Here, stand behind this bulk
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.
He moves aside.
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.
He draws his sword.
Iago, aside
I have rubbed 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 bobbed 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. Be ‘t so. I hear him coming.
Enter Cassio.
Roderigo
I know his gait. ‘Tis he!—Villain, thou diest!
He thrusts 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.
He draws, and stabs Roderigo.
Roderigo
O, I am slain!
Roderigo falls.
Iago stabs Cassio in the leg, and exits.
Cassio
I am maimed forever! Help, ho! Murder, murder!
Enter Othello.
Othello
The voice of Cassio! Iago keeps his word.
Roderigo
O, villain that I am!
Othello, aside
It is even so.
Cassio
O, help ho! Light! A surgeon!
Othello, aside
‘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-stained, shall with lust's blood be spotted.
Othello exits.