Cas. My leg is cut in two.

Lago.

Marry, heaven forbid!Light, gentlemen; I'll bind it with my shirt.

Enter BIANCA.

Bian. What is the matter, ho? who is't that cry'd? Iago. Who is't that cry'd?

Bian. O my dear Cassio! my sweet Cassio!

O Cassio! Cassio! Cassio!

lago. O notable strumpet!-Cassio, may you suspect Who they should be, that have thus mangled you? Cas. No.

[you Gra. I am sorry to find you thus: I have been to seek Iago. Lend me a garter: So.-O, for a chair,

To bear him easily hence!

Bian. Alas, he faints:-O Cassio! Cassio! Cassio!
Iago. Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash
To be a party in this injury.-

Patience awhile, good Cassio.-Come, come;
Lend me a light.-Know we this face, or no?
Alas! my friend; and my dear countryman,
Roderigo? no:-Yes, sure; O heaven! Roderigo.
Gra. What, of Venice?

Iago. Even he, sir; did you know him?

Gra.

Know him? ay. lago. Signior Gratiano? I cry you gentle pardon; These bloody accidents must excuse my manners, That so neglected you.

Gra.

I am glad to see you. lago. How do you, Cassio?-0, a chair, a chair! Gra. Roderigo!

chair:

Iago. He, he, 'tis he:-O, that's well said;-the [A Chair brought in. Some good man bear him carefully from hence; I'll fetch the general's surgeon.-For you, mistress, [To Bianca. Save you your labour. He that lies slain here, Cassio, Was my dear friend: What malice was between you? Cas. None in the world: nor do I know the man. Iago. [To Bian.] What, look you pale?-O, bear him

out o'the air.- [Cus. and Rod. are borne of

Stay you, good gentlemen:-Look you pale, mistress?
Do you perceive the gastness of her eye?-
Nay, if you stare, we shall hear more anon :-
Behold her well; I pray you, look upon her;
Do you see, gentlemen? nay, guiltiness will speak,
Though tongues were out of use.

Enter EMILIA.

Emil. 'Las, what's the matter? what's the matter, husband?

Iago. Cassio hath here been set on in the dark,
By Roderigo, and fellows that are scap'd;
He's almost slain, and Roderigo dead.

Emil. Alas, good gentleman! alas, good Cassio!
lago. This is the fruit of whoring.-Pr'ythee, Emilia,
Go know of Cassio where he supp'd to-night :-
What, do you shake at that?

[not. Bian. He supp'd at my house; but I therefore shake Iago. O, did he so? I charge you, go with me. Emil. Fie, fie upon thee, strumpet!

Bian. I am no strumpet; but of life as honest, As you that thus abuse ine.

Emil.

As I? foh! fie upon thee!

lago. Kind gentlemen, let's go see poor Cassio

dress'd:

Come, mistress, you must tell us another tale.-
Emilia, run you to the citadel,

And tell my lord and lady what has happ'd.-
Will you go on, I pray?—This is the night,
That either makes me, or fordoes me quite.

[Aside. [Exeunt.

SCENE 11. 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 pluck'd 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 pray'd to-night, Desdemona?
·Des.

Ay, my lord.
Oth. If you bethink yourself of any crime,
Unreconcil'd 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!

Oth.

Ay, I do.

Then, heaven

Amen, with all my heart!

Oth. Humph!]

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

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 did not point on me.

Oth.
Peace, and be still.
Des. I will so: What's the matter?

Oth. That handkerchief, which I so lov'd, and gave

Thou gav'st to Cassio.

Des.

[thee,

No, by my life and soul;

Sweet soul, take heed,

Send for the man, and ask him.

Oth.
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,
Des. And have you mercy too!-I never did
Offend
you in my life; never lov'd Cassio,

But with such general warranty of heaven

As I might love: I never gave him token.

amen.

Oth. By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in his hand. O perjur'd 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.

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.
Oth. Down, strumpet!

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

Des.

But half an hour.

Being done,

[He smothers her.

But while I say one prayer.

Emil. [Within] My lord, my lord! what ho! my lord!

my lord!

Oth. What noise is this?-Not dead? not yet quite I, that am cruel, am yet merciful;

I would not have thee linger in thy pain.

So, so.

[dead?

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 O, good, my lord!

Oth. I had forgot thee: O, come in, Emilia:-

[you,