Bra. O thou foul thief! where hast thou stow'd my

daughter ?
Damn'd as thou art, thou hast enchanted her :

270
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 shun'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,

'tis not gross in sense, 279
That thou hast practis'd on her with foul charms;
Abus'd her delicate youth with drugs, or minerals,
That weaken 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,
of my inclining, and the rest :

290
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.
puh. What if I do obey ?

How

Both you

1

How may the duke be therewith satisfied;
Whose messengers are here about my side,
Upon some present business of the state,

300 To bring me to him?

Offi. 'Tis 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 i
In this time of the night! -Bring him away :
Mine's not an idle cause : the duke himself,
Or any

brothers of the state,
Cannot but feel this wrong, as 'twere their own :
For if such actions may have passage free, 310
Bond-slaves, and pagans, shall our statesmen be.

[ Exeunt.

of my

SCENE III.

A Council-Chamber, Duke, and Senators, sitting,
Duke. There is no composition in these news,
That gives them credit.

i Sen. Indeed, they are disproportion d;
My letters say, a hundred and seven gallies.

Duke. And mine, a hundred and forty,

2 Sen. And mine, two hundred : But though they jump not on a just account (As in these cases where they aim reports, 'Tis oft with difference), yet do they all confirm 320 A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus.

Duke.

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!

Enter an Officer, with a Sailor. Offi. A messenger from the gallies. Duke. Now > the business?

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

330 By signior Angelo.

Duke. How say you by this change?

1 Sen. This cannot be,
By no assay of reason ; '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, 340
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.
Offi. Here is more news,

Enter

Enter a Messenger. Mes. The Ottomites, reverend and gracious, Steering with due course toward the isle of Rhodes, Have there injointed them with an after fleet.

351 1 Sen. Ay, so I thought :—How many, as you

guess? Mes. Of thirty sail : and now they do re-stem Their backward course, bearing with frank appear

ance

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 Lucchese, is not he in town?

360 i Sen. He's now in Florence. Duke. Write from us; wish him, post, post-haste :

dispatch. 1 Sen. Here comes Brabantio, and the valiant

Moor.

Enter BRABANT10, OTHELLO, IAGO, RODERIGO,

and Officers. Duke. Valiant Othello, we must straight employ

you Against the general enemy Ottoman.I did not see you ; welcome gentle signior;

[To BRAB. We lack'd your counsel and your help to-night.

Bra.

care

Bra. So did I yours : Good your grace, pardon me;
Neither my place, nor aught I heard of business,
Hath rais'd me from my bed; nor doth the general

370
Take hold on me; for my particular grief
Is of so flood-gate and o'er-bearing nature,
That it engluts and swallows other sorrows,
And yet is still itself,

Duke. Why, what's the matter?
Bra. My daughter! o, my daughter!
Sen. Dead ?

Bra. Ay, to me;
She is abus'd, stol'n from me, and corrupted
By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks :
For nature so preposterously to err,

381
Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense,
Sans witchcraft could not

Duke. Whoe'er he be, that, in this foul proceeding,
Hath thus beguild 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.

390
Here is the man, this Moor; whom now, it seems,
Your special mandate, for the state affairs,
Hath hither brought.

All. We are very sorry for it.
Duke. What, in your own part, can you say to this?

[TO OTHELLO.

Bra.