ACT 5
[Enter IAGO and RODERIGO]
IAGO
Here, stand behind this bulk; straight will he come:
Here, stand behind this wall; he’ll be here soon:
Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home:
Hold out your sword unsheathed, then stab him with it.
Quick, quick; fear nothing; I'll be at thy elbow:
Quickly, do not be scared; I’m right behind you.
It makes us, or it mars us; think on that,
This act will make or break us; don’t forget that,
And fix most firm thy resolution.
So make sure you stay focused on the task.
RODERIGO
Be near at hand; I may miscarry in't.
Stay close to me, in case I mess it up.
IAGO
Here, at thy hand: be bold, and take thy stand.
I am right here: be brave; get in position.
[Retires]
RODERIGO
I have no great devotion to the deed;
I don’t have much commitment to this action,
And yet he hath given me satisfying reasons:
Although he’s given me some decent reasons:
'Tis but a man gone. Forth, my sword: he dies.
It’s just one man who’ll die. My sword will kill him.
IAGO
I have rubbed this young quat almost to the sense,
I’ve wound this little pimple up enough,
And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio,
And now he’s angry. Now, if he kills Cassio,
Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,
Or Cassio kills him, or kill each other,
Every way makes my gain: live Roderigo,
Each way I win. But if Roderigo lives,
He calls me to a restitution large
He will demand large compensation from me
Of gold and jewels that I bobbed from him,
For gold and jewels I swindled out of him
As gifts to Desdemona;
For gifts to Desdemona;
It must not be: if Cassio do remain,
That cannot happen. And if Cassio lives,
He hath a daily beauty in his life
He gets the job that I aspire to have
That makes me ugly; and, besides, the Moor
And makes me look weak; and, besides, the Moor
May unfold me to him; there stand I in much peril:
Might tell him what I’ve done. I’d be in trouble:
No, he must die. But so: I hear him coming.
No, he must die. But, wait: I hear him coming.
[Enter CASSIO]
RODERIGO
I know his gait, 'tis he.--Villain, thou diest!
I know him by his walk. Villain, you die!
[Makes a pass at CASSIO]
CASSIO
That thrust had been mine enemy indeed,
Your sword thrust would have been enough to kill me,
But that my coat is better than thou know'st;
Except my coat is thicker than you think;
I will make proof of thine.
And now I’ll test your coat.
[Draws, and wounds RODERIGO]
RODERIGO
O, I am slain!
Oh, I am killed!
[IAGO from behind wounds CASSIO in the leg, and exit]
CASSIO
I am maimed for ever. Help, ho! Murder! Murder!
I’m permanently crippled. Help me! Murder!
[Falls]
[Enter OTHELLO]
OTHELLO
The voice of Cassio: Iago keeps his word.
That’s Cassio’s voice; Iago’s kept his promise.
RODERIGO
O, villain that I am!
Oh, I’m a villain!
OTHELLO
It is even so.
Indeed you are.
CASSIO
O, help, ho! Light! A surgeon!
Oh, help me! Bring a light! And a surgeon!
OTHELLO
'Tis he:--O brave Iago, honest and just,
It’s him. – Oh, brave Iago, decent man,
That hast such noble sense of thy friend's wrong!
You’ve shown integrity when your friend’s wronged.
Thou teachest me. Minion, your dear lies dead,
I’ve learnt from you. Slapper, your lover’s dead,
And your unblest fate hies: strumpet, I come.
And your doom is approaching: whore, I’m coming.
Forth of my heart those charms, thine eyes, are blotted;
Your charm and looks I’ll blot out of my head,
Thy bed, lust-stained, shall with lust's blood be spotted.
Then spill your blood across your lusty bed.
[Exit]
[Enter LODOVICO and GRATIANO]
CASSIO
What, ho! No watch? No passage? Murder! Murder!
Good God! No guards? Nor passers-by? It’s murder!
GRATIANO
'Tis some mischance; the cry is very direful.
There’s something wrong; those shouts sound terrible.
CASSIO
O, help!
Oh, help!
LODOVICO
Hark!
Listen!
RODERIGO
O wretched villain!
Oh, wretched villain!
LODOVICO
Two or three groan: it is a heavy night:
There’re two or three men groaning; it’s a bad night.
These may be counterfeits: let's think't unsafe
They might be faking it; let’s think it unsafe
To come in to the cry without more help.
To go where men are wailing without more help.
RODERIGO
Nobody come? Then shall I bleed to death.
Are you not coming? Then I’ll bleed to death.
LODOVICO
Hark!
Listen!
[Re-enter IAGO, with a light]
GRATIANO
Here's one comes in his shirt, with light and weapons.
Here’s someone in a shirt, with light and weapons.
IAGO
Who's there? Whose noise is this that ones on murder?
Who’s there? Who’s shouting that there’s been a murder?
LODOVICO
We do not know.
We do not know.
IAGO
Did not you hear a cry?
Did you not hear a cry?
CASSIO
Here, here! For heaven's sake, help me!
Here, here! For heaven’s sake, help me!
IAGO
What's the matter?
What’s the matter?
GRATIANO
This is Othello's ancient, as I take it.
This is Othello’s flag-bearer, I think.
LODOVICO
The same indeed; a very valiant fellow.
It’s him alright; he is a gallant chap.
IAGO
What are you here that cry so grievously?
Who are you, lying here, wailing in pain?
CASSIO
Iago? O, I am spoiled, undone by villains!
Iago? Oh, I’m injured, hurt by villains!
Give me some help.
Give me some help.
IAGO
O me, lieutenant! What villains have done this?
Oh my, lieutenant! What villains have done this?
CASSIO
I think that one of them is hereabout,
I think that one of them is still around here,
And cannot make away.
And cannot get away.
IAGO
O treacherous villains!
Those treacherous villains!
What are you there? Come in, and give some help.
Who are you there? Come here, and help me out.
[To LODOVICO and GRATIANO]
RODERIGO
O, help me here!
Oh, help me here!
CASSIO
That's one of them.
That’s one of them who hurt me.
IAGO
O murderous slave! O villain!
You murderous slave! You villain!
[Stabs RODERIGO]
RODERIGO
O damned Iago! O inhuman dog!
Damn you, Iago! You inhuman dog!
IAGO
Kill men i' the dark!--Where be these bloody thieves?--
Who are these thieves that kill men in the dark?
How silent is this town!--Ho! Murder! Murder!--
Our town is always peaceful! – Murder! Murder!
What may you be? Are you of good or evil?
And who are you? Are you both good or evil?
LODOVICO
As you shall prove us, praise us.
Well, treat us by our actions.
IAGO
Signior Lodovico?
Signior Lodovico?
LODOVICO
He, sir.
That’s me, sir.
IAGO
I cry you mercy. Here's Cassio hurt by villains.
I beg your pardon. Cassio’s hurt by villains.
GRATIANO
Cassio!
Cassio!
IAGO
How is't, brother!
How are you, brother?
CASSIO
My leg is cut in two.
My leg is cut in half.
IAGO
Marry, heaven forbid!
No, God forbid!
Light, gentlemen; I'll bind it with my shirt.
Bring me a torch; I’ll tie it with my shirt.
[Enter BIANCA]
BIANCA
What is the matter, ho? Who is't that cried?
What is the matter here? Who has been shouting?
IAGO
Who is't that cried!
Who’s that who’s shouting?
BIANCA
O my dear Cassio! My sweet Cassio! O Cassio,
Oh my dear Cassio! My sweet Cassio! Oh Cassio,
Cassio, Cassio!
Cassio, Cassio!
IAGO
O notable strumpet! Cassio, may you suspect
Oh, decent hooker! Cassio, do you know
Who they should be that have thus many led you?
Who might have done this awful thing to you?
CASSIO
No.
No.
GRATIANO
I am sorry to find you thus: I have been to seek you.
I am sorry to find you like this; I’ve been looking for you.
IAGO
Lend me a garter. So. O, for a chair,
Lend me a stocking. There. A chair would help
To bear him easily hence!
So we could carry him away from here.
BIANCA
Alas, he faints! O Cassio, Cassio, Cassio!
Oh no, he’s fainting! Oh Cassio, Cassio, Cassio!
IAGO
Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash
Now gentlemen, I do suspect this hooker
To be a party in this injury.
Is guilty for the injury to Cassio.
Patience awhile, good Cassio. Come, come;
Be patient for a while, Cassio. Come on;
Lend me a light. Know we this face or no?
Bring me some light. Do we know who this man is?
Alas my friend and my dear countryman
Oh no, it is my friend and countryman
Roderigo! No:--yes, sure: O heaven! Roderigo.
Roderigo! No, it can’t be; yes, it’s him!
GRATIANO
What, of Venice?
What, from Venice?
IAGO
Even he, sir; did you know him?
That’s him, sir; did you know him?
GRATIANO
Know him! Ay.
Know him? Yes!
IAGO
Signior Gratiano? I cry you gentle pardon;
Signior Gratiano? Please, I beg your pardon;
These bloody accidents must excuse my manners,
I lost my manners, caused by all this bloodshed,
That so neglected you.
And I’ve neglected you.
GRATIANO
I am glad to see you.
I’m pleased to see you.
IAGO
How do you, Cassio? O, a chair, a chair!
How are you, Cassio? Oh, a chair, a chair!
GRATIANO
Roderigo!
Roderigo!
IAGO
He, he 'tis he.
Yes, it is him alright.
[A chair brought in]
O, that's well said; the chair!
Well done; a chair!
GRATIANO
Some good man bear him carefully from hence;
Some good man take him carefully from here:
I'll fetch the general's surgeon.
I’ll fetch the general’s surgeon.
[To BIANCA]
For you, mistress,
As for you, my lady,
Save you your labour. He that lies slain here,
Save all your efforts. For the man here dying,
Cassio,
Cassio,
Was my dear friend: what malice was between you?
Was my dear friend. What was your problem with him?
CASSIO
None in the world; nor do I know the man.
No problem, for I didn’t even know him.
IAGO
[To BIANCA]
What, look you pale? O, bear him out o' the air.
Why do you look so pale? Take him away.
[CASSIO and RODERIGO are borne off]
Stay you, good gentlemen. Look you pale, mistress?
Wait up, good gentlemen. Do you look pale, miss?
Do you perceive the gastness of her eye?
Can you see all the terror in her eyes?
Nay, if you stare, we shall hear more anon.
Keep watching her, and soon we will learn more.
Behold her well; I pray you, look upon her:
Keep watching her intently; please, observe her.
Do you see, gentlemen? Nay, guiltiness will speak,
Do you see, gentlemen? Her guilt appears
Though tongues were out of use.
Although she isn’t saying anything.
[Enter EMILIA]
EMILIA
'Las, what's the matter? What's the matter, husband?
Alas, what is the matter? What’s up, husband?
IAGO
Cassio hath here been set on in the dark
Cassio’s been attacked here in the dark
By Roderigo and fellows that are scaped:
By Roderigo and others who’ve escaped.
He's almost slain, and Roderigo dead.
He’s nearly dead, and Roderigo is dead.
EMILIA
Alas, good gentleman! Alas, good Cassio!
Oh no, good gentleman! Oh no, good Cassio!
IAGO
This is the fruit of whoring. Prithee, Emilia,
This happens when one visits whores. Please, Emilia,
Go know of Cassio where he supped to-night.
Ask Cassio where he had dinner tonight.
[To BIANCA]
What, do you shake at that?
Why are you shaking nervously?
BIANCA
He supped at my house; but I therefore shake not.
He ate round mine; but that’s not why I’m shaking.
IAGO
O, did he so? I charge you, go with me.
Oh, did he now? I order you: come with me.
EMILIA
Fie, fie upon thee, strumpet!
Oh shame on you, you whore!
BIANCA
I am no strumpet; but of life as honest
I’m not a whore, but live my life as cleanly
As you that thus abuse me.
As you that now accuse me.
EMILIA
As I! Foh! Fie upon thee!
As me! Oh yeah? God damn you!
IAGO
Kind gentlemen, let's go see poor Cassio dressed.
Gents, let’s take Cassio to have his wounds dressed.
Come, mistress, you must tell's another tale.
Come on now, girl, make up another story.
Emilia run you to the citadel,
Emilia, go run up to the castle
And tell my lord and lady what hath happed.
And tell my lord and lady what has happened.
Will you go on? I pray.
Will you go on ahead?
[Aside]
This is the night
Tonight’s the night
That either makes me or fordoes me quite.
That either makes me or destroys my plight.
[Exeunt]
