The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [886]
How do you, Desdemona?
DESDEMONA.
Well, my good lord.
OTHELLO.
Give me your hand. This hand is moist, my lady.
DESDEMONA.
It yet has felt no age nor known no sorrow.
OTHELLO.
This argues fruitfulness and liberal heart;
Hot, hot, and moist. This hand of yours requires
A sequester from liberty, fasting, and prayer,
Much castigation, exercise devout,
For here's a young and sweating devil here
That commonly rebels. 'Tis a good hand,
A frank one.
DESDEMONA.
You may, indeed, say so;
For 'twas that hand that gave away my heart.
OTHELLO.
A liberal hand. The hearts of old gave hands;
But our new heraldry is hands, not hearts.
DESDEMONA.
I cannot speak of this. Come now, your promise.
OTHELLO.
What promise, chuck?
DESDEMONA.
I have sent to bid Cassio come speak with you.
OTHELLO.
I have a salt and sorry rheum offends me;
Lend me thy handkerchief.
DESDEMONA.
Here, my lord.
OTHELLO.
That which I gave you.
DESDEMONA.
I have it not about me.
OTHELLO.
Not?
DESDEMONA.
No, faith, my lord.
OTHELLO.
That's 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 loathed and his spirits should hunt
After new fancies. She dying gave it me,
And bid me, when my fate would have me wive,
To give it her. I did so, and take heed on't;
Make it a darling like your precious eye;
To lose't or give't away were such perdition
As nothing else could match.
DESDEMONA.
Is't possible?
OTHELLO.
'Tis true; there's magic in the web of it.
A sibyl, that had number'd in the world
The sun to course two hundred compasses,
In her prophetic fury sew'd the work;
The worms were hallow'd that did breed the silk,
And it was dyed in mummy which the skillful
Conserved of maiden's hearts.
DESDEMONA.
Indeed! is't true?
OTHELLO.
Most veritable; therefore look to't well.
DESDEMONA.
Then would to God that I had never seen't!
OTHELLO.
Ha! wherefore?
DESDEMONA.
Why do you speak so startingly and rash?
OTHELLO.
Is't lost? is't gone? speak, is it out o' the way?
DESDEMONA.
Heaven bless us!
OTHELLO.
Say you?
DESDEMONA.
It is not lost; but what an if it were?
OTHELLO.
How?
DESDEMONA.
I say, it is not lost.
OTHELLO.
Fetch't, let me see it.
DESDEMONA.
Why, so I can, sir, but I will not now.
This is a trick to put me from my suit.
Pray you, let Cassio be received again.
OTHELLO.
Fetch me the handkerchief, my mind misgives.
DESDEMONA.
Come, come,
You'll never meet a more sufficient man.
OTHELLO.
The handkerchief!
DESDEMONA.
I pray, talk me of Cassio.
OTHELLO.
The handkerchief!
DESDEMONA.
A man that all his time
Hath founded his good fortunes on your love,
Shared dangers with you-
OTHELLO.
The handkerchief!
DESDEMONA.
In sooth, you are to blame.
OTHELLO.
Away!
Exit.
EMILIA.
Is not this man jealous?
DESDEMONA.
I ne'er saw this before.
Sure there's some wonder in this handkerchief;
I am most unhappy in the loss of it.
EMILIA.
'Tis not a year or two shows us a man.
They are all but stomachs and we all but food;
They eat us hungerly, and when they are full
They belch us. Look you! Cassio and my husband.
Enter Cassio and Iago.
IAGO. There is no other way; 'tis she must do't.
And, lo, the happiness! Go and importune her.
DESDEMONA.
How now, good Cassio! What's the news with you?
CASSIO.
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 office of my heart
Entirely honor. I would not be delay'd.
If my offense be of such mortal kind
That nor my service past nor present sorrows
Nor purposed merit in futurity
Can ransom me into his love again,
But to know so must be my benefit;
So shall I clothe me in a forced