Act III, Scene 4

Before the castle.

[Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA, and Clown]

• Desdemona. Do you know, sirrah, where Lieutenant Cassio lies?

• Clown. I dare not say he lies any where. 2175

• Desdemona. Why, man?

• Clown. He's a soldier, and for one to say a soldier lies,
  is stabbing.

• Desdemona. Go to: where lodges he?

• Clown. To tell you where he lodges, is to tell you where I lie. 2180

• Desdemona. Can any thing be made of this?

• Clown. I know not where he lodges, and for me to devise a
  lodging and say he lies here or he lies there, were
  to lie in mine own throat.

• Desdemona. Can you inquire him out, and be edified by report? 2185

• Clown. I will catechise the world for him; that is, make
  questions, and by them answer.

• Desdemona. Seek him, bid him come hither: tell him I have
  moved my lord on his behalf, and hope all will be well.

• Clown. To do this is within the compass of man's wit: and 2190
  therefore I will attempt the doing it.

[Exit]

• Desdemona. Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia?

• Emilia. I know not, madam.

• Desdemona. Believe me, I had rather have lost my purse 2195
  Full of crusadoes: and, but my noble Moor
  Is true of mind and made of no such baseness
  As jealous creatures are, it were enough
  To put him to ill thinking.

• Emilia. Is he not jealous? 2200

• Desdemona. Who, he? I think the sun where he was born
  Drew all such humours from him.

• Emilia. Look, where he comes.

• Desdemona. I will not leave him now till Cassio
  Be call'd to him. 2205
  [Enter OTHELLO]
  How is't with you, my lord

• Othello. Well, my good lady.
  [Aside]
  O, hardness to dissemble!— 2210
  How do you, Desdemona?

• Desdemona. Well, my good lord.

• Othello. Give me your hand: this hand is moist, my lady.

• Desdemona. It yet hath felt no age nor known no sorrow.

• Othello. This argues fruitfulness and liberal heart: 2215
  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, 2220
  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. 2225

• 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. 2230

• Desdemona. Here, my lord.

• Othello. That which I gave you.

• Desdemona. I have it not about me.

• Othello. Not?

• Desdemona. No, indeed, my lord. 2235

• Othello. That is 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 2240
  she kept it,
  'Twould make her amiable and subdue my father
  Entirely to her love, but if she lost it
  Or made gift of it, my father's eye
  Should hold her loathed and his spirits should hunt 2245
  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 2250
  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, 2255
  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 skilful
  Conserved of maidens' hearts.

• Desdemona. Indeed! is't true? 2260

• 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 2265
  o' the way?

• Desdemona. Heaven bless us!

• Othello. Say you?

• Desdemona. It is not lost; but what an if it were?

• Othello. How! 2270

• Desdemona. I say, it is not lost.

• Othello. Fetch't, let me see't.

• 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. 2275

• 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. 2280

• 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! 2285

• Desdemona. In sooth, you are to blame.

• Othello. Away!

[Exit]

• Emilia. Is not this man jealous?

• Desdemona. I ne'er saw this before. 2290
  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;
  To eat us hungerly, and when they are full, 2295
  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? 2300

• 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 honour: I would not be delay'd. 2305
  If my offence 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; 2310
  So shall I clothe me in a forced content,
  And shut myself up in some other course,
  To fortune's alms.

• Desdemona. Alas, thrice-gentle Cassio!
  My advocation is not now in tune; 2315
  My lord is not my lord; nor should I know him,
  Were he in favour as in humour alter'd.
  So help me every spirit sanctified,
  As I have spoken for you all my best
  And stood within the blank of his displeasure 2320
  For my free speech! you must awhile be patient:
  What I can do I will; and more I will
  Than for myself I dare: let that suffice you.

• Iago. Is my lord angry?

• Emilia. He went hence but now, 2325
  And certainly in strange unquietness.

• Iago. Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon,
  When it hath blown his ranks into the air,
  And, like the devil, from his very arm
  Puff'd his own brother:—and can he be angry? 2330
  Something of moment then: I will go meet him:
  There's matter in't indeed, if he be angry.

• Desdemona. I prithee, do so.
  [Exit IAGO]
  Something, sure, of state, 2335
  Either from Venice, or some unhatch'd practise
  Made demonstrable here in Cyprus to him,
  Hath puddled his clear spirit: and in such cases
  Men's natures wrangle with inferior things,
  Though great ones are their object. 'Tis even so; 2340
  For let our finger ache, and it indues
  Our other healthful members even to that sense
  Of pain: nay, we must think men are not gods,
  Nor of them look for such observances
  As fit the bridal. Beshrew me much, Emilia, 2345
  I was, unhandsome warrior as I am,
  Arraigning his unkindness with my soul;
  But now I find I had suborn'd the witness,
  And he's indicted falsely.

• Emilia. Pray heaven it be state-matters, as you think, 2350
  And no conception nor no jealous toy
  Concerning you.

• Desdemona. Alas the day! I never gave him cause.

• Emilia. But jealous souls will not be answer'd so;
  They are not ever jealous for the cause, 2355
  But jealous for they are jealous: 'tis a monster
  Begot upon itself, born on itself.

• Desdemona. Heaven keep that monster from Othello's mind!

• Emilia. Lady, amen.

• Desdemona. I will go seek him. Cassio, walk hereabout: 2360
  If I do find him fit, I'll move your suit
  And seek to effect it to my uttermost.

• Cassio. I humbly thank your ladyship.

[Exeunt DESDEMONA and EMILIA]

[Enter BIANCA]

• Bianca. Save you, friend Cassio!

• Cassio. What make you from home?
  How is it with you, my most fair Bianca?
  I' faith, sweet love, I was coming to your house.

• Bianca. And I was going to your lodging, Cassio. 2370
  What, keep a week away? seven days and nights?
  Eight score eight hours? and lovers' absent hours,
  More tedious than the dial eight score times?
  O weary reckoning!

• Cassio. Pardon me, Bianca: 2375
  I have this while with leaden thoughts been press'd:
  But I shall, in a more continuate time,
  Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca,
  [Giving her DESDEMONA's handkerchief]
  Take me this work out. 2380

• Bianca. O Cassio, whence came this?
  This is some token from a newer friend:
  To the felt absence now I feel a cause:
  Is't come to this? Well, well.

• Cassio. Go to, woman! 2385
  Throw your vile guesses in the devil's teeth,
  From whence you have them. You are jealous now
  That this is from some mistress, some remembrance:
  No, in good troth, Bianca.

• Bianca. Why, whose is it? 2390

• Cassio. I know not, sweet: I found it in my chamber.
  I like the work well: ere it be demanded—
  As like enough it will—I'ld have it copied:
  Take it, and do't; and leave me for this time.

• Bianca. Leave you! wherefore? 2395

• Cassio. I do attend here on the general;
  And think it no addition, nor my wish,
  To have him see me woman'd.

• Bianca. Why, I pray you?

• Cassio. Not that I love you not. 2400

• Bianca. But that you do not love me.
  I pray you, bring me on the way a little,
  And say if I shall see you soon at night.

• Cassio. 'Tis but a little way that I can bring you;
  For I attend here: but I'll see you soon. 2405

• Bianca. 'Tis very good; I must be circumstanced.

[Exeunt]