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Iago. [To BIAN.] What, look you pale? -0,

bear him out o'the air.

[CASSIO and ROD. are borne off. Stay you, good Gentlemen: Look you pale,

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Mistress?

Do you perceive the gastness 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,
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! Tago. 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.

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Iago. O, did he so? I charge you, go with me. Emil. Fye, fye upon thee, strumpet!

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

Emil, As 1? foh! fye 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.

[Exeunt.

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 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, 1 can again thy former light restore,

Should I repeut 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:

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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

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last:

So sweet was ne'er so fatal. I must weep,

But they are cruel tears: This
It strikes, where it doth love.
Des.. Who's there? Othello?
Oth. Ay, Desdemona.

sorrow's heavenly; She wakes

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

Oth. If you bethink yourfelf 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;

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No, Heaven forefend! I would not kill thy

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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. Humph!

Des. And yet I fear you; for you are 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 are loves I bear to you.

Oth. Ay, and for that thou diest.

Des. That death's unnatural, that kills for lov

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Alas, why gnaw you so your nether lip?

Some bloody passion shakes your very frame:
These are portents; but yet, I hope, I hope,

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

Thou gav'st to Cassio.

gave thee,

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 loy'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.

Or perjur'd woman! thou dost stone my heart, i
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 hath confess'd.

Des, What, my Lord?

Oth. That he hathus'd thee.
Des. How? unlawfully?

Oth. Ay.

Des. He'll not say so.

Oth. 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 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, if 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.

Emil. [Within.] My Lord,

[He smothers her.

my Lord! what ho! my Lord! my Lord!

Oth. What noise is this? Not dead! not yet

quite dead?

I, that am cruel, and yet merciful;

I would not have thee linger in thy pain.

So, so.

Emil. [Within.] What ho! my Lord, my Lord!' Oth. Who's there?

Emil. [Within.] O, good my Lord, I would speak a word with yon.

Oth. Yes; 'tis Emilia :- by and by. She's

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'Tis like she comes to The noise was high. Still as the grave.

dead.

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speak of Cassio's death; Ha! no more moving? Shall she come in? Were't good?

I think

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