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. Emilia, run you to the citadel, And tell my lord and lady what hath happ'd.[Exit EMILIA. Will you go on, I pray?—This is the night That either makes me, or fordoes me quite.

[Exeunt GRATIANO, CASSIO, LODOVICO, and IAGO.

SCENE II.

Cyprus.

A Bedchamber in the Castle.

DESDEMONA in Bed, asleep.

Enter OTHELLO, with a Light.

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.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 the rose,

I cannot give it vital growth again,

It must needs wither:-I'll smell it on the tree.

[Kisses DESDEMONA. O balmy breath, that dost almost persuade

Justice herself to break her sword!-Once more.Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee, And love thee after.-Once more, and this the last,― She wakes

Des. Who's there? Othello?

Oth. Ay, Desdemona.

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 forefend !—I would not kill thy soul. Des. Talk you of killing?

Oth. Ay, I do.

Des. Then, Heaven

Have mercy on me!

Oth. Amen, with all my heart!

Des. If you say so, I hope, you will not kill me.
Oth. Hum!--

Des. 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. Oth. Think on thy sins.

Des. They're loves I bear to you.

Oth. Ay, and for that thou diest.

Des. That death's unnatural, that kills for loving.Alas, why gnaw you so your nether lip?

Some bloody passion shakes your very frame,—
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'rt 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 warrantry 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 thy 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,
And let him confess a truth.

Oth. He has confess'd.

Des. What, my lord?

Oth. That he hath-us'd thee.

Des. How? unlawfully?

Oth. Ay.

Des. He will not say so.

Oth. No, his mouth is stopp'd;

Honest lago hath ta'en order for't.

Des. My fear interprets then,-What, is he dead? Oth. Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge 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, an you strive,—

Des. But half an hour,

Oth. Being done,

There is no pause.

Des. But while I say one prayer,—

Oth. It is too late.

[He smothers her.

[EMILIA knocks at the Door.

Emil. 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.

[Stubs her with his Dagger. [EMILIA knocks at the Door.

Emil. What ho!-my lord! my lord !—
Oth. Who's there?

Emil. O, good my lord, I'd 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.

[EMILIA knocks at the Door. Emil. I do beseech you, I may speak with you,

O, good my lord !—

Oth. I had forgot thee :- O, come in, Emilia :—

[Unlocks the Door.

Enter EMILIA.

What's the matter with thee now?

Emil. O, my good lord, yonder's foul murder done.

Oth. What? now?

Emil. But now, my lord.

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, hath kill'd a young Venetian, Call'd-Roderigo.

Oth. Roderigo kill'd?

And Cassio kill'd ?—

Emil. No, Cassio is not kill'd.

Oth. Not Cassio kill'd? Then murder's out of

Emil. Alas! what cry is that?
Oth. That! what?

Des. O, falsely, falsely murder'd !—

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