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 lov

ing.

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.

Des. I will so.

Peace, and be still!

What's the matter?

Oth. That handkerchief, which I so loved, and gave

thee,

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 loved Cassio, But with such general warranty of Heaven As I might love. I never gave him token.

Oth. By Heaven, I saw my handkerchief in his hand. O perjured woman! thou dost stone my heart, And mak'st me call, what I intend to do,

A murder, which I thought a sacrifice:1

I saw the handkerchief.

1 "This line is difficult. Thou hast hardened my heart, and makest me kill thee with the rage of a murderer, when I thought to have sacrificed thee to justice with the calmness of a priest striking a victim.' I am glad that I have ended this dreadful scene; it is not to be endured.'-Johnson. 64

VOL. VII.

Des. He found it, then;

I never gave it him.-Send for him hither,

And let him confess a truth.

Honest Iago hath ta'en order for't.

Des. My fear interprets, then,-What, is he dead? Oth. Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge Had stomach for them all.

Des. Alas! he is betrayed, and I undone.

Oth. Out, strumpet! weep'st thou for him to my face?

Des. O, banish me, my lord, but kill me not.
Oth. Down, strumpet!

Des. Kill me to-morrow; let me live to-night.

Oth. Nay, if you strive,

Des.

Oth.

There is no pause.2

Des.

Oth. It is too late.3

But half an hour.

Being done,

[He smothers her.

But while I say one prayer.

Emil. [Within.] My lord, my lord! what, ho! my

lord! my lord!

Oth. 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.4

1 The quarto 1622 reads:

"That he hath-uds death."

2 The first quarto omits this speech.

3 After this speech of Othello, the elder quarto adds an invocation from Desdemona, consisting only of the sacred name thrice repeated.

4 It is supposed that some theatrical direction has been omitted, and

Emil. [Within.] What, ho! my lord, my lord!
Oth.
Who's there?
Emil. [Within.] O good my lord, I would speak a
word with you.

Oth. Yes;-'tis Emilia ;-by and by.-She's dead.
'Tis like she comes to speak of Cassio's death.
The noise was high.-Ha! no more moving?
Still as the grave. Shall she come in? Were't good?
I think she stirs again.-No.-What's the best?
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.

Emil. [Within.] I do beseech you I may speak with

you,

O good my lord!

Oth. I had forgot thee. O, come in, Emilia.Soft,-by and by.-Let me the curtains draw.— Where art thou? What's the matter with thee now? [Unlocks the door.

Enter EMILIA.

Emil. O good my lord, yonder's foul murder done. Oth. What? now?

Emil.

But now, my lord!

Oth. It is the very error of the moon :

She comes more near the earth than she was wont;
And makes men mad.

Emil. Cassio, my lord, has killed a young Venetian, Called-Roderigo.

Oth.

And Cassio killed?

Emil.

Roderigo killed!

No, Cassio is not killed.

that, when Othello says, " So, so," he renews his attempt to smother her.— Steevens thinks it is here intended that he should stab her.

Oth. Not Cassio killed? Then murder's out of

tune,

And sweet revenge grows harsh.

Des. O, falsely, falsely murdered!
Emil.

Oth. That! what?

Alas! what cry is that?

Emil. Out, and alas! that was my lady's voice.— Help! help, ho! help!-O lady, speak again! Sweet Desdemona! O sweet mistress, speak!

Des. A guiltless death I die.

Emil.

This deed?

Des.

O, who hath done

[Dies.

Nobody; I myself; farewell. Commend me to my kind lord; O, farewell. Oth. Why, how should she be murdered? Emil. Alas, who knows? Oth. You heard her say herself, it was not I. Emil. She said so; I must needs report the truth. Oth. She's like a liar, gone to burning hell; 'Twas I that killed her.

Emil.

O, the more angel she,

And you the blacker devil!

Oth. She turned to folly, and she was a whore.
Emil. Thou dost belie her, and thou art a devil.
Oth. She was false as water.1

Emil.
That she was false; O, she was heavenly true!

Thou art rash as fire, to say

Oth. Cassio did tup her; ask thy husband else.
OI were damned beneath all depth in hell,
But that I did proceed upon just grounds
To this extremity. Thy husband knew it all.
Emil. My husband?

Oth. Thy husband.

Emil. That she was false to wedlock?

Oth.

'Nay, had she been true,

Ay, with Cassio.

If Heaven would make me such another world

11. e. as unstable, as deceitful. In Genesis, xlix. Jacob applies a similar term to Reuben.

Of one entire and perfect chrysolite,
I'd not have sold her for it.

Emil. My husband?

Oth.

Ay, 'twas he that told me first;

An honest man he is, and hates the slime

That sticks on filthy deeds.

Emil.

My husband?

Oth. What needs this iterance, woman? I say, thy

husband!

Emil. O mistress, villany hath made mocks with

love! 3

My husband say that she was false?

Oth.
He, woman.
I say, thy husband. Dost understand the word?
My friend, thy husband, honest, honest lago.

Emil. If he say so, may his pernicious soul
Rot half a grain a day! he lies to the heart;
She was too fond of her most filthy bargain.
Oth. Ha!

Emil.

Do thy worst.

This deed of thine is no more worthy heaven,
Than thou wast worthy her.

Oth.

Peace, you were best. Emil. Thou hast not half the power to do me harm, As I have to be hurt. O gull! O dolt!

As ignorant as dirt! thou hast done a deed,—

I care not for thy sword; I'll make thee known, Though I lost twenty lives.-Help! help, ho! help! The Moor has killed my mistress. Murder! murder!

Enter MONTANO, GRATIANO, and IAGO.

Mon. What is the matter?-How now, general? Emil. O, are you come, Iago? You have done well, That men must lay their murders on your neck.

1 The folio reads, that told me on her first.

2 The quarto reads iteration. The two next speeches are omitted in that copy.

3 Villany hath taken advantage to play upon the weakness of a violent passion.