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:

never gave him token.

Oth. By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in 's 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;
Let him confess a truth.

No, his mouth is stopp'd;

Honest Iago hath ta'en order for't.

Des. O, my fear interprets!-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!

Oth. Being done, there is no pause.

Des. But while I say one prayer!

Oth. It is too late.

[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?—

I think she stirs again: no.-What's 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 the affrighted globe
Should yawn at alteration.
Emil. [within.]

I do beseech you
That 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?

Enter EMILIA.

[Unlocks the door.

What's the matter with thee now?

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

Oth. What, now?

Emil. But now, my lord.

Oth. It is the very error of the moon;

She comes more nearer earth than she was wont,

And makes men mad.

Emil. Cassio, my lord, hath kill'd a young Venetian Call'd Roderigo.

Oth.

Roderigo kill'd!

And Cassio kill'd!

Emil.

No, Cassio is not kill'd.

Oth. Not Cassio kill'd! then murder's out of tune,

And sweet revenge grows harsh.

Des. 0, falsely, falsely murder'd!
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. 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.

[Dies.

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 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: O, she was heavenly true! Oth. Cassio did tup her; ask thy husband else. O, I were damn'd 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. 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:

[band.

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 husEmil. 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 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 kill'd 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 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.

Emil. But did you ever tell him she was false?
Iago. I did.

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.
Oth. Nay, stare not, masters: it is true, indeed.
Gra. 'Tis a strange truth.

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. Emil. Good gentlemen, let me have leave to speak:

'Tis proper I obey him, but not now.--

Perchance, Iago, I will ne'er go home.

Oth. O! O! O!

Emil.

[Hanging over his wife.

Nay, lay thee down and roar;

For thou hast kill'd the sweetest innocent

That e'er did lift up eye.

O, she was foul!

[Rising.

Oth. I scarce did know you, uncle: there lies your niece, Whose breath, indeed, these hands have newly stopp'd: I know this act shows horrible and grim.

Gra. Poor Desdemona! 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.

Oth. 'Tis pitiful; but yet Iago knows

That she with Cassio hath the act of shame

A thousand times committed; Cassio confess'd 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.

Emil. O heaven! O heavenly powers!
Iago. Come, hold your peace.
Emil.

"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.

Emil.
Gra.

I will not. [IAGO offers to stab his wife.

Your sword upon a woman?

Fie!

Emil. O thou dull Moor! that handkerchief thou speak'st

I found by fortune, and did give my husband;
For often, with a solemn earnestness,-

More than, indeed, belong'd to such a trifle,—
He begg'd of me to steal it.

Iago.

Villanous whore!

Emil. She give it Cassio! no, alas, I found it, And I did give't my husband.

Iago.

Filth, thou liest!

Emil. By heaven, I do not, I do not, gentlemen.— O murderous coxcomb! what should such a fool

Do with so good a wife? [IAGO stabs EMILIA, then runs out.
Oth.
Are there no stones in heaven

But what serve for the thunder?-Precious villain!
Gra. The woman falls; sure he hath kill'd his wife.
Emil. Ay, ay:-0, lay me by my mistress' side.
Gra. He's gone, but his wife 's kill'd.

Mon. "Tis a notorious villain. Take you this weapon, Which I have here recover'd 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 damned slave.

[Exeunt MoN, and GRA.
Oth.
I am not valiant neither,
But every puny whipster gets my sword:-
But why should honour outlive honesty?
Let it go all.

Emil. What did thy song bode, lady?
Hark, can'st thou hear me? I will play the swan,
And die in music:- Willow, willow, willow.—
Moor, she was chaste; she lov'd thee, cruel Moor;
So come my soul to bliss, as I speak true;
So speaking as I think, I die,-I die.

[Sings.

[Dies.

VOL. VI.

2 D