say
but
now,

« thou lik'st not that,”-
When Cassio left my wife. Wbat did'st not like?
And when I told thee, he was of my counsel,
In my whole course of wooing ; thou cry'd'st,“ Indeed?
And did'st contract and purse iby brow together,
As if thou then badst shut up in thy brain
Some horrible conceit. If thou dost love me,
Show me thy thought.

IAGO. My Lord, you know I love you.
OTH. I think thou dost :

And, for I know, thou art full of love and honesty,
And weigh’st thy words before thou giv'st them breath,
Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more :
For such things in a false disloyal knave,
Are tricks of custom ; but in a man that's just,
They're cold dilations working from the heart,
That passion cannot rule.

IAGO. For Michael Cassio,
I dare be sworn, I think, that he is honest.

OTH. I think so too.

IAGO. Men should be what they seem ;
Or, those that be not, would they might seem knaves.

OTH. Certain ! men should be what they seem.
IAGO. Why, then I think Casso's an honest man,

OTH. Nay, yet there's more in this ; 1

pray the spaak to me as to thy thinkings, As thou dost ruminate : and give thy worst of thoughts The worst of words.

IAGO. Good my Lord, pardon me, Though I am bound to every act of duty, I am not bound to that all slaves are free to; Utter my thoughts !-Why, say, they're vile and false; As where's that palace, whereinto foul things Sometimes intrude not? Who has a breast so pure But some uncleanly apprehensions Keep leets and law-days, and in sessions sit With meditations lawful ?

OTH. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, lago,
If thou but think'st him wrongd, and mak'st his ear
A stranger to thy thoughts.

IAGO. I do beseech you,
Think I, perchance, am vicious in my guess,
(As, I confess, it is my nature's plague
Io 'spy into abuse ; and oft my jealousy
Shapes faults that are not) I intreat you then,
From one that-so imperfectly conjects,
Your wisdom would not build yourself a trouble

Out of my scatter'd and unsure observance :
It were not for your quiet nor your good,
No: for my manhood, honesty, and wisdom,
To let you know my thoughts.

OTH. What dost thou mean?

JAGO. Good name in man or woman, my dear Lord, Is the immediate jewel of their souls Who steals my purse,steals trash; “tis something, nothing: 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands :

But he that filches from me my good name, · Robs me of that which not enriches him, and makes me poor indeed.

OTH. I'll know thy thoughts

IAGO. You cannot, if my heart were in your hand, Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody.

OTH. Ha !

IAGO.. Oh, beware my Lord, of jealousy:
It is a green-ey'd monster, which doth mock
The meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss
Who certain of his fate, loves not his wronger ;
But oh, what damned minutes tells he o'er,
Who doats, yet doubts ; suspects, yet strongly loves !

OTH. O misery!

IAGO. Poor and content, is rich, and rich enough s
But riches endless, is as poor as winter,
To him that ever fears he shall be poor.
Good Heav'n! the souls of all my tribe defend
From jealousy!

OTH. Why, why is this?
Think'st thou I'd make a life of jealousy?
To follow still the changes of the moon
With fresh suspicions ?--'Tis not to make me jealous,
To say, my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company,
Is free of speech, sings, plays, and dances well:
Where virtue is, these make more virtuous.
Nor from mine own weak merits will I draws
The smallest fear, or doubt of her revolt,

Wear

Por she had eyes, and chose me. No, lago,
I'll see, before I doubt; when I doubt, prove ;
And, on the proof, there is no more but this,
Away at once with love or jealousy.

IAGO. I'm glad of this ; for now I shall have reason
To shew the love and duty that I bear you
With franker spirit. Therefore, as I'm bound,
Receive it from'me. I speak not yet of proof.
Book to your wife, observe her well with Cassio ;

„your eye, thus ; not jealous, nor secure!
I would not have your free and noble nature
Out of self-bounty be abus'd ; louk to't.
I know our country-disposition well;
In Venice they do let Hear'n see the pranks
They dare not shew their husbands.

OTH. Dost thou say 'so ?

IAGO. She did deceive her father, marrying you ; And when she seemd to 'shalre, and fear your looks, She lov'd them most.

OTH. And so she did. *

IAGO. Go too then ;
She that, so young, could give out such a seeining
To seal her father's eyes up, close as oak
He thought 'twas witchcraft-But I'm much to blame;
I humbly do beseech you of your pardon,
For too much loving you.

OTH. I am bound to you for ever.
IAGO. I see this hath a little dash'd your spirits.
OTH. Not a jot, not a jot.

IAGO. Trust me, I fear it has :
I hope you will consider what is spoke
Comes from my love. But I do see you're movidmice
I am to pray you, not to strain my speech
To grosser issues, not to larger reach,
Than to suspicion.

OTH: I will not.
IAGO. Should you do so, my Lord,

My speech would fall into such vile success,
Which my thoughts aim not at. Cassio's my worthy

friend,
My Lord, I see you're mov'd-

OTH. No, not much mov'd
I do not think but Desdamona's honest.

IAGO. Long live she so ! and long live you to think so !
OTH. And yet how nature's erring from itself

JAGO. Ay there's the point !-as (to be bold with you)
Not to affect many proposed matches
Of her own clime, complexion, and degree,
Whereto we see in all things nature tends :
Foh! one may smell, in such, a will most.rank;
Foul disproportions, thoughts unnatural.
But, pardon me, I do not in position
Distinctly speak of her ; though I may fear,
Her will, recoiling to her better judgment
May fall to match you with her country-forms,
And haply, so repent.

OTH. Farewel, farewel;
If more thou dost perceive, let me know more :
Set on thy wife to observe. Leave me, lago.

IAGO. My Lord, I take my leave.

OTH. Why did I marry ?-
This honest creature, doubtless,
Sees, and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.

JAGO. My Lord, I would I might intreat your Honour
To scan this thing no further : leave it to time :
Altho' ris fit that Cassio have his place,
Por, suré, he fills it up with great ability;
Yet if you please to hold him off awhile,
You shall by that perceive him and his means ;
Note, if your lady strain his entertainment
With any strong or vehement opportunity;
Much will be seen in that. In the mean time,
Let me be thought too busy in my fears,
(As worthy cause I have to fear I am)