Othello: Act 5, Scene 1

    tragedy

    Cyprus. A street.

    Scene Summary

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    Iago sends Roderigo to ambush Cassio in the street. Roderigo attacks but fails to wound Cassio, whose coat protects him. Cassio wounds Roderigo. Iago then emerges from the dark and stabs Cassio in the leg, slipping away before he can be identified. Othello hears Cassio cry out and assumes Iago has killed him — taking it as confirmation that Desdemona must die too. Iago returns and kills Roderigo to silence him. Bianca is blamed for the attack.

    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,
    That hast such noble sense of thy friend's wrong!
    Thou teachest me. 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! no watch? no passage? 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.
    Enter BIANCA
    BIANCA
    What is the matter, ho? who is't that cried?
    IAGO
    Who is't that cried!
    BIANCA
    O my dear Cassio! my sweet Cassio! O Cassio,
    Cassio, Cassio!
    IAGO
    O notable strumpet! Cassio, may you suspect
    Who they should be that have thus many led you?
    CASSIO
    No.
    GRATIANO
    I am to find you thus: I have been to seek you.
    IAGO
    Lend me a garter. So. O, for a chair,
    To bear him easily hence!
    BIANCA
    Alas, he faints! O Cassio, Cassio, Cassio!
    IAGO
    Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash
    To be a party in this injury.
    Patience awhile, good Cassio. Come, come;
    Lend me a light. Know we this face or no?
    Alas my friend and my dear countryman
    Roderigo! no:--yes, sure: O heaven! Roderigo.
    GRATIANO
    What, of Venice?
    IAGO
    Even he, sir; did you know him?
    GRATIANO
    Know him! ay.
    IAGO
    Signior Gratiano? I cry you gentle pardon;
    These bloody accidents must excuse my manners,
    That so neglected you.
    GRATIANO
    I am glad to see you.
    IAGO
    How do you, Cassio? O, a chair, a chair!
    GRATIANO
    Roderigo!
    IAGO
    He, he 'tis he.
    A chair brought in
    O, that's well said; the chair!
    GRATIANO
    Some good man bear him carefully from hence;
    I'll fetch the general's surgeon.
    To BIANCA
    For you, mistress,
    Save you your labour. He that lies slain
    here, Cassio,
    Was my dear friend: what malice was between you?
    CASSIO
    None in the world; nor do I know the man.
    IAGO
    [To BIANCA] What, look you pale? O, bear him out
    o' the air.
    CASSIO and RODERIGO are borne off
    Stay you, good gentlemen. Look you pale, mistress?
    Do you perceive the gastness of her eye?
    Nay, if you stare, we shall hear more anon.
    Behold her well; I pray you, look upon her:
    Do you see, gentlemen? nay, guiltiness will speak,
    Though tongues were out of use.
    Enter EMILIA
    EMILIA
    'Las, what's the matter? what's the matter, husband?
    IAGO
    Cassio hath here been set on in the dark
    By Roderigo and fellows that are scaped:
    He's almost slain, and Roderigo dead.
    EMILIA
    Alas, good gentleman! alas, good Cassio!
    IAGO
    This is the fruit of whoring. Prithee, Emilia,
    Go know of Cassio where he supp'd to-night.
    To BIANCA
    What, do you shake at that?
    BIANCA
    He supp'd at my house; but I therefore shake not.
    IAGO
    O, did he so? I charge you, go with me.
    EMILIA
    Fie, fie upon thee, strumpet!
    BIANCA
    I am no strumpet; but of life as honest
    As you that thus abuse me.
    EMILIA
    As I! foh! fie upon thee!
    IAGO
    Kind gentlemen, let's go see poor Cassio dress'd.
    Come, mistress, you must tell's another tale.
    Emilia run you to the citadel,
    And tell my lord and lady what hath happ'd.
    Will you go on? I pray.
    Aside
    This is the night
    That either makes me or fordoes me quite.
    Exeunt