Alas! my friend, and my dear countryman, Iago. Even he, Sir; did you know him? Tago. Signior Gratiano? I cry you gentle pardon; These bloody accidents must excuse my mauners, That so neglected you. Gra. I am glad to see you. Iugo. How do you, Cassio ?-O, a chair, a chair! Gra. Roderigo! lago. He, he, 'tis he:-0, 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 ?-0, bear him out o' the air. [Cassio and Roderigo are borne off. Stay you, good gentlemen: -Look you pale, mis tress? Do you perceive the gastness of her eye ?— Enter EMILIA. Emil. 'Las, what's the matter; what's the matter, husband? Iago. Cassio hath here been set on in the dark, By Roderigo, and fellows that are scaped; He's almost slain, and Roderigo dead. 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 shake not. Iago. O, did he so? I charge you, go with me. Emil. Fie, fie upon thee, strumpet! Bian. I am no strumpet; but of life as honest, As you that thus abuse me. Emil. As I foh! fie upon thee! Iago. 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.- [Exeunt. SCENE II-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 mast d'e, else she'll betray more men. Put out the light, and then put out the light: If I querch thee, thou flaming minister, I can again thy former light restore, Should I repent me:-But once put out thine, Thon cunning'st pattern of excelling nature, I know not where is that Promethean heat," That can thy light relume. When I have pluck'd thy 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 A sacrifice atoning for thy crime. Has taken measures. would not have thee linger in thy pain.So, so.. Emil. [Within.] What ho! my lord, my lord! Oth. Who's there? Emil. [Within.] O, good my lord, I would speak a word with you. Oth. Yes;-'tis Emilia :-by and by.-She's dead. Ithink, she stirs again :-No.-What's the best? Methinks it should be now a huge eclipse Of sun and moon; and that the affrighted globe Should yawn at alteration. Emil. Within.] I do beseech you I may speak with you, 0, good my lord! Oth. I had forgot thee: 0, come in, Emilia :Soft,-by and by:-Let me the curtains draw,Where art thou? What's the matter with thee now ? [Unlocks the Door. Des. Nobody; I myself; farewell: Commend me to my kind lord; 0, farewell. [Dies. Oth. You heard her say herself, it was not J. Twas I that kill'd her. Emil. O, the more angel she, And you the blacker devil! Oth. She turn'd to folly, and she was a whore. Emil. Thou dost belie her, and thou art a devil. Oth. She was false as water. Emil. Thou art rash as fire, to say That she was false; O, she was heavenly true. Oth. Thy husband. Emil. That she was false to wedlock? Oth. Ay, with Cassio. Nay, had she been true, If heaven would make me such another world Of one entire and perfect chrysolite +, I'd not have sold her for it. Emil. My husband? Oth. Ay, 'twas he that told me first; An honest man he is, and hates the slime Emil. My husband? • 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. + A precious stone. Oth. What needs this iterance, woman? I say, thy husband. Emil. O mistress, villainy hath made mocks with love! My husband say, that she was false? I say, thy husband': Dost understand the word? Emil. Do thy worst: This deed of thine is no more worthy heaven, Oth. Peace, you were best. Emil, Thou hast not half the power to do me harm, As I have to be hurt t. O gull! O dolt! Mon. What is the matter?-How now, general? Emil. O, are you come, lago? you have done well, That men must lay their murders ou your neck. Emil. Disprove this villain, if thou be'st a man: Iago. I told him what I thought; and told no Emil. I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to speak; My mistress here lies murder'd in her bed. Emil. And your reports have set the murder on. Mon. O monstrous act! Emil. Villainy, villainy, villainy !— I think upon't, I think, I smellt:-O villainy ! 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 :— Oth. O, she was foul ! [Rising. I scarce did know you, uncle: there lies your niece, Whose breath, indeed, these hands have newly stopp'd: I know, this act shews horrible and grim. dead; Thy match was mortal to him, and pure grief Oth. "Tis pitiful: but yet lago knows, Emil. By heaven, I do not; I do not, gentlemen: O murd'rous coxcomb! What should such a fool Do with so good a wife? [Iago stabs Emilia, then runs out. Oth. Are there no stones in heaven, But what serve for the thunder ?-Precious villain! Gra. The woman falls; sure, he has 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 damn'd slave. [Exeunt Montano and Gratiano. Oth. I am not valiant neither, But every puny whipster gets my sword:- Emil. What did thy song bode, lady? [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 ine, Or, naked as I am, I will assault thee. Re-enter GRATIANO. Gra. What is the matter? Oth. Behold! I have a weapon; A better never did itself sustain Upon a soldier's thigh: I have seen the day, O cursed, cursed slave !-Whip me, ye devils, Oth. That's he, that was Othello; here I am. If that thou be'st a devil, I cannot kill thee. Lod. Wrench his sword from him. Oth. I am not sorry neither; I'd have thee live ; For, in my sense, 'tis happiness to die. Lod. O thou Othello, that was once so good, Oth. Why, any thing: An honourable murderer, if you will; For nought I did in hate, but all in honour. Lod. This wretch hath in part cónfess'd his vil- Did you and he consent in Cassio's death? Cas. Dear general, I never gave you cause. Will you, I pray you, demand that demi-devil, From this time forth I never will speak word. Gra. Torments will ope your lips. Lod. Sir, you shall understand what hath be fall'n, Which, as I think, you know not: here is a letter, Oth. O villain! Cas. Most heathenish, and most gross! Lod. Now here's another discontented paper, Found in his pocket too; and this, it seems, Roderigo meant to have sent this damn'd villain; But that, belike, Jago in the interim Came in and satisfied him. Oth. O the pernicious caitiff !— How came you, Cassio, by that handkerchief Cas. I found it in my chamber: And he himself confess'd, but even now, Oth. O fool! fool! fool! Cas. There is, besides, in Roderigo's letter,- Lod. You must forsake this room, and go with us; That can torment him much, and hold him long, know it; No more of that:-I pray you, in your letters, Of one, that loved not wisely, but too well; Albeit unused to the melting mood, [Stabs himself. ACT I. SCENE I.—A public Place. Enter SAMPSON and GREGORY, armed with Swords and Bucklers. Gre. They must take it in sense, that feel it. Sam. Me they shall feel, while I am able to stand: and 'tis known, I am a pretty piece of flesh, Gre. 'Tis well, thou art not fish; if thou hadst, thou hadst been poor John Draw thy tool; here comes two of the house of Montagues t. Enter ABRAM and BALTHASAR. Sam. My naked weapon is out; quarrel, I will back thee. Gre. How? Turn thy back, and run? Sam. Fear me not. Gre. No, marry: I fear thee! Sam. Let us take the law of our sides; let them begin. take it as they list. Sam. Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them; which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it. Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, Sir? Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, Sir? Sam.. Gregory, o' my word, we'll not carry Sir; but I bite my thumb, Sir. Sam. No, Sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, coals. Gre. No, for then we should be colliers. Sam. I mean, an we be in choler, we'll draw. Gre. Ay, while you live, draw your neck out of the collar. Sam. I strike quickly, being moved. Gre. But thou art not quickly moved to strike. Sam. A dog of the house of Montague moves me. Gre. To move is-to stir; and to be valiant isto stand to it: therefore, if thou art moved, thou run'st away. Sam. A dog of that house shall move me to stand: I will take the wall of any man or maid of Montague's. Gre. That shews thee a weak slave; for the weakest goes to the wall. Sam. True; and therefore women, being the weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall :-therefore I will push Montague's men from the wall, and thrust his maids to the wall. Gre. The quarrel is between our masters, and us their men. Sam. Tis all one, I will shew myself a tyrant: when I have fought with the men, I will be cruel with the maids; I will cut off their heads. Gre. The heads of the maids ? Gre. Do you quarrel, Sir? Abr. Quarrel, Sir? No, Sir. Sam. If you do, Sir, I am for you; I serve as good a man as you. Abr. No better. Enter BENVOLIO, at a distance. Gre. Say-better; here comes one of my master's kinsmen. Sam. Yes, better, Sir. Abr. You lie. Sam. Draw, if you be men.-Gregory, remember thy swashing blow. [They fight. Ben. Part, fools; put up your swords; you know not what you do. [Beats down their Swords. Enter TY BALT. Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death. Sam. Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maid. As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee: enheads; take it in what sense thou wilt. A phrase formerly in use to signify the bearing injuries. Have at thee, coward. [They fight. • Poor John is hake, dried and salted. + The disregard of concord is in character. |