Othello - Act 5, scene 1 | Folger Shakespeare Library (2024)

Scene1

Synopsis:

In the dark streets of Cyprus, Roderigo attacks Cassio, who, uninjured, stabs Roderigo. Iago then wounds Cassio in the leg. Othello, hearing Cassio cry out, thinks that Iago has killed him, and departs to murder Desdemona. Iago then kills the wounded Roderigo. While Iago, Lodovico, and Gratiano tend to Cassio, Bianca arrives. Iago accuses her of being a whor* and of engineering the plot against Cassio that led to his injury.

EnterIagoandRoderigo.

IAGO
3096Here,standbehindthis⟨bulk.⟩Straightwillhe
3097come.
3098Wearthygoodrapierbare,andputithome.
3099Quick,quick!Fearnothing.I’llbeatthyelbow.
31005Itmakesusoritmarsus—thinkonthat,
3101Andfixmostfirmthyresolution.
RODERIGO
3102Benearathand.Imaymiscarryin’t.
IAGO
3103Here,atthyhand.Beboldandtakethystand.
⌜Hemovesaside.⌝
RODERIGO
3104Ihavenogreatdevotiontothedeed,
310510Andyethehathgivenmesatisfyingreasons.
3106’Tisbutamangone.Forth,mysword!Hedies.
⌜Hedrawshissword.⌝
IAGO,⌜aside⌝
3107Ihaverubbedthisyoungquatalmosttothesense,
3108Andhegrowsangry.Now,whetherhekillCassio,
3109OrCassiohim,oreachdokilltheother,
311015Everywaymakesmygain.LiveRoderigo,
3111Hecallsmetoarestitutionlarge
3112OfgoldandjewelsthatIbobbedfromhim

EnterLodovicoandGratiano.

CASSIO
3137Whatho!Nowatch?Nopassage?Murder,murder!
GRATIANO
3138’Tissomemischance.Thevoiceisverydireful.
CASSIO3139O,help!
LODOVICO314045Hark!
RODERIGO3141Owretchedvillain!
LODOVICO
3142Twoorthreegroan.’Tisheavynight.
3143Thesemaybecounterfeits.Let’sthink’tunsafe
3144Tocomeintothecrywithoutmorehelp.
RODERIGO
314550Nobodycome?ThenshallIbleedtodeath.

EnterIago⟨withalight.⟩

LODOVICO3146Hark!
GRATIANO
3147Here’sonecomesinhisshirt,withlightand
3148weapons.
IAGO
3149Who’sthere?Whosenoiseisthisthatcrieson
315055murder?
LODOVICO
3151Wedonotknow.
IAGO3152⟨Did⟩notyouhearacry?
CASSIO
3153Here,here!For⟨heaven’s⟩sake,helpme!
IAGO3154What’sthematter?
GRATIANO,⌜toLodovico⌝
315560ThisisOthello’sancient,asItakeit.
LODOVICO
3156Thesameindeed,averyvaliantfellow.
IAGO,⌜toCassio⌝
3157Whatareyouherethatcrysogrievously?

p. 229

CASSIO
3158Iago?O,Iamspoiled,undonebyvillains.
3159Givemesomehelp!
IAGO
316065Ome,lieutenant!Whatvillainshavedonethis?
CASSIO
3161Ithinkthatoneofthemishereabout
3162Andcannotmakeaway.
IAGO3163Otreacherousvillains!
3164⌜ToLodovicoandGratiano.⌝Whatareyouthere?
316570Comein,andgivesomehelp.
RODERIGO3166O,helpme⟨here!⟩
CASSIO
3167That’soneofthem.
IAGO,⌜toRoderigo⌝3168Omurd’rousslave!Ovillain!
⌜HestabsRoderigo.⌝
RODERIGO
3169OdamnedIago!Oinhumandog!
IAGO
317075Killmeni’th’dark?—Wherebethesebloody
3171thieves?
3172Howsilentisthistown!Ho,murder,murder!—
3173Whatmayyoube?Areyouofgoodorevil?
LODOVICO
3174Asyoushallproveus,praiseus.
IAGO317580SigniorLodovico?
LODOVICO3176He,sir.
IAGO
3177Icryyoumercy.Here’sCassiohurtbyvillains.
GRATIANO3178Cassio?
IAGO
3179Howis’t,brother?
CASSIO318085Mylegiscutintwo.
IAGO3181Marry,heavenforbid!
3182Light,gentlemen.I’llbinditwithmyshirt.

p. 231

EnterBianca.

BIANCA
3183Whatisthematter,ho?Whois’tthatcried?
IAGO
3184Whois’tthatcried?
BIANCA318590O,mydearCassio,
3186MysweetCassio!OCassio,Cassio,Cassio!
IAGO
3187Onotablestrumpet!Cassio,mayyoususpect
3188Whotheyshouldbethathavethusmangledyou?
CASSIO3189No.
GRATIANO
319095Iamsorrytofindyouthus;Ihavebeentoseekyou.
[IAGO
3191Lendmeagarter.So.—Oforachair
3192Tobearhimeasilyhence!]
BIANCA
3193Alas,hefaints.O,Cassio,Cassio,Cassio!
IAGO
3194Gentlemenall,Idosuspectthistrash
3195100Tobeapartyinthisinjury.—
3196Patienceawhile,goodCassio.—Come,come;
3197Lendmealight.⌜PeeringatRoderigo.⌝Knowwethis
3198faceorno?
3199Alas,myfriendandmydearcountryman
3200105Roderigo?No!Yes,sure.⟨Oheaven,⟩Roderigo!
GRATIANO3201What,ofVenice?
IAGO3202Evenhe,sir.Didyouknowhim?
GRATIANO3203Knowhim?Ay.
IAGO
3204SigniorGratiano?Icryyourgentlepardon.
3205110Thesebloodyaccidentsmustexcusemymanners
3206Thatsoneglectedyou.
GRATIANO3207Iamgladtoseeyou.
IAGO
3208Howdoyou,Cassio?—O,achair,achair!

p. 233

GRATIANO3209Roderigo?
IAGO
3210115He,he,’tishe!⌜Achairisbroughtin.⌝O,that’swell
3211said;thechair.—
3212Somegoodmanbearhimcarefullyfromhence.
3213I’llfetchtheGeneral’ssurgeon.—Foryou,mistress,
3214Saveyouyourlabor.—Hethatliesslainhere,
3215120Cassio,
3216Wasmydearfriend.Whatmalicewasbetweenyou?
CASSIO
3217Noneintheworld.NordoIknowtheman.
IAGO,⌜toBianca⌝
3218What,lookyoupale?—O,bearhim⟨out⟩o’th’air.
⌜Cassio,inthechair,andRoderigoarecarriedoff.⌝
3219⌜ToGratianoandLodovico.⌝Stayyou,good
3220125gentlemen.—Lookyoupale,mistress?—
3221Doyouperceivethegastnessofhereye?—
3222Nay,ifyoustare,weshallhearmoreanon.—
3223Beholdherwell.Iprayyou,lookuponher.
3224Doyousee,gentlemen?Nay,guiltinesswillspeak
3225130Thoughtongueswereoutofuse.

⟨EnterEmilia.⟩

EMILIA
3226Alas,whatisthematter?Whatisthematter,
3227husband?
IAGO
3228Cassiohathherebeensetoninthedark
3229ByRoderigoandfellowsthatarescaped.
3230135He’salmostslain,andRoderigodead.
EMILIA
3231Alas,goodgentleman!Alas,goodCassio!
IAGO
3232Thisisthefruitsofwhoring.Prithee,Emilia,
3233GoknowofCassiowherehesuppedtonight.
3234⌜ToBianca.⌝What,doyoushakeatthat?

p. 235

BIANCA
3235140Hesuppedatmyhouse,butIthereforeshakenot.
IAGO
3236O,didheso?Ichargeyougowithme.
EMILIA3237Ofieuponthee,strumpet!
BIANCA
3238Iamnostrumpet,butoflifeashonest
3239Asyouthatthusabuseme.
EMILIA3240145AsI?⟨Faugh!⟩Fieuponthee!
IAGO
3241Kindgentlemen,let’sgoseepoorCassiodressed.—
3242Come,mistress,youmusttell’sanothertale.—
3243Emilia,runyoutothecitadel
3244Andtellmylordandladywhathathhapped.—
3245150Willyougoonafore?⌜Aside.⌝Thisisthenight
3246Thateithermakesmeorfordoesmequite.
Theyexit⌜indifferentdirections.⌝