Othello Read Free Page A

oak,
    Â Â Â Â He thought ’twas witchcraft: but I am much to blame, [215]
    Â Â Â Â I humbly do beseech you of your pardon,
    Â Â Â Â 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.
    Â Â Â Â I hope you will consider what is spoke [220]
    Â Â Â Â Comes from my love: but I do see you are mov’d,
    Â Â Â Â I am to pray you, not to strain my speech
    Â Â Â Â To grosser issues, nor to larger reach,
    Â Â Â Â Than to suspicion.
    OTHELLO. I will not.
    IAGO. Should you do so, my lord, [225]
    Â Â Â Â My speech should fall into such vile success
    Â Â Â Â As my thoughts aim not at: Cassio’s my trusty friend:
    Â Â Â Â My lord, I see you are mov’d.
    OTH ELLO. No, not much mov’d,
    Â Â Â Â I do not think but Desdemona’s honest.
    IAGO. Long live she so, and long live you to think so! [230]
    OTHELLO. And yet how nature erring from itself –
    IAGO. Ay, there’s the point: as, to be bold with you,
    Â Â Â Â Not to affect many proposed match es ,
    Â Â Â Â Of her own clime , complexion , and degree,
    Â Â Â Â Whereto we see in all things nature tends; [235]
    Â Â Â Â Fie, we may smell in such a will most rank ,
    Â Â Â Â Foul disproportion; thoughts unnatural.
    Â Â Â Â But pardon me: I do not in position
    Â Â Â Â Distinctly speak of her, though I may fear
    Â Â Â Â Her will, recoil ing to her better judgement, [240]
    Â Â Â Â May fall to match you with her country form s ,
    Â Â Â Â And happily repent .
    OTHELLO. Farewell, if more
    Â Â Â Â Thou dost perceive, let me know more, set on
    Â Â Â Â Thy wife to observe; leave me, Iago.
    IAGO (going). My lord, I take my leave. [245]
    OTHELLO. Why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless
    Â Â Â Â Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfold s .
    IAGO (returning). My lord, I would I might entreat your honour
    Â Â Â Â To scan this thing no further, leave it to time:
    Â Â Â Â Though it be fit that Cassio have his place, [250]
    Â Â Â Â For sure he fills it up with great ability,
    Â Â Â Â Yet if you please to hold him off awhile,
    Â Â Â Â You shall by that perceive him and his means;
    Â Â Â Â Note if your lady strain her entertainment
    Â Â Â Â With any strong or vehement importunity , [255]
    Â Â Â Â Much will be seen in that; in the mean time,
    Â Â Â Â Let me be thought too busy in my fears
    Â Â Â Â (As worthy cause I have to fear I am);
    Â Â Â Â And hold her free, I do beseech your honour.
    OTHELLO. Fear not my government. [260]
    IAGO. I once more take my leave.
    (Exit.)
    OTHELLO. This fellow’s of exceeding honesty,
    Â Â Â Â And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,
    Â Â Â Â Of human dealing: if I do prove her haggard ,
    Â Â Â Â Though that her jesses were my dear heart-strings , [265]
    Â Â Â Â I’ld whistle her off, and let her down the wind,
    Â Â Â Â To prey at fortune. Haply, for I am black,
    Â Â Â Â And have not those soft parts of conversation
    Â Â Â Â That chamberer s have, or for I am declin’d
    Â Â Â Â Into the vale of years, – yet that’s not much – [270]
    Â Â Â Â She’s gone, I am abus’d, and my relief
    Â Â Â Â Must be to loathe her: O curse of marriage,
    Â Â Â Â That we can call these delicate creatures ours,
    Â Â Â Â And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad ,
    Â Â Â Â And live upon the vapour in a dungeon , [275]
    Â Â Â Â Than keep a corner in a thing I love,
    Â Â Â Â For others’ uses: yet ’tis the plague of great ones,
    Â Â Â Â  Prerogativ’d are they less