The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Part 394

RODERIGO. Patience, good sir.

BRABANTIO. What tell'st thou me of robbing? This is Venice; My house is not a grange.

RODERIGO. Most grave Brabantio, In simple and pure soul I come to you.

IAGO. 'Zounds, sir, you are one of those that will not serve G.o.d, if the devil bid you. Because we come to do you service and you think we are ruffians, you'll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse; you'll have your nephews neigh to you; you'll have coursers for cousins, and gennets for germans.

BRABANTIO. What profane wretch art thou?

IAGO. I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs.

BRABANTIO. Thou are a villain.

IAGO. You are- a senator.

BRABANTIO. This thou shalt answer; I know thee, Roderigo.

RODERIGO. Sir, I will answer anything. But, I beseech you, If't be your pleasure and most wise consent, As partly I find it is, that your fair daughter, At this odd-even and dull watch o' the night, Transported with no worse nor better guard But with a knave of common hire, a gondolier, To the gross clasps of a lascivious Moor- If this be known to you, and your allowance, We then have done you bold and saucy wrongs; But if you know not this, my manners tell me We have your wrong rebuke. Do not believe That, from the sense of all civility, I thus would play and trifle with your reverence.

Your daughter, if you have not given her leave, I say again, hath made a gross revolt, Tying her duty, beauty, wit, and fortunes In an extravagant and wheeling stranger Of here and everywhere. Straight satisfy yourself: If she be in her chamber or your house, Let loose on me the justice of the state For thus deluding you.

BRABANTIO. Strike on the tinder, ho!

Give me a taper! Call up all my people!

This accident is not unlike my dream; Belief of it oppresses me already.

Light, I say, light! Exit above.

IAGO. Farewell, for I must leave you.

It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place, To be produced- as, if I stay, I shall- Against the Moor; for I do know, the state, However this may gall him with some check, Cannot with safety cast him, for he's embark'd With such loud reason to the Cyprus wars, Which even now stands in act, that, for their souls, Another of his fathom they have none To lead their business; in which regard, Though I do hate him as I do h.e.l.l pains, Yet for necessity of present life, I must show out a flag and sign of love, Which is indeed but sign. That you shall surely find him, Lead to the Sagittary the raised search, And there will I be with him. So farewell. Exit.

Enter, below, Brabantio, in his nightgown, and Servants with torches.

BRABANTIO. It is too true an evil: gone she is, 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?

RODERIGO. Truly, I think they are.

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

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?

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.

Another street.

Enter Oth.e.l.lo, 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 contrived murther. I lack iniquity Sometimes to do me service. Nine or ten times I had thought to have yerk'd him here under the ribs.

OTh.e.l.lO. 'Tis better as it is.

IAGO. Nay, but he prated And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms Against your honor That, with the little G.o.dliness I have, I did full hard forbear him. But I pray you, sir, Are you fast married? Be a.s.sured 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.

OTh.e.l.lO. 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 circ.u.mscription 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.

OTh.e.l.lO. Not I; I must be found.

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

IAGO. By Ja.n.u.s, I think no.

Enter Ca.s.sio and certain Officers with torches.

OTh.e.l.lO. The servants of the Duke? And my lieutenant?

The goodness of the night upon you, friends!

What is the news?

Ca.s.sIO. The Duke does greet you, general, And he requires your haste-post-haste appearance, Even on the instant.

OTh.e.l.lO. What is the matter, think you?

Ca.s.sIO. 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.

OTh.e.l.lO. 'Tis well I am found by you.

I will but spend a word here in the house And go with you. Exit.

Ca.s.sIO. Ancient, what makes he here?

IAGO. Faith, he tonight hath boarded a land carack; If it prove lawful prize, he's made forever.

Ca.s.sIO. I do not understand.

IAGO. He's married.

Ca.s.sIO. To who?

Re-enter Oth.e.l.lo.

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

OTh.e.l.lO. Have with you.

Ca.s.sIO. 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 weapons.

OTh.e.l.lO. 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.

OTh.e.l.lO. 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?

d.a.m.n'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 practiced 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 practicer Of arts inhibited and out of warrant.

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

OTh.e.l.lO. 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.

OTh.e.l.lO. 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 n.o.ble self, I am sure, is sent for.

BRABANTIO. 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 pa.s.sage free, Bond slaves and pagans shall our statesmen be. Exeunt.