Des. Nobody; I myself; farewell: Commend me to my kind lord; O, farewell. [Dies. Oth. Why, how should she be murder'd? 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 kill'd her. Emil. O, the more angel she, And you the blacker devil!

Oth. She turn'd to folly, and she was a wanton. Emil. Thou dost belie her, and thou art a devil. Oth. She was false as water.

Emil. That she was false; O, she was heavenly true! O. False, and with Cassio; ask thy husband else. O, I were damn'd beneath all depth in hell, But that I did proceed upon just grounds To this extremity; Thy husband knew it all. Emil. My husband?

Thou art rash as fire, to say

Oth. Thy husband.

Emil.

My husband?

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

E. O mistress, villainy hath made mocks with My husband say, that she was false? [love! 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!

E. Thou hast not half the power to do me harm, As I have to be hurt.1 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! (murder! The Moor has killed my mistress; Murder! Enter Montano, Gratiano, and Iago. Mon. What is the matter?- How now, general? E. O, are you come, Iago? you have done well. That men must lay their murders on your neck. Gra. What is the matter?

Emil. Disprove this villain, if thou be'st a man. He says, thou told'st him, that his wife was false: I know, thou did'st not, thou art not such a Speak, for my heart is full. [villain;

Iago. I told him what I thought; and told

no more

Than what he found himself was apt and true. Emil. But did you ever tell him she was false? Iago. I did.

Emil. 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 [to speak;

tongue.

E. I will not charm my tongue; I am bound My mistress here lies murder'd in her bed. All. O heavens forfend 2!

Emil. And your reports have set the murder on.
Oth. Nay, stare not, masters; it is true, indeed.
Gra. "Tis a strange truth.
Mon. O monstrous act!
Emil.

Villainy, villainy, villainy!I think upon 't,-I think,-I smell 't;-0 villainy!

I thought so then;-I'll kill myself for grief.O villainy, villainy! [you home. Iago. What, are you mad? I charge you, get Emil. Good gentlemen, let me have leave to speak:

"Tis proper I obey him, but not now:Perchance, Iago, I will ne'er go home.

Oth. O! O! O! [Hanging over his Wife. Emil. Nay, lay thee down, and roar; For thou hast killed the sweetest innocent, That e'er did lift up eye.

Oth.

O, she was foul!- [Rising. I scarce did know you, uncle: There lies your niece, [stopp'd: Whose breath, indeed, these hands have newly I know, this act shows horrible and grim.

Gra. Poor Desdemona! I am glad thy father's

dead;

Thy 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.
Oth. "Tis pitiful: but yet Iago knows,
That she with Cassio hath the act of shame
A thousand times committed; Cassio confess'd it:
And she did gratify his amorous vows
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.
Emil. O heaven! O heavenly powers!

Iago.

Villainous drab!

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? 'tis a lost fear;
Man but a rush against Othello's breast,
And he retires;-where should Othello go?
Now, how dost thou look now? O ill-starr'd
wench!
[compt1

Pale as thy smock! when we shall meet at
This look of thine will hurl my soul from heaven,
And fiends will snatch at it. Cold, cold, my girl?
Even like thy chastity.—

O cursed, cursed slave!-Whip me, ye 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 Desdemona! Desdemona! dead?
Dead? O! O! O!

Iago.

Filth, thou liest.

E. By heaven, I do not: I do not, gentlemen: O murderous coxcomb! what should such a fool Do with so good a wife?

[Iago stabs Emilia, then runs out. Oth. Are there no stones in heaven, But what serve for the thunder?-Precious villain!

G. The woman falls! sure, he has kill'd his wife. Emil. Ay, ay; 0, lay me by my mistress' side! Gra. He's gone, but his wife's kill'd.

Mon. 'Tis 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 'tis a cursed slave.

[Exeunt Montano and Gratiano. Oth. I am not valiant neither, But every puny whipster gets my sword:But why should honour outlive honesty? Let it go all.

Emil. What did thy song bode, lady? Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the swan, And die in musick;-Willow, willow, willow, Moor, she was chaste; she lov'd thee, cruel Moor; So come my soul to bliss, as I speak true; So speaking as I think, I die,-I die.

[Dies.

Oth. I have another weapon in this chamber, It is a sword of Spain, the ice-brook's temper2;O, here it is:-Uncle, I must come forth.

Gra. [Within.] If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear;

Thou hast no weapon, and perforce must suffer. Oth. Look in upon me then, and speak with me, Or, naked as I am, I will assault thee.

Re-enter Gratiano.

Gra. What is the matter? Oth. 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? 'tis not so now.1 Free [cold water.

2 Steel is hardened by being put red-hot into very

Chair, and Officers, with Iago prisoner. Lod. Where is this rash and most unfortunate man?

Oth. That's he, that was Othello; here I am. L. Where is that viper? bring the villain forth. Oth. I look down towards his feet2;-but

that's a fable:

If that thou be'st a devil, I cannot kill thee. [Othello wounds Iago.

Lod. Wrench his sword from him. Iago. I bleed, sir; but not kill'd. Oth. I am not sorry neither; I'd have thee live; For, in my sense, 'tis happiness to die.

Lod. O thou Othello, that was once so good, Fall'n in the practices of a cursed slave, What shall be said to thee?

Oth.

Why, anything: An honourable murderer, if you will; For nought I did in hate, but all in honour. L. This wretch hath part confess'd his villainy: Did you and he consent in Cassio's death? Oth. Ay.

Cas. Dear general, I never gave you cause. Oth. I do believe it, and I ask your pardon. Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devil, Why he hath 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. Lod. What? not to pray?

Gra.

Torments will ope your lips. Oth. Well, thou dost best.

L.Sir, you shall understand what hath 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.

Oth. O villain! Cas. Most heathenish, and most gross! Lod. Now here's another discontented paper, Found in his pocket too: and this it seems, Roderigo meant to have sent this worst of vilBut that, belike, Iago in the interim [lains, Came in and satisfied him. Oth.

O the pernicious caitiff!-

Unto a poor butworthygentleman; She's wedded;
Her husband banish'd; she imprison'd: all
Is outward sorrow; though, I think, the king
Be touch'd at very heart.

2 Gent. None but the king? 1G. He, that hath lost her, too: so is the queen, That most desir'd the match: But not a courtier, Although they wear their faces to the bent Of the king's looks, hath a heart that is not Glad at the thing they scowl at.

2 Gent. And why so? 1 G. He that hath miss'd the princess, is a thing Too bad for bad report: and he that hath her, (I mean, that married her,-alack, good man!And therefore banish'd,) is a creature such As, to seek through the regions of the earth For one his like, there would be something failing In him that should compare. I do not think, So fair an outward, and such stuff within, Endows a man but he.

2 Gent.

You speak him far.1

1 Gent. I do extend him, sir, within himself; Crush him together, rather than unfold His measure duly.

2 Gent.

What's his name, and birth?

1G. I cannot delve him to the root: His father
Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honour,
Against the Romans, with Cassibelan:
But had his titles by Tenantius,2 whom
He serv'd with glory and admir'd success:
So gain'd the sur-addition, Leonatus:
And had, besides this gentleman in question,
Two other sons, who, in the wars o' the time;
Died with their swords in hand; for which their
father

(Then old and fond of issue) took such sorrow,
That he quit being; and his gentle lady,
Big of this gentleman, our theme, deceas'd
As he was born. The king, he takes the babe
To his protection; calls him Posthumus;
Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber:
Puts him to all the learnings that his time
Could make him the receiver of; which he took,
As we do air, fast as 'twas minister'd: and
In his spring became a harvest: Liv'd in court
(Which rare it is to do) most prais'd, most lov'd:
A sample to the youngest; to the more mature,
A glass that feated them; and to the graver,
A child that guided dotards: to his mistress,
For whom he now is banish'd,-her own price
Proclaims how she esteem'd him and his virtues;
By her election may be truly read,
What kind of man he is.

2 Gent.
I honour him
Even out of your report. But, 'pray you, tell me,
Is she sole child to the king?

His only child.

1 Gent. He had two sons, (if this be worth your hearing, Mark it,) the eldest of them at three years old, I' the swathing clothes the other, from their

Enter the Queen, Posthumus, and Imogen. Queen. No, be assur'd, you shall not find me, daughter,

After the slander of most step-mothers,
Evil-eyed unto you: you are my prisoner, but
Your gaoler shall deliver you the keys
That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthúmus,
So soon as I can win the offended king,

I will be known your advocate: marry, yet
The fire of rage is in him; and 'twere good,
You lean'd unto his sentence, with what patience
Your wisdom may inform you.

Post.

I will from hence to-day. Queen.

Please your highness,

You know the peril :-I'll fetch a turn about the garden, pitying The pangs of barr'd affections; though the king Hath charg'd you should not speak together. [Exit Queen.

Imo. O

Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant Can tickle where she wounds!-My dearest husband,

I something fear my father's wrath; but nothing,
(Always reserv'd my holy duty,) what
His rage can do on me: You must be gone;
And I shall here abide the hourly shot
Of angry eyes; not comforted to live,
But that there is this jewel in the world,
That I may see again.

Post.
My queen! my mistress!
O, lady, weep no more; lest I give cause
To be suspected of more tenderness
Than doth become a man! I will remain
The loyal'st husband that did e'er pligh: troth.
My residence in Rome at one Philario's;
Who to my father was a friend, to me
Known but by letter: thither write, my queen,
And with mine eyes I'll drink the words you send,
Though ink be made of gall.
Re-enter Queen.

Queen.

Be brief, I pray you:
If the king come I shall incur I know not
How much of his displeasure: [Aside.] Yet I'll
move him

To walk this way: I never do him wrong,
But he does buy my injuries, to be friends;
Pays dear for my offences.
[Exit.
Post.
Should we be taking leave
As long a term as yet we have to live,
The loathness to depart would grow: Adieu!
Imo. Nay, stay a little:

Were you but riding forth to air yourself,
Such parting were too petty. Look here, love;
This diamond was my mother's: take it, heart:

But keep it till you woo another wife,
When Imogen is dead.

Post.
How! how! another?--
You gentle gods, give me but this I have,
And sear up1 my embracements from a next
With bonds of death!-Remain thou here

[Putting on the Ring. While sense can keep it on! And sweetest, fairest, As I my poor self did exchange for you, To your so infinite loss; so in our trifles I still win of you: For my sake, wear this; It is a manacle of love; I'll place it Upon this fairest prisoner.

Imo.

[Putting a Bracelet on her Arm. O, the gods!

When shall we see again?

Enter Cymbeline, and Lords.

Alack, the king!

Post. Cym. Thou basest thing, avoid! hence, from my sight!

If, after this command, thou fraught2 the court With thy unworthiness, thou diest: Away! Thou art poison to my blood.

Post. The gods protect you! And bless the good remainders of the court!

I am gone.

Imo.

[Exit. There cannot be a pinch in death More sharp than this is.

Сут.

O disloyal thing,

Pis. My lord your son drew on my master.
Queen.

No harm, I trust, is done?
Pis.

Ha!

There might have been, But that my master rather play'd than fought, And had no help of anger: they were parted By gentlemen at hand. Queen. I am very glad on't. Imo. Your son's my father's friend; he takes his part.

To draw upon an exile!-O brave sir!

I would they were in Africk both together; Myself by with a needle, that I might prick The goer back.-Why came you from your master? Pis. On his command: He would not suffer me To bring him to the haven: left these notes Of what commands I should be subject to, When it pleas'd you to employ me.

Queen. This hath been Your faithful servant; I dare lay mine honour, He will remain so.

Pis.

I humbly thank your highness.

Queen. Pray, walk a while.
Imo.

About some half hour hence I pray you speak with me: you shall, at least, Go see my lord aboard; for this time, leave me.

[Exeunt,

SCENE III.-A PUBLICK PLACE.

Enter Cloten, and two Lords.

1 Lord. Sir, I would advise you to shift a shirt; the violence of action hath made you reek as a sacrifice.

Clo. If my shirt were bloody, then to shift it -Have I hurt him?

2 Lord. [Aside.] No, faith; not so much as his patience.

1 Lord. Hurt him? his body's a passable carcass, if he be not hurt: it is a thoroughfare for steel if it be not hurt.

2 Lord. His steel was in debt.

Clo. The villain would not stand me.

2 Lord. [Aside.] No; but he fled forward still, toward your face.

1 Lord. Stand you! You have land enough of your own: but he added to your having; gave you some ground.

2 Lord. [Aside.] As may inches as you have oceans: Puppies!

Clo. I would they had not come between us. 2 Lord. [Aside. ]So would I, till you had measured how long a fool you were upon the ground. Clo. And that she should love this fellow, and refuse me!

2 Lord. [Aside.] If it be a bin to make a truc election, she is cursed.

1 Reflections.