GRAZIANO

The woman falls. Sure he hath killed his wife.

EMILIA

Ay, ay. O, lay me by my mistress’ side!

Exit lago

GRAZIANO He’s gone, but his wife’s killed.

MONTANO

‘Tis a notorious villain. Take you this weapon

Which I have here recovered 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 Montano and Graziano

OTHELLO I am not valiant neither,

But every puny whipster gets my sword.

But why should honour outlive honesty?

Let it go all.

EMILIA What did thy song bode, lady?

Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the swan,

And die in music. (Sings) ‘Willow, willow, willow.’—

Moor, she was chaste. She loved thee, cruel Moor.

So come my soul to bliss as I speak true.

So, speaking as I think, alas, I die. She dies

OTHELLO

I have another weapon in this chamber.

It was a sword of Spain, the ice-brook’s temper.

O, here it is. (Calling) Uncle, I must come forth.

GRAZIANO (within)

If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear.

Thou hast no weapon, and perforce must suffer.

OTHELLO

Look in upon me then, and speak with me,

Or, naked as I am, I will assault thee.

Enter Graziano

GRAZIANO

What is the matter?

OTHELLO Behold, I have a weapon;

A better never did itself sustain

Upon a soldier’s thigh. I have seen the day

That, with this little arm and this good sword,

I have made my way through more impediments

Than twenty times your stop. But O, vain boast!

Who can control his fate? ‘Tis not so now.

Be not afraid, though you do see me weaponed.

Here is my journey’s end, here is my butt

And very sea-mark of my utmost sail.

Do you go back dismayed? ’Tis a lost fear.

Man but a rush against Othello’s breast

And he retires. Where should Othello go?

(To Desdemona) Now, how dost thou look now? O ill-

starred wench,

Pale as thy smock! When we shall meet at count

This look of thine will hurl my soul from heaven,

And fiends will snatch at it.

⌈He touches her⌉

Cold, cold, my girl,

Even like thy chastity. O cursed, cursed slavel

Whip me, ye devils,

From the possession of this heavenly sight.

Blow me about in winds, roast me in sulphur,

Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire!

O Desdemon! Dead Desdemon! Dead! 0! 0!

Enter Lodovico, Montano, Iago guarded by officers, with Cassio in a chair

LODOVICO

Where is this rash and most unfortunate man?

OTHELLO

That’s he that was Othello. Here I am.

LODOVICO

Where is that viper? Bring the villain forth.

OTHELLO

I look down towards his feet, but that’s a fable.

(To Iago) If that thou beest a devil I cannot kill thee.

He wounds Iago

LODOVICO

Wrench his sword from him.

Officers disarm Othello

IAGO I bleed, sir, but not killed.

OTHELLO

I am not sorry, neither. I’d have thee live,

For in my sense ’tis happiness to die.

LODOVICO

O thou Othello, that was once so good,

Fall’n in the practice of a cursed slave,

What shall be said to thee?

OTHELLO Why, anything;

An honourable murderer, if you will,

For naught I did in hate, but all in honour.

LODOVICO

This wretch hath part confessed his villainy.

Did you and he consent in Cassio’s death?

OTHELLO Ay.

CASSIO

Dear general, I never gave you cause.

OTHELLO

I do believe it, and I ask your pardon.

Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devil

Why he hath thus ensnared my soul and body?

IAGO

Demand me nothing. What you know, you know.

From this time forth I never will speak word.

LODOVICO (to Iago) What, not to pray?

GRAZIANO (to Iago) Torments will ope your lips.

OTHELLO Well, thou dost best.

LODOVICO

Sir, you shall understand what hath befall’n,

Which as, I think, you know not. Here is a letter,

Found in the pocket of the slain Roderigo,

And here another. The one of them imports

The death of Cassio, to be undertook

By Roderigo.

OTHELLO O villain!

CASSIO Most heathenish and most gross.

LODOVICO

Now here’s another discontented paper

Found in his pocket too, and this it seems

Roderigo meant to’ve sent this damned villain,

But that, belike, Iago in the interim

Came in and satisfied him.

OTHELLO (to Iago) O thou pernicious caitiff!

How came you, Cassio, by that handkerchief

That was my wife’s?

CASSIO I found it in my chamber,

And he himself confessed it, but even now,

That there he dropped it for a special purpose

Which wrought to his desire.

OTHELLO O fool, fool, fool!

CASSIO

There is besides in Roderigo’s letter

How he upbraids Iago, that he made him

Brave me upon the watch, whereon it came

That I was cast; and even but now he spake

After long seeming dead, Iago hurt him,

Iago set him on.

LODOVICO (to Othello)

You must forsake this room and go with us.

Your power and your command is taken off,

And Cassio rules in Cyprus. For this slave,

If there be any cunning cruelty

That can torment him much and hold him long,

It shall be his. You shall close prisoner rest