HAM/THELLO: the moor of denmark
                                                         copyright © 2006 Jeff Goode


                               ACT IV - The Murder of the Ghost

           SCENE 1 - Royal antechamber.  
                  Enter OTHELLO and IAGO
           OTHELLO
              How shall I murder him, Iago?
           IAGO
              Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice?
           OTHELLO
              O Iago!
           IAGO
              'Tis foul in her.
           OTHELLO
              Get me some poison, Iago; this night: I'll not expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty
              unprovide my mind again: this night, Iago.
           IAGO
              And for Hamlet, let me be his undertaker.
           OTHELLO 
              Within these three days let me hear thee say 
              That Hamlet's not alive.
           IAGO
              My friend is dead; 'tis done at your request: 
              But let her live.
           OTHELLO
                              Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her! 
              Let not the royal bed of Denmark be 
              A couch for luxury and damnéd incest. 
           DESDEMONA
              [Within] What noise? Who's there? Othello?
           OTHELLO 
              Ay. Desdemona.
                  Enter DESDEMONA
           DESDEMONA
              Will you come to bed, my lord?
           OTHELLO
              Have you pray'd to-night, Desdemona?
           DESDEMONA
              Ay, my lord.
           OTHELLO
              If you bethink yourself of any crime 
              Unreconciled as yet to heaven and grace, 
              Solicit for it straight.
           DESDEMONA
              Alas, my lord, what do you mean by that?
           OTHELLO
              That handkerchief which I so loved and gave thee 
              Thou gavest to Hamlet.
           DESDEMONA
              No, by my life and soul! 
           OTHELLO
              By heaven, I saw my handkerchief to-night.
              O perjured woman! thou dost stone my heart, 
              I saw the handkerchief.
           DESDEMONA 
              He found it then;--
           OTHELLO
              [Striking her] Devil!
           DESDEMONA 
              I have not deserved this.
           OTHELLO
              Get you to bed on the instant; I will be returned forthwith: dismiss your attendant there: look
              it be done.
           DESDEMONA
              I will, my lord.
           OTHELLO
              Out of my sight!
           DESDEMONA 
              I will not stay to offend you. 
                                                                     Exit
           OTHELLO 
              [to IAGO] Come, go with me apart; I will withdraw, 
              To furnish me with some swift means of death 
              For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant.
           IAGO
              I am your own for ever. 
           OTHELLO
              O, blood, blood, blood!
           IAGO 
              My lord, he's coming to his mother's closet: 
              Behind the arras I'll convey myself, 
              To serve your purpose; Fare you well, my liege: 
              I'll call upon you ere you go to bed, 
              And tell you what is done.
                                                              Exit OTHELLO
                                   This is the night 
              That either makes me or fordoes me quite. 
                  Enter BIANCA in the GHOST disguise.
           BIANCA 
              I do not find that thou dealest justly with me.
           IAGO
              How now, Bianca!
              What do you mean by this haunting of me?
           BIANCA
              Let the devil and his dam haunt you!
              I have been to-night exceedingly well cudgelled; and I think the issue will be, I shall have so
              much experience for my pains.
           IAGO 
              Well; go to; very well.
           BIANCA 
              Very well! go to! I cannot go to, man; nor 'tis not very well: nay, I think it is scurvy, and
              begin to find myself fobbed in it.  I will indeed no longer endure it, nor am I yet persuaded
              to put up in peace what already I have foolishly suffered.  I will give over my suit and repent
              my unlawful solicitation. 
                                                       Removes the GHOST costume
           IAGO
              Will you hear me, Bianca?
           BIANCA 
              'Faith, I have heard too much, for your words and performances are no kin together.
                                                     Gives IAGO the GHOST costume
              There; give it your hobby-horse:
                                                                     Exit
           IAGO 
              How now, my sweet Bianca! how now! how now!
              'Faith, I must after her; she'll rail in the street else.
              --Goats and monkeys! 
                                                                     Exit

Forth!