Evin on the instant.

Oth. What is the matter, think you ?

Caf. Something from Cyprus, as I may divine;
It is a bufinefs of fome heat. The gallies
Have fent a dozen fequent meffengers

This very night at one anothers heels:
And many of the confuls rais'd and met,

Are at the Duke's already. You have been hotly call'd

When, being not at your lodging to be found,

The fenate fent above three feveral quests,

To fearch you out.

Oth. 'Tis well I am found by you :

I will but fpend a word here in the house,

And go with you.

Caf. Ancient, what makes he here?

[for,

[Exit Othello..

Iago. 'Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land-carrack';;

If it prove lawful prize, he's made for ever.

Caf. I do not understand..

lago. He's married.:

Caf. To whom?

laga. Marry to-Come, Captain, will you go??

Enter Othello.

Oth. Have with you.

Caf. Here comes another troop to feek for you.

Enter Brabantio, Rodorigo, with officers and torchesa. lago. It is Brabantio: General, be advis'd;

He comes to bad intent.

Oth. Holla? ftand there.

Rod. Signior, it is the Moor.

Bra. Down with him, thief!

[They draw on both fideš.

Iago. You, Rodorigo! come, Sir, I am for you

Oth. Keep up your bright fwords, for the dew will i

ruft 'em.

Good Signior, you fhall more command with years,
Than with your weapons.

Bra. O thou foul thief! where haft thou ftow'd myy daughter?

Damn'd as thou art, thou haft inchanted her;
For I'll refer me to all things of fenfe,

If the in chains of magic were not bound,
Whether a maid, fo tender, fair, and happy,
So oppofite to marriage, that the fhunn'd'
The wealthy culled darlings of our nation,
Would ever have, t'incur a general mock,"
Run from her guardage to the footy bofom
Of fuch a thing as thou, to fear, not to delight?
Judge me the world, if 'tis not grofs in fenfe,
That thou haft practis'd on her with foul charms,
Abus'd her delicate youth with drugs or minerals,
That weaken notion.- -I'll have't difputed on ;;
'Tis probable, and palpable to thinking.

I therefore apprehend and do attach thee
For an abufer of the world, a praâifer.
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 reft.

Were it my cue to fight, I fhould have known it

Without a prompter.

Where will you I go.

To answer this your charge?

Bra. To prifon, till fit time

Of law, and courfe of direct feffion,
Call thee to answer.

Oth. What if I do obey?

How may the Duke be therewith satisfied,
Whofe meffengers are here about my fide,
Upon fome prefent business of the state,
To bring me to him?

Off. True, moft worthy Signior,

The Duke's in council; and your noble felf,
I'm fure, is fent for.

Bra. How! the Duke in council?

In this time of the night? bring him away;
Mine's not an idle caufe. The Duke himself,
Or any of my brothers of the state,

Cannot but feel this wrong as 'twere their own;
For if fuch actions may have paffage free,

Bond-flaves and Pagans fhall our ftatefmen be. [Exeunte

SCENE VII. Changes to the fenate-house.

Duke and Senators, fet at a table with lights, and At- · tendants.

*

Duke. There is no compofition in thefe news,
That gives them credit.

I Sen. Indeed they're difproportion'd;
My letters fay, a hundred and seven gallies.
Duke. And mine a hundred and forty.
2. Sen: And mine two hundred.

But though they jump not on a juft account,
(As in these cafes, where th' aim reports,

Tis oft with diff'rence); yet do they all confirm: A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus,

Duke. Nay, it is poffible enough to judgment; I do not fo fecure me in the error,

But the main article I do approve

In fearful fense.

[Sailor within.] What hoa! what hoa! what hoa!! Enter Sailor.

Of. A meffenger from the gallies.

Duke. Now!

what's the business?

Sail. The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes;
So was I bid, report here to the state.
Duke. How fay you by this change?

1 Sen. This cannot be,

By no affay of reafon. 'Tis a pageant,
To keep us in fase gaze; when we confider
Th' importancy of Cyprus to the Turk,
And let ourselves again but understand,

'I hat as it more concerns the Turk than Rhodes,
So may he with more facile question bear it;
For that it stands not in fuch warlike brace,

But all together lacks th' abilities

That Rhodes is drefs'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 eafe and gain,

To wake, and wage, a danger profitlefs...

compofition, for confiftency, concordancy.

Duke. Nay, in all confidence he's not for Rhodes..
Off. Here is more news.

Me The Ottomites, (reverend and gracious), Steering with due courfe toward the ifle of Rhodes, Have there injoin'd them with an after-fleet

1 Sen. Ay, fo I thought; how many, as you guess?
Me. Of thirty fail; and now they do re-ftem
Their backward courfe, bearing with frank appearance
Their purposes toward Cyprus. Signior Montano,
Your trusty and most valiant fervitor,

With his free duty, recommends you thus,
And prays you to believe him.

Duke. 'Tis certain then for Cyprus: Marcus LucIs he not here in town?

[cicos,

I Sen. He's now in Florence.
Duke. Write from us to him, poft, post-haste, dispatch..
I Sen. Here comes Brabantio, and the valiant Moor..

S CE NE VIII.

To them, enter Brabantio, Othello, Caffio, Iago, Rodo-.. rigo, and officers.

Duke, Valiant Othello, we muft ftreight employ you, Against the general enemy Ottoman.

I did not fee you; welcome, gentle Signior: [To Brab. We lack'd your counfel and your help to-night.

Bra. So did I your's; good your Grace, pardon me; Neither my place, nor ought I heard of business, Hath rais'd me from my bed; nor doth the general Take hold on me; for my particular grief Is of fo flood gate and o'er-bearing nature, That it ingluts and fwallows other forrows, And yet is ftill itself.

Duke. Why? what's the matter?

Bra. My daughter I oh, my daughter!
Sen. Dead?

Bra. To me;

She is abus'd, ftolen from me, and corrupted

By fpells and medicines, bought of mountebanks; ;
For nature fo prepofterously to err,

(Being not deficient, blind, or lame of fenfe), 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 fhall yourself read in the bitter letter,

After your own fenfe; yea, though our proper fon
Stood in your action.

Bra. Humbly I thank your Grace.

Here is the man, this Moor, whom now, it feems,
Your special mandate, for the state-affairs,

Hath hither brought.

All. We're very sorry for't.

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

Bra. Nothing, but this is fo.

[To Othel,

Oth. Moft 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 fpeech,
And little blefs'd with the fet phrafe of peace;
For fince thefe arms of mine had feven years' pith,
Till now, fome nine moons wafted, they have us'd
Their dearest action in the tented field;

And little of this great world can I fpeak,
More than pertains to feats of broils and battle ;
And therefore little fhall I grace my cause,

In fpeaking for my felf. Yet, by your patience,
I will a round unvarnifh'd tale deliver,

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

(For fuch proceeding I am charg'd withal),

I won his daughter with.

Bra. A maiden, never bold;

Of spirit so still and quiet, that her motion
Blufh'd at itfelf; and the, in fpight of nature,

Of years, of country, credit, every thing,
To fail in love with what the fear'd to look on-
It is a judgment maim'd, and most imperfect,
That will confefs, perfection fo could err