EMILIA
She said so, I must needs report the truth.
OTHELLO
She’s like a liar gone to burning hell.
’Twas I that killed her.
EMILIA
O, the more angel she, and you the blacker devil!
OTHELLO
She turned to folly, and she was a whore.
EMILIA
Thou dost belie her, and thou art a devil.
OTHELLO
She was false as water.
EMILIA Thou art rash as fire
To say that she was false. O, she was heavenly true!
OTHELLO
Cassio did top her. Ask thy husband else.
O, I were damned beneath all depth in hell
But that I did proceed upon just grounds
To this extremity! Thy husband knew it all.
EMILIA
My husband?
OTHELLO Thy husband.
EMILIA That she was false to wedlock?
OTHELLO
Ay, with Cassio. 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.
EMILIA My husband?
OTHELLO
Ay, ’twas he that told me on her first.
An honest man he is, and hates the slime
That sticks on filthy deeds.
EMILIA My husband?
OTHELLO
What needs this iterance? Woman, I say thy husband.
EMILIA
O mistress, villainy hath made mocks with love.
My husband say she was false?
OTHELLO He, woman.
I say thy husband. Dost understand the word?
My friend, thy husband, honest, honest Iago.
EMILIA
If he say so, may his pernicious soul
Rot half a grain a day. He lies to th’ heart.
She was too fond of her most filthy bargain.
OTHELLO Ha?
EMILIA Do thy worst.
This deed of thine is no more worthy heaven
Than thou wast worthy her.
OTHELLO Peace, you were best.
EMILIA
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, hot Help!
The Moor hath killed my mistress. Murder, murder!
Enter Montano, Graziano, and Iago
MONTANO
What is the matter? How now, general?
EMILIA
O, are you come, Iago? You have done well,
That men must lay their murders on your neck.
GRAZIANO What is the matter?
EMILIA (to Iago)
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.
EMILIA
But did you ever tell him she was false?
IACO I did.
EMILIA
You told a lie, an odious, damnèd 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.
EMILIA
I will not charm my tongue. I am bound to speak.
My mistress here lies murdered in her bed.
⌈MONTANO and GRAZIANO⌉ O heavens forfend!
EMILIA (to Iago)
And your reports have set the murder on.
OTHELLO
Nay, stare not, masters. It is true indeed.
GRAZIANO
’Tis a strange truth.
MONTANO O monstrous act!
EMILIA
Villainy, villainy, villainy!
I think upon’t, I think. I smell’t. O villainy!
I thought so then. I’ll kill myself for grief.
O villainy, villainy!
IAGO
What, are you mad? I charge you get you home.
EMILIA
Good gentlemen, let me have leave to speak.
‘Tis proper I obey him, but not now.
Perchance, Iago, I will ne’er go home.
OTHELLO
O, O, O!
Othello falls on the bed
EMILIA Nay, lay thee down and roar,
For thou hast killed the sweetest innocent
That e’er did lift up eye.
OTHELLO ⌈rising ⌉ O, she was foul!
(To Graziano) I scarce did know you, uncle. There lies
your niece,
Whose breath indeed these hands have newly
stopped.
I know this act shows horrible and grim
GRAZIANO
Poor Desdemon, 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.
OTHELLO
’Tis pitiful. But yet Iago knows
That she with Cassio hath the act of shame
A thousand times committed. Cassio confessed 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.
EMILIA O God! O heavenly God!
IAGO
’Swounds, hold your peace!
EMILIA ‘Twill out, ’twill out. I peace?
No, I will speak as liberal as the north.
Let heaven, and men, and devils, let ’em all,
All, all cry shame against me, yet I’ll speak.
IAGO Be wise and get you home.
EMILIA I will not.
Iago draws his sword
GRAZIANO (to Iago) Fie, your sword upon a woman?
EMILIA
O thou dull Moor, that handkerchief thou speak’st of
I found by fortune and did give my husband,
For often, with a solemn earnestness—
More than indeed belonged to such a trifle—
He begged of me to steal’t.
IAGO Villainous whore!
EMILIA
She give it Cassio? No, alas, I found it,
And I did give’t my husband.
IAGO Filth, thou liest.
EMILIA
By heaven I do not, I do not, gentlemen.
O murderous coxcomb! What should such a fool
Do with so good a wife?
OTHELLO Are there no stones in heaven
But what serves for the thunder? Precious villain!
The Moor runs at lago. Montano disarms Othello. Iago wounds his wife