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Iago. Despise me if I do not. Three great ones Preferment goes by letter and affection,

of the city,

In personal suit to make me his lieutenant,
Oft capped to him: and, by the faith of man,
I know my price; I am worth no worse a place:
But he, as loving his own pride and purposes,
Evades them with a bombast circumstance,
Horribly stuffed with epithets of war;
And, in conclusion, nonsuits my mediators:
"For certes," says he, "I have already
Chosen my officer." And what was he?
Forsooth, a great arithmetician;
One Michael Cassio, a Florentine,
A fellow almost damned in a fair wife:
That never set a squadron in the field,
Nor the division of a battle knows

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More than a spinster; unless the bookish theoric, Whip me such honest knaves. Others there are

Wherein the togéd consuls can propose
Mere prattle, without practice,
But he, sir, had the election:

As masterly as he. Is all his soldiership.

Who, trimmed in forms and visages of duty, Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves; And, throwing but shows of service on their lords,

Do well thrive by them; and, when they have lined Awake the snorting citizens with the bell,
Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you.

their coats,

Do themselves homage: these fellows have some Arise, I say.

soul;

And such a one do I profess myself. For, sir,
It is as sure as you are Roderigo,
Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago.
In following him, I follow but myself:
Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,
But seeming so, for my peculiar end:
For when my outward action doth demonstrate
The native act and figure of my heart
In compliment extern, 't is not long after
But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve
For daws to peck at. I am not what I am.
Rod. What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe,
If he can carry 't thus!

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Make after him, poison his delight,
Proclaim him in the streets; incense her kinsmen;
And, though he in a fertile climate dwell,
Plague him with flies: though that his joy be joy,
Yet throw such changes of vexation on 't,
As it may lose some color.

Rod. Here is her father's house: I'll call aloud.
Iago. Do; with like clamorous accent and dire
yell

As when (by night and negligence) the fire
Is spied in populous cities.

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Bra. What tell'st thou me of robbing? This is Venice:

My house is not a grange.

Rod.

Most grave Brabantio,
In simple and pure soul I come to you.

Iago. 'Zounds, sir, you are one of those that will not serve God, if the devil bid you. Because we come to do you service, you think we are ruffians. You'll have your daughter covered with a

Rod. What, ho, Brabantio!- Signior Braban- Barbary horse: you'll have your nephews neigh

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Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul: Transported, with no worse nor better guard

Even now, very now, an old black ram

Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise:

But with a knave of common hire, a gondolier,
To the gross clasps of a lascivious Moor,-

If this be known to you, and your allowance, We then have done you bold and saucy wrongs: But if you know not this, my manners tell me We have your wrong rebuke. Do not believe That, from the sense of all civility,

I thus would play and trifle with your reverence: Your daughter, if you have not given her leave,

I say again, hath made a gross revolt;
Laying her duty, beauty, wit, and fortunes,
On an extravagant and wheedling stranger,

Of here and everywhere. Straight satisfy yourself:

If she be in her chamber or your house,
Let loose on me the justice of the state

For thus deluding you.

Bra.

Strike on the tinder, ho!

Give me a taper :· call up all my people.
This accident is not unlike my dream:
Belief of it oppresses me already.
Light, I say; light!

[Exit from above. Iago. Farewell; for I must leave you: It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place, To be produced (as if I stay I shall) Against the Moor. For I do know, the state (However this may gall him with some check) Cannot with safety cast him: for he 's embarked With such loud reason to the Cyprus' wars (Which even now stand in act), that, for their souls,

Another of his fathom they have not

To lead their business. In which regard,
Though I do hate him as I do hell pains,
Yet, for necessity of present life,

I must shew out a flag and sign of love,

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Which is indeed but sign. That you shall surely Yet do I hold it very stuff o' the conscience

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Enter CASSIO, at a distance, and certain Officers He comes to bad intent.

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Oth. Holla; stand there! Rod. Signior, it is the Moor. Bra.

Down with him, thief!

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Damned as thou art, thou hast enchanted her:
For I'll refer me to all things of sense
(If she in chains of magic were not bound),
Whether a maid so tender, fair, and happy,
So opposite to marriage that she shunned
The wealthy, curléd darlings of our nation,
Would ever have, to incur a general mock,
Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom
Of such a thing as thou; to fear, not to delight.
Judge me the world, if 't is not gross in sense
That thou hast practised on her with foul charms:

Are at the Duke's already. You have been hotly Abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals

called for;

When, being not at your lodging to be found, The senate hath sent about three several quests, To search you out.

Oth.

'Tis well I am found by you.

That waken motion. I'll have it disputed on: 'Tis probable, and palpable to thinking.

I therefore apprehend and do attach thee
For an abuser of the world; a practiser
Of arts inhibited and out of warrant.

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