[IAGO rushes from his post, cuts Cassio behind in the Leg, and exit.

Cas. I am maim'd for ever. — Light, ho! murder! murder!

Enter OTHELLO, at a distance.

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

Oth.

It is e'en 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 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.

[Falls.

[Exit OTHELLO.

Enter LODOVICO and GRATIANO, at a distance.

Cas. What, ho! no watch? no passage? murder! murder!
Gra. 'T is some mischance; the cry is very direful.
Cas. O, help!

Lod.

Rod.

Hark!

O wretched villain!

Lod. 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.

Rod. No body come? then shall I bleed to death.

Lod. Hark!

Enter IAGO, with a Light.

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 not you hear a cry?

Cas. Here, here! for heaven's sake, help me.

VI.

305

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,

What are you there? come in, and give some help.

Iago.

Kill men i' the dark! Where be these bloody

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. Signior Lodovico?

Lod. He, Sir.

Iago. I cry you mercy. Here's Cassio hurt by villains.

Gra.

Cassio?

Iago. How is it, brother?

Cas. My leg is cut in two.

Iago.

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?

Iago. Who is 't that cry'd!

Bian. 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?

Cas. No.

Gra. I am sorry, to find you thus: I have been to seek you. so.0, for a chair,

Iago. Lend me a garter:

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?

lago. Even he, Sir; did you know him? Gra.

Know him? ay.

Iago. Signior Gratiano? I cry you gentle pardon: These bloody accidents must excuse my manners,

That so neglected you.

Iago. How do you, Cassio? O, a chair, a chair!

Iago. He, he, 't is 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.

Save you your labour.

--

For you,

mistress,

[TO BIANCA.

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.

Jago. What, look you pale? - O, bear him out o' the air.

[CASSIO and ROD. are borne off.

Look you pale, mistress?

Do you perceive the gastness of her eye?

Nay, an you stir: - 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.

Emil. Alas! 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'ythee, 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. O, fie upon thee, strumpet!

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, I pray? This is the night,
That either makes me, or fordoes me quite.

SCENE II.

A Bedchamber.

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 suow,
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?

[Aside. [Exeunt.

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 thy rose,
I cannot give it vital growth again,

It needs must wither:

I'll smell it on the tree.

O balmy breath, that dost almost persuade

-

[Kissing her.

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.

Des. Who's there?

Oth.

She wakes

Des. Will you come to bed, my lord?
Oth. Have you pray'd to-night, Desdemona?
Des.

Oth. If you bethink yourself of any crime,
Unreconcil'd as yet to heaven and grace,

Solicit for it straight.

Ay, my lord.

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.

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,