Act III.]

TIIE MOOR OF VENICE.

591

It is tlic grecn-ey’d monster, which doth mockThe meat it feeds on: That cuckold lives in bliss,Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger ;But O, what damned minutes tells he o’er,

Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet stronglyloves !

Oth. O misery!

lago. Poor and content, is rich, and richenough;

But riches, finelcss, is as poor as winter,

To him that ever fears he shall be poor :—

Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defendFrom jealousy!

Oth. Why ? why is this ?

Think’st thou, I’d make a life of jealousy,

To follow still the changes of the moonWith fresh suspicions ? No: to be once in doubt,Is—once to be resolv’d: Exchange me for a goat,When I shall turn the business of my soulTo such exsufflicate and blown surmises,Matching thy inference. ’Tis not to make mejealous,

To say—my wife is fair, feeds well, loves com-pany,

Is free of speech, sings, plays, and dances well ;Where virtue is, these are more virtuous:

Nor from mine own weak merits will I drawThe smallest fear, or doubt of her revolt;

For she had eyes, and chose me: No, lago;

I’ll see, before I doubt; when I doubt, prove ;And, on the proof, there is no more but this,—Away at once with love, or jealousy.

lago. I am glad of this; for now I shall havereason

To show the love and duty that I bear youWith franker spirit: therefore, as I am bound,Receive it from me:—I speak not yet of proof.Look to your wife ; observe her well with Cassio;Wear your eye—thus, not jealous, nor secure:

I would not have your free and noble nature,Out of self-bounty, be abus’d; look to’t:

I know our country disposition well;

In Venice they do let heaven see the pranksThey dare not show their husbands; their bestconscience

Is—not to leave undone, but keep unknown.Oth. Dost thou say so ?lago. She did deceive her father, marryingyou;

And, when she seem’d to shake, and fear yourlooks,

She lov’d them most.

Oth. And so she did.lago. Why, go to, then ;

She that, so young, could give out such a seem-ing,

To seel her father’s eyes up, close as oak,—

He thought, ’twas witchcraft:—But I am muchto blame;

I humbly do beseech you of your pardon,

For too much loving you.

Oth. I am bound to thee for ever.

lago. I see, this hath alittle dash’d your spirits.

Oth. Not a jot, not a jot.lago. Trust me, I fear it has.

I hope, you will consider, what is spokeComes from my love;—But, I do see you aremov’d:—

I am to pray you, not to strain my speechTo grosser issues, nor to larger reach,

Than to suspicion.

Oth. I will not.

lago. Should you do so, my lord,

My speech should fall into such vile successAs my thoughts aim not at. Cassio’s my worthyfriend:—

My lord, I see you are mov’d.

Oth. No, not much mov’d:—

I do not think but Desdemona’s honest.

lago. Long live she so! and long live you tothink so!

Oth. And yet, how nature erring from itself,—lago. Ay, there’s the point:—As,—to be boldwith you,—

Not to affect many proposed matches,

Of her own clime, complexion, and degree;Whereto, we see, in all things nature tends:

Foh ! one may smell, in such, a will most rank,Foul disproportion, thoughts unnatural.—

But pardon me ; I do not, in position,

Distinctly speak of her: though I may fear,

Her will, recoiling to her better judgment.

May fall to match you with her country forms,And (hapily) repent.

Oth. Farewell, farewell:

If more thou dost perceive, let me know more;Set on thy wife to observe : Leave me, lago.lago. My lord, I take my leave. FOo/jig.Oth. Why did I marry ?—This honest crea-ture, doubtless,

Sees and knows more, much more, than he un-folds.

lago. My lord, I would, I might entreat yourhonour

To scan this thing no further; leave it to time :And though it be fit, that Cassio have his place,(For, sure, he fills it up with great ability,)

Yet, if you please to hold him off a while,

You shall by that perceive him and his means:Note, if your lady strain his entertainmentWith any strong or vehement opportunity;Much wUl be seen in that. In the mean time,Let me be thought too busy in my fears,

(As worthy cause I have, to fear—I am,)

And hold her free, I do beseech your honour.Oth. Fear not my government.lago. I once more take my leave. \^Exit.Oth. This fellow’s of exceeding honesty,

And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,Of human dealings: If I do prove her haggard,Though thather jesses were my dear heart-strings,I’d whistle her off, and let her down the wind,To prey at fortune. Haply, for I.am black;And have not those soft parts of conversationThat chambercrs have: Or, for I am declin’dInfo the vale of years;—yet that’s not much;—