Othello

SCENE II. A room in the castle

Enter Othello and Emilia.

  OTHELLO. You have seen nothing, then?  EMILIA. Nor ever heard, nor ever did suspect.  OTHELLO. Yes, you have seen Cassio and she together.  EMILIA. But then I saw no harm, and then I heard    Each syllable that breath made up between them.  OTHELLO. What, did they never whisper?  EMILIA. Never, my lord.  OTHELLO. Nor send you out o' the way?  EMILIA. Never.  OTHELLO. To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor nothing?  EMILIA. Never, my lord.  OTHELLO. That's strange.  EMILIA. I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest,    Lay down my soul at stake. If you think other,    Remove your thought; it doth abuse your bosom.    If any wretch have put this in your head,    Let heaven requite it with the serpent's curse!    For if she be not honest, chaste, and true,    There's no man happy; the purest of their wives    Is foul as slander.  OTHELLO. Bid her come hither; go. ExitEmilia.    She says enough; yet she's a simple bawd    That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore,    A closet lock and key of villainous secrets.    And yet she'll kneel and pray; I have seen her do't.

Enter Desdemona with Emilia.

  DESDEMONA. My lord, what is your will?  OTHELLO. Pray, chuck, comehither.  DESDEMONA. What is your pleasure?  OTHELLO. Let me see your eyes;    Look in my face.  DESDEMONA. What horrible fancy's this?  OTHELLO. [To Emilia.] Some of your function, mistress,    Leave procreants alone and shut the door;    Cough, or cry "hem," if anybody come.    Your mystery, your mystery; nay, dispatch. ExitEmilia.  DESDEMONA. Upon my knees, what doth your speech import?    I understand a fury in your words,    But not the words.  OTHELLO. Why, what art thou?  DESDEMONA. Your wife, my lord, your true and loyal wife.  OTHELLO. Come, swear it, damn thyself;    Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves    Should fear to seize thee. Therefore be double-damn'd;    Swear thou art honest.  DESDEMONA. Heaven doth truly know it.  OTHELLO. Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell.  DESDEMONA. To whom, my lord? with whom? how am I false?  OTHELLO. O Desdemona! Away! away! away!  DESDEMONA. Alas the heavy day! Why do you weep?    Am I the motive of these tears, my lord?    If haply you my father do suspect    An instrument of this your calling back,    Lay not your blame on me. If you have lost him,    Why, I have lost him too.  OTHELLO. Had it pleased heaven    To try me with affliction, had they rain'd    All kinds of sores and shames on my bare head,    Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips,    Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes,    I should have found in some place of my soul    A drop of patience; but, alas, to make me    A fixed figure for the time for scorn    To point his slow unmoving finger at!    Yet could I bear that too, well, very well;    But there, where I have garner'd up my heart,    Where either I must live or bear no life;    The fountain from the which my current runs,    Or else dries up; to be discarded thence!    Or keep it as a cistern for foul toads    To knot and gender in! Turn thy complexion there,    Patience, thou young and rose-lipp'd cherubin,    Ay, there, look grim as hell!  DESDEMONA. I hope my noble lord esteems me honest.  OTHELLO. O, ay, as summer flies are in the shambles,    That quicken even with blowing. O thou weed,    Who art so lovely fair and smell'st so sweet    That the sense aches at thee, would thou hadst ne'er beenborn!  DESDEMONA. Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed?  OTHELLO. Was this fair paper, this most goodly book,    Made to write "whore" upon? What committed?    Committed? O thou public commoner!    I should make very forges of my cheeks,    That would to cinders burn up modesty,    Did I but speak thy deeds. What committed!    Heaven stops the nose at it, and the moon winks;    The bawdy wind, that kisses all it meets,    Is hush'd within the hollow mine of earth,    And will not hear it. What committed?    Impudent strumpet!  DESDEMONA. By heaven, you do me wrong.  OTHELLO. Are not you a strumpet?  DESDEMONA. No, as I am a Christian.    If to preserve this vessel for my lord    From any other foul unlawful touch    Be not to be a strumpet, I am none.  OTHELLO. What, not a whore?  DESDEMONA. No, as I shall be saved.  OTHELLO. Is't possible?  DESDEMONA. O, heaven forgive us!  OTHELLO. I cry you mercy then;    I took you for that cunning whore of Venice    That married with Othello. [Raises his voice.] You, mistress,    That have the office opposite to Saint Peter,    And keep the gate of hell!

Re-enter Emilia.

                               You, you, ay, you!    We have done our course; there's money for your pains.    I pray you, turn the key, and keep our counsel.Exit.  EMILIA. Alas, what does this gentleman conceive?    How do you, madam? How do you, my good lady?  DESDEMONA. Faith, half asleep.  EMILIA. Good madam, what's the matter with my lord?  DESDEMONA. With who?  EMILIA. Why, with my lord, madam.  DESDEMONA. Who is thy lord?  EMILIA. He that is yours, sweet lady.  DESDEMONA. I have none. Do not talk to me, Emilia;    I cannot weep, nor answer have I none    But what should go by water. Prithee, tonight    Lay on my bed my wedding sheets. Remember,    And call thy husband hither.  EMILIA. Here's a change indeed!     Exit.  DESDEMONA. 'Tis meet I should be used so, very meet.    How have I been behaved, that he might stick    The small'st opinion on my least misuse?

Re-enter Emilia with Iago.

  IAGO. What is your pleasure, madam? How is't with you?  DESDEMONA. I cannot tell. Those that do teach young babes    Do it with gentle means and easy tasks.    He might have chid me so, for in good faith,    I am a child to chiding.  IAGO. What's the matter, lady?  EMILIA. Alas, Iago, my lord hath so bewhored her,    Thrown such despite and heavy terms upon her,    As true hearts cannot bear.  DESDEMONA. Am I that name, Iago?  IAGO. What name, fair lady?  DESDEMONA. Such as she says my lord did say I was.  EMILIA. He call'd her whore; a beggar in his drink    Could not have laid such terms upon his callet.  IAGO. Why did he so?  DESDEMONA. I do not know; I am sure I am none such.  IAGO. Do not weep, do not weep. Alas the day!  EMILIA. Hath she forsook so many noble matches,    Her father and her country and her friends,    To be call'd whore? Would it not make one weep?  DESDEMONA. It is my wretched fortune.  IAGO. Beshrew him for't!    How comes this trick upon him?  DESDEMONA. Nay, heaven doth know.  EMILIA. I will be hang'd, if some eternal villain,    Some busy and insinuating rogue,    Some cogging, cozening slave, to get some office,    Have not devised this slander; I'll be hang'd else.  IAGO. Fie, there is no such man; it is impossible.  DESDEMONA. If any such there be, heaven pardon him!  EMILIA. A halter pardon him! And hell gnaw his bones!    Why should he call her whore? Who keeps her company?    What place? What time? What form? What likelihood?    The Moor's abused by some most villainous knave,    Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow.    O heaven, that such companions thou'ldst unfold,    And put in every honest hand a whip    To lash the rascals naked through the world    Even from the east to the west!  IAGO. Speak within door.  EMILIA. O, fie upon them! Some such squire he was    That turn'd your wit the seamy side without,    And made you to suspect me with the Moor.  IAGO. You are a fool; go to.  DESDEMONA. O good Iago,    What shall I do to win my lord again?    Good friend, go to him, for by this light of heaven,    I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel:    If e'er my will did trespass 'gainst his love    Either in discourse of thought or actual deed,    Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense,    Delighted them in any other form,    Or that I do not yet, and ever did,    And ever will, though he do shake me off    To beggarly divorcement, love him dearly,    Comfort forswear me! Unkindness may do much,    And his unkindness may defeat my life,    But never taint my love. I cannot say "whore."    It doth abhor me now I speak the word;    To do the act that might the addition earn    Not the world's mass of vanity could make me.  IAGO. I pray you, be content; 'tis but his humor:    The business of the state does him offense,    And he does chide with you.  DESDEMONA. If 'twere no other —  IAGO. 'Tis but so, I warrant. Trumpetswithin.    Hark, how these instruments summon to supper!    The messengers of Venice stay the meat.    Go in, and weep not; all things shall be well.Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia

Enter Roderigo.

    How now, Roderigo!  RODERIGO. I do not find that thou dealest justly with me.  IAGO. What in the contrary?  RODERIGO. Every day thou daffest me with some device, Iago; and    rather, as it seems to me now, keepest from me allconveniency    than suppliest me with the least advantage of hope. I willindeed    no longer endure it; nor am I yet persuaded to put up inpeace    what already I have foolishly suffered.  IAGO. Will you hear me, Roderigo?  RODERIGO. Faith, I have heard too much, for your words and    performances are no kin together.  IAGO. You charge me most unjustly.  RODERIGO. With nought but truth. I have wasted myself out of my    means. The jewels you have had from me to deliver toDesdemona    would half have corrupted a votarist. You have told me shehath    received them and returned me expectations and comforts ofsudden    respect and acquaintance; but I find none.  IAGO. Well, go to, very well.  RODERIGO. Very well! go to! I cannot go to, man; nor 'tis notvery    well. By this hand, I say 'tis very scurvy, and begin to find    myself fopped in it.  IAGO. Very well.  RODERIGO. I tell you 'tis not very well. I will make myselfknown    to Desdemona. If she will return me my jewels, I will giveover    my suit and repent my unlawful solicitation; if not, assure    yourself I will seek satisfaction of you.  IAGO. You have said now.  RODERIGO. Ay, and said nothing but what I protest intendment of    doing.  IAGO. Why, now I see there's mettle in thee; and even from this    instant do build on thee a better opinion than ever before.Give    me thy hand, Roderigo. Thou hast taken against me a most just    exception; but yet, I protest, I have dealt most directly inthy    affair.  RODERIGO. It hath not appeared.  IAGO. I grant indeed it hath not appeared, and your suspicionis    not without wit and judgement. But, Roderigo, if thou hastthat    in thee indeed, which I have greater reason to believe nowthan    ever, I mean purpose, courage, and valor, this night show it;if    thou the next night following enjoy not Desdemona, take mefrom    this world with treachery and devise engines for my life.  RODERIGO. Well, what is it? Is it within reason and compass?  IAGO. Sir, there is especial commission come from Venice todepute    Cassio in Othello's place.  RODERIGO. Is that true? Why then Othello and Desdemona returnagain    to Venice.  IAGO. O, no; he goes into Mauritania, and takes away with himthe    fair Desdemona, unless his abode be lingered here by some    accident; wherein none can be so determinate as the removingof    Cassio.  RODERIGO. How do you mean, removing of him?  IAGO. Why, by making him uncapable of Othello's place; knockingout    his brains.  RODERIGO. And that you would have me to do?  IAGO. Ay, if you dare do yourself a profit and a right. He sups    tonight with a harlotry, and thither will I go to him. Heknows    not yet of his honorable fortune. If you will watch his going    thence, which his will fashion to fall out between twelve and    one, you may take him at your pleasure; I will be near tosecond    your attempt, and he shall fall between us. Come, stand not    amazed at it, but go along with me; I will show you such a    necessity in his death that you shall think yourself bound toput    it on him. It is now high supper-time, and the night grows to    waste. About it.  RODERIGO. I will hear further reason for this.  IAGO. And you shall be satisfied.Exeunt.

SCENE III. Another room in the castle

Enter Othello, Lodovico, Desdemona, Emilia, and Attendants.

  LODOVICO. I do beseech you, sir, trouble yourself no further.  OTHELLO. O, pardon me; 'twill do me good to walk.  LODOVICO. Madam, good night; I humbly thank your ladyship.  DESDEMONA. Your honor is most welcome.  OTHELLO. Will you walk, sir?    O – Desdemona —  DESDEMONA. My lord?  OTHELLO. Get you to bed on the instant; I will be returned    forthwith. Dismiss your attendant there; look it be done.  DESDEMONA. I will, my lord.Exeunt Othello, Lodovico, and Attendants  EMILIA. How goes it now? He looks gentler than he did.  DESDEMONA. He says he will return incontinent.    He hath commanded me to go to bed,    And bade me to dismiss you.  EMILIA. Dismiss me?  DESDEMONA. It was his bidding; therefore, good Emilia,    Give me my nightly wearing, and adieu.    We must not now displease him.  EMILIA. I would you had never seen him!  DESDEMONA. So would not I. My love doth so approve him,    That even his stubbornness, his checks, his frowns —    Prithee, unpin me – have grace and favor in them.  EMILIA. I have laid those sheets you bade me on the bed.  DESDEMONA. All's one. Good faith, how foolish are our minds!    If I do die before thee, prithee shroud me    In one of those same sheets.  EMILIA. Come, come, you talk.  DESDEMONA. My mother had a maid call'd Barbary;    She was in love, and he she loved proved mad    And did forsake her. She had a song of "willow";    An old thing 'twas, but it express'd her fortune,    And she died singing it. That song tonight    Will not go from my mind; I have much to do    But to go hang my head all at one side    And sing it like poor Barbary. Prithee, dispatch.  EMILIA. Shall I go fetch your nightgown?  DESDEMONA. No, unpin me here.    This Lodovico is a proper man.  EMILIA. A very handsome man.  DESDEMONA. He speaks well.  EMILIA. I know a lady in Venice would have walked barefoot to    Palestine for a touch of his nether lip.  DESDEMONA. [Sings.]        "The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree,          Sing all a green willow;        Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee,          Sing willow, willow, willow.        The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur'd her moans,          Sing willow, willow, willow;        Her salt tears fell from her, and soften'd the stones – "Lay by these —[Sings.] "Sing willow, willow, willow – "    Prithee, hie thee; he'll come anon —    [Sings.] "Sing all a green willow must be my garland.               Let nobody blame him; his scorn I approve – "    Nay, that's not next. Hark, who is't that knocks?  EMILIA. It's the wind.  DESDEMONA. [Sings.]        "I call'd my love false love; but what said he then?          Sing willow, willow, willow.        If I court moe women, you'll couch with moe men – "    So get thee gone; good night. Mine eyes do itch;    Doth that bode weeping?  EMILIA. 'Tis neither here nor there.  DESDEMONA. I have heard it said so. O, these men, these men!    Dost thou in conscience think – tell me, Emilia —    That there be women do abuse their husbands    In such gross kind?  EMILIA. There be some such, no question.  DESDEMONA. Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?  EMILIA. Why, would not you?  DESDEMONA. No, by this heavenly light!  EMILIA. Nor I neither by this heavenly light; I might do't aswell    i' the dark.  DESDEMONA. Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?  EMILIA. The world's a huge thing; it is a great price    For a small vice.  DESDEMONA. In troth, I think thou wouldst not.  EMILIA. In troth, I think I should, and undo't when I had done.    Marry, I would not do such a thing for a joint-ring, nor for    measures of lawn, nor for gowns, petticoats, nor caps, norany    petty exhibition; but, for the whole world – why, who wouldnot    make her husband a cuckold to make him a monarch? I should    venture purgatory for't.  DESDEMONA. Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong    For the whole world.  EMILIA. Why, the wrong is but a wrong i' the world; and havingthe    world for your labor, 'tis a wrong in your own world, and you    might quickly make it right.  DESDEMONA. I do not think there is any such woman.  EMILIA. Yes, a dozen, and as many to the vantage as would storethe      world they played for.    But I do think it is their husbands' faults    If wives do fall; say that they slack their duties    And pour our treasures into foreign laps,    Or else break out in peevish jealousies,    Throwing restraint upon us, or say they strike us,    Or scant our former having in despite,    Why, we have galls, and though we have some grace,    Yet have we some revenge. Let husbands know    Their wives have sense like them; they see and smell    And have their palates both for sweet and sour,    As husbands have. What is it that they do    When they change us for others? Is it sport?    I think it is. And doth affection breed it?    I think it doth. Is't frailty that thus errs?    It is so too. And have not we affections,    Desires for sport, and frailty, as men have?    Then let them use us well; else let them know,    The ills we do, their ills instruct us so.  DESDEMONA. Good night, good night. Heaven me such uses send,    Not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend!Exeunt.

ACT V. SCENE I. Cyprus. A street

Enter Iago and Roderigo:

  IAGO. Here, stand behind this bulk; straight will he come.    Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home.    Quick, quick; fear nothing; I'll be at thy elbow.    It makes us, or it mars us; think on that,    And fix most firm thy resolution.  RODERIGO. Be near at hand; I may miscarry in't.  IAGO. Here, at thy hand, be bold, and take thy stand.  Retires.  RODERIGO. I have no great devotion to the deed;    And yet he hath given me satisfying reasons.    'Tis but a man gone. Forth, my sword; he dies.  IAGO. I have rubb'd this young quat almost to the sense,    And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio,    Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,    Every way makes my gain. Live Roderigo,    He calls me to a restitution large    Of gold and jewels that I bobb'd from him,    As gifts to Desdemona;    It must not be. If Cassio do remain,    He hath a daily beauty in his life    That makes me ugly; and besides, the Moor    May unfold me to him; there stand I in much peril.    No, he must die. Be't so. I hear him coming.

Enter Cassio.

  RODERIGO. I know his gait; 'tis he. Villain, thou diest!                                              Makes a pass atCassio.  CASSIO. That thrust had been mine enemy indeed,    But that my coat is better than thou know'st;    I will make proof of thine. Draws, and woundsRoderigo.  RODERIGO. O, I am slain!            Iago from behind wounds Cassio in the leg, and exit.  CASSIO. I am maim'd forever. Help, ho! Murther! Murther!    Falls.

Enter Othello.

  OTHELLO. The voice of Cassio; Iago keeps his word.  RODERIGO. O, villain that I am!  OTHELLO. It is even so.  CASSIO. O, help, ho! Light! A surgeon!  OTHELLO. 'Tis he. O brave Iago, honest and just,    That hast such noble sense of thy friend's wrong!    Thou teachest me. Minion, your dear lies dead,    And your unblest fate hies. Strumpet, I come!    Forth of my heart those charms, thine eyes, are blotted;    Thy bed lust-stain'd shall with lust's blood be spotted.     Exit.

Enter Lodovico and Gratiano.

  CASSIO. What, ho! No watch? No passage? Murther! Murther!  GRATIANO. 'Tis some mischance; the cry is very direful.  CASSIO. O, help!  LODOVICO. Hark!  RODERIGO. O wretched villain!  LODOVICO. Two or three groan; it is a heavy night.    These may be counterfeits; let's think't unsafe    To come in to the cry without more help.  RODERIGO. Nobody come? Then shall I bleed to death.  LODOVICO. Hark!

Re-enter Iago, with a light.

  GRATIANO. Here's one comes in his shirt, with light andweapons.  IAGO. Who's there? Whose noise is this that cries on murther?  LODOVICO. We do not know.  IAGO. Did not you hear a cry?  CASSIO. Here, here! for heaven's sake, help me!  IAGO. What's the matter?  GRATIANO. This is Othello's ancient, as I take it.  LODOVICO. The same indeed; a very valiant fellow.  IAGO. What are you here that cry so grievously?  CASSIO. Iago? O, I am spoil'd, undone by villains!    Give me some help.  IAGO. O me, lieutenant! What villains have done this?  CASSIO. I think that one of them is hereabout,    And cannot make away.  IAGO. O treacherous villains!    [To Lodovico and Gratiano.] What are you there?    Come in and give some help.  RODERIGO. O, help me here!  CASSIO. That's one of them.  IAGO. O murtherous slave! O villain!                                                      StabsRoderigo.  RODERIGO. O damn'd Iago! O inhuman dog!  IAGO. Kill men i' the dark! Where be these bloody thieves?    How silent is this town! Ho! Murther! Murther!    What may you be? Are you of good or evil?  LODOVICO. As you shall prove us, praise us.  IAGO. Signior Lodovico?  LODOVICO. He, sir.  IAGO. I cry you mercy. Here's Cassio hurt by villains.  GRATIANO. Cassio?  IAGO. How is't, brother?  CASSIO. My leg is cut in two.  IAGO. Marry, heaven forbid!    Light, gentlemen; I'll bind it with my shirt.

Enter Bianca.

  BIANCA. What is the matter, ho? Who is't that cried?  IAGO. Who is't that cried?  BIANCA. 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?  CASSIO. No.  GRATIANO. I am sorry to find you thus; I have been to seek you.  IAGO. Lend me a garter. So. O, for a chair,    To bear him easily hence!  BIANCA. Alas, he faints! O 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.  GRATIANO. What, of Venice?  IAGO. Even he, sir. Did you know him?  GRATIANO. Know him! ay.  IAGO. Signior Gratiano? I cry you gentle pardon;    These bloody accidents must excuse my manners,    That so neglected you.  GRATIANO. I am glad to see you.  IAGO. How do you, Cassio? O, a chair, a chair!  GRATIANO. Roderigo!  IAGO. He, he, 'tis he. [A chair brought in.] O, that's wellsaid:      the chair.    Some good man bear him carefully from hence;    I'll fetch the general's surgeon. [To Bianca.] For you,mistress,    Save you your labor. He that lies slain here, Cassio,    Was my dear friend; what malice was between you?  CASSIO. None in the world; nor do I know the man.  IAGO. [To Bianca.] What, look you pale? O, bear him out o' theair.                                   Cassio and Roderigo are borneoff.    Stay you, good gentlemen. Look you pale, mistress?    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 her.    Do you see, gentlemen? Nay, guiltiness will speak,    Though tongues were out of use.Enter Emilia.  EMILIA. 'Las, what's the matter? What's the matter, husband?  IAGO. Cassio hath here been set on in the dark    By Roderigo, and fellows that are 'scaped;    He's almost slain, and Roderigo dead.  EMILIA. Alas, good gentleman! alas, good Cassio!  IAGO. This is the fruit of whoring. Prithee, Emilia,    Go know of Cassio where he supp'd tonight.    What, do you shake at that?  BIANCA. He supp'd at my house; but I therefore shake not.  IAGO. O, did he so? I charge you, go with me.  EMILIA. Fie, fie upon thee, strumpet!  BIANCA. I am no strumpet, but of life as honest    As you that thus abuse me.  EMILIA. As I! foh! fie upon thee!  IAGO. Kind gentlemen, let's go see poor Cassio dress'd.    Come, mistress, you must tell's another tale.    Emilia, run you to the citadel,    And tell my lord and lady what hath happ'd!    Will you go on? [Aside.] This is the night    That either makes me or fordoes me quite.Exeunt.

SCENE II. A bedchamber in the castle. Desdemona in bed asleep; a light burning

Enter Othello.

  OTHELLO. 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 hers than snow    And smooth as monumental alabaster.    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 thy light,    Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature,    I know not where is that Promethean heat    That can thy light relume. When I have pluck'd the rose,    I cannot give it vital growth again,    It must needs wither; I'll smell it on the tree. Kissesher.    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 wakes.  DESDEMONA. Who's there? Othello?  OTHELLO. Ay, Desdemona.  DESDEMONA. Will you come to bed, my lord?  OTHELLO. Have you pray'd tonight, Desdemona?  DESDEMONA. Ay, my lord.  OTHELLO. If you bethink yourself of any crime    Unreconciled as yet to heaven and grace,    Solicit for it straight.  DESDEMONA. Alas, my lord, what may you mean by that?  OTHELLO. Well, do it, and be brief; I will walk by.    I would not kill thy unprepared spirit.    No, heaven forfend! I would not kill thy soul.  DESDEMONA. Talk you of killing?  OTHELLO. Ay, I do.  DESDEMONA. Then heaven have mercy on me!  OTHELLO. Amen, with all my heart!  DESDEMONA. If you say so, I hope you will not kill me.  OTHELLO. Hum!  DESDEMONA. 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.  OTHELLO. Think on thy sins.  DESDEMONA. They are loves I bear to you.  OTHELLO. Ay, and for that thou diest.  DESDEMONA. 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.  OTHELLO. Peace, and be still!  DESDEMONA. I will so. What's the matter?  OTHELLO. That handkerchief which I so loved and gave thee    Thou gavest to Cassio.  DESDEMONA. No, by my life and soul!    Send for the man, and ask him.  OTHELLO. Sweet soul, take heed,    Take heed of perjury; thou are on thy deathbed.  DESDEMONA. Ay, but not yet to die.  OTHELLO. Yes, presently:    Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin,    For to deny each article with oath    Cannot remove nor choke the strong conception    That 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 did    Offend you in my life; never loved Cassio    But with such general warranty of heaven    As I might love. I never gave him token.  OTHELLO. By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in 's hand.    O perjured woman! Thou dost stone my heart,    And makest me call what I intend to do    A murther, 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 used 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 revenge    Had 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 tomorrow; let me live tonight!  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. He stiflesher.  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 withyou!  OTHELLO. Yes, 'tis Emilia. By and by. She's dead.    'Tis like she comes to speak of Cassio's death.    The noise was here. 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 eclipse    Of sun and moon, and that the affrighted globe    Should yawn at alteration.  EMILIA. [Within.] I do beseech you    That 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 thedoor.

Enter Emilia.