The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [900]
GRATIANO.
He's gone, but his wife's kill'd.
MONTANO.
'Tis a notorious villain. Take you this weapon,
Which I have here recover'd from the Moor.
Come, guard the door without; let him not pass,
But kill him rather. I'll after that same villain,
For 'tis a damned slave. Exeunt all but Othello and Emilia.
OTHELLO.
I am not valiant neither,
But every puny whipster gets my sword.
But why should honor outlive honesty?
Let it go all.
EMILIA.
What did thy song bode, lady?
Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the swan,
And die in music. [Sings.] "Willow, willow, willow."
Moor, she was chaste; she loved thee, cruel Moor;
So come my soul to bliss, as I speak true;
So speaking as I think, I die, I die.
Dies.
OTHELLO.
I have another weapon in this chamber;
It is a sword of Spain, the ice-brook's temper-
O, here it is. Uncle, I must come forth.
GRATIANO.
[Within.] If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear.
Thou 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.
Re-enter Gratiano.
GRATIANO.
What is the matter?
OTHELLO.
Behold, I have a weapon;
A 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!
Who can control his fate? 'Tis not so now.
Be not afraid, though you do see me weapon'd;
Here is my journey's end, here is my butt
And very sea-mark of my utmost sail.
Do you go back dismay'd? 'Tis a lost fear.
Man but a rush against Othello's breast,
And he retires. Where should Othello go?
Now, how dost thou look now? O ill-starr'd wench!
Pale as thy smock! When we shall meet at compt,
This look of thine will hurl my soul from heaven,
And fiends will snatch at it. Cold, cold, my girl?
Even like thy chastity. O cursed, cursed slave!
Whip me, ye devils,
From the possession of this heavenly sight!
Blow me about in winds! Roast me in sulphur!
Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire!
O Desdemon! dead, Desdemon! dead!
O! O! O!
Enter Lodovico, Montano, Cassio carried in a chair,
and Officers with Iago, prisoner.
LODOVICO.
Where is this rash and most unfortunate man?
OTHELLO.
That's he that was Othello. Here I am.
LODOVICO.
Where is that viper? Bring the villain forth.
OTHELLO.
I look down towards his feet; but that's a fable.
If that thou be'st a devil, I cannot kill thee. Wounds Iago.
LODOVICO.
Wrench his sword from him.
IAGO.
I bleed, sir, but not kill'd.
OTHELLO.
I am not sorry neither. I'ld have thee live,
For, in my sense, 'tis happiness to die.
LODOVICO.
O thou Othello, that wert once so good,
Fall'n in the practice of a damned slave,
What shall be said to thee?
OTHELLO.
Why, anything;
An honorable murtherer, if you will,
For nought did I in hate, but all in honor.
LODOVICO.
This wretch hath part confess'd 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.
Will 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?
GRATIANO.
Torments will ope your lips.
OTHELLO.
Well, thou dost best.
LODOVICO.
Sir, you shall understand what hath befall'n,
Which, as I think, you know not. Here is a letter
Found 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!
CASSIO.
Most heathenish and most gross!
LODOVICO.
Now here's another discontented paper,
Found in his pocket too; and this, it seems,
Roderigo meant to have sent this damned villain;
But that, belike, Iago in the interim
Came in and satisfied him.
OTHELLO.
O the pernicious caitiff!
How came you, Cassio, by that handkerchief