I know my price, I am worth no worse a place :
But he, as loving his own pride and purposes,
Evades them; with a bombast circumstance,
Horribly stuff'd with epithets of war,

Nonsuits my mediators. For, certes, says he,
I have already chose my officer.
And what was he?

Forsooth, a great arithmetician,
One Michael Cassio, a Florentine,
A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife,
That never set a squadron in the field,
Nor the division of a battle knows

More than a spinster; unless the bookish theorick,
Wherein the tongued consuls can propose
As masterly as he mere prattle without practice,
Is all his soldiership. But he, sir, had the election :
And I,-of whom his eyes had seen the proof
At Rhodes, at Cyprus, and on other grounds
Christen'd and heathen,-must be be-lee'd and
calm'd

By debitor and creditor: this counter-caster,
He, in good time, must his lieutenant be,
And I,-bless the mark! his Moor-ship's ancient.
Rod. By heaven, I rather would have been his
hangman.

Iago. Why, there's no remedy, 't is the curse of Preferment goes by letter and affection,

[service;

And not by old gradation, where each second
Stood heir to the first. Now, sir, be judge yourself,
Whether I in any just term am affin'd

To love the Moor.

Rod. I would not follow him then.
Iago. O sir, content you;

I follow him to serve my turn upon him :
We cannot all be masters, nor all masters
Cannot be truly follow'd. You shall mark
Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave,
That, doting on his own obsequious bondage,
Wears out his time, much like his master's ass,
For nought but provender; and when he's old,

cashier'd;

Whip me such honest knaves: Others there are
Who, trimm'd in forms and visages of duty,
Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves;
And, throwing but shows of service on their lords,
Do well thrive by them, and, when they have lin'd
their coats,
[soul;

Do themselves homage: these fellows have some
And such a one do I profess myself. For, sir,
It is as sure as you are Roderigo,
Were I the Moor, I would not be lago.
In following him I follow but myself;
Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,
But seeming so, for my peculiar end :

For when my outward action doth demonstrate
The native act and figure of my heart
In compliment extern, 't is not long after
But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve
For daws to peck at: I am not what I am.

Rod. What a fall Fortune does the Thicklips owe,
If he can carry 't thus ! Iago. Call up her father,
Rouse him make after him, poison his delight,
Proclaim him in the streets; incense her kinsmen,
And, though he in a fertile climate dwell,
Plague him with flies: though that his joy be joy,
Yet throw such chances of vexation on 't,
As it may lose some colour.

Rod. Here is her father's house; I'll call aloud. Iago. Do; with like timorous accent, and dire yell, As when (by night and negligence) the fire Is spied in populous cities.

Bra. What tell'st thou me of robbing? this is My house is not a grange.

Rod.

[Venice;

Most grave Brabantio, In simple and pure soul I come to you.

Iago. 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 covered with a Barbary horse : you'll have your nephews neigh to you: you'll have coursers for cousins, and gennets for germans. Bra. What profane wretch art thou?

Iago. I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are making the beast with two backs. Bra. Thou art a villain.

Iago. You are a senator. Bra. This thou shalt answer. I know thee, Roderigo. Rod. Sir, I will answer anything. But I beseech If it be your pleasure and most wise consent, [you, (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 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 wheeling stranger,

Of here and everywhere: 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, hoa!
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!
[Exit from above.
Iago.
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,
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 show out a flag and sign of love,
Which is indeed but sign. That you shall surely find
Lead to the Sagittary the raised search; [him,
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,
Where didst thou see her?-O, unhappy girl!-
With the Moor say'st thou ?-Who would be a
father?-

[me How didst thou know't was she?-O, she deceives Past thought!-What said she to you?-Get more tapers;

Raise all my kindred.-Are they married, think Rod. Truly, I think they are. [you?

Bra. O heaven!-How got she out?-O treason of the blood!

Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters' minds
By what you see them act.-Are there not charms
By which the property of youth and maidhood
May be abus'd? Have you not read, Roderigo,
Of some such thing?

Yes, sir; I have indeed.

Rod.
Bra. Call up my brother.-O, would you had
had her!--

Some one way, some another.-Do you know
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, hoa!
And raise some special officers of night.-
On, good Roderigo. I will deserve your pains.

SCENE II.-The same.

[Exeunt.

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
Sometime to do me service: Nine or ten times

I had thought to have yerk'd him here under the
Oth. 'T is better as it is.
[ribs.
lago.

Nay, but he prated, And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms Against your honour,

That, with the little godliness I have,

I di tull 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,
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. Oth. Let him do his spite:
My services, which I have done the signiory,
Shall out-tongue his complaints. T is 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,

[yond?

I would not my unhoused free condition
Put into circumscription and confine
For the sea's worth. But, look! what lights come
Enter Cassio, at a distance, and certain Officers
with torches.

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,
Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they?

Iago. By Janus, I think no.

Oth. 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.

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.

'T is well I am found by you. 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 landIf it prove lawful prize he's made for ever. [carack; Cas. I do not understand. Iago. He's married. Cas. To who?

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 dearling 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 't is 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 it disputed on;
'T is 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. 'T is 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,

SCENE III.-The same. A Council Chamber. The Duke, and Senators, sitting; Officers attending.

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

I Sen.

Indeed, they are disproportion'd; My letters say, a hundred and seven galleys. Duke. And mine, a hundred forty.

2 Sen. And mine, two hundred : But though they jump not on a just account, (As in these cases where the aim reports,

'T is 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 hoa! what hoa! what hoa! Enter Sailor.

Off. A messenger from the galleys. Duke. Now? the business? Sail. The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes ! So was I bid report here to the state, By signior Angelo.

This cannot be,

Duke. How say you by this change? I Sen. By no assay of reason; 't is 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 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

[this,
That Rhodes is dress'd in: if we make thought of
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.

Duke. Write from us to him, post-post-haste, deI 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.

[care

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
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.
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 sense,
Sans witchcraft could not-

Why, what's the matter?

Duke. Whoe'er he be, that in his 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. All.

We are very sorry for 't.

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 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 broils and battle ;
And therefore little shall I grace my cause,

In speaking for myself: Yet, by your gracious
I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver [patience,
Of my whole course of love: what drugs, what
charms,

What conjuration, and what mighty magic,
(For such proceeding I am charg'd withal,)

I won his daughter. 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, everything,
To fall in love with what she fear'd to look on?
It is a judgment maim'd, and most imperfect,
That will confess, perfection so could err
Against all rules of nature; and must be driven
To find out practices of cunning hell,
Why this should be. I therefore vouch again,
That with some mixtures powerful o'er the blood,
Or with some dram conjur❜d to this effect,
He wrought upon her.

Duke.

To vouch this is no proof;
Without more wider and more overt test,
Than these thin habits, and poor likelihoods
Of modern seeming, do prefer against him.
1 Sen. But, Othello, speak :

Did you by indirect and forced courses
Subdue and poison this young maid's affections?
Or came it by request, and such fair question
As soul to soul affordeth?

If

Oth.

I do beseech you,

Send for the lady to the Sagittary,
And let her speak of me before her father:
you do find me foul in her report,
The trust, the office, I do hold of you,
Not only take away, but let your sentence
Even fall upon my life.

Duke.

Fetch Desdemona hither.

Oth. Ancient, conduct them: you best know the place. [Exeunt Iago and Attendants.

And, till she come, as truly as to heaven

I do confess the vices of my blood,
So justly to your grave ears I'll present
How I did thrive in this fair lady's love,
And she in mine.

Duke. Say it, Othello.

Oth. Her father lov'd me; oft invited me;
Still question'd me the story of my life,
From year to year; the battles, sieges, fortune,
That I have pass'd.

I ran it through, even from my boyish days,
To the very moment that he bade me tell it.
Wherein I spoke of most disastrous chances;
Of moving accidents by flood and field;
Of hair-breadth 'scapes i' the imminent deadly
Of being taken by the insolent foe
[breach;
And sold to slavery; of my redemption thence,
And portance. In my traveller's history,
(Wherein of antres vast, and deserts idle,
Rough quarries, rocks, and hills whose heads touch

heaven,

It was my hint to speak,) such was my process ;And of the Cannibals that each other eat,