The Tragedy Of Othello, The Moor Of Venice

1 Enter Desdemona, Cassio and Emilia.
2 DESDEMONA.
3 Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do
4 All my abilities in thy behalf.
5 EMILIA.
6 Good madam, do. I warrant it grieves my husband
7 As if the cause were his.
8 DESDEMONA.
9 O, that’s an honest fellow. Do not doubt, Cassio,
10 But I will have my lord and you again
11 As friendly as you were.
12 CASSIO.
13 Bounteous madam,
14 Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,
15 He’s never anything but your true servant.
16 DESDEMONA.
17 I know’t. I thank you. You do love my lord.
18 You have known him long; and be you well assur’d
19 He shall in strangeness stand no farther off
20 Than in a politic distance.
21 CASSIO.
22 Ay, but, lady,
23 That policy may either last so long,
24 Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet,
25 Or breed itself so out of circumstance,
26 That, I being absent, and my place supplied,
27 My general will forget my love and service.
28 DESDEMONA.
29 Do not doubt that. Before Emilia here
30 I give thee warrant of thy place. Assure thee,
31 If I do vow a friendship, I’ll perform it
32 To the last article. My lord shall never rest,
33 I’ll watch him tame, and talk him out of patience;
34 His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;
35 I’ll intermingle everything he does
36 With Cassio’s suit. Therefore be merry, Cassio,
37 For thy solicitor shall rather die
38 Than give thy cause away.
39 Enter Othello and Iago.
40 EMILIA.
41 Madam, here comes my lord.
42 CASSIO.
43 Madam, I’ll take my leave.
44 DESDEMONA.
45 Why, stay, and hear me speak.
46 CASSIO.
47 Madam, not now. I am very ill at ease,
48 Unfit for mine own purposes.
49 DESDEMONA.
50 Well, do your discretion.
51 [_Exit Cassio._]
52 IAGO.
53 Ha, I like not that.
54 OTHELLO.
55 What dost thou say?
56 IAGO.
57 Nothing, my lord; or if—I know not what.
58 OTHELLO.
59 Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?
60 IAGO.
61 Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it,
62 That he would steal away so guilty-like,
63 Seeing you coming.
64 OTHELLO.
65 I do believe ’twas he.
66 DESDEMONA.
67 How now, my lord?
68 I have been talking with a suitor here,
69 A man that languishes in your displeasure.
70 OTHELLO.
71 Who is’t you mean?
72 DESDEMONA.
73 Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord,
74 If I have any grace or power to move you,
75 His present reconciliation take;
76 For if he be not one that truly loves you,
77 That errs in ignorance and not in cunning,
78 I have no judgement in an honest face.
79 I prithee call him back.
80 OTHELLO.
81 Went he hence now?
82 DESDEMONA.
83 Ay, sooth; so humbled
84 That he hath left part of his grief with me
85 To suffer with him. Good love, call him back.
86 OTHELLO.
87 Not now, sweet Desdemon, some other time.
88 DESDEMONA.
89 But shall’t be shortly?
90 OTHELLO.
91 The sooner, sweet, for you.
92 DESDEMONA.
93 Shall’t be tonight at supper?
94 OTHELLO.
95 No, not tonight.
96 DESDEMONA.
97 Tomorrow dinner then?
98 OTHELLO.
99 I shall not dine at home;
100 I meet the captains at the citadel.
101 DESDEMONA.
102 Why then tomorrow night, or Tuesday morn,
103 On Tuesday noon, or night; on Wednesday morn.
104 I prithee name the time, but let it not
105 Exceed three days. In faith, he’s penitent;
106 And yet his trespass, in our common reason,
107 (Save that, they say, the wars must make examples
108 Out of their best) is not almost a fault
109 To incur a private check. When shall he come?
110 Tell me, Othello: I wonder in my soul,
111 What you would ask me, that I should deny,
112 Or stand so mammering on. What? Michael Cassio,
113 That came a-wooing with you, and so many a time,
114 When I have spoke of you dispraisingly,
115 Hath ta’en your part, to have so much to do
116 To bring him in! Trust me, I could do much.
117 OTHELLO.
118 Prithee no more. Let him come when he will;
119 I will deny thee nothing.
120 DESDEMONA.
121 Why, this is not a boon;
122 ’Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves,
123 Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm,
124 Or sue to you to do a peculiar profit
125 To your own person: nay, when I have a suit
126 Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed,
127 It shall be full of poise and difficult weight,
128 And fearful to be granted.
129 OTHELLO.
130 I will deny thee nothing.
131 Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this,
132 To leave me but a little to myself.
133 DESDEMONA.
134 Shall I deny you? No, farewell, my lord.
135 OTHELLO.
136 Farewell, my Desdemona. I’ll come to thee straight.
137 DESDEMONA.
138 Emilia, come. Be as your fancies teach you.
139 Whate’er you be, I am obedient.
140 [_Exit with Emilia._]
141 OTHELLO.
142 Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul,
143 But I do love thee! And when I love thee not,
144 Chaos is come again.
145 IAGO.
146 My noble lord,—
147 OTHELLO.
148 What dost thou say, Iago?
149 IAGO.
150 Did Michael Cassio, when you woo’d my lady,
151 Know of your love?
152 OTHELLO.
153 He did, from first to last. Why dost thou ask?
154 IAGO.
155 But for a satisfaction of my thought.
156 No further harm.
157 OTHELLO.
158 Why of thy thought, Iago?
159 IAGO.
160 I did not think he had been acquainted with her.
161 OTHELLO.
162 O yes, and went between us very oft.
163 IAGO.
164 Indeed?
165 OTHELLO.
166 Indeed? Ay, indeed. Discern’st thou aught in that?
167 Is he not honest?
168 IAGO.
169 Honest, my lord?
170 OTHELLO.
171 Honest? ay, honest.
172 IAGO.
173 My lord, for aught I know.
174 OTHELLO.
175 What dost thou think?
176 IAGO.
177 Think, my lord?
178 OTHELLO.
179 Think, my lord? By heaven, he echoes me,
180 As if there were some monster in his thought
181 Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean something.
182 I heard thee say even now, thou lik’st not that,
183 When Cassio left my wife. What didst not like?
184 And when I told thee he was of my counsel
185 In my whole course of wooing, thou criedst, “Indeed?”
186 And didst contract and purse thy brow together,
187 As if thou then hadst shut up in thy brain
188 Some horrible conceit: if thou dost love me,
189 Show me thy thought.
190 IAGO.
191 My lord, you know I love you.
192 OTHELLO.
193 I think thou dost;
194 And for I know thou’rt full of love and honesty
195 And weigh’st thy words before thou giv’st them breath,
196 Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more:
197 For such things in a false disloyal knave
198 Are tricks of custom; but in a man that’s just,
199 They’re close dilations, working from the heart,
200 That passion cannot rule.
201 IAGO.
202 For Michael Cassio,
203 I dare be sworn I think that he is honest.
204 OTHELLO.
205 I think so too.
206 IAGO.
207 Men should be what they seem;
208 Or those that be not, would they might seem none!
209 OTHELLO.
210 Certain, men should be what they seem.
211 IAGO.
212 Why then, I think Cassio’s an honest man.
213 OTHELLO.
214 Nay, yet there’s more in this:
215 I prithee, speak to me as to thy thinkings,
216 As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of thoughts
217 The worst of words.
218 IAGO.
219 Good my lord, pardon me.
220 Though I am bound to every act of duty,
221 I am not bound to that all slaves are free to.
222 Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile and false:
223 As where’s that palace whereinto foul things
224 Sometimes intrude not? Who has a breast so pure
225 But some uncleanly apprehensions
226 Keep leets and law-days, and in session sit
227 With meditations lawful?
228 OTHELLO.
229 Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago,
230 If thou but think’st him wrong’d and mak’st his ear
231 A stranger to thy thoughts.
232 IAGO.
233 I do beseech you,
234 Though I perchance am vicious in my guess,
235 As, I confess, it is my nature’s plague
236 To spy into abuses, and of my jealousy
237 Shapes faults that are not,—that your wisdom
238 From one that so imperfectly conceits,
239 Would take no notice; nor build yourself a trouble
240 Out of his scattering and unsure observance.
241 It were not for your quiet nor your good,
242 Nor for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom,
243 To let you know my thoughts.
244 OTHELLO.
245 What dost thou mean?
246 IAGO.
247 Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
248 Is the immediate jewel of their souls.
249 Who steals my purse steals trash. ’Tis something, nothing;
250 ’Twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to thousands.
251 But he that filches from me my good name
252 Robs me of that which not enriches him
253 And makes me poor indeed.
254 OTHELLO.
255 By heaven, I’ll know thy thoughts.
256 IAGO.
257 You cannot, if my heart were in your hand,
258 Nor shall not, whilst ’tis in my custody.
259 OTHELLO.
260 Ha?
261 IAGO.
262 O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;
263 It is the green-ey’d monster which doth mock
264 The meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss
265 Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;
266 But O, what damned minutes tells he o’er
267 Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves!
268 OTHELLO.
269 O misery!
270 IAGO.
271 Poor and content is rich, and rich enough;
272 But riches fineless is as poor as winter
273 To him that ever fears he shall be poor.
274 Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend
275 From jealousy!
276 OTHELLO.
277 Why, why is this?
278 Think’st thou I’d make a life of jealousy,
279 To follow still the changes of the moon
280 With fresh suspicions? No. To be once in doubt
281 Is once to be resolv’d: exchange me for a goat
282 When I shall turn the business of my soul
283 To such exsufflicate and blown surmises,
284 Matching thy inference. ’Tis not to make me jealous,
285 To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company,
286 Is free of speech, sings, plays, and dances well;
287 Where virtue is, these are more virtuous:
288 Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw
289 The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt,
290 For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago,
291 I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
292 And on the proof, there is no more but this:
293 Away at once with love or jealousy!
294 IAGO.
295 I am glad of it, for now I shall have reason
296 To show the love and duty that I bear you
297 With franker spirit: therefore, as I am bound,
298 Receive it from me. I speak not yet of proof.
299 Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio;
300 Wear your eye thus, not jealous nor secure.
301 I would not have your free and noble nature,
302 Out of self-bounty, be abus’d. Look to’t.
303 I know our country disposition well;
304 In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks
305 They dare not show their husbands. Their best conscience
306 Is not to leave undone, but keep unknown.
307 OTHELLO.
308 Dost thou say so?
309 IAGO.
310 She did deceive her father, marrying you;
311 And when she seem’d to shake and fear your looks,
312 She loved them most.
313 OTHELLO.
314 And so she did.
315 IAGO.
316 Why, go to then.
317 She that so young could give out such a seeming,
318 To seal her father’s eyes up close as oak,
319 He thought ’twas witchcraft. But I am much to blame.
320 I humbly do beseech you of your pardon
321 For too much loving you.
322 OTHELLO.
323 I am bound to thee for ever.
324 IAGO.
325 I see this hath a little dash’d your spirits.
326 OTHELLO.
327 Not a jot, not a jot.
328 IAGO.
329 Trust me, I fear it has.
330 I hope you will consider what is spoke
331 Comes from my love. But I do see you’re mov’d.
332 I am to pray you not to strain my speech
333 To grosser issues nor to larger reach
334 Than to suspicion.
335 OTHELLO.
336 I will not.
337 IAGO.
338 Should you do so, my lord,
339 My speech should fall into such vile success
340 Which my thoughts aim’d not. Cassio’s my worthy friend.
341 My lord, I see you’re mov’d.
342 OTHELLO.
343 No, not much mov’d.
344 I do not think but Desdemona’s honest.
345 IAGO.
346 Long live she so! And long live you to think so!
347 OTHELLO.
348 And yet, how nature erring from itself—
349 IAGO.
350 Ay, there’s the point. As, to be bold with you,
351 Not to affect many proposed matches,
352 Of her own clime, complexion, and degree,
353 Whereto we see in all things nature tends;
354 Foh! One may smell in such a will most rank,
355 Foul disproportion, thoughts unnatural.
356 But pardon me: I do not in position
357 Distinctly speak of her, though I may fear
358 Her will, recoiling to her better judgement,
359 May fall to match you with her country forms,
360 And happily repent.
361 OTHELLO.
362 Farewell, farewell:
363 If more thou dost perceive, let me know more;
364 Set on thy wife to observe. Leave me, Iago.
365 IAGO.
366 [_Going._] My lord, I take my leave.
367 OTHELLO.
368 Why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless
369 Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.
370 IAGO.
371 [_Returning._] My lord, I would I might entreat your honour
372 To scan this thing no further. Leave it to time:
373 Though it be fit that Cassio have his place,
374 For sure he fills it up with great ability,
375 Yet if you please to hold him off awhile,
376 You shall by that perceive him and his means.
377 Note if your lady strain his entertainment
378 With any strong or vehement importunity,
379 Much will be seen in that. In the meantime,
380 Let me be thought too busy in my fears
381 (As worthy cause I have to fear I am)
382 And hold her free, I do beseech your honour.
383 OTHELLO.
384 Fear not my government.
385 IAGO.
386 I once more take my leave.
387 [_Exit._]
388 OTHELLO.
389 This fellow’s of exceeding honesty,
390 And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,
391 Of human dealings. If I do prove her haggard,
392 Though that her jesses were my dear heartstrings,
393 I’d whistle her off, and let her down the wind
394 To prey at fortune. Haply, for I am black,
395 And have not those soft parts of conversation
396 That chamberers have, or for I am declin’d
397 Into the vale of years,—yet that’s not much—
398 She’s gone, I am abus’d, and my relief
399 Must be to loathe her. O curse of marriage,
400 That we can call these delicate creatures ours,
401 And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad,
402 And live upon the vapour of a dungeon,
403 Than keep a corner in the thing I love
404 For others’ uses. Yet, ’tis the plague of great ones,
405 Prerogativ’d are they less than the base,
406 ’Tis destiny unshunnable, like death:
407 Even then this forked plague is fated to us
408 When we do quicken. Desdemona comes.
409 If she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself!
410 I’ll not believe’t.
411 Enter Desdemona and Emilia.
412 DESDEMONA.
413 How now, my dear Othello?
414 Your dinner, and the generous islanders
415 By you invited, do attend your presence.
416 OTHELLO.
417 I am to blame.
418 DESDEMONA.
419 Why do you speak so faintly?
420 Are you not well?
421 OTHELLO.
422 I have a pain upon my forehead here.
423 DESDEMONA.
424 Faith, that’s with watching, ’twill away again;
425 Let me but bind it hard, within this hour
426 It will be well.
427 OTHELLO.
428 Your napkin is too little;
429 [_He puts the handkerchief from him, and she drops it._]
430 Let it alone. Come, I’ll go in with you.
431 DESDEMONA.
432 I am very sorry that you are not well.
433 [_Exeunt Othello and Desdemona._]
434 EMILIA.
435 I am glad I have found this napkin;
436 This was her first remembrance from the Moor.
437 My wayward husband hath a hundred times
438 Woo’d me to steal it. But she so loves the token,
439 For he conjur’d her she should ever keep it,
440 That she reserves it evermore about her
441 To kiss and talk to. I’ll have the work ta’en out,
442 And give’t Iago. What he will do with it
443 Heaven knows, not I,
444 I nothing but to please his fantasy.
445 Enter Iago.
446 IAGO.
447 How now? What do you here alone?
448 EMILIA.
449 Do not you chide. I have a thing for you.
450 IAGO.
451 A thing for me? It is a common thing—
452 EMILIA.
453 Ha?
454 IAGO.
455 To have a foolish wife.
456 EMILIA.
457 O, is that all? What will you give me now
458 For that same handkerchief?
459 IAGO.
460 What handkerchief?
461 EMILIA.
462 What handkerchief?
463 Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona,
464 That which so often you did bid me steal.
465 IAGO.
466 Hast stol’n it from her?
467 EMILIA.
468 No, faith, she let it drop by negligence,
469 And, to the advantage, I being here, took ’t up.
470 Look, here it is.
471 IAGO.
472 A good wench, give it me.
473 EMILIA.
474 What will you do with’t, that you have been so earnest
475 To have me filch it?
476 IAGO.
477 [_Snatching it._] Why, what’s that to you?
478 EMILIA.
479 If it be not for some purpose of import,
480 Give ’t me again. Poor lady, she’ll run mad
481 When she shall lack it.
482 IAGO.
483 Be not acknown on’t, I have use for it.
484 Go, leave me.
485 [_Exit Emilia._]
486 I will in Cassio’s lodging lose this napkin,
487 And let him find it. Trifles light as air
488 Are to the jealous confirmations strong
489 As proofs of holy writ. This may do something.
490 The Moor already changes with my poison:
491 Dangerous conceits are in their natures poisons,
492 Which at the first are scarce found to distaste,
493 But with a little act upon the blood
494 Burn like the mines of sulphur. I did say so.
495 Enter Othello.
496 Look, where he comes. Not poppy, nor mandragora,
497 Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world,
498 Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep
499 Which thou ow’dst yesterday.
500 OTHELLO.
501 Ha! ha! false to me?
502 IAGO.
503 Why, how now, general? No more of that.
504 OTHELLO.
505 Avaunt! be gone! Thou hast set me on the rack.
506 I swear ’tis better to be much abus’d
507 Than but to know’t a little.
508 IAGO.
509 How now, my lord?
510 OTHELLO.
511 What sense had I of her stol’n hours of lust?
512 I saw’t not, thought it not, it harm’d not me.
513 I slept the next night well, was free and merry;
514 I found not Cassio’s kisses on her lips.
515 He that is robb’d, not wanting what is stol’n,
516 Let him not know’t, and he’s not robb’d at all.
517 IAGO.
518 I am sorry to hear this.
519 OTHELLO.
520 I had been happy if the general camp,
521 Pioners and all, had tasted her sweet body,
522 So I had nothing known. O, now, for ever
523 Farewell the tranquil mind! Farewell content!
524 Farewell the plumed troops and the big wars
525 That make ambition virtue! O, farewell,
526 Farewell the neighing steed and the shrill trump,
527 The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife,
528 The royal banner, and all quality,
529 Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war!
530 And, O you mortal engines, whose rude throats
531 The immortal Jove’s dread clamours counterfeit,
532 Farewell! Othello’s occupation’s gone!
533 IAGO.
534 Is’t possible, my lord?
535 OTHELLO.
536 Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore;
537 Be sure of it. Give me the ocular proof,
538 Or, by the worth of man’s eternal soul,
539 Thou hadst been better have been born a dog
540 Than answer my wak’d wrath.
541 IAGO.
542 Is’t come to this?
543 OTHELLO.
544 Make me to see’t, or at the least so prove it,
545 That the probation bear no hinge nor loop
546 To hang a doubt on, or woe upon thy life!
547 IAGO.
548 My noble lord,—
549 OTHELLO.
550 If thou dost slander her and torture me,
551 Never pray more. Abandon all remorse;
552 On horror’s head horrors accumulate;
553 Do deeds to make heaven weep, all earth amaz’d;
554 For nothing canst thou to damnation add
555 Greater than that.
556 IAGO.
557 O grace! O heaven defend me!
558 Are you a man? Have you a soul or sense?
559 God be wi’ you. Take mine office.—O wretched fool,
560 That liv’st to make thine honesty a vice!
561 O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O world,
562 To be direct and honest is not safe.
563 I thank you for this profit, and from hence
564 I’ll love no friend, sith love breeds such offence.
565 OTHELLO.
566 Nay, stay. Thou shouldst be honest.
567 IAGO.
568 I should be wise; for honesty’s a fool,
569 And loses that it works for.
570 OTHELLO.
571 By the world,
572 I think my wife be honest, and think she is not.
573 I think that thou art just, and think thou art not.
574 I’ll have some proof: her name, that was as fresh
575 As Dian’s visage, is now begrim’d and black
576 As mine own face. If there be cords or knives,
577 Poison or fire, or suffocating streams,
578 I’ll not endure ’t. Would I were satisfied!
579 IAGO.
580 I see, sir, you are eaten up with passion.
581 I do repent me that I put it to you.
582 You would be satisfied?
583 OTHELLO.
584 Would? Nay, I will.
585 IAGO.
586 And may; but how? How satisfied, my lord?
587 Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on,
588 Behold her topp’d?
589 OTHELLO.
590 Death and damnation! O!
591 IAGO.
592 It were a tedious difficulty, I think,
593 To bring them to that prospect. Damn them then,
594 If ever mortal eyes do see them bolster
595 More than their own! What then? How then?
596 What shall I say? Where’s satisfaction?
597 It is impossible you should see this,
598 Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys,
599 As salt as wolves in pride, and fools as gross
600 As ignorance made drunk. But yet I say,
601 If imputation and strong circumstances,
602 Which lead directly to the door of truth,
603 Will give you satisfaction, you may have’t.
604 OTHELLO.
605 Give me a living reason she’s disloyal.
606 IAGO.
607 I do not like the office,
608 But sith I am enter’d in this cause so far,
609 Prick’d to ’t by foolish honesty and love,
610 I will go on. I lay with Cassio lately,
611 And being troubled with a raging tooth,
612 I could not sleep.
613 There are a kind of men so loose of soul,
614 That in their sleeps will mutter their affairs.
615 One of this kind is Cassio:
616 In sleep I heard him say, “Sweet Desdemona,
617 Let us be wary, let us hide our loves;”
618 And then, sir, would he gripe and wring my hand,
619 Cry “O sweet creature!” and then kiss me hard,
620 As if he pluck’d up kisses by the roots,
621 That grew upon my lips, then laid his leg
622 Over my thigh, and sigh’d and kiss’d, and then
623 Cried “Cursed fate that gave thee to the Moor!”
624 OTHELLO.
625 O monstrous! monstrous!
626 IAGO.
627 Nay, this was but his dream.
628 OTHELLO.
629 But this denoted a foregone conclusion.
630 ’Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream.
631 IAGO.
632 And this may help to thicken other proofs
633 That do demonstrate thinly.
634 OTHELLO.
635 I’ll tear her all to pieces.
636 IAGO.
637 Nay, but be wise. Yet we see nothing done,
638 She may be honest yet. Tell me but this,
639 Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief
640 Spotted with strawberries in your wife’s hand?
641 OTHELLO.
642 I gave her such a one, ’twas my first gift.
643 IAGO.
644 I know not that: but such a handkerchief
645 (I am sure it was your wife’s) did I today
646 See Cassio wipe his beard with.
647 OTHELLO.
648 If it be that,—
649 IAGO.
650 If it be that, or any that was hers,
651 It speaks against her with the other proofs.
652 OTHELLO.
653 O, that the slave had forty thousand lives!
654 One is too poor, too weak for my revenge!
655 Now do I see ’tis true. Look here, Iago;
656 All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven.
657 ’Tis gone.
658 Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow hell!
659 Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne
660 To tyrannous hate! Swell, bosom, with thy fraught,
661 For ’tis of aspics’ tongues!
662 IAGO.
663 Yet be content.
664 OTHELLO.
665 O, blood, Iago, blood!
666 IAGO.
667 Patience, I say. Your mind perhaps may change.
668 OTHELLO.
669 Never, Iago. Like to the Pontic Sea,
670 Whose icy current and compulsive course
671 Ne’er feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on
672 To the Propontic and the Hellespont;
673 Even so my bloody thoughts, with violent pace
674 Shall ne’er look back, ne’er ebb to humble love,
675 Till that a capable and wide revenge
676 Swallow them up. Now by yond marble heaven,
677 In the due reverence of a sacred vow [_Kneels._]
678 I here engage my words.
679 IAGO.
680 Do not rise yet. [_Kneels._]
681 Witness, you ever-burning lights above,
682 You elements that clip us round about,
683 Witness that here Iago doth give up
684 The execution of his wit, hands, heart,
685 To wrong’d Othello’s service! Let him command,
686 And to obey shall be in me remorse,
687 What bloody business ever.
688 [_They rise._]
689 OTHELLO.
690 I greet thy love,
691 Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance bounteous,
692 And will upon the instant put thee to ’t.
693 Within these three days let me hear thee say
694 That Cassio’s not alive.
695 IAGO.
696 My friend is dead. ’Tis done at your request.
697 But let her live.
698 OTHELLO.
699 Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her, damn her!
700 Come, go with me apart, I will withdraw
701 To furnish me with some swift means of death
702 For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant.
703 IAGO.
704 I am your own for ever.
705 [_Exeunt._]