Iago.

Cas. Here, here; for heaven's sake, help me. Iago. What's the matter? Gra. This is Othello's ancient, as I take it. Lod. The same, indeed; a very valiant fellow. Iago. What are you here, that cry so grievously? Cas. Iago? O, I am spoil'd, undone by villains! Give me some help.

Iago. O me, lieutenant! what villains have done this?

Cas. I think, that one of them is hereabout, And cannot make away.

Bian. Alas, he faints: O Cassio! Cassio! Cassio!

Iago. Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash To be a party in this injury..

Patience a while, good Cassio. - Come, come;
Lend me a light. - Know we this face, or no?
Alas! my friend, and my dear countryman,
Roderigo? no: Yes, sure; O heaven! Roderigo.
Gra. What, of Venice?

Iago. Even he, sir; did you know him?
Gra.

Know him? ay. Jago. Signior Gratiano? I cry, you gentle pardon ;

These bloody accidents must excuse my manners, That so neglected you.

Gra.

I am glad to see you.

Iago. How do you, Cassio?-O, a chair, a chair! Gra. Roderigo!

Iago. He, he, 'tis he: O, that's well said; the chair: [A chair brought in.

1 To Busca Save you your labour. He that lies slain her, Cassio,

Was my dear friend: What malice was between y Cas. None in the world; nor do I know the Iago. [To BIAN.] What, look you pale?-ê bear him out o'the air. —

[CASSIO and Ron, are be Stay you, good gentlemen. Look you pai,

tress?

Do you perceive the gastness of her eye?-
Nay, if you stare, we shall hear more anon-
Behold her well; I pray you, look upon ber;
Do you see, gentlemen? nay, guiltiness w
Though tongues were out of use.
Enter EMILIA.

Emil. 'Las, what's the matter; what's the m
husband?

Iago. Cassio hath here been set on in the duck, By Roderigo, and fellows that are scap'd; He's almost slain, and Roderigo dead.

Emil. Alas, good gentleman! alas, good Cami' Iago. This is the fruit of whoring.-P Emilia,

Go know of Cassio where he supp'd to-night:What, do you shake at that?

Bian. He supp'd at my house; but I them

[Takes of his

Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men.
Put out the light, and then put out the light:
If I quench thee, thou flaming minister,
I can again thy former light restore,
Should I repent me :- but once put out thine,
Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature,
I know not where is that Promethean beat,
That can thy light relume. When I have plack's
thy rose,

I cannot give it vital growth again,

It needs must wither:- I'll smell it on three -

Des. Will you come to bed, my lord? Oth. Have you pray'd to-night, Desdemona ? Des. Ay, my lord. Oth. If you bethink yourself of any crime Unreconcil'd as yet to heaven and grace, Solicit for it straight.

Des. Alas, my lord, what may you mean by that? Oth. Well, do it, and be brief; I will walk by: I would not kill thy unprepared spirit; No,- Heaven forefend.—I would not kill thy soul. Des. Talk you of killing?

Oth.

Des.

Have mercy on me!

Oth.

No, his mouth is stopp'd;

Honest Iago hath ta'en order for't.
Des. My fear interprets then, What, is he dead?
Oth. Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge
Had stomach for them all.

Des. Alas! he is betray'd, and I undone.
Oth. Out, strumpet! Weep'st thou for him to
my face?

Des. O, banish me, my lord, but kill me not.
Oth. Down, strumpet!

Des. Kill me to-morrow, let me live to-night.
Oth. Nay, if you strive.

Des.

Oth.

There is no pause.

But half an hour.

Being done,

Ay, I do.

7 Then, heaven

But while I say one prayer.

Oth. It is too late.

[He smothers her.

Amen, with all my heart!

Des. If you say so, I hope you will not kill me. Oth. Humph!

Des. And yet I fear you; for you are fatal then, When your eyes roll so: Why I should fear, I know not,

Since guiltiness I know not; but yet, I feel, I fear.
Oth. Think on thy sins.
Des.

They are loves I bear to you.
Oth. Ay, and for that thou diest.
Des. That death's unnatural, that kills for
loving. -

Alas, why gnaw you so your nether lip? Some bloody passion shakes your very frame: These are portents; but yet, I hope, I hope, They do not point on me.

Oth.

Peace, and be still! Des. I will so: What's the matter?

Des.

Emil. [Within.] My lord, my lord! what ho! my lord! my lord!

Oth. What noise is this?· Not dead! not yet quite dead?

I, that am cruel, am yet merciful;
I would not have thee linger in thy pain.
So, so.

Oth.

Emil. [Within.] What ho, my lord! my lord! Who's there? Emil. [Within.] O, good my lord, I would speak a word with you.

Oth. Yes; -'tis Emilia :-by and by:

dead.

She's

Nobody; I myself; farewell:

Commend me to my kind lord; O, farewell. [Dies.
Oth. Why, how should she be murder'd?
Emil.
Alas, who knows?
Oth. You heard her say herself, it was not I.
Emil. She said so; I must needs report the truth.
Oth. She's, like a liar, gone to burning hell;
'Twas I that kill'd her.

Emil.

O, the more angel she, And you the blacker devil!

Oth. She turn'd to folly, and she was a whore. Emil. Thou dost belie her, and thou art a devil. Oth. She was false as water.

Emil. Thou art rash as fire, to say That she was false; O, she was heavenly true! Oth. Cassio did tup her: ask thy husband else, Ó, I were damn'd beneath all depth in hell, But that I did proceed upon just grounds To this extremity; Thy husband knew it all. Emil. My husband?

Oth. Thy husband.

Emil. That she was false to wedlock? Oth.

Nay, had she been true,

If heaven would make me such another world Of one entire and perfect chrysolite,

I'd not have sold her for it.

Emil. My husband?

Oth. Ay, 'twas he that told me first; An honest man he is, and hates the slime That sticks on filthy deeds.

Emil.

My husband?!

Oth. What needs this iterance, woman? I say, thy husband.

Emil. O mistress, villainy hath made mocks with love!

My husband say, that she was false?
Oth.
He, woman;
I say, thy husband: Dost understand the word?
My friend, thy husband, honest, honest Iago.
Emil. If he say so, may his pernicious soul
Rot half a grain a day! he lies to the heart;
She was too fond of her most filthy bargain.
Oth. Ha!

Do thy worst ;

Emil.
This deed of thine is no more worthy heaven,
Than thou wast worthy her.
Oth.

Peace, you were best. Emil. Thou hast not half the power to do me harm,

As I have to be hurt. O gull! O dolt!
As ignorant as dirt! thou hast done a deed,-
I care not for thy sword; I'll make thee known,
Though I lost twen lives:-Help! help, ho! help!
The Moor has kill'd my mistress; Murder! murder!

Oth. O! O! O! Emil.

[Hanging over his wife. Nay, lay thee down, and roar; For thou hast kill'd the sweetest innocent, That e'er did lift up eye. Oth.

O, she was foul! — [Rising

I scarce did know you, uncle: There lies your niece,

Whose breath, indeed, these hands have newly stopp'd:

I know this act shows horrible and grim.

Gra. Poor Desdemona! I am glad thy father's dead;

Thy match was mortal to him, and pure grief
Shore his old thread in twain: did he live now,
This sight would make him do a desperate turn,
Yea, curse his better angel from his side,
And fall to reprobation.

Oth. 'Tis pitiful; but yet Iago knows,
That she with Cassio hath the act of shame
A thousand times committed; Cassio confess'd it:
And she did gratify his amorous works
With that recognizance and pledge of love
Which I first gave her; I saw it in his hand;
It was a handkerchief, an antique token
My father gave my mother.

Emil. O heaven! O heavenly powers!
Iago.
Come, hold your peace
Emil. 'Twill out, 'twill out; - I hold my peace,
sir ? no;

No, I will speak as liberal as the air;
Let heaven, and men, and devils, let them all,
All, all, cry shame against me, yet I'll speak.
Iago. Be wise, and get you home.

Emil. She give it Cassio! no, alas; I found it, And I did give't my husband,

Iago. Filth, thou liest." Emil. By heaven, I do not; I do not, gentlemen; O murderous coxcomb! what should such a fool Do with so good a wife?

[IAGO stabs EMILIA, then runs out. Oth. Are there no stones in heaven, But what serve for the thunder?- Precious villain! Gra. The woman falls; sure he has kill'd his wife.

Emil. Ay, ay: O, lay me by my mistress' side! Gra. He's gone, but his wife's kill'd.

Mon. 'Tis a notorious villain. Take you this

weapon,

Which I have here recover'd from the Moor: Come, guard the door without; let him not pass, But kill him rather; I'll after that same villain, For 'tis a damned slave.

[Exeunt MONTANO and GRATIANO. Oth. I am not valiant neither, But every puny whipster gets my sword: But why should honour outlive honesty? Let it go all. Emil. What did thy song bode, lady? Hark, can'st thou hear me? I will play the swan, And die in musick ;- Willow, willow, willow. Moor, she was chaste; she lov'd thee, cruel Moor; So come my soul to bliss, as I speak true; So speaking as I think, I die, I die.

[Dies.

Oth. I have another weapon in this chamber,
It is a sword of Spain, the ice-brook's temper ;-
O, here it is: - Uncle, I must come forth.
Gra. [Within.] If thou attempt it, it will cost
thee dear;

Thou hast no weapon, and perforce must suffer.
Oth. Look in upon me then, and speak with me,
Or, naked as I am, I will assault thee.

Re-enter GRATIANO.

Gra. What is the matter?

Oth. Behold! Į have a weapon; A better never did itself sustain Upon a soldier's thigh: I have seen the day, That with this little arm, and this good sword, I have made my way through more impediments Than twenty times your stop: -— But, O vain boast! Who can control his fate? 'tis not so now. Be not afraid though you do see me weapon'd; Here is my journey's end, here is my butt, And very sea-mark of my utmost sail. Do you go back dismay'd? 'tis a lost fear; Man but a rush against Othello's breast, And he retires;- Where should Othello go? Now, how dost thou look now? O ill-starr'd

wench!

Pale as thy smock! when we shall meet at compt,
This look of thine will hurl my soul from heaven,
And fiends will snatch at it. Cold, cold, my girl?
Even like thy chastity.

O cursed, cursed slave! - Whip me, ye devils,
From the possession of this heavenly sight!
Blow me about in winds! roast me in sulphur!
Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire!
O Desdemona! Desdemona! dead?
Dead? O! O! O!

Enter LODOVICO, Montano, Cassio, carried in a chair, and Officers, with Iaco, prisoner.

Lod. Where is this rash and most unfortunate man?

Oth. That's he, that was Othello; here I am. Lod. Where is that viper? bring the villain forth, Oth. I look down towards his feet; - but that's a fable:

If that thou be'st a devil, I cannot kill thee.

[OTHELLO wounds IAGO.

Lod. Wrench his sword from him.

Iago.
I bleed, sir; but not kill'd.
Oth. I am not sorry neither; I'd have thee
live;

For, in my sense, 'tis happiness to die.

Lod. O thou Othello, that was once so good,
Fall'n in the practice of a cursed slave
What shall be said to thee?

Oth.

Why, any thing: An honourable murderer, if you will; For nought I did in hate, but all in honour. Lod. This wretch hath part confess'd his villainy : Did you and he consent in Cassio's death? Oth. Ay.

Cas. Dear general, I never gave you cause.
Oth. I do believe it, and I ask your pardon.
Will you, I pray you, demand that demi-devil,
Why he hath thus ensnar'd my soul and body?
Iago. Demand me nothing: What you know,
you know:

From this time forth I never will speak word.
Lod. What? not to pray?

Gra.

Torments will ope your lips.

Oth. Well, thou dost best.

Lod. Sir, you shall understand what hath befall'n, Which, as I think, you know not: Here is a letter, Found in the pocket of the slain Roderigo; And here, another: the one of them imports The death of Cassio to be undertook By Roderigo.

Oth. O villain!

O the pernicious caitiff! How came you, Cassio, by that handkerchief That was my wife's?

Cas.

I found it in my chamber: And he himself confess'd, but even now, That there he dropp'd it, for a special purpose, Which wrought to his desire.

Oth. O fool! fool! fool! Cas. There is, besides, in Roderigo's letter, How he upbraids Iago, that he made him Brave me upon the watch; whereon it came That I was cast: And even but now he spake, After long seeming dead, — Iago hurt him, Iago set him on.

Lod. You must forsake this room, and go with us;
Your power and your command is taken off,
And Cassio rules in Cyprus. For this slave,-
If there be any cunning cruelty,

That can torment him much, and hold him long,
It shall be his: You shall close prisoner rest,
Till that the nature of your fault be known
To the Venetian state; -- Come, bring him away.