My friend, thy husband, honest, honest Iago.

Emil. 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!

Emil. Do thy worst:

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

Oth.

Peace, you were best. Emil. Thou hast not half that power to do me harm

As 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. Mon. What is the matter? How now, general ! Emil. O, are you come, Iago? you have done well,

160

That men must lay their murders on your neck. 170
Gra. What is the matter?

Emil. 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

more

Than what he found himself was apt and true.
Emil. But did you ever tell him she was false ?
Iago. I did.

Emil. You told a lie; an odious, damned lie; 180 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.

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

My mistress here lies murder'd in her bed,-
All. O heavens forfend!

Emil. 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!
Emil.

Villany, villany, villany! 190 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.

Emil. Good gentlemen, let me have leave to speak:

'Tis proper I obey him, but not now. Perchance, Iago, I will ne'er go home.

Oth. O! O! O!
Emil.

[He falls on the bed.

For thou hast kill'd the sweetest innocent

Nay, lay thee down and roar;

[Rising] O, she was foul!

That e'er did lift up eye.

Oth.

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,

200

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 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.

Emil. O heaven! O heavenly powers!
Iago. Come, hold your peace.
Emil.

"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.

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 !

210

220

Emil. She give it Cassio! no, alas! I found it, 230 And I did give 't my husband.

Iago.

Filth, thou liest !

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

Oth.

Are there no stones in heaven

220. liberal, unrestrainedly.

But what serve for the thunder?-Precious villain! [He runs at Iago: Iago, from behind, stabs

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

Emil. Ay, ay: O, lay me by my mistress' side.
Gra. He's gone, but his wife's kill'd.

Mon. '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.
I am not valiant neither,

Oth.
But every puny whipster gets my sword:
But why should honour outlive honesty?
Let it go all.

Emil. 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.

Oth. 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.

Gra. [Within] If thou attempt it, it will cost. thee dear:

Thou hast no weapon, and perforce must suffer.

Oth. Look in upon me then and speak with me, Or, naked as I am, I will assault thee.

Re-enter GRATIANO.

Gra. What is the matter?

240

250

Oth.

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 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.
Lod. Where is this rash and most unfortunate
man?

Oth. That's he that was Othello: here I am.
Lod. Where is that viper? bring the villain forth.
Oth. I look down towards his feet; but that's
a fable.

If that thou beʼst a devil, I cannot kill thee.

[Wounds Iago

Lod. Wrench his sword from him.

260

270

280