ACT 1
Scene 1
Enter Roderigo and Iago.

RODERIGO
Tush, never tell me! I take it much unkindly
That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse
As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this.

IAGO
'Sblood, but you'll not hear me!
If ever I did dream of such a matter, [5]
Abhor me.

RODERIGO
Thou toldst me thou didst hold him in thy hate.

IAGO
Despise me
If I do not. Three great ones of the city,
In personal suit to make me his lieutenant, [10]
Off-capped to him; and, by the faith of man,
I know my price, I am worth no worse a place.
But he, as loving his own pride and purposes,
Evades them with a bombast circumstance,
Horribly stuffed with epithets of war, [15]
And in conclusion,
Nonsuits my mediators. For "Certes," says he,
"I have already chose my officer."
And what was he?
Forsooth, a great arithmetician, [20]
One Michael Cassio, a Florentine,
A fellow almost damned in a fair wife,