Sing willow, willow, willow.

If I court more women, you’ll couch with more men.’

So, get thee gone. Good night. Mine eyes do itch. 56

Doth that bode weeping?

EMILIA ’Tis neither here nor there.

DESDEMONA

I have heard it said so. O, these men, these men!

Dost thou in conscience think—ten me, Emilia—

That there be women do abuse their husbands

In such gross kind?

EMILIAThere be some such, no question.

DESDEMONA

Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?

EMILIA

Why, would not you?

DESDEMONA No, by this heavenly light.

EMILIA Nor I neither, by this heavenly light. I might do’t

as well i’th’ dark.

DESDEMONA

Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?

EMILIA The world’s a huge thing. It is a great price for

a small vice.

DESDEMONA In truth, I think thou wouldst not.

EMILIA In truth, I think I should, and undo’t when I had done. Marry, I would not do such a thing for a joint ring, nor for measures of lawn, nor for gowns, petticoats, nor caps, nor any petty exhibition; but for all the whole world? Ud’s pity, who would not make her husband a cuckold to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for’t.

DESDEMONA

Beshrew me if I would do such a wrong

For the whole world.

EMILIA Why, the wrong is but a wrong i‘th’ world, and having the world for your labour, ’tis a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly make it right.

DESDEMONA

I do not think there is any such woman.

EMILIA

Yes, a dozen, and as many

To th’ vantage as would store the world they played

for.

But I do think it is their husbands’ faults

If wives do fall. Say that they slack their duties,

And pour our treasures into foreign laps,

Or else break out in peevish jealousies,

Throwing restraint upon us; or say they strike us,

Or scant our former having in despite:

Why, we have galls; and though we have some grace,

Yet have we some revenge. Let husbands know

Their wives have sense like them. They see, and smell,

And have their palates both for sweet and sour,

As husbands have. What is it that they do

When they change us for others? Is it sport?

I think it is. And doth affection breed it?

I think it doth. Is’t frailty that thus errs?

It is so, too. And have not we affections,

Desires for sport, and frailty, as men have?

Then let them use us well, else let them know

The ills we do, their ills instruct us so.

DESDEMONA

Good night, good night. God me such uses send

Not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend! Exeunt

5.1 Enter Iago and Roderigo

IAGO

Here, stand behind this bulk. Straight will he come.

Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home.

Quick, quick, fear nothing. I’ll be at thy elbow.

It makes us or it mars us. Think on that,

And fix most firm thy resolution.

RODERIGO

Be near at hand. I may miscarry in’t.

IAGO

Here at thy hand. Be bold, and take thy stand.

RODERIGO (aside)

I have no great devotion to the deed,

And yet he hath given me satisfying reasons.

’Tis but a man gone. Forth my sword—he dies!

IAGO (aside)

I have rubbed this young quat almost to the sense,

And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio

Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,

Every way makes my gain. live Roderigo,

He calls me to a restitution large

Of gold and jewels that I bobbed from him

As gifts to Desdemona.

It must not be. If Cassio do remain,

He hath a daily beauty in his life

That makes me ugly; and besides, the Moor

May unfold me to him-there stand I in much peril.

No, he must die. But so, I hear him coming.

Enter Cassio

RODERIGO

I know his gait, ’tis he. (Attacking Cassio) Villain, thou

diest.

CASSIO

That thrust had been mine enemy indeed,

But that my coat is better than thou know’st.

I will make proof of thine.

He stabs Roderigo, who falls

RODERIGO O, I am slain!

Iago wounds Cassio in the leg from behind. Exit Iago

CASSIO (falling)

I am maimed for ever. Help, ho, murder, murder!

Enter Othello [above]

OTHELLO

The voice of Cassio. Iago keeps his word.

RODERIGO O, villain that I am!

OTHELLO It is even so.

CASSIO O, help, ho! Light, a surgeon!

OTHELLO

’Tis he. O brave Iago, honest and just,

That hast such noble sense of thy friend’s wrong—

Thou teachest me. Minion, your dear lies dead,

And your unblessed fate hies. Strumpet, I come.

Forth of my heart those charms, thine eyes, are blotted.

Thy bed, lust-stained, shall with lust’s blood be spotted.

Exit

Enter Lodovico and Graziano

CASSIO

What ho, no watch, no passage? Murder, murder!

GRAZIANO

’Tis some mischance. The voice is very direful.

CASSIO O, help!

LODOVICO Hark.

RODERIGO O wretched villain!

LODOVICO

Two or three groan. ’Tis heavy night.

These may be counterfeits. Let’s think’t unsafe

To come into the cry without more help.

RODERIGO

Nobody come? Then shall I bleed to death.

Enter Iago with a light

LODOVICO Hark.

GRAZIANO

Here’s one comes in his shirt, with light and weapons.

IAGO

Who’s there? Whose noise is this that cries on murder?

LODOVICO

We do not know.

IAGO Do not you hear a cry?

CASSIO

Here, here. For heaven’s sake, help me.

IAGO What’s the matter?

GRAZIANO (to Lodovico)

This is Othello’s ensign, as I take it.