lago. Honest, my lord! Oth. Honest! ay, honest. lago. My lord, for aught I know. Oth. What dost thou think? lago. Think, my lord! Oth. Think, my lord!-By heaven, he echoes me, As if there were some monster in his thought, 190 Too hideous to be shewn.-Thou dost mean some thing: I heard thee say but now,-Thou lik’dst not that, In my lago. My lord, you know I love you. Oth. I think, thou dost ; - 200. And, for I know thou art full of love and honesty, And weigh'st thy words before thou giv'st thei breath, Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more: Are tricks of custom; but, in a man that's just, lago. For Michael Cassio, I dare be sworn, I think that he is honest. Oth. I think so too.. 210 lago. Iago. Men should be what they seem; Or, those that be not, 'would they might seem none ! Oth. Certain, men should be what they seem. lago. Why then, I think Cassio's an honest man. Oth. Nay, yet there's more in this : I pray thee, speak to me as to thy thinkings, As thou dost ruminate; and give thy worst of thoughts The worst of words. Iago. Good my lord, pardon me; Though I am bound to every act of duty, I am not bound to that all slaves are free to. 220 Utter my thoughts? Why, say, they are vile and false, As where's that palace, whereinto foul things Keep leets, and law-days, and in session sit With meditations lawful? Oth. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago, If thou but think'st him wrong'd, and mak'st his ear A stranger to thy thoughts. Iago, I do beseech you, Though I perchance, am vicious in my guess (As, I confess, it is my nature's plague To spy into abuses; and, oft, my jealousy Shapes faults that are not), that your wisdom yet, 231 Would take no notice; nor build yourself a trouble Out of his scattering and unsure observance : It were not for your quiet, nor your good, Oth. What dost thou mean? lago. Good name, in man, and woman, lord, Is the immediate jewel of their souls: Who steals my purse, steals trash; 'tis something, nothing; 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands; But he, that filches from me my good name, Robs me of that, which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed. Oth. By heaven, I'll know thy thought. 250 lago. You cannot, if my heart were in your hand Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody. Oth. Ha! Iago. O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-ey'd 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 o'er, Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves! Oth. O misery! 261 Iago. Poor, and content, is rich, and rich enough; But riches, fineless, is as poor as winter, To him that ever fears he shall be poor : Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend Oth. Why? why is this? Think'st thou, I'd make a life of jealousy, 269 Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me jealous, Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw 280 logo. I am glad of this; for now I shall have reason To shew the love and duty that I bear you' In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks They dare not shew their husbands; their best con→ science Is not to leave undone, but keep unknown. Oth Oth. Dost thou say so? lago. She did deceive her father, marrying you; And, when she seem'd to shake, and fear your looks, She lov'd them most. : Oth. And so she did. Iago. Why, go to, then; 300 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 your pardon, For too much loving you. Oth. I am bound to thee for ever. lago. I see, this hath a little dash'd your spirits. Oth. Not a jot, not a jot. lago. Trust me, I fear it has. I hope, you will consider, what is spoke 310 Comes from my love :-But, I do see, you are mov'd; I am to pray you, not to strain my speech To grosser issues, nor to larger reach, Than to suspicion. Oth. I will not. Jago. Should you do so, my lord, My speech should fall into such vile success As my thoughts aim not at. friend : My lord, I see you are mov'd. Oth. No, not much mov'd : Cassio's my worthy 320 I do not think, but Desdemona's honest. Gij Jago |