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Emilia

… go to …
 
Thou hast not half the power to do me harm
As I have to be hurt

… charm your tongue.
I will not … I am bound to speak            
What, are you mad? I charge you get you home.
… let me have leave to speak,
‘Tis proper I obey … but not now:

… I will ne’er go home.

Zounds, hold your peace,
‘Twill out, it will:
I’ll be in speaking, liberal as an air,
… let ‘em all,
All, all cry shame against me yet I’ll speak.
Be wise, and get you home.
I will not.
Villainous whore!
Filth, thou liest!

By heaven I do not, I do not…
… lay me by my mistress’ side.
… I will play the swan,
… “Willow, willow, willow.”

Text adapted from Othello (Act V, Scene II)

Emilia is the first of a planned set of pieces for sixteen-voice choir collectively titled Dressed as a Girl, where the multifarious complexities of Shakespeare’s female roles, along with their frequent gender non-conformity, provide a departure point for the music’s character and forms. The text is adapted from the second scene of Act 5 of Othello: Emilia, realising the actions of her husband Iago, confronts him publicly, and, amidst intense feelings of fear, grief, and betrayal (and in the knowledge that by exposing him, he will kill her), she does not submit to his attempts to silence her.