Of fuch a thing as thou, to fear, not to delight?
Judge me the world, if 'tis not grofs in sense,
That thou haft practis'd on her with foul charms,
Abus'd her delicate youth with drugs or minerals,
Thatwaken motion: I'll have't difputed on,
'Tis probable, and palpable to thinking;
I therefore apprehend and do attach thee,
For an abufer of the world, a practicer
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 fhould have known ic
Without a prompter. Where will you I go
To answer this your charge?

Bra. To prifon, 'till

Fit time of law, and courfe of direct feffion
Call thee to answer.

Oth. What if I obey?

How may the Duke be therewith fatisfied,
Whose meffengers are here about my fide,
Upon fome present business of the state,
To bring me to him?

Offi. True, moft worthy fignior,

The Duke's in council, and your noble felf
I'm fure is fent for.

Bra. How! the Duke in council?

In this time of the night? bring him away;
Mine's not an idle caufe. The Duke himself,
Or any of my brothers of the state,

Cannot but feel this wrong, as 'twere their own;

For if fuch actions may have paffage free,

Bond-flaves and pagans fhall our statesmen be. [Exeunt.

3 weaken

SCENE

Duke and Senators, fet at a table with lights and
Attendants.

Duke. THERE is no compofition in these news,
That gives them credit.

1 Sen. Indeed, they're difproportion'd;
My letters fay, 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 thefe cafes where the aim reports,
'Tis oft with diff'rence,) yet they all confirm
A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus.
Duke. Nay, it is poffible enough to judgment;
1 do not fo fecure me in the error,

But the main article I do approve,

In fearful fense.

Sailor within.] What hoa! what hoa! what hoa!
Enter Sailor.

Offi. A meffenger from the gallies.
Duke. Now! what's the bufinefs?
Sail. The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes,
So was I bid report here to the state.
Duke. How fay you by this change?

1 Sen. This cannot be,

By no affay of reafon. 'Tis a pageant
To keep us in falfe gaze; when we confider
Th' importancy of Cyprus to the Turk,
And let our felves again but understand,
That as it more concerns the Turk than Rhodes,
So may he with more facile question bear it,
VOL. VI.

F f

For

For that it ftands not in fuch warlike brace,
But altogether lacks th' abilities

That Rhodes is drefs'd in. If we make thought of this,
We must not think the Turk is fo unskilful,

To leave that latest, which concerns him first,
Neglecting an attempt of eafe and gain,

To wake and wage a danger profitless.

Duke. Nay, in all confidence he's not for Rhodes.
Offi. Here is more news.

Enter a Messenger.

Mef. The Ottomites, (reverend and gracious,) Steering with due course toward the ifle of Rhodes, Have there injoin'd them with an after-fleet

I Sen. Ay, fo I thought; how many, as you guess? Mef. Of thirty fail; and now they do re-stem Their backward courfe, bearing with frank appearance Their purposes toward Cyprus. Signior Montano, Your trufty and moft valiant fervitor,

With his free duty, recommends you thus,

And prays you to believe him.

Duke. 'Tis certain then for Cyprus :
Marcus Luccicos, is he not in town?
I Sen. He's now in Florence.
Duke. Write from us, to him.
Post-hafte, difpatch.

I Sen. Here comes Brabantio, and the valiant Moor.

To them, Enter Brabantio, Othello, Caffio, Iago, Rodorigo, and Officers.

Duke. Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you, Against the general enemy Ottoman.

I did not fee you; welcome, gentle fignior, [To Brabantio. We lackt your counfel, and your help to-night.

Bra. So did I yours; good your Grace pardon me,

Neither

Neither my place, nor ought 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 fo flood-gate and o'er-bearing nature,
That it ingluts and swallows other forrows,
And yet is ftill it self.

Duke. Why? what's the matter?

Bra. My daughter! oh my daughter! -
Sen. Dead?

Bra. To me;

She is abus'd, ftolen from me, and corrupted
By fpells and medicines bought of mountebanks;
For nature fo prepofterously to err,

(Being not deficient, blind, or lame of fenfe,)
Sans witchcraft could not

Duke. Who-e'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 your felf read in the bitter letter,

After your own fenfe; yea, though our proper fon
Stood in your action.

Bra. Humbly I thank your Grace.

Here is the man, this Moor, whom now it seems
Your fpecial mandate, for the state-affairs,

Hath hither brought.

All, We're very forry for't.

Duke. What in your own part can you fay to this?
Bra. Nothing, but this is fo.

Oth. Moft potent, grave and reverend figniors,

My very noble and approv'd good masters;
That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter,
It is moft true; true, I have married her;
The very head and front of my offending
Hath this extent; no more. Rude am I in my fpeech,
And little blefs'd with the foft phrase of peace;
For fince these arms of mine had feven years pith,
'Till now fome nine moons wafted, they have us'd
Their deareft action in the tented field;

Ff2

And

And little of this great world can I speak,
More than pertains to feats of broils and battel;
And therefore little fhall I grace my cause,

In fpeaking for my felf. Yet, by your patience,
I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver,

Of my whole courfe of love; what drugs, what charms,
What conjuration, and what mighty magick,

(For fuch proceeding I am charg'd withal,)

I won his daughter with.

Bra. A maiden, never bold;

Of spirit fo ftill and quiet, that her motion
Blufh'd at it felf; and the, in fpight of nature,
Of years, of country, credit, every thing,
To fall in love with what fhe fear'd to look on
It is a judgment maim'd and moft imperfect,
That will confefs + 'affection fo could err

4

Against all rules of nature; and must be driven
To find out practices of cunning hell,

Why this fhould be. I therefore vouch again,
That with fome mixtures powerful o'er the blood,
Or with fome dram, conjur'd to this effect,
He wrought upon her.

Duke. To vouch this, is no proof,

Without more certain and more overt teft,
Than these thin habits and poor likelyhoods
Of modern feeming do prefer against him.
I Sen. 'Othello, fpeak,

Did you by indirect and forced courfes

Subdue and poifon this young maid's affections?
Or came it by request, and fuch fair question
As foul to foul affordeth?

Oth. I befeech you,

Send, for the Lady, to the Sagittary,
And let her speak of me before her father;
If you do find me foul in her report,
The truft, the office, I do hold of you,
Not only take away, but let your fentence

Even

5 But, Othello,