ACT 5
[Enter OTHELLO]
OTHELLO
It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul,--
I’m right to do this, it’s my solemn duty –
Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars!--
Don’t make me tell you why, you virgin angels! –
It is the cause. Yet I'll not shed her blood;
I must do this. But I won’t spill her blood,
Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow,
Nor cut that skin of hers that’s white as snow,
And smooth as monumental alabaster.
That’s smooth as a fine ornamental vase.
Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men.
But she must die, else she’ll betray more men.
Put out the light, and then put out the light:
I’ll put this candle out, then put her lights out:
If I quench thee, thou flaming minister,
If I put out the flame upon this candle,
I can again thy former light restore,
I can relight it back to how it was,
Should I repent me: but once put out thy light,
If I have changed my mind; but once you’re dead,
Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature,
You beautiful, deceptive, cheating woman,
I know not where is that Promethean heat
I could not find the fire Prometheus stole
That can thy light relume. When I have plucked the rose,
To bring you back to life. When I have picked a rose,
I cannot give it vital growth again.
I cannot bring it back to life again;
It must needs wither: I'll smell it on the tree.
It withers. I will smell her while she’s living.
[Kissing her]
Ah balmy breath, that dost almost persuade
Oh, gorgeous breath, you almost will persuade me
Justice to break her sword! One more, one more.
To put away my sword of justice! One more.
Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee,
If you appear like this when I have killed you,
And love thee after. One more, and this the last:
Then I’ll still love you. One more kiss, my last one:
So sweet was ne'er so fatal. I must weep,
A kiss so sweet, yet deadly. I will cry,
But they are cruel tears: this sorrow's heavenly;
But crying’s wrong: for this is something God does,
It strikes where it doth love. She wakes.
By killing what he loves. She’s waking up.
DESDEMONA
Who's there? Othello?
Who’s there? Othello?
OTHELLO
Ay. Desdemona.
Yes, Desdemona.
DESDEMONA
Will you come to bed, my lord?
Will you come to bed, my lord?
OTHELLO
Have you prayed to-night, Desdemona?
Have you said your prayers tonight, Desdemona?
DESDEMONA
Ay, my lord.
Yes, my lord.
OTHELLO
If you bethink yourself of any crime
If you can think of any crime you’ve done
Unreconciled as yet to heaven and grace,
That you’ve not sought forgiveness for from heaven,
Solicit for it straight.
Ask for it now.
DESDEMONA
Alas, my lord, what do you mean by that?
Oh dear, my lord, what do you mean by that?
OTHELLO
Well, do it, and be brief; I will walk by:
Just do it, and be quick; I’ll walk away:
I would not kill thy unprepared spirit;
I will not kill you till you have repented.
No; heaven forfend! I would not kill thy soul.
No, heaven forbid! I would not kill your soul.
DESDEMONA
Talk you of killing?
You talk of killing?
OTHELLO
Ay, I do.
Yes, I do.
DESDEMONA
Then heaven
Then heaven
Have mercy on me!
Have mercy on me!
OTHELLO
Amen, with all my heart!
With my heart, Amen!
DESDEMONA
If you say so, I hope you will not kill me.
I hope you’re going to say you will not kill me.
OTHELLO
Hum!
Hmm!
DESDEMONA
And yet I fear you; for you are fatal then
And yet I’m scared of you; for you are dangerous
When your eyes roll so: why I should fear I know not,
When your eyes roll; I’m not sure why I’m scared,
Since guiltiness I know not; but yet I feel I fear.
Since I am guiltless, but I’m feeling scared.
OTHELLO
Think on thy sins.
Think of your sins.
DESDEMONA
They are loves I bear to you.
Of loving you too much?
OTHELLO
Ay, and for that thou diest.
Yes, and for that you’ll die.
DESDEMONA
That death's unnatural that kills for loving.
It isn’t natural killing one who loves you.
Alas, why gnaw you so your nether lip?
Oh dear, why do you bite your lower lip?
Some bloody passion shakes your very frame:
Some violent passion shakes you to the core:
These are portents; but yet I hope, I hope,
They’re signs that something’s wrong, but yet I hope
They do not point on me.
You don’t think I’m to blame.
OTHELLO
Peace, and be still!
Shut up, be quiet!
DESDEMONA
I will so. What's the matter?
I will. What is the matter?
OTHELLO
That handkerchief which I so loved and gave thee
That handkerchief I loved so much, and gave you,
Thou gavest to Cassio.
You gave to Cassio.
DESDEMONA
No, by my life and soul!
Not on my life!
Send for the man, and ask him.
Send for the man and ask him.
OTHELLO
Sweet soul, take heed,
Sweet soul, listen,
Take heed of perjury; thou art on thy deathbed.
Beware of lying; you are on you deathbed.
DESDEMONA
Ay, but not yet to die.
But it’s not time I die.
OTHELLO
Yes, presently:
It will be soon:
Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin;
So openly confess your sins committed;
For to deny each article with oath
Because denying each one under oath
Cannot remove nor choke the strong conception
Will not remove or tame my strong belief
That I do groan withal. Thou art to die.
That makes me groan all over. You will die.
DESDEMONA
Then Lord have mercy on me!
Then Lord have mercy on me!
OTHELLO
I say, amen.
Amen to that.
DESDEMONA
And have you mercy too! I never did
And mercy on you too! I never have
Offend you in my life; never loved Cassio
Offended you in my life; nor loved Cassio
But with such general warranty of heaven
Except with heavenly decency of friendship;
As I might love: I never gave him token.
I never gave him tokens of my love.
OTHELLO
By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in's hand.
Good God, I saw him carrying my handkerchief.
O perjured woman! Thou dost stone my heart,
You lying bitch! You’ve turned my heart to stone,
And makest me call what I intend to do
And made me call what I intend to do
A murder, which I thought a sacrifice:
A murder rather than a sacrifice:
I saw the handkerchief.
I saw the handkerchief.
DESDEMONA
He found it then;
He found it then.
I never gave it him: send for him hither;
I didn’t give it to him: ask he comes here,
Let him confess a truth.
So he can say the truth.
OTHELLO
He hath confessed.
He has confessed.
DESDEMONA
What, my lord?
He what, my lord?
OTHELLO
That he hath used thee.
That he’s had sex with you.
DESDEMONA
How? Unlawfully?
Without me knowing?
OTHELLO
Ay.
Yes.
DESDEMONA
He will not say so.
He wouldn’t say that.
OTHELLO
No, his mouth is stopped;
No, because he can’t speak.
Honest Iago hath ta'en order for't.
Honest Iago’s taken care of that.
DESDEMONA
O! My fear interprets: what, is he dead?
Oh! I am scared to know: what, is he dead?
OTHELLO
Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge
If he’d as many lives as he has hairs,
Had stomach for them all.
I would revenge them all.
DESDEMONA
Alas! He is betrayed and I undone.
Alas! He’s been betrayed and I’m condemned.
OTHELLO
Out, strumpet! Weep'st thou for him to my face?
Stop, whore! You cry for him in front of me?
DESDEMONA
O, banish me, my lord, but kill me not!
Send me away from here, but do not kill me!
OTHELLO
Down, strumpet!
Get down, whore!
DESDEMONA
Kill me to-morrow: let me live to-night!
Kill me tomorrow: let me live tonight!
OTHELLO
Nay, if you strive--
No, if you try…
DESDEMONA
But half an hour!
Just half an hour!
OTHELLO
Being done, there is no pause.
By starting, you won’t stop.
DESDEMONA
But while I say one prayer!
Just let me say one prayer!
OTHELLO
It is too late.
It is too late.
[He stifles her]
EMILIA
[Within]
My lord, my lord! What, ho! My lord, my lord!
My lord, my lord! What’s up? My lord, my lord!
OTHELLO
What noise is this? Not dead? Not yet quite dead?
What is that noise? Not dead? You’re not yet dead?
I that am cruel am yet merciful;
Though I am cruel, I’m also merciful;
I would not have thee linger in thy pain: So, so.
I will not let you suffer longer: take this.
EMILIA
[Within]
What, ho! My lord, my lord!
What’s up? My lord, my lord!
OTHELLO
Who's there?
Who’s there?
EMILIA
[Within]
O, good my lord, I would speak a word with you!
My dear lord, I want to speak with you!
OTHELLO
Yes: 'tis Emilia. By and by. She's dead.
Yes, it’s Emilia. Hang on. She’s dead.
'Tis like she comes to speak of Cassio's death.--
She’s likely here to tell me Cassio’s dead.
The noise was here. Ha! No more moving?
I heard commotion. Ha! You have stopped moving?
Still as the grave. Shall she come in? Were't good?--
Still as a grave. Is it good if she comes in?
I think she stirs again:--no. What's best to do?
I think she’s waking; no. What shall I do?
If she come in, she'll sure speak to my wife:
If she comes in here, she’ll talk to my wife:
My wife! My wife! What wife? I have no wife.
My wife! My wife! What wife? I have no wife.
O insupportable! O heavy hour!
It’s indefensible! This awful time!
Methinks it should be now a huge eclipse
I wish there now occurred a huge eclipse
Of sun and moon, and that the affrighted globe
Between the sun and moon, and frighted earth
Should yawn at alteration.
Would open up at what’s occurred.
EMILIA
[Within]
I do beseech you
I urge you
That I may speak with you, O, good my lord!
To let me speak to you, oh my dear lord!
OTHELLO
I had forgot thee: O, come in, Emilia;
I had forgotten you: come in, Emilia.
Soft; by and by. Let me the curtains draw.
Hold on; wait there. Just let me draw the curtains.
Where art thou?
Where are you?
[Unlocks the door]
[Enter EMILIA]
What's the matter with thee now?
What’s the matter with you now?
EMILIA
O, my good lord, yonder's foul murders done!
My lord, some murders happened over there!
OTHELLO
What, now?
What, now?
EMILIA
But now, my lord.
Just now, my lord.
OTHELLO
It is the very error of the moon;
This is caused by the passage of the moon;
She comes more nearer earth than she was wont,
It’s passing nearer earth than is the norm,
And makes men mad.
And making men turn mad.
EMILIA
Cassio, my lord, hath killed a young Venetian
My lord, Cassio has killed a young Venetian
Called Roderigo.
Called Roderigo.
OTHELLO
Roderigo killed!
Roderigo killed!
And Cassio killed!
And Cassio killed!
EMILIA
No, Cassio is not killed.
No, Cassio is not killed.
OTHELLO
Not Cassio killed! Then murder's out of tune,
Cassio has not been killed? Then murder’s gone wrong,
And sweet revenge grows harsh.
And my revenge might backfire.
DESDEMONA
O, falsely, falsely murdered!
Oh, I have been unfairly murdered!
EMILIA
Alas, what cry is that?
Alas, who’s shouting that?
OTHELLO
That! What?
That! What?
EMILIA
Out, and alas! That was my lady's voice.
Oh, goodness me! That was my lady’s voice.
Help! Help, ho! Help! O lady, speak again!
Help! Help me! Help! Oh lady, speak again!
Sweet Desdemona! O sweet mistress, speak!
Sweet Desdemona! Oh dearest mistress, speak!
DESDEMONA
A guiltless death I die.
I’ll die a guiltless death.
EMILIA
O, who hath done this deed?
Oh, who has done this to her?
DESDEMONA
Nobody; I myself. Farewell.
No one; I did it by myself. Goodbye.
Commend me to my kind lord: O, farewell!
Send my good wishes to my husband: Goodbye!
[Dies]
OTHELLO
Why, how should she be murdered?
What? How can she be murdered?
EMILIA
Alas, who knows?
Alas, who knows?
OTHELLO
You heard her say herself, it was not I.
You heard her say herself it wasn’t me.
EMILIA
She said so: I must needs report the truth.
That’s what she said: I have to share the truth.
OTHELLO
She's, like a liar, gone to burning hell:
She’s gone to rot in hell, for she’s a liar:
'Twas I that killed her.
I was the one that killed her.
EMILIA
O, the more angel she,
Oh, that angel,
And you the blacker devil!
And you’re an evil devil!
OTHELLO
She turned to folly, and she was a whore.
She acted stupidly, and was a whore.
EMILIA
Thou dost belie her, and thou art a devil.
You are defaming her, and you’re a devil.
OTHELLO
She was false as water.
She was as insincere as water.
EMILIA
Thou art rash as fire, to say
You are as rash as fire, to say
That she was false: O, she was heavenly true!
That she was insincere: she was an angel!
OTHELLO
Cassio did top her; ask thy husband else.
Cassio slept with her; go ask your husband.
O, I were damned beneath all depth in hell,
Oh, I’d be damned into the depths of hell
But that I did proceed upon just grounds
If I do not have proper reason to
To this extremity. Thy husband knew it all.
Behave to this extreme. Your husband knew it.
EMILIA
My husband!
My husband!
OTHELLO
Thy husband.
Your husband.
EMILIA
That she was false to wedlock?
That she, when married, cheated?
OTHELLO
Ay, with Cassio. Nay, had she been true,
Yes, with Cassio. No, had she stayed faithful,
If heaven would make me such another world
And even if God made another world
Of one entire and Perfect chrysolite,
Made out entirely of perfect crystal,
I'ld not have sold her for it.
I’d not have sold her for it.
EMILIA
My husband!
My husband!
OTHELLO
Ay, 'twas he that told me first:
Yes, he told me of it first:
An honest man he is, and hates the slime
He is an honest man, and hates the cheaters
That sticks on filthy deeds.
Who do such filthy things.
EMILIA
My husband!
My husband!
OTHELLO
What needs this iteration, woman? I say thy husband.
Why keep repeating it? I’ve said, your husband.
EMILIA
O mistress, villany hath made mocks with love,
A villain’s mocked your love, oh Desdemona!
My husband say that she was false!
My husband said you’d cheated!
OTHELLO
He, woman;
Yes, he did.
I say thy husband: dost understand the word?
I said ‘your husband’: do you understand that?
My friend, thy husband, honest, honest Iago.
My friend, your husband, truly honest Iago.
EMILIA
If he say so, may his pernicious soul
If he said that, may his obnoxious soul
Rot half a grain a day! He lies to the heart:
Rot slowly every day! He’s disingenuous:
She was too fond of her most filthy bargain.
She was committed to her rotten marriage.
OTHELLO
Ha!
Ha!
EMILIA
Do thy worst:
Do your worst:
This deed of thine is no more worthy heaven
What you have done is not worthy of heaven,
Than thou wast worthy her.
Like you weren’t worthy of her.
OTHELLO
Peace, you were best.
Now, shut up.
EMILIA
Thou hast not half that power to do me harm
You don’t have the capacity to hurt me
As I have to be hurt. O gull! O dolt!
As much as I have to be hurt. You numbskull!
As ignorant as dirt! Thou hast done a deed--
You’re ignorant as dirt! You have done something…
I care not for thy sword; I'll make thee known,
I’m not scared of your sword; I’ll make this known
Though I lost twenty lives.--Help! Help, ho! Help!
Even if you have killed me twenty times.
The Moor hath killed my mistress! Murder! Murder!
Help! Help! Othello’s murdered Desdemona!
[Enter MONTANO, GRATIANO, IAGO, and others]
MONTANO
What is the matter? How now, general!
What is the matter? What’s occurring, general?
EMILIA
O, are you come, Iago? You have done well,
Oh, you’ve shown up, Iago? What a great job
That men must lay their murders on your neck.
You’ve done that men will blame their murders on you.
GRATIANO
What is the matter?
What is the matter?
EMILIA
Disprove this villain, if thou be'st a man:
If you’re a man, disprove this villain’s claim:
He says thou told'st him that his wife was false:
He says you told him that his wife was cheating.
I know thou didst not, thou'rt not such a villain:
I know you didn’t, for you’re not that evil:
Speak, for my heart is full.
Speak up, because I’m overwhelmed.
IAGO
I told him what I thought, and told no more
I told him what I thought, and nothing more
Than what he found himself was apt and true.
Than he himself found logical and true.
EMILIA
But did you ever tell him she was false?
But did you ever tell him she was cheating?
IAGO
I did.
I did.
EMILIA
You told a lie, an odious, damned lie;
You told a lie, an awful, heinous lie;
Upon my soul, a lie, a wicked lie.
Upon my life, it is a wicked lie.
She false with Cassio!--Did you say with Cassio?
Cheating with Cassio! Did you say Cassio?
IAGO
With Cassio, mistress. Go to, charm your tongue.
With Cassio, madam. Now, clear off and shut up.
EMILIA
I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to speak:
I won’t shut up; I am obliged to speak:
My mistress here lies murdered in her bed,--
My mistress lies here murdered in her bed…
ALL
O heavens forfend!
Oh, God forbid!
EMILIA
And your reports have set the murder on.
And what you’ve said has caused her to be murdered.
OTHELLO
Nay, stare not, masters: it is true, indeed.
Don’t stare on, gentlemen: it is the truth.
GRATIANO
'Tis a strange truth.
If it’s the truth, it’s strange.
MONTANO
O monstrous act!
This is a monstrous act!
EMILIA
Villany, villany, villany!
Villainy, villainy, villainy!
I think upon't, I think: I smell't: O villany!--
I think of it, and smell it: oh, it’s wicked!
I thought so then:--I'll kill myself for grief:--
I thought so then; I want to die for grief.
O villany, villany!
Oh wicked villainy!
IAGO
What, are you mad? I charge you, get you home.
What, are you mad? I tell you, clear off home.
EMILIA
Good gentlemen, let me have leave to speak:
Good gentlemen, please let me speak my mind:
'Tis proper I obey him, but not now.
I should obey my husband, but I won’t now.
Perchance, Iago, I will ne'er go home.
Perhaps, Iago, I will never go home.
OTHELLO
O! O! O!
Oh! Oh! Oh!
[He falls on the bed]
EMILIA
Nay, lay thee down and roar;
That’s it, lay down and howl;
For thou hast killed the sweetest innocent
You’ve killed the sweetest and most innocent girl
That e'er did lift up eye.
That ever was alive.
OTHELLO
[Rising]
O, she was foul!
Oh, she was evil!
I scarce did know you, uncle: there lies your niece,
I scarcely know you, uncle Gratiano:
Whose breath, indeed, these hands have newly stopped:
Your niece lies there, just killed by my own hands:
I know this act shows horrible and grim.
I know this act seems horrible and grim.
GRATIANO
Poor Desdemona! I am glad thy father's dead:
Poor Desdemona! I am glad your father’s dead:
Thy match was mortal to him, and pure grief
Your marriage was the death of him; his grief
Shore his old thread in twain: did he live now,
Ended his life: if he was living now,
This sight would make him do a desperate turn,
This sight would make him wail in desperation,
Yea, curse his better angel from his side,
And curse his guardian angel from his side,
And fall to reprobation.
And fall into damnation.
OTHELLO
'Tis pitiful; but yet Iago knows
It’s truly awful, but Iago knows
That she with Cassio hath the act of shame
That she has sinned and slept with Cassio
A thousand times committed; Cassio confessed it:
A thousand times, and Cassio confessed it.
And she did gratify his amorous works
And for his sex, she showed appreciation
With that recognisance and pledge of love
By giving him a token of her love
Which I first gave her; I saw it in his hand:
Which I’d first given her; I saw him hold it:
It was a handkerchief, an antique token
It was a handkerchief, an antique gift
My father gave my mother.
My father gave my mother.
EMILIA
O heaven! O heavenly powers!
Oh God! Oh God in heaven!
IAGO
Zounds, hold your peace.
For Christ’s sake, shut your mouth.
EMILIA
'Twill out, 'twill out: I peace!
The truth will be revealed. Me, shut my mouth?
No, I will speak as liberal as the north:
No, I will speak as freely as the north wind:
Let heaven and men and devils, let them all,
Let God and men and devils shout me down
All, all, cry shame against me, yet I'll speak.
For brushing off my husband, yet I’ll still speak.
IAGO
Be wise, and get you home.
Be wise and go back home.
EMILIA
I will not.
I will not.
[IAGO offers to stab EMILIA]
GRATIANO
Fie!
Damn you!
Your sword upon a woman?
You want to use your sword upon a woman?
EMILIA
O thou dull Moor! That handkerchief thou speak'st of
You stupid Moor! That handkerchief you spoke of
I found by fortune and did give my husband;
I found by luck and gave it to my husband;
For often, with a solemn earnestness,
For many times, with sombre seriousness –
More than indeed belonged to such a trifle,
Indeed, too many times for something trivial –
He begged of me to steal it.
He begged I steal it for him.
IAGO
Villanous whore!
Evil whore!
EMILIA
She give it Cassio! No, alas! I found it,
Did she give it to Cassio? No! I found it,
And I did give't my husband.
And gave it to my husband.
IAGO
Filth, thou liest!
Slag, you’re lying!
EMILIA
By heaven, I do not, I do not, gentlemen.
I swear to God, fine gentlemen, I’m not.
O murderous coxcomb! What should such a fool
You murdering idiot! How could a fool
Do with so good a woman?
Win such a decent woman?
OTHELLO
Are there no stones in heaven
Are there no lightning bolts that I can call on
But what serve for the thunder?--Precious villain!
That aren’t just used by thunder? Utter villain!
[He runs at IAGO. IAGO, from behind, stabs EMILIA, and exits]
GRATIANO
The woman falls; sure, he hath killed his wife.
The woman’s hurt; I’m sure he’s killed his wife.
EMILIA
Ay, ay: O, lay me by my mistress' side.
He has: oh, lay me next to Desdemona.
GRATIANO
He's gone, but his wife's killed.
He’s gone, but he has killed his wife.
MONTANO
'Tis a notorious villain. Take you this weapon,
He is a wretched villain. Take this weapon
Which I have here recovered from the Moor:
That I have got back from the Moor, Othello:
Come, guard the door without; let him not pass,
Go, guard the outer door; don’t let him pass,
But kill him rather. I'll after that same villain,
But kill him if you must. I’ll chase him too,
For 'tis a damned slave.
For he’s a bloody crook.
[Exeunt MONTANO and GRATIANO]
OTHELLO
I am not valiant neither,
I’m not a tough guy
But ever puny whipster gets my sword:
If I can let a wimp impound my sword:
But why should honour outlive honesty?
But where’s my honour now I’m proved dishonest?
Let it go all.
I have to let it go.
EMILIA
What did thy song bode, lady?
What was your song, dear?
Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the swan.
Hark, can you hear me? I will be a mute swan
And die in music.
That starts to sing when dying.
[Singing]
Willow, willow, willow,--
Moor, she was chaste; she loved thee, cruel Moor;
Moor, she was faithful, and she you loved you, cruel Moor;
So come my soul to bliss, as I speak true;
I speak the truth as I ascend to heaven,
So speaking as I think, I die, I die.
And as I speak my thoughts, I die, I die.
[Dies]
OTHELLO
I have another weapon in this chamber;
I have another weapon in this room;
It is a sword of Spain, the ice-brook's temper:--
It is a Spanish sword, tempered in ice…
O, here it is. Uncle, I must come forth.
Oh, here it is. Uncle, I have to leave.
GRATIANO
[Within]
If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear:
If you attempt it, it will cost you dearly:
Thou hast no weapon, and perforce must suffer.
You do not have a weapon, so you’ll suffer.
OTHELLO
Look in upon me then and speak with me,
Then come back in the room and speak with me,
Or, naked as I am, I will assault thee.
Or, even though I’m unarmed, I’ll attack you.
[Re-enter GRATIANO]
GRATIANO
What is the matter?
What is the matter?
OTHELLO
Behold, I have a weapon;
Look, I have a weapon;
A better never did itself sustain
And never was a better weapon housed
Upon a soldier's thigh: I have seen the day,
Within a soldier’s sheath. I can recall
That, with this little arm and this good sword,
When, with my little arm and this fine sword,
I have made my way through more impediments
I cut my way through far more enemies
Than twenty times your stop: but, O vain boast!
Of twenty times your strength. But, I’m not boasting!
Who can control his fate? 'Tis not so now.
Who can control his own fate? I can’t now.
Be not afraid, though you do see me weaponed;
But don’t be scared, although you see me armed;
Here is my journey's end, here is my butt,
My life is ending, I have reached my limit,
And very sea-mark of my utmost sail.
And here’s the beacon showing that I’m done.
Do you go back dismayed? 'tis a lost fear;
Do you retract in fear? Do not be scared;
Man but a rush against Othello's breast,
For you could merely hit me with a bullrush
And he retires. Where should Othello go?
And I’d back off. Where could Othello run to?
Now, how dost thou look now? O ill-starred wench!
How do you look now, you ill-fated woman?
Pale as thy smock! When we shall meet at compt,
You’re pale as your dress! On Judgement Day,
This look of thine will hurl my soul from heaven,
This look of yours will throw my soul from heaven
And fiends will snatch at it. Cold, cold, my girl!
For devils to ensnare. You’re cold, my girl, like
Even like thy chastity. O cursed slave!
Your chastity, not lewd and hot. Oh damn slave!
Whip me, ye devils,
Whip me, you devils,
From the possession of this heavenly sight!
Till I forget how beautiful she looks!
Blow me about in winds! Roast me in sulphur!
Toss me about in winds! Burn me in lava!
Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire!
And douse me down in pouring liquid fire!
O Desdemona! Desdemona! Dead!
Oh, Desdemona! Desdemona! Dead!
Oh! Oh! Oh!
Oh! Oh! Oh!
[Enter LODOVICO. MONTANO, CASSIO carried in a chair, and Officers with IAGO, prisoner]
LODOVICO
Where is this rash and most unfortunate man?
Where is this rash, most unlucky man?
OTHELLO
That's he that was Othello: here I am.
If you speak of Othello, I am here.
LODOVICO
Where is that viper? Bring the villain forth.
Where is that toxic snake? Bring out the crook.
OTHELLO
I look down towards his feet; but that's a fable.
I see his feet, but they’re not devil’s hooves;
If that thou best a devil, I cannot kill thee.
I couldn’t kill you if you were a devil.
[Wounds IAGO]
LODOVICO
Wrench his sword from him.
Go, grab his sword.
IAGO
I bleed, sir; but not killed.
I’m bleeding, but I’m not killed.
OTHELLO
I am not sorry neither: I'ld have thee live;
I am not sorry: I want you to live,
For, in my sense, 'tis happiness to die.
For feeling as I do, I’d like to die.
LODOVICO
O thou Othello, thou wert once so good,
Oh you Othello, you were once a good man,
Fall'n in the practise of a damned slave,
Tricked by the plotting of an evil lowlife:
What shall be said to thee?
What can I say to you?
OTHELLO
Why, any thing:
Well, anything:
An honourable murderer, if you will;
Perhaps, I was an honourable murderer,
For nought I did in hate, but all in honour.
Committed, not in hate, but out of honour.
LODOVICO
This wretch hath part confessed his villany:
This crook has part confessed his evil deeds:
Did you and he consent in Cassio's death?
Did you conspire with him to murder Cassio?
OTHELLO
Ay.
Yes.
CASSIO
Dear general, I never gave you cause.
But general, I did not give you a reason.
OTHELLO
I do believe it, and I ask your pardon.
I do believe you, and I ask forgiveness.
Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devil
Will you please ask that evil little devil
Why he hath thus ensnared my soul and body?
Why he’s destroyed my very heart and soul?
IAGO
Demand me nothing: what you know, you know:
Don’t ask me anything: you’ll know no more.
From this time forth I never will speak word.
From this day forth, I’ll never speak again.
LODOVICO
What, not to pray?
What, not even to pray?
GRATIANO
Torments will ope your lips.
He’ll speak through torture.
OTHELLO
Well, thou dost best.
Well, do your best.
LODOVICO
Sir, you shall understand what hath befall'n,
Sir, you will come to learn what has occurred here,
Which, as I think, you know not. Here is a letter
Which I think you don’t know yet. Here’s a letter
Found in the pocket of the slain Roderigo;
Found in the pocket of the dead Roderigo;
And here another: the one of them imports
And here’s another. One of them confirms
The death of Cassio to be undertook
That Cassio’s murder would be carried out
By Roderigo.
By Roderigo.
OTHELLO
O villain!
Oh, villain!
CASSIO
Most heathenish and most gross!
You’re a heathen; you’re disgusting!
LODOVICO
Now here's another discontented paper,
Now, here’s the other well disgruntled letter
Found in his pocket too; and this, it seems,
I found within his pocket, and it seems,
Roderigo meant to have sent this damned villain;
Roderigo meant to send it to this villain;
But that belike Iago in the interim
But it seems like, before he had the chance,
Came in and satisfied him.
Iago stabbed him.
OTHELLO
O the pernicious caitiff!
You obnoxious coward!
How came you, Cassio, by that handkerchief
How did you get that handkerchief, then Cassio?
That was my wife's?
It was my wife’s.
CASSIO
I found it in my chamber:
I found it in my bedroom:
And he himself confessed but even now
Iago has himself confessed just now
That there he dropped it for a special purpose
That he had dropped it there deliberately
Which wrought to his desire.
As part of his own plan.
OTHELLO
O fool! Fool! Fool!
Oh, what a fool!
CASSIO
There is besides in Roderigo's letter,
And also in Roderigo’s letter, he states
How he upbraids Iago, that he made him
How he lambasts Iago for insisting
Brave me upon the watch; whereon it came
He made me angry whilst on watch, from which
That I was cast: and even but now he spake,
I lost my rank; and just now he has spoken,
After long seeming dead, Iago hurt him,
Despite appearing dead, how he was hurt
Iago set him on.
When set on by Iago.
LODOVICO
You must forsake this room, and go with us:
You have to leave this room and come with us:
Your power and your command is taken off,
We’ve stripped you of your power and command,
And Cassio rules in Cyprus. For this slave,
And Cassio rules Cyprus now. And this slave,
If there be any cunning cruelty
If we can find an awful punishment
That can torment him much and hold him long,
To torture him horrendously for ages,
It shall be his. You shall close prisoner rest,
Then we shall do it. You’ll remain a prisoner
Till that the nature of your fault be known
Until the details of your crime are heard
To the Venetian state. Come, bring him away.
Within a court in Venice. Lead him off.
OTHELLO
Soft you; a word or two before you go.
Wait up; please let me speak before you go.
I have done the state some service, and they know't.
I’ve served my country well, and well they know it.
No more of that. I pray you, in your letters,
But no more talk of that. Please, in your letters,
When you shall these unlucky deeds relate,
When you describe these tragic goings-on,
Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate,
Describe me well, without exaggeration,
Nor set down aught in malice: then must you speak
Nor malice. For I ask that I’m remembered
Of one that loved not wisely but too well;
A reckless lover, though I loved intensely;
Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought
Not quickly jealous, though each time I was,
Perplexed in the extreme; of one whose hand,
It drove me to distraction; someone who,
Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away
Like an unwitting Indian, lost a pearl
Richer than all his tribe; of one whose subdued eyes,
Worth more than all he had; someone whose calm eyes,
Albeit unused to the melting mood,
That never seemed to look like they’d been crying,
Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees
Sobbed tears, like an acacia tree or myrrh
Their medicinal gum. Set you down this;
Drops sap. Write all of that down in the letter,
And say besides, that in Aleppo once,
And say as well, that one time in Aleppo,
Where a malignant and a turbaned Turk
I saw an angry, Turkish, turbaned man
Beat a Venetian and traduced the state,
Badmouth our state and punch a man from Venice,
I took by the throat the circumcised dog,
And so I grabbed that scarred dog by the throat
And smote him, thus.
And stabbed him, like this.
[Stabs himself]
LODOVICO
O bloody period!
What a bloody ending!
GRATIANO
All that's spoke is marred.
All that he’s said is bad.
OTHELLO
I kissed thee ere I killed thee: no way but this;
I kissed you, then I killed you: this is why
Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.
I’ll kill myself and kiss you as I die.
[Falls on the bed, and dies]
CASSIO
This did I fear, but thought he had no weapon;
I feared this, but thought he had no weapon;
For he was great of heart.
For he was noble-hearted.
LODOVICO
[To IAGO]
O Spartan dog,
Oh, you bloodhound,
More fell than anguish, hunger, or the sea!
More dangerous than anguish, sea or hunger!
Look on the tragic loading of this bed;
Look at the tragic bodies on the bed;
This is thy work: the object poisons sight;
You have done this: this is a wretched sight;
Let it be hid. Gratiano, keep the house,
Cover them up. Gratiano, keep this house,
And seize upon the fortunes of the Moor,
And take all the possessions of the Moor,
For they succeed on you. To you, lord governor,
For you inherit them. And your job, governor,
Remains the censure of this hellish villain;
Remains to punish this revolting villain;
The time, the place, the torture: O, enforce it!
You’ll choose the time and place to give him torture!
Myself will straight aboard: and to the state
I’ll board the ship back home and I’ll explain
This heavy act with heavy heart relate.
This tragedy that’s brought about such pain.
[Exeunt]
