Iago. I protest, in the sincerity of love, and honest kindness.

Cas. I think it freely; and, betimes in the morning, I will beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me: I am desperate of my fortunes, if they check me here,

Iago. You are in the right. Good night, lieutenant; I must to the watch.

Cas. Good night, honest Iago.

[Exit CASSIO. Iago. And what's he then, that says,-I play the

villain?

When this advice is free, I give, and honest,
Probal to thinking, and (indeed) the course
To win the Moor again? For, 'tis most easy
The inclining Desdemona to subdue
In any honest suit; she's fram'd as fruitful8
As the free elements. And then for her

To win the Moor, were't to renounce his baptism,
All seals and symbols of redeemed sin,-
His soul is so enfetter'd to her love,

That she may make, unmake, do what she list,
Even as her appetite shall play the god
With his weak function. How am I then a villain,
To counsel Cassio to this parallel course,
Directly to his good? Divinity of hell!
When devils will their blackest sins put on,
They do suggest1 at first with heavenly shows,
As I do now: For while this honest fool
Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes,
And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor,
I'll pour this pestilence into his ear,-

That she repeals him for her body's lust;
And, by how much she strives to do him good,
She shall undo her credit with the Moor.

So will I turn her virtue into pitch;
And out of her own goodness make the net,
That shall enmesh them all.-How now, Roderigo?

Enter RODERIGO.

Rod. I do follow here in the chace, not like a hound that hunts, but one that fills up the cry. My money is almost spent; I have been to-night exceedingly well cudgelled; and, I think, the issue will be-I shall have so much experience for my pains: and so, with no money at all, and a little more wit, return to Venice.

Iago. How poor are they, that have not patience !What wound did ever heal, but by degrees? Thou know'st we work by wit, and not by witch

craft;

And wit depends on dilatory time.
Does't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee,
And thou, by that small hurt, hath cashier'd Cassio :
Though other things grow fair against the sun,
Yet fruits, that blossom first, will first be ripe :
Content thyself a while. --By the mass, 'tis morning;
Pleasure, and action, make the hours seem short.-

Retire thee; go where thou art billeted :
Away, I say; thou shalt know more hereafter :

Nay, get thee gone. [Exit RoD.] Two things are to

be done,

My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress;

I'll set her on;

Myself, the while, to draw the Moor apart,
And bring him jump when he may Cassio find
Soliciting his wife :-Ay, that's the way;
Dull not device by coldness and delay.

ACT III.

SCENE I. Before the Castle.

Enter CASSIO, and some Musicians.

[Exit.

Cas. Masters, play here, I will content your

pains,

Something that's brief; and bid-good-morrow,

general.

Enter Clown.

[Musick.

Clo. Why, masters, have your instruments been at

Naples, that they speak i'the nose thus ?

1 Mus. How, sir, how !

Clo. Are these I pray you, called wind instru

ments?

1 Mus. Ay, marry, are they, sir.

Clo. O, thereby hangs a tail.

1 Mus. Whereby hangs a tale, sir?

Clo. Marry, sir, by many a wind instrument that I know. But, masters, here's money for you: and the general so likes your musick, that he desires you, of all loves, to make no more noise with it.

1 Mus. Well, sir, we will not.

Clo. If you have any musick that may not be

heard, to't again: but, as they say, to hear musick, the general does not greatly care.

1 Mus. We have none such, sir.

Clo. Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll away: Go; vanish into air; away.

[Exeunt Musicians.

Cas. Dost thou hear, my honest friend

Clo. No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear

you.

Cas. Pr'ythee, keep up thy quillets. There's a poor piece of gold for thee: if the gentlewoman that attends the general's wife, be stirring, tell her, there's one Cassio entreats her a little favour of speech: Wilt thou do this?

Clo. She is stirring, sir; if she will stir hither, I shall seem to notify unto her.

Enter IAGO.

[Exit,

Cas. Do, good my friend. In happy time, Iago.
Iago. You have not been a-bed then ?

Cas. Why, no; the day had broke

Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago,

To send in to your wife: My suit to her

Is, that she will to virtuous Desdemona

Procure me some access.

Iago.

I'll send her to you presently;

And I'll devise a mean to draw the Moor

Out of the way, that your converse and business

May be more free.

[Exit.

Cas. I humbly thank you for't. I never knew

Enter EMILIA.

Emil. Good morrow, good lieutenant: I am sorry

For your displeasure; but all will soon be well.
The general, and his wife, are talking of it;
And she speaks for you stoutly: The Moor replies,
That he, you hurt, is of great fame in Cyprus,
And great affinity; and that, in wholesome wisdom,
He might not but refuse you: but, he protests, he

loves you;

And needs no other suitor, but his likings,
To take the saf'st occasion by the front,

To bring you in again.

Cas.

Yet, I beseech you,

If you think fit, or that it may be done,
Give me advantage of some brief discourse

With Desdemona alone.

Emil.

Pray you, come in;

I will bestow you where you shall have time

To speak your bosom freely.

Cas.

I am much bound to you.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

A Room in the Castle.

Enter OTHELLO, IAGO, and Gentlemen.
Oth. These letters give, Iago, to the pilot;
And, by him, do my duties to the state :
That done, I will be walking on the works,

5 The displeasure you have incurred from Othello.