III iii (part two)

 

Iago, Othello

 

IAGO                       My noble lord—

 

OTHELLO               What dost thou say, Iago?

 

IAGO                       Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my lady,
Know of your love?

 

OTHELLO               He did, from first to last: why dost thou ask?

IAGO                       But for a satisfaction of my thought;
No further harm.

 

OTHELLO               Why of thy thought, Iago?

 

IAGO                       I did not think he had been acquainted with her.

 

OTHELLO               O, yes; and went between us very oft.

 

IAGO                       Indeed!

 

OTHELLO               Indeed! ay, indeed: discern'st thou aught in that?
Is he not honest?

 

IAGO                       Honest, my lord!

 

OTHELLO               Honest! ay, honest.

 

IAGO                       My lord, for aught I know.

 

OTHELLO               What dost thou think?

 

IAGO                       Think, my lord!

 

OTHELLO               Think, my lord!
By heaven, he echoes me,
As if there were some monster in his thought
Too hideous to be shown. if thou dost love me,
Show me thy thought.

 

IAGO                       My lord, you know I love you.

 

OTHELLO               I think thou dost;

 

IAGO                       For Michael Cassio,
I dare be sworn I think that he is honest.

 

OTHELLO               I think so too.

 

IAGO                       Men should be what they seem;

 

OTHELLO               Certain, men should be what they seem.

 

IAGO                       Why, then, I think Cassio's an honest man.

 

OTHELLO               Nay, yet there's more in this:
I prithee, speak to me as to thy thinkings,
As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of thoughts
The worst of words.

 

IAGO                       Good my lord, pardon me:
Though I am bound to every act of duty,
I am not bound to that all slaves are free to.
Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile and false?

 

OTHELLO               Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago,
If thou but think'st him wrong'd and makest his ear
A stranger to thy thoughts.

 

IAGO                       I do beseech you--
It were not for your quiet nor your good,
Nor for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom,
To let you know my thoughts.

 

OTHELLO               What dost thou mean?

 

IAGO                       Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls:
Who steals my purse steals trash;
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him
And makes me poor indeed.

 

OTHELLO               By heaven, I'll know thy thoughts.

 

IAGO                       You cannot, if my heart were in your hand;
Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody.

 

OTHELLO               Ha!

 

 

IAGO                       O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;
It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on; that cuckold lives in bliss
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;
But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er
Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves!

 

OTHELLO               O misery!

 

IAGO                       Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend
From jealousy!

 

OTHELLO               Why, why is this?
Think'st thou I'ld make a lie of jealousy,
To follow still the changes of the moon
With fresh suspicions? No; to be once in doubt
Is once to be resolved:  'Tis not to make me jealous
To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company,
Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances well;
Where virtue is, these are more virtuous:
Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw
The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt;
For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago;
I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
And on the proof, there is no more but this,--
Away at once with love or jealousy!

 

IAGO                       I am glad of it; for now I shall have reason
To show the love and duty that I bear you
With franker spirit: I speak not yet of proof.
Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio;
I know our country disposition well;
In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks
They dare not show their husbands; their best conscience
Is not to leave't undone, but keep't unknown.

 

OTHELLO               Dost thou say so?

 

IAGO                       She did deceive her father, marrying you;
And when she seem'd to shake and fear your looks,
She loved them most.

 

OTHELLO               And so she did.

 

IAGO                       Why, go to then;
She that, so young, could give out such a seeming,
To seal her father's eyes up close as oak-
He thought 'twas witchcraft--but I am much to blame;
I humbly do beseech you of your pardon
For too much loving you.

 

OTHELLO               I am bound to thee for ever.

 

IAGO                       I see this hath a little dash'd your spirits.

 

OTHELLO               Not a jot, not a jot.

 

IAGO                       I' faith, I fear it has.
I hope you will consider what is spoke
Comes from my love. But I do see you're moved:
I am to pray you not to strain my speech
To grosser issues nor to larger reach
Than to suspicion.

 

OTHELLO               I will not.

 

IAGO                       Should you do so, my lord,
My speech should fall into such vile success
As my thoughts aim not at. Cassio's my worthy friend--
My lord, I see you're moved.

 

OTHELLO               No, not much moved:
I do not think but Desdemona's honest.

 

IAGO                       Long live she so! and long live you to think so!

 

OTHELLO               And yet, how nature erring from itself,--

 

IAGO                       Ay, there's the point: as--to be bold with you--
Not to affect many proposed matches
Of her own clime, complexion, and degree,
Foh! one may smell in such a will most rank,
Foul disproportion thoughts unnatural.
But pardon me-

 

OTHELLO               Farewell, farewell:
If more thou dost perceive, let me know more;
Set on thy wife to observe: leave me, Iago:

 

IAGO                       [Going] My lord, I take my leave.

 

OTHELLO               Why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless
Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.

 

IAGO                       [Returning] My lord, I would I might entreat
your honour
To scan this thing no further; leave it to time:
And hold her free, I do beseech your honour.

 

OTHELLO               Fear not my government.

 

IAGO                       I once more take my leave.