May speak, unbonneted,' to as proud a fortune
As this that I have reached. For know, lago,
But that I love the gentle Desdemona,

I would not my unhoused, free condition
Put into circumscription and confine

For the sea's worth.3 But, look! what lights come yonder?

Enter CASSIO, at a distance, and certain Officers with

torches.

Iago. These are the raised father, and his friends. You were best go in.

Oth.

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.

Oth. The servants of the duke, and my lieutenant. The goodness of the night upon you, friends!

What is the news?

Cas.

And he requires your haste, post-haste* appearance,

The duke does greet you, general;

What is the matter, think you?

Even on the instant.

Oth.

Cas. 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,5 raised, and met,

Are at the duke's already. You have been hotly called for;

When, being not at your lodging to be found,

1 "I am his equal or superior in rank; and were it not so, such are my merits, that, unbonneted, without the addition of patrician or senatorial dignity, they may speak to as proud a fortune," &c.

2 i. e. unsettled, free from domestic cares.

3 Pliny, the naturalist, has a chapter on the riches of the sea. pression seems to have been proverbial.

The ex

4 These words were ordinarily written on the covers of letters or packets requiring the most prompt and speedy conveyance; often reduplicated thus:-" Haste, haste, haste, post-haste !”

5 See note 4, p. 400.

The senate hath sent about three several quests,1

To search you out.
Oth.

I will but spend a word here in the house,

And go with you.

Cas.

'Tis well I am found by you.

[Exit.

Ancient, what makes he here?

Iago. 'Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land

carrack; 2

If it prove lawful prize, he's made forever.

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 advised;" He comes to bad intent.

Oth.

Rod. Seignior, it is the Moor.

Bra.

3

Hola! stand there!

Down with him, thief! [They draw on both sides.

Iago. You, Roderigo! come, sir, I am for you. Oth. Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.

Good seignior, you shall more command with years, Than with your weapons.

Bra. O thou foul thief, where hast thou stowed my daughter?

Damned as thou art, thou hast enchanted her;

1 Quests are here put for messengers; properly it signified searchers. 2 A carrack, or carrick, was a ship of great burden, a Spanish galleon; so named from carico, a lading, or freight.

3 i. e. be cautious, be discreet.

1

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 shunned
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.2
[Judge me the world, if 'tis not gross in sense,3
That thou hast practised on her with foul charms;
Abused her delicate youth with drugs, or minerals,
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.

that I go,

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

Bra.

you

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 seignior,

1 It was the fashion of the Poet's time for lusty gallants to wear "a curled bush of frizzled hair." See Hall's Satires, ed. 1824, book iii. sat. 5.

2 "Of such a thing as thou; a thing to fear (i. e. terrify), not to delight."

3 The lines in crotchets are not in the first edition, 4to. 1622.

4 The old copy reads, "That weaken motion." The emendation is Hanmer's. Motion is elsewhere used by our Poet precisely in the sense required here. To waken is to incite, to stir up.

VOL. VII.

52

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,1 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 2 in these news, That gives them credit.

1 Sen.

Indeed, they are disproportioned;

My letters say a hundred and seven galleys.
Duke. And mine, a hundred and forty.

3

2 Sen. And mine, two hundred. But though they jump not on a just account, (As in these cases, where the aim 3 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!

1 Pagan was a word of contempt; and the reason will appear from its etymology:—“ Paganus, villanus vel inculsus; et derivatur a pagus quod est villa. Et quicunque habitat in villa est paganus. Præterea quicunque est extra civitatem Dei, i. e. ecclesiam, dicitur paganus; anglice, a paynim."-Ortus Vocabulorum, 1528.

2 Composition for consistency.

number by our ancestors.

News was considered of the plural

3 Aim is guess, conjecture. The quarto reads, "they aim reports." The meaning appears to be, "In these cases where conjecture tells the tale."

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 seignior Angelo.

Duke. How say you by this change?
1 Sen. This cannot be,

By no assay of reason; 1 '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,3

But altogether lacks the abilities

That Rhodes is dressed 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,

4

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 towards the isle 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 appearance Their purposes toward Cyprus.-Seignior Montano, Your trusty and most valiant servitor,

1 "Bring it to the test, it will be found counterfeit."

2 That he may carry it with less dispute.

3 i. e. in such state of defence. To arm was called to brace on the armor. The seven following lines were added since the first edition in quarto, 1622.

4 To wake is to undertake. To wage law (in the common acceptation) seems to be to follow, to urge, drive on, or prosecute the law or lawsuits.