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.
84 dozen (a hyperbolic understatement); to th' vantage in addition 85 store populate; played gambled (with sexual undertone) 88 foreign i.e., strangers' 89 peevish unreasonable 90 Throwing restraint upon us limiting our freedom, locking us up 91 scant our former having reduce our allowance 92 galls resentment 94 sense sensual feelings 98 affection passion, lust 104 uses behavior, habits 105 pick i.e., pick up, learn
V.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.
[Stands aside.]
RODERIGO
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
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 heard him coming.
Enter Cassio. V.1 A street in Cyprus 1 bulk stall-like structure projecting from a shop 11 quat boil, pimple; sense quick 14 Live Roderigo i.e., if Roderigo lives 16 bobbed swindled
RODERIGO
I know his gait. 'Tis he. Villain, thou diest!
[Makes a pass at Cassio.]
CASSIO
That thrust had been mine enemy indeed
But that my coat is better than thou know'st.
I will make proof of thine.
[Draws, and wounds Roderigo.]
RODERIGO O, I am slain!
[Iago leaps at Cassio from behind,
wounds him in the leg, and exits.]
CASSIO
I am maimed forever. Help, ho! Murder! murder!
[Falls.]
Enter Othello.
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 Othello.
Enter Lodovico and Gratiano.
CASSIO
What, ho? No watch? No passage? Murder! murder! 25 coat i.e., soldier's undercoat of mail 33 Minion darling, favorite (here addressed contemptuously to Desdemona) 34 hies comes quickly 35 Forth of i.e., out of 37 watch night watchmen; passage traffic, passersby
GRATIANO
'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.
LODOVICO Hark!
Enter Iago [with a light].
GRATIANO
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 sake, help me!
IAGO What's the matter?
GRATIANO
This is Othello's ancient, as I take it.
LODOVICO
The same indeed, a very valiant fellow.
IAGO
What are you here that cry so grievously?
CASSIO
Iago? O, I am spoiled, undone by villains!
Give me some help.
IAGO
O me, lieutenant! What villains have done this? 42 heavy dismal, dark 47 shirt i.e., without his jacket, not fully dressed 48 on of 54 spoiled ruined (i.e., injured)
CASSIO
I think that one of them is hereabout
And cannot make away.
IAGO O treacherous villains!
[To Lodovico and Gratiano]
What are you there? Come in, and give some help.
RODERIGO
O, help me there!
CASSIO
That's one of them.
IAGO O murd'rous slave! O villain!
[Stabs Roderigo.]
RODERIGO
O damned Iago! O inhuman dog!
IAGO
Kill men i' th' dark? - Where be these bloody thieves? -
How silent is this town! - Ho! murder! murder! -
What may you be? Are you of good or evil?
LODOVICO
As you shall prove us, praise us.
IAGO Signor Lodovico?
LODOVICO He, sir.
IAGO
I cry you mercy. Here's Cassio hurt by villains.
GRATIANO Cassio?
IAGO How is't, brother?
CASSIO
My leg is cut in two.
IAGO Marry, heaven forbid!
Light, gentlemen. I'll bind it with my shirt.
Enter Bianca.
BIANCA
What is the matter, ho? Who is't that cried? 58 make away escape 66 prove us, praise us i.e., put us to the test and you'll see (praise = appraise)
IAGO
Who is't that cried?
BIANCA
O my dear Cassio! my sweet Cassio!
O Cassio, Cassio, Cassio!
IAGO
O notable strumpet! - Cassio, may you suspect
Who they should be that have thus mangled you?
CASSIO No.
GRATIANO I am sorry to find you thus. I have been to seek you.
IAGO
Lend me a garter. So. - O for a chair
To bear him easily hence!
BIANCA
Alas, he faints! O Cassio, Cassio, Cassio!
IAGO
Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash
To be a p
arty in this injury. -
Patience awhile, good Cassio. - Come, come!
Lend me a light. Know we this face or no?
Alas, my friend and my dear countryman
Roderigo? No. - Yes, sure. - O heaven, Roderigo!
GRATIANO What, of Venice?
IAGO
Even he, sir. Did you know him?
GRATIANO Know him? Ay.
IAGO
Signor Gratiano? I cry your gentle pardon.
These bloody accidents must excuse my manners
That so neglected you.
GRATIANO I am glad to see you.
IAGO
How do you, Cassio? - O, a chair, a chair! 83 garter i.e., for a tourniquet; chair litter (a framework couch for carrying the wounded) 86 trash i.e., Bianca 94 cry beg 95 accidents sudden events
GRATIANO Roderigo?
IAGO
He, he, 'tis he!
[A litter brought in.]
O, that's well said; the chair.
Some good man bear him carefully from hence.
I'll fetch the general's surgeon.
[To Bianca] For you, mistress,
Save you your labor. - He that lies slain here, Cassio,
Was my dear friend. What malice was between you?
CASSIO
None in the world, nor do I know the man.
IAGO [To Bianca]
What, look you pale? - O, bear him out o' th' air.
[Cassio and Roderigo are borne off.]
Stay you, good gentlemen. - Look you pale, mistress? -
Do you perceive the gastness of her eye? -
Nay, if you stare, we shall hear more anon.
Behold her well; I pray you look upon her.
Do you see, gentlemen? Nay, guiltiness will speak,
Though tongues were out of use.
[Enter Emilia.]
EMILIA
Alas, what is the matter? What is the matter, husband?
IAGO
Cassio hath here been set on in the dark
By Roderigo, and fellows that are scaped.
He's almost slain, and Roderigo quite dead.
EMILIA
Alas, good gentleman! alas, good Cassio!
IAGO
This is the fruits of whoring. Prithee, Emilia,
Go know of Cassio where he supped tonight.
[To Bianca] 99 well said i.e., well done 102 Save . . . labor i.e., you needn't fuss about him anymore; leave him alone 107 gastness ghastly look, fear
What, do you shake at that?
BIANCA
He supped at my house; but I therefore shake not.
IAGO
O did he so? I charge you go with me.
EMILIA
O, fie upon thee, strumpet!
BIANCA
I am no strumpet, but of life as honest
As you that thus abuse me.
EMILIA As I? Fie upon thee!
IAGO
Kind gentlemen, let's go see poor Cassio dressed.
[To Bianca]
Come, mistress, you must tell's another tale.
Emilia, run you to the citadel
And tell my lord and lady what hath happed.
[Exit Emilia.]
Will you go on afore? Exeunt [all but Iago].
This is the night
That either makes me or fordoes me quite. [Exit.]
V.2 Enter Othello [with a light], and Desdemona [asleep] in her bed.
OTHELLO
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, 122 fie i.e., shame 123 honest chaste 125 dressed bandaged 130 fordoes destroys, undoes
V.2 A bedroom in the castle 1 cause (1) legal matter or "case" (here, the crime of adultery), (2) principle (i.e., not merely a personal grievance); my soul (conventional form of self-address)
And smooth as monumental alablaster.
Yet 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,
Thou 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;
It 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!
Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee,
And love thee after. One more, and that's the last!
So 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.
DESDEMONA
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 5 alablaster alabaster, white marble (the archaic form retained here for its sound) 8 flaming minister i.e., the torch or candle that, as minister or servant, lights the chamber 11 Thou . . . nature i.e., Desdemona (cunning'st =beautifully made) 12 Promethean heat divine spark (Prometheus legendarily stole fire from heaven) 13 relume rekindle 21 cruel i.e., unmerciful, but perhaps "painful" or "distressing" 21-22 sorrow's . . . love (see
Hebrews 12:6, "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth") 26 crime sin
Unreconciled as yet to heaven and grace,
Solicit 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 unprepared spirit.
No, 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!
DESDEMONA
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,
Since guiltiness I know not; but yet I feel I fear.
OTHELLO
Think on thy sins.
DESDEMONA They are loves I bear to you.
OTHELLO
DESDEMONA
That death's unnatural that kills for loving.
Alas, 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!
28 Solicit i.e., pray for forgiveness 32 forfend forbid 37 fatal ominous, frightening 40 They . . . you i.e., my only sin is in loving you too much (more than God) 45 portents omens, usually bad 46 still quiet
DESDEMONA
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.
OTHELLO Sweet soul, take heed,
Take heed of perjury; thou art on thy deathbed.
DESDEMONA
Ay, but not yet to die.
OTHELLO Presently.
Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin,
For to deny each article with oath
Cannot remove nor choke the strong conception
That I do groan withal. Thou art to die.
DESDEMONA
Then Lord have mercy on me!
OTHELLO I say amen.
DESDEMONA
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!
O 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.
I never gave it him. Send for him hither. 51 deathbed (i.e., women were sometimes buried in their wedding sheets) 52 Presently right away 55 conception belief, or perhaps "plan," "intention," preparing for the metaphor in the next line of aborted childbirth 56 groan withal i.e., labor to give birth to (but with the modern sense of "moan in sorrow") 59 Offend wrong 63 stone my heart i.e., turn it to stone
Let him confess a truth.
OTHELLO He hath confessed.
DESDEMONA
What, my lord?
OTHELLO
That he hath used thee.
DESDEMONA How? unlawfully?
OTHELLO Ay.
DESDEMONA
He will not say so.
OTHELLO No, his mouth is stopped.
Honest Iago hath ta'en order for't.
DESDEMONA
O, 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?
DESDEMONA
O, 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!
OTHELLO Being done, there is no pause.
DESDEMONA
But while I say one prayer!
72 ta'en order arranged 73 interprets guesses (the worst) 75 stomach appetite, desire 81 strive struggle 82 Being done i.e., since the case is over
OTHELLO It is too late.
Smothers her.
DESDEMONA O Lord, Lord, Lord!
Emilia at the door.
EMILIA [Calls within.]
My lord, my lord! What, ho! my 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.
So, so.
EMILIA Within
What, ho! my lord, my lord!
OTHELLO Who's there?
EMILIA [Within]
O, good my lord, I would speak a word with you!
OTHELLO
Yes, 'tis Emilia. - By and by. - She's dead. -
'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?