Iago. O, sir, content you ; I follow him to serve my turn upon him: Whip me such honest knaves: Others there are, their coats, Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul; It is as sure as you are Roderigo, Iago. Rod. Here is her father's house; I'll call aloud. Tago. Do; with like timorous accent, and dire yell, As when, by night and negligence, the fire Rod. What, ho! Brabantio! signior Brabantio, ho! Jago. Awake! what, ho! Brabantio! thieves! thieves! thieves! Look to your house, your daughter, and your bags! Thieves! thieves! BRABANTIO, above, at a window. Bra. What is the reason of this terrible summons? What is the matter there? Rod. Signior, is all your family within? Why? wherefore ask you this? Iago. 'Zounds, sir, you are robb'd; for shame, put on your gown; Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul; Even now, very now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise; Bra. What tell'st thou me of robbing? this is Venice; My house is not a grange. Rod. Most grave Brabantio, In simple, and pure soul I come to you. Iago. 'Zounds, sir, you are one of those, that will not serve God, if the devil bid you. Because we come to do you service, you think we are ruffians: You'll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse: you'll have your nephews neigh to you you'll have coursers for cousins, and gennets for germans. Bra. What profane wretch art thou? Iago. I am one, sir, that comes to tell you, your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs. you, If't be your pleasure, and most wise consent, I thus would play and trifle with your reverence: Bra. Strike on the tinder, ho! Give me a taper ;-call up all my people: This accident is not unlike my dream; Belief of it oppresses me already :Light, I say! light! [Exit, from above, Iago. Farewell; for I must leave you It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place, To be produc'd (as, if I stay, I shall,) Against the Moor: For, I do know, the staté, However this may gall him with some check, Cannot with safety cast him; for he's embark'd With such loud reason to the Cyprus' wars, (Which even now stand in act,) that, for their souls, Another of his fathom they have not, To lead their business: in which regard, Though I do hate him as I do hell pains, Yet, for necessity of present life, I must show out a flag and sign of love, Which is indeed but sign. That you shall surely Put into circumscription and confine find him, Lead to the Sagittary the rais'd search; Enter, below, BRABANTIO, and Servants with torches. father? " Oth. 'Tis better as it is. Iago. And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms, Against your honour, That, with the little godliness I have, I did full hard forbear him. But, I pray, sir, Oth. For the sea's worth. But, look! what lights come Iago. These are the raised father, and his friends: You were best go in. Oth. Not I: I must be found; My parts, my title, and my perfect soul, Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they? Iago. By Janus, I think no. Oth. The servants of the duke, and my lieutenant. The goodness of the night upon you, friends! What is the news? Cas. The duke does greet you, general; And he requires your haste-post-haste appearance, Even on the instant. Oth. What is the matter, think you? Cas. Something from Cyprus, as I may divine; It is a business of some heat: the gallies Have sent a dozen sequent messengers This very night, at one another's heels; And many of the consuls, rais'd, and met, Are at the duke's already: You have been hotly call'd for ; When, being not at your lodging to be found, The senate hath sent about three several quests, To search you out. Oth. 'Tis well I am found by you. I will but spend a word here in the house, And go with you. Cas. [Ent Ancient, what makes he here? Iago. 'Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land carack; If it prove lawful prize, he's made for ever. Cas. I do not understand. Iago. Cas. He's married. To who? ! Re-enter OгHELLO. Jago. Marry, to Come, captain, will you go? Enter BRABANTIO, RODERICO, and Officers of night, with torches and weapons. Iago. It is Brabantio : - general, be advis'd; He comes to bad intent. Oth. Hola! stand there! Rod. Signior, it is the Moor. Down with him, thief! [They draw on both sides. Tago. You, Roderigo! come, sir, I am for you. Oth. Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them. Good signior, you shall more command with years, Than with your weapons. Bra. O thou foul thief, where hast thou stow'd my daughter? Damn'd as thou art, thou hast enchanted her: For I'll refer me to all things of sense, If she in chains of magick were not bound, Whether a maid-so tender, fair, and happy; So opposite to marriage, that she shunn'd The wealthy curled darlings of our nation, Would ever have, to incur a general mock, Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom Of such a thing as thou: to fear, not to delight. Judge me the world, if 'tis not gross in sense, Of law, and course of direct session, Call thee to answer. Oth. What if I do obey? How may the duke be therewith satisfied; Off How! the duke in council! SCENE III. The same. A Council-Chamber. 2 Sen. 1 Sen. Duke. Nay, it is possible enough to judgment; Sailor. [Within.] What ho! what ho! what ho! Off. A messenger from the gallies. Now? the business? Duke. How say you by this change? This cannot be, By no assay of reason; tis a pageant, That Rhodes is dress'd in: if we make thought of We must not think, the Turk is so unskilful, Duke. Nay, in all confidence, he's not for Rhodes. Enter a Messenger. Mess. The Ottomites, reverend and gracious, guess? Mess. Of thirty sail: and now do they re-stem Their backward course, bearing with frank appear ance Their purposes toward Cyprus.-Signior Montano, With his free duty, recommends you thus, Duke. 'Tis certain then for Cyprus. Marcus Lucchesé, is he not in town? 1 Sen. He's now in Florence. Duke. Write from us; wish him post-post-haste; despatch. 1 Sen. Here comes Brabantio, and the valiant Moor. Enter BRABANTIO, OTHELLO, IAGO, RODERIGO, and Officers. Duke. Valiant Othello, we must straight employ Against the general enemy Ottoman. [TO BRABANTIO. care Take hold on me; for my particular grief Duke. Sen. Bra. Dead? Ay, to me; She is abus'd, stol'n from me, and corrupted Duke. Whoe'er he be, that, in this foul pro ceeding, Hath thus beguil'd your daughter of herself, Bra. Humbly I thank your grace. Here is the man, this Moor; whom now, it seems, Your special mandate, for the state affairs, Hath hither brought. Duke & Sen. We are very sorry for it. Duke. What, in your own part, can you say to [TO OTHELLO. this? Bra. Nothing, but this is so, 303 Oth. Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, My very noble and approv'd good masters, That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter, It is most true; true, I have married her; The very head and front of my offending Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech, And little bless'd with the set phrase of peace; In speaking for myself: Yet, by your gracious patience, I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what charms, What conjuration, and what mighty magick, (For such proceeding I am charg'd withal,) I won his daughter with. Bra. A maiden never bold; Of spirit so still and quiet, that her motion Blush'd at herself; And she, -in spite of nature, Of years, of country, credit, every thing, — To fall in love with what she fear'd to look on? It is a judgment maim'd, and most imperfect, That will confess — perfection so could err Against all rules of nature; and must be driven To find out practices of cunning hell, Why this should be. I therefore vouch again, That with some mixtures powerful o'er the blood, Or with some dram conjur'd to this effect, He wrought upon her. Duke. To vouch this, i no proof; Without more certain and more overt test, Than these thin habits, and poor likelihoods Of modern seeming, do prefer against him. 1 Sen. But, Othello, speak; Did you by indirect and forced courses Oth. And let her speak of me before her father: If you do find me foul in her report, ولا Fetch Desdemona hither. Oth. Ancient, conduct them: you best know the [Exeunt IAGO and Attendants. And, till she come, as truly as to heaven I do confess the vices of my blood, So justly to your grave ears I'll present How I did thrive in this fair lady's love, And she in mine. Duke. Say it, Othello. Oth. Her father lov'd me; oft invited me ; I ran it through, even from my boyish days, Of hair-breadth scapes i' the imminent deadly breach; And sold to slavery; of my redemption thence, Rough quarries, rocks, and hills whose heads touch heaven, It was my hint to speak, such was the process; Would Desdemona seriously incline: But still the house affairs would draw her thence; 'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful: She wish'd, she had not heard it; yet she wish'd That heaven had made her such a man: she thank' I do perceive here a divided duty: My noble father, To you, I am bound for life, and education; And so much duty as my mother show'd Bra. God be with you!— I have done :- I here do give thee that with all my heart, Which, but thou hast already, with all my heart I would keep from thee. For your sake, jewel, I am glad at soul I have no other child; For thy escape would teach me tyranny, Which, as a grise, or step, may help these lovers When remedies are past, the griefs are ended, By seeing the worst, which late on hopes depended. The robb'd, that smiles, steals something from the thief; He robs himself, that spends a bootless grief. Bra. So let the Turk of Cyprus us beguile; We lose it not, so long as we can smile. He bears the sentence well, that nothing bears But the free comfort which from thence he hears: But he bears both the sentence and the sorrow, That, to pay grief, must of poor patience borrow. These sentences, to sugar, or to gall, Being strong on both sides, are equivocal: But words are words; I never yet did hear, That the bruis'd heart was pierced through the ear. I humbly beseech you, proceed to the affairs of state. Duke. The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for Cyprus: - Othello, the fortitude of the place is best known to you: And though we have there a substitute of most allowed sufficiency, yet opinion, a sovereign mistress of effects, throws a more safer voice on you: you must therefore be content to slubber the gloss of your new fortunes with this more stubborn and boisterous expedition, Oth. The tyrant custom, most grave senators, I find in hardness; and do undertake Oth. Nor I. Des. Nor I; I would not there reside, To put my father in impatient thoughts, By being in his eye. Most gracious duke, To my unfolding lend a gracious ear; And let me find a charter in your voice, To assist my simpleness. Duke. What would you, Desdemona ? Des. That I did love the Moor to live with him, My downright violence and storm of fortunes May trumpet to the world; my heart's subdued Even to the very quality of my lord: I saw Othello's visage in his mind; And to his honours, and his valiant parts, Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate. So that, dear lords, if I be left behind, A moth of peace, and he go to the war, The rights for which I love him, are bereft me, By his dear absence: Let me go with him. Vouch with me, heaven; I therefore beg it not, But to be free and bounteous to her mind: I will your serious and great business scant, Duke. Be it as you shall privately determine, haste, Othello, leave some officer behind, Oth. Please your grace, my ancient ; If virtue no delighted beauty lack, 1 Sen. Adieu, brave Moor! use Desdemona well. Bra. Look to her, Moor; have a quick eye to see; She has deceiv'd her father, and may thee. [Exeunt DUKE, Senators, Officers, &.c. Oth. My life upon her faith. Honest Iago, My Desdemona must I leave to thee; Rod, Iago. Iago. Why, go to bed, and sleep. Rod. It is silliness to live, when to live is a torment and then have we a prescription to die, when death is our physician. Jago. O villainous! I have looked upon the world for four times seven years! and since I could distinguish between a benefit and an injury, I never found a man that knew how to love himself. Ere I would say, I would drown myself for the love of a Guinea-hen, I would change my humanity Oth. Your voices, lords:-'beseech you, let her will with a baboon. Have a free way. Rod. What should I do? I confess, it is my |