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.

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.

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.

DESDEMONA I’faith, you are to blame.

OTHELLO ’Swounds! Exit

EMILIA

Is not this man jealous?

DESDEMONA I ne’er saw this before.

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.

They eat us hungrily, and when they are full,

They belch us.

Enter Iago and Cassio

Look you, Cassio and my husband.

IAGO (to Cassio)

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?

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 delayed.

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.

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.

My lord is not my lord, nor should I know him

Were he in favour as in humour altered.

So help me every spirit sanctified

As I have spoken for you all my best,

And stood within the blank of his displeasure

For my free speech! You must a while 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,

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

Puffed his own brother; and is he angry?

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,

Either from Venice or some unhatched practice

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;

For let our finger ache and it indues

Our other, healthful members even to a sense

Of pain. Nay, we must think men are not gods,

Nor of them look for such observancy

As fits the bridal. Beshrew me much, Emilia,

I was—unhandsome warrior as I am—

Arraigning his unkindness with my soul;

But now I find I had suborned the witness,

And he’s indicted falsely.

EMILIA Pray heaven it be

State matters, as you think, 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 answered so.

They are not ever jealous for the cause,

But jealous for they’re jealous. It is a monster

Begot upon itself, born on itself.

DESDEMONA

Heaven keep the monster from Othello’s mind.

EMILIA Lady, amen.

DESDEMONA

I will go seek him. Cassio, walk here about.

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’t 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.

What, keep a week away? Seven days and nights,

Eightscore-eight hours, and lovers’ absent hours

More tedious than the dial eightscore times!

O weary reckoning!

CASSIO Pardon me, Bianca,

I have this while with leaden thoughts been pressed,

But I shall in a more continuate time

Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca,

Take me this work out.

He gives her Desdemona’s napkin

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.

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, by my faith, Bianca.

BIANCA Why, whose is it?

CASSIO

I know not, neither. I found it in my chamber.

I like the work well. Ere it be demanded—

As like enough it witt—I would have it copied.

Take it, and do’t, and leave me for this time.

BIANCA Leave you? Wherefore?

CASSIO