Enter, below, BRABANTIO, and Servants with torches. Bra. It is too true an evil: gone she is, With the Moor, say'st thou?-Who would be a father?-- Raise all my kindred.-Are they married, think you? Rod. Truly, I think they are. Bra. O heaven!-How got she out?-O treason of the blood! Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters' minds Rod. Yes, sir; I have indeed. Bra. Call up my brother.-O, would you had had her! Some one way, some another.-Do you know Bra. Pray you, lead on. At every house I'll call ; On, good Roderigo. I will deserve your pains. [Ex. SCENE II.--The same. Another Strcet. 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, а Stuff-matter, material. The stuff of the conscience is the very substance of the conscience. To do no contriv'd murder: I lack iniquity I had thought to have yerk'd him here under the ribs. Oth. 'T is better as it is. Iago. Nay, but he prated, And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms That, with the little godliness I have, I did full hard forbear him. But, I pray you, sir, And hath, in his effect, a voice potential, 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,b to as proud a fortune As this that I have reach'd: For know, Iago, But that I love the gentle Desdemona, I would not my unhoused free condition Put into circumscription and confine a Siege. A siege royal was a throne, an elevated seat. b Unbonneted. Theobald says, to speak unbonneted is to speak with the cap off, which is directly opposed to the poet's meaning. Mr. Fuseli suggested an ingenious explanation, that as at Venice the cap or bonnet constituted an important distinc tion, so the demerits of Othello_might speak for themselves without any extrinsic honours. Demerits is used in the sense of merits; mereo and demereo being synonymous in Latin. e Johnson explains unhoused-free from domestic cares. It appears to us that Othello simply uses unhoused for unmarried. The husband is the head or band of the house-the unmarried is the unhouse-banded-the unhoused. For the sea's worth. But, look! what lights come yond? 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? Oth. The servants of the duke; and my lieutenant. The goodness of the night upon you, friends! What is the news? Cas. And he requires your haste-post-haste appearance, Oth. The duke does greet you, general; What is the matter, think you? Cas. Something from Cyprus, as I may divine: 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, Oth. "T is well I am found by you. Cas. [Exit. Ancient, what makes he here? Iago. 'Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land carack;b If it prove lawful prize he 's made for ever a Consuls. In the first scene we have "the tongued consuls;" doubtless the senators are meant in both passages. b Carack. A vessel of heavy burden. Iago. Marry, to-Come, captain, will you go? Enter BRABANTIO, RODERIGO, and Officers with torches. Iago. It is Brabantio :—general, be advis'd; He comes to bad intent. Oth. Rod. Signior, it is the Moor. Bra. Hola! stand there! 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. Good signior, you shall more command with years Bra. O thou foul thief, where hast thou stow'd my daughter? Damn'd as thou art, thou hast enchanted her: a Dearling, the old Saxon word in a plural sense. To fear. Brabantio calls Othello a thing to terrify, not to delight. Abus'd her delicate youth with drugs, or minerals, Oth. Hold your hands, Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it 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; off. The duke 's in council; and your noble self, Bra. T is true, most worthy signior, How! the duke in council? In this time of the night?-Bring him away: Cannot but feel this wrong as 't were their own: [Ex. SCENE III.-The same. A Council Chamber. The DUKE, and Senators, sitting; Officers attending. |