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 practis'd on her with foul charms;
Abus'd her delicate youth with drugs, or minerals,
That waken motion: I'll have it 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. To prison; till fit time

Of law, and course of direct session,
Call thee to answer.

Oth. 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?

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.

The same. A Council- Chamber.

The Duke, and Senators, sitting at a tables Officers attending.

Duke, There is no composition in these news, That gives them credit.

1. Sen. Indeed, they are disproportion'd;
My letters say, 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 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 judgement; 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!

Enter an Officer with a Sailor.

Off. A messenger from the gallies.

Duke. Now? 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? 1. Sen. This cannot be,

By no assay of reason; 'tis a pageant,

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 inore concerus the Turk than Rhodes,
So may he with more facile question hear 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
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. 1. Sen. Ay, so I thought: How many, as you

guess?

Mess. Of thirty sail: and now do they re-stem Their backward course, bearing with frank appear

ance

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

With his free duty, recommends you thus,

And prays you to believe him.

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

1. Sen. He's now in Florence.

Duke. Write from us; wish him post-posthaste despatch.

1. 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, par→

don me;

Neither my place, nor aught I heard of business, Hath rais'd me from my bed; nor doth the gene

ral care

Take hold on me; for my particular grief-
Is of so flood-gate and o'er-bearing 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!
Sen. Dead?

Bra. 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

Sans witchcraft could not

sense,

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

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 it.
Duke. What, in your own part, can you say to
this? [TO OTHELLO.

Bra. Nothing, but this is so.

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 L in my speech,

And little bless'd with the set 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,

A

What conjuration, and what mighty magick,
(For such 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
Blush'd at herself; And she,

in spite of nature,

Of years, of country, credit, every thing,
To fall in love with what she fear'd to look on?

VOL. XX.

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