Othello, the Moor of Venice

Ay, but not yet to die.

OTHELLO

                                    Yes, presently:Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin;For to deny each article with oathCannot remove nor choke the strong conceptionThat I do groan withal. Thou art to die.

DESDEMONA

Then, Lord have mercy on me!

OTHELLO

                                                  I say, amen.

DESDEMONA

And have you mercy too! – I never didOffend you in my life; never lov'd CassioBut with such general warranty of heavenAs I might love: I never gave him token.

OTHELLO

By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in 's hand.O perjur'd woman! thou dost stone my heart,And mak'st me call what I intend to doA murder, which I thought a sacrifice:I saw the handkerchief.

DESDEMONA

                                      He found it then;I never gave it him: – send for him hither;Let him confess a truth.

OTHELLO

                                       He hath confess'd.

DESDEMONA

What, my lord?

OTHELLO

That he hath us'd thee.

DESDEMONA

                                     How? unlawfully?

OTHELLO

Ay.

DESDEMONA

He will not say so.

OTHELLO

                              No, his mouth is stopp'd;Honest Iago hath ta'en order for't.

DESDEMONA

O, my fear interprets! – What, is he dead?

OTHELLO

Had all his hairs been lives, my great revengeHad stomach for them all.

DESDEMONA

Alas, he is betray'd, and I undone!

OTHELLO

Out, strumpet! Weep'st thou for him to my face?

DESDEMONA

O, banish me, my lord, but kill me not!

OTHELLO

Down, strumpet!

DESDEMONA

Kill me to-morrow; let me live to-night!

OTHELLO

Nay, if you strive, —

DESDEMONA

But half an hour!

OTHELLO

                             Being done, there is no pause.

DESDEMONA

But while I say one prayer!

OTHELLO

                                            It is too late.

[Smothers her.]

EMILIA

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

OTHELLO

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.

EMILIA

[Within.]  What, ho! my lord, my lord!

OTHELLO

                                                              Who's there?

EMILIA

[Within.]  O, good my lord, I would speak a word with you!

OTHELLO

Yes: – 'tis Emilia: – by and by. – She's dead. —'Tis like she comes to speak of Cassio's death;The noise was high. – Ha! no more moving?Still as the grave. – Shall she come in? – Were't good? —I think she stirs again: – no. – What's best to do?If she come in, she'll sure speak to my wife:My wife! my wife! what wife? I have no wife.O, insupportable! O heavy hour!Methinks it should be now a huge eclipseOf sun and moon, and that the affrighted globeShould yawn at alteration.

EMILIA

[Within.]                            I do beseech youThat I may speak with you, O, good my lord!

OTHELLO

I had forgot thee: O, come in, Emilia: —Soft, – by and by: – let me the curtains draw. —Where art thou?

[Unlocks the door.]

[Enter Emilia.]

                          What's the matter with thee now?

EMILIA

O, my good lord, yonder's foul murders done!

OTHELLO

What, now?

EMILIA

But now, my lord.

OTHELLO

It is the very error of the moon;She comes more nearer earth than she was wontAnd makes men mad.

EMILIA

Cassio, my lord, hath kill'd a young VenetianCall'd Roderigo.

OTHELLO

                           Roderigo kill'd?And Cassio kill'd?

EMILIA

                              No, Cassio is not kill'd.

OTHELLO

Not Cassio kill'd! then murder's out of tune,And sweet revenge grows harsh.

DESDEMONA

O, falsely, falsely murder'd!

EMILIA

                                             Alas, what cry is that?

OTHELLO

That! what?

EMILIA

Out, and alas! That was my lady's voice. —Help! help, ho! help! – O lady, speak again!Sweet Desdemona! O sweet mistress, speak!

DESDEMONA

A guiltless death I die.

EMILIA

O, who hath done this deed?

DESDEMONA

Nobody; I myself. Farewell:Commend me to my kind lord: O, farewell!

[Dies.]

OTHELLO

Why, how should she be murder'd?

EMILIA

Alas, who knows?

OTHELLO

You heard her say herself it was not I.

EMILIA

She said so: I must needs report the truth.

OTHELLO

She's like a liar, gone to burning hell:'Twas I that kill'd her.

EMILIA

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

OTHELLO

She turn'd to folly, and she was a whore.

EMILIA

Thou dost belie her, and thou art a devil.

OTHELLO

She was false as water.

EMILIA

                                     Thou art rash as fire, to sayThat she was false: O, she was heavenly true!

OTHELLO

Cassio did tup her; ask thy husband else.O, I were damn'd beneath all depth in hell,But that I did proceed upon just groundsTo this extremity. Thy husband knew it all.EMILIAMy husband!

OTHELLO

Thy husband.

EMILIA

That she was false to wedlock?

OTHELLO

Ay, with Cassio. Nay, had she been true,If heaven would make me such another worldOf one entire and perfect chrysolite,I'd not have sold her for it.

EMILIA

My husband!

OTHELLO

                      Ay, 'twas he that told me first:An honest man he is, and hates the slimeThat sticks on filthy deeds.

EMILIA

                                            My husband!

OTHELLO

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

EMILIA

O mistress, villainy hath made mocks with love! —My husband say that she was false!

OTHELLO

                                                         He, woman;I say thy husband: dost understand the word?My friend, thy husband, honest, honest Iago.

EMILIA

If he say so, may his pernicious soulRot half a grain a day! he lies to the heart:She was too fond of her most filthy bargain.

OTHELLO

Ha!

EMILIA

Do thy worst:This deed of thine is no more worthy heavenThan thou wast worthy her.

OTHELLO

                                             Peace, you were best.

EMILIA

Thou hast not half that power to do me harmAs 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 twenty lives. – Help! help, ho! help!The Moor hath kill'd my mistress! murder, murder!

[Enter Montano, Gratiano, and Iago.]

MONTANO

What is the matter? – How now, general!

EMILIA

O, are you come, Iago? you have done well,That men must lay their murders on your neck.

GRATIANO

What is the matter?

EMILIA

Disprove this villain, if thou be'st a man:He says thou told'st him that his wife was false:I know thou didst not, thou'rt not such a villain:Speak, for my heart is full.

IAGO

I told him what I thought; and told no moreThan what he found himself was apt and true.

EMILIA

But did you ever tell him she was false?

IAGO

I did.

EMILIA

You told a lie; an odious, damnèd lie;Upon my soul, a lie; a wicked lie: —She false with Cassio! – Did you say with Cassio?

IAGO

With Cassio, mistress. Go to, charm your tongue.

EMILIA

I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to speak:My mistress here lies murder'd in her bed, —

ALL

O heavens forfend!

EMILIA

And your reports have set the murder on.

OTHELLO

Nay, stare not, masters: it is true, indeed.

GRATIANO

'Tis a strange truth.

MONTANO

O monstrous act!

EMILIA

                             Villany, villany, villany!I think upon't, – I think, – I smell't; – O villany! —I thought so then; – I'll kill myself for grief: —O villany, villany!

IAGO

What, are you mad? I charge you, get you home.

EMILIA

Good gentlemen, let me have leave to speak:'Tis proper I obey him, but not now. —Perchance, Iago, I will ne'er go home.

OTHELLO

O! O! O!

[Hanging over his wife.]

EMILIA

                Nay, lay thee down and roar;For thou hast kill'd the sweetest innocentThat e'er did lift up eye.

OTHELLO

[Rising.]                         O, she was foul! —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.

GRATIANO

Poor Desdemona! I am glad thy father's dead:Thy match was mortal to him, and pure griefShore 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 reprobance.

OTHELLO

'Tis pitiful; but yet Iago knowsThat she with Cassio hath the act of shameA thousand times committed; Cassio confess'd it:And she did gratify his amorous worksWith that recognizance and pledge of loveWhich I first gave her; I saw it in his hand:It was a handkerchief, an antique tokenMy father gave my mother.

EMILIA

O heaven! O heavenly powers!

IAGO

Come, hold your peace.

EMILIA

                                       'Twill out, 'twill out: – I peace!No, I will speak as liberal as the north: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.

EMILIA

                                             I will not.

[Iago offers to stab his wife.]

GRATIANO

                                                               Fie!Your sword upon a woman?

EMILIA

O thou dull Moor! that handkerchief thou speak'st ofI found by fortune and did give my husband;For often with a solemn earnestness, —More than, indeed, belong'd to such a trifle, —He begg'd of me to steal it.

IAGO

                                           Villanous whore!

EMILIA

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

IAGO

                                               Filth, thou liest!

EMILIA

By heaven, I do not, I do not, gentlemen. —O murderous coxcomb! What should such a foolDo with so good a wife?

OTHELLO

                                        Are there not stones in heavenBut what serve for thunder? – Precious villain!

[Iago stabs Emilia, and then runs out.]

GRATIANO

The woman falls; sure, he hath kill'd his wife.

EMILIA

Ay, ay: – O, lay me by my mistress' side.

GRATIANO

He's gone, but his wife's kill'd.

MONTANO

'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 damnèd slave.

[Exit Montano and Gratiano.]

OTHELLO

                                      I am not valiant neither,But every puny whipster gets my sword: —But why should honour outlive honesty?Let it go all.

EMILIA

                    What did thy song bode, lady?Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the swan,And die in music: —

[Sings.]

"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.]

OTHELLO

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.

GRATIANO

[Within.]  If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear:Thou hast no weapon, and perforce must suffer.

OTHELLO

Look in upon me then, and speak with me,Or, naked as I am, I will assault thee.

[Re-enter Gratiano.]

GRATIANO

What is the matter?

OTHELLO

                                Behold, I have a weapon;A better never did itself sustainUpon a soldier's thigh: I have seen the dayThat with this little arm and this good swordI have made my way through more impedimentsThan 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 cursèd, cursèd 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 Desdemon! dead, Desdemon! dead! O!

[Enter Lodovico, Montano, Cassio carried in a chair, and Officers with Iago prisoner.]

LODOVICO

Where is this rash and most unfortunate man?

OTHELLO

That's he that was Othello; – here I am.

LODOVICO

Where is that viper? bring the villain forth.

OTHELLO

I look down towards his feet; – but that's a fable. —If that thou be'st a devil, I cannot kill thee.

[Wounds Iago.]

LODOVICO

Wrench his sword from him.

IAGO

                                               I bleed, sir, but not kill'd.

OTHELLO

I am not sorry neither: I'd have thee live;For, in my sense, 'tis happiness to die.

LODOVICO

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

OTHELLO

                                            Why, anything;An honourable murderer, if you will;For naught did I in hate, but all in honour.

LODOVICO

This wretch hath part confess'd his villany:Did you and he consent in Cassio's death?

OTHELLO

Ay.

CASSIO

Dear general, I never gave you cause.

OTHELLO

I do believe it, and I ask your pardon.Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devilWhy 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.

LODOVICO

What, not to pray?

GRATIANO

                              Torments will ope your lips.

OTHELLO

Well, thou dost best.

LODOVICO

Sir, you shall understand what hath befall'n,Which, as I think, you know not. Here is a letterFound in the pocket of the slain Roderigo,And here another: the one of them importsThe death of Cassio to be undertookBy Roderigo.

OTHELLO

O villain!

CASSIO

                 Most heathenish and most gross!

LODOVICO

Now here's another discontented paper,Found in his pocket too; and this, it seems,Roderigo meant to have sent this damnèd villain;But that, belike, Iago in the interimCame in and satisfied him.

OTHELLO

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

CASSIO

                                 I found it in my chamber;And he himself confess'd but even nowThat there he dropp'd it for a special purposeWhich wrought to his desire.

OTHELLO

                                               O fool! fool! fool!

CASSIO

There is besides in Roderigo's letter, —How he upbraids Iago, that he made himBrave me upon the watch; whereon it cameThat I was cast: and even but now he spake,After long seeming dead, – Iago hurt him,Iago set him on.

LODOVICO

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 crueltyThat 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 knownTo the Venetian state. – Come, bring away.

OTHELLO

Soft you; a word or two before you go.I have done the state some service, and they know't. —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,Nor set down aught in malice: then must you speakOf one that loved not wisely, but too well;Of one not easily jealous, but, being wrought,Perplex'd in the extreme; of one whose hand,Like the base Judean, threw a pearl awayRicher than all his tribe; of one whose subdu'd eyes,Albeit unusèd to the melting mood,Drop tears as fast as the Arabian treesTheir medicinal gum. Set you down this;And say besides, – that in Aleppo once,Where a malignant and a turban'd TurkBeat a Venetian and traduc'd the state,I took by the throat the circumcisèd dogAnd smote him – thus.

[Stabs himself.]

LODOVICO

O bloody period!

GRATIANO

                             All that's spoke is marr'd.

OTHELLO

I kiss'd thee ere I kill'd thee: – no way but this,Killing myself, to die upon a kiss. [Falling upon Desdemona.]

CASSIO

This did I fear, but thought he had no weapon;For he was great of heart.

LODOVICO

[To Iago.]                         O Spartan dog,More fell than anguish, hunger, or the sea!Look on the tragic loading of this bed;This is thy work: – the object poisons sight;Let it be hid. – Gratiano, keep the house,And seize upon the fortunes of the Moor,For they succeed on you. – To you, lord governor,Remains the censure of this hellish villain;The time, the place, the torture, – O, enforce it!Myself will straight aboard; and to the stateThis heavy act with heavy heart relate.[Exeunt.]