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IAGO.

Well, my good lord, I'll do't.

OTHELLO.

This fortification, gentlemen, shall we see't?

GENTLEMEN.

We'll wait upon your lordship.

Exeunt.

SCENE III. The garden of the castle.

Enter Desdemona, Cassio, and Emilia.

DESDEMONA. Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do

All my abilities in thy behalf.

EMILIA.

Good madam, do. I warrant it grieves my husband

As if the cause were his.

DESDEMONA.

O, that's an honest fellow. Do not doubt, Cassio,

But I will have my lord and you again

As friendly as you were.

CASSIO.

Bounteous madam,

Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,

He's never anything but your true servant.

DESDEMONA.

I know't: I thank you. You do love my lord:

You have known him long; and be you well assured

He shall in strangeness stand no farther off

Than in a politic distance.

CASSIO.

Ay, but, lady,

That policy may either last so long,

Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet,

Or breed itself so out of circumstances,

That I being absent and my place supplied,

My general will forget my love and service.

DESDEMONA.

Do not doubt that. Before Emilia here

I give thee warrant of thy place, assure thee,

If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it

To the last article. My lord shall never rest;

I'll watch him tame and talk him out of patience;

His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;

I'll intermingle everything he does

With Cassio's suit. Therefore be merry, Cassio,

For thy solicitor shall rather die

Than give thy cause away.

Enter Othello and Iago, at a distance.

EMILIA. Madam, here comes my lord.

CASSIO.

Madam, I'll take my leave.

DESDEMONA.

Nay, stay and hear me speak.

CASSIO.

Madam, not now. I am very ill at ease,

Unfit for mine own purposes.

DESDEMONA.

Well, do your discretion. Exit Cassio.

IAGO.

Ha! I like not that.

OTHELLO.

What dost thou say?

IAGO.

Nothing, my lord; or if- I know not what.

OTHELLO.

Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?

IAGO.

Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it,

That he would steal away so guilty-like,

Seeing you coming.

OTHELLO.

I do believe 'twas he.

DESDEMONA.

How now, my lord!

I have been talking with a suitor here,

A man that languishes in your displeasure.

OTHELLO.

Who is't you mean?

DESDEMONA.

Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord,

If I have any grace or power to move you,

His present reconciliation take;

For if he be not one that truly loves you,

That errs in ignorance and not in cunning,

I have no judgement in an honest face.

I prithee, call him back.

OTHELLO.

Went he hence now?

DESDEMONA.

Ay, sooth; so humbled

That he hath left part of his grief with me

To suffer with him. Good love, call him back.

OTHELLO.

Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other time.

DESDEMONA.

But shall't be shortly?

OTHELLO.

The sooner, sweet, for you.

DESDEMONA.

Shall't be tonight at supper?

OTHELLO.

No, not tonight.

DESDEMONA.

Tomorrow dinner then?

OTHELLO.

I shall not dine at home;

I meet the captains at the citadel.

DESDEMONA.

Why then tomorrow night, or Tuesday morn,

On Tuesday noon, or night, on Wednesday morn.

I prithee, name the time, but let it not

Exceed three days. In faith, he's penitent;

And yet his trespass, in our common reason-

Save that, they say, the wars must make example

Out of their best- is not almost a fault

To incur a private check. When shall he come?

Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul,

What you would ask me, that I should deny,

Or stand so mammering on. What? Michael Cassio,

That came awooing with you, and so many a time

When I have spoke of you dispraisingly

Hath ta'en your part- to have so much to do

To bring him in! Trust me, I could do much-

OTHELLO.

Prithee, no more. Let him come when he will;

I will deny thee nothing.

DESDEMONA.

Why, this is not a boon;

'Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves,

Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm,

Or sue to you to do a peculiar profit

To your own person. Nay, when I have a suit

Wherein I mean to touch your