– By and by. – She's dead.

'Tis like she comes to speak of Cassio's death;

The noise was high. Hah, 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.

My wife, my wife! what wife? I have no wife.

O insupportable! O heavy hour!

Methinks it should be now a huge eclipse

Of sun and moon, and that th' affrighted globe

Did yawn at alteration.

EMIL [Within.]

I do beseech you

That I may speak with you. O, good my lord!

OTH.

I had forgot thee. O, come in, Emilia. –

Soft, by and by, let me the curtains draw. –

Where art thou?

 

[Unlocks the door.]

 

Enter Emilia.

 

What's the matter with thee now?

EMIL.

O, my good lord, yonder's foul murthers done!

OTH.

What? now?

EMIL.

But now, my lord.

OTH.

It is the very error of the moon,

She comes more nearer earth than she was wont,

And makes men mad.

EMIL.

Cassio, my lord, hath kill'd a young Venetian

Call'd Roderigo.

OTH.

Roderigo kill'd?

And Cassio kill'd?

EMIL.

No, Cassio is not kill'd.

OTH.

Not Cassio kill'd? Then murther's out of tune,

And sweet revenge grows harsh.

DES.

O, falsely, falsely murder'd!

EMIL.

[O Lord], what cry is that?

OTH.

That? what?

EMIL.

Out, and alas, that was my lady's voice.

Help, help, ho, help! O lady, speak again!

Sweet Desdemona, O sweet mistress, speak!

DES.

A guiltless death I die.

EMIL.

O, who hath done this deed?

DES.

Nobody; I myself. Farewell!

Commend me to my kind lord. O, farewell!

 

[Dies.]

 

OTH.

Why, how should she be murd'red?

EMIL.

Alas! who knows?

OTH.

You [heard] her say herself, it was not I.

EMIL.

She said so; I must needs report the truth.

OTH.

She's like a liar gone to burning hell:

'Twas I that kill'd her.

EMIL.

O, the more angel she,

And you the blacker devil!

OTH.

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

EMIL.

Thou dost belie her, and thou art a devil.

OTH.

She was false as water.

EMIL.

Thou art rash as fire to say

That she was false. O, she was heavenly true!

OTH.

Cassio did top her; ask thy husband else.

O, I were damn'd beneath all depth in hell

But that I did proceed upon just grounds

To this extremity. Thy husband knew it all.

EMIL.

My husband?

OTH.

Thy husband.

EMIL.

That she was false to wedlock?

OTH.

Ay, with Cassio. [Nay,] had she been true,

If heaven would make me such another world

Of one entire and perfect chrysolite,

I'ld not have sold her for it.

EMIL.

My husband?

OTH.

Ay, 'twas he that told me on her first.

An honest man he is, and hates the slime

That sticks on filthy deeds.

EMIL.

My husband?

OTH.

What needs this iterance, woman? I say thy husband.

EMIL.

O mistress, villainy hath made mocks with love!

My husband say she was false?

OTH.

He, woman:

I say thy husband; dost understand the word?

My friend, thy husband, honest, honest Iago.

EMIL.

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.

OTH.

Hah?

EMIL.

Do thy worst!

This deed of thine is no more worthy heaven

Than thou wast worthy her.

OTH.

Peace, you were best.

EMIL.

Thou hast not half that pow'r 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, ho, help!

The Moor hath kill'd my mistress! Murther, murther!

 

Enter Montano, Gratiano, and Iago, [with others].

 

MON.

What is the matter? How now, general?

EMIL.

O, are you come, Iago? You have done well,

That men must lay their murthers on your neck.

GRA.

What is the matter?

EMIL.

Disprove this villain, if thou be'st a man.

He says thou toldst 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.

EMIL.

But did you ever tell him she was false?

IAGO.

I did.

EMIL.

You told a lie, an odious, damned 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.

EMIL.

I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to speak.

My mistress here lies murthered in her bed –

ALL.

O heavens forefend!

EMIL.

And your reports have set the murder on.

OTH.

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

GRA.

'Tis a strange truth.

MON.

O monstrous act!

EMIL.

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.

EMIL.

Good gentlemen, let me have leave to speak.

'Tis proper I obey him; but not now.

Perchance, Iago, I will ne'er go home.

OTH.

O, O, O!

 

[Othello falls on the bed.]

 

EMIL.

Nay, lay thee down and roar;

For thou hast kill'd the sweetest innocent

That e'er did lift up eye.

OTH [Rising.]

O, she was foul!

I scarce did know you, uncle; there lies your niece,

Whose breath, indeed, these hands have newly stopp'd.

I know this act shows horrible and grim.

GRA.

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.

OTH.

'Tis pitiful; but yet Iago knows

That she with Cassio hath the act of shame

A thousand times committed. Cassio confess'd 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.

EMIL.

O [God]! O heavenly [God]!

IAGO.

['Zounds], hold your peace.

EMIL.

'Twill out, 'twill out! I peace?

No, 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.