Othello: Act II, Scene i; First Folio

 

Othello.         Act 2, Scene 1.      Iago

1069  That Cassio loues her, I do well beleeu't:
1070  That she loues him, 'tis apt, and of great Credite.
1071  The Moore (how beit that I endure him not)
1072  Is of a constant, louing, Noble Nature,
1073  And I dare thinke, he'le proue to Desdemona
1074  A most deere husband. Now I do loue her too,
1075  Not out of absolute Lust, (though peraduenture
1076  I stand accomptant for as great a sin)
1077  But partely led to dyet my Reuenge,
1078  For that I do suspect the lustie Moore
1079  Hath leap'd into my Seate. The thought whereof,
1080  Doth (like a poysonous Minerall) gnaw my Inwardes:
1081  And nothing can, or shall content my Soule
1082  Till I am eeuen'd with him, wife, for wift.
1083  Or fayling so, yet that I put the Moore,
1084  At least into a Ielouzie so strong
1085  That iudgement cannot cure. Which thing to do,
1086  If this poore Trash of Venice, whom I trace
1087  For his quicke hunting, stand the putting on,
1088  Ile haue our Michael Cassio on the hip,
1089  Abuse him to the Moore, in the right garbe
1090  (For I feare Cassio with my Night-Cape too)
1091  Make the Moore thanke me, loue me, and reward me,
1092  For making him egregiously an Asse,
1093  And practising vpon his peace, and quiet,
1094  Euen to madnesse. 'Tis heere: but yet confus'd,
1095  Knaueries plaine face, is neuer seene, till vs'd.

This speech is used in our interview with Ben Turner

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