Oth. She turn'd to folly, and she was a whore.
Emi. Thou dost belie her, and thou art a devil.
Oth. She was false as water.

Emi.
Thou art rash as fire, to say
That she was false: O, she was heavenly true?
Oth. Cassio did tup 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.
Emi. My husband?

Oth. Thy husband.

Emi. That she was false to wedlock?

Oth.

Nay, had she been true,

Ay, with Cassio

If Heaven would make me such another world

Of one intire and perfect chrysolite,1

I'd not have sold her for it.

Emi. My husband?

Oth.

Ay, 'twas he that told me first:

An honest man he is, and hates the slime

That sticks on filthy deeds.

Emi.

My husband?

2

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

thy husband.

Emi. O mistress, villany hath made mocks with love!-3

My husband say, that she was false?

1 A precious stone.

2 Repetition.

3i. e. villany has taken advantage to play on the weakness of a violent passion.'-Johnson.

Oth.

He, woman:

I say, thy husband. Dost understand the word?
My friend, thy husband; honest, honest Iago.

Emi. If he say so, may his pernicious soul
Rot half a grain a day! he lies to the heart:
She was too fond of her most filthy bargain.
Oth. Ha!

Emi. Do thy worst:

This deed of thine is no more worthy heaven,
Than thou wast worthy her.

Oth.

Peace; you were best.

Emi. Thou hast not half the power to do me

harm,

As I have to be hurt.1 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? Emi. O, are you come, Iago? you have done well,

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

Emi. Disprove this villain, if thou be 'st a man.
He says, thou told'st him that his wife was false :
I know, thou didst not; thou 'rt not such a viliain.

i. e. more can I bear than you dare execute.

Speak, for my heart is full.

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

more

Than what he found himself was apt and true.

Emi. But did you ever tell him she was false?
Iago. I did.

Emi. 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.

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

My mistress here lies murder'd in her bed.

All. O, Heavens forefend! 1

Emi. 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!

Emi.

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!

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

Emi. Good gentlemen, let me have leave to

speak :

"Tis proper I obey him, but not now.

1 Forbid.

Perchance, Iago, I will ne'er go home.

Oth. O! O! O!

Emi.

[hanging over his wife.

Nay, lay thee down, and roar;

For thou hast kill'd 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,

Whose breath, indeed, these hands have newly 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

Shore his old thread in twain: did he live now,

This sight would make him do a desperate turn;
Yea, curse his better angel from his side,

And fall to reprobation.

Oth. 'Tis pitiful: but yet Iago knows,
That she with Cassio hath the act of shame
A thousand times committed; Cassio confess'd it:
And she did gratify his amorous works

With that recognisance 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.

Emi. O heaven! O heavenly powers!

Iago.

Come, hold your peace.

Emi. "Twill out, 'twill out:-I hold my peace,

sir? no:

No; I will speak as liberal1 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.

Emi. O thou dull 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, belong'd to such a trifle)
He begg'd of me to steal it.

Iago.

Villanous whore !

Emi. She give it Cassio! no, alas! I found it,

And I did give 't my husband.

Iago.

Filth, thou liest.

Emi. By heaven, I do not; I do not, gentlemen. O murderous coxcomb! what should such a fool Do with so good a wife?

Oth.

[Iago stabs Emilia, then runs out. 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.

Emi. Ay, ay: 0, lay me by my mistress' side!

Free.