Home Categories Poetry and Opera The Complete Works of Shakespeare VI

Chapter 6 act five

The first Cyprus.street Enter Iago and Roderigo. Iago come and stand behind this lean-to; he will come.Draw your sword out of its sheath, and stab at the vital point.Quick, quick; don't be afraid; I'm right beside you.Success or failure, in this one move, you have to make up your mind. Roderigo don't go away, maybe I will miss. Iago I am here, near you.Be more courageous and stand still. (Stand back.) Roderigo I am not the most zealous in the matter; But his reasons are good enough.Anyway, only lose one person.Come out, my sword; he must die! IAGO I have stirred the little pustule's heart, and he's pissed.Whether he kills Cassio, or Cassio kills him, or both, is good for me.If Roderigo lived, he would one day ask me to get back the many gold and silver jewels that I didn't get from him, which I said were for Desdemona; it is absolutely impossible.Had Cassio lived, I'd be dwarfed every day by his side with such graces; And if the Moor should have questioned him to his face, My plot would have been revealed, and my place would have been Very dangerous.No, he must die.So be it.I hear him coming.

Enter Cassio. Roderigo I know his way of walking; it is he. ——Wicked man, die for me! (Strikes Cassio with the sword.) CASSIO Luckily I am in good armor, or that blow would have killed me.Let me also test whether your armor is strong or not. (Draws the sword and stabs Roderigo.) Roderigo, I am dead! (Iago stabs Cassio in the leg from behind, exit.) CASSIO I am crippled forever!help!Killed someone!Killed someone! (Falls down.) OTHELLO enters from a distance. Othello Cassio's voice.Iago did not break his promise. Roderigo, what a villain I am! Othello is all right. Cassio, help me!Bring fire!Find a doctor!

Othello is he.Brave and upright Iago, it is rare for you to avenge your friend with such selfless devotion!You taught me a lesson.Bitch, your beloved is dead here, your end is at hand; whore, here I come!Wipe out from my heart the magic of your winks; let the blood of lewdness spill on your pillow stained with lewdness. (Down.) Lodovico and Gratiano enter from a distance. Cassio hello!how!No night watchmen?Pedestrians not passing by?Killed someone!Killed someone! What happened to Gratiano?This cry is very miserable. Cassio, help! Lodovico! Listen! Roderigo, damned villain! Two or three of Lodovico groaned.It was a very gloomy night; perhaps they pretended it on purpose, and we were alone, and it was not safe to venture across.

Roderigo is no one coming?Then I'll bleed to death! Lodovico! Listen! Re-enter Iago with the torch. Gratiano A man came in a shirt, with a fire in one hand and a weapon in the other. Who's there with Iago?Who is shouting murder over there? Lodovico we don't know. IAGO Do you hear a voice? CASSIO Here, here!For heaven's sake, help me! What's the matter with Iago? Graciano seems to be the banner officer under Othello. Lodovico is; a very brave fellow. IAGO Who are you, That cry so miserably here? Cassioiagu?Ah, I was tricked by the wicked, and I couldn't be a human being anymore!help me!

IAGO Alas, lieutenant!What kind of villain did this? CASSIO I think there is a mob still here; he cannot escape. O Iago, wicked traitor! (To Lodovico, Gratiano) Who are you?Come and help. Roderigo, help me!I'm here. Cassio He is one of the villains. Iago, what a murderer!O villain! (Strikes Roderigo.) Roderigo, wicked Iago!Dog without heart! Iago kills in secret!Where are all these vicious thieves?How silent the place is!Hello!Killed someone!Killed someone!Who are you?Is it a good guy or a bad guy? Lodovico Judge us for yourself. Master Iagorodovico? Lodovico is, sir. IAGO Forgive my pardon.Here is Cassio, stabbed by wicked men, and thrown to the ground.

Graciano Cassio! How is Iago, brother? CASSIO My leg is broken. IAGO O sin, sin!Shine the light for me, gentlemen; I'll bind it up with my gown. Enter Bianca. Bianca, what's up?Who is shouting here? Iago who here shouts! Bianca O my dear Cassio!My gentle Cassio!O Cassio!Cassio!Cassio! IAGO Hum, you notorious whore!Cassio, who do you think it was that did this to you? CASSIO I do not know. Graciano I'm coming to you, and what a disaster you've come to, it's so annoying! Iago lent me a garter.it is good.Ah, if only there was a chair in which to lie comfortably and carry him!

Bianca Oh, he's fainted!Ah; Cassio!Cassio!Cassio! Iago Gentlemen, I doubt that this slut is an accomplice of those murderers. --Be patient, good Cassio. ——Come, come, lend me a fire.Do we recognize this face?Ouch!Is it my friend from the same country, Roderigo?No.Alas, it really was him!God!Roderigo! Graciano what!Roderigo of Venice? Iago is he, sir.do you know him? Graciano knew him!How come I don't know him? Mister Iago Gratiano?I beg your pardon, these bloody tragedies have made me impolite and disrespectful. Where is Gratiano; I am glad to see you. Iago What is the matter with you, Cassio?Ah, a chair!Get a chair!

Graciano Roderigo! Iago He, he, it is he. (Everyone carries chairs) Ah!Very well; a chair.Several men carried him away carefully; I went to the military medical officer. (to Bianca) You, Granny, don't put on airs. — Cassio, this man who died here was a good friend of mine.What hatred do you two have? Cassio Not at all; I don't know the man at all. Iago (to Bianca) What!Have you turned pale? --what!Carry him into the house. (Exit Cassio and Roderigo, all behind) Wait a minute, gentlemen.Grandma, have you turned pale?Do you see that frightened look in her eyes?Well, if you keep your eyes wide open like this, we'll have to wait to hear something fresh.Watch her attentively; look; do you see, gentlemen?Hmph, a person who has committed a crime, even if his tongue froze, will not confess.

Enter EMILIA. EMILIA Oh!What's the matter?What's the matter, husband? Iago Cassio was here in the dark, attacked by Roderigo and some of his fellow fugitives; he nearly killed him, and Roderigo was dead. EMILIA Oh, what a gentleman!O, good Cassio! IAGO It is the fruit of his whore.Emilia, ask Cassio where he dined this evening. --what!Do you tremble when you hear this? Bianca he eats at my house; but I don't tremble because of it. Iago Oh, he eats at your house?You follow me! EMILIA Pooh, pooh, you shameless whore! Bianca I am not a whore; I am as innocent as you. Emilia is as innocent as I am!Pooh!shameless!

Iago Good gentlemen, let us help poor Cassio, and bind his wound.Come, grandma, you must tell us the truth.Emilia, run to the castle and tell the general and his wife what has happened here.Please please. (Narrator) Tonight is my destiny, if I can't make it to the sky, I will be defeated. (same below.) bedroom in the second scene castle Desdemona in bed, with a light in the room; enter Othello. OTHELLO For this one cause only, and this one cause only, my soul!O pure star, don't make me tell you its name!Just for this reason... But I don't want to splash her blood, and I don't want to hurt her skin, which is whiter than snow and smoother than plaster.But she had to die, otherwise she would frame more men.Let me extinguish this lamp, and then I will extinguish the flame of your life.Mellow lamp, when I blow you out, I can light you again, if I regret it; but you, most exquisite form of creation, when your flame is extinguished, I know not where there is heaven The divine fire that can ignite your original brilliance!When I pluck the rose, I can no longer give it the lost life, but let it wither and die; while it is still on the branch, I will smell its fragrance. (kisses Desdemona) O sweet breath!You almost tempted the heart of justice to break her sword!Another kiss, another kiss.May you be like this until you die; I will kill you and love you again.One more kiss, this is the last kiss; such ecstasy, yet such incomparably painful!I must cry, but these are pitiless tears.This pang of sorrow is holy because it punishes those it loves most.she woke up.

Who is Desdemona?Othello? OTHELLO Well, Desdemona. Desdemona Are you going to sleep, my lord? OTHELLO Have you prayed to-night, Desdemona? Desdemona has prayed, my lord. OTHELLO If you think of any sin in your life God has not pardoned, beseech His pardon quickly. Desdemona Oh!What do you mean by this, my lord? OTHELLO Hey, pray, be quick; I'll be there for you.I would not kill your unprepared soul; no, heaven forbid such a crime!I would not kill your soul. Desdemona Are you speaking of murder? OTHELLO Well, yes. Desdemona May heaven have mercy on me! Othello, amen, if so! Desdemona If you say so, I hope you won't kill me. Othello hum! Desdemona But I'm afraid of you; For when your eyes roll thus, you're ready to kill.I don't know why I'm afraid, because I don't know what sin I'm guilty of; but I feel afraid. OTHELLO Consider your crimes. Desdemona Unless my love for you is a crime, I know no crime in me. Othello Well, you must die for it. Desdemona was killed for love, and such a death is against humanity.well!Why are you biting your lower lip like that?A lust for blood shakes your whole body, that's its sign; but I hope, I hope your wrath is not against me. OTHELLO Shut up, be still! Desdemona Yes; but tell me what it is? OTHELLO Give Cassio my dear handkerchief which I gave you. Desdemona No, on my life and soul!You call him to say hello. Good Othello, take care not to swear perjury; thy death is at hand. Desdemona No, I cannot die yet. OTHELLO You must die at once, so confess your guilt quickly; and sworn to deny every fact, Can't take away that strong conviction that pains me.You must die. Desdemona So may God have mercy on me! Othello amen. Desdemona May you be merciful too!Never in my life did I offend thee, Nor did Cassio with a love that Heaven forbids: I gave him nothing. Othello By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in his hand.Deceitful woman!You have hardened my heart; I would have made you a sacrifice, but now you have stirred my butcher's evil thoughts.I clearly saw the handkerchief. Desdemona So where did he find it; I didn't give it to him.Call him here, make him confess the truth. OTHELLO He has confessed. What does Desdemona admit, my lord? Othello admits that he has had sex with you. What about Desdemona?Illegal relationship? Othello Hmm. Desdemona He would not say so. OTHELLO Yes, his mouth is shut, and righteous Iago has dealt with him. Desdemona, my fears make me understand!what!is he dead OTHELLO If there was life in every hair of him, My vengeful rage would swallow them all together. Desdemona Oh!He was framed, and my life was ruined from then on! Othello Shameless whore!Do you weep for him in my presence? Desdemona, my lord, banish me, but kill me not! Othello down, whore! Desdemona kill me tomorrow, let me live today! OTHELLO No, if you want to struggle— Desdemona Give me half an hour! Othello had made up his mind, and there was no room for redemption. Desdemona But let me say a prayer! Othello is too late. (Gripping Desdemona by the throat.) EMILIA (within) General, general!Hello!General, general! OTHELLO What is this voice?Didn't die?Not quite dead yet?Although I am cruel, I still have a bit of mercy; I don't want you to suffer for a moment longer.well. (Stick Desdemona.) EMILIA (within) Hi!General, General! Othello which one? EMILIA (within) Ah, General!I want to speak to you. OTHELLO Yes, this is Emilia. ——Wait a minute. -- she died.She would probably speak of Cassio's death.Noisy voices could already be heard outside.Hey!Not moving at all?Silent as a grave.Do you want to let her in?Appropriate or not?I think she is moving again, no, what should I do?If she comes in, she must speak to my wife.my wife!my wife!What wife?I don't have a wife.Ah, embarrassment!O unlucky hour!I think the sun and the moon should be dimmed now, and the frightened earth will be stunned when it sees this extraordinary catastrophe. EMILIA (within) O good general!Please let me in and say a word to you. Othello I have forgotten.Ah, come in, Emilia.Slow down, wait a minute.Let me pull down the tent.Where are you? (Unlocks and opens door.) Enter EMILIA. OTHELLO What's the matter? EMILIA, good general!There's a murder over there! OTHELLO What!Now? Emilia was just now, General. Othello, it's all because the moon is on the wrong track, closer to the earth than usual, and people are going crazy. General Emilia, Cassio killed a Venetian youth named Roderigo. Othello Roderigo is slain!Was Cassio also killed? EMILIA No, Cassio is not dead. Othello Cassio is not dead!Then the murderer admits the wrong person, and the happy revenge has changed again. Desdemona, what an unjust death! EMILIA Ouch!What is that call? Othelona!What? EMILIA Ouch!It was Madam's voice.Help!help!Help!Ah, ma'am, one more word!Dear Desdemona!Ah, dear lady, speak! Desdemona I die innocent. Emilia!Who did this? Desdemona Nobody did it; it was me.Farewell; greet my gracious husband for me.Ah, goodbye! (die.) Othello!How could she be killed? EMILIA Oh!who knows? OTHELLO You heard her say it was herself, and I did not kill her. EMILIA That's what she says; I'll have to report it as it is. OTHELLO She goes to hell's fire, and will not speak a word of the truth.It was I who killed her. Emilia, then she is more an angel, and you more a black devil! OTHELLO She has done shameless things, she is a whore. EMILIA You have wronged her, you are a devil. OTHELLO She is as light as water. EMILIA You call her frivolous, and you yourself are as violent as fire.Oh, she is holy and faithful! Othello Cassio has committed adultery with her, ask your husband if you don't believe me.Ah, if I resort to such extreme measures, and have no good reason, I shall be forever in the bottom of hell after death!Your husband knows all about it. Emilia my husband! Othello Your husband. EMILIA Does he know she's not chaste? OTHELLO Well, he knows she's with Cassio.Why, if she'd been a chaste woman, I wouldn't trade her for it, even if God made me another world with a whole gem. Emilia my husband! OTHELLO Well, he first told me about it.He is a gentleman, and he hates baseness and dirty behavior. Emilia my husband! Lady Othello, why do you keep saying that?I mean your husband. Emilia, madam!Because of your passion, you have been fooled by the villain!My husband said she was not chaste! OTHELLO It is he, woman; I say your husband; do you understand that?My friend, your husband, just, just Iago. EMILIA May his vicious soul perish every day, if he speaks so!He was utter nonsense; she was too infatuated with her meanest man. Othello Hey! EMILIA Do as you please with me.You are not worthy of such a good wife, your behavior is forbidden by heaven. Othello does not shut up! EMILIA You have no power to hurt me; my heart is broken, and I fear you!Ah, fool!fool!Dude as stupid as dirt!You have done a great wrong - I am not afraid of your sword; I will declare your guilt, even if it costs me twenty lives.Help!help!Help!The Moor has killed the lady!Killed someone!Killed someone! Enter Montano, Gratiano, Iago, and others. Montano what's the matter?What, General! Emilia!Are you here, Iago?You have done a good deed, and people have accused you of murder! Graciano what's the matter? EMILIA If you are a man, deny what this villain says; he says you told him his wife was unfaithful.I know you wouldn't say such things, and you wouldn't be such a villain.Come on, my heart is about to burst. IAGO I tell him only what I mean; and what I say to him, He himself confirms. EMILIA But did you tell him she was unfaithful? Iago I told him. EMILIA You are lying, a hateful, heinous lie!By my soul, a lie, a sinful lie!She had an affair with Cassio!Do you say she had an affair with Cassio? Iago has an affair with Cassio, madam.All right, all right, hold your tongue. EMILIA I will not hold my tongue; I must speak.Madame was murdered in this bed. People, how could such a thing happen! Emilia is all your rumor that caused this bloodbath. Othello Gentlemen, do not be alarmed; it is true. It's amazing that such a thing happened to Gratiano! Montano, deception! Emilia trick!trick!trick!I remember now; ah, trick!At that time, I had some doubts; I was going to die of grief!Ah, ruse!trick! Iago what!Are you crazy?Come home quickly! EMILIA Gentlemen, let me have a chance to speak.Normally I should obey him, but now I cannot obey him.Perhaps, Iago, I shall never come home again. Othello!what!what! (Flops down on the bed.) EMILIA Well, lie down and cry; for you have slain the most gentle and purest man in the world. Othello, she is obscene!I hardly know you, uncle.There lies your niece, whose breath I have just snatched from my hands; and I know that to the eyes of the world this deed looks astonishing and cruel. Gratiano Poor Desdemona!Thankfully your father is dead; your marriage was his death, and grief wrecks his old life.If he were alive now, he would do something crazy to see such horrors; he would curse, drive away the patron saint around him, and destroy his own soul. OTHELLO It is a sad thing indeed; but Iago knows that she has done many shameless things with Cassio, and Cassio himself admits it.She also gave Cassio my gift of love, as a reward for his courtesies.I saw it in his hand; it was a handkerchief, an old keepsake from my father to my mother. Emilia God!Gods in the sky! IAGO Well, shut your mouth! EMILIA Things always come out, things always come out.shut my mouthNo, no, I will speak freely as the north wind; let gods, men, and devils all mock and shame me, and I will speak my words. Iago, please understand, let's go home. EMILIA I don't want to go home. (Iago draws his sword to stab Emilia.) Graciano Pooh!Do you use force against a woman? EMILIA You stupid Moor!That handkerchief you speak of I found by chance, and gave it to my husband; though it was but a small thing, he begged me several times to steal it for him. Iago's tongue-in-cheek whore! EMILIA She gave Cassio!well!No, I picked it up and gave it to my husband. Iago bitch, you lie! EMILIA By heaven, I am not lying; I am not lying, gentlemen.Killing fool!How can a fool like you deserve such a good wife? Othello Are there no stones in the sky that can be struck down like thunder?What a traitor! (Runs to Iago; Iago stabs Emilia and flees.) Gratiano The woman fell; he killed his wife. EMILIA Yes, yes; ah!Put me beside my lady! Gratiano he left, his wife was killed by him. Montano This is a heinous murderer.You take the sword I wrested from the Moor.Come, keep watch at the door, and don't let him go; kill him if he tries to escape.I'm going after the villain, an unforgiving fellow. (Exit Montano and Graciano.) OTHELLO My courage is gone from me, and every feeble coward would take my sword.But since villainy has triumphed over integrity, where is honor?Let it all be disillusioned! EMILIA Is your song a portent, madam?Listen, do you hear my voice?I will die singing like a swan. (Sing) Willow, willow, willow... Moor, she is chaste; she loves you, cruel Moor.I speak the truth, and may my soul be blessed; my words agree with my thoughts.I'm dead, I'm dead. (die.) OTHELLO I have another sword in this house, a Spanish sword, dipped in the waters of an ice spring.Ah, here it is!Uncle, I must come out. Gratiano (within): If you dare try, you will pay a heavy price; you have no arms, but you must submit. OTHELLO Then come in and look at me, and I'll tell you something; or I'll fight you, though I have no arms. Graciano re-enters. Graciano what's the matter? OTHELLO Look!I have a sword; a better sword never was worn by a warrior; with this small arm and this sharp sword I have dashed through sieges twenty times as many as you; but, vain boast!Who is master of his own destiny?Now I don't have that ability anymore.Fear not though you see me with arms, for here is the end of my journey, the last goal of my voyage.Did you back away in fright?It was unnecessarily frightening; whoever would have thrown a rush at Othello's breast would have shrunk back.Where should Othello go? ——Ah, let me see your face again, poor girl!As pale as your shirt!When we're at each other's throats, this look of yours can drive my soul down to heaven, and the devil will take it.You are cold all over, my love!As cold as thy chastity.Ah, damned, damned minions!Whip me, O devil, from the presence of this celestial beauty!Let the wind blow me up, let the brimstone smoke me, and let me be immersed in the boiling abyss!Ah, Desdemona!Desdemona!died!what!what!what! Lodovico, Montano, and the two attendants carry Cassio and the servants in couch chairs to escort Iago and the others. Where is Lodovico, the reckless and unfortunate man? Othello That's Othello of old; here I am. Where is Lodovico's poisonous snake?Bring up this villain. OTHELLO It is said that the devil's feet are split-toed. Let me see if his feet are like that.If you are really a devil, I can't kill you either. (Stabbing Iago.) Lodovico took the sword from his hand. IAGO I've only bled a little, and he hasn't killed me yet. Othello, too, I want you to live; for death is a bliss to me. Lodovico, Othello!You were originally a good man, but you fell into the tricks of a wicked villain. What should we say about you? OTHELLO Say what you will; say I'm a righteous murderer, if you will, For what I do, From a sense of honour, And not from suspected self-hate. The villain Lodovico has confessed part of his plot; were you with him in killing Cassio? OTHELLO Yes. Marshal Cassio, I never offended you. OTHELLO I believe your word; forgive me.You ask that demon with a human head, why did he frame my soul and body like this? Iago Ask me nothing; what you know, you already know; from this moment I shall speak no more. Lodovico what!Don't you pray too? Gratiano torture can force you to speak. OTHELLO Hey, you're the best way. General Lodovico, you will understand all that has happened, and I am sure you do not know anything yet.Here is a letter found in the pocket of the dead Roderigo; here is another; and one of them says that Cassio's death was carried out by Roderigo himself. Othello, traitor! Cassio's savage and cruel plots! Here is Lodovico, found in his pocket a letter full of complaints, which Roderigo, it seems, intended to send to this wicked villain; but before the letter was sent, Iago gave him the answer. up. Othello, wicked traitor!How did my wife's handkerchief come into your hand, Cassio? CASSIO I found it in my chamber; He has just confessed with his own mouth that he left it there knowingly, To further his own design. Othello, fool!fool!fool! Cassio In Roderigo's letter, He complained again that Iago should not have made him seek me for my night's watch; that's why I quit my job.Just now, he woke up from a long coma, and said that he was instructed by Iago in everything, but it was Iago who hurt his life. Lodovico You must leave this house and go with us; your army and military authority must be handed over, and Cassio must be in charge of the military and political affairs of Cyprus.As for this one fellow, we shall use all the artful tortures to inflict on him, so that he will suffer all kinds of pains, so that he will not die at once.We shall also keep you in close confinement, awaiting the verdict on your crimes by the government of Venice.Come, take him down. OTHELLO Wait, and hear me a word or two, before you go.I have made considerable contributions to the country, this is known to the rulers; those words need not be said now.When you report this unfortunate fact to them, please describe me honestly in the official document as I am, without partiality, and without malicious frame; you should say that I am an unwise person in love A man too affectionate; a man who is not prone to jealousy, but, when provoked, is utterly foolish; a man as foolish as the Hindus, who would give away a pearl more valuable than the property of his whole tribe Throw it away; a man who is not used to shedding women's tears, but when he is overcome by emotion, will flood his eyes like an acacia tree with glue.Mark these words, and add this: In Aleppo, a hostile Turk in a turban beat a Venetian for slandering our country, and I seized the circumcised man Gouzi's throat, just like that killed him. (Kills himself with a sword.) Lodovico, grim end! Everything Graciano had said was now being reversed. OTHELLO I kissed you farewell, before I slew you; and now my own life ends with a kiss. (Falls on Desdemona, dies.) CASSIO I've dreaded such a thing, But I thought he had no arms; His heart was fair. LODOVICO (to Iago) You fiercer dog than pain, hunger, and sea!Look at a pair of bloody corpses on this bed; this is your good work.Such a sad and miserable scene, let's cover it up quickly.Take this house, Gratiano; all this Moorish estate shall be yours.Governor, how to deal with this devilish traitor, when, where, and what kind of criminal law is to be used, I ask you to handle it completely. Don't condone him!I am going to go back to report to the government on the boat now, and report this sad accident with a sad heart. (same below.) Notes: Cod head is a metaphor for a fool; the whole sentence means: Marry a fool, and don’t find another beautiful partner. It is said that the swan sang a dirge to herself on her deathbed.
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