The Dramatic Works of W. Shakespeare

Emil. Shall I go fetch your night-gown? Des. No, unpin me here.This Lodovico is a proper man. Emil. A very handsome man. Des.

And he speaks well. Emil. I know a lady in Venice, who would have walked barefoot to Palestine, for a touch of his nether lip.

Des. The poor soulsat sighing by a sycamore tree, Sing all a green willow; [Singing. 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, &c.

Des. Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?

Emil. The world is a huge thing: 'tis a great price For a small vice.

Des. Good troth, I think thou wouldst not.

Emil. By my 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, nor any who would not make her husband a cuckold, to petty exhibition: but for the whole world,-Why, make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for't.

Des. Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong for the whole world.

Emil. Why, the wrong is but a wrong i'the

Her salt tears fell from her, and soften'd the stones, world: and, having the world for your labor, 'tis a wrong in your own world, and you may quickly Lay by these: make it right.

Sing willow, willow, willow;

Pr'ythee, hie thee; he'll come anon.

Des. I do not think there is any such woman. Emil. Yes, a dozen; and as many

Sing all a green willow, must be my garland. To the vantage, as would store the world they

II.

Let nobody blame him, his scorn 1 approve,

Nay, that's not next.-Hark! who is it that knocks? Emil. It is the wind.

play'd 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,

Des. I call'd my love, false love; but what said Throwing restraint upon us; or, say they strike us,

he then?

Sing willow, &c.

If I court mo women, you'll couch with mo men. So, get thee gone; good-night. Mine eyes do itch; Doth that bode weeping?

Emil.
"Tis neither here nor there.
Des. 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?

Emil. There be some such, no question. Des. Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?

Emil. Why, would not you?

Des.

No, by this heavenly light! Emil. Nor I neither by this heavenly light; I might do't as well i'the dark.

Or scant our former having' in despite;
Why, we have galls; and, though we have some

grace,

Yet we have 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 to.

Des. Good-night, good-night: Heaven me such usage send,

Not to pick bad from bad; but, by bad, mend! [Exeunt.

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.

Rod. Be near at hand; I may miscarry in't.
lago. Here, at thy hand; be bold, and take thy
sword.
[Retires to a little distance.

Rod. I have no great devotion to the deed; And yet he has given me satisfying reasons:"Tis but a man gone:-forth, my sword; he dies. [Goes to his stand. 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,

• Mo for more. ↑ Unsheathed. • To the quick.

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 :-But so, I hear him coming.

Rod.

O, I am slain! [IAGO rushes from his post, cuts CASSIO behind in the Leg, and Exit. Cas. I am maim'd for ever:-Help, ho! murder!

murder!

Enter OTHELLO, at a distance.

[Falls.

lago.

Marry, heaven forbid !Light, gentlemen; I'll bind it with my shirt. Enter BIANCA.

Bian. What is the matter, ho? who is't that cry'd? lago. Who is't that cry'd?

Bian. O my dear Cassio! my sweet Cassio!

Oth. The voice of Cassio:-Iago keeps his word. O Cassio! Cassio! Cassio!
Rod. O, villain that I am!

Oth.

Hark! 'tis even so.
Cas. O, help! ho! light! a surgeon!
Oth. 'Tis he;-O brave Iago, honest, and just,
That hath such noble sense of thy friend's wrong!
Thou teachest me,-Minion, your dear lies dead,
And your fate hies apace:-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 OTHELLO.
Enter LODOVICO and GRATIANO, at a distance.
Cas. What, ho! no watch? no passage? mur-
der! murder!

Gra. 'Tis some mischance; the cry is very direful.
Cas. O, help!

Lod.
Rod.

Hark!

O wretched villain! Lod. Two or three groans;-it is a heavy' night:

These may be counterfeits; let's think't unsafe
To come in to the cry, without more help.
Rod. Nobody come? then shall I bleed to death.
Enter IAGO, with a Light.

Lod. Hark!

Gra. Here's one comes in his shirt, with light and weapons.

Iugo. 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: I have been
to seek you.

Iago. Lend me a garter: So.-O, for a chair,
To bear him easily hence!

Bian. Alas, he faints:-O Cassio! Cassio!
Cassio!

Iago. Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash
To be a party in this injury.-
Patience a while, 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?
Gra.
Know him? ay.

Iago. Signior Gratiano? I cry you gentle par-
don;

These bloody accidents must excuse my manners,
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;

Iago. Who's there? whose noise is this, that I'll fetch the general's surgeon. For you, mistress,

cries on murder?

Lod. We do not know.

[To BIANCA. Save you your labor. He that lies slain here, Cassio,

Was my dear friend: What malice was between you?

Cas. None in the world; nor do I know the

Iago. Kind gentlemen, let's go see poor Cassio | These are portents; but yet, I hope, I hope,

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 Bed-chamber: 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, 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 thy rose,

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 wakes-
Des. 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,
Unreconciled 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 forfend!-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, I know

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; Send for the man and ask him. Oth.

Sweet soul, take heed,

Take heed of perjury; thou art on thy death-bed,

Des. Ay, but not yet to die.
Oth.

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.
Des. Then, Lord have mercy on me!

Oth. I say, amen. Des. And have you mercy too!-I never did Offend you in my life; never lov'd Cassio, But with such general warranty of heaven As I might love: I never gave him token.

Oth. By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in his
hand.

O perjur'd woman! thou dost stone my heart,
And mak'st me call what I intend to do,-
A murder, which I thought a sacrifice:
I saw the handkerchief.

Des.

He found it then; I never gave it him:-Send for him hither, Let him confess a truth.

But half an hour.
Being done,

But while I say one prayer.
[He smothers her.

Oth. It is too late. Emil. [Within.] My lord, my lord! what ho! my lord! my lord!

Oth. 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.

Emil. [Within.] What ho! my lord, lord! Oth. Who's there? Emil. [Within.] O, good my lord, I would speak a word with you.

Oth. 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 the best'

Des.

O, who hath done

Nobody; I myself; farewell: Commend me to my kind lord; O, farewell. [Dies. Oth. Why, how should she be murder'd? Emil. Alas, who knows? Oth. You heard her say herself, it was not I. Emil. She said so, I must needs report the truth. Oth. She's like a liar, gone to burning hell; "Twas I that kill'd her.

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

Oth. She turn'd to folly, and she was a whore. Emil. Thou dost belie her, and thou art a devil! Oth. She was false as water. Emil. Thou art rash as fire, to say That she was false; O, she was heavenly true! Oth. Cassio did tap her; ask thy husband else, O, I were damn'd beneath all depth in hell, But that I did proceed upon just grounds To this extremity; Thy husband knew it all. Emil. My husband?

If heaven would make me such another world Of one entire and perfect chrysolite,

I'd not have sold her for it.

Emil. My husband?
Oth.

As 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 has kill'd my mistress; Murder! murder!
Enter MONTANO, GRATIANO, and IAGO.
Mon. What is the matter?-How now, general?
Emil. O, are you come, Iago? you have done well,
That men must lay their murders on your neck.
Gra. What is the matter?

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

Iago. I told him what I thought; and told no

Than what he found himself was apt and true.

Emil. But did you ever tell him she was false? 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? Iago. With Cassio, mistress; Go to, charm your tongue.

Emil. I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to speak;

My mistress here lies murder'd in her bed.
All. O heavens forfend!"

Emil. And your reports have set the murder on.
Oth. Nay, stare not, masters; it is true, indeed.
Gra. "Tis a strange truth.

Mon. O monstrous act!
Emil.

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!

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

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.

Oth. O! O! O! [Hanging over his Wife. Emil. Nay, lay thee down, and roar; For thou hast killed the sweetest innocent, That e'er did lift up eye. Oth.

O, she was foul!

[Rising.

I scarce did know you, uncle: There lies your niece,

Ay, 'twas he that told me first; Whose breath, indeed, these hands have newly

An honest man he is, and hates the slime

That sticks on filthy deeds.

Emil.

My husband?

Oth. What needs this iterance,' woman? I say,

thy husband.

stopp'd:

I know, this act shows horrible and grim.

Gra. Poor Desdemona! I am glad thy father's

dead;

Thy match was mortal to him, and pure grief

"More can I bear than you dare execute." "Forbid.

Behold! I have a weapon;

A better never did itself sustain
Upon a soldier's thigh: I have seen the day,
That, with this little arm, and this good sword,
I have made my way through more impediments
Than twenty times your stop:-But, O vain boast!

A thousand times committed; Cassio confess'd it: Who can control his fate? 'tis not so now.

And she did gratify his amorous works
With that recognizance and pledge of love
Which I first gave her; I saw it in his hand;
It was a handkerchief, an antique token
My father gave my mother.

Emil. O heaven! O heavenly powers!
Iago.
Come, hold your peace.
Emil. Twill out, 'twill out;-I hold my peace,
sir? no;

No, I will speak as liberal' as the air;
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.

Emil.

Gra.

I will not.
[IAGO offers to stab his Wife.
Fye!

Your sword upon a woman!

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 cursed, cursed 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 Desdemona! Desdemona! dead?

Emil. By heaven, I do not: I do not, gentlemen: If that thou be'st a devil, I cannot kill thee.
O murd'rous coxcomb! what should such a fool
Do with so good a wife?

[IAGO stabs EMILIA, then runs out.
Oth.
Are there no stones in heaven,
But what serve for the thunder?-Precious villain!
Gra. The woman falls! sure, he has kill'd his wife.
Emil. Ay, ay; 0, lay me by my mistress' side!
Gra. He's gone, but his wife's kill'd.

Mon. "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 damned slave.

[Exeunt MONTANO and GRATIANO.

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

Emil. What did thy song bode, lady?
Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the swan,
And die in music;- 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.

Oth. 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.
Gra. [Within.] If thou attempt it, it will cost
thee dear;

Thou hast no weapon, and perforce must suffer.
Oth. Look in upon me then, and speak with me,
Or, naked as I am, I will assault thee.

Re-enter GRATIANO.

Gra. What is the matter?

4 Free.

Steel is hardened by being put red-hot into very cold water.

[OTHELLO wounds IAGO.
Lod. Wrench his sword from him.
Iago.
I bleed, sir; but not kill'd.
Oth. I am not sorry neither; I'd have thee live;
For, in my sense, 'tis happiness to die.

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

Oth.

Why, any thing:

An honorable murderer, if you will;
For nought I did in hate, but all in honor.
Lod. This wretch hath part confess'd his villany:
Did you and he consent in Cassio's death?
Oth. Ay.

Cas. Dear general, I never gave you cause.
Oth. I do believe it, and I ask your pardon.
Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devil,
Why 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.
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, Which, as I think, you know not: Here is a letter,

Found in the pocket of the slain Roderigo;
And here, another: the one of them imports
The death of Cassio to be undertook
By Roderigo.

Oth. O villain!
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,

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