lago. He, he, 'tis he :-O, that's well said;-the chair:--[A chair brought in. Some good man bear him carefully from hence; I'll fetch the general's surgeon.-For you, mistress, [To Bianca. Save you your labour. He that lies slain here, Cassio, Was my dear friend: What malice was between you? Cas. None in the world; nor do I know the man. lago. [To Bian.] What, look you pale?-O, bear him out o'the air. [Cassio and Rod. are borne off. Stay you, good gentlemen:-Look you pale, mistress? Do you perceive the ghastness of her eye?- Do Enter Emilia. Emil. 'Las, what's the matter; what's the matter, husband? Iago. Cassio hath here been set on in the dark, Emil. Alas, good gentleman! alas, good Cassio! Go know of Cassio where he supp'd to-night :- Bian. He supp'd at my house; but I therefore Iago. O, did he so? I charge you, go with me. Bian. I am no strumpet; but of life as honest, As Emil. As I? foh! fie upon thee! Jago. Kind gentlemen, let's go see poor Cassio dress'd: Come, mistress, you must tell us another tale.- And tell my lord and lady what has happ'd.- SCENE 11-A bed-chamber: 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:2 If I quench thee, thou flaming minister, I can again thy former light restore, Should I repent me :--but once put out thine, rose, I cannot give it vital growth again, It needs must wither:-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 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 wakesDes. Who's there? Othello? (1) Undoes. (2) i. e. The light of life. Oth. Ay, Desdemona. Des. Will you come to bed, my lord? Ay, my lord. 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; No,-Heaven forfend !I would not kill thy soul. Des. Talk you of killing? Oth. Des. Have mercy on me! Ay, I do. Then, heaven Oth. 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 loving. Alas, why gnaw you so your nether lip? Some bloody passion shakes your very Oth. Peace, and be still. Des. I will so: What's the matter? Oth. That handkerchief, which I so lov'd, and 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 lov'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. O perjur'd woman! thou dost stone my heart, I saw the handkerchief. Des. He found it then; I never gave it him :-Send for him hither, No, his mouth is stopp'd; Honest Iago hath ta'en order for't.2 Des. My fear interprets then,-What, is he dead? Oth. Had all his hairs been lives, my great re venge Had stomach for them all. Des. Alas! he is betray'd, and I undone. (1) A sacrifice atoning for thy crime. Oth. Oút, strumpet! Weep'st thou for him to Des. O, banish me, my lord, but kill me not. Des. Kill me to-morrow, let me live to-night. Des. Oth. There is no pause. Des. Oth. It is too late. But half an hour. Being done, But while I say one prayer. Emil. [Within.] My lord, my lord! what ho my lord! my lord! Oth. 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.- Emil. [Within.] What ho! my lord, my lord! Oth. Yes;-'tis Emilia :-by and by.-She's dead. 'Tis like she comes to speak of Cassio's death: Methinks it should be now a huge eclipse Of sun and moon; and that the affrighted globe (1) It is supposed that some theatrical direction has been omitted, and that, when Othello says, 'So so,' he then stabs her. After the repetition of wounds, Desdemona might speak again with propriety, and yet very soon expire. |