William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (410 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
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BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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Enter
Montano,
Graziano,
and Iago
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.
That men must lay their murders on your neck.
GRAZIANO What is the matter?
EMILIA (to
Iago)
Iago)
Disprove this villain if thou beest 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.
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 more
Than what he found himself was apt and true.
Than what he found himself was apt and true.
EMILIA
But did you ever tell him she was false?
IACO I did.
EMILIA
You told a lie, an odious, damnèd lie,
Upon my soul a lie, a wicked lie.
She false with Cassio? Did you say with Cassio?
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 murdered in her bed.
My mistress here lies murdered in her bed.
⌈MONTANO
and
GRAZIANO⌉ O heavens forfend!
and
GRAZIANO⌉ O heavens forfend!
EMILIA (to
Iago)
Iago)
And your reports have set the murder on.
OTHELLO
Nay, stare not, masters. It is true indeed.
GRAZIANO
’Tis a strange truth.
MONTANO O monstrous act!
EMILIA
Villainy, villainy, villainy!
I think upon’t, I think. I smell’t. O villainy!
I thought so then. I’ll kill myself for grief.
O villainy, villainy!
I think upon’t, I think. I smell’t. O villainy!
I thought so then. I’ll kill myself for grief.
O villainy, villainy!
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.
‘Tis proper I obey him, but not now.
Perchance, Iago, I will ne’er go home.
OTHELLO
O, O, O!
Othello falls on the bed
EMILIA Nay, lay thee down and roar,
For thou hast killed the sweetest innocent
That e’er did lift up eye.
That e’er did lift up eye.
OTHELLO ⌈rising ⌉ O, she was foul!
(To Graziano) I scarce did know you, uncle. There lies
your niece,
Whose breath indeed these hands have newly
stopped.
I know this act shows horrible and grim
your niece,
Whose breath indeed these hands have newly
stopped.
I know this act shows horrible and grim
GRAZIANO
Poor Desdemon, 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 reprobance.
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 reprobance.
OTHELLO
’Tis pitiful. But yet Iago knows
That she with Cassio hath the act of shame
A thousand times committed. Cassio confessed it,
And she did gratify his amorous works
With that recognizance 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.
That she with Cassio hath the act of shame
A thousand times committed. Cassio confessed it,
And she did gratify his amorous works
With that recognizance 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.
EMILIA O God! O heavenly God!
IAGO
’Swounds, 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 ’em all,
All, all cry shame against me, yet I’ll speak.
Let heaven, and men, and devils, let ’em all,
All, all cry shame against me, yet I’ll speak.
IAGO Be wise and get you home.
EMILIA I will not.
Iago draws his sword
GRAZIANO (
to Iago)
Fie, your sword upon a woman?
to Iago)
Fie, your sword upon a woman?
EMILIA
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 belonged to such a trifle—
He begged of me to steal’t.
I found by fortune and did give my husband,
For often, with a solemn earnestness—
More than indeed belonged to such a trifle—
He begged of me to steal’t.
IAGO Villainous whore!
EMILIA
She give it Cassio? No, alas, I found it,
And I did give’t my husband.
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 fool
Do with so good a wife?
O murderous coxcomb! What should such a fool
Do with so good a wife?
OTHELLO Are there no stones in heaven
But what serves for the thunder? Precious villain!
The Moor runs at lago. Montano disarms Othello. Iago wounds his wife
GRAZIANO
The woman falls. Sure he hath killed his wife.
EMILIA
Ay, ay. O, lay me by my mistress’ side!
Exit lago
GRAZIANO He’s gone, but his wife’s killed.
MONTANO
‘Tis a notorious villain. Take you this weapon
Which I have here recovered 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 Graziano
Which I have here recovered 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 Graziano
OTHELLO I am not valiant neither,
But every puny whipster gets my sword.
But why should honour outlive honesty?
Let it go all.
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. (Sings) ‘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, alas, I die. She dies
And die in music. (Sings) ‘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, alas, I die. She dies
OTHELLO
I have another weapon in this chamber.
It was a sword of Spain, the ice-brook’s temper.
O, here it is.
(Calling)
Uncle, I must come forth.
It was a sword of Spain, the ice-brook’s temper.
O, here it is.
(Calling)
Uncle, I must come forth.
GRAZIANO (within)
If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear.
Thou hast no weapon, and perforce must suffer.
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.
Or, naked as I am, I will assault thee.
Enter Graziano
GRAZIANO
What is the matter?
OTHELLO Behold, I have a weapon;
A better never did itself sustain
Upon 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 impediments
Than 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 weaponed.
Here is my journey’s end, here is my butt
And very sea-mark of my utmost sail.
Do you go back dismayed? ’Tis a lost fear.
Man but a rush against Othello’s breast
And he retires. Where should Othello go?
(
To Desdemona
) Now, how dost thou look now? O ill-
starred wench,
Pale as thy smock! When we shall meet at count
This look of thine will hurl my soul from heaven,
And fiends will snatch at it.
Upon 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 impediments
Than 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 weaponed.
Here is my journey’s end, here is my butt
And very sea-mark of my utmost sail.
Do you go back dismayed? ’Tis a lost fear.
Man but a rush against Othello’s breast
And he retires. Where should Othello go?
(
To Desdemona
) Now, how dost thou look now? O ill-
starred wench,
Pale as thy smock! When we shall meet at count
This look of thine will hurl my soul from heaven,
And fiends will snatch at it.
⌈He touches her⌉
Cold, cold, my girl,
Even like thy chastity. O cursed, cursed slavel
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 Desdemon! Dead Desdemon! Dead! 0! 0!
Even like thy chastity. O cursed, cursed slavel
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 Desdemon! Dead Desdemon! Dead! 0! 0!
Enter Lodovico, Montano, Iago guarded by officers, with Cassio in a chair
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.
(
To Iago)
If that thou beest a devil I cannot kill thee.
(
To Iago)
If that thou beest a devil I cannot kill thee.
He wounds Iago
LODOVICO
Wrench his sword from him.
Officers disarm Othello
IAGO I bleed, sir, but not killed.
OTHELLO
I am not sorry, neither. I’d have thee live,
For in my sense ’tis happiness to die.
For in my sense ’tis happiness to die.
LODOVICO
O thou Othello, that was once so good,
Fall’n in the practice of a cursed slave,
What shall be said to thee?
Fall’n in the practice of a cursed slave,
What shall be said to thee?
OTHELLO Why, anything;
An honourable murderer, if you will,
For naught I did in hate, but all in honour.
For naught I did in hate, but all in honour.
LODOVICO
This wretch hath part confessed his villainy.
Did you and he consent in Cassio’s death?
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-devil
Why he hath thus ensnared my soul and body?
Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devil
Why 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.
From this time forth I never will speak word.
LODOVICO (to
Iago)
What, not to pray?
Iago)
What, not to pray?
GRAZIANO (to
Iago)
Torments will ope your lips.
Iago)
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 letter,
Found in the pocket of the slain Roderigo,
And here another. The one of them imports
The death of Cassio, to be undertook
By Roderigo.
Which as, I think, you know not. Here is a letter,
Found in the pocket of the slain Roderigo,
And here another. The one of them imports
The death of Cassio, to be undertook
By 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’ve sent this damned villain,
But that, belike, Iago in the interim
Came in and satisfied him.
Found in his pocket too, and this it seems
Roderigo meant to’ve sent this damned villain,
But that, belike, Iago in the interim
Came in and satisfied him.
OTHELLO (
to Iago)
O thou pernicious caitiff!
to Iago)
O thou pernicious caitiff!
How came you, Cassio, by that handkerchief
That was my wife’s?
That was my wife’s?
CASSIO I found it in my chamber,
And he himself confessed it, but even now,
That there he dropped it for a special purpose
Which wrought to his desire.
That there he dropped it for a special purpose
Which wrought to his desire.
OTHELLO O fool, fool, fool!
CASSIO
There is besides in Roderigo’s letter
How he upbraids Iago, that he made him
Brave me upon the watch, whereon it came
That I was cast; and even but now he spake
After long seeming dead, Iago hurt him,
Iago set him on.
How he upbraids Iago, that he made him
Brave me upon the watch, whereon it came
That I was cast; and even but now he spake
After long seeming dead, Iago hurt him,
Iago set him on.
LODOVICO (to
Othello)
Othello)
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 cruelty
That 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 known
To the Venetian state. (
To officers
) Come, bring away.
Your power and your command is taken off,
And Cassio rules in Cyprus. For this slave,
If there be any cunning cruelty
That 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 known
To the Venetian state. (
To officers
) Come, bring 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 speak
Of one that loved not wisely but too well,
Of one not easily jealous but, being wrought,
Perplexed in the extreme; of one whose hand,
Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away
Richer than all his tribe; of one whose subdued eyes,
Albeit unused to the melting mood,
Drops tears as fast as the Arabian trees
Their medicinable gum. Set you down this,
And say besides that in Aleppo once,
Where a malignant and a turbaned Turk
Beat a Venetian and traduced the state,
I took by th’ throat the circumcised dog
And smote him thus.
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 speak
Of one that loved not wisely but too well,
Of one not easily jealous but, being wrought,
Perplexed in the extreme; of one whose hand,
Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away
Richer than all his tribe; of one whose subdued eyes,
Albeit unused to the melting mood,
Drops tears as fast as the Arabian trees
Their medicinable gum. Set you down this,
And say besides that in Aleppo once,
Where a malignant and a turbaned Turk
Beat a Venetian and traduced the state,
I took by th’ throat the circumcised dog
And smote him thus.
He stabs himself
LODOVICO O bloody period!
GRAZIANO All that is spoke is marred.
OTHELLO (
to Desdemona
)
to Desdemona
)
I kissed thee ere I killed thee. No way but this:
Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.
Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.
He kisses Desdemona and dies
CASSIO
This did I fear, but thought he had no weapon,
For he was great of heart.
For he was great of heart.
LODOVICO (to
Iago)
O Spartan dog,
Iago)
O Spartan dog,
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