SCENE II-A Bedchamber: DESDEMONA in bed asleep. A light burning. Enter OTHELLO. Oth. It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul,— I can again thy former light restore, "Takes off his sword. Should I repent me:-but once put out thine, That can thy light relume. When I have pluck'd thy rose, It needs must wither :-I'll smell it on the tree. O balmy breath, that dost almost persuade Justice to break her sword!-One more, one more.- But they are cruel tears: This sorrow's heavenly; Des. Who's there? Othello? Oth. Ay, Desdemona. Des. Will you come to bed, my lord? Oth. Have you pray'd to-night, Desdemona ? Des. Ay, my lord. Oth. If you bethink yourself of any crime, Unreconciled as yet to heaven and grace, Solicit for it straight. Des. Alas, my lord, what may you mean by that? No,-Heaven forfend !f-I would not kill thy soul. 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, [Kissing her. When your eyes roll so: Why I should fear, I know not, Oth. Think on thy sins. Des. They are loves I bear to you. Oth. Ay, and for that thou diest. *I. e. of life. + Forbid. VOL. IV. 2 N 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. That handkerchief, which I so loved, and gave thee, Thou gav'st to Cassio. Des. No, by my life and soul; Send for the man, and ask him. Oth. Sweet soul, take heed, Take heed of perjury; thou'rt on thy death-bed. Des. Ay, but not yet to die. Oth. Yes, presently: Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin; For to deny each article with oath, Cannot remove, nor choke, the strong conception, Oth. I say, amen. Des. And have you mercy too!-I never did Offend you in my life; never loved Cassio, But with such general warranty of heaven 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, And mak'st me call, what I intend to do, 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, 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 Iago hath ta'en order for't.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. O, banish me, my lord, kill me not. Oth. Down, strumpet! Des. Kill me to-morrow, let me live to-night. Oth. Nay, if you strive, Des. But half an hour. * A sacrifice atoning for thy crime. + Has taken measures. [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 dead? I, that am cruel, am yet merciful; I 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. "Tis like she comes to speak of Cassio's death: The noise was high.-Ha! no more moving? Still as the grave. Shall she come in? Were't good? If she come in, she'll sure speak to my wife: My wife! my wife! what wife ?-I have no wife: Methinks it should be now a huge eclipse Of sun and moon; and that the affrighted globe Emil. [within]. I do beseech you I may speak with you, Oth. I had forgot thee: O, 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, Oth. Roderigo kill'd! And Cassio kill'd? Emil. No, Cassio is not kill'd. Oth. Not Cassio killed? Then murder 's out of tune, And sweet revenge grows harsh. Des. O, falsely, falsely murder'd! Emil. Alas! what cry is that? Oth. That! what? Emil. Out, and alas! that was my lady's voice :Help! help, ho! help!-O lady, speak again! Sweet Desdemona! O, sweet mistress, speak! Des. A guiltless death I die. Emil. O, who hath done This deed ? Des. Nobody; I myself; farewell: Commend me to my kind lord; O, farewell. Oth. Why, how should she be murder'd? Emil. Alas, who knows? Oth. You heard her say herself, it was not I. 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 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 That sticks on filthy deeds. Emil. My husband? [Dies. Oth. What needs this iterance, woman? I say, thy husband. Emil. O mistress, villany hath made mocks with love!My husband say, that she was false? Oth. He, woman; I say, thy husband: Dost understand the word? Rot half a grain a day! he lies to the heart; 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. O gull! O dolt! As ignorant as dirt! thou hast done a deed,— I care not for thy sword; I'll make thee known, * Depravity. Enter MONTANO, GRATIANO, and IAGO. Emil. Disprove this villain, if thou be'st a man: Iago. I told him what I thought; and told no more 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? Iago. With Cassio, mistress; Go to, charm your tongue. Emil. I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to speak; My mistress here lies murder'd in her bed. All. O heavens forfend !* Emil. And your reports have set the murder on. Mon. O monstrous act! Emil. Villany, villany, villany! I think upon't, I think, I smell't;-O villany! I thought so then; I'll kill myself for grief. O villany, villany! Iago. What, are you mad? I charge you, get you home. "Tis proper I obey him, but not now: Perchance, Iago, I will ne'er go home. Oth. O! O!Ó! 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, Gra. Poor Desdemona ! I am glad thy father's dead; And fall to reprobation. Oth. 'Tis pitiful: but yet Iago knows, A thousand times committed; Cassio confess'd it: With that recognizance and pledge of love * Forbid. |