Act III
Scene I
Before the castle.
Enter Cassio and some Musicians. | |
Cassio |
Masters, play here; I will content your pains;
|
Enter Clown. | |
Clown | Why masters, have your instruments been in Naples, that they speak i’ the nose thus? |
First Musician | How, sir, how! |
Clown | Are these, I pray you, wind-instruments? |
First Musician | Ay, marry, are they, sir. |
Clown | O, thereby hangs a tail. |
First Musician | Whereby hangs a tale, sir? |
Clown | Marry, sir, by many a wind-instrument that I know. But, masters, here’s money for you: and the general so likes your music, that he desires you, for love’s sake, to make no more noise with it. |
First Musician | Well, sir, we will not. |
Clown | If you have any music that may not be heard, to’t again: but, as they say to hear music the general does not greatly care. |
First Musician | We have none such, sir. |
Clown | Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I’ll away: go; vanish into air; away! Exeunt Musicians. |
Cassio | Dost thou hear, my honest friend? |
Clown | No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear you. |
Cassio | Prithee, keep up thy quillets. There’s a poor piece of gold for thee: if the gentlewoman that attends the general’s wife be stirring, tell her there’s one Cassio entreats her a little favour of speech: wilt thou do this? |
Clown | She is stirring, sir: if she will stir hither, I shall seem to notify unto her. |
Cassio | Do, good my friend. Exit Clown. |
Enter Iago. | |
In happy time, Iago. | |
Iago | You have not been a-bed, then? |
Cassio |
Why, no; the day had broke
|
Iago |
I’ll send her to you presently;
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Cassio |
I humbly thank you for’t. Exit Iago.
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Enter Emilia. | |
Emilia |
Good morrow, good Lieutenant: I am sorry
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Cassio |
Yet, I beseech you,
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Emilia |
Pray you, come in;
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Cassio | I am much bound to you. Exeunt. |
Scene II
A room in the castle.
Enter Othello, Iago, and Gentlemen. | |
Othello |
These letters give, Iago, to the pilot;
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Iago | Well, my good lord, I’ll do’t. |
Othello | This fortification, gentlemen, shall we see’t? |
Gentlemen | We’ll wait upon your lordship. Exeunt. |
Scene III
The garden of the castle.
Enter Desdemona, Cassio, and Emilia. | |
Desdemona |
Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do
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Emilia |
Good madam, do: I warrant it grieves my husband,
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Desdemona |
O, that’s an honest fellow. Do not doubt, Cassio,
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Cassio |
Bounteous madam,
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Desdemona |
I know’t; I thank you. You do love my lord:
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Cassio |
Ay, but, lady,
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Desdemona |
Do not doubt that; before Emilia here
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Emilia | Madam, here comes my lord. |
Cassio | Madam, I’ll take my leave. |
Desdemona | Why, stay, and hear me speak. |
Cassio |
Madam, not now: I am very ill at ease,
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Desdemona | Well, do your discretion. Exit Cassio. |
Enter Othello and Iago. | |
Iago | Ha! I like not that. |
Othello | What dost thou say? |
Iago | Nothing, my lord: or if—I know not what. |
Othello | Was not that Cassio parted from my wife? |
Iago |
Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it,
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Othello | I do believe ’twas he. |
Desdemona |
How now, my lord!
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Othello | Who is’t you mean? |
Desdemona |
Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord,
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Othello | Went he hence now? |
Desdemona |
Ay, sooth; so humbled
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Othello | Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other time. |
Desdemona | But shall’t be shortly? |
Othello | The sooner, sweet, for you. |
Desdemona | Shall’t be to-night at supper? |
Othello | No, not to-night. |
Desdemona | To-morrow dinner, then? |
Othello | I shall not dine at home; I meet the captains at the citadel. |
Desdemona |
Why, then, to-morrow night; or Tuesday morn;
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Othello |
Prithee, no more: let him come when he will;
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Desdemona |
Why, this is not a boon;
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Othello |
I will deny thee nothing:
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Desdemona | Shall I deny you? no: farewell, my lord. |
Othello | Farewell, my Desdemona: I’ll come to thee straight. |
Desdemona |
Emilia, come. Be as your fancies teach you;
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Othello |
Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul,
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Iago | My noble lord— |
Othello | What dost thou say, Iago? |
Iago |
Did Michael Cassio, when you woo’d my lady,
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Othello | He did, from first to last: why dost thou ask? |
Iago |
But for a satisfaction of my thought;
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Othello |
Why of thy thought, Iago? |
Iago |
I did not think he had been acquainted with her. |
Othello |
O, yes; and went between us very oft. |
Iago |
Indeed! |
Othello |
Indeed! ay, indeed: discern’st thou aught in that?
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Iago | Honest, my lord! |
Othello | Honest! ay, honest. |
Iago | My lord, for aught I know. |
Othello | What dost thou think? |
Iago | Think, my lord! |
Othello |
Think, my lord!
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Iago | My lord, you know I love you. |
Othello |
I think thou dost;
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Iago |
For Michael Cassio,
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Othello | I think so too. |
Iago |
Men should be what they seem;
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Othello | Certain, men should be what they seem. |
Iago | Why, then, I think Cassio’s an honest man. |
Othello |
Nay, yet there’s more in this:
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Iago |
Good my lord, pardon me:
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Othello |
Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago,
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Iago |
I do beseech you—
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Othello | What dost thou mean? |
Iago |
Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
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Othello | By heaven, I’ll know thy thoughts. |
Iago |
You cannot, if my heart were in your hand;
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Othello | Ha! |
Iago |
O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;
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Othello | O misery! |
Iago |
Poor and content is rich and rich enough,
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Othello |
Why, why is this?
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Iago |
I am glad of it; for now I shall have reason
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Othello | Dost thou say so? |
Iago |
She did deceive her father, marrying you;
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Othello | And so she did. |
Iago |
Why, go to then;
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Othello | I am bound to thee for ever. |
Iago | I see this hath a little dash’d your spirits. |
Othello | Not a jot, not a jot. |
Iago |
I’ faith, I fear it has.
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Othello | I will not. |
Iago |
Should you do so, my lord,
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Othello |
No, not much moved:
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Iago | Long live she so! and long live you to think so! |
Othello | And yet, how nature erring from itself— |
Iago |
Ay, there’s the point: as—to be bold with you—
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Othello |
Farewell, farewell:
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Iago | Going. My lord, I take my leave. |
Othello |
Why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless
|
Iago |
Returning. My lord, I would I might entreat your honour
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Othello | Fear not my government. |
Iago | I once more take my leave. Exit. |
Othello |
This fellow’s of exceeding honesty,
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Reenter Desdemona and Emilia. | |
If she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself!
|
|
Desdemona |
How now, my dear Othello!
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Othello | I am to blame. |
Desdemona |
Why do you speak so faintly?
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Othello | I have a pain upon my forehead here. |
Desdemona |
’Faith, that’s with watching; ’twill away again:
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Othello |
Your napkin is too little: He puts the handkerchief from him; and it drops.
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Desdemona | I am very sorry that you are not well. Exeunt Othello and Desdemona. |
Emilia |
I am glad I have found this napkin:
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Reenter Iago. | |
Iago | How now! what do you here alone? |
Emilia | Do not you chide; I have a thing for you. |
Iago | A thing for me? it is a common thing— |
Emilia | Ha! |
Iago | To have a foolish wife. |
Emilia |
O, is that all? What will you give me now
|
Iago | What handkerchief? |
Emilia |
What handkerchief?
|
Iago | Hast stol’n it from her? |
Emilia |
No, ’faith; she let it drop by negligence.
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Iago | A good wench; give it me. |
Emilia |
What will you do with ’t, that you have been so earnest
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Iago | Snatching it. Why, what’s that to you? |
Emilia |
If it be not for some purpose of import,
|
Iago |
Be not acknown on ’t; I have use for it.
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Reenter Othello. | |
Not poppy, nor mandragora,
|
|
Othello | Ha! ha! false to me? |
Iago | Why, how now, general! no more of that. |
Othello |
Avaunt! be gone! thou hast set me on the rack:
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Iago | How now, my lord! |
Othello |
What sense had I of her stol’n hours of lust?
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Iago | I am sorry to hear this. |
Othello |
I had been happy, if the general camp,
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Iago | Is’t possible, my lord? |
Othello |
Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore,
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Iago | Is’t come to this? |
Othello |
Make me to see’t; or, at the least, so prove it,
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Iago | My noble lord— |
Othello |
If thou dost slander her and torture me,
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Iago |
O grace! O heaven forgive me!
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Othello | Nay, stay: thou shouldst be honest. |
Iago |
I should be wise, for honesty’s a fool
|
Othello |
By the world,
|
Iago |
I see, sir, you are eaten up with passion:
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Othello | Would! nay, I will. |
Iago |
And may: but, how? how satisfied, my lord?
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Othello | Death and damnation! O! |
Iago |
It were a tedious difficulty, I think,
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Othello | Give me a living reason she’s disloyal. |
Iago |
I do not like the office:
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Othello | O monstrous! monstrous! |
Iago | Nay, this was but his dream. |
Othello |
But this denoted a foregone conclusion:
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Iago |
And this may help to thicken other proofs
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Othello | I’ll tear her all to pieces. |
Iago |
Nay, but be wise: yet we see nothing done;
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Othello | I gave her such a one; ’twas my first gift. |
Iago |
I know not that; but such a handkerchief—
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Othello | If it be that— |
Iago |
If it be that, or any that was hers,
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Othello |
O, that the slave had forty thousand lives!
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Iago | Yet be content. |
Othello | O, blood, blood, blood! |
Iago | Patience, I say; your mind perhaps may change. |
Othello |
Never, Iago: Like to the Pontic sea,
|
Iago |
Do not rise yet.
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Othello |
I greet thy love,
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Iago |
My friend is dead; ’tis done at your request:
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Othello |
Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her!
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Iago | I am your own for ever. Exeunt. |
Scene IV
Before the castle.
Enter Desdemona, Emilia, and Clown. | |
Desdemona | Do you know, sirrah, where Lieutenant Cassio lies? |
Clown | I dare not say he lies any where. |
Desdemona | Why, man? |
Clown | He’s a soldier, and for one to say a soldier lies, is stabbing. |
Desdemona | Go to: where lodges he? |
Clown | To tell you where he lodges, is to tell you where I lie. |
Desdemona | Can any thing be made of this? |
Clown | I know not where he lodges, and for me to devise a lodging and say he lies here or he lies there, were to lie in mine own throat. |
Desdemona | Can you inquire him out, and be edified by report? |
Clown | I will catechise the world for him; that is, make questions, and by them answer. |
Desdemona | Seek him, bid him come hither: tell him I have moved my lord on his behalf, and hope all will be well. |
Clown | To do this is within the compass of man’s wit: and therefore I will attempt the doing it. Exit. |
Desdemona | Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia? |
Emilia | I know not, madam. |
Desdemona |
Believe me, I had rather have lost my purse
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Emilia | Is he not jealous? |
Desdemona |
Who, he? I think the sun where he was born
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Emilia | Look, where he comes. |
Desdemona |
I will not leave him now till Cassio
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Enter Othello. | |
How is’t with you, my lord? | |
Othello |
Well, my good lady.
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Desdemona | Well, my good lord. |
Othello | Give me your hand: this hand is moist, my lady. |
Desdemona | It yet hath felt no age nor known no sorrow. |
Othello |
This argues fruitfulness and liberal heart:
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Desdemona |
You may, indeed, say so;
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Othello |
A liberal hand: the hearts of old gave hands;
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Desdemona | I cannot speak of this. Come now, your promise. |
Othello | What promise, chuck? |
Desdemona | I have sent to bid Cassio come speak with you. |
Othello |
I have a salt and sorry rheum offends me;
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Desdemona | Here, my lord. |
Othello | That which I gave you. |
Desdemona | I have it not about me. |
Othello | Not? |
Desdemona | No, indeed, my lord. |
Othello |
That is a fault.
|
Desdemona | Is’t possible? |
Othello |
’Tis true: there’s magic in the web of it:
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Desdemona | Indeed! is’t true? |
Othello | Most veritable; therefore look to’t well. |
Desdemona | Then would to God that I had never seen’t! |
Othello | Ha! wherefore? |
Desdemona | Why do you speak so startingly and rash? |
Othello | Is’t lost? is’t gone? speak, is it out o’ the way? |
Desdemona | Heaven bless us! |
Othello | Say you? |
Desdemona | It is not lost; but what an if it were? |
Othello | How! |
Desdemona | I say, it is not lost. |
Othello | Fetch’t, let me see’t. |
Desdemona |
Why, so I can, sir, but I will not now.
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Othello | Fetch me the handkerchief: my mind misgives. |
Desdemona |
Come, come;
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Othello | The handkerchief! |
Desdemona | I pray, talk me of Cassio. |
Othello | The handkerchief! |
Desdemona |
A man that all his time
|
Othello | The handkerchief! |
Desdemona | In sooth, you are to blame. |
Othello | Away! Exit. |
Emilia | Is not this man jealous? |
Desdemona |
I ne’er saw this before.
|
Emilia |
’Tis not a year or two shows us a man:
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Enter Cassio and Iago. | |
Iago |
There is no other way; ’tis she must do’t:
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Desdemona | How now, good Cassio! what’s the news with you? |
Cassio |
Madam, my former suit: I do beseech you
|
Desdemona |
Alas, thrice-gentle Cassio!
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Iago | Is my lord angry? |
Emilia |
He went hence but now,
|
Iago |
Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon,
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Desdemona |
I prithee, do so. Exit Iago.
|
Emilia |
Pray heaven it be state-matters, as you think,
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Desdemona | Alas the day! I never gave him cause. |
Emilia |
But jealous souls will not be answer’d so;
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Desdemona | Heaven keep that monster from Othello’s mind! |
Emilia | Lady, amen. |
Desdemona |
I will go seek him. Cassio, walk hereabout:
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Cassio | I humbly thank your ladyship. Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia. |
Enter Bianca. | |
Bianca | Save you, friend Cassio! |
Cassio |
What make you from home?
|
Bianca |
And I was going to your lodging, Cassio.
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Cassio |
Pardon me, Bianca:
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Bianca |
O Cassio, whence came this?
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Cassio |
Go to, woman!
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Bianca | Why, whose is it? |
Cassio |
I know not, sweet: I found it in my chamber.
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Bianca | Leave you! wherefore? |
Cassio |
I do attend here on the general;
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Bianca | Why, I pray you? |
Cassio | Not that I love you not. |
Bianca |
But that you do not love me.
|
Cassio |
’Tis but a little way that I can bring you;
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Bianca | ’Tis very good; I must be circumstanced. Exeunt. |