And I, (God bless the mark!) his Moorship's ancient.

Rod. By heaven, I rather would have been his hangman.

Iago. But there's no remedy; 'tis the curse of service ;

Preferment goes by letter and affection,
Not by the old gradation, where each second
Stood heir to the first. Now, Sir, be judge
yourself,

Whether I in any just term am affin'd •
To love the Moor.

Rod. I would not follow him then.
Iago. O Sir, content you;

I follow him to serve my turn upon him:
We cannot ali be masters, nor all masters
Cannot be truly follow'd. You shall mark
Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave,
That, doting on his own obsequious bondage,
Wears out his time, much like his master's ass,
For nought but provender; and, when he's old,
cashier'd;

Whip me such honest knaves: Others there are,
Who, trimm'd in forms and visages of duty,
Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves;
And, throwing but shows of service on their lords,
Do well thrive by them; and, when they have
lin'd their coats,

Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul;

And such a one do I profess myself.
For, Sir,

It is as sure as you are Roderigo,
Were I the Moor, I would not be lago:
In following him, I follow but myself;
Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,
But seeming so, for my peculiar end ;

For when my outward action doth demonstrate
The native act and figure of my heart
In compliment extern, 'tis not long after
But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve
For daws to peck at: I am not what I am.
Rod. What a full fortune does the thick-lips
If he can carry't_thus!

Iago. Call up her father,

ness,

Being full of supper and distempering draughts
Upon malicious bravery dost thou come
To start my quiet.

Rod. Sir, Sir, Sir, Sir,

Bra. But thou must needs be sure,

My spirit and my place have in them power
To make this bitter to thee.

Rod. Patience, good Sir.

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 geunets for germans.

Bra. What profane wretch art thou?

lago. I am one, Sir, that comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs.

Bra. Thou art a villain.

Jago. You are--a senator.

Bra. This thou shalt answer: I know thee Roderigo.

Rod. Sir, I will answer any thing. But I be

seech you,

[owe +

Rouse him; make after him, poison his delight, Proclaim him in the streets; incense her men,

And, though he in a fertile climate dwell,
Plague him with flies; though that his joy be joy,
Yet throw such changes of vexation on't,
As it may lose some colour.

Rod. Here is her father's house: I'll call

aloud.

Jago. Do; with like timorous accent, and dire yell,

As when, by night and negligence, the fire
Is spied in populous cities.

Rod. What, ho! Brabantio! signior Brabantio, ho!

Iago. Awake! what, ho! Brabantio! thieves

thieves! thieves !

[bags! Look to your house, your daughter, and your Thieves! thieves!

BRABANTIO, above, at a Window. Bra. What is the reason of this terrible sumWhat is the matter there? [mons?

Rod. Signior, is all your family within? lago. Are your doors lock'd ? Bra. Why? wherefore ask you this? Jago. 'Zounds, Sir, you are robb'd; for shame, put on your gown ; [soul; Your heart is burst, you have lost half your Even now, very now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise; Awake the snorting citizens with the bell, Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you: Arise, I say.

Bra, What, have you lost your wits? Rod. Most reverend signior, do you know my voice ?

Bra. Not 1; What are you?

If thus would play and trifle with your reverYour daughter, if you have not given her leave,

I say again, hath made a gross revolt;
Tying her duty, beauty, wit, and fortunes,
In an extravagant and wheeling stranger, [self;
Of here and every where: Straight satisfy your.
If she be in her chamber, or your house,
Let loose on me the justice of the state
For thus deluding you.

Bra. Strike on the tinder, ho!
Give me a taper ;-call up all my people :-
This accident is not unlike my dreain,
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 state, 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
find him,

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

• A lone farm house. sons.

Wandering.

[Exit.

Enter below, BRABANTIO, and Servants with Torches.

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?-O unhappy girl!With the Moor, say'st thou ?-Who would be a father 1

How didst thou know 'twas she? O thou deceiv'st me

Past thought! What said she to you 1-Get more tapers; [you ? Raise all my kindred.-Are they married think Rod. Truly, I think, they are.

Bra. O heaven!-How got she out!-O trea

son 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.
Iago. Though in the trade of war I have slain

Oth. 'Tis better as it is.

lago. 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 magnificent * 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.

know,

Oth. Let him do his spite :
My services, which I have done the signiory,
Shall out-tongue his complaints. "Tis yet to
[our,
(Which, when I know that boasting is an hon-
I shall promulgate,) I fetch my life and being
From men of royal siege, + and my demerits
May speak, unbonnetted, 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

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.

[Exit.

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

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

Cas. Here comes another troop to seek for you.
Enter BRABANTIO, RODERICO, and Officers of
Night with Torches and Weapons.
Iago. It is Brabantio :-general, be advised;
He comes to bad intent.

Oth. Holla! stand there !
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 [years,

will rust them.

Good signior, you shall more command with 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 every have, to incur a general niock,'
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 min-
erals,

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:

yonder ?

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?

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
Subdue and poison this young maid's affec-
tions?

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 fout 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 lov'd me; oft invited me;
Still question'd me the story of my life,
From year to year: the battles, sieges, fortunes,
That I have pass'd.

I ran it through, even from my boyish days,
To the very moment that he bade me tell it.
Wherein I spoke of most disastrous chances,
Of moving accidents, by flood, and field;
Of hair-breadth scapes i'the imminent deadly
Of being taken by the insolent foe, [breach;
And sold to slavery; of my redemption thence,
And portance in my travel's history:
Wherein of antres | vast, and desarts idle,
Rough quarries, rocks, and hills whose heads
touch heaven,

It was my hint to speak, such was the process
And of the Cannibals that each other eat,
The Anthropophagi, and men whose heads
Do grow beneath their shoulders. ¶ These things
to hear,

Would Desdemona seriously incline: [thence;
But still the house affairs would draw her
Which ever as she could with haste despatch,
She'd come again, and with a greedy ear
Devour up my discourse: Which I observing,
Took once a pliant hour, and found good

means

To draw from her a prayer of earnest heart,
That I would all my pilgrimage dilate,
Whereof by parcels she had something heard,
But not intentively:** I did consent;
And often did beguile her of her tears,
When I did speak of some distressful stroke,
That my youth suffer'd. My story being done,
She gave me for my pains a world of sighs;
She swore,-In faith, 'twas strange, 'twas
ing strange;
"Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful;
She wish'd she had not heard it; yet she

wish'd

Good Brabantio,

Take up this mangled matter at the best :
Men do their broken weapons rather use,
Than their bare hands.

Bra. I pray you, hear her speak;
If she confess that she was half the wooer,
Destruction on my head, if my bad blame
Light on the man!-Come hither, gentle mis-
tress;

Do you perceive in all this noble company,
Where most you owe obedience?

Des. My noble father,

I do perceive here a divided duty :

To you, I am bound for life and education;
My life and education both do learn me
How to respect you: you are the lord of duty,
I am hitherto your daughter: But here's my
husband;

And so much duty as my mother show'd
To you, preferring you before her father,
So much I challenge that I may profess
Due to the Moor my lord.

Bra. God be with you !-I have done :-
Please it your grace, on to the state affairs;
I had rather to adopt a child, than get it.-
Come hither, Moor:

I here do give thee that with all my heart, Which, but thou hast already, with all my heart [jewel, I would keep from thee. For your sake, I am glad at soul I have no other child; For thy escape would teach me tyranny, To hang clogs on them.-I have done, my lord. Duke. Let me speak like yourself; and lay a sentence, [lovers Which as a grise, † or step, may help these Into your favours.

When remedies are past, the griefs are ended, By seeing the worst, which late on hopes depended.

To mourn a mischief that is past and gone,
Is the next way to draw new mischief on.
What cannot be preserv'd when fortune takes,
Patience her injury a mockery makes.
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 be

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,
Hath made the flinty and steel couch of war
My thrice-driven bed of down: I do agnize ||
A natural and prompt alacrity,

I find in hardness; and do undertake
These present wars against the Ottomites.
Most humbly therefore bending to your state,
I crave fit disposition for my wife,
Due reference of place, and exibition,