But not intentively: I did consent;

And often did beguile her of her tears,

When I did speak of some distressful stroke
That my youth suffer'd. My story being done,
She gave me for my pains a world of sighs:

480

She swore,-In faith, 'twas strange, 'twas passing strange;

'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful :

She wish'd she had not heard it; yet she wish'd
That heaven had made her such a man: she thank'd

me;

490

And bade me, if I had a friend that lov'd her,
I should but teach him how to tell my story,
And that would woo her. Upon this hint, I spake :
She lov'd me for the dangers I had past;

And I lov'd her, that she did pity them.

This only is the witchcraft I have us'd;

Here comes the lady, let her witness it.

Enter DESDEMONA, IAGO, and Attendants.

Duke. I think this tale would win my daughter

too

Good Brabantio.

Take up this mangled matter at the best:
Men do their broken weapons rather use,
Than their bare hands.

Bra. I pray you, hear her speak;

500

If she confess, that she was half the wooer,
Destruction on my head, if my bad blame
Light on the man!-Come hither, gentle mistress;

Da

Do you perceive in all this noble company,
Where most you owe obedience ?

Des. My noble father,

I do perceive here a divided duty:

To you I am bound for life, and education;

My life, and education, both do learn me

510

How to respect you; you are the lord of duty,

I am hitherto your daughter: But here's my husband; And so much duty as my mother shew'd

To you, preferring you before her father,
So much I challenge that I may profess
Due to the Moor, my lord.

Bra. God be with you!-I have done :-
Please it your grace, on to the state affairs;
I had rather to adopt a child, than get it.-
Come hither, Moor;

I here do give thee that with all my heart,
Which, but thou hast already, with all my heart
I would keep from thee.-For your sake, jewel,
I am glad at soul I have no other child;

For thy escape would teach me tyranny,

520

To hang clogs on them.-I have done, my lord. Duke. Let me speak like yourself; and lay a sen

tence,

Which, as a grize, or step, may help these lovers
Into your favour.

When remedies are past, the griefs are ended,

530

By seeing the worst, which late on hopes depended, To mourn a mischief that is past and gone,

Is the next way to draw new mischief on.

What cannot be preserv'd when fortune takes,
Patience her injury a mockery makes.

The robb'd, that smiles, steals something from the thief;

540

He robs himself, that spends a bootless grief.
Bra. So let the Turk, of Cyprus us beguile;
We lose it not, so long as we can smile.
He bears the sentence well, that nothing bears
But the free comfort which from thence he hears:
But he bears both the sentence and the sorrow,
That, to pay grief, must of poor patience borrow.
These sentences, to sugar, or to gall,

Being strong on both sides, are equivocal :
But words are words; I never yet did hear,
546
That the bruis'd heart was pierced through the ear.
I humbly beseech you, proceed to the affairs of state.

Duke. The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for Cyprus :-Othello, the fortitude of the place is best known to you: And though we have there a substitute of most allow'd sufficiency, yet opinion, a sovereign mistress of effects, throws a more safe voice on you: you must therefore be content to slubber the gloss of your new fortunes, with this more stubborn and boisterous expedition.

Oth. The tyrant custom, most grave senators, Hath made the flinty and steel couch of war

My thrice-driven bed of down: I do agnize

A natural and prompt alacrity,

I find in hardness; and do undertake
This present war against the Ottomites.

560

Most

Most humbly therefore bending to your state,
I crave fit disposition for my wife;
Due reference of place, and exhibition;
With such accommodation, and besort,
As levels with her breeding.

Duke. If you please,

Be't at her father's.

Bra. I will not have it so.

Oth. Nor I.

Des. Nor I; I would not there reside,
To put my father in impatient thoughts,
By being in his eye. Most gracious duke,
To my unfolding lend a gracious ear:
And let me find a charter in your voice,
To assist my simpleness.

Duke. What would you, Desdemona ?

5.70

Des. That I did love the Moor to live with him, My down-right violence and storm of fortunes 580 May trumpet to the world; my heart's subdu'd Even to the very quality of

my

lord: I saw Othello's visage in his mind;

And to his honours, and his valiant parts,
Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate.
So that, dear lords, if I be left behind,

A moth of peace, and he go to the war,

The rites, for which I love him, are bereft me,
And I a heavy interim shall support

By his dear absence: Let me go with him.

590

Oth. Your voices, lords :-I do beseech you, let Her will have a free way.

Vouch with me, heaven, I therefore beg it not,
To please the palate of my appetite;

Nor to comply with heat (the young effects,
In me defunct) and proper satisfaction;
But to be free and bounteous to her mind:

And heaven defend your good souls, that you think
I will your serious and great business scant,

For she is with me: No, when light-wing'd toys 600
Of feather'd Cupid, feel with wanton dulness
My speculative and active instruments,

That my disports corrupt and taint my business,
Let housewives make a skillet of my helm,
And all indign and base adversities

Make head against my estimation!

Duke. Be it as you shall privately determine,

Either for her stay, or going: the affair cries-haste, And speed must answer it; you must hence to-night.

Des. To-night, my lord!

610

Duke. This night.

Oth. With all my heart.

Duke. At nine i' the morning here we'll meet again.

Othello, leave some officer behind,

And he shall our commission bring to you;

And such things else of quality and respect,

As doth import you.

Oth. Please your grace, my ancient ;

A man he is of honesty, and trust:

To his conveyance I assign my wife,

620

With what else needful your good grace shall think

To be sent after me.

Duke.