Iago. Kill men i' the dark!-Where be these bloody thieves? How silent is this town!-Ho! murder! murder! What may you be? are you of good, or evil? Lod. As you shall prove us, praise us. Iago. Lod. He, sir. Signior Lodovico ? I cry you mercy; Here's Cassio hurt Iago. By villains. Gra. Iago. Iago. Cassio? How is it, brother? Marry, heaven forbid ! Cas. My leg is cut in two. Light, gentlemen; I'll bind it with my shirt. Enter BIANCA. Bian. What is the matter, ho? who is it that cry'd? Iago. Who is't that cry'd? Bian. O my dear Cassio! my sweet Cassio! O Cassio! Cassio! Cassio! Iago. O notable strumpet!-Cassio, may you suspect Who they should be, that have thus mangled you? Cas. No. Gra. I am sorry, to find you thus: been to seek you. I have Iago. Lend me a garter: So.-O, for a chair, To bear him easily hence! Bian. Alas, he faints:-0 Cassio! Cassio! Cassio! Iago. Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash To be a party in this injury. Patience awhile, 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? don; These bloody accidents must excuse my man ners, 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. Some good man bear him carefully from hence; I'll fetch the general's surgeon. For you, mis[To BIANCA. Save you your labour. He that lies slain here, tress, Cassio, Was my dear friend: What malice was between you? Cas. None in the world; nor do I know the man. Iago. [To BIAN.] What, look you pale?-0, bear him out o' the air. [CASSIO and RODERIGO are borne off. Stay you, good gentlemen:-Look you pale, mistress? Do you perceive the ghastness of her eye?— Nay, if you stare, we shall hear more anon: Behold her well; I pray you, look upon her; Do you see, gentlemen? nay, guiltiness will speak, Though tongues were out of use. Enter EMILIA. Emil. 'Las, what's the matter; what's the matter, husband? Tago. Cassio hath bere been set on in the dark, By Roderigo, and fellows that are 'scap'd; He's almost slain, and Roderigo dead." Emil. Alas, good gentleman! alas, good Cassio! Iago. This is the fruit of whoring.-'Pr'ythee, 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 therefore shake not. Iago. O, did he so? I charge you, go with me. Emil. Fye, fye upon thee, strumpet! Bian. I am no strumpet; but of life as honest, As you that thus abuse me. Emil. As I? foh! fye upon thee! Iago. Kind gentlemen, let's go see poor Cassio dress'd: Come, mistress, you must tell us another tale.Emilia, run you to the citadel, And tell my lord and lady what has happ'd.Will you go on, I pray;-This is the night, [Aside. That either makes me, or fordoes me quite. [Exeunt. SCENE II. A Bedchamber: DESDEMONA in Bed asleep. A Light burning. Enter OTHELLO. Oth. It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul, Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars!It is the cause.-Yet I'll not shed her blood; Nor scar that whiter skin of her's than snow, And smooth as monumental alabaster. [Takes off his sword. 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, I cannot give it vital growth again, It needs must wither:-I'll smell it on the tree.— [Kissing her. O balmy breath, that dost almost persuade Justice to break her sword!-One more, one more. Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee, And love thee after:-One more, and this the last: So sweet was ne'er so fatal. I must weep, But they are cruel tears; this sorrow's heavenly; It strikes where it doth love.-She wakesDes. Who's there? Othello? Oth. Ay, Desdemona. 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. Ay, I do. Then, heaven 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, 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? Oth. That handkerchief, which I so lov'd, and gave thee, Thou gav'st to Cassio. Des. No, by my life and soul; Sweet soul, take heed, Send for the man, and ask him. Oth. Take heed of perjury; thou'rt on thy death-bed. Des. Ay, but not yet to die. Yes, presently: Oth. Cannot remove, nor choke, the strong conception, That I do groan withal. Thou art to die. Oth. I say, amen. O perjur'd woman! thou dost stone my heart, Des. Oth. He hath confess'd. How? unlawfully? No, his mouth is stopp'd; Des. He'll not say so. Oth. 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. Ŏ, 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. Oth. It is too late. But half an hour. Being done, But while I say one prayer. [He smothers her. Emil. [Within.] My lord, my lord! what ho! my lord! my lord! |