I’ll fetch the general’s surgeon.—
For111 you, mistress,To Bianca
Save you your labour112.— 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 What, look you pale?— O, bear him out o’th’air.To Bianca
Stay you, good gentlemen.— Look you pale, mistress?—Attendants bear off Cassio and Rodorigo
Do you perceive the gastness of her eye117?—
Nay, if you stare118, 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 Alas, what is the matter? What is the matter,
husband?IAGO Cassio hath here been set on in the dark
By Rodorigo and fellows that are scaped:
He’s almost slain, and Rodorigo quite dead.EMILIA Alas, good gentleman! Alas, good Cassio!IAGO This is the fruits of whoring. Prithee, Emilia,
Go know of Cassio where he supped tonight.—To Bianca
What, do you shake at that?BIANCA He supped at my house, but I therefore shake not.IAGO O, did he so? I charge you go with me.EMILIA O, fie upon thee, strumpet!BIANCA I am no strumpet, but of life as honest133
As you that thus abuse me.EMILIA As I? Fie upon thee!IAGO Kind gentlemen, let’s go see poor Cassio dressed136.—
Come, mistress, you must tell’s another tale.
Emilia, run you to the citadel
And tell my lord and lady what hath happed.—
Will you go on afore?— This is the nightAside
That either makes me or fordoes me quite141.Exeunt
Act 5 Scene 2 running scene 11
Location: Cyprus (citadel/governor’s bedroom)
Enter Othello and Desdemona in her bed Othello with a light
OTHELLO It is the cause1, 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 alabaster5:
Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men.
Put out the light7, and then put out the light.
If I quench thee, thou flaming minister8,
I can again thy former light restore,
Should I repent me: but once put out thy light,
Thou cunning’st pattern12 of excelling nature,
I know not where is that Promethean13 heat
That can thy light relume14. When I have plucked thy rose,
I cannot give it vital15 growth again:
It needs must wither. I’ll smell thee on the tree.Kisses her
O balmy breath, that dost almost persuade
Justice17 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 that’s the last.Kisses her
So sweet was ne’er so fatal20. I must weep,
But they are cruel tears: this sorrow’s heavenly,
It strikes22 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 prayed tonight, Desdemon?DESDEMONA Ay27, my lord.OTHELLO If you bethink yourself of any crime
Unreconciled as yet to heaven and grace,
Solicit30 for it straight.DESDEMONA Alack, my lord, what may you mean by that?OTHELLO Well, do it, and be brief: I will walk by32.
I would not kill thy unpreparèd spirit,
No, heavens forfend34! 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 say39, I hope you will not kill me.OTHELLO Hum!DESDEMONA And yet I fear you, for you’re 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 you45.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 gav’st 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 art on thy death-bed.DESDEMONA Ay, but not yet to die.OTHELLO Presently61:
Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin,
For to deny each article63 with oath
Cannot remove nor choke the strong conception64
That I do groan withal65. Thou art to die.DESDEMONA O, heaven have mercy on me!OTHELLO I say, amen.DESDEMONA And have you mercy too! I never did
Offend69 you in my life, never loved Cassio
But with such general warranty70 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 stone73 my heart,
And makes me call what I intend to do
A 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 confessed.DESDEMONA What, my lord?OTHELLO That he hath used82 thee.DESDEMONA How? Unlawfully?OTHELLO Ay.DESDEMONA He will not say so.OTHELLO No, his mouth is stopped:
Honest Iago hath ta’en order87 for’t.DESDEMONA O, my fear interprets! What, is he dead?OTHELLO Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge
Had stomach90 for them all.DESDEMONA Alas, he is betrayed 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 strive96—DESDEMONA But half an hour!OTHELLO Being done98, there is no pause.DESDEMONA But while I say one prayer!OTHELLO It is too late.Smothers her
Emilia at the doorEMILIA My lord, my lord! What, ho! My lord, my lord!Within
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 What, ho? My lord, my lord!Within
OTHELLO Who’s there?EMILIA O, good my lord, I would speak a word with you!Within
OTHELLO Yes.— ’Tis Emilia.— By and by108.— She’s dead.
’Tis like109 she comes to speak of Cassio’s death.—
The noise110 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 eclipse
Of sun and moon, and that th’affrighted globe
Did yawn at alteration118.EMILIA I do beseech youWithin
That I may speak with you, O, good my lord!OTHELLO I had forgot thee.— O, come in, Emilia.—
Soft122, by and by: let me the curtains draw.—Draws the bed curtains and unlocks the door
Where art thou? What’s the matter with thee now?
Enter EmiliaEMILIA O, my good lord, yonder’s foul murders done!OTHELLO What? Now?EMILIA But now, my lord.OTHELLO It is the very error127 of the moon:
She comes more nearer earth than she was wont128,
And makes men mad.EMILIA Cassio, my lord, hath killed a young Venetian
Called Rodorigo.OTHELLO Rodorigo killed? And Cassio killed?EMILIA No, Cassio is not killed.OTHELLO Not Cassio killed? Then murder’s
out of tune,
And sweet revenge grows harsh135.DESDEMONA O, falsely136, falsely murdered!EMILIA Alas! What cry is that?OTHELLO That? What?EMILIA Out, and alas!139 That was my lady’s voice.
Help, help, ho, help! O lady, speak again!Opens the bed curtains
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 murdered?EMILIA Alas, who knows?OTHELLO You hear 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 killed her.EMILIA O, the more angel she, and you the blacker devil!OTHELLO She turned to folly153, and she was a whore.EMILIA Thou dost belie154 her, and thou art a devil.OTHELLO She was false as water.EMILIA Thou art rash as fire, to say
That she was false: O, she was heavenly true!OTHELLO Cassio did top158 her: ask thy husband else.
O, I were damned beneath all depth in hell,
But160 that I did proceed upon just grounds
To this extremity. Thy husband knew it all.EMILIA My husband?OTHELLO Thy husband.EMILIA That she was false to wedlock?OTHELLO Ay, with Cassio. Had she been true,
If heaven would make me such another world
Of one entire and perfect chrysolite167,
I’d not have sold her for it.EMILIA My husband?OTHELLO Ay, ’twas he that told me on170 her first:
An honest man he is, and hates the slime171
That sticks on filthy deeds172.EMILIA My husband?OTHELLO What needs this iterance174, woman? I say thy husband.EMILIA O mistress, villainy hath made mocks with175 love.
My husband say 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 pernicious180 soul
Rot half a grain a day! He lies to th’heart:
She was too fond of her most filthy bargain182.OTHELLO Ha?EMILIA Do thy worst:
This deed of thine is no more worthy heaven
Than thou wast worthy her.OTHELLO Peace, you were best187—EMILIA Thou hast not half that power to do me harm
As I have to be hurt189. O gull, O dolt,
As ignorant as dirt! Thou hast done a deed —
I care not for thy sword — I’ll make thee known191,
Though I lost twenty lives.— Help, help, ho, help!
The Moor hath killed my mistress! Murder, murder!
Enter Montano, Gratiano and IagoMONTANO 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:To Iago
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 more
Than what he found himself was apt203 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, charm209 your tongue.EMILIA I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to speak:
My mistress here lies murdered 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 Villainy, villainy, villainy!
I think upon’t, I think: I smell’t: O villainy!
I thought so then. I’ll kill myself for grief.
O villainy! Villainy!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!He falls on the bed
EMILIA Nay, lay thee down and roar,
For thou hast killed the sweetest innocent
That e’er did lift up eye228.OTHELLO O, she was foul229!Rises
I scarce did know you, uncle230: there lies your niece,
Whose breath, indeed, these hands have newly stopped:
I know this act shows horrible and grim232.GRATIANO Poor Desdemon! I am glad thy father’s dead:
Thy match was mortal234 to him, and pure grief
Shore his old thread235 in twain. Did he live now,
This sight would make him do a desperate turn236,
Yea, curse his better angel from his side,
And fall to reprobance238.OTHELLO ’Tis pitiful, but yet Iago knows
That she with Cassio hath the act of shame
A thousand times committed: Cassio confessed it,
And she did gratify his amorous works242
With that recognizance243 and pledge of love
Which I first gave her: I saw it in his hand:
It was a handkerchief, an antique245 token
My father gave my mother.EMILIA O heaven! O heavenly powers!IAGO Come, hold your peace.EMILIA ’Twill out, ’twill out. I peace249?
No, I will speak as liberal as the north250:
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.Iago threatens to stab EmiliaEMILIA I will not.GRATIANO Fie, your sword upon a woman?EMILIA O thou dull256 Moor! That handkerchief thou
speak’st of
I found by fortune and did give my husband,
For often, with a solemn earnestness —
More than indeed belonged259 to such a trifle —
He begged of me to steal’t.IAGO Villainous whore!EMILIA She give it Cassio? No, alas! I found it,
And I did give’t my husband.IAGO Filth264, thou liest!EMILIA By heaven, I do not, I do not, gentlemen.
O murd’rous coxcomb266! What should such a fool
Do with so good a wife?OTHELLO Are there no stones268 in heaven
But what serves for the thunder?— Precious269 villain!He runs at Iago but is disarmed; Iago stabs Emilia
GRATIANO The woman falls: sure, he hath killed his wife.[Exit Iago]
EMILIA Ay, ay! O, lay me by my mistress’ side.GRATIANO He’s gone, but his wife’s killed.MONTANO ’Tis a notorious273 villain. Take you this weapon
Which I have recovered274 from the Moor:
Come, guard the door without275: let him not pass,
But kill him rather. I’ll after that same villain,
For ’tis a damnèd slave.[Exeunt Montano and Gratiano]
OTHELLO I am not valiant neither,
But every puny whipster279 gets my sword:
But why should honour280 outlive honesty?
Let it go all.EMILIA What did thy song bode, lady?
Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the swan283,
And die in music283:— Willow, willow, willow—Sings
Moor, she was chaste: she loved thee, cruel Moor.
So come my soul to bliss, as I speak true,
So speaking as I think, alas, I die.Dies
OTHELLO I have another weapon in this chamber:
It was a sword of Spain, the ice-brook’s temper289:
O, here it is. Uncle, I must come forth.Finds sword
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