What's the matter with thee now?
Emil. O, my good lord, yonder's foul murders done![6769]
Emil. But now, my lord.
Oth. It is the very error of the moon;
She comes more nearer earth than she was wont[6771]
And makes men mad.
Emil. Cassio, my lord, hath kill'd a young Venetian[6772][6773] 115
Call'd Roderigo.[6772]
Emil. No, Cassio is not kill'd.
Oth. Not Cassio kill'd! then murder's out of tune,
And sweet revenge grows harsh.
Des. O, falsely, falsely murder'd!
Emil. Alas, what cry is that?[6775] 120
Oth. That! what?
Emil. Out, and alas! that was my lady's voice.[6776]
Help! help, ho! help! O lady, speak again!
Sweet Desdemona! O sweet mistress, speak!
Des. A guiltless death I die. 125
Emil. O, who hath done this deed?[6777]
Des. Nobody; I myself. Farewell:
Commend me to my kind lord: O, farewell! [Dies.[6778]
Oth. Why, how should she be murder'd?[6779]
Emil. Alas, who knows?
Oth. You heard her say herself, it was not I.[6780] 130
Emil. She said so: I must needs report the truth.[6781]
Oth. She's like a liar gone to burning hell:[6782]
'Twas I that kill'd her.
Emil. O, the more angel she,[6783]
And you the blacker devil![6783]
Oth. She turn'd to folly and she was a whore. 135
Emil. Thou dost belie her and thou art a devil.
Oth. She was false as water.
Emil. Thou art rash as fire, to say[6784][6785]
That she was false: O, she was heavenly true![6784]
Oth. Cassio did top her; ask thy husband else.[6786]
O, I were damn'd beneath all depth in hell, 140
But that I did proceed upon just grounds
To this extremity. Thy husband knew it all.[6787]
Oth. Thy husband.
Emil. That she was false to wedlock? 145
Oth. Ay, with Cassio. Nay, had she been true,[6789]
If heaven would make me such another world
Of one entire and perfect chrysolite,
I'ld not have sold her for it.
Emil. My husband!
Oth. Ay, 'twas he that told me first:[6790] 150
An honest man he is, and hates the slime
That sticks on filthy deeds.[6791]
Emil. My husband!
Oth. What needs this iteration, woman? I say thy husband.[6792]
Emil. If he say so, may his pernicious soul[6797]
Rot half a grain a day! he lies to the heart:[6798]
She was too fond of her most filthy bargain. 160
Emil. Do thy worst:
This deed of thine is no more worthy heaven
Than thou wast worthy her.
Oth. Peace, you were best.[6800]
Emil. Thou hast not half that power to do me harm[6801] 165
As I have to be hurt. O gull! O dolt![6802]
As ignorant as dirt! thou hast done a deed—[6803]
I care not for thy sword; I'll make thee known,[6804]
Though I lost twenty lives. Help! help, ho! help![6805]
The Moor hath kill'd my mistress! Murder! murder! 170
Enter Montano, Gratiano, Iago, and others.[6806]
Mon. What is the matter? How now, general![6807]
Emil. O, are you come, Iago? you have done well,
That men must lay their murders on your neck.[6808]
Gra. What is the matter?[6809]
Emil. Disprove this villain, if thou be'st a man:[6810] 175
He says thou told'st him that his wife was false:
I know thou didst not, thou'rt not such a villain.[6811]
Speak, for my heart is full.
Iago. I told him what I thought, and told no more[6812]
Than what he found himself was apt and true.[6813] 180
Emil. But did you ever tell him she was false?[6814]
Iago. I did.
Emil. You told a lie, an odious, damned lie;
Upon my soul, a lie, a wicked lie!
She false with Cassio! Did you say with Cassio?[6815][6816] 185
Iago. With Cassio, mistress. Go to, charm your tongue.[6815][6817]
Iago. What, are you mad? I charge you, get you home.[6825]
Emil. Good gentlemen, let me have leave to speak:
'Tis proper I obey him, but not now.
Perchance, Iago, I will ne'er go home.[6826] 200
Oth. O! O! O! [Falling on the bed.[6827]
Emil. Nay, lay thee down and roar;
For thou hast kill'd the sweetest innocent
That e'er did lift up eye.
Oth. [Rising] O, she was foul![6828]
I scarce did know you, uncle: there lies your niece,
Whose breath indeed these hands have newly stopp'd: 205
I know this act shows horrible and grim.[6829]
Gra. Poor Desdemona! I am glad thy father's dead:[6830]
Thy match was mortal to him, and pure grief
Shore his old thread in twain: did he live now,[6831]
This sight would make him do a desperate turn, 210
Yea, curse his better angel from his side,
And fall to reprobation.[6832]
Oth. 'Tis pitiful; but yet Iago knows
That she with Cassio hath the act of shame[6833]
A thousand times committed; Cassio confess'd it: 215
And she did gratify his amorous works
With that recognizance and pledge of love[6834]
Which I first gave her; I saw it in his hand:
It was a handkerchief, an antique token[6835][6836]
My father gave my mother. 220
Emil. O heaven! O heavenly powers![6837]
Iago.'Zounds! hold your peace.
Emil. 'Twill out, 'twill out. I peace![6838][6839]
No, I will speak as liberal as the north:[6839][6840]
Let heaven and men and devils, let them all,[6841]
All, all, cry shame against me, yet I'll speak. 225
Iago. Be wise, and get you home.[6842]
Emil. I will not.
[Iago offers to stab Emilia.
Emil. O thou dull Moor! that handkerchief thou speak'st of[6835][6845]
I found by fortune and did give my husband;
For often with a solemn earnestness, 230
More than indeed belong'd to such a trifle,
He begg'd of me to steal it.[6846]
Iago. Villanous whore!
Emil. She give it Cassio! no, alas, I found it,
And I did give't my husband.[6847]
Iago. Filth, thou liest!
Emil. By heaven, I do not, I do not, gentlemen. 235
O murderous coxcomb! what should such a fool
Do with so good a wife?
Oth. Are there no stones in heaven[6848]
But what serve for the thunder? Precious villain!
[He runs at Iago: Iago, from behind, stabs Emilia, and exit.[6849]
Gra. The woman falls; sure, he hath kill'd his wife.[6850]
Emil. Ay, ay: O, lay me by my mistress' side.[6851] 240
Gra. He's gone, but his wife's kill'd.
Mon. 'Tis a notorious villain. Take you this weapon,[6852]
Which I have here recover'd from the Moor:[6853]
Come, guard the door without; let him not pass,[6854]
But kill him rather. I'll after that same villain, 245
For 'tis a damned slave.
[Exeunt all but Othello and Emilia.[6855]
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?[6856]
Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the swan,[6856] 250
And die in music. [Singing] Willow, willow, willow.[6856][6857]
Moor, she was chaste; she loved thee, cruel Moor;
So come my soul to bliss, as I speak true;
So speaking as I think, I die, I die. [Dies.[6858]
Oth. I have another weapon in this chamber; 255
It is a sword of Spain, the ice-brook's temper.—[6859]
O, here it is. Uncle, I must come forth.
Gra.[Within] If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear:[6860]
Thou hast no weapon, and perforce must suffer.
Oth. Look in upon me then, and speak with me,[6861] 260
Or, naked as I am, I will assault thee.
Re-enter Gratiano.[6862]
Gra. What is the matter?
Oth. Behold, I have a weapon;[6863]
A better never did itself sustain
Upon a soldier's thigh: I have seen the day[6864]
That with this little arm and this good sword 265
I have made my way through more impediments[6865]
Than twenty times your stop: but, O vain boast![6866]
Who can control his fate? 'tis not so now.
Be not afraid, though you do see me weapon'd;[6867]
Here is my journey's end, here is my butt[6867] 270
And very sea-mark of my utmost sail.[6867][6868]
Do you go back dismay'd? 'tis a lost fear:[6867]
Man but a rush against Othello's breast,[6867]
And he retires. Where should Othello go?[6867]
Now, how dost thou look now? O ill-starr'd wench![6867][6869] 275
Pale as thy smock! when we shall meet at compt,[6870]
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 slave![6871][6872]
Whip me, ye devils,[6871][6873] 280
From the possession of this heavenly sight!
Blow me about in winds! roast me in sulphur![6874]
Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire![6875]
O Desdemona! Desdemona! dead![6876]
Oh! Oh! Oh![6876] 285
Enter Lodovico, Montano, Cassio carried in a chair, and Officers
with Iago, prisoner.[6877]
Lod. Where is this rash and most unfortunate man?[6878]
Oth. That's he that was Othello: here I am.[6879]
Lod. Where is that viper? bring the villain forth.[6880]
Oth. I look down towards his feet; but that's a fable.
If that thou be'st a devil, I cannot kill thee. [Wounds Iago.[6881]290
Lod. Wrench his sword from him.
Iago. I bleed, sir, but not kill'd.[6882]
Oth. I am not sorry neither: I'ld have thee live;
For, in my sense, 'tis happiness to die.
Lod. O thou Othello, that wert once so good,[6883]
Fall'n in the practice of a damned slave,[6884] 295
What shall be said to thee?[6885]
Oth. Why, any thing:
An honourable murderer, if you will;
For nought did I in hate, but all in honour.[6886]
Lod. This wretch hath part confess'd his villany:
Did you and he consent in Cassio's death? 300
Oth. Ay.
Cas. Dear general, I never gave you cause.[6887]
Oth. I do believe it, and I ask your pardon.[6888]
Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devil[6889]
Why he hath thus ensnared my soul and body?[6890] 305
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,[6891] 310
Which, as I think, you know not. Here is a letter[6892]
Found in the pocket of the slain Roderigo,
And here another: the one of them imports[6893]
The death of Cassio to be undertook[6894]
By Roderigo.[6894]
Cas. Most heathenish and most gross!
Lod. Now here's another discontented paper,
Found in his pocket too; and this, it seems,
Roderigo meant to have sent this damned villain;
But that, belike, Iago in the interim[6896] 320
Came in and satisfied him.
Oth. O the pernicious caitiff![6897]
How came you, Cassio, by that handkerchief[6898]
That was my wife's?[6899]
Cas. I found it in my chamber:
And he himself confess'd but even now[6900]
That there he dropp'd it for a special purpose 325
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[6901]
Brave me upon the watch; whereon it came
That I was cast: and even but now he spake[6902] 330
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,[6903] 335
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 away.[6904] 340
Oth. Soft you; a word or two before you go.[6905]
I have done the state some service, and they know't.[6906]
No more of that. I pray you, in your letters,
When you shall these unlucky deeds relate,
Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate,[6907] 345
Nor set down aught in malice: then must you speak[6908]
Of one that loved not wisely but too well;
Of one not easily jealous but, being wrought,[6909]
Perplex'd in the extreme; of one whose hand,[6910]
Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away[6911] 350
Richer than all his tribe; of one whose subdued eyes,[6912]
Albeit unused to the melting mood,
Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees[6913]
Their medicinal gum. Set you down this;[6914]
And say besides, that in Aleppo once, 355
Where a malignant and a turban'd Turk[6915]
Beat a Venetian and traduced the state,[6916]
I took by the throat the circumcised dog[6917]
And smote him, thus. [Stabs himself.[6918]
Lod. O bloody period!
Gra. All that's spoke is marr'd.[6919] 360
Oth. I kiss'd thee ere I kill'd thee: no way but this,[6920]
Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.
[Falls on the bed, and dies.[6921]