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?
Iago. By Janus, I think no.

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
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 about three several quests,

To search you out.

Oth.

१

"Tis well I am found by you.

I will but spend a word here in the house,

And go with you.

Cas.

[Exit.

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.

Cas. I do not understand.

Iago.

Cas.

He's married.

To who?

Re-enter OTHELLO.

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

consuls,] i. e. Counsellors.

quests,] On this occasion, searches.-STEEVENS.

carack;] A ship of great bulk, and commonly of great value; per

haps what we now call a galleon.-JOHNSON.

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 advis'd;'

He comes to bad intent.

Oth.

Hola! stand there!

Rod. Signior, it is the Moor.

Bra.

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.

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 magick were not bound,
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 waken motion:-I'll have it 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.

t

u

be advis'd;] That is, be cool; be cautious; be discreet.
curled-]i. e. Elegantly and ostentatiously dressed.—JOHNSON.
to fear,] i. e. To terrify.

waken motion]i. e. Excite desires.

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.

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;
Whose messengers are here about my side,
Upon some present business of the state,
To bring me to him?

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.

The Duke and Senators, sitting at a Table; Officers

attending.

Duke. There is no composition in the news,

That gives them credit.

1 Sen.

Indeed, they are disproportion'd; My letters say, a hundred and seven gallies.

Duke. And mine a hundred and forty.

▾ Bond-slaves and pagans,] i. e. If this Moor is now suffered to escape with impunity, it will be such an encouragement to his black countrymen, that we may expect to see all the first offices of our state filled up by the pagans and bond-slaves of Africa.-STEEVENS.

2 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 judgment;
I do not so secure me in the error,

But the main article I do approve
In fearful sense.

Sailor. [within.] What ho! what ho! what ho!

Enter an Officer, with a Sailor.

Off. A messenger from the gallies.

Duke.

Now? the business?

Sail. The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes;
So was I bid report here to the state,
By signior Angelo.

Duke. How say you by this change?
1 Sen.

By no assay of reason; 'tis a pageant,

This cannot be,

To keep us in false gaze: When we consider
The importancy of Cyprus to the Turk;
And let ourselves again but understand,

That, as it more concerns the Turk than Rhodes,
So may he with more facile question bear it,
For that it stands not in such warlike brace,d

But altogether lacks the abilities

That Rhodes is dress'd 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.

MALONE.

where the aim reports,] Where conjecture or suspicion tells the tale.

b By no assay of reason;] Bring it to the test, examine it by reason as we examine metals by the assay, it will be found counterfeit by all trials.—

JOHNSON.

c — more facile question-] That is, he may carry it with less dispute, with less opposition.-M. MASON.

d warlike brace,] State of defence. To arm was called to brace on the armour.-JOHNSON.

e

wage,] Here, as in many other places in Shakspeare, signifies to fight, to combat.-STEEVENS.

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 toward 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 re-stem Their backward course, bearing with frank appearance Their purposes toward 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.

Marcus Lucchesé, is he not in town?

1 Sen. He's now in Florence.

Duke. Write from us; wish him' post-post-haste: despatch.

1 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.

I did not see you; welcome, gentle signior;

[To BRABANTIO. We lack'd your counsel and your help to-night.

Bra. So did I yours: Good your grace, pardon me; Neither my place, nor aught I heard of business,

Hath rais'd me from my bed; nor doth the general care
Take hold on me; for my particular grief

Is of so flood-gate and o'erbearing nature,
That it engluts and shallows other sorrows,
And it is still itself.

·wish him—] i. e. Recommend, desire him.

— we must straight employ you

Against the general enemy Ottoman.] It is a part of the policy of the Venetian state, never to entrust the command of an army to a native: and it was usual for them to employ strangers, and even Moors, in their wars.-MALONE and REED.