1 Sen. My letters say, a hundred and seven galleys. Duke. And mine, a hundred forty.

Indeed, they are disproportion'd;

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.

Duke. How say you by this change?
1 Sen.

This cannot be,

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

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.

The aim reports. Aim is used in the sense of conjecture.

Bra

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 they do re-stem Their backward course, bearing with frank appearance Their purposes towards Cyprus. Signior Montano, Your trusty and most valiant servitor,

With his free duty, recommends you thus,

And

prays you to believe him.

Duke. T is certain then for Cyprus. Marcus Luccicos, is not he in town? 1 Sen. He's now in Florence.

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

a Marcus Luccicos. Both the folio and the quarto give this proper name thus. Capell changed it to Marcus Lucchese, saying that such a termination as Luccicos is unknown in the Italian. But who is the duke inquiring after? Most probably a Greek soldier of Cyprus-an Estradiot-one who from his local knowledge was enabled to give him information. Is it necessary that the Greek should bear an Italian name? And does not the termination in cos better convey the notion which we believe the poet to have had?

Hath rais'd me from my bed; nor doth the general

care

Take hold on me; for my particular grief
Is of so flood-gate and o'erhearing 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.

Bra.

Dead?

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-

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 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 f [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. And little bless'd with the soft phrase of peace; Rude am I in my speech, For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith,

Till now some nine moons wasted,a they nave 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 patience, I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver

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, every thing,

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?

Oth.

I do beseech you,
Send for the lady to the Sagittary,
And let her speak of me before her father:

a He had been unemployed during nine months.
VOL. VIII.

J

If 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 breach;
Of being taken by the insolent foe

And sold to slavery; of my redemption thence,
And portance. In my traveller's history,a

(Wherein of antres vast and desarts idle,b

Rough quarries, rocks, and hills whose heads touch heaven,

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

The Anthropophagi, and men whose heads

Do grow beneath their shoulders. These things to hear Would Desdemona seriously incline;

But still the house affairs would draw her thence;

a Traveller's history. Othello modestly, and somewhat jocosely, calls his wonderful relations, a traveller's history. b Idle-sterile, barren.