Listen to Act 5. LibriVox volunteers recorded “Act 5” as one track, so it runs past this scene and includes stage directions this page leaves out. LibriVox catalog.
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 , flaming minister, I can again former light restore, Should I repent me. But once put out light, cunning’st pattern of excelling nature, I know not where is that Promethean heat That can light relume. When I have pluck’d rose, I cannot give it vital growth again, It must needs wither. I’ll smell it on the tree.
OTHELLO
O, balmy breath, that almost persuade Justice to break her sword! One more, one more. Be thus when art dead, and I will kill , And love after. One more, and this the last. So sweet was so fatal. I must weep, But they are cruel tears. This sorrow’s heavenly, It strikes where it 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 Unreconcil’d as yet to heaven and grace, Solicit for it straight.
DESDEMONA
, my lord, what may you mean by that?
OTHELLO
Well, do it, and be brief, I will walk by. I would not kill unprepared spirit, No, heaven forfend! I would not kill 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 sins.
DESDEMONA
They are loves I bear to you.
OTHELLO
Ay, and for that diest.
DESDEMONA
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.
OTHELLO
Peace, and be still!
DESDEMONA
I will so. What’s the matter?
OTHELLO
That handkerchief which I so loved and gave , gav’st to Cassio.
DESDEMONA
No, by my life and soul! Send for the man and ask him.
OTHELLO
Sweet soul, take heed, take heed of perjury, Thou’rt on death-bed.
DESDEMONA
Ay, but not yet to die.
OTHELLO
Yes, : Therefore confess freely of sin. For to deny each article with oath Cannot remove nor choke the strong conception That I do groan . art to die.
DESDEMONA
Then, Lord have mercy on me!
OTHELLO
I say, amen.
DESDEMONA
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.
OTHELLO
By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in ’s hand. O perjur’d woman, stone my heart, And mak’st me call what I intend to do A murder, which I thought a sacrifice. I saw the handkerchief.
DESDEMONA
He found it then. I never gave it him. Send for him . Let him confess a truth.
OTHELLO
He confess’d.
DESDEMONA
What, my lord?
OTHELLO
That he us’d .
DESDEMONA
How? Unlawfully?
OTHELLO
Ay.
DESDEMONA
He will not say so.
OTHELLO
No, his mouth is stopp’d. Honest Iago ta’en order for ’t.
DESDEMONA
O, my fear interprets! What, is he dead?
OTHELLO
Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge Had stomach for them all.
DESDEMONA
Alas, he is betray’d, and I undone!
OTHELLO
Out, strumpet! Weep’st for him to my face?
DESDEMONA
O, banish me, my lord, but kill me not!
OTHELLO
Down, strumpet!
DESDEMONA
Kill me tomorrow, let me live tonight!
OTHELLO
Nay, if you strive,—
DESDEMONA
But half an hour!
OTHELLO
Being done, there is no pause.
DESDEMONA
But while I say one prayer!
OTHELLO
It is too late.
EMILIA
My lord, my lord! what, ho! my lord, my lord!
OTHELLO
What noise is this? Not dead? Not yet quite dead? I that am cruel am yet merciful, I would not have linger in pain. So, so.
EMILIA
What, ho! my lord, my lord!
OTHELLO
Who’s there?
EMILIA
O, good my lord, I would speak a word with you!
OTHELLO
Yes. Emilia, by and by. She’s dead. 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 best to do? 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! it should be now a huge eclipse Of sun and moon, and that the affrighted globe Should yawn at alteration.
EMILIA
I do beseech you That I may speak with you, O, good my lord!
OTHELLO
I had forgot : O, come in, Emilia. Soft, by and by; let me the curtains draw. Where art ?
OTHELLO
What’s the matter with now?
EMILIA
O, my good lord, yonder’s foul murders done!
OTHELLO
What, now?
EMILIA
But now, my lord.
OTHELLO
It is the very error of the moon, She comes more nearer earth than she was wont And makes men mad.
EMILIA
Cassio, my lord, kill’d a young Venetian Call’d Roderigo.
OTHELLO
Roderigo kill’d? And Cassio kill’d?
EMILIA
No, Cassio is not kill’d.
OTHELLO
Not Cassio kill’d! Then murder’s out of tune, And sweet revenge grows harsh.
DESDEMONA
O, falsely, falsely murder’d!
EMILIA
Alas, what cry is that?
OTHELLO
That? What?
EMILIA
Out, and alas! That was my lady’s voice. Help! help, ho! help! O lady, speak again, Sweet Desdemona! O sweet mistress, speak!
DESDEMONA
A guiltless death I die.
EMILIA
O, who done this deed?
DESDEMONA
Nobody; I myself. Farewell. Commend me to my kind lord. O, farewell!
OTHELLO
Why, how should she be murder’d?
EMILIA
Alas, who knows?
OTHELLO
You heard her say herself, it was not I.
EMILIA
She said so. I must needs report the truth.
OTHELLO
She’s like a liar, gone to burning hell. I that kill’d her.
EMILIA
O, the more angel she, And you the blacker devil!
OTHELLO
She turn’d to folly, and she was a whore.
EMILIA
belie her, and art a devil.
OTHELLO
She was false as water.
EMILIA
art rash as fire, to say That she was false: O, she was heavenly true!
OTHELLO
Cassio did top her; ask husband else. O, I were damn’d beneath all depth in hell, But that I did proceed upon just grounds To this extremity. husband knew it all.
EMILIA
My husband?
OTHELLO
husband.
EMILIA
That she was false to wedlock?
OTHELLO
Ay, with Cassio. Nay, had she been true, If heaven would make me such another world Of one entire and perfect chrysolite, I’d not have sold her for it.
EMILIA
My husband?
OTHELLO
Ay, he that told me first. An honest man he is, and hates the slime That sticks on filthy deeds.
EMILIA
My husband?
OTHELLO
What needs this iterance, woman? I say husband.
EMILIA
O mistress, villainy made mocks with love! My husband say that she was false?
OTHELLO
He, woman; I say husband: understand the word? My friend, husband, honest, honest Iago.
EMILIA
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.
OTHELLO
Ha!
EMILIA
Do worst: This deed of is no more worthy heaven Than wast worthy her.
OTHELLO
Peace, you were best.
EMILIA
not half that power to do me harm As I have to be hurt. O gull! O dolt! As ignorant as dirt! done a deed (I care not for sword) I’ll make known, Though I lost twenty lives. Help! help, ho! help! The Moor kill’d my mistress! Murder, murder!
MONTANO
What is the matter? How now, general?
EMILIA
O, are you come, Iago? You have done well, That men must lay their murders on your neck.
GRATIANO
What is the matter?
EMILIA
Disprove this villain, if be’st a man. He says told’st him that his wife was false. I know not, thou’rt not such a villain. Speak, for my heart is full.
IAGO
I told him what I thought, and told no more Than what he found himself was apt and true.
EMILIA
But did you ever tell him she was false?
IAGO
I did.
EMILIA
You told a lie, an odious, damned lie; Upon my soul, a lie; a wicked lie. She false with Cassio? Did you say with Cassio?
IAGO
With Cassio, mistress. Go to, charm your tongue.
EMILIA
I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to speak. My mistress here lies murder’d in her bed.
ALL
O heavens forfend!
EMILIA
And your reports have set the murder on.
OTHELLO
Nay, stare not, masters, it is true indeed.
GRATIANO
a strange truth.
MONTANO
O monstrous act!
EMILIA
Villany, villany, villany! I think upon’t, I think I smell’t; O villany! I thought so then. I’ll kill myself for grief. O villany, villany!
IAGO
What, are you mad? I charge you, get you home.
EMILIA
Good gentlemen, let me have leave to speak. proper I obey him, but not now. , Iago, I will go home.
OTHELLO
O! O! O!
EMILIA
Nay, lay down and roar; For kill’d the sweetest innocent That e’er did lift up eye.
OTHELLO
O, she was foul! I scarce did know you, uncle, there lies your niece, Whose breath indeed these hands have newly stopp’d. I know this act shows horrible and grim.
GRATIANO
Poor Desdemona! I am glad father’s dead. match was mortal to him, and pure grief Shore his old thread in twain: did he live now, This sight would make him do a desperate turn, Yea, curse his better angel from his side, And fall to reprobance.
OTHELLO
pitiful. But yet Iago knows That she with Cassio the act of shame A thousand times committed; Cassio confess’d it, And she did gratify his amorous works With that recognizance and pledge of love Which I first gave her; I saw it in his hand. It was a handkerchief, an antique token My father gave my mother.
EMILIA
O heaven! O heavenly powers!
IAGO
Come, hold your peace.
EMILIA
’Twill out, ’twill out. I peace? No, I will speak as liberal as the north. Let heaven and men and devils, let them all, All, all, cry shame against me, yet I’ll speak.
IAGO
Be wise, and get you home.
EMILIA
I will not.
GRATIANO
Fie! Your sword upon a woman?
EMILIA
O dull Moor, that handkerchief speak’st of I found by fortune and did give my husband; For often with a solemn earnestness, More than indeed belong’d to such a trifle, He begg’d of me to steal it.
IAGO
Villanous whore!
EMILIA
She give it Cassio! no, alas, I found it, And I did give’t my husband.
IAGO
Filth, liest!
EMILIA
By heaven, I do not, I do not, gentlemen. O murderous coxcomb! What should such a fool Do with so good a wife?
OTHELLO
Are there not stones in heaven But what serve for thunder? Precious villain!
GRATIANO
The woman falls. Sure, he kill’d his wife.
EMILIA
Ay, ay. O, lay me by my mistress’ side.
GRATIANO
He’s gone, but his wife’s kill’d.
MONTANO
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 a damned slave.
OTHELLO
I am not valiant neither, But every puny whipster gets my sword. But why should honour outlive honesty? Let it go all.
EMILIA
What did song bode, lady? Hark, canst hear me? I will play the swan, And die in music. Willow, willow, willow. Moor, she was chaste. She lov’d , cruel Moor, So come my soul to bliss, as I speak true; So speaking as I think, I die, I die.
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
If attempt it, it will cost dear; no weapon, and perforce must suffer.
OTHELLO
Look in upon me then, and speak with me, Or, naked as I am, I will assault .
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? 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? a lost fear. Man but a rush against Othello’s breast, And he retires. Where should Othello go? Now, how look now? O ill-starr’d , Pale as smock, when we shall meet at compt, This look of will hurl my soul from heaven, And fiends will snatch at it. Cold, cold, my girl! Even like chastity. O cursed, cursed slave! Whip me, 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! Oh, oh!
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 be’st a devil, I cannot kill .
LODOVICO
Wrench his sword from him.
IAGO
I bleed, sir, but not kill’d.
OTHELLO
I am not sorry neither. I’d have live, For in my sense happiness to die.
LODOVICO
O Othello, that wert once so good, Fall’n in the practice of a damned slave, What shall be said to ?
OTHELLO
Why, anything; An honourable murderer, if you will. For did I in hate, but all in honour.
LODOVICO
This wretch part confess’d his villany. 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 thus ensnar’d 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, best.
LODOVICO
Sir, you shall understand what 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, , Iago in the interim Came in and satisfied him.
OTHELLO
O the pernicious caitiff! How came you, Cassio, by that handkerchief That was my wife’s?
CASSIO
I found it in my chamber. And he himself confess’d but even now, That there he dropp’d it for a special purpose Which wrought to his desire.
OTHELLO
O fool! fool! fool!
CASSIO
There is besides in Roderigo’s letter, How he upbraids Iago, that he made him Brave me upon the watch, whereon it came That I was cast. And even but now he spake, After long seeming dead, Iago hurt him, Iago set him on.
LODOVICO
You must forsake this room, and go with us. Your power and your command is taken off, And Cassio rules in Cyprus. For this slave, If there be any cunning cruelty That can torment him much and hold him long, It shall be his. You shall close prisoner rest, Till that the nature of your fault be known To the Venetian state. Come, bring away.
OTHELLO
Soft you; a word or two before you go. I have done the state some service, and they know’t. No more of that. I pray you, in your letters, When you shall these unlucky deeds relate, Speak of me as I am. Nothing extenuate, Nor set down in malice. Then must you speak Of one that loved not wisely, but too well; Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought, Perplex’d in the extreme; of one whose hand, Like the base Judean, threw a pearl away Richer than all his tribe; of one whose subdu’d eyes, Albeit unused to the melting mood, Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees Their medicinal gum. Set you down this. And say besides, that in Aleppo once, Where a malignant and a turban’d Turk Beat a Venetian and traduc’d the state, I took by the throat the circumcised dog, And smote him, thus.
LODOVICO
O bloody period!
GRATIANO
All that’s spoke is marr’d.
OTHELLO
I kiss’d I kill’d . No way but this, Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.
CASSIO
This did I fear, but thought he had no weapon, For he was great of heart.
LODOVICO
O Spartan dog, More fell than anguish, hunger, or the sea, Look on the tragic loading of this bed. This is work. The object poisons sight, Let it be hid. Gratiano, keep the house, And seize upon the fortunes of the Moor, For they succeed on you. To you, lord governor, Remains the censure of this hellish villain. The time, the place, the torture, O, enforce it! Myself will straight aboard, and to the state This heavy act with heavy heart relate.