Enter Brabantio, Rodorigo, with officers and torches.

Jago. It is Brabantio; General be advis'd,

He comes to bad intent.

Oth. Holla! ftand there.

Rod Signior, it is the Moor.

Bra. Down with him, thief.

[They draw on both fides.

Jago. You Rodorigo! come, Sir, I am for you

Oth. Keep up your bright fwords, for the dew will ruft 'em. Good fignior, you shall more command with years,

Than with your weapons.

Bra. O thou foul thief! where haft thou stow'd my daughter? Damn'd as thou art, thou haft enchanted her;

For I'll refer me to all things of fense,

If she in chains of magick were not bound,
Whether a maid, fo tender, fair, and happy,
So opposite to marriage, that she shunn'd
The wealthy curled darlings of our nation,
Would ever have, t'incur a general mock,
Run from her guardage to the footy bosom
Of such a thing as thou, to fear, not to delight?
Judge me the world, if 'tis not grofs in fenfe,
That thou haft practis'd on her with foul charms,
Abus'd her delicate youth, with drugs or minerals,
That weaken motion: I'll have't difputed on,
'Tis probable, and palpable to thinking;
I therefore apprehend and do attach thee,
For an abuser of the world, a practicer
Of arts inhibited and out of warrant;
Lay hold upon him; if he do resist
Sub due him at his peril.

The five following lines are not in the first edition.

Oth.

Oth. Hold your hands,

Both you of my inclining, and the reft.

Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it
Without a prompter. Where will you I go
To answer this your charge?

Bra. To prifon, 'till fit time

Of law, and course of direct feffion
Call thee to answer.

Oth. What if I obey?

How may the duke be therewith satisfied,
Whose messengers 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 self
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 such actions may have passage free,
Bond-flaves and pagans fhall our statesmen be.

SCENE VII.

The Senate house.

[Exeunt.

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

Duke.

TH

HERE is no composition in these news,
That gives them credit.

1 Sen. Indeed, they're difproportion'd;

My

My letters fay, a hundred and feven 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 these cases where they 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;
I do not fo fecure me in the error,

But the main article I do approve,
In fearful fense.

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

Offi. A meffenger from the gallies.
Duke. Now! ---- what's the business?

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 assay of reafon. 'Tis a pageant
To keep us in false 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 fertile question bear it,
For that it stands not in fuch warlike brace,

But altogether lacks th' abilities

That Rhodes is dress'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 ease and gain,
To wake and wage a danger profitless.

The 7 following lines are added fince the first edition.

Duke.

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-

1 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 trusty and most valiant servitor,

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, dispatch.

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

SCENE VIII.

To them, enter Brabantio, Othello, Caffio, Jago, Rodorigo, and Officers.

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

I did not see you; welcome, gentle fignior,

We lackt your counsel, and your help to-night.
Bra. So did I yours; good your grace pardon me,
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

She is abus'd, ftollen from me, and corrupted
By fpells and medicines, bought of mountebanks;
For nature so preposterously 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 her self,

And you of her, the bloody book of law

You fhall your felf read in the bitter letter,
After your own fenfe; though our proper fon

Stood in your

action.

Bra. Humbly I thank your grace,

Here is the man; this Moor, whom now it feems
Your special 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 so.

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 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 foft phrase of peace;

For fince these arms of mine had feven years pith,