ACTI

SCENEI.Venice.Astreet.
EnterRODERIGOandIAGO
RODERIGO
Tush!nevertellme;Itakeitmuchunkindly
Thatthou,Iago,whohasthadmypurse
Asifthestringswerethine,shouldstknowofthis.
IAGO
'Sblood,butyouwillnothearme:
IfeverIdiddreamofsuchamatter,Abhorme.
RODERIGO
Thoutold'stmethoudidstholdhiminthyhate.
IAGO
Despiseme,ifIdonot.Threegreatonesofthecity,
Inpersonalsuittomakemehislieutenant,
Offcapp'dtohim:and,bythefaithofman,
Iknowmyprice,Iamworthnoworseaplace:
Buthe;aslovinghisownprideandpurposes,
Evadesthem,withabombastcircumstance
Horriblystuff'dwithepithetsofwar;
And,inconclusion,
Nonsuitsmymediators;for,'Certes,'sayshe,
'Ihavealreadychosemyofficer.'
Andwhatwashe?
Forsooth,agreatarithmetician,
OneMichaelCassio,aFlorentine,
Afellowalmostdamn'dinafairwife;
Thatneversetasquadroninthefield,
Northedivisionofabattleknows
Morethanaspinster;unlessthebookishtheoric,
Whereinthetogedconsulscanpropose
Asmasterlyashe:mereprattle,withoutpractise,
Isallhissoldiership.Buthe,sir,hadtheelection:
AndI,ofwhomhiseyeshadseentheproof
AtRhodes,atCyprusandonothergrounds
Christianandheathen,mustbebelee'dandcalm'd

Bydebitorandcreditor:thiscountercaster,
He,ingoodtime,musthislieutenantbe,
AndIGodblessthemark!hisMoorship'sancient.
RODERIGO
Byheaven,Iratherwouldhavebeenhishangman.
IAGO
Why,there'snoremedy;'tisthecurseofservice,
Prefermentgoesbyletterandaffection,
Andnotbyoldgradation,whereeachsecond
Stoodheirtothefirst.Now,sir,bejudgeyourself,
WhetherIinanyjusttermamaffined
TolovetheMoor.
RODERIGO
Iwouldnotfollowhimthen.
IAGO
O,sir,contentyou;
Ifollowhimtoservemyturnuponhim:
Wecannotallbemasters,norallmasters
Cannotbetrulyfollow'd.Youshallmark
Manyaduteousandkneecrookingknave,
That,dotingonhisownobsequiousbondage,
Wearsouthistime,muchlikehismaster'sass,
Fornoughtbutprovender,andwhenhe'sold,cashier'd:
Whipmesuchhonestknaves.Othersthereare
Who,trimm'dinformsandvisagesofduty,
Keepyettheirheartsattendingonthemselves,
And,throwingbutshowsofserviceontheirlords,
Dowellthrivebythemandwhentheyhavelined
theircoats
Dothemselveshomage:thesefellowshavesomesoul;
AndsuchaonedoIprofessmyself.For,sir,
ItisassureasyouareRoderigo,
WereItheMoor,IwouldnotbeIago:
Infollowinghim,Ifollowbutmyself;
Heavenismyjudge,notIforloveandduty,
Butseemingso,formypeculiarend:
Forwhenmyoutwardactiondothdemonstrate
Thenativeactandfigureofmyheart
Incomplimentextern,'tisnotlongafter

ButIwillwearmyheartuponmysleeve
Fordawstopeckat:IamnotwhatIam.