German

      SCENE IV

       Table of Contents

      EMILIA

       Madam, here comes my lord.

      CASSIO

       Madam, I’ll take my leave.

      DESDEMONA

       Why, stay, and hear me speak.

      CASSIO

       Madam, not now. I am very ill at ease,

       Unfit for mine own purposes.

      DESDEMONA

       Well, do your discretion.

       [Exit Cassio.]

       [Enter Othello and Iago.]

      IAGO

       Ha! I like not that.

      OTHELLO

       What dost thou say?

      IAGO

       Nothing, my lord: or if—I know not what.

      OTHELLO

       Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?

      IAGO

       Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it,

       That he would steal away so guilty-like,

       Seeing you coming.

      OTHELLO

       I do believe ‘twas he.

      DESDEMONA

       How now, my lord!

       I have been talking with a suitor here,

       A man that languishes in your displeasure.

      OTHELLO

       Who is’t you mean?

      DESDEMONA

       Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord,

       If I have any grace or power to move you,

       His present reconciliation take;

       For if he be not one that truly loves you,

       That errs in ignorance and not in cunning,

       I have no judgement in an honest face:

       I pr’ythee, call him back.

      OTHELLO

       Went he hence now?

      DESDEMONA

       Ay, sooth; so humbled

       That he hath left part of his grief with me

       To suffer with him. Good love, call him back.

      OTHELLO

       Not now, sweet Desdemon; some other time.

      DESDEMONA

       But shall’t be shortly?

      OTHELLO

       The sooner, sweet, for you.

      DESDEMONA

       Shall’t be tonight at supper?

      OTHELLO

       No, not tonight.

      DESDEMONA

       Tomorrow dinner then?

      OTHELLO

       I shall not dine at home;

       I meet the captains at the citadel.

      DESDEMONA

       Why then tomorrow night; or Tuesday morn;

       On Tuesday noon, or night; on Wednesday morn:—

       I pr’ythee, name the time; but let it not

       Exceed three days: in faith, he’s penitent;

       And yet his trespass, in our common reason,—

       Save that, they say, the wars must make examples

       Out of their best,—is not almost a fault

       To incur a private check. When shall he come?

       Tell me, Othello: I wonder in my soul,

       What you would ask me, that I should deny,

       Or stand so mammering on. What! Michael Cassio,

       That came awooing with you; and so many a time,

       When I have spoke of you dispraisingly,

       Hath ta’en your part;—to have so much to do

       To bring him in! Trust me, I could do much,—

      OTHELLO

       Pr’ythee, no more; let him come when he will;

       I will deny thee nothing.

      DESDEMONA

       Why, this is not a boon;

       ‘Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves,

       Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm,

       Or sue to you to do a peculiar profit

       To your own person: nay, when I have a suit

       Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed,

       It shall be full of poise and difficult weight,

       And fearful to be granted.

      OTHELLO

       I will deny thee nothing:

       Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this,

       To leave me but a little to myself.

      DESDEMONA

       Shall I deny you? no: farewell, my lord.

      OTHELLO

       Farewell, my Desdemona: I’ll come to thee straight.

      DESDEMONA

       Emilia, come.—Be as your fancies teach you;

       Whate’er you be, I am obedient.

       [Exit with Emilia.]