But Brutus makes mine greater than they are. Bru. I do not. Still you practise them on me. Cas. You love me not. Bru. I do not like your faults. Cas. A friendly eye could never see such faults. Bru. A flatt'rer's would not, though they do appear As huge as high Olympus. Cas. Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come! Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius, For Cassius is a-weary of the world; Hated by one he loves; brav'd by his brother; Check'd by a bondman; all his faults observ'd, Set in a note-book, learn'd and conn'd by rote, To cast into my teeth. O, I could weep My spirit from mine eyes! - There is my dagger, And here my naked breast-within, a heart Dearer than Plutus' mine, richer than gold! If that thou need'st a Roman's, take it forth. I, that deny'd thee gold, will give my heart: Strike as thou didst at Cæsar; for 1 know, When thou didst hate him worst, thou lov'dst him better Than ever thou lov'd'st Cassius. Bru. Sheathe your dagger; Be angry when you will, it shall have scope; And straight is cold again. Cas. Hath Cassius liv'd To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus, When grief, and blood ill-temper'd, vexeth him? Bru. When I spoke that, I was ill-temper'd too. Cas. Do you confess so much? Give me your hand. 7 Bru. And my heart too. Cas. O Brutus? Bru What's the matter? Cas. Have you not love enough to bear with me, When that rash humour which my mother gave me, Makes me forgetful? Bru. Yes, Cassius, and from henceforth, When you are over-earnest with your Brutus, He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so. SHAKESPEARE. CHAP. XXVII. Othello and Iago. Iago. My noble lord, Oth. What dost thou say Iago? Iago. Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my lady, Know of your love? Oth. He did, from first to last: why dost thou ask? Iago. But for a satisfaction of my thought, No farther harm. Oth. Why of thy thought, Iago? Iago. I did not think he'd been acquainted with it. Oth. Oh ,yes, lago. Indeed! and went between us very oft. Oth. Indeed! ay, indeed. Discern'st thou aught in that? Is he not honest. Iago. Honest, my lord? Oth. Honest? aye, honest. Iago. My lord, for aught I know. Oth. What dost thou think! Iago. Think, my lord! Oth. Think, my Lord! Why, by Heav'n, thour echo'st me, As if there were some monster in thy thought, Too hideous to be shewn. Thou dost mean some thing: I heard thee say but now, << thou lik'st not that, >> When Cassio left my wife. What didst not like? And when I told thee, he was of my counsel, <<< Indeed! >» And didst contract and purse thy brow together, Iago. My lord, you know I love you. And for I know, thou art full of love and honesty, breath, Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more; Iago. For Michael Cassio, I dare be sworn, I think, that he is honest. Iago. Men, should be what they seem : knaves. Oth. Certain! men should be what they seem. Iago. Why, then I think Cassio's an honest man. Oth. Nay, yet there's more in this. I pray thee speak to me as to thy thinkings, As thou dost ruminate: and give thy worst of thoughts The worst of words. Iago. Good my lord, pardon me, Utter my thoughts!-Why, say, they're vile and false; As where's that palace, whereinto foul things Oth. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago. If thou but think'st him wrong'd, and mak'st his ear A stranger to thy thoughts. Iago. I do beseech you, Think I, perchance, am vicious in my guess, Iago. Good name in man or woman, dear my lord, Is the immediate jewel of their souls. Who steals my purse, streals trash; 'tis some thing, nothing; 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thou sands: But he that filches from me my good name, Robs me of that which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed. Oth. I'll know thy thoughts Iago. You cannot, if my heart were in your hand; Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody. Iago. O beware, my lord, of jealousy: Iago. Poor and content, is rich, and rich enough; But riches endless, is as poor as winter, From jealousy! Oth. Why, why is this? Think'st thou I'd make a life of jealousy? With fresh suspicions? - 'Tis not to make me jea lous, To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company, Iago. I'm, glad of this; for now I shall have reason To shew the love and duty that I hear you Iago. She did deceive her father, marrying you; And when she seem'd to shake and fear your looks, She lov'd them most. Oth. And so she did. Iago. Go to then; She that so young, could give out such a seeming To seal her father's eyes up, close as oak He thought 'twas witchcraft-But I'm much to blame; I humbly do beseech you of your pardon, For too much loving you. Oth. I am bound to you for ever. Iago. I see this hath a little dash'd your spirits. |