Enter CASSIO, and certain Officers with torches

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

What is the news?

CAS.

The duke does greet you, general,

And he requires your haste-post-haste appearance,
Even on the instant.

OTH.

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,

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.

Отн.
I will but spend a word here in the house,

"T is well I am found by you.

And go with you.

[Exit.

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

If it

35 The goodness . . . upon you] Good night to you! 41 sequent] following one another, one after the other.

43 consuls] councillors. Cf. I, i, 25, supra, "toged consuls." 46 about] Thus the Folios. The Quartos read above.

quests] search parties.

50 a land carack] a ship of great burden on land.

40

51

IAGO. Marry, to Come, captain, will you go?

Отн.

Have with you.

CAS. Here comes another troop to seek for you.
IAGO. It is Brabantio: general, be advised;
He comes to bad intent.

Enter BRABANTIO, RODERIGO, and Officers with torches and

[They draw on both sides.

IAGO. You, Roderigo! come, sir, I am for you.
Отн. 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?

52 To who?] Cassio's ignorance is affected. Cf. III, iii, 97, where Othello asserts that Cassio knew his relations with Desdemona "from first to last.'

53 Have with you] I am quite ready.

55 be advised] be careful.

60

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 't is not gross in sense
That thou hast practised on her with foul charms,
Abused 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.

65 If... bound] The First Quarto omits this line.

68 curled darlings] pretty fops, who were wont to curl their hair. Cf. Ant. and Cleop., V, ii, 299, “the curled Antony.”

70 guardage] guardianship.

71 a thing... to fear, not to delight] a thing . . . to cause fear, not to give delight.

72-77 Judge... thee] The First Quarto omits this passage.

72 Judge

gross in sense] Let the world judge for me, if it is not obvious to any understanding. Cf. 76, infra, "palpable to thinking."

75 weaken motion] impair the faculties. Hanmer needlessly suggested waken motion, i. e., waken the sensual impulse, although "motion often has the latter sense. Cf. I, iii, 95, infra.

77 attach] arrest.

78 an abuser of the world] a proclaimed cheat.

79 inhibited.

warrant] prohibited and unauthorised.

70

Lay hold upon him: if he do resist,
Subdue him at his peril.

Отн.

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.

What if I do obey?

Отн.
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.

"T is 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 't were their own;
For if such actions may have passage free,
Bond-slaves and pagans shall our statesmen be. [Exeunt.

82 of my inclining] of those inclined to side with me.

86 course of direct session] regular process of judicial procedure. 99 pagans] lawless savages.

80

SCENE III-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.

FIRST SEN.

Indeed they are disproportion'd;

My letters say a hundred and seven galleys.
DUKE. And mine, a hundred and forty.
SEC. SEN.
And mine, two hundred:
But though they jump not on a just account, —
As in these cases, where the aim reports,
"T is oft with difference, - - yet do they all confirm
A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus.

DUKE. Nay, it is possible enough to judgement:
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!
FIRST OFF. A messenger from the galleys.

1 composition] consistency, coherence.

5 jump not . . . account] agree not in an exact estimate.

6 the aim reports] guess or conjecture brings the news.

8 A Turkish fleet . . . Cyprus] Cyprus was under the dominion of the Venetian republic from 1489 till 1571, when it was captured by the Turkish fleet.

10-12 I do not so secure... fearful sense] I do not attach so much importance to the discrepancy as not to admit the substantial accuracy of the intelligence in its sense of giving ground for alarm.

10