The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare

Des.
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 does 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 humour;
The business of the state does him offence,
And he does chide with you.
Des.
If 'twere no other,-
Iago. It is but so, I warrant you. [Trumpets.
Hark, how these instruments summon to supper!
And the great messengers of Venice stay:
Go in, and weep not; all things shall be well.
[Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia.
Enter Roderigo.

How now, Roderigo?

But, Roderigo, if thou hast that within thee indeed, which I have greater reason to believe now than ever,-I mean, purpose, courage, and valour,-this night show it: if thou the next night following enjoyest not Desdemona, take me from this world with treachery, and devise engines for my life.

Rod. Well, what is it? is it within reason, and compass?

Iago. Sir, there is especial commission come from Venice, to depute Cassio in Othello's place.

Rod. Is that true? why, then Othello and Desdemona return again to Venice.

Jago. O, no; he goes into Mauritania, and takes away with him the fair Desdemona, unless his abode be lingered here by some accident: wherein none can be so determinate, as the removing of Cassio.

Rod. How do you mean-removing of him? Iago. Why, by making him incapable of Othello's place; knocking out his brains.

Rod. And that you would have me do?

Iago. Ay, if you dare do yourself a profit, and a right. He sups to-night with a harlot, and thither will I go to him;-he knows not yet of his honourable fortune: if you will watch his going thence (which I will fashion to fall out between twelve and one,) you may take him at your pleasure; I will be near to second your attempt, and he shall fall between us. Come, stand not amazed at it, but go

Rod. I do not find, that thou deal'st justly with along with me; I will show you such a necessity in

me.

Iago. What in the contrary?

Rod. Every day thou doff'st me2 with some device, Iago; and rather (as it seems to me now,) keep'st from me all conveniency, that suppliest me with the least advantage of hope. I will, indeed, no longer endure it: Nor am I yet pursuaded, to put up in peace what already I have foolishly suffered.

Jago. Will you hear me, Roderigo?

Rod. 'Faith, I have heard too much; for your words and performance are no kin together.

Iago. You charge me most unjustly.

Rod. With nought but truth. I have wasted myself out of my means. The jewels you have had from me, to deliver to Desdemona, would half have corrupted a votarist: You have told me-she has received them, and returned me expectations and comforts of sudden respect and acquittance ;3 but I find none.

Iago. Well; go to; very well.

Rod. Very well! go to! I cannot go to, man; nor 'tis not very well: By this hand, I say, it is very scurvy and begin to find myself fobbed in it. Tago. Very well.

Rod. I tell you, 'tis not very well. I will make myself known to Desdemona: if she will return me my jewels, I will give over my suit, and repent my unlawful solicitation; if not, assure yourself, I will seek satisfaction of you.

Jago. You have said now.

Rod. Ay, and I have 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 in thy affair.

Rod. It hath not appeared.

Iago. I grant, indeed, it hath not appeared; and your suspicion is not without wit and judgment.

his death, that you shall think yourself bound to
put it on him. It is now high supper-time, and the
night grows to waste: about it.

Rod. I will hear further reason for this.
Jago. And you shall be satisfied.

[Exeunt.

Des. All's one:-Good father! how foolish are) our minds!

If I do die before thee, pr'ythee, shroud me
In one of those same sheets.

Emil.
Come, come, you talk.
Des. My mother had a maid call'd-Barbara;
She was in love; and he, she lov'd, prov'd 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, to-night,
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 Barbara. Pr'ythee, despatch.
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.

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.

Good troth, I think thou would'st 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 petty exhibition: but, for the whole world,-Why, who would not make her husband a cuckold, to 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 world: and, having the world for your labour, 'tis a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly make it right. Des. I do not think there is any such woman. Emil. Yes, a dozen; and as many

To the vantage, as would store the world they 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,
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 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, Her salt tears fell from her, and soften'd the As husbands have. What is it that they do,

stones;

Lay by these:

Sing willow, willow, willow:

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

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,

Sing all a green willow must be my gar-The ills we do, their ills instruct us to.

land.

II.

Let nobody blame him, his scorn I approve,— Nay, that's not next.-Hark! who is it that knocks? Emil. It is the wind.

Des. I call'd my love, false love; but what said he then?

Sing willow, &c.

If I court mo2 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. Would'st 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.

Des. Would'st thou do such a deed for all the world?

Emil. The world is a huge thing: 'Tis a great price

For a small vice.

(1) Wild, inconstant.

(2) Mo for more.

(3) Our former allowance of expense.

Des. Good night, good night: Heaven me suc usage send, Not to pick bad from bad; but, by bad, mend! [Exeunt

ACT V.

SCENE I-A street. Enter Iago and Roderigo.

he come:

Iago. Here, stand behind this bulk; straight will 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

Oth. The voice of Cassio:-Iago keeps his word.
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 hast 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.

Iago. Who's there? whose noise is this, that
cries on murder?
Lod. We do not know.
Iago.
Did you not hear a cry?
Cas. Here, here; for heaven's sake, help me.
Iago.
What's the matter?
Gra. This is Othello's ancient, as I take it.
Lod. The same, indeed; a very valiant fellow.
Iago. What are you here that cry so grievously?
Cas. Iago? O, I am spoil'd, undone by villains!
Give me some help.

Iago. O me, lieutenant! what villains have done
this?

Cas. I think, that one of them is hereabout,
And cannot make away.
Iago.

O murderous slave! O villain;

Rod. O damn'd lago! O inhuman dog!—

0! O! O!

lago. 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.

lago.

By villains.

Gra.

Iago.

Signior Lodovico?

I cry you merey; Here's Cassio hurt

Cassio?

How is it, brother?

Cas. My leg is cut in two.

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

Enter Bianca.

Bian. What is the matter, ho? who is't that cried?

Iago. Who is't that cried?

Bian. O my dear Cassio! My sweet Cassio!
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: I have been
to seek you.

Jago. Lend me a garter: So.-0, for a chair,
To bear him easily hence!

Bian. Alas, he faints:-0 Cassio! Cassio!
Cassio!

To be a party in this injury.-
lago. Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash

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! Roderige.

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, mistress,
[To Bianca
Save you your labour. 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 man. Iago. [To Bian.] What, look you pale ?-O, bear him out o'the air.

[Cassio and Rod, are borne offStay you, good gentlemen :-Look you pale, mistress?

O treacherous villains!-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,

What are you there? come in, and give some help.
[To Lodovico and Gratiano.
Rod. O, help me here!
(1) Out.

(2) No passengers.

(3) Thick, cloudy.

Though tongues were out of use.
Enter Emilia.

Emil. '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 'scap'd;-
He's almost slain, and Roderigo dead.

Emil. Alas, good gentleman! alas, good Cassio!
Iago. This is the fruit of whoring.-Pr'y thee,
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. Fie, fie upon thee, strumpet!

Bian. I am no strumpet; but of life as honest, As you that thus abuse me.

Emil.
As I? foh! fie 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. [Exe.
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 hers 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:2
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,

475

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.
Oth.

Yes, presently:
Thererefore confess thee freely of thy sin;
Cannot remove, nor choke, the strong conception,
For to deny each article with oath,
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.

That can thy light relume. When I have pluck'd thy I never gave it him :-Send for him hither,

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,
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 forfend!-I would not kill thy soul.
Des. Talk you of killing?

Oth.

Ay, I do.

And let him confess a truth.

Oth.

Des. What, my lord?
Oth. That he hath-us'd thee.

Des.

Oth. Ay.

Des. Oth.

He hath confess'd.

How? unlawfully?

He'll not say so.

No, his mouth is stopp'd;
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 re
venge
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. O, 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,-

(2) i. e. The light of life.

my lord! my ford!

A sacrifice atoning for thy crime. Has taken measures. 4 D

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, my lord!
Who's there?

Oth.

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?
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.

Emil. [Within.] I do beseech you I may speak
with you,

O, good my lord!"

Oth. I had forgot thee: 0, come in, Emilia:Soft,-by and by:-Let me the curtains draw.Where art thou? What's the matter with thec now ? [Unlocks the door. Enter Emilia. Emil. O, good my lord, yonder's foul murder

done.

Oth. It is the very error of the moon;
She comes more near the earth than she was wont,
And makes men mad.

Emil. Cassio, my lord, has killed a young Ve

Oth. Ha!

Emil.

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

Oth.
Peace, you were best.
Emil. Thou hast not half the power to do me
harm,

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!

of The Moor has kill'd my mistress; Murder! murder!
Enter Montano, Gratiano, and lago.

Alas! what cry is that?

Emil. Out, and alas! that was my lady's voice:-
Help! help, ho! help!-O lady, speak again!
Sweet Desdemona! O, sweet mistress, speak!
Des. A guiltless death I die.
Emil.

This deed?

O, who hath done
Des. 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.

(1) It is supposed that some theatrical direction as been omitted, and that, when Othello says, ' So 30,' he then stabs her. After the repetition of wounds, Desdemona might speak again with propriety, and yet very soon expire.

Mon. What is the matter?-How now, general?
Emil. O, are you come, lago? you have done

well,

That men must lay their murders on your neek.
Gra. What is the matter?

Emil. Disprove this villain, if thou be'st a

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