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, indeed3.

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, with Torches. Iago. 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

Yes, sir; I have, indeed.] So the folio, and quarto, 1630, completing the line the quarto, 1622, has merely, "I have, sir."

O, THAT you had had her!] The folio, " O, would you had had her."

? Pray you, lead on.] The quarto, 1622, " Pray lead me on."

8

- officers of NIGHT.] So the quarto: the folio has might for "night," probably a misprint. Malone showed from Lewkenor's "Commonwealth of Venice," 1599, that "officers of night" were employed in that city.

I had thought to have yerk'd him here, under the ribs. Oth. "Tis better as it is.

Iago.

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

Oth.

Let him do his spite :
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; and my demerits3
May speak, unbonneted, 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 circumscription and confine

Are you fast married? for, be sure of this,] The folio reads

"But, I pray you, sir,

Are you fast married? Be assured of this." Our text is that of the quartos, 1622 and 1630.

1

what restraint or grievance] So the folio, and probably rightly, instead of "and grievance" of the quartos.

Which, when I know that boasting is an honour,

I shall promulgate :] The quarto, 1622, omits the words "Which when I know," but they are in the folio, and in the quarto, 1630.

3 From men of royal SIEGE; and my DEMERITS] Both the quartos read "From men of royal height." "Siege" means seat, or throne, and is certainly preferable. "Demerits" was constantly used for merits by authors of the time. We have already had it in that sense in "Coriolanus," Vol. vi. p. 150.

For the sea's worth.

yonder?

But, look! what lights come

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?
Iago. By Janus, I think no.

Enter CASSIO, and certain Officers with Torches.

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 galleys
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 above three several quests3,
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.

sequent messengers] The folio and the quarto, 1630, read “sequent,” the quarto, 1622, frequent.

* The senate hath sent ABOVE three several quests,] We print "above" (instead of about of the folio,) on the authority, not merely of the quarto, 1622, but of that of 1630, which was not a mere reprint of a former edition. A “quest' necessarily searches in various directions, and the word about may therefore be considered surplusage. Cassio means that more than "three several quests" have been sent in search of Othello.

Cas.

Ancient, what makes he here?

Iago. 'Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land carack": If it prove lawful prize, he's made for ever.

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

Oth.

Have with you'.

Cas. Here comes another troop to seek for you.
Iago. It is Brabantio.-General, be advis'd:

He comes to bad intent.

Enter BRABANTIO, RODERIGO, and Officers, with Torches and Weapons.

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?

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 bound3,

6 — a land CARACK ;] A carack, or carick, says Malone, was denominated from the Spanish word, caraca, which signifies a vessel of great bulk, constructed to carry a heavy burthen. The Spanish caraca, Minsheu thinks, may have been formed from the Italian carico, a lading, or freight.

7 Have with you.] So the folio; and the quarto, 1630, "Ha, with you :" the quarto, 1622, corruptly "Ha, with who."

* If she in chains of magic were not bound,] This line is only in the folio, and in the quarto, 1630.

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 weaken motion'.-I'll have 't 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 bear me to him?

• The wealthy curled darlings] So both the quartos: the folio dearling, in the singular.

1 Judge me the world, if 'tis not gross in sense,] This and the five following lines are in the folio and in the quarto 1630, but not in the quarto, 1622.

2 That WEAKEN motion.] Sir T. Hanmer, in opposition to the folio and quarto, 1630, substituted waken for "weaken." The sense of the old reading seems perfectly intelligible. Theobald's suggestion of "weaken notion,” would be preferable, if any change were required.

3 TO BEAR me to him?] "To bear" is in both the quartos: the folio, "To bring." In the first line of the speech the folio omits "I."