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THE MOOR OF VENICE

Act I. Sc. ii.

And what's to come of my despised time
Is nought but bitterness. Now, Roderigo,
Where didst thou see her? O unhappy girl!
With the Moor, say'st thou? Who would be a father!
How didst thou know 'twas she? O, she deceives me
Past thought! What said she to you? Get more tapers.
Raise all my kindred. Are they married, think you ?
Rod. Truly, I think they are.

Bra. O heaven! How got she out? O treason of the
blood!
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Rod.

Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters' minds
By what you see them act. Is there not charms
By which the property of youth and maidhood
May be abused? Have you not read, Roderigo,
Of some such thing?

Yes, sir, I have indeed.

Bra. 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?

180

Rod. I think I can discover him, if you please
To get good guard and go along with me.
Bra. 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.

Another street.

Enter Othello, Iago, and Attendants with torches. lago. Though in the trade of war I have slain men, Yet do I hold it very stuff o' the conscience

Act I. Sc. ii.

TRAGEDY OF OTI

To do no contrived murder: I lack iniquity Sometimes to do me service: nine or ten tin I had thought to have yerk'd him here 1 ribs. Oth. 'Tis better as it is.

Iago.

Oth.

Nay, but he prated

And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms
Against your honour,

That, with the little godliness I have,

I did full hard forbear him. But I pray you
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 yo
Or put upon you what restraint and grievanc
The law, with all his might to enforce it on.
Will give him cable.

Let him do his spite:
My services, which I have done the signiory
Shall out-tongue his complaints. 'Tis yet to
Which, when I know that boasting is an hor
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 a circumscription and confine

For the sea's worth. But, look! what lig
yond?

Iago. Those are the raised father and his friends: You were best go in.

Oth.

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Not I; I must be found:

My parts, my title and my perfect soul,
Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they?

lago. By Janus, I think no.

Cas.

Enter Cassio, and certain Officers with torches.
Oth. The servants of the duke, and my lieutenant.
The goodness of the night upon you, friends!
What is the news?
The duke does greet you, general,
And he requires your haste-post-haste appearance,
Even on the instant.
What is the matter, think you ?
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, raised and met,

Oth.

Oth.

40

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.

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

Cas.
Ancient, what makes he here?
lago. Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land carack :
If it prove lawful prize, he's made for ever.

[Exit.

50

Cas. I do not understand.

Iago.

He's married.

Cas.

To who?

Act I. Sc. ii.

TRAGEDY OF OTH

Re-enter Othello.

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

Have w

Cas. Here comes another troop to seek for you.
Iago. It is Brabantio: general, be advised;

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

them.

Good signior, you shall more command with y
Than with your weapons.

Bra. O thou foul thief, where hast thou stov 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 practised on her with foul char
Abused her delicate youth with drugs or mine

th you.

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.

80

es

Oth.

Hold your hands,

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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?

Of law and course of direct session

To prison, till fit time

1 rust

Call thee to answer.

Oth.

What if I do obey?

ars 60

my

70

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 Off.

Bra.

90

'Tis true, most worthy signior;

The duke's in council, and your noble self,
I am sure, is sent for.

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.

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