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THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO； MOOR OF VENICE
show their husbands； their best conscience Is not to leave't undone； but
keep't unknown。 OTHELLO。 Dost thou say so？ IAGO。 She did deceive
her father； marrying you； And when she seem'd to shake and fear your
looks； She loved them most。 OTHELLO。 And so she did。 IAGO。 Why； go
to then。 She that so young could give out such a seeming； To seal her
father's eyes up close as oak He thought 'twas witchcraftbut I am much
to blame； I humbly do beseech you of your pardon For too much loving
you。 OTHELLO。 I am bound to thee forever。 IAGO。 I see this hath a little
dash'd your spirits。 OTHELLO。 Not a jot； not a jot。 IAGO。 I'faith； I fear it
has。 I hope you will consider what is spoke Comes from my love。 But I do
see you're moved； I am to pray you not to strain my speech To grosser
issues nor to larger reach Than to suspicion。 OTHELLO。 I will not。 IAGO。
Should you do so； my lord； My speech should fall into such vile success
Which my thoughts aim not at。 Cassio's my worthy friend My lord； I see
you're moved。 OTHELLO。 No； not much moved。 I do not think but
Desdemona's honest。 IAGO。 Long live she so！ and long live you to think
so！ OTHELLO。 And yet； how nature erring from itself IAGO。 Ay； there's
the point； asto 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
disproportion； thoughts unnatural。 But pardon me。 I do not in position
Distinctly speak of her； though I may fear； Her will； recoiling to her better
judgement； May fall to match you with her country forms； And happily
repent。 OTHELLO。 Farewell； farewell。 If more thou dost perceive； let me
know more； Set on thy wife to observe。 Leave me； Iago。 IAGO。 ＇Going。＇
My lord； I take my leave。 OTHELLO。 Why did I marry？ This honest
creature doubtless Sees and knows more； much more； than he unfolds。
IAGO。 ＇Returning。＇ My lord； I would I might entreat your honor To scan
this thing no further； leave it to time。 Though it be fit that Cassio have his
place； For sure 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 importunity；
Much will be seen in that。 In the meantime； Let me be thought too busy in
my fears As worthy cause I have to fear I am And hold her free； I do
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THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO； MOOR OF VENICE
beseech your honor。 OTHELLO。 Fear not my government。 IAGO。 I once
more take my leave。 Exit。 OTHELLO。 This fellow's of exceeding honesty；
And knows all qualities； with a learned spirit； Of human dealings。 If I do
prove her haggard； Though that her jesses were my dear heartstrings； I'ld
whistle her off and let her down the wind To prey at fortune。 Haply； for I
am black And have not those soft parts of conversation That chamberers
have； or for I am declined Into the vale of yearsyet that's not much
She's gone。 I am abused； and my relief Must be to loathe her。 O curse of
marriage； That we can call these delicate creatures ours； And not their
appetites！ I had rather be a toad； And live upon the vapor of a dungeon；
Than keep a corner in the thing I love For others' uses。 Yet； 'tis the plague
of great ones： Prerogatived are they less than the base； 'Tis destiny
unshunnable； like death。 Even then this forked plague is fated to us When
we do quicken。 Desdemona comes：
Re…enter Desdemona and Emilia。
If she be false； O； then heaven mocks itself！ I'll not believe't。
DESDEMONA。 How now； my dear Othello！ Your dinner； and the
generous islanders By you invited； do attend your presence。 OTHELLO。 I
am to blame。 DESDEMONA。 Why do you speak so faintly？ Are you not
well？ OTHELLO。 I have a pain upon my forehead here。 DESDEMONA。
Faith； that's with watching； 'twill away again。 Let me but bind it hard；
within this hour It will be well。 OTHELLO。 Your napkin is too little； He
puts the handkerchief from him； and she drops it。 Let it alone。 Come； I'll
go in with you。 DESDEMONA。 I am very sorry that you are not well。
Exeunt Othello and Desdemona。 EMILIA。 I am glad I have found this
napkin； This was her first remembrance from the Moor。 My wayward
husband hath a hundred times Woo'd me to steal it； but she so loves the
token； For he conjured her she should ever keep it； That she reserves it
evermore about her To kiss and talk to。 I'll have the work ta'en out； And
give't Iago。 What he will do with it Heaven knows； not I； I nothing but to
please his fantasy。
Re…enter Iago。
IAGO。 How now； what do you here alone？ EMILIA。 Do not you
chide； I have a thing for you。 IAGO。 A thing for me？ It is a common thing…
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THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO； MOOR OF VENICE
… EMILIA。 Ha！ IAGO。 To have a foolish wife。 EMILIA。 O； is that all？
What will you give me now For that same handkerchief？ IAGO。 What
handkerchief？ EMILIA。 What handkerchief？ Why； that the Moor first
gave to Desdemona； That which so often you did bid me steal。 IAGO。
Hast stol'n it from her？ EMILIA。 No； faith； she let it drop by negligence；
And； to the advantage； I being here took't up。 Look； here it is。 IAGO。 A
good wench； give it me。 EMILIA。 What will you do with't； that you have
been so earnest To have me filch it？ IAGO。 ＇Snatching it。＇ Why； what is
that to you？ EMILIA。 If't be not for some purpose of import； Give't me
again。 Poor lady； she'll run mad When she shall lack it。 IAGO。 Be not
acknown on't； I have use for it。 Go； leave me。 Exit Emilia。 I will in
Cassio's lodging lose this napkin； And let him find it。 Trifles light as air
Are to the jealous confirmations strong As proofs of holy writ； this may do
something。 The Moor already changes with my poison： Dangerous
conceits are in their natures poisons； Which at the first are scarce found to
distaste； But with a little act upon the blood Burn like the mines of sulphur