Oth. A liberal hand: The hearts of old, gave hands; But our new heraldry is-hands, not hearts. Des. I cannot speak of this. Come, now your promise. Oth. What promise, chuck? Des. I have sent to bid Cassio come speak with you. Oth. I have a salt and sullen rheum offends me; Lend me thy handkerchief. Des. Here, my lord. Oth. That which I gave you. Des. I have it not about me. Oth. Not? Des. No, indeed, my lord. Oth. That is a fault : That handkerchief Did an Egyptian to my mother give ; She was a charmer, and could almost read The thoughts of people: she told her, while she kept it "Twould make her amiable, and subdue my father Entirely to her love; but if she lost it, Or made a gift of it, my father's eye Should hold her loathly, and his spirits should hunt Des. Is it possible? Oth. 'Tis true: there's magic in the web of it: A sibyl, that had number'd in the world The sun to make two hundred compasses, In her prophetic fury sew'd the work : The worms were hallow'd that did breed the silk; Des. Indeed! is't true? Oth. Most veritable; therefore look to't well. Des. Why do you speak so startingly and rash? Oth. Is't lost? is't gone? speak, is it out of the way? Des. Heaven bless us ! [9] The balsamic liquor running from mummies was formerly celebrated for its anti-epileptic virtues. We are now wise enough to know, that the qualities ascribed to it are all imaginary; and yet this fanciful medicine still holds a place in the principal shops where drugs are sold. STEEVENS... Oth. Say you? Des. It is not lost; But what an if it were? Oth. Ha! Des. I say, it is not lost. Oth. Fetch't, let me see it. Des. Why, so I can, sir, but I will not now; This is a trick, to put me from my suit ; I pray, let Cassio be receiv'd again. Oth. Fetch me that handkerchief: my mind misgives. Des. Come, come ; You'll never meet a more sufficient man. Oth. The handkerchief, Des. I pray, talk me of Cassio. Oth. The handkerchief, Des. A man that, all his time, Hath founded his good fortune on your love; Shar'd dangers with you ; Oth. The handkerchief, Des. In sooth, You are to blame. Oth. Away! Emil. Is not this man jealous? [Exit OTHELLO. Sure, there's some wonder in this handkerchief: Emil. 'Tis not a year or two shows us a man: Jago. There is no other way; 'tis she must do't ; And, lo, the happiness! go, and impórtune her. Des.How now, good Cassio? what's the news with you? Cas. Madam, my former suit: I do beseech you, That, by your virtuous means, I may again Exist, and be a member of his love, Whom I, with all the duty of my heart, Entirely honour; I would not be delay'd : If my offence be of such mortal kind, That neither service past, nor present sorrows, Can ransome me into his love again ; And shut myself up in some other course, To fortune's alms. Des. Alas! thrice-gentle Cassio, My advocation is not now in tune; My lord is not my lord; nor should I know him, So help me, every spirit sanctified, As I have spoken for you all my best ; And stood within the blank of his displeasure, 2 For my free speech! You must a while be patient : Than for myself I dare: let that suffice you. Emil, He went hence but now, And, certainly, in strange unquietness. Iago. Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon, Puff'd his own brother ;-And can he be angry? [Exit. Though great ones are their object. 'Tis even so; And it endues our other healthful members Even to that sense of pain. Men are not gods; Nay, must think, Nor of them look for such observa. 73 As fit the bridal.5--Beshrew me much, Emilia, I was (unhandsome warrior as I am,)6 Arraigning his unkindness with my soul; But now I find, I had suborn'd the witness, And he's indited falsely. Emil. Pray heaven, it be state-matters, as you think; And no conception, nor no jealous toy Concerning you. Des. Alas, the day! I never gave him cause. [1] In favour-in look, in countenance. JOHNSON. [2] Within the shot of his anger. JOHNSON. [3] Some treason that has not taken effect. JOHNSON. [4] I believe it should be rather, Subdues our other healthful members to sense of pain. JOHNSON. [5] That is, the nuptial feast. A Saxon word, STEEVENS. [6] Unhandsome warrior-unfair assailant. JOHNSON, 32* VOL. VIII. Emil. But jealous souls will not be answer'd so; But jealous for they are jealous: 'tis a monster, Des. Heaven keep that monster from Othello's mind? Des. I will go seek him.-Cassio, walk hereabout: I do find him fit, I'll move your suit, And seek to effect it to my uttermost. [Exe. DESD. and EMIL. Enter BIANCA. Bian. Save you, friend Cassio! Cas. What make you from home? How is it with you, my most fair Bianca ? Bian. And I was going to your lodging, Cassio. Cas. Pardon me, Bianca ; I have this while with leaden thoughts been press'd; But I shall, in a more continuate time,7 Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca, [Giving her DESDEMONA's handkerchief Take me this work out. 8 Bian. O, Cassio, whence came this? This is some token from a newer friend. To the felt absence now I feel a cause: Is it come to this? Well, well. Cas. Woman, go to! Throw your vile guesses in the devil's teeth, From whence you have them. You are jealous now, That this is from some mistress, some remembrance: No, in good troth, Bianca. Bian. Why, whose is it? Cas. I know not, sweet: I found it in my chamber. I like the work well; ere it be demanded, As like enough, it will,) I'd have it copied : Take it, and do't; and leave me for this time. Cas. I do attend here on the general; [7] Time less interrupted, time which I can call more my own. JOHNS. [8] The meaning is not, Pick out the work and leave the ground plain but Copy this work in another handkerchief. JOHNSON. And think it no addition, nor my wish, Bian. Why, I pray you? Cas. Not that I love you not. Bian. But that you do not love me. I pray you, bring me on the way a little ; Cas. Tis but a little way, that I can bring you, Bian. 'Tis very good; I must be circumstanc❜d. ACT IV. SCENE 1.-The same. Iago. Will you think so? Oth. Think so, Iago? To kiss in private [Exeunt. Enter OTHELLO and IAGO. Oth. An unauthoriz'd kiss, Tago. Or to be naked with her friend abed," An hour, or more, not meaning any harm? Oth. Naked abed, Iago, and not mean harm? It is hypocrisy against the devil :9 They that mean virtuously, and yet do so, The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt heaven. Tago. So they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip: But if I give my wife a handkerchief, Oth. What then? Iago. Why, then 'tis hers, my lord; and, being hers, She may, I think, bestow't on any man. Oth. She is protectress of her honour too; May she give that? Tago. Her honour is an essence that's not seen; They have it very oft, that have it not : But, for the handkerchief, Oth. By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it :Thou saidst,-O, it comes o'er my memory, As doth the raven o'er the infected house, Boding to all,-he had my handkerchief. Iago. Ay, what of that? Oth. That's not so good, now. As [9] Hypocrisy against the devil, means hypocrisy to cheat the devil. common hypocrites cheat men, by seeming good, and yet living wickedly, these men would cheat the devil, by giving him flattering hopes, and at last avoiding the crime which he thinks them ready to commit. JOHNSON. |