1    It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul,--
2    Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars!--
3    It is the cause. Yet I'll not shed her blood;
4    Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow,
5    And smooth as monumental alabaster.
6    Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men.
7    Put out the light, and then put out the light:
8    If I quench thee, thou flaming minister,
9    I can again thy former light restore,
10   Should I repent me: but once put out thy light,
11   Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature,
12   I know not where is that Promethean heat
13   That can thy light relume. When I have pluck'd the rose,
14   I cannot give it vital growth again.
15   It must needs wither: I'll smell it on the tree.
Kissing her
16   Ah balmy breath, that dost almost persuade
17   Justice to break her sword! One more, one more.
18   Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee,
19   And love thee after. One more, and this the last:
20   So sweet was ne'er so fatal. I must weep,
21   But they are cruel tears: this sorrow's heavenly;
22   It strikes where it doth love. She wakes.

23   Who's there? Othello?

24   Ay. Desdemona.

25   Will you come to bed, my lord?

26   Have you pray'd to-night, Desdemona?

27   Ay, my lord.

28   If you bethink yourself of any crime
29   Unreconciled as yet to heaven and grace,
30   Solicit for it straight.

31   Alas, my lord, what do you mean by that?

32   Well, do it, and be brief; I will walk by:
33   I would not kill thy unprepared spirit;
34   No; heaven forfend! I would not kill thy soul.

35   Talk you of killing?

36   Ay, I do.

37   Then heaven
38   Have mercy on me!

39   Amen, with all my heart!

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

41   Hum!

42   And yet I fear you; for you are fatal then
43   When your eyes roll so: why I should fear I know not,
44   Since guiltiness I know not; but yet I feel I fear.

45   Think on thy sins.

46   They are loves I bear to you.

47   Ay, and for that thou diest.

48   That death's unnatural that kills for loving.
49   Alas, why gnaw you so your nether lip?
50   Some bloody passion shakes your very frame:
51   These are portents; but yet I hope, I hope,
52   They do not point on me.

53   Peace, and be still!

54   I will so. What's the matter?

55   That handkerchief which I so loved and gave thee
56   Thou gavest to Cassio.

57   No, by my life and soul!
58   Send for the man, and ask him.

59   Sweet soul, take heed,
60   Take heed of perjury; thou art on thy deathbed.

61   Ay, but not yet to die.

62   Yes, presently:
63   Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin;
64   For to deny each article with oath
65   Cannot remove nor choke the strong conception
66   That I do groan withal. Thou art to die.

67   Then Lord have mercy on me!

68   I say, amen.

69   And have you mercy too! I never did
70   Offend you in my life; never loved Cassio
71   But with such general warranty of heaven
72   As I might love: I never gave him token.

73   By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in's hand.
74   O perjured woman! thou dost stone my heart,
75   And makest me call what I intend to do
76   A murder, which I thought a sacrifice:
77   I saw the handkerchief.

78   He found it then;
79   I never gave it him: send for him hither;
80   Let him confess a truth.

81   He hath confess'd.

82   What, my lord?

83   That he hath used thee.

84   How? unlawfully?

85   Ay.

86   He will not say so.

87   No, his mouth is stopp'd;
88   Honest Iago hath ta'en order for't.

89   O! my fear interprets: what, is he dead?

90   Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge
91   Had stomach for them all.

92   Alas! he is betray'd and I undone.

93   Out, strumpet! weep'st thou for him to my face?

94   O, banish me, my lord, but kill me not!

95   Down, strumpet!

96   Kill me to-morrow: let me live to-night!

97   Nay, if you strive--

98   But half an hour!

99   Being done, there is no pause.

100  But while I say one prayer!

101  It is too late.

Within
102   My lord, my lord! what, ho! my lord, my lord!

103  What noise is this? Not dead? not yet quite dead?
104  I that am cruel am yet merciful;
105  I would not have thee linger in thy pain: So, so.

Within
106   What, ho! my lord, my lord!

107  Who's there?

Within
108   O, good my lord, I would speak a word with you!

109  Yes: 'tis Emilia. By and by. She's dead.
110  'Tis like she comes to speak of Cassio's death.--
111  The noise was here. Ha! no more moving?
112  Still as the grave. Shall she come in? were't good?--
113  I think she stirs again:--no. What's best to do?
114  If she come in, she'll sure speak to my wife:
115  My wife! my wife! what wife? I have no wife.
116  O insupportable! O heavy hour!
117  Methinks it should be now a huge eclipse
118  Of sun and moon, and that the affrighted globe
119  Should yawn at alteration.

Within
120   I do beseech you
121  That I may speak with you, O, good my lord!

122  I had forgot thee: O, come in, Emilia;
123  Soft; by and by. Let me the curtains draw.
124  Where art thou?
Unlocks the door
Enter EMILIA
125  What's the matter with thee now?

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

127  What, now?

128  But now, my lord.

129  It is the very error of the moon;
130  She comes more nearer earth than she was wont,
131  And makes men mad.

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

134  Roderigo kill'd!
135  And Cassio kill'd!

136  No, Cassio is not kill'd.

137  Not Cassio kill'd! then murder's out of tune,
138  And sweet revenge grows harsh.

139  O, falsely, falsely murder'd!

140  Alas, what cry is that?

141  That! what?

142  Out, and alas! that was my lady's voice.
143  Help! help, ho! help! O lady, speak again!
144  Sweet Desdemona! O sweet mistress, speak!

145  A guiltless death I die.

146  O, who hath done this deed?

147  Nobody; I myself. Farewell
148  Commend me to my kind lord: O, farewell!

149  Why, how should she be murder'd?

150  Alas, who knows?

151  You heard her say herself, it was not I.

152  She said so: I must needs report the truth.

153  She's, like a liar, gone to burning hell:
154  'Twas I that kill'd her.

155  O, the more angel she,
156  And you the blacker devil!

157  She turn'd to folly, and she was a whore.

158  Thou dost belie her, and thou art a devil.

159  She was false as water.

160  Thou art rash as fire, to say
161  That she was false: O, she was heavenly true!

162  Cassio did top her; ask thy husband else.
163  O, I were damn'd beneath all depth in hell,
164  But that I did proceed upon just grounds
165  To this extremity. Thy husband knew it all.

166  My husband!

167  Thy husband.

168  That she was false to wedlock?

169  Ay, with Cassio. Nay, had she been true,
170  If heaven would make me such another world
171  Of one entire and Perfect chrysolite,
172  I'ld not have sold her for it.

173  My husband!

174  Ay, 'twas he that told me first:
175  An honest man he is, and hates the slime
176  That sticks on filthy deeds.

177  My husband!

178  What needs this iteration, woman? I say thy husband.

179  O mistress, villany hath made mocks with love,
180  My husband say that she was false!

181  He, woman;
182  I say thy husband: dost understand the word?
183  My friend, thy husband, honest, honest Iago.

184  If he say so, may his pernicious soul
185  Rot half a grain a day! he lies to the heart:
186  She was too fond of her most filthy bargain.

187  Ha!

188  Do thy worst:
189  This deed of thine is no more worthy heaven
190  Than thou wast worthy her.

191  Peace, you were best.

192  Thou hast not half that power to do me harm
193  As I have to be hurt. O gull! O dolt!
194  As ignorant as dirt! thou hast done a deed--
195  I care not for thy sword; I'll make thee known,
196  Though I lost twenty lives.--Help! help, ho! help!
197  The Moor hath kill'd my mistress! Murder! murder!

198  What is the matter? How now, general!

199  O, are you come, Iago? you have done well,
200  That men must lay their murders on your neck.

201  What is the matter?

202  Disprove this villain, if thou be'st a man:
203  He says thou told'st him that his wife was false:
204  I know thou didst not, thou'rt not such a villain:
205  Speak, for my heart is full.

206  I told him what I thought, and told no more
207  Than what he found himself was apt and true.

208  But did you ever tell him she was false?

209  I did.

210  You told a lie, an odious, damned lie;
211  Upon my soul, a lie, a wicked lie.
212  She false with Cassio!--did you say with Cassio?

213  With Cassio, mistress. Go to, charm your tongue.

214  I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to speak:
215  My mistress here lies murder'd in her bed,--

216  O heavens forfend!

217  And your reports have set the murder on.

218  Nay, stare not, masters: it is true, indeed.

219  'Tis a strange truth.

220  O monstrous act!

221  Villany, villany, villany!
222  I think upon't, I think: I smell't: O villany!--
223  I thought so then:--I'll kill myself for grief:--
224  O villany, villany!

225  What, are you mad? I charge you, get you home.

226  Good gentlemen, let me have leave to speak:
227  'Tis proper I obey him, but not now.
228  Perchance, Iago, I will ne'er go home.

229  O! O! O!

230  Nay, lay thee down and roar;
231  For thou hast kill'd the sweetest innocent
232  That e'er did lift up eye.

Rising
233   O, she was foul!
234  I scarce did know you, uncle: there lies your niece,
235  Whose breath, indeed, these hands have newly stopp'd:
236  I know this act shows horrible and grim.

237  Poor Desdemona! I am glad thy father's dead:
238  Thy match was mortal to him, and pure grief
239  Shore his old thread in twain: did he live now,
240  This sight would make him do a desperate turn,
241  Yea, curse his better angel from his side,
242  And fall to reprobation.

243  'Tis pitiful; but yet Iago knows
244  That she with Cassio hath the act of shame
245  A thousand times committed; Cassio confess'd it:
246  And she did gratify his amorous works
247  With that recognizance and pledge of love
248  Which I first gave her; I saw it in his hand:
249  It was a handkerchief, an antique token
250  My father gave my mother.

251  O heaven! O heavenly powers!

252  Come, hold your peace.

253  'Twill out, 'twill out: I peace!
254  No, I will speak as liberal as the north:
255  Let heaven and men and devils, let them all,
256  All, all, cry shame against me, yet I'll speak.

257  Be wise, and get you home.

258  I will not.

259  Fie!
260  Your sword upon a woman?

261  O thou dull Moor! that handkerchief thou speak'st of
262  I found by fortune and did give my husband;
263  For often, with a solemn earnestness,
264  More than indeed belong'd to such a trifle,
265  He begg'd of me to steal it.

266  Villanous whore!

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

269  Filth, thou liest!

270  By heaven, I do not, I do not, gentlemen.
271  O murderous coxcomb! what should such a fool
272  Do with so good a woman?

273  Are there no stones in heaven
274  But what serve for the thunder?--Precious villain!

275  The woman falls; sure, he hath kill'd his wife.

276  Ay, ay: O, lay me by my mistress' side.

277  He's gone, but his wife's kill'd.

278  'Tis a notorious villain. Take you this weapon,
279  Which I have here recover'd from the Moor:
280  Come, guard the door without; let him not pass,
281  But kill him rather. I'll after that same villain,
282  For 'tis a damned slave.

283  I am not valiant neither,
284  But ever puny whipster gets my sword:
285  But why should honour outlive honesty?
286  Let it go all.

287  What did thy song bode, lady?
288  Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the swan.
289  And die in music.
Singing
290  Willow, willow, willow,--
291  Moor, she was chaste; she loved thee, cruel Moor;
292  So come my soul to bliss, as I speak true;
293  So speaking as I think, I die, I die.

294  I have another weapon in this chamber;
295  It is a sword of Spain, the ice-brook's temper:--
296  O, here it is. Uncle, I must come forth.

Within
297   If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear:
298  Thou hast no weapon, and perforce must suffer.

299  Look in upon me then and speak with me,
300  Or, naked as I am, I will assault thee.

301  What is the matter?

302  Behold, I have a weapon;
303  A better never did itself sustain
304  Upon a soldier's thigh: I have seen the day,
305  That, with this little arm and this good sword,
306  I have made my way through more impediments
307  Than twenty times your stop: but, O vain boast!
308  Who can control his fate? 'tis not so now.
309  Be not afraid, though you do see me weapon'd;
310  Here is my journey's end, here is my butt,
311  And very sea-mark of my utmost sail.
312  Do you go back dismay'd? 'tis a lost fear;
313  Man but a rush against Othello's breast,
314  And he retires. Where should Othello go?
315  Now, how dost thou look now? O ill-starr'd wench!
316  Pale as thy smock! when we shall meet at compt,
317  This look of thine will hurl my soul from heaven,
318  And fiends will snatch at it. Cold, cold, my girl!
319  Even like thy chastity. O cursed slave!
320  Whip me, ye devils,
321  From the possession of this heavenly sight!
322  Blow me about in winds! roast me in sulphur!
323  Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire!
324  O Desdemona! Desdemona! dead!
325  Oh! Oh! Oh!

326  Where is this rash and most unfortunate man?

327  That's he that was Othello: here I am.

328  Where is that viper? bring the villain forth.

329  I look down towards his feet; but that's a fable.
330  If that thou best a devil, I cannot kill thee.

331  Wrench his sword from him.

332  I bleed, sir; but not kill'd.

333  I am not sorry neither: I'ld have thee live;
334  For, in my sense, 'tis happiness to die.

335  O thou Othello, thou wert once so good,
336  Fall'n in the practise of a damned slave,
337  What shall be said to thee?

338  Why, any thing:
339  An honourable murderer, if you will;
340  For nought I did in hate, but all in honour.

341  This wretch hath part confess'd his villany:
342  Did you and he consent in Cassio's death?

343  Ay.

344  Dear general, I never gave you cause.

345  I do believe it, and I ask your pardon.
346  Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devil
347  Why he hath thus ensnared my soul and body?

348  Demand me nothing: what you know, you know:
349  From this time forth I never will speak word.

350  What, not to pray?

351  Torments will ope your lips.

352  Well, thou dost best.

353  Sir, you shall understand what hath befall'n,
354  Which, as I think, you know not. Here is a letter
355  Found in the pocket of the slain Roderigo;
356  And here another: the one of them imports
357  The death of Cassio to be undertook
358  By Roderigo.

359  O villain!

360  Most heathenish and most gross!

361  Now here's another discontented paper,
362  Found in his pocket too; and this, it seems,
363  Roderigo meant to have sent this damned villain;
364  But that belike Iago in the interim
365  Came in and satisfied him.

366  O the pernicious caitiff!
367  How came you, Cassio, by that handkerchief
368  That was my wife's?

369  I found it in my chamber:
370  And he himself confess'd but even now
371  That there he dropp'd it for a special purpose
372  Which wrought to his desire.

373  O fool! fool! fool!

374  There is besides in Roderigo's letter,
375  How he upbraids Iago, that he made him
376  Brave me upon the watch; whereon it came
377  That I was cast: and even but now he spake,
378  After long seeming dead, Iago hurt him,
379  Iago set him on.

380  You must forsake this room, and go with us:
381  Your power and your command is taken off,
382  And Cassio rules in Cyprus. For this slave,
383  If there be any cunning cruelty
384  That can torment him much and hold him long,
385  It shall be his. You shall close prisoner rest,
386  Till that the nature of your fault be known
387  To the Venetian state. Come, bring him away.

388  Soft you; a word or two before you go.
389  I have done the state some service, and they know't.
390  No more of that. I pray you, in your letters,
391  When you shall these unlucky deeds relate,
392  Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate,
393  Nor set down aught in malice: then must you speak
394  Of one that loved not wisely but too well;
395  Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought
396  Perplex'd in the extreme; of one whose hand,
397  Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away
398  Richer than all his tribe; of one whose subdued eyes,
399  Albeit unused to the melting mood,
400  Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees
401  Their medicinal gum. Set you down this;
402  And say besides, that in Aleppo once,
403  Where a malignant and a turban'd Turk
404  Beat a Venetian and traduced the state,
405  I took by the throat the circumcised dog,
406  And smote him, thus.

407  O bloody period!

408  All that's spoke is marr'd.

409  I kiss'd thee ere I kill'd thee: no way but this;
410  Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.

411  This did I fear, but thought he had no weapon;
412  For he was great of heart.

To IAGO
413   O Spartan dog,
414  More fell than anguish, hunger, or the sea!
415  Look on the tragic loading of this bed;
416  This is thy work: the object poisons sight;
417  Let it be hid. Gratiano, keep the house,
418  And seize upon the fortunes of the Moor,
419  For they succeed on you. To you, lord governor,
420  Remains the censure of this hellish villain;
421  The time, the place, the torture: O, enforce it!
422  Myself will straight aboard: and to the state
423  This heavy act with heavy heart relate.