ACT I
Sc. I

BRA.

The worser welcome:
I have charg'd thee not to haunt about my doors:
In honest plainness thou hast heard me say
My daughter is not for thee; and now, in madness,
Being full of supper and distempering draughts,
Upon malicious bravery, dost thou come

To start my quiet.

ROD. Sir, Sir, Sir

BRA.

But thou must needs be sure

My spirit and my place have in them power

To make this bitter to thee.

ROD.

Patience, good Sir.

BRA. What tell'st thou me of robbing? this is Venice;

My house is not a grange.

ROD.

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 cover'd with a Barbary horse; you 'll have your nephews neigh to you; you'll have coursers for cousins, and gennets for germans.

112

BRA. What profane wretch art thou?
IAGO. 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.

120

BRA. This thou shalt answer: I know thee, Roderigo.
ROD. Sir, I will answer any thing. But, I beseech you,
If't be your pleasure and most wise consent,
As partly I find it is, that your fair daughter,
At this odd-even and dull watch o' the night,
Transported, with no worse nor better guard
But with a knave of common hire, a gondolier,
To the gross clasps of a lascivious Moor-
If this be known to you, and your allowance,
We then have done you bold and saucy wrongs;
But, if you know not this, my manners tell me
We have your wrong rebuke. Do not believe

130

ACT I

Sc. I

That, from the sense of all civility,

I thus would play and trifle with your

Reverence.

Your daughter (if you have not given her leave)

I say again, hath made a gross revolt;

Tying her duty, beauty, wit, and fortunes,

In an extravagant and wheeling1 stranger

Of here and every where. Straight satisfy yourself:
If she be in her chamber or your house,

Let loose on me the justice of the State
For thus deluding you.

BRA.

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!

IAGO.

140

[exit above.

Farewell; for I must leave you :

It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place,
To be produc'd (as, if I stay, I shall)

Against 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,

Which even now stand in act, that, for their souls, 150

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 shew 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.

[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,

160

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

1 vagrant and inconstant.

ACT I
Sc. I

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

Raise all my kindred. Are they married, think you? ROD. Truly, I think they are.

BRA. O Heaven!
blood!

How got she out?
How got she out? O treason of the

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 abus'd? Have you not read, Roderigo,
Of some such thing?

ROD.

Yes, Sir, I have indeed.

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

Some one way, some another.

Do you know

Do

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.

170

180

[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

I had thought to have yerk'd him here under the ribs.
ОTн. '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 assur'd of this,

That the Magnifico is much belov'd;

And hath, in his effect, a voice potential,

ΙΟ

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.

Отн.

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

20

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.

Отн.

Not I; I must be found:

30

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. Отн. The servants of the Duke, and my Lieutenant. The goodness of the night upon you, Friends! What is the news?

CAS.

The Duke does greet you, General ;

And he requires your haste-post-haste appearance,

Even on the instant.

What is the matter, think

you?

Отн.
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 about three several quests
To search you out.

IX : B

9

ACT I

Sc. II

"Tis well I am found by you.

I will but spend a word here in the house,

ACT I Оти.

Sc. II

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.

50

IAGO.

CAS.

He's married.

To who?

Re-enter OTHELLO.

IAGO. Marry, to- Come, Captain, will you go?
Отн.

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.

IAGO. You, Roderigo! come, Sir, I am for you.

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

Good Signior, you shall more command with years 60
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 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

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