SCENE I. Venice. A street. Enter RODERIGO and IAGO. Rod. 'Tush! never tell me; I take it much unkindly That thou, lago, who hast had my purse Rod. Thou told'st me thou didst hold him in thy hate. Iago. Despise me, if I do not. Three great ones of the city, In personal suit to make me his lieutenant, And, in conclusion, Rod. By heaven, I rather would have been his hangman. Iago. Why, there's no remedy; 'tis the curse of service, Preferment goes by letter and affection, Whether I in any just term am affined I follow him to serve my turn upon him: Whip me such honest knaves. Others there are Nonsuits my mediators: for, 'Certes,' says he, And, throwing but shows of service on their lords, I have already chose my officer.' And what was he? Do well thrive by them and when they have lined their coats Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul; And such a one do I profess myself. For, sir, BRABANTIO appears above, at a window. Bra. What is the reason of this terrible summons? What is the matter there? Rot. Signior, is all your family within? Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul; 90 Bra. What, have you lost your wits? Bra. Not I: what are you? The worser welcome: ness, 100 Being full of supper and distempering draughts, Bra. But thou must needs be sure Rod. My house is not a grange. 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 and 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 gennets for germans. Bra. What profane wretch art thou? Fago. 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. Iago. You are a senator. Bra. This thou shalt answer; I know thee, Roderigo. 120 Rod. Sir, I will answer any thing. But I beseech you, If't be your pleasure and most wise consent, I thus would play and tride with your reverence: If she be in her chamber or your house, Bra. 140 Strike on the tinder, ho! Give me a taper! call up all my people! This accident is not unlike my dream: Belief of it oppresses me already. Light, I say! light! [Exit above. lago. Farewell; for I must leave you: It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place, To be produced-as, if I stay, I shallAgainst 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, 151 Which even now stand in act, that, for their souls, Another of his fathom they have none, 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 raised search; And there will I be with him. So, farewell. 160 [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? How didst thou know 'twas she? O, she deceives Some one way, some another. Do you know I may command at most. Get weapons, ho! SCENE II. 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 Oth. 'Tis better as it is. Nay, but he prated, And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms Against your honor That, with the little godliness I have, I did full hard forbear him. But, I pray you, sir, Are you fast married? Be assured of this, 11 Oth. know, Which, when I know that boasting is an honor, Not I; I must be found: 30 Enter CASSIO, and certain Officers with torches. Oth. The servants of the duke, and my lieu tenant. The goodness of the night upon you, friends! What is the news? lago. Marry, to-Come, captain, will you go? Enter BRABANTIO, RODERIGO, and Officers 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 will rust them. Good signior, you shall more command with years Than with your weapons. 61 Bra. O thou foul thief, where hast thou stow'd my daughter? Damn'd as thou art, thou hast enchanted her; 80 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? 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? 90 First Off 'Tis true, most worthy signior; The duke's in council, and your noble self, I am sure, is sent for. Bra. How! the duke in council! In this time of the night! Bring him away: Mine's not an idle cause; the duke himself, Or any of my brothers of the state, Cannot but feel this wrong as 'twere their own; For if such actions may have passage free, Bond-slaves and pagans shall our statesmen be. [Exeunt. SCENE III. 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. First Sen. Indeed, they are disproportion'd; My letters say a hundred and seven galleys. Duke. And mine, a hundred and forty. Sec. Sen. And mine, two hundred: 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 judg We must not think the Turk is so unskilful 30 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. First Sen. Ay, so I thought. How many, as you guess? Mess. Of thirty sail: and now they do re-stem Their backward course, bearing with frank appearance 40 Their purposes toward Cyprus. Signior Montano, Duke. 'Tis certain, then, for Cyprus. Duke. Write from us to him; post-post-haste despatch. First Sen. Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor. Enter BRABANTIO, OTHELLO, Iago, RODERIGO, and Officers. Duke. Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you Against the general enemy Ottoman. [To Brabantio I did not see you; welcome, gentle signior; 50 We lack'd your counsel and you help to-night. Bra. So did I yours. Good your grace, par don me; Neither my place nor aught I heard of business Hath raised me from my bed, nor doth the general care Take hold on me, for my particular grief She is abused, stol'n from me, and corrupted 60 Duke. Whoe'er he be that in this foul proceeding Hath thus beguiled your daughter of herself You shall yourself read in the bitter letter [son Your special mandate for the state affairs Duke and Sen. We are very sorry for't. Duke. To Othello] What, in your own part, can you say to this? Bra. Nothing, but this is so. [iors, Oth. Most potent, grave, and reverend sign That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter, It is most true; true, I have married her: Duke. Nay, in all confidence, he's not for My very noble and approved good masters, Rhodes. First Off. Here is more news. Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what charms, What conjuration and what mighty magic, 100 Bra. A maiden never bold; Of spirit so still and quiet, that her motion Blush'd at herself; and she, in spite of nature, Of years, of country, credit, every thing, To fall in love with what she fear'd to look on! It is a judgment maim'd and most imperfect That will confess perfection so could err Against all rules of nature, and must be driven To find out practices of cunning hell, Why this should be. I therefore vouch again That with some mixtures powerful o'er the blood, Or with some dram conjured to this effect, He wrought upon her. Duke. To vouch this, is no proof, Without more wider or more overt test Than these thin habits and poor likelihoods Of modern seeming do prefer against him. First Sen. But, Othello, speak: Did you by indirect and forced courses Subdue and poison this young maid's affections? 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 foul 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. 120 Oth. Ancient, conduct them: you best know the place. [Exeunt lago 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. 129 Oth. Her father loved me; oft invited me; I ran it through, even from my boyish days, Of being taken by the insolent foe And sold to slavery, of my redemption thence And portance in my travels' history: Wherein of antres vast and deserts idle, 140 Rough quarries, rocks and hills whose heads touch heaven, It was my hint to speak,-such was the process; But still the house-affairs would draw her thence: 'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful: thank'd me. And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her, She loved me for the dangers I had pass'd, Good Brabantio, My noble father, 180 I do perceive here a divided duty: And so much duty as my mother show'd Bra. |