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IAGO.

O villainous! I have looked upon the world for four times

seven years, and since I could distinguish betwixt a benefit and

an injury, I never found man that knew how to love himself.

Ere I

would say I would drown myself for the love of a guinea hen,

I

would change my humanity with a baboon.

RODERIGO.

What should I do? I confess it is my shame to be so fond,

but it is not in my virtue to amend it.

IAGO.

Virtue? a fig! 'Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus.

Our bodies are gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners; so

that if we will plant nettles or sow lettuce, set hyssop and weed

up thyme, supply it with one gender of herbs or distract it with

many, either to have it sterile with idleness or manured with

industry, why, the power and corrigible authority of this lies in

our wills. If the balance of our lives had not one scale of

reason to poise another of sensuality, the blood and baseness of

our natures would conduct us to most preposterous conclusions.

But we have reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal stings,

our unbitted lusts; whereof I take this, that you call love,

to be a sect or scion.

RODERIGO.

It cannot be.

IAGO.

It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission of the

will. Come, be a man! Drown thyself? Drown cats and blind

puppies. I have professed me thy friend, and I confess me knit to

thy deserving with cables of perdurable toughness; I could never

better stead thee than now. Put money in thy purse; follow thou

the wars; defeat thy favor with an usurped beard. I say, put

money in thy purse. It cannot be that Desdemona should long

continue her love to the Moor- put money in thy purse- nor he his

to her. It was a violent commencement, and thou shalt see an

answerable sequestration- put but money in thy purse. These Moors

are changeable in their wills- fill thy purse with money. The

food that to him now is as luscious as locusts, shall be to him

shortly as acerb as the coloquintida. She must change for youth;

when she is sated with his body, she will find the error of her

choice. She must have change, she must; therefore put money in

thy purse. If thou wilt needs damn thyself, do it a more delicate

way than drowning. Make all the money thou canst. If sanctimony

and a frail vow betwixt an erring barbarian and a supersubtle

Venetian be not too hard for my wits and all the tribe of hell,

thou shalt enjoy her- therefore make money. A pox of drowning

thyself! It is clean out of the way. Seek thou rather to be

hanged in compassing thy joy than to be drowned and go without her.

RODERIGO.

Wilt thou be fast to my hopes, if I depend on the issue?

IAGO.

Thou art sure of me- go, make money. I have told thee often,

and I retell thee again and again, I hate the Moor. My cause is

hearted; thine hath no less reason. Let us be conjunctive in our

revenge against him. If thou canst cuckold him, thou dost thyself

a pleasure, me a sport. There are many events in the womb of time

which will be delivered. Traverse, go, provide thy money. We will

have more of this tomorrow. Adieu.

RODERIGO.

Where shall we meet i' the morning?

IAGO.

At my lodging.

RODERIGO.

I'll be with thee betimes.

IAGO.

Go to, farewell. Do you hear, Roderigo?

RODERIGO.

What say you?

IAGO.

No more of drowning, do you hear?

RODERIGO.

I am changed; I'll go sell all my land.

Exit.

IAGO.

Thus do I ever make my fool my purse;

For I mine own gain'd knowledge should profane

If I would time expend with such a snipe

But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor,

And it is thought abroad that 'twixt my sheets

He has done my office. I know not if't be true,

But I for mere suspicion in that kind

Will do as if for surety. He holds me well,

The better shall my purpose work on him.

Cassio's a proper man. Let me see now-

To get his place, and to plume up my will

In double knavery- How, how?- Let's see-

After some time, to abuse Othello's ear

That he is too familiar with his wife.

He hath a person and a smooth dispose

To be