Othello | Page 5

not charms
By which the property
of youth and maidhood
May be abused? Have you not read, Roderigo,

Of some such thing?
RODERIGO.
Yes, sir, I have indeed.
BRABANTIO.
Call up my brother.--O, would you had had her!--

Some one way, some another.--Do you know
Where we may
apprehend her and the Moor?
RODERIGO.
I think I can discover 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
command at most.--Get weapons, ho!
And raise some special officers
of night.--
On, good Roderigo:--I'll deserve your pains.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE II. Venice. Another street.
[Enter Othello, Iago, and Attendants with torches.]
IAGO.
Though in the trade of war I have slain men,
Yet do I hold
it very stuff o' the conscience
To do no contriv'd murder: I lack
iniquity
Sometimes to do me service: nine or ten times
I had
thought to have yerk'd him here under the ribs.
OTHELLO.
'Tis better as it is.
IAGO.
Nay, but he prated,
And spoke such scurvy and provoking
terms
Against your honor,
That, with the little godliness I have,
I
did full hard forbear him. But, I pray you, sir,
Are you fast married?
Be assured of this,
That the magnifico is much beloved;
And hath,
in his effect, a voice potential
As double as the duke's: he will divorce
you;
Or put upon you what restraint and grievance
The law,--with

all his might to enforce it on,--
Will give him cable.
OTHELLO.
Let him do his spite:
My services which I have done
the signiory
Shall out-tongue his complaints. 'Tis yet to know,--

Which, when I know that boasting is an honor,
I shall promulgate,--I
fetch my life and being
From men of royal siege; and my demerits

May speak unbonneted to as proud a fortune
As this that I have
reach'd: for know, Iago,
But that I love the gentle Desdemona,
I
would not my unhoused free condition
Put into circumscription and
confine
For the sea's worth. But, look! what lights come yond?
IAGO.
Those are the raised father and his friends:
You were best
go in.
OTHELLO.
Not I; I must be found;
My parts, my title, and my
perfect soul
Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they?
IAGO.
By Janus, I think no.
[Enter Cassio and certain Officers with torches.]
OTHELLO.
The servants of the duke 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-haste appearance
Even on the instant.
OTHELLO.
What is the matter, think you?
CASSIO.
Something from Cyprus, as I may divine:
It is a business
of some heat: the galleys
Have sent a dozen sequent messengers

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.

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 he here?
IAGO.
Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land carack:
If it prove
lawful prize, he's made forever.
CASSIO.
I do not understand.
IAGO.
He's married.
CASSIO.
To who?
[Re-enter Othello.]
IAGO.
Marry, to--Come, captain, will you go?
OTHELLO.
Have with you.
CASSIO.
Here comes another troop to seek for you.
IAGO.
It is Brabantio.--General, be advis'd;
He comes to bad
intent.
[Enter Brabantio, Roderigo, and Officers with torches and
weapons.]
OTHELLO.
Holla! stand there!
RODERIGO.
Signior, it is the Moor.
BRABANTIO.
Down with him, thief!
[They draw on both sides.]

IAGO.
You, Roderigo! come, sir, I am for you.
OTHELLO.
Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust
them.--
Good signior, you shall more command with years
Than
with your weapons.
BRABANTIO.
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 magic 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 minerals

That weaken motion:--I'll have't 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.
OTHELLO.
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?
BRABANTIO.
To prison; till fit time
Of law and course of direct
session
Call thee to answer.
OTHELLO.
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?
FIRST OFFICER.

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