The Bodleian First Folio

Reputation, Reputation, Reputation: Oh I haue

lost my Reputation. I haue lost the immortall part of

myselfe, and what remaines is bestiall. My Reputation,

Iago, my Reputation.

As I am an honest man I had thought you had

receiued some bodily wound; there is more sence in that

then in Reputation. Reputation is an idle, and most false

imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without de­

seruing. You haue lost no Reputation at all, vnlesse you

repute your selfe such a looser. What man, there are

more wayes to recouer the Generall againe. You are

but now cast in his moode, (a punishment more in poli­

cie, then in malice) euen so as one would beate his of­

fencelesse dogge, to affright an Imperious Lyon. Sue to

him againe, and he's yours.

I will rather sue to be despis'd, then to deceiue

so good a Commander, with so slight, so drunken, and so

indiscreet an Officer. Drunke? And speake Parrat? And

squabble? Swagger? Sweare? And discourse Fustian

with ones owne shadow ? Oh thou invisible spirit of

Wine, if thou hast no name to be knowne by, let vs call

thee Diuell.

What was he that you follow'd with your

Sword? What had he done to you ?

I know not.

Is't possible?

I remember a masse of things, but nothing di­

stinctly: a Quarrell, but nothing wherefore. Oh, that

men should put an Enemie in their mouthes, to steale a­

way their Braines? that we should with ioy, pleasance,

reuell and applause, transforme our selues into Beasts.

Why? But you are now well enough: how

came you thus recouered?

It hath pleas'd the diuell drunkennesse, to giue

place to the diuell wrath, one vnperfectnesse, shewes me

another to make me frankly despise my selfe.

Come, you are too seuere a Moraller. As the

Time, the Place, & the Condition of this Country stands

I could hartily wish this had not befalne: but since it is, as

it is, mend it for your owne good.

I will aske him for my Place againe, he shall tell

me, I am a drunkard: had I as many mouthes as Hydra,

such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sen­

sible man, by and by a Foole, and presently a Beast. Oh

strange! Euery inordinate cup is vnbless'd, and the Ingre­

dient is a diuell.

Come, come: good wine, is a good famillar

Creature, if it be well vs'd: exclaime no more against it.

And good Lieutenant, I thinke, you thinke I loue

you.

I haue well approued it, Sir. I drunke?

You, or any man liuing, may be drunke at a

time man. I tell you what you shall do: Our General's

Wife, is now the Generall. I may say so, in this respect,

for that he hath deuoted, and giuen vp himselfe to the

Contemplation, marke: and deuotement of her parts

and Graces. Confesse your selfe freely to her: Impor­

tune her helpe to put you in your place againe. She is

of so free, so kinde, so apt, so blessed a disposition,

she holds it a vice in her goodnesse, not to do more

then she is requested. This broken ioynt between

you, and her husband, entreat her to splinter. And my

Fortunes against any lay worth naming, this cracke of

your Loue, shall grow stronger, then it was before.

You aduise me well.

I protest in the sinceritie of Loue, and honest

kindnesse.

I thinke it freely: and betimes in the mor­

ning, I will beseech the vertuous Desdemona to vndertake

for me: I am desperate of my Fortunes if they check me.

You are in the right: good night Lieutenant, I

must to the Watch.

Good night, honest Iago.

I do follow heere in the Chace, not

like a Hound that hunts, but one that filles vp the

Crie. My Money is almost spent; I haue bin to night

exceedingly well Cudgell'd: And I thinke the issue tt3 will