Othello by William Shakespeare

Act 5 - Scene 2

A bedchamber in the castle: DESDEMONA in bed asleep;

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

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

Othello : Look in upon me then and speak with me, [p]Or, naked as I am, I will
assault thee.

Gratiano : What is the matter?

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

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; [p]For, in my sense, 'tis
happiness to die.

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

Othello : Why, any thing: [p]An honourable murderer, if you will; [p]For nought
I did in hate, but all in honour.

Lodovico : This wretch hath part confess'd his villany: [p]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. [p]Will you, I pray, demand
that demi-devil [p]Why he hath thus ensnared my soul and body?

Iago : Demand me nothing: what you know, you know: [p]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, [p]Which, as I think,
you know not. Here is a letter [p]Found in the pocket of the slain
Roderigo; [p]And here another: the one of them imports [p]The death of
Cassio to be undertook [p]By Roderigo.

Othello : O villain!

Cassio : Most heathenish and most gross!

Lodovico : Now here's another discontented paper, [p]Found in his pocket too; and
this, it seems, [p]Roderigo meant to have sent this damned
villain; [p]But that belike Iago in the interim [p]Came in and
satisfied him.

Othello : O the pernicious caitiff! [p]How came you, Cassio, by that
handkerchief [p]That was my wife's?

Cassio : I found it in my chamber: [p]And he himself confess'd but even
now [p]That there he dropp'd it for a special purpose [p]Which wrought
to his desire.

Othello : O fool! fool! fool!

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

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

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

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; [p]Killing myself,
to die upon a kiss.

Othello : It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul,-- [p]Let me not name it to
you, you chaste stars!-- [p]It is the cause. Yet I'll not shed her
blood; [p]Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow, [p]And smooth
as monumental alabaster. [p]Yet she must die, else she'll betray more
men. [p]Put out the light, and then put out the light: [p]If I quench
thee, thou flaming minister, [p]I can again thy former light
restore, [p]Should I repent me: but once put out thy light, [p]Thou
cunning'st pattern of excelling nature, [p]I know not where is that
Promethean heat [p]That can thy light relume. When I have pluck'd the
rose, [p]I cannot give it vital growth again. [p]It must needs wither:
I'll smell it on the tree. [p][Kissing her] [p]Ah balmy breath, that
dost almost persuade [p]Justice to break her sword! One more, one
more. [p]Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee, [p]And love
thee after. One more, and this the last: [p]So sweet was ne'er so
fatal. I must weep, [p]But they are cruel tears: this sorrow's
heavenly; [p]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 crime [p]Unreconciled as yet to heaven
and grace, [p]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: [p]I would not kill thy
unprepared spirit; [p]No; heaven forfend! I would not kill thy soul.

Desdemona : Talk you of killing?

Othello : Ay, I do.

Desdemona : Then heaven [p]Have 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 then [p]When your eyes roll so:
why I should fear I know not, [p]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. [p]Alas, why gnaw you so
your nether lip? [p]Some bloody passion shakes your very
frame: [p]These are portents; but yet I hope, I hope, [p]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 thee [p]Thou gavest to
Cassio.

Desdemona : No, by my life and soul! [p]Send for the man, and ask him.

Othello : Sweet soul, take heed, [p]Take heed of perjury; thou art on thy
deathbed.

Desdemona : Ay, but not yet to die.

Othello : Yes, presently: [p]Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin; [p]For to
deny each article with oath [p]Cannot remove nor choke the strong
conception [p]That 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 did [p]Offend you in my life; never
loved Cassio [p]But with such general warranty of heaven [p]As I might
love: I never gave him token.

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

Desdemona : He found it then; [p]I never gave it him: send for him hither; [p]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; [p]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 revenge [p]Had 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.

Emilia : [Within] My lord, my lord! what, ho! my lord, my lord!

Othello : What noise is this? Not dead? not yet quite dead? [p]I that am cruel
am yet merciful; [p]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. [p]'Tis like she comes to
speak of Cassio's death.-- [p]The noise was here. Ha! no more
moving? [p]Still as the grave. Shall she come in? were't good?-- [p]I
think she stirs again:--no. What's best to do? [p]If she come in,
she'll sure speak to my wife: [p]My wife! my wife! what wife? I have
no wife. [p]O insupportable! O heavy hour! [p]Methinks it should be
now a huge eclipse [p]Of sun and moon, and that the affrighted
globe [p]Should yawn at alteration.

Emilia : [Within] I do beseech you [p]That I may speak with you, O, good my
lord!

Othello : I had forgot thee: O, come in, Emilia; [p]Soft; by and by. Let me the
curtains draw. [p]Where art thou? [p][Unlocks the door] [p][Enter
EMILIA] [p]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; [p]She comes more nearer earth than
she was wont, [p]And makes men mad.

Emilia : Cassio, my lord, hath kill'd a young Venetian [p]Call'd Roderigo.

Othello : Roderigo kill'd! [p]And Cassio kill'd!

Emilia : No, Cassio is not kill'd.

Othello : Not Cassio kill'd! then murder's out of tune, [p]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. [p]Help! help, ho! help! O
lady, speak again! [p]Sweet Desdemona! O sweet mistress, speak!

Desdemona : A guiltless death I die.

Emilia : O, who hath done this deed?

Desdemona : Nobody; I myself. Farewell [p]Commend me to my kind lord: O,
farewell!

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: [p]'Twas I that kill'd her.

Emilia : O, the more angel she, [p]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 say [p]That she was false: O, she was
heavenly true!

Othello : Cassio did top her; ask thy husband else. [p]O, I were damn'd beneath
all depth in hell, [p]But that I did proceed upon just grounds [p]To
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, [p]If heaven would make me
such another world [p]Of one entire and Perfect chrysolite, [p]I'ld
not have sold her for it.

Emilia : My husband!

Othello : Ay, 'twas he that told me first: [p]An honest man he is, and hates the
slime [p]That 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, [p]My husband say that
she was false!

Othello : He, woman; [p]I say thy husband: dost understand the word? [p]My
friend, thy husband, honest, honest Iago.

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

Othello : Ha!

Emilia : Do thy worst: [p]This deed of thine is no more worthy heaven [p]Than
thou wast worthy her.

Othello : Peace, you were best.

Emilia : Thou hast not half that power to do me harm [p]As I have to be hurt. O
gull! O dolt! [p]As ignorant as dirt! thou hast done a deed-- [p]I
care not for thy sword; I'll make thee known, [p]Though I lost twenty
lives.--Help! help, ho! help! [p]The Moor hath kill'd my mistress!
Murder! murder!

Montano : What is the matter? How now, general!

Emilia : O, are you come, Iago? you have done well, [p]That men must lay their
murders on your neck.

Gratiano : What is the matter?

Emilia : Disprove this villain, if thou be'st a man: [p]He says thou told'st
him that his wife was false: [p]I know thou didst not, thou'rt not
such a villain: [p]Speak, for my heart is full.

Iago : I told him what I thought, and told no more [p]Than 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; [p]Upon my soul, a lie, a
wicked lie. [p]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: [p]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! [p]I think upon't, I think: I smell't: O
villany!-- [p]I thought so then:--I'll kill myself for grief:-- [p]O
villany, villany!

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

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

Othello : O! O! O!

Emilia : Nay, lay thee down and roar; [p]For thou hast kill'd the sweetest
innocent [p]That e'er did lift up eye.

Othello : [Rising] O, she was foul! [p]I scarce did know you, uncle: there lies
your niece, [p]Whose breath, indeed, these hands have newly
stopp'd: [p]I know this act shows horrible and grim.

Gratiano : Poor Desdemona! I am glad thy father's dead: [p]Thy match was mortal
to him, and pure grief [p]Shore his old thread in twain: did he live
now, [p]This sight would make him do a desperate turn, [p]Yea, curse
his better angel from his side, [p]And fall to reprobation.

Othello : 'Tis pitiful; but yet Iago knows [p]That she with Cassio hath the act
of shame [p]A thousand times committed; Cassio confess'd it: [p]And
she did gratify his amorous works [p]With that recognizance and pledge
of love [p]Which I first gave her; I saw it in his hand: [p]It was a
handkerchief, an antique token [p]My father gave my mother.

Emilia : O heaven! O heavenly powers!

Iago : Come, hold your peace.

Emilia : 'Twill out, 'twill out: I peace! [p]No, I will speak as liberal as the
north: [p]Let heaven and men and devils, let them all, [p]All, all,
cry shame against me, yet I'll speak.

Iago : Be wise, and get you home.

Emilia : I will not.

Gratiano : Fie! [p]Your sword upon a woman?

Emilia : O thou dull Moor! that handkerchief thou speak'st of [p]I found by
fortune and did give my husband; [p]For often, with a solemn
earnestness, [p]More than indeed belong'd to such a trifle, [p]He
begg'd of me to steal it.

Iago : Villanous whore!

Emilia : She give it Cassio! no, alas! I found it, [p]And I did give't my
husband.

Iago : Filth, thou liest!

Emilia : By heaven, I do not, I do not, gentlemen. [p]O murderous coxcomb! what
should such a fool [p]Do with so good a woman?

Othello : Are there no stones in heaven [p]But what serve for the
thunder?--Precious villain!

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, [p]Which I have here
recover'd from the Moor: [p]Come, guard the door without; let him not
pass, [p]But kill him rather. I'll after that same villain, [p]For
'tis a damned slave.

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

Emilia : What did thy song bode, lady? [p]Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play
the swan. [p]And die in music. [p][Singing] [p]Willow, willow,
willow,-- [p]Moor, she was chaste; she loved thee, cruel Moor; [p]So
come my soul to bliss, as I speak true; [p]So speaking as I think, I
die, I die.

Cassio : This did I fear, but thought he had no weapon; [p]For he was great of
heart.

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

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Next: Act 5 - Scene 2

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