Othello by William Shakespeare Page B

precious eye:
     To lose’t or give’t away were such perdition
     As nothing else could match.
    DESDEMONA    Is’t possible?
    OTHELLO    ’Tis true. There’s magic in the web 73 of it:
     A sibyl 74 , that had numbered in the world
     The sun to course two hundred compasses 75 ,
     In her prophetic fury 76 sewed the work:
     The worms were hallowed 77 that did breed the silk,
     And it was dyed in mummy 78 which the skilful
      Conserved of 79 maidens’ hearts.
    DESDEMONA    Indeed? Is’t true?
    OTHELLO    Most veritable: therefore look to’t well.
    DESDEMONA    Then would to heaven that I had never seen’t!
    OTHELLO    Ha? Wherefore?
    DESDEMONA    Why do you speak so startingly and rash 84 ?
    OTHELLO    Is’t lost? Is’t gone? Speak, is’t out o’th’way 85 ?
    DESDEMONA    Bless us!
    OTHELLO    Say you?
    DESDEMONA    It is not lost, but what an if 88 it were?
    OTHELLO    How? 89
    DESDEMONA    I say it is not lost.
    OTHELLO    Fetch’t, let me see’t.
    DESDEMONA    Why, so I can, 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 95 .
    DESDEMONA    Come, come,
     You’ll never meet a more sufficient 97 man.
    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    In sooth 103 , you are to blame.
    OTHELLO    Away!
    Exit Othello
    EMILIA    Is not this man jealous?
    DESDEMONA    I ne’er saw this before.
     Sure, there’s some wonder 107 in this handkerchief:
     I am most unhappy 108 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 hungerly 111 , and when they are full
     They belch 112 us.
    Enter Iago and Cassio
         Look you, Cassio and my husband.
    IAGO    There is no other way: ’tis she must do’t.
     And, lo, the happiness 115 ! 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 118 means I may again
     Exist, and be a member of his love
     Whom I with all the office 120 of my heart
     Entirely honour. I would not be delayed.
     If my offence be of such mortal 122 kind
     That nor 123 my service past, nor present sorrows,
     Nor purposed merit in futurity 124 ,
     Can ransom me into his love again,
      But 126 to know so must be my benefit:
     So shall I clothe me in a forced content,
     And shut myself up in 128 some other course,
      To fortune’s alms 129 .
    DESDEMONA    Alas, thrice-gentle Cassio,
     My advocation 131 is not now in tune;
     My lord is not my lord; nor should I know him,
     Were he in favour 133 as in humour altered.
     So help me every spirit sanctified
     As I have spoken for you all my best
     And stood within the blank 136 of his displeasure
     For my free speech! You must awhile be patient:
     What I can do I will, and more I will
     Than for myself I dare: let that suffice 139 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 144 into the air,
     And like the devil from his very arm
     Puffed his own brother 146 : and is he angry?
     Something of moment 147 then. I will go meet him:
     There’s matter in’t indeed, if he be angry.
    Exit
    DESDEMONA    I prithee do so. Something, sure, of state 149 ,
     Either