SCENE II. A Bedchamber: DESDEMONA in bed asleep. A Light burning. Enter OTHELLO. Oth. It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul,- [Takes off his sword. Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men. Should I repent me :-but once put out thine, rose, I cannot give it vital growth again, It needs must wither:-I'll smell it on the tree. [Kissing 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 this the last : So sweet was ne'er so fatal. I must weep, But they are cruel tears: This sorrow's heavenly; i. e. The light of life. 6 It strikes, where it doth love.-She wakes- Oth. Ay, Desdemona. Des. Will you come to bed, my lord? Oth. Have you pray'd to night, Desdemona? Ay, my lord. Des. Alas, my lord, what may you mean by that? Oth. 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. Des. Talk you of killing? Des. If you say so, I hope you will not kill me. Oth. Humph! Des. And yet I fear 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. Oth. Think on thy sins. Des. They are loves I bear to you. Oth. Ay, and for that thou diest. Des. That death's unnatural, that kills for loving. Alas, why gnaw you so your nether lip? Some bloody passion shakes your very frame: 7 Forbid. Peace, and be still! They do not point on me. Oth. Des. I will so: What's the matter? Oth. That handkerchief, which I so lov'd, and 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, That I do groan withal. Thou art to die. Des. Then, Lord have mercy on me! Oth. I say, amen. Des. And have you mercy too!-I never did Oth. By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in his hand. A murder, which I thought a sacrifice: 8 I saw the handkerchief. Des. He found it then; I never gave it him :-Send for him hither, Oth. He hath confess'd. 8 A sacrifice atoning for thy crime. No, his mouth is stopp'd; Honest Iago hath ta'en order for'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, but kill me not. Des. Kill me to-morrow, let me live to-night. Oth. Nay, if you strive,— 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.- 9 Has taken measures. It is supposed that some theatrical direction has been omitted, and that, when Othello says, "So, so." he then Emil. [Within.] What ho! my lord, my lord! 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? 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, O, good my lord! 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; And makes men mad. stabs her. After the repetition of wounds, Desdemona might speak again with propriety, and yet very soon expire. |