“Otello” – Act 4

ACT FOUR

Desdemona’s bedroom. A bed, a prie-dieu, a table, a mirror and some chairs. A lighted lamp hangs before the image of the Madonna above the prie-dieu. On the right is a door. It is night. (Desdemona, with the assistance of Emilia, is preparing for bed.) Emilia Was he calmer? Desdemona He seemed so to me. He commanded me to go to bed and there await him. Emilia, I pray you, lay upon my bed my white wedding nightgown. (Emilia does so.) Listen. If I should die before you, lay me to rest in one of those veils. Emilia Put such thoughts from you. Desdemona I am so sad, so sad. (seating herself mechanically before the mirror) My mother had a poor maidservant, she was in love and pretty; her name was Barbara; she loved a man who then abandoned her. She used to sing a song, the song of “The Willow”. (to Emilia) Unbind my hair. This evening my memory is haunted by that old refrain. “She wept as she sang on the lonely heath, the poor girl wept, O Willow, Willow, Willow! She sat with her head upon her breast, Willow, Willow, Willow! Come sing! Come sing! The green willow shall be my garland.”

(to Emilia) Make haste; Otello will soon be here. “The fresh streams ran between the flowery banks, she moaned in her grief, in bitter tears which through her eyelids sprang her poor heart sought relief. Willow! Willow! Willow! Come sing! Come sing! The green willow shall be my garland. Down from dark branches flew the birds towards the singing sweet. Sufficient were the tears that she did weep that stones her sorrow shared.” (to Emilia, taking a ring from her finger) Lay this ring by. (rising) Poor Barbara! The story used to end with this simple phrase: “He was born for glory, I to love...” (to Emilia) Hark! I heard a moan. (Emilia takes a step or two.) Hush... Who knocks upon that door? Emilia ’Tis the wind. Desdemona “I to love him and to die. Come sing! Come sing! Willow! Willow! Willow!” Emilia, farewell. How mine eyes do itch! That bodes weeping. Good night. (Emilia turns to leave.) Ah! Emilia, Emilia, farewell! Emilia, farewell! (Emilia returns and Desdemona embraces her. Emilia leaves.) (kneeling at the prie-dieu) Hail Mary, full of grace, blessed amongst wives and maids art thou, and blessed is the fruit, o blessed one, of thy maternal womb, Jesu. Pray for those who kneeling adore thee,

pray for the sinner, for the innocent and for the weak oppressed; and to the powerful man, who also grieves, thy sweet compassion show. Pray for him who bows beneath injustice and ’neath the blows of cruel destiny; for us, pray thou for us, pray for us always, and at the hour of our death pray for us, pray for us, pray! (She remains kneeling and, with her head bowed on the prie-dieu, repeats the prayer silently, so that only the first words and the last are audible.) Hail Mary... ... and at the hour of our death. Hail! Amen! (She rises from her knees and goes to bed.) (Otello appears on the threshold of a secret door... He comes forward... places his scimitar on the table ... hesitates in front of the candle, wondering whether to put it out or not... Looks at Desdemona... Puts out the light... Makes a gesture of fury... Approaches the bed... Stops... Raises the drapes and stands for a long time contemplating the sleeping Desdemona... He gives her a kiss... another kiss... and another one. Desdemona awakens.) Desdemona Who’s there? (raising herself) Otello? Otello Ay!... Have you prayed tonight? Desdemona I prayed... Otello If you bethink yourself of any crime unreconciled as yet to heaven and grace, solicit for it straight.

Desdemona What mean you? Otello Be brief! I would not kill your spirit. Desdemona Talk you of killing? Otello I do. Desdemona Then God have mercy on me! Otello Amen. Desdemona And you have mercy too! Otello Think on your sins. Desdemona My sin is love. Otello For that you die! Desdemona Because I love you, you would kill me? Otello Cassio is your love! Desdemona No! By my life and soul! Otello That handkerchief which I gave you you gave to him. Desdemona It is not true! Otello I saw it in his hand.

Desdemona I am not guilty! Otello Confess! Desdemona I swear it! Otello Take heed of perjury... Think that you are on your deathbed. Desdemona But not to die. Otello To die presently. Desdemona God help me! I do not love Cassio... Send for him hither... let him speak. Otello His mouth is stopped for ever. Desdemona What!... is he dead? Otello Dead. Desdemona I am undone, and he betrayed! Otello And you dare to weep for him? Desdemona Otello, do not kill me... Otello You strive in vain. Desdemona Let me live... ... longer, let me live longer, let me live!

Otello Down, fall, down, fall, strumpet! Desdemona Mercy! Otello Die!! Desdemona Let me live tonight... Otello No! Desdemona One hour... Otello No! Desdemona An instant. Otello No! Desdemona But while I say one prayer. Otello It is too late! (He smothers her.) Desdemona Ah!... (A knocking is heard at the door on the right.) Otello (contemplating the inert form of Desdemona) As quiet as the grave. (further knocking at the door) Emilia (without) Unlock the door! Otello (with a start) Who’s there? Who’s knocking?

Emilia (knocking again) O, good my lord, I do beseech that I may speak with you... Unlock the door! Otello (opening the door) Emilia! What’s the matter? Emilia (entering) Yonder’s foul murder done! Cassio has killed Roderigo! Otello And Cassio? Emilia Lives. Otello Cassio lives!! Desdemona (from the bed) Falsely... falsely killed... Emilia (running towards the bed) What cry is that?... O horror! Desdemona A guiltless death I die... Emilia Great God! Who did this deed? Desdemona Nobody... I myself... Commend me to my lord... A guiltless death I die... Farewell... (dies) Otello O liar! ’Twas I that killed her. Emilia Murderer!

Otello She was Cassio’s whore. Ask Iago else. Emilia Iago? Otello Iago. Emilia O dolt! And you believed him? Otello (about to strike Emilia) Dare you deny it? Emilia I fear you not. Otello (seizing her) Take care! Emilia Ho there! Help, ho! Help! (freeing herself she runs toward the door, crying out) Otello has killed Desdemona! (Lodovico, Cassio and Iago enter, followed later by Montano and some armed men.) Cassio, Iago, Lodovico What cries are these! (seeing Desdemona) O horror, horror! Emilia (to Iago) Iago, disprove this vile murderer. Did you believe Desdemona was false? Speak! Iago Such I believed her. Otello That handkerchief that I had given her she gave to Cassio. Emilia O heavenly powers!

Iago (to Emilia) Hold your tongue! Emilia No, I will tell all! Iago Hold your tongue! Emilia No! This man from my hand the handkerchief did wrench by use of force. Cassio And in my lodging I found the handkerchief. Montano (entering and pointing to Iago) Roderigo as he died revealed to me the devilish machinations of this man. Otello (to Iago) Ah! Vindicate yourself! Iago (fleeing) No! Lodovico Stop! Montano After him! (Several leave to pursue Iago.) Cassio, Lodovico Seize him! Otello (with a bound, reaching and grasping his sword) And has the heaven no more thunderbolts? Lodovico Give me the sword!

Otello Would you dare? Let no one fear me though he see me armed. Here is my journey’s end... Oh! Glory! Otello’s day is done. (Letting his sword fall to the ground, he goes to the bed and gazes at Desdemona.) And thou... how pale thou art! And weary, and mute, and beautiful, pious creature, born ’neath an evil star. Cold, even like thy chastity, and gathered into heaven. Desdemona! Desdemona! Ah!... Dead! Dead! Dead! (furtively producing a dagger from his robe) I have another weapon! (stabs himself) Cassio Ah, stop! Lodovico, Montano O bloody period! Otello Before I killed thee, wife, I kissed thee thus. Now dying... in the shadow where I lie... a kiss... another kiss... ah!... another kiss... (dies)

End of the Opera