How didst thou know 'twas she? O, 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
By what
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.-O, that you had had

her!

Some one way, some another.-Do you know
Where we may apprehend her and the Moor?
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.
SCENE II-The same. Another street. Enter
Othello, Iago, and Attendants.

lago. 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.

Nay, but he prated,

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,

VOL. VIII.

૨

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

Let him do his spite:

Oth.
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 life and being
From men of royal siege;2 and my demerits3
May speak, unbonneted,4 to as proud a fortune
As this that I have reach'd: For know, lago,
But that I love the gentle Desdemona,

I would not my unhouseds free condition
Put into circumscription 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.

Not I: I must be found;

Oth.
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,

(1) Brabantio: Magnifico is his title as a senator (2) Seat or throne.

as merits.

(3) Demerits has the same meaning in Shakspeare (5) Unsettled.

(4) Uncovered.

.3

may divine;

Even on the instant.
Oth.
What is the matter, think you?
Cas. Something from Cyprus, as I
It is a business of some heat: the galleys
Have sent a dozen sequent1 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,2
To search you out.

Oth.
I will but spend a word here in the house,

'Tis well I am found by you.

And go with you.

Cas.

[Exit.

Ancient, what makes he here? lago. 'Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land

carack ;3

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

Cas. I do not understand.

Iago.

Cas.

He's married.

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.

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.

Jago. You, Roderigo!

(1) Following.
(3) A rich vessel.

Down with him, thief! [They draw on both sides. come, sir, I am for you.

(2) Searchers.

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 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,
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.

Of law, and course of direct session,

Call thee to answer.

Oth.

To prison: till fit time

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?

(1) To terrify, not delight.

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

How! the duke in council!

Bra.
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 composition2 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 aim3 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?

Sail. 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) The pagans and bond-slaves of Africa.

(2) Consistency.

(3) Conjecture.