Steering with due course toward the isle of Rhodes, 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,(14) And prays you to believe him.(15) Duke. "Tis certain, then, for Cyprus.Marcus Luccicos, (16) 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.— [To Brabantio] I did not see you; welcome, gentle signior; We lack'd your counsel and your help to-night. Bra. So did I yours. Good your grace, pardon me; Hath rais'd me from my bed; nor doth the general care Duke. Why, what's the matter? Bra. Dead? 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, Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense, Sans witchcraft could not. Duke. Whoe'er he be that, in this foul proceeding, Hath thus beguil'd your daughter of herself, And you of her, the bloody book of law You shall yourself read in the bitter letter VOL. VII. CC 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, Your special mandate, for the state-affairs, Hath hither brought. Duke and Sen. We're very sorry for't. Duke. [to Othello] What, in your own part, can you say to this? Bra. Nothing, but this is so. Oth. Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, My very noble and approv'd good masters,— Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech, 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, For such proceeding I am charg'd withal,— I won his daughter.(17) A maiden never bold; Bra. Why this should be. I therefore vouch again, Or with some dram conjur'd to this effect, He wrought upon her. Duke. To vouch this, is no proof, Did you by indirect and forced courses. Subdue and poison this young maid's affections? Oth I do beseech you, And let her speak of me before her father: Duke. Fetch Desdemona hither. Oth. Ancient, conduct them, you best know the place.[Exeunt Iago and Attendants. And, till she come, as truly as to heaven I do confess the vices of my blood, Duke. Say it, Othello. Oth. Her father lov'd me; oft invited me ; year to year,―the battles, sieges, fortunes, That I have pass'd. I ran it through, even from my boyish days Of hair-breadth scapes i' th' imminent deadly breach; And sold to slavery; of my redemption thence, And portance in my travels' history :(19) Wherein of antres vast and deserts idle, Rough quarries, rocks, and hills whose heads touch heaven, It was my hint to speak,-such was the process; But still the house-affairs would draw her thence; She gave me for my pains a world of sighs: She swore,-in faith, 'twas strange, 'twas passing strange ; 'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful: She wish'd she had not heard it; yet she wish'd That heaven had made her such a man: she thank'd me; And bade me, if I had a friend that lov'd her, I should but teach him how to tell my story, And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake : She lov'd me for the dangers I had pass'd; And I lov'd her that she did pity them. : Enter DESDEMONA with IAGO and Attendants. Duke. I think this tale would win my daughter too.— Good Brabantio, Take up this mangled matter at the best: Men do their broken weapons rather use Than their bare hands. Bra. Light on the man!-Come hither, gentle mistress: Where most you owe obedience? Des. I do perceive here a divided duty : My noble father, To you I'm bound for life and education; How to respect you; you're the lord of duty,— То you, preferring you before her father, So much I challenge that I may profess Due to the Moor my lord. Bra. God b' wi' you!—I have done.— Please it your grace, on to the state-affairs: I had rather to adopt a child than get it.Come hither, Moor: I here do give thee that with all my heart Which, but thou hast already, with all my heart For thy escape would teach me tyranny, To hang clogs on them.-I have done, my lord. Duke. Let me speak like yourself; and lay a sentence, Which, as a grise or step, may help these lovers Into your favour. When remedies are past, the griefs are ended By seeing the worst, which late on hopes depended. Is the next way to draw new mischief on. The robb'd that smiles steals something from the thief; Bra. So let the Turk of Cyprus us beguile; We lose it not, so long as we can smile. |