Othello

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     For thus deluding you.BRABANTIO   Strike on the tinder¹⁵⁰, ho!

     Give me a taper¹⁵¹! Call up all my people!

     This accident¹⁵² is not unlike my dream:

     Belief of it oppresses me already.

     Light, I say, light!Exit [above]

IAGO   Farewell, for I must leave you:

     It seems not meet¹⁵⁶ nor wholesome to my place

     To be producted¹⁵⁷ — as, if I stay, I shall —

     Against the Moor, for I do know the state,

     However this may gall¹⁵⁹ him with some check,

     Cannot with safety cast¹⁶⁰ him, for he’s embarked

     With such loud reason¹⁶¹ to the Cyprus wars,

     Which even now stands in act¹⁶², that, for their souls,

     Another of his fathom¹⁶³ they have none,

     To lead their business: in which regard,

     Though I do hate him as I do hell-pains.

     Yet for necessity of present life¹⁶⁶

     I must show out a flag and sign¹⁶⁷ of love,

     Which is indeed but sign. That¹⁶⁸ you shall surely find him,

     Lead to the Sagittary¹⁶⁹ the raised search,

     And there will I be with him. So farewell.Exit

Enter Brabantio with Servants and torchesBRABANTIO   It is too true an evil: gone she is,

     And what’s to come of my despised time¹⁷²

     Is nought but bitterness. Now, Rodorigo,

     Where didst thou see her?— O, unhappy¹⁷⁴ girl!—

     With the Moor, say’st thou?— Who would be a father?—

     How didst thou know ’twas she?— O, she deceives me

     Past thought¹⁷⁷!— What said she to you?— Get more tapers:

     Raise all my kindred.— Are they married, think you?RODORIGO   Truly, I think they are.BRABANTIO   O heaven! How got she out? O treason of the blood¹⁸⁰!

     Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters’ minds

     By what you see them act. Is there not charms¹⁸²

     By which the property¹⁸³ of youth and maidhood

     May be abused? Have you not read, Rodorigo,

     Of some such thing?RODORIGO   Yes, sir, I have indeed.BRABANTIO   Call up my brother.—

     O, would you had had her!—To Rodorigo

     Some one way, some another.— Do you know

     Where we may apprehend her and the Moor?RODORIGO   I think I can discover¹⁹⁰ him, if you please

     To get good guard and go along with me.BRABANTIO   Pray you lead on. At every house I’ll call:

     I may command¹⁹³ at most.— Get weapons, ho!

     And raise some special officers of might.—

     On, good Rodorigo: I will deserve your pains¹⁹⁵.Exeunt

Act 1 Scene 2running scene 2

Location: Venice (outside the Sagittary)

Enter Othello, Iago, Attendants with torchesIAGO   Though in the trade¹ of war I have slain men,

     Yet do I hold it very stuff² o’th’conscience

     To do no contrived³ murder: I lack iniquity

     Sometime to do me service. Nine or ten times

     I had thought t’have yerked⁵ him here under the ribs.OTHELLO   ’Tis better as it is.IAGO   Nay, but he prated⁷

     And spoke such scurvy⁸ and provoking terms

     Against your honour

     That with the little godliness I have

     I did full hard forbear him¹¹. But I pray you, sir,

     Are you fast¹² married? Be assured of this,

     That the magnifico¹³ is much beloved,

     And hath in his effect¹⁴ a voice potential

     As double as the duke’s: he will divorce you,

     Or put upon you what¹⁶ restraint or grievance

     The law — with all his might to enforce it on —

     Will give him cable¹⁸.OTHELLO   Let him do his spite;

     My services which I have done the signiory²⁰

     Shall out-tongue his complaints. ’Tis yet to know²¹ —

     Which, when I know that boasting is an honour,

     I shall promulgate²³ — I fetch my life and being

     From men of royal siege²⁴, and my demerits

     May speak, unbonneted²⁵, to as proud a fortune

     As this that I have reached. For know, Iago,

     But that I love the gentle Desdemona,

     I would not my unhoused²⁸ free condition

     Put into circumscription and confine²⁹

     For the sea’s worth³⁰. But look, what lights come yond?

Enter Cassio [and Officers] with torchesIAGO   Those are the raised³¹ father and his friends:

     You were best go in.OTHELLO   Not I: I must be found.

     My parts³⁴, my title and my perfect soul

     Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they?IAGO   By Janus³⁶, I think no.OTHELLO   The servants of the duke’s? And my lieutenant?—

     The goodness of the night upon you, friends!

     What is the news?CASSIO   The duke does greet you, general,

     And he requires your haste-post-haste⁴¹ appearance

     Even on the instant.OTHELLO   What is the matter⁴³, think you?CASSIO   Something from Cyprus, as I may divine⁴⁴.

     It is a business of some heat⁴⁵: the galleys

     Have sent a dozen sequent⁴⁶ messengers

     This very night at one another’s heels,

     And many of the consuls, raised and met,

     Are at the duke’s already. You have been hotly called for:

     When, being not at your lodging to be found,

     The senate hath sent about three several quests⁵¹

     To search you out.OTHELLO   ’Tis well I am found by you.

     I will but spend a word here in the house

     And go with you.[Exit]

CASSIO   Ancient, what makes he⁵⁶ here?IAGO   Faith⁵⁷, he tonight hath boarded a land caract:

     If it prove lawful prize, he’s made for ever.CASSIO   I do not understand.IAGO   He’s married.CASSIO   To who?IAGO   Marry⁶², to—[Enter Othello     Come, captain, will you go?OTHELLO   Have with you⁶³.CASSIO   Here comes another troop to seek for you.Enter Brabantio, Rodorigo, with Officers and torches And weapons

IAGO   It is Brabantio. General, be advised⁶⁵:

     He comes to⁶⁶ bad intent.OTHELLO   Holla⁶⁷, stand there!RODORIGO   Signior, it is the Moor.BRABANTIO   Down with him, thief! They draw

IAGO   You, Rodorigo? Come, sir, I am for you.OTHELLO   Keep up⁷¹ your bright swords, for the dew will rust

     them.

     Good signior, you shall more command with years

     Than with your weapons.BRABANTIO   O thou foul⁷⁴ thief,

     Where hast thou stowed⁷⁵ my daughter?

     Damned as thou art, thou hast enchanted her,

     For I’ll refer me to⁷⁷ all things of sense —

     If she in chains of magic were not bound —

     Whether a maid so tender⁷⁹, fair and happy,

     So opposite⁸⁰ to marriage that she shunned

     The wealthy curled⁸¹ dearling of our nation,

     Would ever have — t’incur a general mock⁸² —

     Run from her guardage⁸³ to the sooty bosom

     Of such a thing as thou: to fear, not to delight.

     Judge me the world⁸⁵ if ’tis not gross in sense

     That thou hast practised on⁸⁶ her with foul charms,

     Abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals⁸⁷

     That weakens motion⁸⁸: I’ll have’t disputed on:

     ’Tis probable and palpable to