Othello Page #2

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Enter, below, BRABANTIO, and Servants with torches

BRABANTIO:

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 me

Past thought! What said she to you? Get more tapers:

Raise all my kindred. Are they married, think you?

RODERIGO:

Truly, I think they are.

BRABANTIO:

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. Is there not charms

By which the property of youth and maidhood

May be abused? Have you not read, Roderigo,

Of some such thing?

RODERIGO:

Yes, sir, I have indeed.

BRABANTIO:

Call up my brother. O, would you had had her!

Some one way, some another. Do you know

Where we may apprehend her and the Moor?

RODERIGO:

I think I can discover him, if you please,

To get good guard and go along with me.

BRABANTIO:

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. 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 contrived murder: I lack iniquity

Sometimes to do me service: nine or ten times

I had thought to have yerk'd him here under the ribs.

OTHELLO:

'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 you, sir,

Are you fast married? Be assured 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 and grievance

The law, with all his might to enforce it on,

Will give him cable.

OTHELLO:

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 demerits

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

For the sea's worth. But, look! what lights come yond?

IAGO:

Those are the raised father and his friends:

You were best go in.

OTHELLO:

Not II 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

OTHELLO:

The servants of the duke, and my lieutenant.

The goodness of the night upon you, friends!

What is the news?

CASSIO:

The duke does greet you, general,

And he requires your haste-post-haste appearance,

Even on the instant.

OTHELLO:

What is the matter, think you?

CASSIO:

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, raised 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 guests

To search you out.

OTHELLO:

'Tis well I am found by you.

I will but spend a word here in the house,

And go with you.

Exit

CASSIO:

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.

CASSIO:

I do not understand.

IAGO:

He's married.

CASSIO:

To who?

Re-enter OTHELLO

IAGO:

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

OTHELLO:

Have with you.

CASSIO:

Here comes another troop to seek for you.

IAGO:

It is Brabantio. General, be advised;

He comes to bad intent.

Enter BRABANTIO, RODERIGO, and Officers with torches and weapons

OTHELLO:

Holla! stand there!

RODERIGO:

Signior, it is the Moor.

BRABANTIO:

Down with him, thief!

They draw on both sides

IAGO:

You, Roderigo! come, sir, I am for you.

OTHELLO:

Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.

Good signior, you shall more command with years

Than with your weapons.

BRABANTIO:

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 bound,

Whether a maid so tender, fair and happy,

So opposite to marriage that she shunned

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 practised on her with foul charms,

Abused 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.

OTHELLO:

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?

BRABANTIO:

To prison, till fit time

Of law and course of direct session

Call thee to answer.

OTHELLO:

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?

First Officer

'Tis true, most worthy signior;

The duke's in council and your noble self,

I am sure, is sent for.

BRABANTIO:

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 OF VENICE:

There is no composition in these news

That gives them credit.

First Senator

Indeed, they are disproportion'd;

My letters say a hundred and seven galleys.

DUKE OF VENICE:

And mine, a hundred and forty.

Second Senator

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 OF VENICE:

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!

First Officer

A messenger from the galleys.

Enter a Sailor

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