[Enter IAGO and RODERIGO]
IAGO Here, stand behind this
bulk; straight will he come:
Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home:
Quick, quick; fear nothing; I'll be at thy elbow:
It makes us, or it mars us; think on that,
And fix most firm thy resolution.
RODERIGO Be near at hand; I may miscarry in't.
IAGO Here, at thy hand: be bold, and take thy stand.
[Retires]
RODERIGO I have no great devotion to the
deed;
And yet he hath given me satisfying reasons:
'Tis but a man gone. Forth, my sword: he dies.
IAGO I have rubb'd this
young quat almost to the sense,
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]
RODERIGO I know his gait, 'tis he.--Villain, thou diest!
[Makes a pass at CASSIO]
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 for ever. Help, ho! murder! murder!
[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,
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! murder! murder!
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 ones on murder?
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!
What are you there? come in, and give some help.
[To LODOVICO and GRATIANO]
RODERIGO O, help me here!
CASSIO That's one of them.
IAGO O murderous 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! murder! murder!--
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.