I must show out a flag and sign of love,
Which is indeed but sign. That you shall surely

find him,
Lead to the Sagittary the rais'd search ;
And there will I be with him. So, farewell.

[Exit.

Enter, below, BRABANTIO, and Servants with

Torches.

8

Bra. It is too true an evil: gone she is; And what's to come of my despised time, Is nought but bitterness.-Now, Roderigo, Where didst thou see her?-0, unhappy girl!With the Moor, say’st thou?-Who would be a fa

ther?How didst thou know 'twas she?-0, thou deceiv'st

me

Past thought!—What said she to you?-Get more

tapers; Raise all my kindred.—Are they married think you?

Rod. Truly, I think, they are.
Bra. O heaven!-How got she out!-O treason

of the blood! Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters' minds

you see them act.-Are there not charms, By which the property of youth and maidhood May be abus’d? Have you not read, Roderigo, Of some such thing? Rod.

Yes, sir; I have indeed. Bra. Call up my brother.-0, that you

had had her! Some one way, some another.-Do you know Where we may apprehend her and the Moor?

By what

Å And what's to come of my despised time,] Despised time, is time of no ralue.

Rod. I think, I can discover him ; if you please To get good guard, and go along with me.

Bra. Pray you, lead on. At every house I'll call; I may command at most;-Get weapons, ho! And raise some special officers of night.On, good Roderigo;—I'll deserve your pains.

[Exeunt.

Enter OTHELLO, Iago, and Attendants. Iago. Though in the trade of war I have slain men, Yet do I hold it very stuff o'the conscience, To do no contriv'd murder; I lack iniquity Sometimes, to do me service: Nine or ten times I had thought to have yerk'd him here under the

ribs.
Oth. 'Tis better as it is.
Iago.

Nay, but he prated,
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,
Are you fast married? for, be sure of this,-
That the magnifico' is much beloved;
And hath, in his effect, a voice potential
As double as the duke's; he will divorce you;
Or put upon you what restraint and grievance

9

stuff o'the conscience,] This expression to common readers appears harsh. Stuff of the conscience is, substance or cs. sence of the conscience. Stuff is a word of great force in the Teutonick languages. The elements are called in Dutch, Hoefd stoffen, or head stuffs. Johnson.

the magnifico-] “ The chief men of Venice are by a peculiar name called Magnifici, i. e, magnificoes."

1

The law (with all his might, to enforce it on,)
Will give him cable.
Oth.

Let him do his spite:
My services, which I have done the signiory,
Shall out-tongue his complaints. 'Tis yet to know,
(Which, when I know that boasting is an honour,
I shall promulgate,) I fetch my
From men of royal siege;' and my demerits
May speak, unbonneted,4 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 circumscription and confine
For the sea's worth. But, look! what lights come

yonder?

life and being

Enter Cassio, at a distance, and certain Officers

with Torches. lago. 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?

lago. By Janus, I think no.
Oih. The servants of the duke, and my lieutenant.

2

3

men of royal siege ;] Men who have sat upon royal thrones. Sicge is used for seat by other authors.

and demerits-] Demerits has the same meaning in our author, and many others of that age, as merits.

4. May speak, unbonneted,] Mr. Fuseli (and who is better acsuainted with the sense and spirit of our author?) explains this contested passage as follows:

“ I am his equal or superior in rank; and were it not so, such are my demerits, that, unbonneted, without the addition of patrician or senatorial dignity, they may speak to as proud a fortune, &c.

unhoused-] Free from domestick cares. A thought natural to an adventurer.

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

callid 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 you.

[Exit. Cas.

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.

He's married.
Cas.

To who?

6

go with

Re-enter OTHELLO.

Jago. Marry, to—Come, captain, will you go?
Oh.
Cas. Here comes another troop to seek for you.

Have with you.

6

three several quests,] Quests are, on this occasion, searches.

- a land carack;] A curack is a ship of great bulk, and commonly of great value; perhaps what we now call a galleon.

7

Enter BRABANTIO, RODERIGO, 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.
Bra.

Down with him, thief!

[They draw on both sides. lago. 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, That thou hast practis'd on her with foul charms; Abus'd 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,

8

be advis'd;] That is, be cool; be cautious; be discreet. • The wealthy curled darlings of our nation,] Curled is elegantly and ostentatiously dressed.

"Of such a thing as thou; to fear, not to delight.] To fear, in the present instance, may mean—to terrify.

. That waken motion :] Excite desires.