We must not think the Turk is fo unfkilful, Duke. Nay, in all confidence he's not for Rhodes. Enter a Messenger. Meff. The Ottomites, (reverend and gracious,) Steering with due courfe toward the Isle of Rhodes, Have there injoin'd them with an after-fleet 1 Sen. Ay, fo I thought; how many, as you guefs? Me. Of thirty fail; and now they do re-stem Their backward courfe, bearing with frank appearance Their purposes toward Cyprus. Signior Montano, Your trufly and moft valiant Servitor, With his free duty, recommends you thus, Duke. 'Tis certain then for Cyprus: Marcus Luccicos, Is he not here in town? 1 Sen. He's now in Florence. [patch. Duke. Write from us, to him, poft, poft-hafte, dif. 1 Sen. Here comes Brabantio, and the valiant Moor. To them, Enter Brabantio, Othello, Caffio, Iago, Rodorigo, and Officers. Duke. VALIANT Othello, we muft ftraight employ you, Against the general enemy Ottoman. I did not fee you; welcome, gentle fignior: To Braban. We lack'd your counsel, and your help to-night. Is of fo flood-gate and o'er-bearing nature, Duke. Why? what's the matter? Bra. My daughter! oh, my daughter! Bra. To me ; She is abus'd, ftolen from me, and corrupted (Being not deficient, blind, or lame of 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 fhall yourself read in the bitter letter, After your own fenfe; 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, All. We're very forry for't. Duke. What in your own part can you say to this? Bra. Nothing, but this is fo. To Othel. Oth. Moft potent, grave, and reverend figniors, My very noble and approv'd good mafters; 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 blefs'd with the fet phrase of peace; For fince these arms of mine had seven years' Pith, 'Till now, fome nine moons wafted, they have us'd Their deareft 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 fhall I grace my caufe, Of my whole course of love; what drugs, whatcharms, Bra. A maiden, never bold; Of fpirit fo ftill and quiet, that her motion Why this fhould be. I therefore vouch again, Duke. To vouch this, is no proof, Without more certain and more overt teft, Did you by indirect and forced courfes Subdue and poison this young maid's affections? Oth. I befcech you, Send for the lady to the Sagittary, And let her speak of me before her father; you The Truft, the Office, I do hold of you, Duke. Fetch Defdemona hither. [Exeunt two or three. Oth. Oth. Ancient, conduct them, you beft know the place. Duke. Say it, Othello. [Exit Iago. Oth. Her father lov'd me, oft invited me; I ran it through, e'en from my boyish days, Of hair-breadth spaces in th' imminent deadly breach; And fold to flavery; of my redemption thence, Wherein of antres vaft, and deserts idle, [heav'n, Rough quarries, rocks, and hills, whofe heads touch *It was my hent to speak; fuch was the process; And of the Canibals that each other cat, The Anthropophagi; and men whofe heads. Would Desdemona ferioufly incline; All these to hear But fill the houfe-affairs would draw her thence, It was my hint to speak ;] This implies it as done by a Trap laid for her: But the old Quarto reads hent, i, e. ufe, cuftom. When When I did speak of some distressful firoke She wifh'd, fhe had not heard it; yet fhe wish'd, That heav'n had made her fuch a man: And bad me, if I had a friend that lov'd her, fhe Duke. Enter Desdemona, Iago, and Attendants. Take up this mangled matter at the best. Bra. I pray you, hear her speak; If fhe confefs that he was half the wooer, Def. My noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty; Το you I'm bound for life and education: My life and education both do learn me How to respect you. You're the lord of duty; I'm hitherto your daughter. But here's my husband; And fo much duty as my mother fhew'd To you, preferring you before her father; So |