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 | 4 |
| 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. | |
| Oth. ’Tis better as it is. | 8 |
| Iago. Nay, but he prated, | |
| And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms | |
| Against your honour | |
| That, with the little godliness I have, | 12 |
| I did full hard forbear him. But, I pray, 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 | 16 |
| 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. | 20 |
| Oth. 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 | 24 |
| 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, | 28 |
| 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? | 32 |
| Iago. Those 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 | 36 |
| Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they? | |
| Iago. By Janus, I think no. | |
| |
Enter CASSIO and certain Officers, with torches. | |
| Oth. The servants of the duke, and my lieutenant. | 40 |
| 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, | 44 |
| Even on the instant. | |
| Oth. What is the matter, think you? | |
| Cas. Something from Cyprus, as I may divine. | |
| It is a business of some heat; the galleys | 48 |
| 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; | 52 |
| When, being not at your lodging to be found, | |
| The senate hath sent about three several quests | |
| To search you out. | |
| Oth. ’Tis well I am found by you. | 56 |
| I will but spend a word here in the house, | |
| And go with you. [Exit. | |
| Cas. Ancient, what makes he here? | |
| Iago. Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land carrack; | 60 |
| If it prove lawful prize, he’s made for ever. | |
| Cas. I do not understand. | |
| Iago. He’s married. | |
| Cas. To who? | 64 |
| |
Re-enter OTHELLO. | |
| Iago. Marry, to—Come, captain, will you go? | |
| Oth. Have with you. | |
| Cas. Here comes another troop to seek for you. | 68 |
| Iago. It is Brabantio. General, be advis’d; | |
| He comes to bad intent. | |
| |
Enter BRABANTIO, RODERIGO, and Officers, with torches and weapons. | |
| Oth. Holla! stand there! | 72 |
| 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. | 76 |
| 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; | 80 |
| 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 | 84 |
| 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. | 88 |
| 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: I’ll have ’t disputed on; | 92 |
| ’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. | 96 |
| 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: | 100 |
| 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 | 104 |
| Of law and course of direct session | |
| Call thee to answer. | |
| Oth. What if I do obey? | |
| How may the duke be there with satisfied, | 108 |
| 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; | 112 |
| 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. | 116 |
| 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, | 120 |
| Bond-slaves and pagans shall our statesmen be. [Exeunt. | |