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.

If you think fit, or that it may be done,-
Give me advantage of some brief discourse
With Desdemona alone.

Emil.

Yet, I beseech you,—

Pray you, come in;

To speak your bosom freely.

Cas.

Í am much bound to you.

[Exeunt.

I will bestow you where you shall have time

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,
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.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Before the Castle.

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 know it grieves my husband,

As if the case 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.

Cas.

Bounteous madam,

Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,

He's never any thing but your true servant.

Des. O, sir, 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 further off

Than in a politick 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,
That, I being absent, and my place supplied,
My general will forget my love and service.

Des. Do not doubt that; before Emilia here,
I give thee warrant of thy place: assure thee,
If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it
To the last article: my lord shall never rest;
I'll watch him tame," and talk him out of patience;

I'll watch him tame,] Hawks and other birds are tamed by keeping them from sleep, to which management Shakspeare alludes.

His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;
I'll intermingle every thing he does

With Cassio's suit: Therefore be merry, Cassio;
For thy solicitor shall rather die,

Than give thy cause away.

And hear me speak.

Cas. Madam, not now; I am very ill at ease,

Unfit for mine own purposes.

Des.

Do your discretion.

Well, well,

[Exit CASSIO.

Iago.
Ha! I like not that.
Oth. What dost thou say?

Iago. Nothing, my lord: or if-I know not what. Oth. Was not that Cassio, parted from my wife? Jago. Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it, That he would steal away so guilty-like,

Seeing you coming.

Oth.

I do believe 'twas he.

Des. How now, my lord?

I have been talking with a suitor here,

A man that languishes in your displeasure.

Oth. Who is't, you mean?

Des. Why, your lieutenant Cassio. Good my lord,

If I have any grace, or power to move you,

His present reconciliation take;"

For, if he be not one that truly loves you,

7 His present reconciliation take;] To take his reconciliation, may be to accept the submission which he makes in order to be reconciled.

That errs in ignorance, and not in cunning,"
I have no judgment in an honest face:

I pr'ythee, call him back.

Oth.

Went he hence now?

Des. Ay, sooth; so humbled,

That he hath left part of his grief with me;
I suffer with him. Good love, call him back.
Oth. Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other

time.

Des. But shall't be shortly?

The sooner, sweet, for you.

Oth.
Des. Shall't be to-night at supper?
Oth.

Des. To-morrow dinner then?
Oth.

No, not to-night.

I shall not dine at home;

I meet the captains at the citadel.

Des. Why then, to-morrow night; or Tuesday

morn;

Or Tuesday noon, or night; or Wednesday morn;-
I pray thee, name the time; but let it not
Exceed three days: in faith, he's penitent;
And yet his trespass, in our common reason,
(Save that, they say, the wars must make examples
Out of their best,) is not almost a fault
To incur a private check: When shall he come?
Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul,
What you could ask me, that I should deny,
Or stand so mammering on.' What! Michael Cassio,
That came a wooing with you; and many a time,
When I have spoke of you dispraisingly,
Hath ta'en your part; to have so much to do

and not in cunning,] Cunning, for knowledge.

the wars must make examples

Out of their best,] The severity of military discipline must not spare the best men of their army, when their punishment may afford a wholesome example.

so mammering on.] To hesitate, to stand in suspense.

To bring him in! Trust me, I could do much,Oth. Pr'ythee, no more: let him come when he will;

I will deny thee nothing.

Des.
Why, this is not a boon;
'Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves,
Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm;
Or sue to you to do peculiar profit

To your own person: Nay, when I have a suit,
Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed,
It shall be full of poize' and difficulty,

And fearful to be granted.

Oth. I will deny thee nothing: Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this, To leave me but a little to myself.

Des. Shall I deny you? no: Farewell, my lord. Oth. Farewell, my Desdemona: I will come to thee straight.

Des. Emilia, come:-Be it as your fancies teach

you;

Whate'er you be, I am obedient.

Exit, with EMILIA. Oth. Excellent wretch!3 Perdition catch my soul,

But I do love thee! and when I love thee not,

What dost thou say, Iago?

lago. Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my

2

Oth. He did, from first to last: Why dost thou ask?

full of poize-] i. e. of weight.

3 Excellent wretch!] The meaning of the word wretch, is not generally understood. It is now, in some parts of England, a term of the softest and fondest tenderness. It expresses the utmost degree of amiableness, joined with an idea which perhaps all tenderness includes, of feebleness, softness, and want of protection.