A Bedchamber in the Castle.
 Enter OTHELLO, with a light. DESDEMONA in bed asleep.

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 plucked thy rose,
	I cannot give it vital growth again;
	It must needs wither. I'll smell thee on the tree.
												[Kisses her.
	O 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 that's 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 prayed tonight, Desdemon?

Desdemona										Ay, my lord.

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

Desdemona	Alack, my lord, what may you mean by that?

Othello	Well, do it, and be brief. I will walk by:
	I would not kill thy unprepard spirit;
	No - heavens 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're 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.

Othello	Think on thy sins.

Desdemona						They are loves I bear to you.

Othello	Ay, and for that thou diest.

Desdemona	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.

Othello								Peace, and be still!

Desdemona	I will so. What's the matter?

Othello	That handkerchief which I so loved and gave thee,
	Thou gav'st to Cassio.

Desdemona							No, by my life and soul!
	Send for the man and ask him.

Othello									Sweet soul, take heed,
	Take heed of perjury; thou art on thy death-bed.

Desdemona	Ay, but not yet to die.

Othello								Yes, presently.
	Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin,
	For to deny each article with oath
	Cannot remove nor choke the strong conception
	That I do groan withal. Thou art to die.

Desdemona	Then Lord have mercy on me!

Othello								I say, amen.

Desdemona	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.

Othello	By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in's 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.

Desdemona							He found it then;
	I never gave it him. Send for him hither;
	Let him confess a truth.

Othello								He hath confessed.

Desdemona	What, my lord?

Othello	That he hath used thee.

Desdemona							How? Unlawfully?

Othello	Ay.

Desdemona	He will not say so.

Othello							No, his mouth is stopped;
	Honest Iago hath ta'en order for't.

Desdemona	O, my fear interprets. What, is he dead?

Othello	Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge
	Had stomach for them all.

Desdemona	Alas, he is betrayed, and I undone.

Othello	Out strumpet! Weep'st thou for him to my face?

Desdemona	O, banish me, my lord, but kill me not.

Othello	Down, strumpet!

Desdemona	Kill me tomorrow; let me live tonight.

Othello	Nay, if you strive-

Desdemona	But half an hour!

Othello						Being done, there is no pause.

Desdemona	But while I say one prayer!

Othello								It is too late.
												[Smothers her.
Desdemona	O Lord, Lord, Lord!

Emilia	[Within.] My lord, my lord! What, ho! My lord, my lord!

Othello	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.

Emilia	[Within.] What ho! My lord, my lord!

Othello										Who's there?

Emilia	[Within.] O good my lord, I would speak a word with you.

Othello	Yes, 'tis Emilia. [Calling.] 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?
	I think she stirs again. No. What's the best to do?
	If she come in she'll sure speak to my wife.
	My wife, my wife! What wife? I have no wife.
	O, insupportable! O heavy hour!
	Methinks it should be now a huge eclipse
	Of sun and moon, and that th' affrighted globe
	Should yawn at alteration.

Emilia	[Within.]						I do beseech you
	That I may speak with you. O, good my lord!

Othello	I had forgot thee. O, come in, Emilia.
	Soft, by and by; let me the curtains draw.
												[Draws the bed curtains.
	Where art thou?
												[Unlocks the door.
                              Enter EMILIA.

					What's the matter with thee now?

Emilia	O my good lord, yonder's foul murders done.

Othello	What, now?

Emilia	But now, my lord.

Othello	It is the very error of the moon:
	She comes more nearer earth than she was wont,
	And makes men mad.

Emilia	Cassio, my lord, has killed a young Venetian
	Called Roderigo.

Othello					Roderigo killed?
	And Cassio killed?

Emilia							No, Cassio is not killed.

Othello	Not Cassio killed! Then murder's out of tune,
	And sweet revenge grows harsh.

Desdemona	O, falsely, falsely murdered!

Emilia									O Lord, what cry is that?

Othello	That? What?

Emilia	Out and alas, that was my lady's voice!
									[Draws back the bed curtains.
	Help, help, ho, help! O lady, speak again!
	Sweet Desdemona, O sweet mistress, speak!

Desdemona	A guiltless death I die.

Emilia	O, who has done this deed?

Desdemona	Nobody - I myself. Farewell.
	Commend me to my kind lord. O, farewell!
												[Dies.
Othello	Why, how should she be murdered?

Emilia									Alas, who knows?

Othello	You heard her say herself it was not I.

Emilia	She said so; I must needs report the truth.

Othello	She's like a liar gone to burning hell:
	'Twas I that killed her.

Emilia							O, the more angel she,
	And you the blacker devil.

Othello	She turned to folly, and she was a whore.

Emilia	Thou dost belie her, and thou art a devil.

Othello	She was false as water.

Emilia						Thou art rash as fire to say
	That she was false. O, she was heavenly true.

Othello	Cassio did top her - ask thy husband else.
	O, I were damned beneath all depth in hell
	But that I did proceed upon just grounds
	To this extremity. Thy husband knew it all.

Emilia	My husband?

Othello				Thy husband.

Emilia							That she was false to wedlock?

Othello	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.

Emilia										My husband?

Othello	Ay, 'twas he that told me on her first.
	An honest man he is, and hates the slime
	That sticks on filthy deeds.

Emilia								My husband?

Othello	What needs this iterance, woman? I say thy husband.

Emilia	O mistress, villainy hath made mocks with love!
	My husband say she was false?

Othello									He, woman;
	I say thy husband. Dost understand the word?
	My friend, thy husband, honest, honest Iago.

Emilia	If he say so, may his pernicious soul
	Rot half a grain a day. He lies to th' heart:
	She was too fond of her most filthy bargain.

Othello	[Threatening her.] Ha!

Emilia	Do thy worst.
	This deed of thine is no more worthy heaven
	Than thou wast worthy her.

Othello								Peace! - you were best.

Emilia	Thou hast not half that 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
	Though I lost twenty lives. Help! Help, ho! Help!
	The Moor hath killed my mistress. Murder, murder!

                    Enter MONTANO, GRATIANO, and IAGO.

Montano	What is the matter? How now, general?

Emilia	O, are you come, Iago? you have done well,
	That men must lay their murders on your neck.

All	What is the matter?

Emilia	Disprove this villain, if thou be'st a man.
	He says thou told'st him that his wife was false.
	I know thou didst not, thou'rt not such a villain.
	Speak, for my heart is full.

Iago	I told him what I thought, and told no more
	Than what he found himself was apt and true.

Emilia	But did you ever tell him she was false?

Iago	I did.

Emilia	You told a lie, an odious damnd 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.

Emilia	I will not charm my tongue, I am bound to speak:
	My mistress here lies murdered in her bed.

All	O heavens forfend!

Emilia	And your reports have set the murder on.

Othello	Nay, stare not, masters; it is true indeed.

Gratiano	'Tis a strange truth.

Montano	O monstrous act!

Emilia						Villainy, villainy, villainy!
	I think upon't, I think - I smell't - O villainy!
	I thought so then. I'll kill myself for grief.
	O villainy, villainy!

Iago	What, are you mad? I charge you get you home.

Emilia	Good gentlemen, let me have leave to speak.
	'Tis proper I obey him, but not now.
	Perchance, Iago, I will ne'er go home.

Othello	O, O, O!
												[Falls on the bed.
Emilia				Nay, lay thee down and roar,
	For thou hast killed the sweetest innocent
	That e'er did lift up eye.

Othello	[Rising.]						O, she was foul.
	[To GRATIANO.]
	I scarce did know you, uncle. There lies your niece,
	Whose breath indeed these hands have newly stopped.
	I know this act shows horrible and grim.

Gratiano	Poor Desdemon, I am glad thy father's dead;
	Thy match was mortal to him, and pure grief
	Shore his old thread in twain. Did he live now
	This sight would make him do a desperate turn,
	Yea, curse his better angel from his side,
	And fall to reprobance.

Othello	'Tis pitiful; but yet Iago knows
	That she with Cassio hath the act of shame
	A thousand times committed. Cassio confessed it;
	And she did gratify his amorous works
	With that recognizance and pledge of love
	Which I first gave her - I saw it in his hand.
	It was a handkerchief, an antique token
	My father gave my mother.

Emilia							O God, O heavenly God!

Iago	Zounds, hold your peace!

Emilia	'Twill out, 'twill out. I, peace?
	No, I will speak as liberal as the north;
	Let heaven and men and devils, let them all,
	All, all cry shame against me, yet I'll speak.

Iago	Be wise, and get you home.

Emilia						I will not.
												[IAGO draws his sword.
Gratiano									Fie,
	Your sword upon a woman?

Emilia	O thou dull Moor! That handkerchief thou speak'st of
	I found by fortune, and did give my husband;
	For often with a solemn earnestness,
	More than indeed belonged to such a trifle,
	He begged of me to steal't.

Iago									Villainous whore!

Emilia	She give it Cassio? No, alas, I found it,
	And I did give't my husband.

Iago									Filth, thou liest!

Emilia	By heaven I do not; I do not, gentlemen.
	O murd'rous coxcomb, what should such a fool
	Do with so good a wife?

Othello							Are there no stones in heaven
	But what serves for the thunder? Precious villain!
						  [He runs at IAGO. MONTANO disarms him.
									 [IAGO stabs EMILIA and exit.

Gratiano	The woman falls - sure he hath killed his wife.

Emilia	Ay, ay. O, lay me by my mistress' side.

Gratiano	He's gone, but his wife's killed.

Montano	'Tis a notorious villain. Take you this weapon
	Which I have here recovered 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 damnd slave.
									[Exeunt MONTANO and GRATIANO.

Othello							I am not valiant neither,
	But every puny whipster gets my sword.
	But why should honour outlive honesty?
	Let it go all.

Emilia					What did thy song bode, lady?
	Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the swan,
	And die in music:

				[Sings.]	Willow, willow, willow.

	Moor, she was chaste. She loved thee, cruel Moor,
	So come my soul to bliss, as I speak true.
	So speaking as I think, alas, I die.
												[She dies.
Othello	I have another weapon in this chamber:
	It was a sword of Spain, the ice-brook's temper.
	O, here it is. Uncle, I must come forth.

Gratiano	[Within.] If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear;
	Thou hast no weapon, and perforce must suffer.

Othello	Look in upon me then, and speak with me,
	Or, naked as I am, I will assault thee.

                            Re-enter GRATIANO.

Gratiano	What is the matter?

Othello						Behold, I have a weapon;
	A better never did itself sustain
	Upon a soldier's thigh. I have seen the day
	That with this little arm and this good sword
	I have made my way through more impediments
	Than twenty times your stop. But - O vain boast!-
	Who can control his fate? 'Tis not so now.
	Be not afraid, though you do see me weaponed;
	Here is my journey's end, here is my butt
	And very seamark of my utmost sail.
	Do you go back dismayed? 'Tis a lost fear.
	Man but a rush against Othello's breast,
	And he retires. Where should Othello go?
												[He moves to the bed.

	Now, how dost thou look now? O ill-starred wench,
	Pale as thy smock! When we shall meet at compt,
	This look of thine will hurl my soul from heaven,
	And fiends will snatch at it. Cold, cold, my girl?
	Even like thy chastity. O cursd, cursd slave!
	Whip me, ye devils,
	From the possession of this heavenly sight;
	Blow me about in winds, roast me in sulphur,
	Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire.
	O Desdemon! Dead Desdemon! Dead! O, O!

           Enter LODOVICO, MONTANO, CASSIO carried in a chair,
                      and IAGO prisoner to OFFICERS.

Lodovico	Where is this rash and most unfortunate man?

Othello	That's he that was Othello - Here I am.

Lodovico	Where is that viper? Bring the villain forth.

Othello	I look down towards his feet; but that's a fable.
	If that thou be'st a devil, I cannot kill thee.
												[Wounds IAGO.
Lodovico	Wrench his sword from him.

Iago							I bleed, sir, but not killed.

Othello	I am not sorry neither: I'd have thee live;
	For in my sense 'tis happiness to die.

Lodovico	O thou, Othello, that was once so good,
	Fall'n in the practice of a cursd slave,
	What shall be said to thee?

Othello								Why, anything:
	An honourable murderer, if you will;
	For nought did I in hate, but all in honour.

Lodovico	This wretch hath part confessed his villainy.
	Did you and he consent in Cassio's death?

Othello	Ay.

Cassio	Dear general, I never gave you cause.

Othello	I do believe it, and I ask your pardon.
	Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devil
	Why he hath thus ensnared my soul and body?

Iago	Demand me nothing. What you know, you know.
	From this time forth I never will speak word.

Lodovico	What, not to pray?

Gratiano	Torments will ope your lips.

Othello								Well, thou dost best.

Lodovico	Sir, you shall understand what hath befall'n,
	Which, as I think, you know not. Here is a letter
	Found in the pocket of the slain Roderigo,
	And here another. The one of them imports
	The death of Cassio, to be undertook
	By Roderigo.

Othello	O villain!

Cassio				Most heathenish and most gross!

Lodovico	Now here's another discontented paper
	Found in his pocket too; and this, it seems,
	Roderigo meant t'have sent this damnd villain;
	But that, belike, Iago in the interim
	Came in and satisfied him.

Othello								O thou pernicious caitiff!
	How came you, Cassio, by that handkerchief
	That was my wife's?

Cassio						I found it in my chamber;
	And he himself confessed it but even now
	That there he dropped it for a special purpose
	Which wrought to his desire.

Othello									O fool, fool, fool!

Cassio	There is, besides, in Roderigo's letter,
	How he upbraids Iago, that he made him
	Brave me upon the watch, whereon it came
	That I was cast; and even but now he spake
	- After long seeming dead - Iago hurt him,
	Iago set him on.

Lodovico	You must forsake this room and go with us.
	Your power and your command is taken off,
	And Cassio rules in Cyprus. For this slave,
	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
	To the Venetian state. Come, bring him away.

Othello	Soft you; a word or two before you go.
	I have done the state some service, and they know't:
	No more of that. I pray you in your letters,
	When you shall these unlucky deeds relate,
	Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate,
	Nor set down aught in malice. Then must you speak
	Of one that loved not wisely, but too well;
	Of one not easily jealous, but, being wrought,
	Perplexed in the extreme; of one whose hand,
	Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away
	Richer than all his tribe; of one whose subdued eyes,
	Albeit unusd to the melting mood,
	Drops tears as fast as the Arabian trees
	Their medicinable gum. Set you down this;
	And say besides that in Aleppo once,
	Where a malignant and a turbaned Turk
	Beat a Venetian and traduced the state,
	I took by th' throat the circumcisd dog,
	And smote him thus.
												[Stabs himself.
Lodovico							O bloody period!

Gratiano	All that is spoke is marred.

Othello	I kissed thee ere I killed thee - no way but this,
	Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.
							   [Falls beside DESDEMONA and dies.

Cassio	This did I fear, but thought he had no weapon,
	For he was great of heart.

Lodovico	[To IAGO.]					O Spartan dog,
	More fell than anguish, hunger, or the sea,
	Look on the tragic loading of this bed:
	This is thy work. The object poisons sight;
	Let it be hid.
									 [The bed curtains are drawn.

						Gratiano, keep the house
	And seize upon the fortunes of the Moor,
	For they succeed on you. To you, Lord Governor,
	Remains the censure of this hellish villain:
	The time, the place, the torture - O, enforce it!
	Myself will straight aboard, and to the state
	This heavy act with heavy heart relate.
												[Exeunt.
