This very night at one another's heels;
And many of the consuls, rais'd, and met,
Are at the duke's already: You have been hotly
call'd for;

When, being not at your lodging to be found,
The senate hath sent about three several quests,
To search you out.

Oth.
'Tis well I am found by you.
I will but spend a word here in the house,
And go with you.

[Exit.
Cas.
Ancient, what makes he here?
Iago. 'Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land

carráck;

If it prove lawful prize, he's made for ever.
Cas. I do not understand.

Iago.

Cas.

He's married.

To who?

Re-enter OTHELLO.

Iago. Marry, to-Come, captain, will you go?

Oth.

Have with you. Cas. Here comes another troop to seek for you. Enter BRABANTIO, RODERIGO, and Officers of Night, with Torches and Weapons. Iago. It is Brabantio:-general, be advis'd; He comes to bad intent.

Oth.

Hola! stand there!

Rod. Signior, it is the Moor.
Bra.

Iago. You, Roderigo!

Down with him, thief!

[They draw on both sides. come, sir, I am for you.

Oth. Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.

Good signior, you shall more command with

years,

Than with your weapons.

Bra. O thou foul thief, where hast thou stow'd my daughter?

Damn'd as thou art, thou hast enchanted her: For I'll refer me to all things of sense,

If she in chains of magick were not bound, Whether a maid-so tender, fair, and happy; So opposite to marriage, that she shunn'd The wealthy curled darlings of our nation, Would ever have, to incur a general mock, Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom

Of such a thing as thou: to fear, not to delight.
Judge me the world, if 'tis not gross in sense,
That thou hast practis'd on her with foul charms,
Abus'd her delicate youth with drugs, or mine-
rals,

That waken motion:-I'll have it disputed on
'Tis probable, and palpable to thinking.
I therefore apprehend and do attach thee,
For an abuser of the world, a practiser
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 should have known it Without a prompter.-Where will you that I go To answer this your charge?

Bra.

To prison till fit time
Of law, and course of direct session,
Call thee to answer.

Oth.
What if I do obey ?
How may the duke be therewith satisfied;
Whose messengers are here about my side,
Upon some present business of the state,
To bring me to him?

Off.

'Tis true, most worthy signior, The duke's in council; and your noble self, I am sure, is sent for.

Bra. How! the duke in council! In this time of the night!-Bring him away: Mine's not an idle cause: 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-slaves, and pagans, shall our statesmen be. [Exeunt.

SCENE III. The same. A Council Chamber. The Duke, and Senators, sitting at a Table; Officers attending.

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

1 Sen. Indeed, they are disproportion'd; My letters say, a hundred and seven galleys. 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 the aim reports, 'Tis 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 ho! what ho! what ho! Enter an Officer, with a Sailor.

Off. A messenger from the galleys.

Duke.

Now? the business?

Sailor. 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; 'tis 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.
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 isles 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 do they restem

Their backward course, bearing with frank ap

pearance

Their purposes toward Cyprus.-Signior Montano,

Your trusty and most valiant servitor,

With bis free duty recommends you thus,
And prays you to believe him.

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

Duke. Write from us; wish him post-posthaste 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 BRABANTIO. 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, 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'erbearing 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 properson 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.

Duke & Sen.

to this?

We are very sorry for it.

[To OTHELLO.

Duke. What, in your own part, can you say

Bra. Nothing, but this is so.

Oth. Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, My very noble and approved 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 bless'd with the set phrase of peace; For since these arms of mine had seven years'

pith,

Till now some nine moons wasted, they have us'd

Their dearest action in the tented field;

And little of this great world can I speak,
More than pertains to feats of broil 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 magick (For such proceeding I am charg'd withal), I won his daughter with.

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,