Nine or ten times
I had thought t’have yerked5 him here under the ribs.
OTHELLO ’Tis better as it is.
IAGO Nay, but he prated7
And spoke such scurvy8 and provoking terms
Against your honour
That with the little godliness I have
I did full hard forbear him11. But I pray you, sir,
Are you fast12 married? Be assured of this,
That the magnifico13 is much beloved,
And hath in his effect14 a voice potential
As double as the duke’s: he will divorce you,
Or put upon you what16 restraint or grievance
The law — with all his might to enforce it on —
Will give him cable18.
OTHELLO Let him do his spite;
My services which I have done the signiory20
Shall out-tongue his complaints. ’Tis yet to know21 —
Which, when I know that boasting is an honour,
I shall promulgate23 — I fetch my life and being
From men of royal siege24, and my demerits
May speak, unbonneted25, to as proud a fortune
As this that I have reached. For know, Iago,
But that I love the gentle Desdemona,
I would not my unhousèd28 free condition
Put into circumscription and confine29
For the sea’s worth30. But look, what lights come yond?
Enter Cassio [and Officers] with torches
IAGO Those are the raisèd31 father and his friends:
You were best go in.
OTHELLO Not I: I must be found.
My parts34, my title and my perfect soul
Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they?
IAGO By Janus36, I think no.
OTHELLO The servants of the duke’s? And my lieutenant?—
The goodness of the night upon you, friends!
What is the news?
CASSIO The duke does greet you, general,
And he requires your haste-post-haste41 appearance
Even on the instant.
OTHELLO What is the matter43, think you?
CASSIO Something from Cyprus, as I may divine44.
It is a business of some heat45: the galleys
Have sent a dozen sequent46 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 called for:
When, being not at your lodging to be found,
The senate hath sent about three several quests51
To search you out.
OTHELLO ’Tis well I am found by you.
I will but spend a word here in the house
And go with you.
[Exit]
CASSIO Ancient, what makes he56 here?
IAGO Faith57, he tonight hath boarded a land caract:
If it prove lawful prize, he’s made for ever.
CASSIO I do not understand.
IAGO He’s married.
CASSIO To who?
IAGO Marry62, to—
[Enter Othello
Come, captain, will you go?
OTHELLO Have with you63.
CASSIO Here comes another troop to seek for you.
Enter Brabantio, Rodorigo, with Officers and torches And weapons
IAGO It is Brabantio. General, be advised65:
He comes to66 bad intent.
OTHELLO Holla67, stand there!
RODORIGO Signior, it is the Moor.
BRABANTIO Down with him, thief!
They draw
IAGO You, Rodorigo? Come, sir, I am for you.
OTHELLO Keep up71 your bright swords, for the dew will rust
them.
Good signior, you shall more command with years
Than with your weapons.
BRABANTIO O thou foul74 thief,
Where hast thou stowed75 my daughter?
Damned as thou art, thou hast enchanted her,
For I’ll refer me to77 all things of sense —
If she in chains of magic were not bound —
Whether a maid so tender79, fair and happy,
So opposite80 to marriage that she shunned
The wealthy curlèd81 dearling of our nation,
Would ever have — t’incur a general mock82 —
Run from her guardage83 to the sooty bosom
Of such a thing as thou: to fear, not to delight.
Judge me the world85 if ’tis not gross in sense
That thou hast practised on86 her with foul charms,
Abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals87
That weakens motion88: I’ll have’t disputed on:
’Tis probable and palpable to thinking.
I therefore apprehend and do attach90 thee
For an abuser of the world, a practiser
Of arts inhibited and out of warrant92.—
Lay hold upon him: if he do resist,
Subdue him at his peril.
OTHELLO Hold95 your hands,
Both you of my inclining96 and the rest:
Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it
Without a prompter.— Whither will you that I98 go
To answer this your charge?
BRABANTIO To prison, till fit time
Of law and course of direct session101
Call thee to answer.
OTHELLO What if I do obey?
How may the duke be therewith satisfied,
Whose messengers are here about my side
Upon some present106 business of the state
To bring me to him?
OFFICER ’Tis true, most worthy signior:
The duke’s in council and your noble 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 state114,
Cannot but feel this wrong as ’twere their own:
For if such actions may have passage free116,
Bond-slaves and pagans shall our statesmen be.
Exeunt
Act 1 Scene 3
running scene 3
Location: Venice (duke’s residence/council chamber)
Enter Duke, Senators and Officers
With torches
They sit at a table
DUKE There’s no composition1 in this news
That gives them2 credit.
FIRST SENATOR Indeed, they are disproportioned3;
My letters say a hundred and seven galleys.
DUKE And mine a hundred forty.
SECOND SENATOR And mine two hundred:
But though they jump7 not on a just account —
As in these cases where the aim8 reports,
’Tis 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 secure12 me in the error
But the main article I do approve
In fearful sense.
SAILOR What ho, what ho, what ho!
Within
Enter Sailor
OFFICER A messenger from the galleys.
DUKE Now? What’s the business?
SAILOR The Turkish preparation18 makes for Rhodes:
So was I bid report here to the state
By Signior Angelo.
[Exit Sailor]
DUKE How say you by21 this change?
FIRST SENATOR This cannot be
By no assay23 of reason: ’tis a pageant,
To keep us in false gaze24. When we consider
Th’importancy25 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 it28,
For that29 it stands not in such warlike brace,
But altogether lacks th’abilities30
That Rhodes is dressed in31: if we make thought of this,
We must not think the Turk is so unskilful
To leave that latest33 which concerns him first,
Neglecting an attempt34 of ease and gain
To wake and wage35 a danger profitless.
DUKE Nay, in all confidence, he’s not for Rhodes.
OFFICER Here is more news.
Enter a Messenger
MESSENGER The Ottomites38, reverend and gracious,
Steering with due course toward the isle of Rhodes,
Have there injointed them40 with an after fleet.
FIRST SENATOR Ay, so I thought. How many, as you guess?
MESSENGER Of thirty sail: and now they do restem42
Their backward course, bearing with frank43 appearance
Their purposes toward Cyprus. Signior Montano,
Your trusty and most valiant servitor45,
With his free46 duty recommends you thus,
And prays you to believe him.
[Exit Messenger]
DUKE ’Tis certain then for Cyprus.
Marcus Luccicos, is not he in town?
FIRST SENATOR He’s now in Florence.
DUKE Write from us to him: post-post-haste51, dispatch!
FIRST SENATOR Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor.
Enter Brabantio, Othello, Cassio, Iago, Rodorigo and Officers
DUKE Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you
Against the general enemy Ottoman54.—
To Brabantio
I did not see you: welcome, gentle55 signior,
We lacked your counsel and your help tonight.
BRABANTIO So did I yours. Good your grace, pardon me:
Neither my place58 nor aught I heard of business
Hath raised me from my bed, nor doth the general care59
Take hold on me, for my particular60 grief
Is of so floodgate61 and o’erbearing nature
That it engluts62 and swallows other sorrows
And it is still itself63.
DUKE Why? What’s the matter?
BRABANTIO My daughter! O, my daughter!
SENATORS Dead?
BRABANTIO Ay, to me:
She is abused68, stol’n from me and corrupted
By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks69;
For nature so prepost’rously70 to err —
Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense71 —
Sans72 witchcraft could not.
DUKE Whoe’er he be that in this foul proceeding73
Hath thus beguiled74 your daughter of herself,
And you of her, the bloody75 book of law
You shall yourself read in the bitter letter
After your own sense77: yea, though our proper son
Stood in your action78.
BRABANTIO Humbly I thank your grace.
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’t.
To Othello
DUKE What, in your own part, can you say
to this?
BRABANTIO Nothing, but85 this is so.
OTHELLO Most potent, grave86 and reverend signiors,
My very noble and approved87 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 front90 of my offending
Hath this extent, no more. Rude91 am I in my speech,
And little blessed with the soft phrase of peace;
For since these arms of mine had seven years’ pith93,
Till now some nine moons wasted94, they have used
Their dearest95 action in the tented field,
And little of this great world can I speak
More than pertains to feats of broils97 and battle,
And therefore little shall I grace my cause
In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience,
I will a round100 unvarnished tale deliver
Of my whole course of love: what drugs, what charms,
What conjuration102 and what mighty magic —
For such proceeding I am charged withal103 —
I won his daughter.
BRABANTIO A maiden never bold,
Of spirit so still and quiet that her motion106
Blushed at herself: and she, in spite of nature,
Of years108, of country, credit, everything,
To fall in love with what she feared to look on!
It is a judgement maimed and most imperfect
That will confess perfection so could err
Against all rules of nature, and must be driven
To find out practices113 of cunning hell
Why this should be. I therefore vouch114 again
That with some mixtures115 pow’rful o’er the blood,
Or with some dram116, conjured to this effect,
He wrought117 upon her.
DUKE To vouch this is no proof,
Without more wider and more overt test119
Than these thin habits120 and poor likelihoods
Of modern seeming121 do prefer against him.
FIRST SENATOR But, Othello, speak:
Did you by indirect123 and forcèd courses
Subdue and poison this young maid’s affections?
Or came it by request and such fair question125
As soul to soul affordeth126?
OTHELLO I do beseech you,
Send for the lady to the Sagittary
And let her speak of me before her father:
If you do find me foul in her report,
The trust, the office131 I do hold of you
Not only take away, but let your sentence
Even fall upon my life.
DUKE Fetch Desdemona hither.
OTHELLO Ancient, conduct them: you best know
To Iago
the place.—
[Exeunt Iago and Attendants]
And, till she come, as truly as to heaven
I do confess the vices of my blood137,
So justly138 to your grave ears I’ll present
How I did thrive in this fair lady’s love,
And she in mine.
DUKE Say it, Othello.
OTHELLO Her father loved me, oft invited me,
Still143 questioned me the story of my life
From year to year: the battle, sieges, fortune,
That I have passed145.
I ran it through, even from my boyish days
To th’very moment that he bade me tell it,
Wherein I spoke of most disastrous148 chances,
Of moving149 accidents by flood and field,
Of hair-breadth scapes150 i’th’imminent deadly breach,
Of being taken by the insolent151 foe
And sold to slavery, of my redemption thence,
And portance153 in my traveller’s history,
Wherein of antres154 vast and deserts idle,
Rough quarries, rocks, hills whose head touch heaven,
It was my hint156 to speak: such was my process.
And of the cannibals that each other eat,
The Anthropophagi158 and men whose heads
Grew beneath their shoulders: these things to hear
Would Desdemona seriously160 incline,
But still the house-affairs would draw her thence,
Which ever as she could with haste dispatch,
She’d come again, and with a greedy ear
Devour up my discourse: which I observing,
Took once a pliant165 hour, and found good means
To draw from her a prayer of earnest heart
That I would all my pilgrimage167 dilate,
Whereof by parcels168 she had something heard,
But not intentively169. I did consent,
And often did beguile her of170 her tears,
When I did speak of some distressful stroke171
That my youth suffered. My story being done,
She gave me for my pains a world of kisses173:
She swore, ‘In faith ’twas strange, ’twas passing174 strange,
’Twas pitiful, ’twas wondrous pitiful!’
She wished she had not heard it, yet she wished
That heaven had made her177 such a man. She thanked me,
And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her,
I should but teach him how to tell my story,
And that would woo her. Upon this hint180 I spake:
She loved me for the dangers I had passed,
And I loved her that she did pity them.
This only is the witchcraft I have used.
Here comes the lady: let her witness184 it.
Enter Desdemona, Iago, Attendants
DUKE I think this tale would win my daughter too.
Good Brabantio,
Take up this mangled matter at the best187:
Men do their broken weapons rather use
Than their bare hands.
BRABANTIO I pray you hear her speak:
If she confess that she was half the wooer,
Destruction on my head if my bad192 blame
Light on the man!— Come hither, gentle
To Desdemona
mistress.
Do you perceive in all this noble company
Where most you owe obedience?
DESDEMONA My noble father,
I do perceive here a divided duty.
To you I am bound for life and education198:
My life and education both do learn199 me
How to respect you. You are the lord of duty,
I am hitherto201 your daughter. But here’s my husband,
And so much duty as my mother showed
To you, preferring203 you before her father,
So much I challenge204 that I may profess
Due to the Moor my lord.
BRABANTIO God be with you! I have done.
Please it207 your grace, on to the state affairs.
I had rather to adopt a child than get208 it.
Come hither, Moor:
I here do give thee that with all my heart
Which but211 thou hast already, with all my heart
I would keep from thee.— For your sake212, jewel,
To Desdemona
I am glad at soul I have no other child,
For thy escape214 would teach me tyranny,
To the Duke
To hang clogs215 on them.— I have done, my lord.
DUKE Let me speak like yourself216, and lay a sentence
Which, as a grise217 or step, may help these lovers.
When remedies are past218, the griefs are ended
By seeing the worst, which late219 on hopes depended.
To mourn a mischief220 that is past and gone
Is the next221 way to draw new mischief on.
What cannot be preserved when fortune takes222,
Patience her injury a mock’ry makes223.
The robbed that smiles steals something from the thief:
He robs himself that spends225 a bootless grief.
BRABANTIO So let the Turk of Cyprus us beguile226,
We lose it not, so long as we can smile.
He bears the sentence well that nothing bears228
But the free229 comfort which from thence he hears:
But he bears both the sentence and the sorrow
That, to pay grief, must of poor patience borrow231.
These sentences, to sugar or to gall,232
Being strong on both sides, are equivocal.
But words are words: I never yet did hear
That the bruisèd235 heart was pierced through the ears.
I humbly beseech you proceed to th’affairs of state.
DUKE The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for
Cyprus. Othello, the fortitude238 of the place is best known to
you, and though we have there a substitute of most allowed239
sufficiency, yet opinion240, a more sovereign mistress of effects,
throws a more safer voice on you241: you must therefore be
content to slubber242 the gloss of your new fortunes with this
more stubborn243 and boisterous expedition.
OTHELLO The tyrant custom, most grave senators,
Hath made the flinty245 and steel couch of war
My thrice-driven246 bed of down: I do agnize
A natural and prompt alacrity247
I find in hardness248, and do undertake
This present wars against the Ottomites.
Most humbly therefore bending to your state250,
I crave fit disposition251 for my wife,
Due reference of place and exhibition252,
With such accommodation253 and besort
As levels with254 her breeding.
DUKE Why, at her fathers.
BRABANTIO I will not have it so.
OTHELLO Nor I.
DESDEMONA Nor would I there reside,
To put my father in impatient thoughts
By being in his eye260. Most gracious duke,
To my unfolding261 lend your prosperous ear,
And let me find a charter262 in your voice
T’assist my simpleness263.
DUKE What would you, Desdemona?
DESDEMONA That I love the Moor to live with him,
My downright violence266 and storm of fortunes
May trumpet to the world. My heart’s subdued267
Even to the very quality268 of my lord.
I saw Othello’s visage in his mind,
And to his honours and his valiant parts270
Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate271:
So that, dear lords, if I be left behind
A moth273 of peace, and he go to the war,
The rites274 for why I love him are bereft me,
And I a heavy interim shall support
By his dear276 absence. Let me go with him.
OTHELLO Let her have your voice277.
Vouch278 with me, heaven, I therefore beg it not
To please the palate of my appetite,
Nor to comply with heat280 — the young affects
In my defunct and proper satisfaction281—
But to be free282 and bounteous to her mind:
And heaven283 defend your good souls that you think
I will your serious and great business scant284
When she is with me. No, when light-winged toys285
Of feathered286 Cupid seel with wanton dullness
My speculative and officed instrument287,
That288 my disports corrupt and taint my business,
Let housewives make a skillet289 of my helm,
And all indign290 and base adversities
Make head291 against my estimation!
DUKE Be it as you shall privately determine,
Either for her stay or going: th’affair cries293 haste,
And speed must answer it.
A SENATOR You must away tonight.
OTHELLO With all my heart.
DUKE At nine i’th’morning here we’ll meet again.
Othello, leave some officer behind,
And he shall our commission bring to you,
And such things else of quality and respect300
As doth import301 you.
OTHELLO So please your grace, my ancient:
A man he is of honesty and trust:
To his conveyance304 I assign my wife,
With what else needful your good grace shall think
To be sent after me.
DUKE Let it be so.
Goodnight to everyone.— And, noble signior,
To Brabantio
If virtue no delighted309 beauty lack,
Your son-in-law is far more fair310 than black.
A SENATOR Adieu, brave Moor: use Desdemona well.
BRABANTIO Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see:
She has deceived her father, and may thee.
Exeunt [Duke, Senators and Officers]
OTHELLO My life upon her faith! Honest314 Iago,
My Desdemona must I leave to thee:
I prithee let thy wife attend on her,
And bring them after in the best advantage317.
Come, Desdemona, I have but an hour
Of love, of worldly matter and direction319
To spend with thee: we must obey the time320.
Exeunt [Othello and Desdemona]
RODORIGO Iago—
IAGO What say’st thou, noble heart322?
RODORIGO What will I do, think’st thou?
IAGO Why, go to bed and sleep.
RODORIGO I will incontinently325 drown myself.
IAGO If thou dost, I shall never love thee after. Why, thou
silly gentleman?
RODORIGO It is silliness to live when to live is torment: and then
have we a prescription329 to die when death is our physician.
IAGO O villainous! I have looked upon the world for four
times seven years, and since I could distinguish betwixt a
benefit and an injury, I never found man that knew how to
love himself. Ere333 I would say I would drown myself for the
love of a guinea-hen334, I would change my humanity with a
baboon335.
RODORIGO What should I do? I confess it is my shame to be so
fond337, but it is not in my virtue to amend it.
IAGO Virtue? A fig!338 ’Tis in ourselves that we are thus or
thus. Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills are
gardeners: so that if we will plant nettles or sow lettuce, set340
hyssop341 and weed up thyme, supply it with one gender of
herbs or distract342 it with many, either to have it sterile with
idleness or manured with industry, why, the power and
corrigible authority344 of this lies in our wills. If the beam of
our lives had not one scale of reason to poise345 another of
sensuality, the blood346 and baseness of our natures would
conduct us to most preposterous347 conclusions: but we have
reason to cool our raging motions348, our carnal stings, our
unbitted349 lusts, whereof I take this that you call love to be a
sect or scion350.
RODORIGO It cannot be.
IAGO It is merely a lust of
the blood and a permission of the will353.
1 comment