Reading Help THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO, MOOR OF VENICE
CASSIO. That thrust had been mine enemy indeed, `
` But that my coat is better than thou know'st; `
` I will make proof of thine. Draws, and wounds `
` Roderigo. `
` RODERIGO. O, I am slain! `
` Iago from behind wounds Cassio in the leg, and exit. `
` CASSIO. I am maim'd forever. Help, ho! Murther! Murther! `
` Falls. `
` `
` Enter Othello. `
` `
` OTHELLO. The voice of Cassio; Iago keeps his word. `
` RODERIGO. O, villain that I am! `
` OTHELLO. It is even so. `
` CASSIO. O, help, ho! Light! A surgeon! `
` OTHELLO. '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! `
` 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. `
` `
` CASSIO. What, ho! No watch? No passage? Murther! Murther! `
` GRATIANO. 'Tis some mischance; the cry is very direful. `
` CASSIO. O, help! `
` LODOVICO. Hark! `
` RODERIGO. O wretched villain! `
` LODOVICO. Two or three groan; it is a heavy night. `
` These may be counterfeits; let's think't unsafe `
` To come in to the cry without more help. `
` RODERIGO. Nobody come? Then shall I bleed to death. `
` LODOVICO. Hark! `
` `
` Re-enter Iago, with a light. `
` `
` GRATIANO. Here's one comes in his shirt, with light and `
` weapons. `
` IAGO. Who's there? Whose noise is this that cries on murther? `
` LODOVICO. We do not know. `
` IAGO. Did not you hear a cry? `
` CASSIO. Here, here! for heaven's sake, help me! `
` IAGO. What's the matter? `
` GRATIANO. This is Othello's ancient, as I take it. `
` LODOVICO. The same indeed; a very valiant fellow. `
` IAGO. What are you here that cry so grievously? `
` CASSIO. Iago? O, I am spoil'd, undone by villains! `
` Give me some help. `
` IAGO. O me, lieutenant! What villains have done this? `
` CASSIO. I think that one of them is hereabout, `
` And cannot make away. `
` IAGO. O treacherous villains! `
` [To Lodovico and Gratiano.] What are you there? `
` Come in and give some help. `
` RODERIGO. O, help me here! `
` CASSIO. That's one of them. `
` IAGO. O murtherous slave! O villain! `
` Stabs `
` Roderigo. `
` RODERIGO. O damn'd Iago! O inhuman dog! `
` IAGO. Kill men i' the dark! Where be these bloody thieves? `
` How silent is this town! Ho! Murther! Murther! `
` What may you be? Are you of good or evil? `
` LODOVICO. As you shall prove us, praise us. `
` IAGO. Signior Lodovico? `
` LODOVICO. He, sir. `
` IAGO. I cry you mercy. Here's Cassio hurt by villains. `
` GRATIANO. Cassio? `
` IAGO. How is't, brother? `
` CASSIO. My leg is cut in two. `
` IAGO. Marry, heaven forbid! `
` Light, gentlemen; I'll bind it with my shirt. `
` `
` Enter Bianca. `
` `
` BIANCA. What is the matter, ho? Who is't that cried? `
` IAGO. Who is't that cried? `
` BIANCA. O my dear Cassio, my sweet Cassio! O Cassio, Cassio, `
` Cassio! `
` IAGO. O notable strumpet! Cassio, may you suspect `
` Who they should be that have thus mangled you? `
` CASSIO. No. `
` GRATIANO. 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! `
` BIANCA. Alas, he faints! O Cassio, Cassio, Cassio! `
` IAGO. Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash `
` To be a party in this injury. `
` Patience awhile, 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. `
` GRATIANO. What, of Venice? `
` IAGO. Even he, sir. Did you know him? `
` GRATIANO. Know him! ay. `
` IAGO. Signior Gratiano? I cry you gentle pardon; `
` These bloody accidents must excuse my manners, `
` That so neglected you. `
` GRATIANO. I am glad to see you. `
` IAGO. How do you, Cassio? O, a chair, a chair! `
` GRATIANO. Roderigo! `
` IAGO. He, he, 'tis he. [A chair brought in.] O, that's well `
` said: `
` the chair. `
` Some good man bear him carefully from hence; `
` I'll fetch the general's surgeon. [To Bianca.] For you, `
` mistress, `
` Save you your labor. He that lies slain here, Cassio, `
` Was my dear friend; what malice was between you? `
` CASSIO. None in the world; nor do I know the man. `
` IAGO. [To Bianca.] What, look you pale? O, bear him out o' the `
` air. `
` Cassio and Roderigo are 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. `
` `
` EMILIA. '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 'scaped; `
` He's almost slain, and Roderigo dead. `
` EMILIA. Alas, good gentleman! alas, good Cassio! `
` IAGO. This is the fruit of whoring. Prithee, Emilia, `
` Go know of Cassio where he supp'd tonight. `
` What, do you shake at that? `
` BIANCA. He supp'd at my house; but I therefore shake not. `
` IAGO. O, did he so? I charge you, go with me. `
` EMILIA. Fie, fie upon thee, strumpet! `
` BIANCA. I am no strumpet, but of life as honest `
` As you that thus abuse me. `
` EMILIA. As I! foh! fie upon thee! `
` IAGO. Kind gentlemen, let's go see poor Cassio dress'd. `
` Come, mistress, you must tell's another tale. `
` Emilia, run you to the citadel, `
` And tell my lord and lady what hath happ'd! `
` Will you go on? [Aside.] This is the night `
` That either makes me or fordoes me quite. `
` Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` SCENE II. `
` A bedchamber in the castle. Desdemona in bed asleep; a light `
` burning. `
` `
` Enter Othello. `
` `
` OTHELLO. It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul. `
` Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars! `
` It is the cause. Yet I'll not shed her blood, `
` Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow `
` And smooth as monumental alabaster. `
` 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 thy light, `
` 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 the rose, `
` I cannot give it vital growth again, `
` It must needs wither; I'll smell it on the tree. Kisses `
` her. `
` O, balmy breath, that dost almost persuade `
` 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, `
` It strikes where it doth love. She wakes. `
` DESDEMONA. Who's there? Othello? `
` OTHELLO. Ay, Desdemona. `
` DESDEMONA. Will you come to bed, my lord? `
` OTHELLO. Have you pray'd tonight, Desdemona? `
` DESDEMONA. Ay, my lord. `
` OTHELLO. If you bethink yourself of any crime `
` Unreconciled as yet to heaven and grace, `
` Solicit for it straight. `
` DESDEMONA. Alas, my lord, what may you mean by that? `
` OTHELLO. Well, do it, and be brief; I will walk by. `
` I would not kill thy unprepared spirit. `
` No, heaven forfend! I would not kill thy soul. `
` DESDEMONA. Talk you of killing? `
` OTHELLO. Ay, I do. `
` DESDEMONA. Then heaven have mercy on me! `
` OTHELLO. Amen, with all my heart! `
` DESDEMONA. If you say so, I hope you will not kill me. `
` OTHELLO. Hum! `
` DESDEMONA. 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. `
` OTHELLO. Think on thy sins. `
`
` But that my coat is better than thou know'st; `
` I will make proof of thine. Draws, and wounds `
` Roderigo. `
` RODERIGO. O, I am slain! `
` Iago from behind wounds Cassio in the leg, and exit. `
` CASSIO. I am maim'd forever. Help, ho! Murther! Murther! `
` Falls. `
` `
` Enter Othello. `
` `
` OTHELLO. The voice of Cassio; Iago keeps his word. `
` RODERIGO. O, villain that I am! `
` OTHELLO. It is even so. `
` CASSIO. O, help, ho! Light! A surgeon! `
` OTHELLO. '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! `
` 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. `
` `
` CASSIO. What, ho! No watch? No passage? Murther! Murther! `
` GRATIANO. 'Tis some mischance; the cry is very direful. `
` CASSIO. O, help! `
` LODOVICO. Hark! `
` RODERIGO. O wretched villain! `
` LODOVICO. Two or three groan; it is a heavy night. `
` These may be counterfeits; let's think't unsafe `
` To come in to the cry without more help. `
` RODERIGO. Nobody come? Then shall I bleed to death. `
` LODOVICO. Hark! `
` `
` Re-enter Iago, with a light. `
` `
` GRATIANO. Here's one comes in his shirt, with light and `
` weapons. `
` IAGO. Who's there? Whose noise is this that cries on murther? `
` LODOVICO. We do not know. `
` IAGO. Did not you hear a cry? `
` CASSIO. Here, here! for heaven's sake, help me! `
` IAGO. What's the matter? `
` GRATIANO. This is Othello's ancient, as I take it. `
` LODOVICO. The same indeed; a very valiant fellow. `
` IAGO. What are you here that cry so grievously? `
` CASSIO. Iago? O, I am spoil'd, undone by villains! `
` Give me some help. `
` IAGO. O me, lieutenant! What villains have done this? `
` CASSIO. I think that one of them is hereabout, `
` And cannot make away. `
` IAGO. O treacherous villains! `
` [To Lodovico and Gratiano.] What are you there? `
` Come in and give some help. `
` RODERIGO. O, help me here! `
` CASSIO. That's one of them. `
` IAGO. O murtherous slave! O villain! `
` Stabs `
` Roderigo. `
` RODERIGO. O damn'd Iago! O inhuman dog! `
` IAGO. Kill men i' the dark! Where be these bloody thieves? `
` How silent is this town! Ho! Murther! Murther! `
` What may you be? Are you of good or evil? `
` LODOVICO. As you shall prove us, praise us. `
` IAGO. Signior Lodovico? `
` LODOVICO. He, sir. `
` IAGO. I cry you mercy. Here's Cassio hurt by villains. `
` GRATIANO. Cassio? `
` IAGO. How is't, brother? `
` CASSIO. My leg is cut in two. `
` IAGO. Marry, heaven forbid! `
` Light, gentlemen; I'll bind it with my shirt. `
` `
` Enter Bianca. `
` `
` BIANCA. What is the matter, ho? Who is't that cried? `
` IAGO. Who is't that cried? `
` BIANCA. O my dear Cassio, my sweet Cassio! O Cassio, Cassio, `
` Cassio! `
` IAGO. O notable strumpet! Cassio, may you suspect `
` Who they should be that have thus mangled you? `
` CASSIO. No. `
` GRATIANO. 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! `
` BIANCA. Alas, he faints! O Cassio, Cassio, Cassio! `
` IAGO. Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash `
` To be a party in this injury. `
` Patience awhile, 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. `
` GRATIANO. What, of Venice? `
` IAGO. Even he, sir. Did you know him? `
` GRATIANO. Know him! ay. `
` IAGO. Signior Gratiano? I cry you gentle pardon; `
` These bloody accidents must excuse my manners, `
` That so neglected you. `
` GRATIANO. I am glad to see you. `
` IAGO. How do you, Cassio? O, a chair, a chair! `
` GRATIANO. Roderigo! `
` IAGO. He, he, 'tis he. [A chair brought in.] O, that's well `
` said: `
` the chair. `
` Some good man bear him carefully from hence; `
` I'll fetch the general's surgeon. [To Bianca.] For you, `
` mistress, `
` Save you your labor. He that lies slain here, Cassio, `
` Was my dear friend; what malice was between you? `
` CASSIO. None in the world; nor do I know the man. `
` IAGO. [To Bianca.] What, look you pale? O, bear him out o' the `
` air. `
` Cassio and Roderigo are 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. `
` `
` EMILIA. '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 'scaped; `
` He's almost slain, and Roderigo dead. `
` EMILIA. Alas, good gentleman! alas, good Cassio! `
` IAGO. This is the fruit of whoring. Prithee, Emilia, `
` Go know of Cassio where he supp'd tonight. `
` What, do you shake at that? `
` BIANCA. He supp'd at my house; but I therefore shake not. `
` IAGO. O, did he so? I charge you, go with me. `
` EMILIA. Fie, fie upon thee, strumpet! `
` BIANCA. I am no strumpet, but of life as honest `
` As you that thus abuse me. `
` EMILIA. As I! foh! fie upon thee! `
` IAGO. Kind gentlemen, let's go see poor Cassio dress'd. `
` Come, mistress, you must tell's another tale. `
` Emilia, run you to the citadel, `
` And tell my lord and lady what hath happ'd! `
` Will you go on? [Aside.] This is the night `
` That either makes me or fordoes me quite. `
` Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` SCENE II. `
` A bedchamber in the castle. Desdemona in bed asleep; a light `
` burning. `
` `
` Enter Othello. `
` `
` OTHELLO. It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul. `
` Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars! `
` It is the cause. Yet I'll not shed her blood, `
` Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow `
` And smooth as monumental alabaster. `
` 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 thy light, `
` 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 the rose, `
` I cannot give it vital growth again, `
` It must needs wither; I'll smell it on the tree. Kisses `
` her. `
` O, balmy breath, that dost almost persuade `
` 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, `
` It strikes where it doth love. She wakes. `
` DESDEMONA. Who's there? Othello? `
` OTHELLO. Ay, Desdemona. `
` DESDEMONA. Will you come to bed, my lord? `
` OTHELLO. Have you pray'd tonight, Desdemona? `
` DESDEMONA. Ay, my lord. `
` OTHELLO. If you bethink yourself of any crime `
` Unreconciled as yet to heaven and grace, `
` Solicit for it straight. `
` DESDEMONA. Alas, my lord, what may you mean by that? `
` OTHELLO. Well, do it, and be brief; I will walk by. `
` I would not kill thy unprepared spirit. `
` No, heaven forfend! I would not kill thy soul. `
` DESDEMONA. Talk you of killing? `
` OTHELLO. Ay, I do. `
` DESDEMONA. Then heaven have mercy on me! `
` OTHELLO. Amen, with all my heart! `
` DESDEMONA. If you say so, I hope you will not kill me. `
` OTHELLO. Hum! `
` DESDEMONA. 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. `
` OTHELLO. Think on thy sins. `
`