Whereof by parcell fhe had fomething heard,
But not intentiuely; I did confent,

And often did beguile her of her teares,
When I did fpcake of fome diftreffed || stroake
That my youth fuffered: my flory being done;
She gaue me for my paines a world of fighes;
She fwore Ifaith twas ftrange, twas paffing strange;
Twas pittifull, twas wondrous pittifull;

She wifht fhe had not heard it, yet fhe wifht

That heauen had made her fuch a man: the thanked me,

And bad me, if I had a friend that loued her,

I should but teach him how to tell my story,

And that would wooe her. Vpon this heate I fpake:

She lou'd me for the dangers I had paft,

And I lou'd her that he did pitty them.
This onely is the witchcraft I haue vs'd:
Here comes the lady,

Let her witneffe it.

Enter Defdemona, Iago, and the reft.

Du. I thinke this tale would win my daughter to,

Good Brabantio, take vp this mangled matter at the beft,
Men doe their broken weapons rather vse,

Then their bare hands.

Bra. I pray you heare her speake.

If the confeffe that fhe was halfe the wooer,
Destruction lite on me, if my bad blame

Light on the man. Come hither gentle mistresse;
Doe you perceiue in all this noble company,

Where most you owe obedience?

Def. My noble father,

I doe perceiue here a deuided duty:

To you I am bound for life and education;

My life and education both doe learne me

How to respect you, you are lord of all my * duty,
I am hitherto your daughter, but heere's my husband:
And fo much duty as my mother fhewed

To you, preferring you before her father,
So much I challenge, that I may professe,
Due to the Moore my lord.

Bra. God bu'y, I ha done:

Please it your grace, on to the ftate affaires ;
I had rather to adopt a child then get it;
Come hither Moore:

I here doe giue thee that, with all my heart +
I would keepe from thee: for your fake iewell,
I am glad at foule. I haue no other child,
For thy escape would teach me tyranny,
To hang clogs on em, I haue done lord.

Du. Let me fpeake like your felfe, and lay a fentence
Which as a greese or step may help these louers
Into your fauour.

When remedies are paft, the gricfes are ended,
By feeing the worst, which late on hopes depended.
To mourne a mifcheife that is past and gone,

Js the next way to draw more mischiefe on?
What cannot be preferu'd when fortune takes,

Patience her iniury a mockery makes.

The rob'd that fmiles, fteales fomething from the thiefe,

He robs himfelfe, that fpends a booteleffe griefe.

Bra. So let the Turke, of Cypres vs beguile,

We lofe it not fo long as we can smile;

He beares the fentence well that nothing beares,

But the free comfort, which from thence he heares :

the lord of.

Which but thou beft already, with all my heart

That

But he beares both the fentence and the forrow,
That to pay griefe, muft of poore patience borrow.
These fentences to fugar, or to gall,

Being strong on both fides, are equiuocall:

But words are words, I neuer yet did heare,
That the bruis'd heart was pierced through the eare:
Befeech you now, to the affaires of the state.

Du. The Turke with moft mighty preparation makes for Cipres Othello, the fortitude of the place, is best knowne to you, and tho we haue there a fubftitute of most allowed fufficiency, yet opinion, a foueraigne mistreffe of effects, throwes a more fafer voyce on you; you must therefore bee content to flubber the gloffe of your new fortunes, with this more ftubborne and boisterous expedition.

Oth. The tyrant cuftome moft great fenators,
Hath made the flinty and fteele cooch of warre,
My thrice driuen bed of downe: I doe agnize
A naturall and prompt alacrity,

I find in hardneffe, and would vndertake
This prefent warres against the Ottamites,
Most humbly therefore, bending to your state,
I craue fit difpofition for my wife,
Due reuerence of place and exhibition,
Which fuch accommodation? and befort,
As leuels with her breeding.

Du. If you please, bee't at her fathers.
Bra. Ile not haue it fo.

Oth. Nor I.

Defd. Nor I, I would not there refide, To put my father in impatient thoughts, By being in his eye: most gracious duke, To my vnfolding lend a gracious eare,

And let me finde a charter in your voyce,
And if my fimplenesse.—

Du. What would you-fpeake ‡.

Def. That I did loue the Moore, to liue with him,
My downe right violence, and fcorne § of fortunes,
May trumpet to the world: my hearts fubdued,
Euen to the utmost pleasure || of my lord:
I faw Othelloes viffage in his minde,
And to his honors, and his valiant parts
Did I my foule and fortunes confecrate :
So that deere lords, if I be left behinde,
A mothe of peace, and he goe to the warre,
The rites for which I loue him, are bereft me,
And I a heavy interim fhall fupport,

By his deare abfence, let me goe with him.

Oth. Your voyces lords: befeech you let her will,

Haue a free way, I therefore beg it not

To please the pallat of my appetite,

Nor to comply with heate, the young affects
In my defunct, and proper fatisfaction,

But to be free and bounteous of §§ her mind,
And heauen defend your good foules that you thinke
I will your ferious and good bufineffe fcant,
For fhe is with me ;-no, when light-wingd toyes,
And feather'd Cupid foyles with wanton dulneffe,
My fpeculatiue and actiue inftruments,

That my difports, corrupt and taint my businesse,
Let hufwiues make a fkellet of my helme,
And all indigne and bafe aduerfities,

Make head againft my reputation.

Du. Pit, as you shall priuately determine,

+ T'aft. me beauen.

‡ Defdemona. $forme. §§ 10.

very qualitie

• Vouch with

Either

Either for stay or going, the affaires cry † hast,
And speede must answer, you must hence to night.
Defd. To night my lord?

Du. This night.

Oth. With all my heart.

Du. At ten i'the morning here weel meete againe.
Othello, leaue fome officer behind,

And he fhall our commiffion bring to you,
With fuch things elfe of quality or || respect,
As doth concerne § you.

Oth. Pleafe your grace, my ancient,

A man he is of honefty and truft,

To his conueyance I affigne my wife,

With what else needefull your good grace fhall thinke,
To be fent after me.

Du. Let it be fo:

Good night to euery one, and noble feignior,

If vertue no delighted beauty lacke,

Your fon in law is farre more faire then blacke.

1 Sena. Adue braue Moore, vfe Desdemona well. Bra. Looke to her Moore, haue a quicke eye to fee*,

She has deceiu'd her father, may doe ++ thee.

Oth. My life vpon her faith: honeft lage,

My Defdemona muft I leaue to thee,
I pre thee let thy wife attend on her,
And bring her after in the beft aduantage;
Come Deflemona, I haue but an houre
Of lone, of worldy matters, and direction,
To fpend with thee, we must obey the time.
Rod. Iago.

Exeunt.

Exit Moore and Defdemona.

lag. What faieft thou noble heart? Rod. What will I doe thinkeft thou?