The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice Page #3

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Yeah, move, come on!

Why, sir, the generals!

Silence that dreadful bell!

Who began this? Lago.

I do not know.

Friends all, but now, even now,

in quarter and terms like

bride and groom devesting

them for bed,

but now swords out and tilting

one at other's breasts.

Worthy montano, what's the matter

that you unlace your

reputation thus and spend your

rich opinion for the name

of a night-brawler?

Your officer, lago, can

inform you.

Fortunate. Town of war to manage

private and domestic quarrel?

In night, and on the court

and guard of safety?

Lago, who began't?

Thou dost deliver more or less

than truth, thou art no soldier.

I had rather have this tongue

cut from my mouth than it should

do offense to michael cassio.

Sir, men in rage strike those

that wish them best,

yet surely cassio i believe

received from him that fled

some strange dignity, which

patience could not pass.

I know, lago, the honesty

and love doth mince this matter,

making it light to cassio.

Cassio, i love thee,

but never more be officer of mine.

Look if my gentle love be not

raised up.

I'll make thee an example.

What, are you hurt, lieutenant?

Ay, past all surgery.

Marry, heaven forbid!

Reputation, reputation,

reputation!

O, i have lost my reputation!

I have lost the immortal part

of myself,

and what remains is bestial.

My reputation, lago,

my reputation.

Reputation oft got without

merit and lost without deserving.

I tell you what you shall do.

Our general's wife is

now the general.

Confess yourself freely to her.

Desdemona is of so free, so

kind, so blessed a disposition

she holds it a vice in her

goodness not to do more than

she is requested.

Farewell, lieutenant.

Roderigo.

My money is almost spent,

i have been tonight exceedingly

well cudgeled.

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 again to venice.

How poor are they that

have not patience!

Does not go well?

Cassio has beaten thee, and

thou by that small hurt hath

cashiered cassio.

Content thyself awhile.

For whiles this honest fool

plies desdemona to repair

his fortune, and she for him

pleads strongly to the moor.

Io, 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.

Do not doubt, cassio.

I'll have my lord and you again

as friendly as you were.

Madam, whatever shall become

of michael cassio, he's never

anything but your true servant.

Ha! I like not that.

What dost thou say?

Nothing, my lord, or if,

i know not what.

How now, my lord?

I have been talking with

a suitor here.

A man that languishes in

your displeasure.

Who is't you mean?

Why, your lieutenant cassio.

Went he hence now?

I' sooth so humbled that he hath

left part of his grief with me

to suffer with him.

Good love, call him back.

Some other time.

- Shall't be shortly?

- The sooner, sweet, for you.

- Shall't be tonight at supper?

- No, not tonight.

Tomorrow dinner then?

I shall not dine at home.

I meet the captains

at the citadel.

Why then, tomorrow night.

I prithee name the time.

No more. Let him come

when he will.

I will deny thee nothing.

Whereon i do beseech thee

grant me this to leave me

but a little to myself.

Shall i deny you? No.

Farewell, my lord.

- My noble lord.

- What dost thou say, lago?

Did michael cassio, when you

wooed my lady,

know of your love?

He did, from first to last.

Why dost thou ask?

But for a satisfaction of my

thought, no further harm.

Why of thy thought, lago?

I did not think he had been

acquainted with her.

O, yes, and went between us

very oft.

- Indeed?

- Indeed? Ay, indeed.

Discern'st thou aught in that?

Is he not honest?

- Honest, my lord?

- Honest? Ay, honest!

My lord, for aught i know.

What dost thou think?

Think, my lord?

Think. Thou dost mean something.

I heard thee say even now,

thou lik'st not that,

when cassio left my wife.

If thou dost love me

show me thou thought.

My lord, you know i love you.

I think thou dost.

For michael cassio, i dare

be sworn, i think he is honest.

I think so, too.

Men should be what they seem.

Certain, men should be

what they seem.

Why then, i think cassio's

an honest man.

Nay, yet there's more in this?

I prithee speak to me as

to thy thinkings.

Good name in man and woman,

dear my lord, is the immediate

jewel of their souls.

Who steals my purse steals

trash; 'this something, nothing.

Twas mine, 'tis his, and has

been slave to thousands.

But he that flinches from me

my good name robs me of

that which not enriches him

and makes me poor indeed.

By heaven, i'll know

thy thoughts.

Beware, my lord, of jealousy!

It is the green-eyed monster,

which doth mock the meat

it feeds on.

That cuckold lives in bliss

who, certain of his fate,

loves not his wronger.

But o, what damned minutes

tells he over who dotes,

yet doubts, suspects,

yet fondly loves!

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?

No, lago, i'll see before i doubt.

When i doubt, prove.

I speak not yet of proof.

Look to your wife.

Observe her well with cassio.

I know our country disposition

well.

In venice they do let heaven

see the pranks they dare not

show their husbands.

Their best conscience is not to

leave't undone but kept unknown.

Dost thou say so?

She did deceive her father,

marrying you.

And when she seemed to shake

and fear your looks,

she loved them most.

And so she did.

Why, go to then! She that so

young could give out such a

seeming to seel her father's

eyes up close as oak.

He thought 'twas witchcraft.

But i am much to blame.

I humbly do beseech you of my

pardon for too much loving you.

I'm bound to thee forever.

I see this hath a little

dashed your spirit.

Not a jot, not a jot.

Trust me, i fear it has.

I hope you will consider what

is spoke comes from my love.

Cassio's my worthy friend.

My lord, i see you're moved!

No, not much moved.

I do not think but

desdemona's honest.

Long live she so.

And long live you to think so.

And yet, how nature erring

from itself

ay, there's the point, as to

be bold with you, not to

affect many proposed matches

of her own clime, complexion,

and degree.

One may smell in such a will

most rank, foul disproportions,

thought unnatural.

My lord, i would i might entreat

your honor to scan this thing

no further. Leave it to time.

Farewell.

Leave me, lago.

How now, my dear othello?

My lord, i take my leave.

Are you not well?

I have a pain upon my

forehead here.

Why, that's with watching.

It will away again.

Let me but bind it hard, within

hours it will be well.

Your napkin is too little.

Let it alone!

I have a thing for you.

You have a thing for me?

It is a common thing to

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