Act 4 — Scene III. Another room in the castle.

Lod. I do beseech you, sir, trouble yourself no further.[6542] Oth. O, pardon me; 'twill do me good to walk.[6543] Lod. Madam, good night; I humbly thank your ladyship. Des. Your honour is most welcome. Oth. Will you walk, sir?[6544] O,—Desdemona,—[6544][6545] 5 Des. My lord?[6546] Oth. Get you to bed on the instant; I will be returned[6547][6548] forthwith: dismiss your attendant there: look it be done.[6548][6549] Des. I will, my lord.

Emil. How goes it now? he looks gentler than he did. 10 Des. He says he will return incontinent: He hath commanded me to go to bed,[6551] And bade me to dismiss you. Emil. Dismiss me![6552] Des. It was his bidding; therefore, good Emilia, Give me my nightly wearing, and adieu: 15 We must not now displease him. Emil. I would you had never seen him![6553] Des. So would not I: my love doth so approve him, That even his stubbornness, his checks, his frowns,—[6554] Prithee, unpin me,—have grace and favour in them.[6555] 20 Emil. I have laid those sheets you bade me on the bed.[6556] Des. All's one. Good faith, how foolish are our minds![6557] If I do die before thee, prithee, shroud me[6558] In one of those same sheets.[6559] Emil. Come, come, you talk. Des. My mother had a maid call'd Barbara:[6560] 25 She was in love; and he she loved proved mad[6561][6562] And did forsake her: she had a song of 'willow;'[6561][6563][6564] An old thing 'twas, but it express'd her fortune, And she died singing it: that song to-night Will not go from my mind; I have much to do[6565][6566][6567] 30 But to go hang my head all at one side[6566][6568][6569] And sing it like poor Barbara. Prithee, dispatch.[6566][6568][6570] Emil. Shall I go fetch your night-gown?[6566][6571] Des. No, unpin me here.[6566] This Lodovico is a proper man.[6566] Emil. A very handsome man.[6566] 35 Des. He speaks well.[6566][6572] Emil. I know a lady in Venice would have walked[6566] barefoot to Palestine for a touch of his nether lip.[6566][6573] Des. [Singing] The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree,[6566][6574] Sing all a green willow;[6566] 40 Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee,[6566] Sing willow, willow, willow:[6566] The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur'd her moans;[6566] Sing willow, willow, willow;[6566][6575] Her salt tears fell from her, and soften'd the stones;—[6566][6576] 45 Lay by these:—[6566][6577][6578] [Singing] Sing willow, willow, willow;[6566][6577] Prithee, hie thee; he'll come anon:—[6566][6577] [Singing] Sing all a green willow must be my garland.[6566] Let nobody blame him; his scorn I approve,—[6566] 50 Nay, that's not next. Hark! who is't that knocks?[6566][6579] Emil. It's the wind.[6580] Des. [Singing] I call'd my love false love; but what said he then?[6581][6582] Sing willow, willow, willow:[6575][6581] If I court moe women, you'll couch with moe men.[6581][6583] 55 So get thee gone; good night. Mine eyes do itch;[6584][6585] Doth that bode weeping?[6585][6586] Emil. 'Tis neither here nor there. Des. I have heard it said so. O, these men, these men![6587] Dost thou in conscience think,—tell me, Emilia,—[6587] That there be women do abuse their husbands[6587] 60 In such gross kind?[6587][6588] Emil. There be some such, no question. Des. Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?[6589] Emil. Why, would not you? Des. No, by this heavenly light! Emil. Nor I neither by this heavenly light; I might[6590][6591] do't as well i' the dark.[6590][6592] 65 Des. Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?[6593] Emil. The world's a huge thing: it is a great price[6594][6595] For a small vice.[6594] Des. In troth, I think thou wouldst not.[6596] Emil. In troth, I think I should; and undo 't when I[6597] had done. Marry, I would not do such a thing for a joint-ring,[6598] 70 nor for measures of lawn, nor for gowns, petticoats,[6599] nor caps, nor any petty exhibition; but, for the whole world,—why,[6600] who would not make her husband a cuckold to[6601] make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for 't.[6602] Des. Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong[6603][6604] 75 For the whole world.[6603] Emil. Why, the wrong is but a wrong i' the world; and having the world for your labour, 'tis a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly make it right. Des. I do not think there is any such woman. 80 Emil. Yes, a dozen; and as many to the vantage as would store the world they played for. But I do think it is their husbands' faults[6605] If wives do fall: say that they slack their duties[6605] And pour our treasures into foreign laps,[6605] 85 Or else break out in peevish jealousies,[6605] Throwing restraint upon us, or say they strike us,[6605][6606] Or scant our former having in despite,[6605] Why, we have galls, and though we have some grace,[6605] Yet have we some revenge. Let husbands know[6605] 90 Their wives have sense like them: they see and smell[6605] And have their palates both for sweet and sour,[6605] As husbands have. What is it that they do[6605] When they change us for others? Is it sport?[6605] I think it is: and doth affection breed it?[6605] 95 I think it doth: is't frailty that thus errs?[6605] It is so too: and have not we affections,[6605] Desires for sport, and frailty, as men have?[6605][6607] Then let them use us well: else let them know,[6605][6608] The ills we do, their ills instruct us so.[6605][6609] 100 Des. Good night, good night: heaven me such uses send,[6610] Not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend! [Exeunt.