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 bobb'd 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 hear him coming.

Enter CASSIO.

Rod. I know his gait, 'tis he ;-Villain, thou diest. [Rushes from his post, and makes a pass at CASSIO. Cas. That thrust had been mine enemy indeed, But that my coat is better than thou think'st;

I will make proof of thine. [Draws and wounds ROD. Rod. O, I am slain! [IAGO rushes from his post, cuts CASSIO behind in the leg, and exit. Cas.Iam maim'dforever:-Help,ho! murder! murder!

Enter OTHELLO, at a distance.

[Falls.

Oth. The voice of Cassio :-Iago keeps his word.
Rod. O, villain that I am!

Oth. Hark; 'tis even so.

Cas. O, help! ho! light! a surgeon !

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 fate hies space :-Strumpet, I come : Forth of my heart those charms, thine eyes, are blotted; Thy bed, lust-stain'd, shall with lust's blood be spotted. [Exit.

Enter LODOVICO and GRATIANO, at a distance. Cas. What,ho! no watch? no passage?9 murder! murder! Gra. 'Tis some mischance; the cry is very direful. Cas. O, help!

Lod. Hark!

Rod. O wretched villain !

Lod. Two or three groans ;-it is a heavy night :
These may be counterfeits ; let's think't unsafe
To come in to the cry, without more help.

Rod. No body come? then shall I bleed to death.

mode of speech, as a low fellow is now termed in low language, a scab.
rub to the sense, is to rub to the quick. JOHNSON.
[9] No passengers? Nobody going by? JOHNSON.

Te

[1] A thick cloudy night, in which an ambush may be laid. JOHNSON.

Lod. Hark!

Enter IAGO, with a light.

Gra. Here's one comes in his shirt, with light and

weapons.

Jago. Who's there? whose noise is this, that cries on murder?

Lod. We do not know.

Jago. Did you not hear a cry?

Cas. Here, here; for heaven's sake, help me.

Iago. What's the matter?

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! Give me some help.

Iago. O me, lieutenant! what villains have done this? Cas. I think that one of them is hereabout, And cannot make away.

Iago. O treacherous villains!

What are you there? come in, and give some help.

Rod. O, help me here!

Cas. That's one of them.

[To LoD. and GRA.

Tago.O murderous slave! O villain ! [IAGO stabs ROD. Rod. O damned Iago! O inhuman dog !—

O!00!

lago. Kill men i'the dark! Where be these bloody thieves?

How silent is this town!-Ho! murder! murder !

What may you be? are you of good, or evil?

Lod. As you shall prove us, praise us.

Jago. Signior Lodovico?

Lod. He, sir.

Iago. I cry you mercy; here's Cassio hurt

By villains.

Gra Cassio?

Iago. How is it, brother?

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 cry'd ?

Iago. Who is't that cry'd?

Bian. O my dear Cassio! my sweet Cassio!

O Cassio! Cassio! Cassio!

Tago. O notable strumpet !-Cassio, may you suspect Who they should be, that have thus mangled you? Cas. No.

Gra. 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!

Bian. Alas, he faints :-O Cassio Cassio! Cassio!
Iago. Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash
To be a party in this injury.-

Patience a while, 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.
Gra. What, of Venice?

Iago. Even he, sir; did you know him?
Gra. Know him? ay.

Iago. Signior Gratiano? I cry you gentle pardon;
These bloody accidents must excuse my manners,
That so neglected you.

Gra. I am glad to see you.

Iago. How do you, Cassio ?-O, a chair, a chair!
Gra. Roderigo!

chair.

Iago. He, he, 'tis he-O, that's well said ;-the [A chair brought in. Some good man bear him carefully from hence; I'll fetch the general's surgeon.-For you, mistress, [ToBIA. Save you your labour.-He that lies slain here, Cassio, Was my dear friend: What malice was between you? Cas. None in the world; nor do I know the man. Lago. [To BIAN.] What, look you pale ?-0, bear

him out o'the air.- [CASSIO and ROD. 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.

Emil. Las, what's the matter; what's the matter,

husband?

Iago. Cassio hath here been set on in the dark, By Roderigo, and fellows that are 'scap'd;

He's almost slain, and Roderigo dead.

Emil. Alas, good gentleman! alas, good Cassio!

Jago. This is the fruit of whoring-Pr'ythee, Emilia,

Go know of Cassio where he supp'd to-night :-
What, do you shake at that?

Bian. He supp'd at myhouse; but I therefore shake not.
Iago. O, did he so? I charge you, go with me.
Emil. Fye, fye upon thee, strumpet!

Bian. I am no strumpet; but of life as honest,
As you that thus abuse me.

Emil. As I foh! fie upon thee !

Jago. Kind gentlemen, let's go see poor Cassio dress'd; -Come, mistress, you must tell us another tale.

Emilia, run you to the citadel,

And tell my lord and lady what has happ'd.

Will you go on, I pray? This is the night,

[Aside.

That either makes me, or fordoes me quite. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.

A Bedchamber: DESDEMONA in bed asleep. A light burning.
Enter OTHELLO.

Oth. It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul,-
Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars!-
It is the cause. 2 Yet I'll not shed her blood;
Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow,

And smooth as monumental alabaster. [Takes off his sword.
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 thine,
Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature,
I know not where is that Promethean heat,

That can thy light relume. When I have pluck'd thy rose, cannot give it vital growth again,

It needs must wither:-I'll smell it on the tree.-
O balmy breath, that dost almost persuade [Kissing her.
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 this the last :
So sweet was ne'er so fatal. I must weep,

But they are cruel tears: This sorrow's heavenly ;2
It strikes, where it doth love.-She wakes-

Des. Who's there? Othello?

Oth. Ay, Desdemona.

Des. Will you come to-bed, my lord?

Oth. Have you pray'd to-night, Desdemona ? [2] See Illustrations, Vol. IX.

Des. Ay, my lord.

Oth. If you bethink yourself of any crime, Unreconcil'd as yet to heaven and grace,

Solicit for it straight.

Des. Alas, my lord, what may you mean by that?
Oth. Well, do it, and be brief; I will walk by:
I would not kill thy unprepared spirit;

No,-Heaven forefend!-I would not kill thy soul
Des. Talk you of killing?

Oth. Ay, I do.

Des. Then, heaven

Have mercy on me!

Oth. Amen, with all my heart!

Des. If you say so, I hope you will not kill me.
Oth. Humph!

Des. And yet I fear you; for you are 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.
Oth. Think on thy sins.

Des. They are loves I bear to you.

Oth. Ay, and for that thou diest.

Des. 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.

Oth. Peace, and be still!

Des. I will so. What's the matter?

Oth.Thathandkerchief which I so lov'd,and gave thee,

Thou gav'st to Cassio.

Des. No, by my life and soul;

Send for the man, and ask him.

Oth. Sweet soul, take heed,

Take heed of perjury; thou'rt on thy death-bed.

Des. Ay, but not yet to die.

Oth. Yes, 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.
Des. Then, Lord have mercy on me!

Oth. I say, amen.

Des. And have you mercy too!-I never did
Offend you in my life; never lov'd Cassio,
But with such general warranty of heaven
As I might love; I never gave him token,