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  • Title: Othello (Modern)
  • Editor: Jessica Slights

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-466-0

    Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Jessica Slights
    Peer Reviewed

    Othello (Modern)

    5.2
    Enter Othello [with a light], and Desdemona in her bed.
    3240Othello
    It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul.
    Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars.
    It is the cause. Yet I'll not shed her blood,
    Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow
    And smooth as monumental alabaster--
    3245Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men.
    Put out the light, and then put out the light--
    If I quench thee, thou flaming minister,
    I can again thy former light restore
    Should I repent me. But once put out thy light,
    3250Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature,
    I know not where is that Promethean heat
    That can thy light relume. When I have plucked thy rose,
    I cannot give it vital growth again;
    3255It needs must wither. I'll smell thee on the tree.
    [He kisses her.]
    O balmy breath, that dost almost persuade
    Justice to break her sword--one more, one more.
    [He kisses her.]
    Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee
    And love thee after--one more, and that's the last.
    [He kisses her.]
    3260So sweet was ne'er so fatal. I must weep,
    But they are cruel tears. This sorrow's heavenly;
    It strikes where it doth love. She wakes.
    Desdemona
    Who's there? Othello?
    Othello
    Ay, Desdemona.
    3265Desdemona
    Will you come to bed, my lord?
    Othello
    Have you prayed tonight, Desdemon?
    Desdemona
    Ay, my lord.
    Othello
    If you bethink yourself of any crime
    Unreconciled as yet to heaven and grace,
    3270Solicit for it straight.
    Desdemona
    Alack, my lord, what may you mean by that?
    Othello
    Well, do it, and be brief; I will walk by.
    I would not kill thy unpreparèd spirit.
    3275No, heavens forfend!--I would not kill thy soul.
    Desdemona
    Talk you of killing?
    Othello
    Ay, I do.
    Desdemona
    Then heaven have mercy on me.
    Othello
    Amen, with all my heart.
    3280Desdemona
    If you say so, I hope you will not kill me.
    Othello
    Humh.
    Desdemona
    And yet I fear you, for you're fatal then
    When your eyes roll so. Why I should fear I know not,
    3285Since guiltiness I know not; but yet I feel I fear.
    Othello
    Think on thy sins.
    Desdemona
    They are loves I bear to you.
    Othello
    Ay, and for that thou diest.
    Desdemona
    That death's unnatural that kills for loving.
    3290Alas, why gnaw you so your nether lip?
    Some bloody passion shakes your very frame.
    These are portents; but yet I hope, I hope,
    They do not point on me.
    Othello
    Peace, and be still.
    3295Desdemona
    I will so. What's the matter?
    Othello
    That handkerchief which I so loved and gave thee,
    Thou gav'st to Cassio.
    Desdemona
    No, by my life and soul!
    Send for the man and ask him.
    3300Othello
    Sweet soul, take heed;
    Take heed of perjury; thou art on thy deathbed.
    Desdemona
    Ay, but not yet to die.
    Othello
    Yes, presently.
    Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin;
    3305For to deny each article with oath
    Cannot remove nor choke the strong conception
    That I do groan withal. Thou art to die.
    Desdemona
    O heaven have mercy on me!
    Othello
    I say amen.
    3310Desdemona
    And have you mercy too. I never did
    Offend you in my life, never loved Cassio
    But with such general warranty of heaven
    As I might love. I never gave him token.
    Othello
    By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in's hand.
    3315O perjured woman, thou dost stone my heart,
    And makes me call what I intend to do
    A murder, which I thought a sacrifice.
    I saw the handkerchief.
    Desdemona
    He found it then.
    3320I never gave it him. Send for him hither.
    Let him confess a truth.
    Othello
    He hath confessed.
    Desdemona
    What, my lord?
    Othello
    That he hath--'ud's death!--used thee.
    3325Desdemona
    How? Unlawfully?
    Othello
    Ay.
    Desdemona
    He will not say so.
    Othello
    No, his mouth is stopped.
    Honest Iago hath ta'en order for't.
    3330Desdemona
    Oh, my fear interprets. What, is he dead?
    Othello
    Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge
    Had stomach for them all.
    Desdemona
    Alas, he is betrayed, and I undone.
    Othello
    Out, strumpet! Weep'st thou for him to my face?
    3335Desdemona
    Oh, banish me, my lord, but kill me not.
    Othello
    Down, strumpet.
    Desdemona
    Kill me tomorrow; let me live tonight.
    Othello
    Nay, if you strive.
    Desdemona
    But half an hour.
    3340Othello
    Being done, there is no pause.
    Desdemona
    But while I say one prayer.
    Othello
    It is too late.
    [Othello] smothers her.
    Emilia [is heard] at the door.
    Emilia
    [Within] My lord, my lord? What ho? 3345My lord, my lord!
    Othello
    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--
    [Smothering her again] So, so.
    3350Emilia
    (Within) What ho? My lord, my lord?
    Othello
    Who's there?
    Emilia
    O good my lord, I would speak a word with you.
    Othello
    Yes--'Tis Emilia.--By and by!--She's dead.
    3355'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--
    3360My wife, my wife--what wife? I have no wife.
    Oh, insupportable! Oh, heavy hour!
    Methinks it should be now a huge eclipse
    Of sun and moon, and that th'affrighted globe
    Did yawn at alteration.
    3365Emilia
    [Within] I do beseech you
    That I may speak with you. O good my lord.
    Othello
    I had forgot thee. O come in, Emilia.
    Soft,--By and by!--let me the curtains draw.
    [He closes the bed curtains.]
    Where art thou? What's the matter with thee now?
    3370[He unlocks the door.] Enter Emilia.
    Emilia
    O my good lord, yonder's foul murders done.
    Othello
    What? Now?
    Emilia
    But now, my lord.
    3375Othello
    It is the very error of the moon;
    She comes more nearer Earth than she was wont,
    And makes men mad.
    Emilia
    Cassio, my lord, hath killed
    A young Venetian called Roderigo.
    3380Othello
    Roderigo killed? And Cassio killed?
    Emilia
    No, Cassio is not killed.
    Othello
    Not Cassio killed? Then murder's out of tune,
    And sweet revenge grows harsh.
    Desdemona
    Oh, falsely, falsely murdered.
    3385Emilia
    O Lord! What cry is that?
    Othello
    That? What?
    Emilia
    Out and alas, that was my lady's voice!
    [She opens the bed curtains.]
    Help, help, ho, help! O lady, speak again.
    Sweet Desdemona, O sweet mistress, speak.
    3390Desdemona
    A guiltless death I die.
    Emilia
    Oh, who hath done this deed?
    Desdemona
    Nobody--I myself. Farewell--
    Commend me to my kind lord--Oh, farewell.
    [Desdemona dies.]
    Othello
    Why, how should she be murdered?
    3395Emilia
    Alas, who knows?
    Othello
    You heard her say herself, it was not I.
    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.
    3400Emilia
    Oh, 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.
    3405Emilia
    Thou art rash as fire
    To say that she was false. Oh, she was heavenly true.
    Othello
    Cassio did top her; ask thy husband else.
    Oh, I were damned beneath all depth in hell,
    But that I did proceed upon just grounds
    3410To 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,
    3415If 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.
    3420An 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.
    3425Emilia
    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?--
    3430My 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?
    3435Emilia
    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
    3440As I have to be hurt. O gull, O dolt,
    As ignorant as dirt, thou hast done a deed--
    [Othello threatens Emilia with his sword.]
    I care not for thy sword; I'll make thee known
    Though I lost twenty lives. Help, help, ho, help!
    The Moor hath killed my mistress. Murder, murder!
    3445Enter Montano, Gratiano, and Iago.
    Montano
    What is the matter? How now, general?
    Emilia
    Oh, are you come, Iago? You have done well,
    That men must lay their murders on your neck.
    Gratiano
    What is the matter?
    3450Emilia
    [To Iago] 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, 3455and told no more
    Than what he found himself was apt and true.
    Emilia
    But did you ever tell him she was false?
    Iago
    I did.
    3460Emilia
    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. 3465Go to, charm your tongue.
    Emilia
    I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to speak.
    My mistress here lies murdered in her bed.
    All
    O heavens forfend!
    3470Emilia
    And your reports have set the murder on.
    Othello
    Nay, stare not, masters; it is true indeed.
    Gratiano
    'Tis a strange truth.
    Montano
    O monstrous act!
    3475Emilia
    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? 3480I 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
    Oh, Oh, Oh!
    [Othello falls on the bed.]
    3485Emilia
    Nay, lay thee down and roar,
    For thou hast killed the sweetest innocent
    That ere did lift up eye.
    Othello
    Oh, she was foul!
    I scarce did know you, uncle. There lies your niece,
    3490Whose breath, indeed, these hands have newly stopped.
    I know this act shows horrible and grim.
    Gratiano
    Poor Desdemon, I am glad thy father's dead;
    Thy match was mortal to him, and pure grief
    3495Shore 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
    3500That 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--
    3505It was a handkerchief, an antique token
    My father gave my mother.
    Emilia
    O God, O heavenly God!
    Iago
    Zounds, hold your peace.
    Emilia
    'Twill out, 'twill out. I peace?
    3510No, 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.
    Emilia
    I will not.
    [Iago threatens Emilia with his sword.]
    3515Gratiano
    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--
    3520More 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.
    3525Iago
    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 runs at Iago and is disarmed by Montano. Iago stabs Emilia.]
    Othello
    Are there no stones in heaven
    3530But what serves for the thunder? Precious villain!
    Gratiano
    The woman falls; sure he hath killed his wife.
    Emilia
    Ay, ay. Oh, lay me by my mistress's side.
    [Exit Iago.]
    3535Gratiano
    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,
    3540For 'tis a damnèd slave.
    Exeunt [Montano and Gratiano].
    Othello
    I am not valiant neither,
    But every puny whipster gets my sword.
    But why should honor outlive honesty?
    Let it go all.
    3545Emilia
    What did thy song bode, lady?
    Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the swan,
    And die in music:
    [Singing] Willow, willow, willow.
    Moor, she was chaste. She loved thee, cruel Moor.
    So come my soul to bliss, as I speak true;
    3550So speaking as I think, alas, I die.
    [Emilia dies.]
    Othello
    I have another weapon in this chamber;
    It was a sword of Spain, the ice-brook's temper--
    Oh, here it is. Uncle, I must come forth.
    Gratiano
    [Within] If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear;
    3555Thou 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 Gratiano.]
    Gratiano
    What is the matter?
    Othello
    Behold, I have a weapon;
    3560A 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!--
    3565Who 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 seamark of my utmost sail.
    Do you go back dismayed? 'Tis a lost fear.
    3570Man but a rush against Othello's breast
    And he retires. Where should Othello go?
    Now, how dost thou look now? O ill-starred wench,
    Pale as thy smock; when we shall meet at compt,
    This look of thine will hurl my soul from heaven
    3575And fiends will snatch at it. Cold, cold, my girl?
    Even like thy chastity. O cursèd, cursèd slave!
    Whip me, ye devils, from the possession of this heavenly sight,
    Blow me about in winds, roast me in sulfur,
    3580Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire--
    O Desdemon! Dead Desdemon! Dead--Oh, Oh!
    Enter Lodovico, Cassio [in a chair], Montano, and Iago with officers.
    Lodovico
    Where is this rash and most unfortunate man?
    3585Othello
    That's he that was Othello; here I am.
    Lodovico
    Where is that viper? Bring the villain forth.
    Othello
    I look down toward his feet, but that's a fable;
    If that thou be'st a devil, I cannot kill thee.
    [Othello wounds Iago.]
    3590Lodovico
    Wrench his sword from him.
    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,
    3595Fallen in the practice of a damnèd slave,
    What shall be said to thee?
    Othello
    Why, anything--
    An honorable murderer, if you will,
    For naught I did in hate, but all in honor.
    3600Lodovico
    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.
    3605Will 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
    What, not to pray?
    3610Gratiano
    Torments will ope your lips.
    Othello
    Well, thou dost best.
    Lodovico
    Sir, you shall understand what hath befallen,
    Which, as I think, you know not. Here is a letter
    3615Found 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!
    3620Cassio
    Most heathenish and most gross!
    Lodovico
    Now here's another discontented paper
    Found in his pocket too; and this, it seems,
    Roderigo meant t'have sent this damnèd villain,
    But that, belike, Iago in the interim
    3625Came in and satisfied him.
    Othello
    O thou pernicious caitiff!
    How came you, Cassio, by that handkerchief
    That was my wife's?
    Cassio
    I found it in my chamber,
    3630And 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
    3635How 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.
    3640Lodovico
    [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,
    3645It shall be his. You shall close prisoner rest,
    Till that the nature of your fault be known
    To the Venetian state. Come, bring away.
    Othello
    Soft you, a word or two before you go.
    I have done the state some service, and they know't;
    3650No more of that. I pray you in your letters,
    When you shall these unlucky deeds relate,
    Speak of me as I am. Nothing extenuate,
    Nor set down aught in malice. Then must you speak
    3655Of one that loved not wisely, but too well;
    Of one not easily jealous, but, being wrought,
    Perplexed in the extreme; of one whose hand,
    Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away
    Richer than all his tribe; of one whose subdued eyes,
    3660Albeit unused to the melting mood,
    Drops tears as fast as the Arabian trees
    Their medicinable gum. Set you down this,
    And say besides that in Aleppo once,
    Where a malignant and a turbaned Turk
    3665Beat a Venetian and traduced the state,
    I took by th'throat the circumcisèd dog
    And smote him--thus.
    [Othello stabs himself.]
    Lodovico
    O bloody period.
    Gratiano
    All that is spoke is marred.
    3670Othello
    I kissed thee ere I killed thee--no way but this,
    Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.
    [Othello kisses Desdemona and] dies.
    Cassio
    This did I fear, but thought he had no weapon,
    For he was great of heart.
    Lodovico
    O Spartan dog,
    3675More fell than anguish, hunger, or the sea,
    Look on the tragic loading of this bed.
    This is thy work. The object poisons sight;
    Let it be hid. Gratiano, keep the house
    3680And seize upon the fortunes of the Moor,
    For they succeed on you. [To Cassio] To you, lord governor,
    Remains the censure of this hellish villain;
    The time, the place, the torture, oh, enforce it.
    Myself will straight aboard, and to the state
    3685This heavy act with heavy heart relate.
    Exeunt.
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