The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [898]
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 betray'd, 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!
OTHELLO.
It is too late. He stifles her.
EMILIA.
[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 here. 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.
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 the affrighted globe
Should yawn at alteration.
EMILIA.
[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.
Where art thou? Unlocks the door.
Enter Emilia.
What's the matter with thee now?
EMILIA.
O, my good lord, yonder's foul murthers done!
OTHELLO.
What, now?
EMILIA.
But now, my lord.
OTHELLO.
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 kill'd a young Venetian
Call'd Roderigo.
OTHELLO.
Roderigo kill'd?
And Cassio kill'd?
EMILIA.
No, Cassio is not kill'd.
OTHELLO.
Not Cassio kill'd! Then murther's out of tune,
And sweet revenge grows harsh.
DESDEMONA.
O, falsely, falsely murther'd!
EMILIA.
Alas, what cry is that?
OTHELLO.
That? what?
EMILIA.
Out, and alas! That was my lady's voice.
Help! help, ho! help! O lady, speak again!
Sweet Desdemona! O sweet mistress, speak!
DESDEMONA.
A guiltless death I die.
EMILIA.
O, who hath done this deed?
DESDEMONA.
Nobody; I myself. Farewell;
Commend me to my kind lord. O, farewell!
Dies.
OTHELLO.
Why, how should she be murther'd?
EMILIA.
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 kill'd her.
EMILIA.
O, the more angel she,
And you the blacker devil!
OTHELLO.
She turn'd to folly, and she was a whore.
EMILIA.
Thou dost belie her, and thou art a devil.
OTHELLO.
She was false as water.
EMILIA.
Thou art rash as fire, to say
That she was false. O, she was heavenly true!
OTHELLO.
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.
EMILIA.
My husband?
OTHELLO.
Thy husband.
EMILIA.
That she was false to wedlock?
OTHELLO.
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.
EMILIA.
My husband?
OTHELLO.
Ay, 'twas he that told me first.
An honest man he is, and hates the slime
That sticks on filthy deeds.
EMILIA.
My husband?
OTHELLO.
What needs this iteration, woman? I say thy husband.
EMILIA.
O mistress, villainy hath made mocks with love!
My husband say that she was false!
OTHELLO.
He, woman;
I say thy husband. Dost understand the word?
My friend, thy husband, honest, honest Iago.
EMILIA.
If he say so, may his pernicious