SCENE II.

Enter Othello, Iago, and Gentlemen.

Oth. Thefe letters give, Iago, to the pilot,
And by him do my duties to the senate;
That done, I will be walking on the Works.
Repair there to me.

Iago. My good Lord, I'll do't.

Oth. This fortification, gentlemen-shall we fee't? Gent. We'll wait upon your Lordship.

Def.

SCENE

[Exeunt.

III.

Changes to an Apartment in the Palace.

Enter Defdemona, Caffio, and Æmilia.

B

E thou affur'd, good Caffio, I will do
All my abilities in thy behalf.

Emil, Good Madam, do. I know, it grieves my hufband

As if the cause were his.

Def. Oh, that's an honeft fellow. Doubt not, Caffio, But I will have my Lord and you again As friendly as you were.

Caf. Most bounteous Madam, Whatever fhall become of Michael Caffio,

He's never any thing but your true fervant.

Def. I know't; I thank you. You do love my Lord;

You've known him long; and, be you well affur'd, He shall in ftrangeness ftand no farther off

Thank in a politick distance.

Caf. Ay, but, lady,

Cc 2

That

9 That policy may either last so long,
Or feed upon fuch nice and waterish diet,
Or breed itself so out of circumstances,
That I being abfent, and my place fupply'd,
My General will forget my love and fervice.

Def. Do not doubt that; before Emilia here,
I give thee warrant of thy Place. Affure thee, (
If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it

To the last article. My Lord fhall never reft;
• I'll watch him tame, and talk him out of patience ;
His bed fhall feem a fchool, his board a fhrift;
I'll intermingle every thing he does

With Caffio's fuit; therefore be merry, Caffio;
For thy follicitor fhall rather die,
Than give thy cause away.

SCENE

V.

Enter Othello, and Iago, at distance.

I am very

ill at eafe,

Emil. Madam, here comes my Lord.
Caf. Madam, I'll take my leave.
Def. Why, ftay, and hear me speak,
Caf. Madam, not now.
Unfit for mine own purposes.
Def. Well, do your difcretion.
Iago. Hah! I like not that.
Oth. What doft thou say?

9 That policy may either laft fo Long] He may either of himfelf think it politick to keep me out of office fo long, or he may be fatisfied with fuch flight reafons, or so many accidents may make him think my re-ad

[Exit Caffio.

miffion at that time improper, that I may be quite forgotten.

1 I'll watch him tame,—] It is faid, that the ferocity of beafts, infuperable and irreclaimable by any other means, is fubdued by keeping them from fleep.

Jago. Nothing, my Lord; or if-I know not what. Oth. Was not that Caffio, parted from my wife? Iago. Caffio, my Lord? no, fure, I cannot think it, That he would fteal away fo guilty-like, Seeing you coming.

Oth. I believe, 'twas he.

Def. How now, my Lord?

I have been talking with a fuitor here,
A man that languishes in your displeasure.
Oth. Who is't you mean?

Def. Why, your lieutenant Caffio. Good If I have any grace, or power to move you, "His prefent reconciliation take.

my Lord,

For if he be not one that truly loves you,
That errs in ignorance, 3 and not in cunning,
I have no judgment in an honeft face.
I pr'ythee, call him back.

Oth. Went he hence now?

Def. I'footh, fo humbled,

That he hath left part of his grief with me,
To fuffer with him. Good love, call him back.
Oth. Not now, fweet Defdemona; fome other time,
Def. But fhall't be shortly?

Oth. The fooner, Sweet, for you.
Def. Shall't be to-night at supper?
Oth. Not to night.

Def. To-morrow dinner then?
Oth. I fhall not dine at home.

I meet the Captains at the citadel.

Def. Why then to-morrow night, or Tuesday morn,

Or Tuesday noon, or night, or Wednesday morn,
I pr'ythee, name the time; but let it not
Exceed three days; in faith, he's penitent,
And yet his trefpafs, in our common reafon,
Save that, they fay, the wars muft make examples
Out of their beft, is not almost a fault

4

T'incur a private check. When fhall he come?
Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my foul,

What you should ask me, that I would deny,
Or ftand fo mummering on? What? Michael Caffio!
That came a wooing with you, and many a time,
When I have spoke of you difpraisingly,

Hath ta'en your part, to have fo much to do
To bring him in? Trust me, I could do much.
Oth. Pr'ythee, no more.

will,

I will deny thee nothing.

Let him come when he

Def. Why, this is not a boon.

'Tis as I fhould entreat you wear your gloves,
Or feed on nourishing meats, or keep you warm ?
Or fue to you, to do peculiar profit

To your own perfon. Nay, when I have fuit,
Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed,
It fhall be full of poife and difficulty,

And fearful to be granted.

Oth. I will deny thee nothing;

Whereon I do befeech thee, grant me this,
To leave me but a little to myself.

Def. Shall I deny you? No. Farewel, my Lord.
Oth. Farewel, my Desdemona; I'll come straight.
Def. Emilia, come. Be as your fancies teach you:
Whate'er you be, I am obedient,
[Exeunt.

SCENE V.

Manent Othello, and Iago.

Oth. 5 Excellent Wretch!-Perdition catch my foul,

But I do love thee; and when I love thee not,
Chaos is come again.

Iago. My noble Lord,

Oth. What doft thou fay, Iago?

Iago. Did Michael Caffio, when you woo'd my lady,

Oth. He did, from firft to laft. Why doft thou

5 Excellent Wretch! Perdition flood. It is now, in fome parts of

Cc 4