Othello, Act 5, Scene 1

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.

Here, stand behind this stall. He'll come by at once. Hold your good sword out bare, and drive it home. Quick, quick, don't be afraid; I'll be right beside you. This either makes us or ruins us, so think about that, and hold your resolve completely firm.

Be near at hand, I may miscarry in ’t.

Stay close by; I might fail at it.

Here, at thy hand. Be bold, and take thy stand.

Here, right at your side. Be bold, and take your place.

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.

I have no great enthusiasm for the deed; and yet he has given me convincing reasons. It's only one man gone. Out, my sword; he dies.

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.

I have rubbed this young pimple almost raw, and he's growing angry. Now, whether he kills Cassio, or Cassio kills him, or each kills the other, every way I profit. If Roderigo lives, he demands from me a large repayment of the gold and jewels I cheated out of him as gifts for Desdemona. That must not happen. If Cassio survives, there is a daily beauty in his life that makes me look ugly. And besides, the Moor may expose me to him; that puts me in great danger. No, he must die. But quiet, I hear him coming.

I know his gait; ’tis he. Villain, thou diest!

I know his walk; it's him. Villain, you die!

That thrust had been mine enemy indeed, But that my coat is better than thou know’st. I will make proof of thine.

That thrust really would have been the death of me, except that my coat is better than you realize. I'll test yours.

O, I am slain!

Oh, I'm killed!

I am maim’d forever. Help, ho! murder, murder!

I'm crippled for life. Help, there! Murder, murder!

The voice of Cassio. Iago keeps his word.

That's Cassio's voice. Iago is keeping his word.

O, villain that I am!

Oh, what a villain I am!

It is even so.

It's exactly so.

O, help, ho! light! a surgeon!

Oh, help, there! A light! A surgeon!

’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 unbless’d 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.

It's him. Oh, splendid Iago, honest and just, who has such a noble feeling for the wrong done to your friend! You teach me my duty. Little hussy, your darling lies dead, and your own cursed fate is rushing toward you. Whore, I'm coming! Those charms of yours, your eyes, are wiped out of my heart; your bed, stained with lust, shall be spotted with lust's blood.

What, ho! No watch? No passage? murder, murder!

Hey, there! Is there no night watch? Nobody passing by? Murder, murder!

’Tis some mischance; the cry is very direful.

Something bad has happened; that cry is truly dreadful.

O, help!

Oh, help!

Hark!

Listen!

O wretched villain!

Oh, miserable villain!

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.

Two or three men are groaning. It's a pitch-dark night. These may be a trap. Let's agree it isn't safe to go toward the shouting without more help.

Nobody come? Then shall I bleed to death.

Is nobody coming? Then I'll bleed to death.

Hark!

Listen!

Here’s one comes in his shirt, with light and weapons.

Here comes someone in his nightshirt, with a light and weapons.

Who’s there? Whose noise is this that cries on murder?

Who's there? Whose shouting is this, crying out murder?

We do not know.

We don't know.

Did not you hear a cry?

Didn't you hear a cry?

Here, here! for heaven’s sake, help me!

Here, here! For heaven's sake, help me!

What’s the matter?

What's going on?

This is Othello’s ancient, as I take it.

This is Othello's standard-bearer, I believe.

The same indeed, a very valiant fellow.

Yes, it's him, a very brave man.

What are you here that cry so grievously?

Who are you here, crying out so painfully?

Iago? O, I am spoil’d, undone by villains! Give me some help.

Iago? Oh, I'm ruined, destroyed by villains! Give me some help.

O me, lieutenant! What villains have done this?

Oh, no, lieutenant! What villains have done this?

I think that one of them is hereabout, And cannot make away.

I think one of them is somewhere near here, and can't get away.

O treacherous villains! [To Lodovico and Gratiano.] What are you there? Come in and give some help.

Oh, treacherous villains! [To Lodovico and Gratiano.] Who are you over there? Come here and give some help.

O, help me here!

Oh, help me over here!

That’s one of them.

That's one of them.

O murderous slave! O villain!

Oh, murdering wretch! Oh, villain!

O damn’d Iago! O inhuman dog!

Oh, damned Iago! Oh, inhuman dog!

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?

Killing men in the dark! Where are these bloody robbers? How silent this town is! Hey! Murder! Murder! Who might you be? Are you honest men or criminals?

As you shall prove us, praise us.

Judge us as you find us.

Signior Lodovico?

Signior Lodovico?

He, sir.

Yes, it's me, sir.

I cry you mercy. Here’s Cassio hurt by villains.

I beg your pardon. Here's Cassio, hurt by villains.

Cassio!

Cassio!

How is’t, brother?

How are you, brother?

My leg is cut in two.

My leg is cut in two.

Marry, heaven forbid! Light, gentlemen, I’ll bind it with my shirt.

Good God, heaven forbid! Bring the light, gentlemen. I'll bind it up with my shirt.

What is the matter, ho? Who is’t that cried?

What's going on, there? Who was it that cried out?

Who is’t that cried?

Who was it that cried out?

O my dear Cassio, my sweet Cassio! O Cassio, Cassio, Cassio!

Oh, my dear Cassio, my sweet Cassio! Oh, Cassio, Cassio, Cassio!

O notable strumpet! Cassio, may you suspect Who they should be that have thus mangled you?

Oh, what a famous whore! Cassio, can you guess who they might be who have cut you up like this?

No.

No.

I am sorry to find you thus; I have been to seek you.

I'm sorry to find you like this; I've been out looking for you.

Lend me a garter. So.—O, for a chair, To bear him easily hence!

Lend me a garter. There. Oh, if only we had a chair to carry him away from here comfortably!

Alas, he faints! O Cassio, Cassio, Cassio!

Oh no, he's fainting! Oh, Cassio, Cassio, Cassio!

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.

Gentlemen, all of you, I suspect this piece of rubbish of being an accomplice in this attack. Be patient a little while, good Cassio. Come, come; lend me a light. Do we know this face or not? Oh no, my friend and my dear fellow countryman Roderigo? No. Yes, it certainly is. Oh, heaven! Roderigo.

What, of Venice?

What, the one from Venice?

Even he, sir. Did you know him?

That very man, sir. Did you know him?

Know him? Ay.

Know him? Yes.

Signior Gratiano? I cry you gentle pardon. These bloody accidents must excuse my manners, That so neglected you.

Signior Gratiano? I beg your kind pardon. These bloody events must excuse my bad manners in neglecting you like that.

I am glad to see you.

I am glad to see you.

How do you, Cassio? O, a chair, a chair!

How are you, Cassio? Oh, a chair, a chair!

Roderigo!

Roderigo!

He, he, ’tis he.

Him, him, it's him.

O, that’s well said; the chair. 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?

Oh, well done; the chair. Let some good man carry him away from here carefully, and I'll fetch the general's surgeon. [To Bianca] As for you, madam, don't bother yourself. The man lying killed here, Cassio, was my dear friend. What quarrel was there between you?

None in the world. Nor do I know the man.

None at all. I don't even know the man.

[To Bianca.] What, look you pale?—O, bear him out o’ the air.

[To Bianca.] What, are you turning pale?—Oh, carry him out of the open air.

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.

You stay, good gentlemen.—Are you turning pale, madam? Do you notice the horror in her eyes? No, if you glare like that, we'll hear more soon. Look at her closely. Please, look at her. Do you see, gentlemen? No, guilt will speak out even if tongues were never used at all.

’Las, what’s the matter? What’s the matter, husband?

Oh no, what's the matter? What's the matter, husband?

Cassio hath here been set on in the dark By Roderigo, and fellows that are ’scap’d. He’s almost slain, and Roderigo dead.

Cassio has been attacked here in the dark by Roderigo and some men who have got away. He's almost killed, and Roderigo is dead.

Alas, good gentleman! alas, good Cassio!

Oh, the poor gentleman! Poor Cassio!

This is the fruit of whoring. Prithee, Emilia, Go know of Cassio where he supp’d tonight. What, do you shake at that?

This is what comes of going with prostitutes. Please, Emilia, go and find out from Cassio where he had supper tonight. What, does that make you tremble?

He supp’d at my house, but I therefore shake not.

He had supper at my house, but that isn't why I'm trembling.

O, did he so? I charge you go with me.

Oh, did he now? I order you to come with me.

Fie, fie upon thee, strumpet!

Shame, shame on you, you whore!

I am no strumpet, but of life as honest As you that thus abuse me.

I am no whore; my life is as chaste as yours, you who insult me like this.

As I? Foh! fie upon thee!

As mine? Ugh! Shame on you!

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 afore? [Aside.] This is the night That either makes me or fordoes me quite.

Good gentlemen, let's go and see poor Cassio's wounds bandaged. Come along, madam, you'll have to tell us a different story. Emilia, you run to the citadel and tell my lord and lady what has happened. Will you go on ahead? [Aside.] This is the night that either makes me or destroys me completely.