May speak, unbonneted,' to as proud a fortune I would not my unhoused, free condition. yonder? But, look! what lights come Enter CASSIO, at a distance, and certain Officers with torches. Iago. 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? 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. The duke does greet you, general; What is the matter, think you? Oth. Cas. Something from Cyprus, as I may divine; It is a business of some heat. The galleys And many of the consuls, raised, and met, Are at the duke's already. You have been hotly called for; When, being not at your lodging to be found, 1 "I am his equal or superior in rank; and were it not so, such are my merits, that, unbonneted, without the addition of patrician or senatorial dignity, they may speak to as proud a fortune," &c. 2 i. e. unsettled, free from domestic cares. 3 Pliny, the naturalist, has a chapter on the riches of the sea. The expression seems to have been proverbial. 4 These words were ordinarily written on the covers of letters or packets requiring the most prompt and speedy conveyance; often reduplicated thus:-" Haste, haste, haste, post-haste!" 5 See note 4, p. 400. The senate hath sent about three several quests,1 'Tis well I am found by you. [Exit. I will but spend a word here in the house, And go with you. Cas. Ancient, what makes he here? Iago. 'Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land carrack; 2 If it prove lawful prize, he's made forever. 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 advised; He comes to bad intent. Oth. Rod. Seignior, it is the Moor. Bra. 3 Hola! stand there! Down with him, thief! [They draw on both sides. Iago. You, Roderigo! come, sir, I am for you. rust them. Good seignior, you shall more command with years, Than with your weapons. Bra. O thou foul thief, where hast thou stowed my daughter? Damned as thou art, thou hast enchanted her; 1 Quests are here put for messengers; properly it signified searchers. 2 A carrack, or carrick, was a ship of great burden, a Spanish galleon; so named from carico, a lading, or freight. 3 i. e. be cautious, be discreet. For I'll refer me to all things of sense, I therefore apprehend and do attach thee,] Oth. Hold your hands, Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it To answer this your charge? Bra. you that I go, 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; Off. 'Tis true, most worthy seignior, 1 It was the fashion of the Poet's time for lusty gallants to wear “a curled bush of frizzled hair." See Hall's Satires, ed. 1824, book iii. sat. 5. 2 Of such a thing as thou; a thing to fear (i. e. terrify), not to delight." 3 The lines in crotchets are not in the first edition, 4to. 1622. 4 The old copy reads, "That weaken motion." The emendation is Hanmer's. Motion is elsewhere used by our Poet precisely in the sense required here. To waken is to incite, to stir up. The duke's in council; and your noble self, Bra. Cannot but feel this wrong, as 'twere their own. SCENE III. The same. A Council Chamber. The Duke, and Senators, sitting at a table; Officers attending. Duke. There is no composition 2 in these news, That gives them credit. 1 Sen. Indeed, they are disproportioned; My letters say a hundred and seven galleys. 2 Sen. And mine, two hundred. But though they jump not on a just account, Duke. Nay, it is possible enough to judgment; But the main article I do approve In fearful sense. Sailor. [Within.] What, ho! what, ho! what, ho! 1 Pagan was a word of contempt; and the reason will appear from its etymology:-" Paganus, villanus vel inculsus; et derivatur a pagus quod est villa. Et quicunque habitat in villa est paganus. Præterea quicunque est extra civitatem Dei, i. e. ecclesiam, dicitur paganus; anglice, a paynim."-Ortus Vocabulorum, 1528. 2 Composition for consistency. number by our ancestors. News was considered of the plural 3 Aim is guess, conjecture. The quarto reads, "they aim reports." The meaning appears to be, "In these cases where conjecture tells the tale." Enter an Officer with a Sailor. Off A messenger from the galleys. Now the business? Duke. How say you by this change? 1 Sen. This cannot be, 1 By no assay of reason; 'tis a pageant, The importancy of Cyprus to the Turk ; 2 That, as it more concerns the Turk than Rhodes, But altogether lacks the abilities That Rhodes is dressed in ;-if we make thought of this, We must not think the Turk is so unskilful, To leave that latest which concerns him first; Neglecting an attempt of ease, and gain, To wake, and wage, a danger profitless.] Duke. Nay, in all confidence, he's not for Rhodes. Off. Here is more news. Enter a Messenger. Mess. The Ottomites, reverend and gracious, Steering with due course towards the isle of Rhodes, Have there injointed them with an after-fleet. 1 Sen. Ay, so I thought.-How many, as you guess? Mess. Of thirty sail; and now do they restem Their backward course, bearing with frank appearance Their purposes toward Cyprus.-Seignior Montano, Your trusty and most valiant servitor, 1 "Bring it to the test, it will be found counterfeit." 2 That he may carry it with less dispute. 3 i. e. in such state of defence. To arm was called to brace on the armor. The seven following lines were added since the first edition in quarto, 1622. 4 To wake is to undertake. To wage law (in the common acceptation) seems to be to follow, to urge, drive on, or prosecute the law or lawsuits. |