DESDEMONA.
O heavy ignorance! — thou praisest the worst best. But what
praise couldst thou bestow on a deserving woman indeed, — one
that, in the authority of her merit, did justly put on the vouch
of very malice itself?
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;
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;
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.
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 more in the
soldier than in the scholar.
