Oth. The servants of the duke and my lieutenant. The goodness of the night upon you, friends! What is the news? Cas. And he requires your haste-post-haste appearance, Even on the instant. Oth. The duke does greet you, general; What is the matter, think you? Cas. Something from Cyprus, as I may divine; It is a business of some heat: the gallies And many of the consuls, rais'd, and met, Are at the duke's already: You have been hotly call'd for; The senate hath sent about three several quests, 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. [Exit. Cas. Ancient, what makes he here? Iago. He's married. Cas. To whom? Re-enter OTHELLO. Iago. Marry, to-Come, captain, will you go? Oth. Cas. Here comes another troop to seek for you. Have with you. Enter BRABANTIO, RODERIGO, and Officers of night, with torches ana weapons. Iago. It is Brabantio:-general, be advis'd; He comes to bad intent. 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? Thou hast enchanted her: For I'll refer me to all things of sense, If she in chains of magic were not bound, Thou hast practis'd on her with foul charms. Oth. Hold your hands, Were it my cue to fight, I would have known it Bra. To prison: till fit tim. Of law, and course of direct session, Oth. What if I do obey? How may the duke be therewith satisfied; Off. The duke's in council; 'Tis true, most worthy signior and your noble self, How, the duke in council! In this time of the night !-Bring him away: Cannot but feel this wrong, as 'twere their own: [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. Indeed, they are disproportion'd; And mine, two hundred 1st Sen. My letters say, a hundred and seven gallies. Duke. And mine a hundred and forty. 2nd Sen. 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. 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. 1st 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 towards Cyprus.-Signior Montano, 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. 1st Sen. Here comes Brabantio, and the valiant Moor. Enter BRABANTIO, OTHELLO, LAGO, RODERIGO, and Officers. I did not see you; welcome, gentle signior, [TO BRABANTIO, Bra. So did I yours: Good your grace, pardon me; She is abus'd, stol'n from me, and corrupted r Aye, to me: By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks: Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense, Sans witchcraft could not Duke. Whoe'er he be, that, in this foul proceeding Hath thus beguil'd 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. [TO OTHELLO. 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 approv'd good masters,- Hatn this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech, And little of this great world can I speak, In speaking for myself: Yet, by your gracious patience, Of my whole course of love: what drugs, what charms (For such proceeding I am charg'd withal,) won his daughter with. Bra. To fall in love with what she fear'd to look on? I therefore vouch again, That with some mixtures powerful o'er the blood, He wrought upon her. Duke. To vouch this, is no proof; Othello, speak ;— Did you by indirect and forc'd courses Subdue and poison this young maid's affections; Or came it by request, and such fair question As soul to soul affordeth? Oth. And let her speak of me before her father: Duke. Fetch Desdemona hither. Oth. Ancient, conduct them: you best know the place. [Exeunt LAGO, and Attendants And, till she come, as truly as to heaven Duke. Say it, Othello. Oth. Her father lov'd me; oft invited me ; Still questioned me the story of my life, From year to year; the battles, sieges, fortunes, I ran it through, even from my boyish days, Of hair-breadth scapes i' the imminent deadly breach; And sold to slavery; of my redemption thence, And portance in my travel's history: Wherein of antres vast, and deserts wild, 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 grew beneath their shoulders. These things to hear, But still the house affairs would draw her thence; She gave me for my pains a world of sighs: She swore,-In faith, 'twas strange, 'twas passing range "Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful: She wish'd, she had not heard it; yet she wish'd That heaven had made her such a man: she thank'd me; And bade me, if I had a friend that lov'd her, I should but teach him how to tell my story, And that would woo her. Upon this hint, I spake : And I lov'd her, that she did pity them. Here comes the lady, let her witness it. Enter DESDEMONA, IAGO, and Attendants. Duke. I think, this tale would win my daughter too. Good Brabantio, Take up this mangled matter at the best: Men do their broken weapons rather use, Bra. I pray you, hear her speak: If she confess, that she was half the wooer, |