The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Part 411

DESDEMONA. They are loves I bear to you.

OTh.e.l.lO. Ay, and for that thou diest.

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

Alas, why gnaw you so your nether lip?

Some b.l.o.o.d.y pa.s.sion shakes your very frame.

These are portents; but yet I hope, I hope, They do not point on me.

OTh.e.l.lO. Peace, and be still!

DESDEMONA. I will so. What's the matter?

OTh.e.l.lO. That handkerchief which I so loved and gave thee Thou gavest to Ca.s.sio.

DESDEMONA. No, by my life and soul!

Send for the man, and ask him.

OTh.e.l.lO. Sweet soul, take heed, Take heed of perjury; thou are on thy deathbed.

DESDEMONA. Ay, but not yet to die.

OTh.e.l.lO. 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.

DESDEMONA. Then Lord have mercy on me!

OTh.e.l.lO. I say, amen.

DESDEMONA. And have you mercy too! I never did Offend you in my life; never loved Ca.s.s...o...b..t with such general warranty of heaven As I might love. I never gave him token.

OTh.e.l.lO. 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 do A murther, 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.

OTh.e.l.lO. He hath confess'd.

DESDEMONA. What, my lord?

OTh.e.l.lO. That he hath used thee.

DESDEMONA. How? unlawfully?

OTh.e.l.lO. Ay.

DESDEMONA. He will not say so.

OTh.e.l.lO. No, his mouth is stopp'd; Honest Iago hath ta'en order for't.

DESDEMONA. O, my fear interprets! What, is he dead?

OTh.e.l.lO. Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge Had stomach for them all.

DESDEMONA. Alas, he is betray'd, and I undone!

OTh.e.l.lO. Out, strumpet! Weep'st thou for him to my face?

DESDEMONA. O, banish me, my lord, but kill me not!

OTh.e.l.lO. Down, strumpet!

DESDEMONA. Kill me tomorrow; let me live tonight!

OTh.e.l.lO. Nay, if you strive- DESDEMONA. But half an hour!

OTh.e.l.lO. Being done, there is no pause.

DESDEMONA. But while I say one prayer!

OTh.e.l.lO. It is too late. He stifles her.

EMILIA. [Within.] My lord, my lord! What, ho! my lord, my lord!

OTh.e.l.lO. 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!

OTh.e.l.lO. Who's there?

EMILIA. [Within.] O, good my lord, I would speak a word with you!

OTh.e.l.lO. Yes, 'tis Emilia. By and by. She's dead.

'Tis like she comes to speak of Ca.s.sio'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 eclipse Of sun and moon, and that the affrighted globe Should yawn at alteration.

EMILIA. [Within.] I do beseech you That I may speak with you, O, good my lord!

OTh.e.l.lO. 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 murthers done!

OTh.e.l.lO. What, now?

EMILIA. But now, my lord.

OTh.e.l.lO. It is the very error of the moon; She comes more nearer earth than she was wont And makes men mad.

EMILIA. Ca.s.sio, my lord, hath kill'd a young Venetian Call'd Roderigo.

OTh.e.l.lO. Roderigo kill'd?

And Ca.s.sio kill'd?

EMILIA. No, Ca.s.sio is not kill'd.

OTh.e.l.lO. Not Ca.s.sio kill'd! Then murther's out of tune, And sweet revenge grows harsh.

DESDEMONA. O, falsely, falsely murther'd!

EMILIA. Alas, what cry is that?

OTh.e.l.lO. 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. n.o.body; I myself. Farewell; Commend me to my kind lord. O, farewell! Dies.

OTh.e.l.lO. Why, how should she be murther'd?

EMILIA. Alas, who knows?

OTh.e.l.lO. You heard her say herself, it was not I.

EMILIA. She said so; I must needs report the truth.

OTh.e.l.lO. She's like a liar gone to burning h.e.l.l; 'Twas I that kill'd her.

EMILIA. O, the more angel she, And you the blacker devil!

OTh.e.l.lO. She turn'd to folly, and she was a wh.o.r.e.

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

OTh.e.l.lO. She was false as water.

EMILIA. Thou art rash as fire, to say That she was false. O, she was heavenly true!

OTh.e.l.lO. Ca.s.sio did top her; ask thy husband else.

O, I were d.a.m.n'd beneath all depth in h.e.l.l, But that I did proceed upon just grounds To this extremity. Thy husband knew it all.

EMILIA. My husband?

OTh.e.l.lO. Thy husband.

EMILIA. That she was false to wedlock?

OTh.e.l.lO. Ay, with Ca.s.sio. Nay, had she been true, If heaven would make me such another world Of one entire and perfect chrysolite, I'ld not have sold her for it.

EMILIA. My husband?

OTh.e.l.lO. Ay, 'twas he that told me first.

An honest man he is, and hates the slime That sticks on filthy deeds.