William Shakespeare: Othello, Moor of Venice

ACT II. 3. SCENE III. A Hall in the Castle. (continued)

CASSIO.
I will ask him for my place again;--he shall tell me I am a
drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would
stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool,
and presently a beast! O strange!--Every inordinate cup is
unbless'd, and the ingredient is a devil.

IAGO.
Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be
well used: exclaim no more against it. And, good lieutenant,
I think you think I love you.

CASSIO.
I have well approved it, sir.--I drunk!

IAGO.
You, or any man living, may be drunk at a time, man.
I'll tell you what you shall do. Our general's wife is now the
general;--I may say so in this respect, for that he hath
devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, and
denotement of her parts and graces:--confess yourself freely to
her; importune her help to put you in your place again: she is of
so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed a disposition, she holds it
a vice in her goodness not to do more than she is requested:
this broken joint between you and her husband entreat her to
splinter; and, my fortunes against any lay worth naming, this
crack of your love shall grow stronger than it was before.

CASSIO.
You advise me well.

IAGO.
I protest, in the sincerity of love and honest kindness.

CASSIO.
I think it freely; and betimes in the morning I will
beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me; I am
desperate of my fortunes if they check me here.

IAGO.
You are in the right. Good-night, lieutenant; I must to the
watch.

CASSIO.
Good night, honest Iago.

[Exit.]