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Past thought. What said she to you? Get more Enter CASSIO and certain Officers with torches. tapers!

Oth. The servants of the duke, and my lieuRaise all my kindred! Are they married, think

tenant. you?

The goodness of the night upon you, friends ! Rod. Truly, I think they are.

What is the news ? Bra. O heaven ! How got she out? O!

Cas. The duke does greet you, general, treason of the blood :

And he requires your haste.post-haste appearFathers, from hence trust not your daughters'

ance, minds

Even on the instant. By what you see them act. Is there not charms

Oth.

What is the matter, think you ? By which the property of youth and maidhood May be abus'd? Have you not read, Roderigo, It is a business of some heat; the galleys

Cas. Something from Cyprus, as I may divine. Of some such thing?

Have sent a dozen sequent messengers
Rod.

Yes, sir, I have indeed.
Bra. Call up my brother. O! would you had And many of the consuls, rais'd and met,

This very night at one another's heels, had her.

Are at the duke's already. You have been hotly Some one way, some another ! Do you know call'd for ; Where we may apprehend her and the Moor? Rod. I think I can discover him, if you please The senate hath sent about three several quests

When, being not at your lodging to be found, To get good guard and go along with me.

To search you out. Bra. Pray you, lead on. At every house I 'll

Olh.

'Tis well I am found by you. call;

I will but spend a word here in the house, I may command at most. Get weapons, ho !

And go with you.

Ecit. And raise some special officers of night.

Cas.

Ancient, what makes he here? On, good Roderigo ; I'll deserve your pains.

Tago. Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land Exeunt.

carack;

If it prove lawful prize, he's made for ever. SCENE II.- Another Street.

Cas. I do not understand.
Enter OTHELLO, LAGO, and Attendants with torches. Iago.

He's married.
Cas.

To who? Iago. Though in the trade of war I have slain

Re-enter OTHELLO. men, Yet do I hold it very stuff o' the conscience Iago. Marry, to-Come, captain, will you go? To do no contriv'd murder : I lack iniquity Oth.

Have with you. Sometimes to do me service. Nine or ten times Cas. Here comes another troop to seek for I had thought to have yerk'd him here under you. the ribs.

Iago. It is Brabantio. General, be advis'd ; Oth. 'Tis better as it is.

He comes to bad intent. lago. Nay, but he prated

Enter BRABANTIO, RODERIGO, and Officers with And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms

torches and weapons. Against your honour That, with the little godliness I have,

Oth,

Holla! stand there! I did full hard forbear him. But, I pray you, sir, Rod. Signior, it is the Moor. Are you fast married ? Be assur'd of this,

Bra.

Down with him, thief! That the magnifico is much belov’d,

They draw on both sides. And bath in his effect a voice potential

Iago. You, Roderigo! come, sir, I am for you. As double as the duke's; he will divorce you, Oth. Keep up your bright swords, for the dew Or put upon you what restraint and grievance will rust them. The law, with all his might to enforce it on, Good signior, you shall more command with Will give him cable.

years Oth.

Let him do his spite : Than with your weapons. My services which I have done the signiory Bra. O thou foul thief! where bast thou Shallout-tongue his complaints. 'Tis yet to know, stow'd my daughter? Which when I know that boasting is an honour Damn'd as thou art, thou hast enchanted her ; I shall promulgate, I fetch my life and being 21 For I'll refer me to all things of sense, From men of royal siege, and my demerits If she in chains of magic were not bound, May speak unbonneted to as proud a fortune Whether a maid so tender, fair, and happy, As this that I have reach'd; for know, Iago, So opposite to marriage that she shunn'd But that I love the gentle Desdemona,

The wealthy curled darlings of our nation, I would not my unhoused free condition Would ever have, to incur a general mock, Put into circumscription and confine

Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom For the sea's worth. But, look! what lights of such a thing as thou; to fear, not to delight. come yond ?

Judge me the world, if 'tis not gross in sense layo. These are the raised father and his That thou hast practis'd on her with foul charms, friends :

Abus'd her delicate youth with drugs or minerals You were best go in.

That weaken motion : I'll have 't disputed on; Oth.

Not I; I must be found : 30 'Tis probable and palpable to thinking. My parts, my title, and my perfect soul

I therefore apprehend and do attach thee Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they ?

For an abuser of the world, a practiser lago. By Janus, I think no.

Of arts inhibited and out of warrant.

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Lay hold upon him : if he do resist,

80 | Neglecting an attempt of ease and gain, Subdue him at his peril.

To wake and wage a danger profitless. Oth.

Hold your hands, Duke. Nay, in all confidence, he's not for Both you of my inclining, and the rest :

Rhodes.
Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it Pirst Off. Here is more news.
Without a prompter.
Where will you that I go

Enter a Messenger.
To answer this your charge!
Bra.

To prison ; till fit time Mess. The Ottomites, reverend and gracious, Of law and course of direct session

Steering with due course toward the isle of Call thee to answer.

Rhodes, Oth.

What if I do obey ? Have there injointed them with an after fieet. How may the duke be therewith satisfied,

Pirst Sen. Ay, so I thought. How many, as Whose messengers are here about my side,

you guess ? Upon some present business of the state

Mess. Of thirty sail; and now they do re-stem To bring me to him ?

Their backward course, bearing with frank Off.

'Tis true, most worthy signior; appearance The duke 's in council, and your noble self, Their purposes toward Cyprus. Signior Mon. I am sure, is sent for.

tano, Bra.

How! the duke in council! Your trusty and most valiant servitor,
In this time of the night! Bring him away. With his free duty recommends you thus,
Mine's not an idle cause : the duke himself, And prays you to believe him.
Or any of my brothers of the state,

Duke. 'Tis certain then for Cyprus.
Cannot but feel this wrong as 't were their own ; Marcus Luccicos, is not he in town?
For if such actions may have passage free,

Pirst Sen. He's now in Florence. Bond-slaves and pagans shall our statesmen be. Duke. Write from us to him; post-post-haste

Esccunt. dispatch.

First Sen. Here comes Brabantio and the SCENE III.-A Council-chamber.

valiant Moor. The DUKE and Senators sitting at a table; Officers Enter BRABANTIO, OTHELLO, IAGO, RODERIGO, attending.

and Officers.

Duke. Valiant Othello, we must straight emDuke. There is no composition in these news

ploy you That gives them credit. First Sen. Indeed, they are disproportion'd; T. BRABANTIO. I did not see you ; welcome,

Against the general enemy Ottoman. My letters say a hundred and seven galleys.

gentle signior; Duke. And mine, a hundred and forty.

We lack'd your counsel and your help to-night. Second Sen. And mine, two hundred :

Bra. So did I yours. Good your grace, But though they jump not on a just account,

pardon me; As in these cases, where the aim reports,

Neither my place nor aught I heard of business 'Tis oft with difference, yet do they all confirm A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus.

Hath rais'd me from my bed, nor doth the Duke. Nay, it is possible enough to judgment: Take hold on me, for my particular grief

general care I do not so secure me in the error, But the main article I do approve

Is of so flood-gate and o'erbearing nature

That it engluts and swallows other sorrows In fearful sense.

And it is still itself. Sailor. Within. What, ho! what, ho! what,

Duke.

Why, what 's the matter! ho!

Bra. My daughter! O! my daughter. Off. A messenger from the galleys.

Duke, Sen.

Dead !
Enter Sailor.
Bra.

Ay, to me;

She is abus'd, stol'n from me, and corrupted Duke.

Now, what's the business ? By spells and medicines bought of mounteSail. The Turkish preparation makes for

banks; Rhodes ;

For nature so preposterously to err, So was I bid report here to the state

Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense, By Signior Angelo.

Sans witchcraft could not. Duke. How say you by this change?

Duke. Whoe'er he be that in this foul proFirst Sen.

This cannot be, ceeding By no assay of reason ; 'tis a pageant

Hath thus beguild your daughter of herself To keep us in false gaze. When we consider And you of her, the bloody book of law The importancy of Cyprus to the Turk,

You shall yourself read in the bitter letter And let ourselves again but understand, After your own sense ; yea, though our proper That as it more concerns the Turk than Rhodes, So may he with more facile question bear it, Stood in your action. For that it stands not in such war-like brace, Bra.

Humbly I thank your grace. * But altogether lacks the abilities

Here is the man, this Moor; whom now, it That Rhodes is dress'd in : if we make thought seems, of this,

Your special mandate for the state affairs
We must not think the Turk is so unskilful Hath hither brought.
To leave that latest which concerns him first, Duke, Sen.

We are very sorry for t

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Duke. To OTHELLO. What, in your own part, Duke. Say it, Othello. can you say to this?

Oth. Her father lov'd me; oft invited me; Bra. Nothing, but this is so.

Still question'd me the story of my life Oth. Most potent, grave, and reverend sig. From year to year, the battles, sieges, fortunes 180 niors,

That I have pass'd. My very noble and approv'd good masters, I ran it through, even from my boyish days That I have ta'en away this old man's To the very moment that he bade me tell it ; daughter,

Wherein I spake of most disastrous chances, It is most true; true, I have married her:

Of moving accidents by flood and field, The very head and front of my offending Of hair-breadth 'scapes i' the imminent deadly Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my breach, speech,

Of being taken by the insolent foe And little bless'd with the soft phrase of And sold to slavery, of my redemption thence peace;

And portance in my travels' history ; For since these arms of mine had seven years' | Wherein of antres vast and deserts idle, pith,

Rough quarries, rocks and hills whose heads Till now some nine moons wasted, they have touch heaven, usid

It was my hint to speak, such was the process; Their dearest action in the tented field ;

And of the Cannibals that each other eat, And little of this great world can I speak, The Anthropophagi, and men whose heads More than pertains to feats of broil and Do grow beneath their shoulders. This to hear battle;

Would Desdemona seriously incline ; And therefore little shall I grace my cause But still the house-affairs would draw her hence; In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious Which ever as she could with haste dispatch, patience,

She'd come again, and with a greedy ear I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver 30 Devour up my discourse. Which I observing, 150 Of my whole course of love ; what drugs, what Took once a pliant hour, and found good means charms,

To draw from her a prayer of earnest heart What conjuration, and what mighty magic, That I would all my pilgrimage dilate, For such proceeding I am charg'd withal, Whereof by parcels she had something heard, I won his daughter.

But not intentively: I did consent ; Bra.

A maiden never bold ; And often did beguile her of her tears, Of spirit so still and quiet, that her motion When I did speak of some distressful stroke Blush'd at herself; and she, in spite of nature, That my youth suffer'd. My story being done, Of years, of country, credit, every thing, She gave me for my pains a world of sighs : To fall in love with what she fear'd to look on! She swore, in faith, 'twas strange, 'twas passing It is a judgment maim'd and most imperfect

strange; That will confess perfection so could err 100 'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful : Against all rules of nature, and must be driven She wish'd she had not heard it, yet she wish'd To find out practices of cunning hell,

That heaven had made her such a man ; she Why this should be. I therefore vouch again

thank'd me, That with some mixtures powerful o'er the And bade me, if I had a friend that lov'd her, blood,

I should but teach him how to tell my story, Or with some dram conjur'd to this effect, And that would woo her. Upon this hint I He wrought upon her.

spake : Duke.

To vouch this, is no proof, She lov'd me for the dangers I had pass'd,
Without more wider and more overt test And I lov'd her that she did pity them.
Than these thin habits and poor likelihoods This only is the witchcraft I have us'd :
Of modern seeming do prefer against him. Here comes the lady ; let her witness it.

First Sen. But, Othello, speak :
Did you by indirect and forced courses

Enter DESDEMONA, IAGO, and Attendants. Subdue and poison this young maid's affec- Duke. I think this tale would win my daughter tions ;

too. Or came it by request and such fair question Good Brabantio, As soul to soul affordeth ?

Take up this mangled matter at the best : Oth.

I do beseech you, Men do their broken weapons rather use Send for the lady to the Sagittary,

Than their bare hands. And let her speak of me before her father :

Bra.

I pray you, hear her speak; If you do find me foul in her report,

If she confess that she was half the wooer, The trust, the office I do hold of you,

Destruction on my head, if my bad blame Not only take away, but let your sentence Light on the man! Come hither, gentle mistress : Even fall upon my life.

Do you perceive in all this noble company Drike.

Fetch Desdemona hither. 120 Where most you owe obedience ? Oth. Ancient, conduct them ; you best know Des.

My noble father, 180 the place.

Exeunt Iago and Attendants. I do perceive here a divided duty : And, till she come, as truly as to heaven To you I am bound for life and education ; I do confess the vices of my blood,

My life and education both do learn me So justly to your grave ears I'll present

How to respect you ; you are the lord of duty; How I did thrive in this fair lady's love, I am hitherto your daughter : but here's my And she in mine.

husband;

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And so much duty as my mother show'd And let me find a charter in your voice
To you, preferring you before her father, To assist my simpleness.
So inuch I challenge that I may profess

Duke. What would you, Desdemona ?
Due to the Moor my lord.

Des. That I did love the Moor to live with Bra.

God be with you! I have done. him,
Please it your grace, on to the state affairs : 190 My downright violence and storm of fortunes
I had rather to adopt a child than get it. May trumpet to the world ; my heart 's subdued
Come hit her, Moor :

Even to the very quality of my lord ;
I here do give thee that with all my heart I saw Othello's visage in his mind,
Which, but thou hast already, with all my heart And to his honours and his valiant parts
I would keep from thee. For your sake, jewel, Did my soul and fortunes consecrate.
I am glad at soul I bave no other child ;

So that, dear lords, if I be left behind,
For thy escape would teach me tyranny, A moth of peace, and he go to the war,
To hang clogs on them. I have done, my lord. The rites for why I love him are bereft me,
Duke. Let me speak like yourself, and lay a And I a heavy interim shall support
sentence,

By his dear absence. Let me go with him. Which, as a grize or step, may help these lovers Oth. Let her have your voices. Into your favour.

201 Vouch with me, heaven, I therefore beg it not When remedies are past, the griefs are ended To please the palate of my appetite, By seeing the worst, which late on hopes Nor to comply with heat, the young affects depended.

In me defunct, and proper satisfaction, To mourn a mischief that is past and gone But to be free and bounteous to her mind ; Is the next way to draw new mischief on. And heaven defend your good souls that you What cannot be preserv'd when fortune takes think Patience her injury a mockery makes.

I will your serious and great business scant The robb’d that smiles steals something from For she is with me. No, when light-wing'd the thief ;

toys He robs himself that spends a bootless grief. Of feather'd Cupid seel with wanton dulness

Bra. So let the Turk of Cyprus us beguile ; My speculative and offic'd instruments, We lose it not so long as we can smile.

That my disports corrupt and taint my business, He bears the sentence well that nothing bears Let housewives make a skillet of my helm, But the free comfort which from thence he | And all indign and base adversities hears;

Make head against my estimation !
But he bears both the sentence and the sorrow Duke. Be it as you shall privately determine,
That, to pay grief, must of poor patience borrow. Either for her stay or going. The affair cries
These sentences, to sugar, or to gall,

haste,
Being strong on both sides, are equivocal : And speed must answer it.
But words are words; I never yet did hear Pirst Sen. You must away to-night.
That the bruis'd heart was pierced through Oth.

With all my heart. the ear.

Duke. At nine i’ the morning here we'll meet I humbly beseech you, proceed to the affairs of again. state.

220 Othello, leave some officer behind, Duke. The Turk with a most mighty prepara- And he shall our commission bring to you ; tion makes for Cyprus. Othello, the fortitude With such things else of quality and respect of the place is best known to you; and though As doth import you. we have there a substitute of most allowed Oth. So please your grace, my ancient; sufficiency, yet opinion, a sovereign mistress of A man he is of honesty and trust : effects, throws a more safer voice on you : you To his conveyance I assign my wife, must therefore be content to slubber the gloss With what else needful your good grace sbali of your new fortunes with this more stubborn think and boisterous expedition.

229 To be sent after me. Oth. The tyrant custom, most grave senators, Duke.

Let it be so. Hath made the fiinty and steel couch of war Good night to every one. To BRABANTIO. And, My thrice-driven bed of down: I do agnize

noble signior, A natural and prompt alacrity

If virtue no delighted beauty lack, I find in hardness, and do undertake

Your son-in-law is far more fair than black. These present wars against the Ottomites.

First Sen. Adieu, brave Moor! use Desdemona Most humbly therefore bending to your state, well. I crave fit disposition for my wife,

Bra. Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to Due reference of place and exhibition, With such accommodation and besort

She has deceiv'd her father, and may thee. As levels with her breeding.

Exeunt DUKE, Senators, Omcers, etc. Duke.

If

you please, Oth. My life upon her faith! Honest Iago, Be 't at her father's.

My Desdemona must I leave to thee:
Bra.
I'll not have it so.

I prithee, let thy wife attend on her ;
Oth. Nor I.

And bring them after in the best advantage. Des.

Nor I; I would not there reside, Come, Desdemona; I have but an hour To put my father in impatient thonghts

Of love, of worldly matters and direction, By being in his eye. Most gracious duke, To spend with thee: we must obey the time. To my unfolding lend your prosperous ear ;

Exeunt OTHELLO and DESDEMONA

see:

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Rod. Iago! lago. What say'st thou, noble heart? Rod. What will I do, think'st thou ? Iago. Why, go to bed, and sleep. Rod. I will incontinently drown myself. Iago. Well, if thou dost, I shall never love thee after it. Why, thou silly gentleman!

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.

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Iago. O villanous; I have looked upon the world for four times seven years, and since I could distinguish betwixt 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 with a baboon.

Rod. What should I do? I confess it is my shame to be so fond; but it is not in my virtue to amend it.

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Iago. Virtue! a fig! 'tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus. Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners; so that if we will plant nettles or sow lettuce, set hyssop and weed up thyme, supply it with one gender of herbs or distract it with many, either to have it sterile with idleness or manured with industry, why, the power and corrigible authority of this lies in our wills. If the balance of our lives had not one scale of reason to poise another of sensuality, the blood and baseness of our natures would conduct us to most preposterous conclusions; but we have reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal stings, our unbitted lusts, whereof I take this that you call love to be a sect or scion.

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Iago. Thou art sure of me: go, make money. I have told thee often, and I re-tell thee again and again, I hate the Moor: my cause is hearted; thine hath no less reason. Let us be conjunctive in our revenge against him; if thou canst cuckold him, thou dost thyself a pleasure, me a sport. There are many events in the womb of time which will be delivered. Traverse; go: provide thy money. We will have more of this to-morrow. Adieu.

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Rod. It cannot be.

lago. It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission of the will. Come, be a man. Drown thyself drown cats and blind puppies. I have professed me thy friend, and I confess me knit to thy deserving with cables of perdurable toughness; I could never better stead thee than now. Put money in thy purse; follow these wars; defeat thy favour with an unusurped beard; I say, put money in thy purse. It cannot be that Desdemona should long continue her love to the Moor,-put money in thy purse, nor he his to her: it was a violent commencement in her, and thou shalt see an answerable sequestration; put but money in thy purse. These Moors are changeable in their wills;fill thy purse with money :-the food that to him now is as luscious as locusts, shall be to him shortly as bitter as coloquintida. She must change for youth: when she is sated with his body, she will find the error of her choice. She must have change, she must therefore, put money in thy purse. If thou wilt needs damn thyself, do it a more delicate way than drowning. Make all the money thou canst. If sanctimony and a frail vow betwixt an erring barbarian and a supersubtle Venetian be not too hard for my wits and all the tribe of hell, thou shalt enjoy her; therefore make money. A pox of drowning thyself! it is clean out of the way; seek thou rather to be hanged in compassing thy joy than to be drowned and go without her. Rod. Wilt thou be fast to my hopes, if I depend on the issue?

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Rod. Where shall we meet i' the morning?
Jago. At my lodging.

Rod. I'll be with thee betimes.
Iago. Go to; farewell. Do you hear, Roderigo?
Rod. What say you?

Iago. No more of drowning, do you hear?
Rod. I am changed. I'll sell all

my land. Iago. Go to; farewell! put money enough in your purse. Exit RODERIGO. 390 Thus do I ever make my fool my purse; For I mine own gain'd knowledge should profane,

If I would time expend with such a snipe
But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor,
And it is thought abroad that 'twixt my sheets
He has done my office: I know not if't be

true,

Yet I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
Will do as if for surety. He holds me well;
The better shall my purpose work on him.
Cassio's a proper man; let me see now:
To get his place and to plume up my will
In double knavery; how, how? Let's see:
After some time, to abuse Othello's ear
That he is too familiar with his wife:
He hath a person and a smooth dispose
To be suspected, fram'd to make women false.
The Moor is of a free and open nature,
That thinks men honest that but seem to be so,
And will as tenderly be led by the nose
As asses are.

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