After her, after her.
CASSIO
Faith, I must; she’ll rail in the street else.
IAGO
Will you sup there?
CASSIO
Faith, I intend so.
IAGO
Well, I may chance to see you; for I would very fain speak with you.
CASSIO
Pr’ythee, come; will you?
IAGO
Go to; say no more.
[Exit Cassio.]
OTHELLO
[Coming forward.] How shall I murder him, Iago?
IAGO
Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice?
OTHELLO
O Iago!
IAGO
And did you see the handkerchief?
OTHELLO
Was that mine?
IAGO
Yours, by this hand: and to see how he prizes the foolish woman your wife! she gave it him, and he hath given it his whore.
OTHELLO
I would have him nine years a-killing.—A fine woman! a fair woman! a sweet woman!
IAGO
Nay, you must forget that.
OTHELLO
Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damned tonight; for she shall not live: no, my heart is turned to stone; I strike it, and it hurts my hand.—O, the world hath not a sweeter creature: she might lie by an emperor’s side, and command him tasks.
IAGO
Nay, that’s not your way.
OTHELLO
Hang her! I do but say what she is:—so delicate with her needle!—an admirable musician! O, she will sing the savageness out of a bear!—Of so high and plenteous wit and invention!—
IAGO
She’s the worse for all this.
OTHELLO
O, a thousand, a thousand times:—and then, of so gentle a condition!
IAGO
Ay, too gentle.
OTHELLO
Nay, that’s certain:—but yet the pity of it, Iago! O Iago, the pity of it, Iago!
IAGO
If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her patent to offend; for, if it touch not you, it comes near nobody.
OTHELLO
I will chop her into messes.—Cuckold me!
IAGO
O, ‘tis foul in her.
OTHELLO
With mine officer!
IAGO
That’s fouler.
OTHELLO
Get me some poison, Iago; this night.—I’ll not expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again:—this night, Iago.
IAGO
Do it not with poison; strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated.
OTHELLO
Good, good: the justice of it pleases: very good.
IAGO
And for Cassio,—let me be his undertaker:—you shall hear more by midnight.
OTHELLO
Excellent good. [A trumpet within.] What trumpet is that same?
IAGO
Something from Venice, sure. ‘Tis Lodovico
Come from the duke: and, see, your wife is with him.
[Enter Lodovico, Desdemona, and Attendants.]
LODOVICO
Save you, worthy general!
OTHELLO
With all my heart, sir.
LODOVICO
The duke and senators of Venice greet you.
[Gives him a packet.]
OTHELLO.
I kiss the instrument of their pleasures.
[Opens the packet and reads.]
DESDEMONA
And what’s the news, good cousin Lodovico?
IAGO
I am very glad to see you, signior;
Welcome to Cyprus.
LODOVICO
I thank you. How does Lieutenant Cassio?
IAGO
Lives, sir.
DESDEMONA
Cousin, there’s fall’n between him and my lord
An unkind breach: but you shall make all well.
OTHELLO
Are you sure of that?
DESDEMONA
My lord?
OTHELLO
[Reads.] “This fail you not to do, as you will,—”
LODOVICO
He did not call; he’s busy in the paper.
Is there division ‘twixt my lord and Cassio?
DESDEMONA
A most unhappy one: I would do much
To atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio.
OTHELLO
Fire and brimstone!
DESDEMONA
My lord?
OTHELLO
Are you wise?
DESDEMONA
What, is he angry?
LODOVICO
May be the letter mov’d him;
For, as I think, they do command him home,
Deputing Cassio in his government.
DESDEMONA
Trust me, I am glad on’t.
OTHELLO
Indeed!
DESDEMONA
My lord?
OTHELLO
I am glad to see you mad.
DESDEMONA
Why, sweet Othello,—
OTHELLO
Devil! [Striking her.]
DESDEMONA
I have not deserv’d this.
LODOVICO
My lord, this would not be believ’d in Venice,
Though I should swear I saw’t: ‘tis very much:
Make her amends; she weeps.
OTHELLO
O devil, devil!
If that the earth could teem with