Read Othello for Free Online Page B

too.
    IAGO    Men should be what they seem,
     Or those that be not, would they might seem none 145 .
    OTHELLO    Certain, men should be what they seem.
    IAGO    Why then, I think Cassio’s an honest man.
    OTHELLO    Nay, yet there’s more in this!
     I prithee 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:
     Though I am bound to every act of duty,
     I am not bound to that all slaves are free 154 .
     Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile and false,
     As where’s that palace whereinto foul things
     Sometimes intrude not? Who has that breast so pure,
     Where no uncleanly 158 apprehensions
     Keep leets 159 and law-days and in sessions sit
      With 160 meditations lawful?
    OTHELLO    Thou dost conspire against thy friend 161 , Iago,
     If thou but think’st him wronged and mak’st his ear
     A stranger to thy thoughts.
    IAGO    I do beseech you,
     Though I perchance am vicious 165 in my guess —
     As I confess it is my nature’s plague
     To spy into abuses, and oft my jealousy 167
     Shapes faults that are not — that your wisdom,
     From one that so imperfectly conceits 169 ,
     Would take no notice, nor build yourself a trouble
     Out of his scattering 171 and unsure observance.
     It were not for your quiet nor your good,
     Nor for my manhood, honesty and wisdom,
     To let you know my thoughts.
    OTHELLO    What dost thou mean?
    IAGO    Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
     Is the immediate 177 jewel of their souls.
     Who steals my purse steals trash, ’tis something, nothing;
     ’Twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to thousands:
     But he that filches from me my good name
     Robs me of that which not enriches him
     And makes me poor indeed.
    OTHELLO    I’ll know thy thoughts.
    IAGO    You cannot, if 184 my heart were in your hand,
     Nor shall not, whilst ’tis in my custody.
    OTHELLO    Ha?
    IAGO    O, beware, my lord, of jealousy:
     It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock 188
     The meat it feeds on . That cuckold 189 lives in bliss
     Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger 190 :
     But, O, what damnèd minutes tells 191 he o’er
     Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet soundly loves!
    OTHELLO    O misery!
    IAGO    Poor and content is rich and rich enough,
     But riches fineless 195 is as poor as winter
     To him that ever fears he shall be poor.
     Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend
     From jealousy!
    OTHELLO    Why? Why is this?
     Think’st thou I’d make a life of jealousy,
     To follow still the changes of the moon 201
     With fresh suspicions ? No: to be once in doubt
     Is to be resolved. Exchange me for a goat 203
     When I shall turn the business of my soul
     To such exsufflicate 205 and blowed surmises
     Matching thy inference 206 . ’Tis not to make me jealous
     To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company,
     Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances:
     Where virtue is, these are more virtuous:
     Nor from mine own weak merits 210 will I draw
     The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt 211 ,
     For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago,
     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.
    IAGO    I am glad of this, for now I shall have reason
     To show the love and duty that I bear you
     With franker spirit: therefore, as I am bound,
     Receive it from me. I speak not yet of proof:
     Look to your