en out of that very mediation contriving stratagems
for her ruin.

The conference ended with Iago's begging Othello to account his wife
innocent, until he had more decisive proof; and Othello promised to be
patient; but from that moment the deceived Othello never tasted content
of mind. Poppy, nor the juice of mandragora, nor all the sleeping
potions in the world, could ever again restore to him that sweet rest,
which he had enjoyed but yesterday. His occupation sickened upon him.
He no longer took delight in arms. His heart, that used to be roused at
the sight of troops, and banners, and battle-array, and would stir and
leap at the sound of a drum, or a trumpet, or a neighing war-horse,
seemed to have lost all that pride and ambition which are a soldier's
virtue; and his military ardour and all his old joys forsook him.
Sometimes he thought his wife honest, and at times he thought her not
so; sometimes he thought Iago just, and at times he thought him not so;
then he would wish that he had never known of it; he was not the worse
for her loving Cassio, so long as he knew it not: torn to pieces with
these distracting thoughts, he once laid hold on Iago's throat, and
demanded proof of Desdemona's guilt, or threatened instant death for
his having belied her. Iago, feigning indignation that his honesty
should be taken for a vice, asked Othello, if he had not sometimes seen
a handkerchief spotted with strawberries in his wife's hand. Othello
answered, that he had given her such a one, and that it was his first
gift. 'That same handkerchief,' said Iago, 'did I see Michael Cassio
this day wipe his face with.' 'If it be as you say,' said Othello, 'I
will not rest till a wide revenge swallow them up: and first, for a
token of your fidelity, I expect that Cassio shall be put to death
within three days; and for that fair devil (meaning his lady), I will
withdraw and devise some swift means of death for her.'

Trifles light as air are to the jealous proofs as strong as holy writ.
A handkerchief of his wife's seen in Cassio's hand, was motive enough
to the deluded Othello to pass sentence of death upon them both.
without once inquiring how Cassio came by it. Desdemona had never given
such a present to Cassio, nor would this constant lady have wronged her
lord with doing so naughty a thing as giving his presents to another
man; both Cassio and Desdemona were innocent of any offence against
Othello: but the wicked Iago, whose spirits