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 the blackest sins put on,
They do suggest at first with heavenly shows,
As I do now: For whiles this honest fool
Plies Desdemona to repair his fortune,
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 chase, 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 witchcraft;
And wit depends on dilatory time.

Does 't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee,
And thou, by that small hurt, hast cashier'd Cassio:
Though other things grow fair against the sun,
Yet fruits that blossom first will first be ripe :
Content thyself a while.-In troth, 't is morning;
Pleasure, and action, make the hours seem short.
Retire thee; go where thou art billeted:

VOL. VIII.

L

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.

[Exit.

ACT III.

SCENE I.-Before the Castle.

Enter CASSIO, and some Musicians

Cas. Masters, play here, I will content your pains, Something that's brief: and bid, Good-morrow, general. [Music.

Enter Clown.

Clo. Why, masters, have your instruments been in Naples, that they speak i' the nose thus?

1 Mus. How, sir, how?

Clo. Are these, I pray you, wind instruments? 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 music that he desires you, for love's sake, to make no more noise with it.

1 Mus. Well, sir, we will not.

Clo. If you have any music that may not be heard, to 't again: but, as they say, to hear music 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. Prithee, 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.

Cas. I humbly thank you for 't.
A Florentine more kind and honest.

Enter EMILIA.

[Exit.

I never knew

Emil. Good morrow, good lieutenant: I am sorry
For your displeasure; but all will sure he 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 senate:
That done, I will be walking on the works,-
Repair there to me.

Iago.

Well, my good lord, I'll do 't. Oth. This fortification, gentlemen, shall we see 't? Gent. We'll wait upon your lordship.

SCENE III.-Before the Castle.

[Exeunt.

Enter DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and EMILIA.

Des. Be thou assur'd, good Cassio, I will do All my abilities in thy behalf.

Emil. Good madam, do; I warrant it grieves iny husband,

As if the cause were his.

Des. O, that's an honest fellow.-Do not doubt, Cassio,

But I will have my lord and you again

As friendly as you were.

Bounteous madam,

Cas.
Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,

He's never any thing but your true servant.

Des. I know 't,-I thank you: You do love my

lord:

You have known him long; and be you well assur'd He shall in strangeness stand no farther off

Than in a politic distance.

Cas.

Ay, but, lady,
That policy may either last so long,
Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet,
Or breed itself so out of circumstance,