ACT 5. SCENE II. A bedchamber in the castle: Desdemona in bed asleep; a light burning.

by William Shakespeare

  Enter Othello

  Othello

  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 thy light,Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature,I know not where is that Promethean heatThat 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.Kissing her

  Ah balmy breath, that dost almost persuadeJustice 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.Desdemona

  Who's there? Othello?Othello

  Ay. Desdemona.Desdemona

  Will you come to bed, my lord?Othello

  Have you pray'd to-night, Desdemona?Desdemona

  Ay, my lord.Othello

  If you bethink yourself of any crimeUnreconciled as yet to heaven and grace,Solicit for it straight.Desdemona

  Alas, my lord, what do you mean by that?Othello

  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.Desdemona

  Talk you of killing?Othello

  Ay, I do.Desdemona

  Then heavenHave mercy on me!Othello

  Amen, with all my heart!Desdemona

  If you say so, I hope you will not kill me.Othello

  Hum!Desdemona

  And yet I fear you; for you are fatal thenWhen your eyes roll so: why I should fear I know not,Since guiltiness I know not; but yet I feel I fear.Othello

  Think on thy sins.Desdemona

  They are loves I bear to you.Othello

  Ay, and for that thou diest.Desdemona

  That death's unnatural that kills for loving.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.Othello

  Peace, and be still!Desdemona

  I will so. What's the matter?Othello

  That handkerchief which I so loved and gave theeThou gavest to Cassio.Desdemona

  No, by my life and soul!Send for the man, and ask him.Othello

  Sweet soul, take heed,Take heed of perjury; thou art on thy deathbed.Desdemona

  Ay, but not yet to die.Othello

  Yes, presently:Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin;For to deny each article with oathCannot remove nor choke the strong conceptionThat I do groan withal. Thou art to die.Desdemona

  Then Lord have mercy on me!Othello

  I say, amen.Desdemona

  And have you mercy too! I never didOffend you in my life; never loved CassioBut with such general warranty of heavenAs I might love: I never gave him token.Othello

  By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in's hand.O perjured woman! thou dost stone my heart,And makest me call what I intend to doA murder, which I thought a sacrifice:I saw the handkerchief.Desdemona

  He found it then;I never gave it him: send for him hither;Let him confess a truth.Othello

  He hath confess'd.Desdemona

  What, my lord?Othello

  That he hath used thee.Desdemona

  How? unlawfully?Othello

  Ay.Desdemona

  He will not say so.Othello

  No, his mouth is stopp'd;Honest Iago hath ta'en order for't.Desdemona

  O! my fear interprets: what, is he dead?Othello

  Had all his hairs been lives, my great revengeHad stomach for them all.Desdemona

  Alas! he is betray'd and I undone.Othello

  Out, strumpet! weep'st thou for him to my face?Desdemona

  O, banish me, my lord, but kill me not!Othello

  Down, strumpet!Desdemona

  Kill me to-morrow: let me live to-night!Othello

  Nay, if you strive--Desdemona

  But half an hour!Othello

  Being done, there is no pause.Desdemona

  But while I say one prayer!Othello

  It is too late.He stifles her

  Emilia

  Within My lord, my lord! what, ho! my lord, my lord!Othello

  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.Emilia

  Within What, ho! my lord, my lord!Othello

  Who's there?Emilia

  Within O, good my lord, I would speak a word with you!Othello

  Yes: 'tis Emilia. By and by. She's dead.'Tis like she comes to speak of Cassio's death.--The noise was here. Ha! no more moving?Still as the grave. Shall she come in? were't good?--I think she stirs again:--no. What's best to do?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 eclipseOf sun and moon, and that the affrighted globeShould yawn at alteration.Emilia

  Within I do beseech youThat I may speak with you, O, good my lord!Othello

  I had forgot thee: O, come in, Emilia;Soft; by and by. Let me the curtains draw.Where art thou?Unlocks the door Enter Emilia

  What's the matter with thee now?Emilia

  O, my good lord, yonder's foul murders done!Othello

  What, now?Emilia

  But now, my lord.Othello

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

  Cassio, my lord, hath kill'd a young VenetianCall'd Roderigo.Othello

  Roderigo kill'd!And Cassio kill'd!Emilia

  No, Cassio is not kill'd.Othello

  Not Cassio kill'd! then murder's out of tune,And sweet revenge grows harsh.Desdemona

  O, falsely, falsely murder'd!Emilia

  Alas, what cry is that?Othello

  That! what?Emilia

  Out, and alas! that was my lady's voice.Help! help, ho! help! O lady, speak again!Sweet Desdemona! O sweet mistress, speak!Desdemona

  A guiltless death I die.Emilia

  O, who hath done this deed?Desdemona

  Nobody; I myself. FarewellCommend me to my kind lord: O, farewell!Dies

  Othello

  Why, how should she be murder'd?Emilia

  Alas, who knows?Othello

  You heard her say herself, it was not I.Emilia

  She said so: I must needs report the truth.Othello

  She's, like a liar, gone to burning hell:'Twas I that kill'd her.Emilia

  O, the more angel she,And you the blacker devil!Othello

  She turn'd to folly, and she was a whore.Emilia

  Thou dost belie her, and thou art a devil.Othello

  She was false as water.Emilia

  Thou art rash as fire, to sayThat she was false: O, she was heavenly true!Othello

  Cassio did top her; ask thy husband else.O, I were damn'd beneath all depth in hell,But that I did proceed upon just groundsTo this extremity. Thy husband knew it all.Emilia

  My husband!Othello

  Thy husband.Emilia

  That she was false to wedlock?Othello

  Ay, with Cassio. Nay, had she been true,If heaven would make me such another worldOf one entire and Perfect chrysolite,I'ld not have sold her for it.Emilia

  My husband!Othello

  Ay, 'twas he that told me first:An honest man he is, and hates the slimeThat sticks on filthy deeds.Emilia

  My husband!Othello

  What needs this iteration, woman? I say thy husband.Emilia

  O mistress, villany hath made mocks with love,My husband say that she was false!Othello

  He, woman;I say thy husband: dost understand the word?My friend, thy husband, honest, honest Iago.Emilia

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

  Ha!Emilia

  Do thy worst:This deed of thine is no more worthy heavenThan thou wast worthy her.Othello

  Peace, you were best.Emilia

  Thou hast not half that power to do me harmAs 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!The Moor hath kill'd my mistress! Murder! murder!Enter MONTANO, GRATIANO, Iago, and others

  Montano

  What is the matter? How now, general!Emilia

  O, are you come, Iago? you have done well,That men must lay their murders on your neck.Gratiano

  What is the matter?Emilia

  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 villain:Speak, for my heart is full.Iago

  I told him what I thought, and told no moreThan what he found himself was apt and true.Emilia

  But did you ever tell him she was false?Iago

  I did.Emilia

  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.Emilia

  I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to speak:My mistress here lies murder'd in her bed,--All

  O heavens forfend!Emilia

  And your reports have set the murder on.Othello

  Nay, stare not, masters: it is true, indeed.Gratiano

  'Tis a strange truth.Montano

  O monstrous act!Emilia

  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.Emilia

  Good gentlemen, let me have leave to speak:'Tis proper I obey him, but not now.Perchance, Iago, I will ne'er go home.Othello

  O! O! O!He falls on the bed

  Emilia

  Nay, lay thee down and roar;For thou hast kill'd the sweetest innocentThat e'er did lift up eye.Othello

  Rising O, she was foul!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.Gratiano

  Poor Desdemona! I am glad thy father's dead:Thy match was mortal to him, and pure griefShore 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.Othello

  'Tis pitiful; but yet Iago knowsThat she with Cassio hath the act of shameA thousand times committed; Cassio confess'd it:And she did gratify his amorous worksWith that recognizance and pledge of loveWhich I first gave her; I saw it in his hand:It was a handkerchief, an antique tokenMy father gave my mother.Emilia

  O heaven! O heavenly powers!Iago

  Come, hold your peace.Emilia

  'Twill out, 'twill out: I peace!No, I will speak as liberal as the north: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.Emilia

  I will not.Iago offers to stab Emilia

  Gratiano

  Fie!Your sword upon a woman?Emilia

  O thou dull Moor! that handkerchief thou speak'st ofI 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!Emilia

  She give it Cassio! no, alas! I found it,And I did give't my husband.Iago

  Filth, thou liest!Emilia

  By heaven, I do not, I do not, gentlemen.O murderous coxcomb! what should such a foolDo with so good a woman?Othello

  Are there no stones in heavenBut what serve for the thunder?--Precious villain!He runs at Iago Iago, from behind, stabs Emilia, and exit

  Gratiano

  The woman falls; sure, he hath kill'd his wife.Emilia

  Ay, ay: O, lay me by my mistress' side.Gratiano

  He's gone, but his wife's kill'd.Montano

  'Tis a notorious villain. Take you this weapon,Which I have here recover'd from the Moor:Come, guard the door without; let him not pass,But kill him rather. I'll after that same villain,For 'tis a damned slave.Exeunt MONTANO and GRATIANO

  Othello

  I am not valiant neither,But ever puny whipster gets my sword:But why should honour outlive honesty?Let it go all.Emilia

  What did thy song bode, lady?Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the swan.And die in music.Singing

  Willow, willow, willow,--Moor, she was chaste; she loved thee, cruel Moor;So come my soul to bliss, as I speak true;So speaking as I think, I die, I die.Dies

  Othello

  I have another weapon in this chamber;It is a sword of Spain, the ice-brook's temper:--O, here it is. Uncle, I must come forth.Gratiano

  Within If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear:Thou hast no weapon, and perforce must suffer.Othello

  Look in upon me then and speak with me,Or, naked as I am, I will assault thee.Re-enter GRATIANO

  Gratiano

  What is the matter?Othello

  Behold, I have a weapon;A better never did itself sustainUpon a soldier's thigh: I have seen the day,That, with this little arm and this good sword,I have made my way through more impedimentsThan twenty times your stop: but, O vain boast!Who can control his fate? 'tis not so now.Be not afraid, though you do see me weapon'd;Here is my journey's end, here is my butt,And very sea-mark of my utmost sail.Do you go back dismay'd? 'tis a lost fear;Man but a rush against Othello's breast,And he retires. Where should Othello go?Now, how dost thou look now? O ill-starr'd wench!Pale as thy smock! when we shall meet at compt,This look of thine will hurl my soul from heaven,And fiends will snatch at it. Cold, cold, my girl!Even like thy chastity. O cursed slave!Whip me, ye devils,From the possession of this heavenly sight!Blow me about in winds! roast me in sulphur!Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire!O Desdemona! Desdemona! dead!Oh! Oh! Oh!Enter Lodovico. MONTANO, Cassio carried in a chair, and Officers with Iago, prisoner

  Lodovico

  Where is this rash and most unfortunate man?Othello

  That's he that was Othello: here I am.Lodovico

  Where is that viper? bring the villain forth.Othello

  I look down towards his feet; but that's a fable.If that thou best a devil, I cannot kill thee.Wounds Iago

  Lodovico

  Wrench his sword from him.Iago

  I bleed, sir; but not kill'd.Othello

  I am not sorry neither: I'ld have thee live;For, in my sense, 'tis happiness to die.Lodovico

  O thou Othello, thou wert once so good,Fall'n in the practise of a damned slave,What shall be said to thee?Othello

  Why, any thing:An honourable murderer, if you will;For naught I did in hate, but all in honour.Lodovico

  This wretch hath part confess'd his villany:Did you and he consent in Cassio's death?Othello

  Ay.Cassio

  Dear general, I never gave you cause.Othello

  I do believe it, and I ask your pardon.Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devilWhy he hath thus ensnared my soul and body?Iago

  Demand me nothing: what you know, you know:From this time forth I never will speak word.Lodovico

  What, not to pray?Gratiano

  Torments will ope your lips.Othello

  Well, thou dost best.Lodovico

  Sir, you shall understand what hath befall'n,Which, as I think, you know not. Here is a letterFound in the pocket of the slain Roderigo;And here another: the one of them importsThe death of Cassio to be undertookBy Roderigo.Othello

  O villain!Cassio

  Most heathenish and most gross!Lodovico

  Now here's another discontented paper,Found in his pocket too; and this, it seems,Roderigo meant to have sent this damned villain;But that belike Iago in the interimCame in and satisfied him.Othello

  O the pernicious caitiff!How came you, Cassio, by that handkerchiefThat was my wife's?Cassio

  I found it in my chamber:And he himself confess'd but even nowThat there he dropp'd it for a special purposeWhich wrought to his desire.Othello

  O fool! fool! fool!Cassio

  There is besides in Roderigo's letter,How he upbraids Iago, that he made himBrave me upon the watch; whereon it cameThat I was cast: and even but now he spake,After long seeming dead, Iago hurt him,Iago set him on.Lodovico

  You must forsake this room, and go with us:Your power and your command is taken off,And Cassio rules in Cyprus. For this slave,If there be any cunning crueltyThat can torment him much and hold him long,It shall be his. You shall close prisoner rest,Till that the nature of your fault be knownTo the Venetian state. Come, bring him away.Othello

  Soft you; a word or two before you go. I have done the state some service, and they know't.No more of that. I pray you, in your letters,When you shall these unlucky deeds relate,Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate,Nor set down aught in malice: then must you speakOf one that loved not wisely but too well;Of one not easily jealous, but being wroughtPerplex'd in the extreme; of one whose hand,Like the base Indian, threw a pearl awayRicher than all his tribe; of one whose subdued eyes,Albeit unused to the melting mood,Drop tears as fast as the Arabian treesTheir medicinal gum. Set you down this;And say besides, that in Aleppo once,Where a malignant and a turban'd TurkBeat a Venetian and traduced the state,I took by the throat the circumcised dog,And smote him, thus.Stabs himself

  Lodovico

  O bloody period!Gratiano

  All that's spoke is marr'd.Othello

  I kiss'd thee ere I kill'd thee: no way but this;Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.Falls on the bed, and dies

  Cassio

  This did I fear, but thought he had no weapon;For he was great of heart.Lodovico

  To Iago O Spartan dog,More fell than anguish, hunger, or the sea!Look on the tragic loading of this bed;This is thy work: the object poisons sight;Let it be hid. Gratiano, keep the house,And seize upon the fortunes of the Moor,For they succeed on you. To you, lord governor,Remains the censure of this hellish villain;The time, the place, the torture: O, enforce it!Myself will straight aboard: and to the stateThis heavy act with heavy heart relate.Exeunt


Previous Authors:ACT 5. SCENE I. Cyprus. A street. Next Authors:Dramatis Personae
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.zzdbook.com All Rights Reserved