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IAGO.

Or to be naked with her friend in bed

An hour or more, not meaning any harm?

OTHELLO.

Naked in bed, 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 heaven.

IAGO.

So they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip.

But if I give my wife a handkerchief-

OTHELLO.

What then?

IAGO.

Why, then, 'tis hers, my lord, and being hers,

She may, I think, bestow't on any man.

OTHELLO.

She is protectress of her honor too.

May she give that?

IAGO.

Her honor is an essence that's not seen;

They have it very oft that have it not.

But for the handkerchief-

OTHELLO.

By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it.

Thou said'st- 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?

OTHELLO.

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 supplied them, cannot choose

But they must blab-

OTHELLO.

Hath he said anything?

IAGO.

He hath, my lord; but be you well assured,

No more than he'll unswear.

OTHELLO.

What hath he said?

IAGO.

Faith, that he did- I know not what he did.

OTHELLO.

What? what?

IAGO.

Lie-

OTHELLO.

With her?

IAGO.

With her, on her, what you will.

OTHELLO.

Lie with her! lie on her! We say lie on her, when they

belie her. Lie with her! 'Zounds, that's fulsome!

Handkerchief-

confessions- handkerchief! To confess and be hanged for his

labor-

first, to be hanged, 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 shakes me thus. Pish!

Noses, ears, and lips. Is't possible? Confess? Handkerchief?

O devil!

Falls in a trance.

IAGO.

Work on,

My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught,

And many worthy and chaste dames even thus,

All guiltless, meet reproach. What, ho! My lord!

My lord, I say! Othello!

Enter Cassio.

How now, Cassio!

CASSIO.

What's the matter?

IAGO.

My lord is fall'n into an epilepsy.

This is his second fit; he had one yesterday.

CASSIO.

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?

OTHELLO.

Dost thou mock me?

IAGO.

I mock you? No, by heaven.

Would you would bear your fortune like a man!

OTHELLO.

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.

OTHELLO.

Did he confess it?

IAGO.

Good sir, be a man;

Think every bearded fellow that's but yoked

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.

OTHELLO.

O, thou art wise; 'tis certain.

IAGO.

Stand you awhile 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 promised. Do 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 you are all in all in spleen,

And