Page 1433 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

Would Desdemona seriously incline;
But still the house-affairs would draw her thence,
And ever as she could with haste dispatch,
She’ld come again, and with a greedy ear

Devour up my discourse; which I observing, [150]
Took once a pliant hour, and found good means
To draw from her a prayer of earnest heart,
That I would all my pilgrimage dilate,

Whereof by parcel she had something heard,
But not intentively: I did consent, [155]
And often did beguile her of her tears,
When I did speak of some distressed stroke

That my youth suffer’d: my story being done,
She gave me for my pains a world of sighs;
She swore i’ faith ’twas strange, ’twas passing strange; [160]
’Twas pitiful, ’twas wondrous pitiful;

She wish’d she had not heard it, yet she wish’d
That heaven had made her such a man: she thank’d me,
And bade me, if I had a friend that lov’d her,
I should but teach him how to tell my story, [165]

And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake:
She lov’d me for the dangers I had pass’d,
And I lov’d her that she did pity them.
This only is the witchcraft I have us’d:

Here comes the lady, let her witness it. [170]

Enter Desdemona, Iago, Attendants.

DUKE
I think this tale would win my daughter too,...
Good Brabantio,
Take up this mangled matter at the best;

Men do their broken weapons rather use,
Than their bare hands.

BRABANTIO
I pray you hear her speak. [175]
If she confess that she was half the wooer,