.*

I shall promulgate), I fetch my life and being
From men of royal siege ;* and my demerits†
May speak, unbonneted, to as proud a fortune
As this that I have reach'd: For know, Iago,
But that I love the gentle Desdemona,

I would not my unhoused free condition
Put into circumspection and confine

For the sea's worth. But, look! what lights come yonder? Enter CASSIO, at a distance, and certain Officers with Torches. 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 galleys

Have sent a dozen sequent§ messengers

This very night at one another's heels;

And many of the consuls, raised, 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. Ancient, what makes he here?

Iago. 'Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land carrack ;T

If it prove lawful prize, he's made for ever.

Cas. I do not understand.

Iago. He's married.

Cas. To who?

Re-enter OTHELLO.

Iago. Marry, to-Come, captain, will you go?

Oth. Have with you.

Cas. Here comes another troop to seek for you.

[Exit,

Enter BRABANTIO, RODERIGO, and Officers of night, with

torches and weapons.

Iago. It is Brabantio:-general, be advised ;**

He comes to bad intent.

Oth. Hola! stand there!

*Seat or throne.

Il Searchers.

† Merits.

+ Unsettled.

§ Successive.

Large vessel.

** Cautious.

Rod. Signior, it is the Moor.

Bra. Down with him, thief!

[They draw on both sides.

Iago. 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 magic 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,
That thou hast practised on her with foul charms;
Abused her delicate youth with drugs, or minerals;
That waken motion: I'll have it disputed on;
"Tis probable, and palpable to thinking.
I therefore apprehend and do attach thee,
For an abuser of the world, a practiser
Of arts inhibited and out of warrant :-
Lay hold upon him; if he do resist,
Subdue him at his peril.

Oth. Hold your hands,

Both you of my inclining, and the rest:

Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it
Without a prompter.-Where will you that I go
To answer this your charge?

Bra. To prison: till fit time

Of law, and course of direct session,

Call thee to answer.

Oth. What if I do obey?

How may the duke be therewith satisfied;
Whose messengers are here about my side,
Upon some present business of the state,
To bring me to him?

Off 'Tis true, most worthy signior,
The duke's in council; and your noble self,
I am sure, is sent for.

Bra. How! the duke in council!

In this time of the night!-Bring him away:
Mine's not an idle cause: the duke himself,

Or any of my brothers of the state,

Cannot but feel this wrong, as 'twere their own:
For if such actions may have passage free,
Bond-slaves and pagans, shall our statesmen be.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.-The same. A Council Chamber.

The DUKE, and SENATORS, sitting at a table; Officers attending.

Duke. There is no composition* in these news,

That gives them credit.

1 Sen. Indeed, they are disproportion'd;
My letters say, a hundred and seven galleys.
Duke. And mine, a hundred and forty.
2 Sen. And mine, two hundred :

But though they jump not on a just account
(As in these cases, where the aim † reports,
"Tis oft with difference), yet do they all confirm
A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus.

Duke. Nay, it is possible enough to judgment;
I do not so secure me in the error,

But the main article I do approve

In fearful sense.

Sailor [within]. What ho! what ho! what ho!
Enter an OFFICER, with a SAILOR.

Off. A messenger from the galleys.

Duke. Now? the business?

Sailor. The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes; So was I bid report here to the state,

By signior Angelo.

Duke. How say you by this change? 1 Sen. This cannot be,

By no assay of reason; 'tis a pageant,

To keep us in false gaze: When we consider
The importancy of Cyprus to the Turk;

And let ourselves again but understand,

That, as it more concerns the Turk than Rhodes,
So may he with more facile question bear it,
For that it stands not in such warlike brace,§

But altogether lacks the abilities

That Rhodes is dress'd in ;-if we make thought of this,
We must not think, the Turk is so unskilful,

To leave that latest which concerns him first;

Neglecting an attempt of ease and gain

To wake, and wage, a danger profitless.

Duke. Nay, in all confidence, he's not for Rhodes.
Off. Here is more news.

Enter a MESSENGER.

Mess. The Ottomites, reverend and gracious,
Steering with due course toward the isle of Rhodes,
Have there injointed them with an after fleet.

1 Sen. Ay, so I thought :-How many, as you guess?
Mess. Of thirty sail: and now do they re-stem
Their backward course, bearing with frank appearance
Their purposes toward Cyprus.-Signior Montano,

* Consistency.

† Conjecture.

State of defence.

Fight.

Easy dispute.

Your trusty and most valiant servitor,

With his free duty recommends you thus,
And prays you to believe him.

Duke. 'Tis certain, then, for Cyprus.-
Marchus 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, with the valiant Moor.

Enter BRABANTIO, OTHELLO, IAGO, RODERIGO, and Officers.
Duke. Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you
Against the general enemy Ottoman.

I did not see you; welcome, gentle Signior;
We lack'd your counsel and your help to-night.

[TO BRABANTIO.

Bra. So did I yours: Good your grace, pardon me;
Neither my place, nor aught I heard of business,
Hath raised me from my bed; nor doth the general care
Take hold on me; for my particular grief

Is of so flood-gate and o'erbearing nature,
That it engluts and swallows other sorrows,
And it is still itself.

Duke. Why, what's the matter?

Bra. My daughter! O, my daughter!
Sen. Dead?

Bra. Ay, to me;

She is abused, stolen from me, and corrupted
By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks:
For nature so preposterously to err,

Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense,

Sans witchcraft could not

Duke. Whoe'er he be, that, in this foul proceeding,

Hath thus beguiled your daughter of herself,

And you of her, the bloody book of law

You shall yourself read in the bitter letter,

After your own sense; yea, though our proper son

Stood in your action.+

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 this?

Bra. Nothing, but this is so.

Oth. Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors,

My very noble and approved 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

[TO OTHELLO.

Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech,
And little bless'd with the set phrase of peace:

For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith,
† Accusation.

*Recommend.

Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used
Their dearest action* in the tented field;
And little of this great world can I speak,
More than pertains to feats of broil and battle;
And therefore little shall I grace my cause,

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 magic

(For such proceeding I am charged 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, everything,-

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 conjured to this effect,
He wrought upon her.

Duke. To vouch this, is no proof;

Without more certain and more overt test,t
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

Subdue and poison this young maid's affections?
Or came it by request, and such fair question
As soul to soul affordeth?

Oth. I do beseech you,

Send for the lady to the Sagittary,§

And let her speak of me before her father:

If you do find me foul in her report,

The trust, the office, I do hold of you,

Not only take away, but let your sentence

Even fall upon my life.

Duke. Fetch Desdemona hither.

Oth. Ancient, conduct them; you best know the place.

[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 loved me; oft invited me; Still question'd me the story of my life,

*Best exertion.

† Open proof.

I. e. to the sign of the Sagittary.

Weak show.