Des. It was his bidding; therefore, good Emilia, Emil. I would you had never seen him! Des. So would not I; my love doth so approve him, That even his stubbornness, his checks, and frowns,Prythee, unpin me,-have grace and favour in them. Emil. I have laid those sheets you bade me on the bed. Des. All's one.-Good father! how foolish are our If I do die before thee, pr'ythee, shroud me [minds!In one of those same sheets. Emil. Come, come, you talk. Des. My mother had a maid call'd Barbara : And sing it like poor Barbara.--Pr'ythee, despatch. Des. No, unpin me here. This Lodovico is a proper man. Des. And he speaks well. Emil. I know a lady in Venice who would have walked barefoot to Palestine for a touch of his nether lip. Des. [Singing.] "The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore-tree, Sing all a green willow; Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee, The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur'd her [means; Hersalt tears fell from her, and soften'd the stones;"Lay by these: "Sing willow, willow, willow;" Pr'ythee, hie thee; he'll come anon: "Sing all a green willow must be my garland. Let nobody blame him, his scorn I approve,”Nay, that's not next.-Hark! who is it that knocks? Emil. It is the wind. Des. [Singing] "I call'd my love false love; but what said he then? Sing willow, &c. If I court mo women, you'll couch with mo men." So get thee gone: good night. Mine eyes do itch; Doth that bode weeping? Emil. 'Tis neither here nor there. Des. I have heard it said so.-O, these men, these men! Dost thou in conscience think,-tell me. Emilia,That there be women do abuse their husbands In such gross kind? Emil. There be some such, no question. Des. Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world? Emil. Why, would not you? Des. No, by this heavenly light! Emil. Nor I neither by this heavenly light; I might do 't as well i' the dark. Des. Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world? Emil. The world is a huge thing: 'tis a great price For a small vice. Des. Good troth, I think thou wouldst not. Emil. By my troth, I think I should; and undo't when I had done. Marry, I would not do such a thing for a joint-ring, nor for measures of lawn, nor for gowns, petticoats, nor caps, nor any petty exhibition; but, for the whole world,-why, who would not make her husband a cuckold, to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for't. Des. Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong for the whole world. Emil. Why, the wrong is but a wrong i' the world; and, having the world for your labour, 'tis a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly make it right. Des. I do not think there is any such woman. To the vantage as would store the world they play'd for. If wives do fall. Say that they slack their duties, Or else break out in peevish jealousies, Throwing restraint upon us; or say they strike us, Or scant our former having in despite; Why, we have galls; and though we have some grace, [send, Des. Good night, good night: heaven me such usage Not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend! [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I.-CYPRUS. A Street. Enter IAGO and RODERIGO. (come: Iago. Here, stand behind this bulk; straight will he Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home: Quick, quick, fear nothing; I'll be at thy elbow: It makes us, or it mars us; think on that, And fix most firm thy resolution. Rod. Be near at hand; I may miscarry in 't. Iago. Here, at thy hand; be bold, and take thy sword. [Retires to a little distance. Rod. I have no great devotion to the deed; And yet he has given me satisfying reasons:'Tis but a mau gone:-forth, my sword; he dies. [Goes to his stand. Iago. I have rubb'd this young quat almost to the sense, And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio, Every way makes my gain: live Roderigo, Of gold and jewels that I bobb'd from him, It must not be: if Cassio do remain, That makes me ugly; and, besides, the Moor Enter CASSIO. Rod. I know his gait, 'tis he.-Villain, thou diest! [Rushes from his post, and makes a pass at CASSIO. Cas. That thrust had been mine enemy indeed, But that my coat is better than thou think'st; I will make proof of thine. [Draws, and wounds ROD. Rod. O, I am slain! [LAGO rushes from his post, cuts CASSIO behind in the leg, and exit. Cas. I am maim'd for ever.-Help, ho! murder! murder! [Falls. Enter OTHELLO, at a distance. Oth. The voice of Cassio:-Iago keeps his word. Oth. Hark! 'tis even so. Cas. O, help! ho! light! a surgeon! Oth. 'Tis he:-O brave Iago, honest and just, That hast such noble sense of thy friend's wrong! Thou teachest me.-Minion, your dear lies dead, And your fate hies apace-strumpet, I come! Forth of my heart those charms, thine eyes, are blotted; Thy bed, lust-stain'd, shall with lust's blood be spotted. [Exit OTHELLO. Enter LODOVICO and GRATIANO, at a distance. Cas. What, ho! no watch? no passage? murder! murder! Gra. 'Tis some mischance; the cry is very direful. Cas. O, help! Lod. Hark! Rod. O wretched villain! Lod. Two or three groaus;-it is a heavy night: These may be counterfeits; let's think 't unsafe Bian. What is the matter, ho? who is 't that cried? Lago. Who is 't that cried? Bian. O my dear Cassio! my sweet Cassio! O Cassio! Cassio! Cassio! Iago. O notable strumpet!-Cassio, may you suspect Who they should be, that have thus mangled you? Cas. No. Gra. Iam sorry to find you thus: I have been to seek Iago. Lend me a garter: so.-O, for a chair, To bear him easily hence! [you. Bian. Alas, he faints!--O Cassio! Cassio! Cassio! Jago. Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash To be a party in this injury.Patience a while, good Cassio.-Come, come; Lend me a light.-Know we this face, or no? Alas! my friend, and my dear countryman, Roderigo? no:-yes, sure; O heaven! Roderigo. Gra. What, of Venice? Iago. Even he, Sir; did you know him? Gra. Know him? ay. 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.-[To BIANCA.] For you, mistress, 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. Iago. [To BIANCA.] What, look you pale?-0, bear him out o' the air. [CAS. and ROD. are borne off. Stay you, good gentlemen.-Look you pale, mistress?Do you perceive the gastness of her eye?Nay, if you stare, we shall hear more anon.Behold her well; I pray you, look upon her: Do you see, gentlemen? nay, guiltiness will speak, Though tongues were out of use. Enter EMILIA. Emil. Alas, what's the matter? what's the matter, husband? Jago. 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! Iago. This is the fruit of whoring.-Pr'ythee, Emilia, Go know of Cassio where he supp'd to-night.What, do you shake at that? Bian. He supp'd at my house, but I therefore shake Iago. O, did he so? Icharge you, go with me. [not. 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.— SCENE II-A Bedchamber. [Exeunt. 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 I can again thy former light restore, I know not where is that Promethean heat That can thy light relume. When I have pluck'd thy I cannot give it vital growth again, It needs must wither:--I'll smell it on the tree. [rose, [Kissing her. O balmy breath, that dost almost persuade Oth. Ay, Desdemona. Des. Will you come to bed, my lord? Oth. Have you pray'd to-night, Desdemona? Oth. If you bethink yourself of any crime, 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. Ay, I do. Des. Then, heaven Have mercy on me! Oth. Amen, with all my heart! Des. If you say so, I hope you will not kill me. 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 frame: These are portents; but yet I hope, I hope, They do not point on me. Oth. Peace, and be still! Des. I will so. What's the matter? Oth. I say, amen. Des. And have you mercy too!-I never did As I might love: I never gave him token. Oth. By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in his hand. O perjured woman! thou dost stone my heart, A murder, which I thought a sacrifice: I saw the handkerchief. Des. He found it then; I never gave it him :-send for him hither, And let him confess a truth. Oth. He hath confess'd. Des. What, my lord? Oth. That he hath used thee. Des. How? unlawfully? Oth. Ay. Des. He'll not say so. Oth. No, his mouth is stopp'd; Honest Ingo hath ta'en order for 't. Des. My fear interprets then.- what, is he dead? Oth. Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge Had stomach for them all. Des. Alas! he is betray'd, and I undone. Oth. Out, strumpet! weep'st thou for him to my face? Des. Kill me to-morrow; let me live to-night! Des. But half an hour! Oth. Being done, There is no pause. Des. But whole I say one prayer! [He smothers her. Emil. Within. My lord, my lord! what, ho! my lord, my lord! Oth. What noise is this?-Not dead? not yet quite I, that am cruel, am yet merciful; I would not have thee linger in thy pain:- Emil. Within.] What ho! my lord, my lord! [dead? Emil. [Within.] 0, good my lord, I would speak a word with you! Were't good? Oth. Yes;-'tis Emilia :-by and by.-She's dead. Of sun and moon, and that the affrighted globe Emil, [Within.] I do beseech you I may speak with O, good my lord! [you, 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. Enter EMILIA. Emil. O, good my lord, yonder's foul murder done! Oth. What? now? Emil. But now, my lord. Oth. It is the very error of the moon; She comes more near the earth than she was wont, Emil. Cassio, my lord, has kill'd a young Venetian, Call'd Roderigo. Oth. Roderigo kill'd! And Cassio kill'd? Emil. No, Cassio is not kill'd. Oth. Not Cassio kill'd? Then murder's out of tune, And sweet revenge grows harsh. Des. O, falsely, falsely murder'd! Emil. Out, and alas! that was my lady's voice:- Emil. She said so; I must needs report the truth. Oth. She's, Like a liar, gone to burning hell; '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; 0, she was heavenly true! Oth. Thy husband. This deed of thine is no more worthy heaven, Than thou wast worthy her. Oth. Peace! you were best. [love! Emil. Thou hast not half the 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, Thongh I lost twenty lives.-Help! help, ho! help! The Moor has kill'd my mistress! Murder! murder! Enter MONTANO, GRATIANO, and Iaco. Emil. Disprove this villain, if thou be'st a man: Iago. I told him what I thought; and told no mort Emil. You told a lie; an odious, damned lie; Upon my soul, a lie; a wicked lie: She false with Cassio?-Did you say with Cassio? lago. With Cassio, mistress. Go to, charm your Emil. Nay, lay thee down and roar; For thou hast kill'd the sweetest innocent That e'er did lift up eye. Oth. O, she was foul! [Hanging over his wife. [Rising. I scarce did know you, uncle: there lies your niece, I know this act shews horrible and grim, Thy match was mortal to him, and pure grief Oth. 'Tis pitiful: but yet Iago knows A thousand times committed: Cassio confess'd it: And she did gratify his amorous works It was a handkerchief, an antique token My father gave my mother. Emil. O heaven! O heavenly powers! lago. Come, hold your peace Emil. Twill out, 'twill out;-I hold my peace, Sir? no; No, I will speak as liberal as the air; Let heaven, and men, and devils, let them all, All, all, cry shame against me, yet I'll speak. lago. Be wise, and get you home. Emil. I will not. Gra. Fie! Your sword upon a woman! [IAGO offers to stab his wife. [speak'st of Emil. O thou dull Moor! that handkerchief thou 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! Emil. She gave it Cassio! no, alas; I found it, 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? [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:-0, 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. Emil. What did thy song bode, lady? Oth. I have another weapon in this chamber, [Dies. Gra. [Within. If thou attempt it, it will cost thee Thou hast no weapon, and perforce must suffer. [dear; 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? Oth. Behold, I have a weapon; A better never did itself sustain Upon a soldier's thigh. I have seen the day, Now, how dost thou look now? Oll-starr'd wench? O cursed, cursed slave!-Whip me, ye devils, Dead! 01 01 01 Enter LODOVICO, MONTANO, CASSIO carried in a chair, [OTHELLO wounds IAGO. Lod. Wrench his sword from him. Iago. I bleed, Sir; but not kill'd. Oth. I am not sorry neither; I'd have thee live; Lod. O thou Othello! that wert once so good, Oth. Why, anything: An honourable murderer, if you will; For naught I did in hate, but all in honour. Lod. This wretch hath part confess'd his villany: Cas. Dear general, I never gave you cause. Iago. Demand me nothing: what you know, you know: From this time forth I never will speak word. Lod. What, not to pray? Gra. Torments will ope your lips. Oth. Well, thou dost best. Lod. Sir, you shall understand what hath befallen, Which, as I think, you know not. Here is a letter, Found in the pocket of the slain Roderigo; 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 damned villain; But that, belike, Iago 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: 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 Oth. Soft you; a word or two before you go. I have done the state some service, and they know it Nor set down aught in malice: then must you speak Of one not easily jealous, but, being wrought, Richer than all his tribe; of one, whose subdued eyes, Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees Lod. O bloody period! Gra. All that's spoke is marr'd. [Stabs himself. Oth. I kiss'd thee ere I kill'd thee;-no way but this, [Falling upon DESDEMONA. Killing myself, to die upon a kiss. [Dies. Cas. This did I fear, but thought he had no weapon; For he was great of heart. GALLUS, MENAS, MENECRATES, Friends to POMPEY TAURUS, Lieutenant-general to CESAR. CANIDIUS, Lieutenant-general to ANTONY. SILIUS, an Officer in VENTIDIUS' Army. EUPHEONIUS, an Ambassador from ANTONY to CASAR. ALEXAS, MARDIAN, SELEUCUS, and DIOMEDES, Attendants on CLEOPATRA. A Soothsayer.--A Clown. CLEOPATRA, Queen of Egypt. OCTAVIA, Sister to CESAR, and Wife to ANTONY. CHARMIAN,} Attendants on CLEOPATRA. Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants. SCENE,-Dispersed; in several Parts of the ROMAN EMPIRE. ACT I. SCENE I.-ALEXANDRIA. A Room in CLEOPATRA'S l'alace. Enter DEMETRICS and PHILO. Phi Nay, but this dotage of our general's Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn, Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, with their Cleo. If it be love indeed, tell me how much. Att. News, my good lord, from Rome. Cleo. Nay, hear them, Antony: Fulvia, perchance, is angry; or, who knows If the scarce-bearded Caesar have not sent His powerful mandate to you, "Do this, or this; Ant. How, my love! Cleo. Perchance,-nay, and most like, You must not stay here longer; your dismission Is come from Cæsar; therefore hear it, Antony.Where's Fulvia's process? Cæsar's, I would say? Both? Call in the messengers.-As I am Egypt's queen, Is to do thus; [Embracing.] when such a mutual pair, Ant. But stirr'd by Cleopatra.- Now, for the love of Love, and her soft hours, Ant. Fie, wrangling queen! Whom everything becomes,-to chide, to laugh, No messenger; but thine, and all alone, [Exeunt ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, with their train. Dem. I am full sorry That he approves the common liar, who Of better deeds to-morrow. Rest you happy! [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same. Another Room. Enter CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, and a Soothsayer. Char. Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most anything Alexas, almost most absolute Alexas, where's the Soothsayer that you praised so to the queen? O, that I knew this husband, which, you say, must charge his horns with garlands! Alex. Soothsayer! Sooth. Your will? |