Page 1451 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

IAGO

She that was ever fair, and never proud,
Had tongue at will, and yet was never loud,
Never lack’d gold, and yet went never gay, [150]

Fled from her wish, and yet said “Now I may”;
She that, being anger’d, her revenge being nigh,
Bade her wrong stay, and her displeasure fly;
She that in wisdom never was so frail
To change the cod’s head for the salmon’s tail; [155]

She that could think, and ne’er disclose her mind,
See suitors following, and not look behind;
She was a wight, if ever such wight were −

DESDEMONA
To do what?

IAGO

To suckle fools, and chronicle small beer. [160]

DESDEMONA

O most lame and impotent conclusion: do not learn of him, Emilia, though he
be thy husband; how say you, Cassio, is he not a most profane and liberal
counsellor?

CASSIO
He speaks home, madam, you may relish him [165] more in the soldier than
in the scholar.

IAGO

(Aside)
He takes her by the palm; ay, well said, whisper: as little a web as this will
ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do: I will catch you in
your own courtesies: you say true, ’tis so [170] indeed. If such tricks as these

strip you out of your lieutenantry, it had been better you had not kiss’d your
three fingers so oft, which now again you are most apt to play the sir in:
good, well kiss’d, an excellent courtesy; ’tis so indeed: yet again, your [175]
fingers at your lips? would they were clyster-pipes for your sake... (Trumpets

within.) The Moor, I know his trumpet.