Complete Plays, The (121 page)

Emilia

’Tis neither here nor there.

Desdemona

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?

Emilia

There be some such, no question.

Desdemona

Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?

Emilia

Why, would not you?

Desdemona

No, by this heavenly light!

Emilia

Nor I neither by this heavenly light;
I might do’t as well i’ the dark.

Desdemona

Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?

Emilia

The world’s a huge thing: it is a great price.
For a small vice.

Desdemona

In troth, I think thou wouldst not.

Emilia

In 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.

Desdemona

Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong
For the whole world.

Emilia

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.

Desdemona

I do not think there is any such woman.

Emilia

Yes, a dozen; and as many to the vantage as would store the world they played for.
But I do think it is their husbands’ faults
If wives do fall: say that they slack their duties,
And pour our treasures into foreign laps,
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,
Yet have we some revenge. Let husbands know
Their wives have sense like them: they see and smell
And have their palates both for sweet and sour,
As husbands have. What is it that they do
When they change us for others? Is it sport?
I think it is: and doth affection breed it?
I think it doth: is’t frailty that thus errs?
It is so too: and have not we affections,
Desires for sport, and frailty, as men have?
Then let them use us well: else let them know,
The ills we do, their ills instruct us so.

Desdemona

Good night, good night: heaven me such uses send,
Not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend!

Exeunt

A
CT
V

S
CENE
I. C
YPRUS
. A
STREET
.

Enter Iago and Roderigo

Iago

Here, stand behind this bulk; straight will he come:
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.

Roderigo

Be near at hand; I may miscarry in’t.

Iago

Here, at thy hand: be bold, and take thy stand.

Retires

Roderigo

I have no great devotion to the deed;
And yet he hath given me satisfying reasons:
’Tis but a man gone. Forth, my sword: he dies.

Iago

I have rubb’d this young quat almost to the sense,
And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio,
Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,
Every way makes my gain: live Roderigo,
He calls me to a restitution large
Of gold and jewels that I bobb’d from him,
As gifts to Desdemona;
It must not be: if Cassio do remain,
He hath a daily beauty in his life
That makes me ugly; and, besides, the Moor
May unfold me to him; there stand I in much peril:
No, he must die. But so: I hear him coming.

Enter Cassio

Roderigo

I know his gait, ’tis he.— Villain, thou diest!

Makes a pass at Cassio

Cassio

That thrust had been mine enemy indeed,
But that my coat is better than thou know’st
I will make proof of thine.

Draws, and wounds Roderigo

Roderigo

O, I am slain!

Iago from behind wounds Cassio in the leg, and exit

Cassio

I am maim’d for ever. Help, ho! murder! murder!

Falls

Enter Othello

Othello

The voice of Cassio: Iago keeps his word.

Roderigo

O, villain that I am!

Othello

It is even so.

Cassio

O, help, ho! light! a surgeon!

Othello

’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 unblest fate hies: 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

Enter Lodovico and Gratiano

Cassio

What, ho! no watch? no passage? murder! murder!

Gratiano

’Tis some mischance; the cry is very direful.

Cassio

O, help!

Lodovico

Hark!

Roderigo

O wretched villain!

Lodovico

Two or three groan: it is a heavy night:
These may be counterfeits: let’s think’t unsafe
To come in to the cry without more help.

Roderigo

Nobody come? then shall I bleed to death.

Lodovico

Hark!

Re-enter Iago, with a light

Gratiano

Here’s one comes in his shirt, with light and weapons.

Iago

Who’s there? whose noise is this that ones on murder?

Lodovico

We do not know.

Iago

 
Did not you hear a cry?

Cassio

Here, here! for heaven’s sake, help me!

Iago

What’s the matter?

Gratiano

This is Othello’s ancient, as I take it.

Lodovico

The same indeed; a very valiant fellow.

Iago

What are you here that cry so grievously?

Cassio

Iago? O, I am spoil’d, undone by villains!
Give me some help.

Iago

O me, lieutenant! what villains have done this?

Cassio

I think that one of them is hereabout,
And cannot make away.

Iago

O treacherous villains!
What are you there? come in, and give some help.

To Lodovico and Gratiano

Roderigo

O, help me here!

Cassio

That’s one of them.

Iago

O murderous slave! O villain!

Stabs Roderigo

Roderigo

O damn’d Iago! O inhuman dog!

Iago

Kill men i’ the dark!— Where be these bloody thieves?—
How silent is this town!— Ho! murder! murder!—
What may you be? are you of good or evil?

Lodovico

As you shall prove us, praise us.

Iago

Signior Lodovico?

Lodovico

He, sir.

Iago

I cry you mercy. Here’s Cassio hurt by villains.

Gratiano

Cassio!

Iago

How is’t, brother!

Cassio

My leg is cut in two.

Iago

Marry, heaven forbid!
Light, gentlemen; I’ll bind it with my shirt.

Enter Bianca

Bianca

What is the matter, ho? who is’t that cried?

Iago

Who is’t that cried!

Bianca

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 many led you?

Cassio

No.

Gratiano

I am to find you thus: I have been to seek you.

Iago

Lend me a garter. So. O, for a chair,
To bear him easily hence!

Bianca

Alas, he faints! O Cassio, Cassio, Cassio!

Iago

Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash
To be a party in this injury.
Patience awhile, 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.

Gratiano

What, of Venice?

Iago

Even he, sir; did you know him?

Gratiano

Know him! ay.

Iago

Signior Gratiano? I cry you gentle pardon;
These bloody accidents must excuse my manners,
That so neglected you.

Gratiano

I am glad to see you.

Iago

How do you, Cassio? O, a chair, a chair!

Gratiano

Roderigo!

Iago

He, he ’tis he.

A chair brought in

O, that’s well said; the chair!

Gratiano

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?

Cassio

None in the world; nor do I know the man.

Iago

[To Bianca]
 
What, look you pale? O, bear him out o’ the air.

Cassio and Roderigo 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

Emilia

’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.

Emilia

Alas, good gentleman! alas, good Cassio!

Iago

This is the fruit of whoring. Prithee, Emilia,
Go know of Cassio where he supp’d to-night.

To Bianca

What, do you shake at that?

Bianca

He supp’d at my house; but I therefore shake not.

Iago

O, did he so? I charge you, go with me.

Emilia

Fie, fie upon thee, strumpet!

Bianca

I am no strumpet; but of life as honest
As you that thus abuse me.

Emilia

As I! foh! fie upon thee!

Iago

Kind gentlemen, let’s go see poor Cassio dress’d.
Come, mistress, you must tell’s another tale.
Emilia run you to the citadel,
And tell my lord and lady what hath happ’d.
Will you go on? I pray.

Aside

This is the night
That either makes me or fordoes me quite.

Exeunt

S
CENE
II. A
BEDCHAMBER
IN
THE
CASTLE
: D
ESDEMONA
IN
BED
ASLEEP
;

a light burning.

Enter Othello

Othello

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.
Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men.
Put out the light, and then put out the light:
If I quench thee, thou flaming minister,
I can again thy former light restore,
Should I repent me: but once put out thy light,
Thou cunning’st pattern of excelling nature,
I know not where is that Promethean heat
That can thy light relume. When I have pluck’d the rose,
I cannot give it vital growth again.
It must needs wither: I’ll smell it on the tree.

Kissing her

Ah 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 wakes.

Desdemona

Who’s there? Othello?

Othello

Ay. Desdemona.

Desdemona

Will you come to bed, my lord?

Othello

Have you pray’d to-night, Desdemona?

Desdemona

Ay, my lord.

Othello

If you bethink yourself of any crime
Unreconciled as yet to heaven and grace,
Solicit for it straight.

Desdemona

Alas, my lord, what do you mean by that?

Othello

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.

Desdemona

Talk you of killing?

Othello

Ay, I do.

Desdemona

Then heaven
Have mercy on me!

Othello

 
Amen, with all my heart!

Desdemona

If you say so, I hope you will not kill me.

Othello

Hum!

Desdemona

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.