Oth.

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 about three several quests

To search you out.

Oth.

I will but spend a word here in the house,

And go with you.

Cas.

'Tis well I am found by you.

[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.

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

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 bound,
Whether a maid so tender, fair, and happy,
So opposite to marriage, that she shunn'd
The wealthy curlèd 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: (4)—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 bring me to him?

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. The same.

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;

And mine, two hundred:

My letters say a hundred and seven galleys.
Duke. And mine, a hundred and forty.
Sec. Sen.
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!
First Off. A messenger from the galleys.

Duke.

Enter a Sailor.

Now, what's 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?
First 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,

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.

Duke. Nay, in all confidence, he's not for Rhodes.
First 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.

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 Their purposes toward Cyprus.-Signior Montano, Your trusty and most valiant servitor,

With his free duty recommends you thus,

And prays you to believe (5) him.

Duke. 'Tis certain, then, for Cyprus.Marcus Luccicos, is not he in town?

First Sen. He's now in Florence.

Duke. Write from us to him; post-post-haste dispatch.
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.-

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 swallows other sorrows,
And it is still itself.

Duke.

Why, what's the matter?

Bra. My daughter! O, my daughter!

Duke and Sen.

Bra.

Dead?

Ay, to me;

She is abus'd, stol'n from me, and corrupted

By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks;
For nature so preposterously to err,

Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense,

Sans witchcraft could not..

Duke. Whoe'er he be that, in this foul proceeding, Hath thus beguil'd your daughter of herself,

And you of her, the bloody book of law

You shall yourself read in the bitter letter

After your own sense; yea, though our proper son
Stood in your action.

Bra.

Humbly I thank your grace.

Here is the man, this Moor; whom now, it seems,

Your special mandate, for the state-affairs,

Hath hither brought.

Duke and Sen. We are very sorry for 't.

Duke. What, in your own part, can you say to this?

Bra. Nothing, but this is so.

[To Othello.

Oth. Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors,
My very noble and approv'd good masters,-
That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter,
It is most true; true, I have married her:
The very head and front of my offending

Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech,
And little bless'd with the soft phrase of peace;
For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith,
Till now some nine moons wasted, they have us'd
Their dearest action in the tented field;

And little of this great world can I speak,

More than pertains to feats of broil and battle;

And therefore little shall I grace my cause

In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience,

I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver

Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what charms,
What conjuration, and what mighty magic,—