Act 5 — Scene I. Cyprus. A street.[6611]
Reading edition
Scene I. Cyprus. A street.[6611]
Enter Iago and Roderigo.
Iago. Here, stand behind this bulk; straight will he come:[6612] 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,[6613] And fix most firm thy resolution.[6614] 5 Rod. Be near at hand; I may miscarry in 't. Iago. Here, at thy hand: be bold, and take thy stand.
[Retires.[6615]
Rod. I have no great devotion to the deed;[6616] And yet he hath given me satisfying reasons:[6617] 'Tis but a man gone. Forth, my sword: he dies.[6618] 10 Iago. I have rubb'd this young quat almost to the sense,[6619] And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio,[6620] Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other, Every way makes my gain: live Roderigo,[6621] He calls me to a restitution large 15 Of gold and jewels that I bobb'd from him,[6622] As gifts to Desdemona: It must not be: if Cassio do remain, He hath a daily beauty in his life[6623] That makes me ugly; and besides, the Moor 20 May unfold me to him; there stand I in much peril:[6624] No, he must die. Be't so. I hear him coming.[6625]
Enter Cassio.
Rod. I know his gait; 'tis he. Villain, thou diest!
[Makes a pass at Cassio.[6626]
Cas. That thrust had been mine enemy indeed,[6627] But that my coat is better than thou know'st:[6628] 25 I will make proof of thine. [Draws, and wounds Roderigo. Rod. O, I am slain!
[Iago from behind wounds Cassio in the leg, and exit.[6629]
Cas. I am maim'd for ever. Help, ho! murder! murder!
[Falls.[6630]
Enter Othello.[6631]
Oth. The voice of Cassio: Iago keeps his word.[6632] Rod. O, villain that I am! Oth. It is even so.[6633] Cas. O, help, ho! light! a surgeon! 30 Oth. '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 unblest fate hies: strumpet, I come![6634] Forth of my heart those charms, thine eyes, are blotted;[6635] 35 Thy bed lust-stain'd shall with lust's blood be spotted.
[Exit.
Enter Lodovico and Gratiano.[6636]
Cas. What, ho! no watch? no passage? murder! murder![6637] Gra. 'Tis some mischance; the cry is very direful.[6638] Cas. O, help! Lod. Hark! 40 Rod. O wretched villain! Lod. Two or three groan: it is a heavy night:[6639] These may be counterfeits: let's think't unsafe To come in to the cry without more help.[6640] Rod. Nobody come? then shall I bleed to death.[6641] 45 Lod. Hark![6642]
Re-enter Iago, with a light.[6643]
Gra. Here's one comes in his shirt, with light and weapons.[6644] Iago. Who's there? whose noise is this that cries on murder?[6645] Lod. We do not know. Iago. Did not you hear a cry?[6646] Cas. Here, here! for heaven's sake, help me![6647] Iago. What's the matter?50 Gra. This is Othello's ancient, as I take it. Lod. The same indeed; a very valiant fellow. Iago. What are you here that cry so grievously? Cas. Iago? O, I am spoil'd, undone by villains![6648] Give me some help. 55 Iago. O me, lieutenant! what villains have done this?[6649] Cas. I think that one of them is hereabout,[6650] And cannot make away. Iago. O treacherous villains! What are you there? come in and give some help.
[To Lodovico and Gratiano.[6651]
Rod. O, help me here![6652] 60 Cas. That's one of them. Iago. O murderous slave! O villain!
[Stabs Roderigo.[6653]
Rod. O damn'd Iago! O inhuman dog![6654] Iago. Kill men i' the dark! Where be these bloody thieves?[6655] How silent is this town! Ho! murder! murder! What may you be? are you of good or evil? 65 Lod. As you shall prove us, praise us. Iago. Signior Lodovico?[6656] Lod. He, sir. Iago. I cry you mercy. Here's Cassio hurt by villains. Gra. Cassio![6657] 70 Iago. How is't, brother?[6658] Cas. My leg is cut in two. Iago. Marry, heaven forbid! Light, gentlemen: I'll bind it with my shirt.
Enter Bianca.
Bian. What is the matter, ho? who is't that cried?[6659] Iago. Who is't that cried![6660] 75 Bian. O my dear Cassio! my sweet Cassio! O Cassio,[6661] Cassio, Cassio![6661] Iago. O notable strumpet! Cassio, may you suspect Who they should be that have thus mangled you?[6662] Cas. No. 80 Gra. I am sorry to find you thus: I have been to seek you.[6663] Iago. Lend me a garter. So. O, for a chair,[6664] To bear him easily hence![6664] Bian. Alas, he faints! O Cassio, Cassio, Cassio! Iago. Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash 85 To be a party in this injury.[6665][6666] Patience awhile, good Cassio. Come, come;[6665][6667] Lend me a light. Know we this face or no?[6665][6668] Alas, my friend and my dear countryman Roderigo? no:—yes, sure: O heaven! Roderigo.[6669] 90 Gra. What, of Venice?[6670] Iago. Even he, sir: did you know him? Gra. Know him! ay.[6671] Iago. Signior Gratiano? I cry you gentle pardon;[6672] These bloody accidents must excuse my manners, That so neglected you. Gra. I am glad to see you. 95 Iago. How do you, Cassio? O, a chair, a chair! Gra. Roderigo![6673] Iago. He, he, 'tis he. [A chair brought in.] O, that's well said; the chair:[6674] Some good man bear him carefully from hence; I'll fetch the general's surgeon. [To Bianca] For you, mistress,[6675]100 Save you your labour. He that lies slain here, Cassio,[6676] Was my dear friend: what malice was between you?[6677] Cas. None in the world; nor do I know the man.[6678] Iago. [To Bian.] What, look you pale? O, bear him out o' the air. [Cassio and Roderigo are borne off.[6679] Stay you, good gentlemen. Look you pale, mistress?[6680] 105 Do you perceive the gastness of her eye?[6681] Nay, if you stare, we shall hear more anon.[6682] Behold her well; I pray you, look upon her: Do you see, gentlemen? nay, guiltiness will speak,[6683] Though tongues were out of use.[6683] 110
Enter Emilia.[6684]
Emil. 'Las, what's the matter? what's the matter, husband?[6685] Iago. Cassio hath here been set on in the dark[6686] By Roderigo, and fellows that are 'scaped: He's almost slain, and Roderigo dead.[6687] Emil. Alas, good gentleman! alas, good Cassio! 115 Iago. This is the fruit of whoring. Prithee, Emilia,[6688] Go know of Cassio where he supp'd to-night. What, do you shake at that? Bian. He supp'd at my house; but I therefore shake not.[6689] Iago. O, did he so? I charge you, go with me. 120 Emil. Fie, fie upon thee, strumpet![6690] Bian. I am no strumpet; but of life as honest As you that thus abuse me. Emil. As I! foh! fie upon thee![6691] Iago. Kind gentlemen, let's go see poor Cassio dress'd.[6692] Come, mistress, you must tell's another tale.[6693] 125 Emilia, run you to the citadel,[6694] And tell my lord and lady what hath happ'd![6695] Will you go on? I pray. [Aside] This is the night[6696] That either makes me or fordoes me quite. [Exeunt.[6697]