But I shall, in a more continuate time,

Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca, [Giving her DESDEMONA's handkerchief.

Take me this work out.

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.

Go to, woman!

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.
Bian. Leave you! wherefore?

Cas. I do attend here on the General,

And think it no addition, nor my wish,
To have him see me woman'd.

Bian.

Not that I love you not.

Why, I pray you?

Cas. Bian. But that you do not love me. I pray you, bring me on the way a little; And say if I shall see you soon at night. Cas. 'Tis but a little way that I can bring you, For I attend here; but I'll see you soon.

Bian. 'Tis very good: I must be circumstanc'd.

[Exeunt.

Iago. 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 :

They that mean virtuously, and yet do so,

The Devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt

Iago. If 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?

Iago. 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.

Iago. What if I had said, I had seen him do you

wrong?

Or heard him say,

as knaves be such abroad,

Who having, by their own importunate suit,
Or voluntary dotage of some mistress,

Convinced or suppli'd them, cannot choose
But they must blab

Oth.

Hath he said any thing?

Iago. He hath, my lord; but be you well assur'd, No more than he'll unswear.

Oth.

What hath he said?

Iago. 'Faith, that he did, — I know not what he

Iago.

With her, on her; what you will. Oth. Lie with her! lie on her! We say, lie on her, when they belie her. Lie with her! that's fulsome. Handkerchief, confessions, handkerchief.

-To confess, and be hang'd for his labour. First, to be hang'd, and then to confess : -I tremble at it. Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing passion, without some instruction. It is not words, that shake me thus: - Pish! Noses, ears, and lips. Is it possible? Handkerchief!

O Devil!

Iago. Work on,

Confess!

[Falls in a trance.

My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught;
And many worthy and chaste dames, even thus,
All guiltless, meet reproach. — What, ho! my lord!

Enter CASSIO.

- How now, Cassio!

My lord, I say! Othello! How now,

Iago. My lord is fallen into an epilepsy:
This is his second fit; he had one yesterday.
Cas. Rub him about the temples.
Iago.

[No, forbear.]

The lethargy must have his quiet course;
If not, he foams at mouth, and by and by
Breaks out to savage madness. Look, he stirs:
Do you withdraw yourself a little while;
He will recover straight: when he is gone,
I would on great occasion speak with you.

[Exit CASSIO. How is it, General? have you not hurt your head? Dost thou mock me?

Oth. Iago.

I mock you! no, by Heaven. Would you would bear your fortunes like a man. Oth. A horned man's a monster, and a beast. Iago. There's many a beast, then, in a populous

city,

And many a civil monster.

Oth. Did he confess it?

Iago.

Good sir, be a man:

Think every bearded fellow that's but yok'd,

May draw with you: there's millions now alive
That nightly lie in those unproper beds,

Which they dare swear peculiar: your case is better.

O, 'tis the spite of Hell, the fiend's arch-mock,

To lip a wanton in a secure couch,

And to suppose her chaste.

No, let me know;

And, knowing what I am, I know what she shall be.

Oth. O, thou art wise; 'tis certain.

Iago. Stand you a while apart;

Confine yourself but in a patient list.

Whilst you were here, o'erwhelmed with your grief,
(A passion most unsuiting such a man,)
Cassio came hither: I shifted him away,
And laid good 'scuse upon your ecstasy;

Bade him anon return, and here speak with me;
The which he promis'd. But encave yourself,
And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorns,
That dwell in every region of his face

For I will make him tell the tale anew,
Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when
He hath, and is again to cope your' wife :

I say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience;
Or I shall say, y' are all in all in spleen,
And nothing of a man.

Oth.

Do'st thou hear, Iago?

I will be found most cunning in my patience;
But-do'st thou hear? most bloody.

Iago.

That's not amiss;

But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw?

[OTHELLO retires.

Now will I question Cassio of Bianca,

A housewife that, by selling her desires,

Buys herself bread and clothes: it is a creature That dotes on Cassio, as 'tis the strumpet's plague

To beguile many, and be beguil'd by one.

He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain

From the excess of laughter: - here he comes.

As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad;

And his unbookish jealousy must construe

Poor Cassio's smiles, gestures, and light behaviour, Quite in the wrong.

Enter CASSIO.

How do you now, Lieutenant?