DUKE.

Enter Sailor

Now, what's the business?

SAIL. The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes; So was I bid report here to the state

By Signior Angelo.

DUKE. How say you by this change?
FIRST SEN.

By no assay of reason: 't is a pageant

This cannot be,

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,
But altogether lacks the abilities

That Rhodes is dress'd 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,

To wake and wage a danger profitless.

DUKE. Nay, in all confidence, he's not for Rhodes. FIRST OFF. Here is more news.

14 preparation] force ready for action. Cf. line 221, infra.

17 How . . . change ?] What do you make of this change?

18 assay] test.

23 with more facile question bear it] with less opposition contest it. 24-30 For that . . . profitless] The First Quarto omits this passage. 24 brace] state of defence.

30 wake and wage] excite and challenge.

20

30

Enter a Messenger

MESS. The Ottomites, reverend and gracious, Steering with due course toward the isle of Rhodes, Have there injointed them with an after fleet. FIRST SEN. Ay, so I thought. How many, as you

guess?

MESS. Of thirty sail: and now they do re-stem Their backward course, bearing with frank appearance Their purposes toward Cyprus. Signior Montano, Your trusty and most valiant servitor,

With his free duty recommends you thus,

And prays you to believe him.

DUKE. 'Tis certain then for Cyprus.

Marcus Luccicos, is not he in town?

FIRST SEN. He's now in Florence.

DUKE. Write from us to him; post-post-haste dispatch.

FIRST SEN. Here comes Brabantio and the valiant

Moor.

Enter BRABANTIO, OTHELLO, IAGO, RODERIGO, and Officers DUKE. Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you Against the general enemy Ottoman.

40

[To Brabantio] I did not see you; welcome, gentle signior; 50 We lack'd your counsel and your help to-night.

33 The Ottomites] The Ottomans, the Turks.

35 injointed them] joined their forces, combined.

36 Ay, so I... guess?] The First Quarto omits this line.

44 Marcus Luccicos] apparently a prominent Greek of Cyprus, who was known to be visiting Italy. He is mentioned nowhere else.

46 to him] The First Quarto reads wish him, i. e., desire him to come.

BRA. So did I yours. Good your grace, pardon me; Neither my place nor aught I heard of business Hath raised me from my bed, nor doth the general

care

Take hold on me; for my particular grief
Is of so flood-gate and o'erbearing nature
That it engluts and swallows other sorrows,
And it is still itself.

DUKE.

Why, what's the matter? BRA. My daughter! O, my daughter!

ALL.

BRA.

Dead?

Ay, to me;

She is abused, stol'n from me and corrupted

By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks;
For nature so preposterously to err,

Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense,
Sans witchcraft could not.

DUKE. Whoe'er he be that in this foul proceeding
Hath thus beguiled your daughter of herself

And

you of her, the bloody book of law

You shall yourself read in the bitter letter
After your own sense, yea, though our proper son
Stood in your action.

BRA.
Humbly I thank your grace.
Here is the man, this Moor; whom now, it seems,

...

56 flood-gate] like a torrent rushing through a sluice. 67-69 the bloody . . . sense] the stringent statute appointing condign punishment shall be applied to the letter, in accord with your own interpretation.

69-70 though... action] though our own son should be defendant in

your action.

Your special mandate for the state-affairs
Hath hither brought.

ALL.

We are very sorry for 't.

DUKE. [To Othello] What in your own part can you say to this?

BRA. Nothing, but this is so.

OTн. Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors,
My very noble and approved good masters,
That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter
It is most true; true, I have married her:
The very head and front of my offending

Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech,
And little blest with the soft phrase of peace;
For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith,
Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used
Their dearest action in the tented field;
And little of this great world can I speak,

More than pertains to feats of broil and battle;
And therefore little shall I grace my cause

In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience,
I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver

Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what charms, What conjuration and what mighty magic

For such proceeding I am charged withal

I won his daughter.

BRA.

A maiden never bold;

77 approved good masters] tried patrons.

84 some nine moons wasted] save for nine months, wasted in unemploy

ment.

85 dearest] chief, most important.

90 round] plain, direct.

80

90

Of spirit so still and quiet that her motion
Blush'd at herself; and she - in spite of nature,
Of years, of country, credit, every thing

To fall in love with what she fear'd to look on!
It is a judgement maim'd and most imperfect,
That will confess perfection so could err
Against all rules of nature; and must be driven
To find out practices of cunning hell,

Why this should be. I therefore vouch again,
That with some mixtures powerful o'er the blood,
Or with some dram conjured to this effect,
He wrought upon her.

DUKE.

To vouch this, is no proof,

Without more certain and more overt test
Than these thin habits and poor likelihoods
Of modern seeming do prefer against him.
FIRST SEN. But, Othello, speak:

Did you by indirect and forced courses

Subdue and poison this young maid's affections ?
Or came it by request, and such fair question

As soul to soul affordeth?

Отн.

I do beseech you,

Send for the lady to the Sagittary,

95-96 her motion. . . herself] any sensual impulse of her spirit caused blushing. "Motion" is thus used elsewhere. Cf. note on I, ii, 75, supra. "Her," "herself" both refer to Desdemona's spirit. The "spirit" or "soul" is usually reckoned feminine.

108-109 thin habits. . . modern seeming] superficial semblances and insubstantial conjectures of trivial appearance. "Modern" is frequently used by Shakespeare for trivial or commonplace. Cf. As you like it, II, vii, 156: "wise saws and modern instances."

100

110