Iago. O, did he so? I charge you, go with me. 120
Emil. Fie, fie upon thee, strumpet![6690]
Bian. I am no strumpet; but of life as honest
As you that thus abuse me.
Emil. As I! foh! fie upon thee![6691]
Iago. Kind gentlemen, let's go see poor Cassio dress'd.[6692]
Come, mistress, you must tell's another tale.[6693] 125
Emilia, run you to the citadel,[6694]
And tell my lord and lady what hath happ'd![6695]
Will you go on? I pray. [Aside] This is the night[6696]
That either makes me or fordoes me quite. [Exeunt.[6697]
Scene II. A bedchamber in the castle: Desdemona in bed asleep; a light burning.[6698]
Enter Othello.
Oth. 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,[6699]
Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow
And smooth as monumental alabaster.[6700] 5
Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men.[6701]
Put out the light, and then put out the light:[6702]
If I quench thee, thou flaming minister,
I can again thy former light restore,
Should I repent me: but once put out thy light,[6703] 10
Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature,[6704]
I know not where is that Promethean heat[6705]
That can thy light relume. When I have pluck'd the rose,[6706]
I cannot give it vital growth again,
It must needs wither: I'll smell it on the tree. 15
[Kissing her.[6707]
Ah, balmy breath, that dost almost persuade[6708]
Justice to break her sword! One more, one more:[6709]
Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee,
And love thee after: one more, and this the last:[6710]
So sweet was ne'er so fatal. I must weep, 20
But they are cruel tears: this sorrow's heavenly;[6711]
It strikes where it doth love. She wakes.[6712]