SCENE II. A Bedchamber: DESDEMONA in bed asleep. A light burning.

Enter OTHELLO.

Oth. 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.

[Takes off his sword. 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 thine,
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 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;
It strikes where it doth love. She wakes-
Des. Who's there? Othello?

Oth.

Ay, Desdemona.

Des. Will you come to bed, my lord?
Oth. Have you prayed 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? 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?

Oth.

Des.

Have mercy on me!

Ay, I do.

Then, Heaven

Oth.

Amen, with all my heart!

Des. If you say so, I hope you will not kill me.
Oth. Humph!

Des. And yet I fear you; for 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.
These are portents; but yet I hope, I hope,

They do not point on me.

Oth.

Des. I will so.

Peace, and be still!
What's the matter?

Oth. That handkerchief, which I so loved, and gave

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 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,
And let him confess a truth.

Oth.

Des. What, my lord?

He hath confessed.

Oth. That he hath-used thee.

Des.
Oth. Ay.
Des.

He'll not say so.

Oth.

How? unlawfully?

No, his mouth is stopped;

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 betrayed, and I undone.

Oth. Out, strumpet! weep'st thou for him to my face?
Des. O, banish me, my lord, but kill me not.
Oth. Down, strumpet!

Des. Kill me to-morrow; let me live to-night.
Oth. Nay, if you strive,-

Des.

Oth.

But half an hour.

Being done,

But while I say one prayer.

[He smothers her.

Oth. It is too late.

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?

I think she stirs again.-No.-What's the best?

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 the affrighted globe
Should yawn at alteration.

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.

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

Oth.

And Cassio killed?

Emil.

Roderigo killed!

No, Cassio is not killed.

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

Des. O, falsely, falsely murdered!
Emil.

Oth. That! what?

Alas! what cry is that?

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.

This deed?

O, who hath done.

[Dies.

Des. Nobody; I myself; farewell. Commend me to my kind lord; 0, farewell. Oth. Why, how should she be murdered? 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 killed her.

Emil.

O, the more angel she, And you the blacker devil!

Oth. She turned to folly, and she was a whore. Emil. Thou dost belie her, and thou art a devil. Oth. She was false as water. Emil. Thou art rash as fire, to say That she was false; 0, she was heavenly true! Oth. Cassio did tup her; ask thy husband else. OI were damned beneath all depth in hell, But that I did proceed upon just grounds To this extremity. Thy husband knew it all. Emil. My husband?

Oth. Thy husband.

Emil. That she was false to wedlock?

Oth.

Nay, had she been true,

Ay, with Cassio.

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?

Oth. What needs this iterance, woman? I say, thy hus

band!

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?
My friend, thy husband, honest, honest Iago.

Emil. If he say so, may his pernicious soul
Rot half a grain a day! he lies to the heart;
She was too fond of her most filthy bargain.
Oth. Ha!

Emil.

Do thy worst.

This deed of thine is no more worthy heaven,
Than thou wast worthy her.

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,
Though I lost twenty lives.-Help! help, ho! help!
The Moor has killed my mistress. Murder! murder!

Enter MONTANO, GRATIANO, and IAGO.

Mon. What is the matter?-How now, general?
Emil. O, are you come, Iago? You have done well,
That men must lay their murders on your neck.
Gra. What is the matter?

Emil. Disprove this, villain, if thou beest 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.
Emil. But did you ever tell him she was false?
Iago. I did.