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What feast is toward in thine eternal cell, 76)
That thou so many princes, at a shot,
So bloodily hast struck?

1 Amb.

The sight is dismal; And our affairs from England come too late: The ears are senseless, that should give us hearing, To tell him, his commandment is fulfill'd, That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead: Where should we have our thanks?

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And call the noblest to the audience. For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune; I have some rights of memory in this kingdom, 8°) Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me. Hor. Of that I shall have also cause to speak, And from his mouth whose voice will draw on more: Not from his mouth, 77) But let this same be presently perform'd,

Had it the ability of life to thank you;
He never gave commandment for their death.
But since, so jump upon this bloody question,

You from the Polack wars, and you from England,

Are here arriv'd; give order, that these bodies
High on a stage be placed to the view;
And let me speak, to the yet unknowing world,
How these things came about: So shall you hear
Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts; 78)
Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters;

Of deaths put on 79) by cunning, and forc'd cause;
And, in this upshot, purposes mistook

Even while men's minds are wild: lest more mischance,
On plots, and errors, happen.
Fort.
Let four captains
Bear Hamlet, like a soldier, to the stage;
For he was likely, had he been put on,
To have prov'd most royally: and, for his passage,
The soldier's music, and the rites of war,
Speak loudly for him..
Take up the bodies: Such a sight as this
Becomes the field, but here shows much amiss.
Go, bid the soldiers shoot.
[4 Dead March.
[Exeunt, bearing off the dead Bodies; after
which a Peal of Ordnance is shot off.

XXXVII.

OTHELLO, THE MOOR OF VENICE. venice.

Duke of VENICE.

BRABANTIO, a Senator.

Two other Senators.

GRATIANO, Brother to Brabantio.

LODOVICO, Kinsman to Brabantio.

OTHELLO, the Moor:

CASSIO, his Lieutenant;

IAGO, his Ancient.

RODERIGO, a Venetian Gentleman.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

MONTANO, Othello's Predecessor in the Government of Cyprus.')

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Clown, Servant to Othello. Herald.

DESDEMONA, Daughter to Brabantio, and Wife to Othello.

EMILIA, Wife to lago.

BIANCA, a Courtezan, Mistress to Cassio.

Officers, Gentlemen, Messengers, Musicians, Sailors, Attendants, &c.

for the first Act, in Venice; during the rest of the Play, at a Sea-Port in Cyprus.

ACT I.

SCENE I. Venice. A Street.

Enter RODBRIGO and IAGO.
Roderigo.

TUSH, never tell me, I take it much unkindly,
That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse,
As if the strings were thine, should'st know of this.
Iago. 'Sblood, but you will not hear me:
If ever I did dream of such a matter,
Abhor me.

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Rod. Thou told'st me, thou didst hold him in thy hate. Iago. Despise me, if I do not. Three great ones of the city,

In personal suit to make me his lieutenant,

Oft capp'd to him: -2) and, by the faith of man,
I know my price, I am worth no worse a place:
But he, as loving his own pride and purposes,
Evades them, with a bombast circumstance, 3)
Horribly stuff'd with epithets of war;
And, in conclusion, nonsuits

My mediators; for, certes, 4) says he,
I have already chose my officer.
And what was he?

Forsooth, a great arithmetician,
One Michael Cassio, a Florentine,

A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife; 5)
That never set a squadron in the field,
Nor the division of a battle knows,

More than a spinster; unless the bookish theoric, 6)
Wherein the toged consuls") can propose
As masterly as he: mere prattle, without practice,
Is all his soldiership. But he, sir, had the election:
And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof
At Rhodes, at Cyprus; and on other grounds
Christian and heathen, must be be-lee'd and
calm'd 9)

By debitor and creditor, this counter-caster; ")
He, in good time, must his lieutenant be,
And I, (God bless the mark!) 10) his Moor-ship's

ancient.

Rod. By heaven, I rather would have been his

hangman.

Iago. But there's no remedy, 'tis the curse of service; Preferment goes by letter, '') and affection, Not by the old gradation, where each second Stood heir to the first. Now, sir, be judge yourself, Whether I in any just term am affin'd 12) To love the Moor.

Rod.

I would not follow him then. Iago. O, sir, content you;

I follow him to serve my turn upon him:
We cannot all be masters, nor all masters
Cannot be truly follow'd. You shall mark
Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave,
That, doting on his own obsequious bondage,
Wears out his time, much like his master's ass,
For nought but provender; and, when he's old,
cashier'd:

Whip me such honest knaves: 13) Others there are,
Who, trimm'd in forms and visages of duty,
Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves;
And, throwing but shows of service on their lords,
Do well thrive by them, and, when they have lin'd
their coats,

Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul;
And such a one do I profess myself.

For, sir,

It is as sure as you are Roderigo,
Were I the Moor, I would not be lago:
In following him, I follow but myself;
Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,
But seeming so, for my peculiar end:
For when my outward action doth demonstrate
The native act and figure of my heart
In compliment extern, 14) 'tis not long after
But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve
15) For daws to peck at: I am not what I am.
Rod. What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe, 16)
If he can carry't thus!
Iago.
Call up her father,
Rouse him: make after him, poison his delight,
Proclaim him in the streets; incense her kinsmen,

1

And, though he in a fertile climate dwell,

We then have done you bold and saucy wrongs;

Plague him with flies: though that his joy be joy, But, if you know not this, my manners tell me, Yet throw such changes of vexation on't,

As it may lose some colour.

Rod. Here is her father's house; I'll call aloud. Iago. Do; with like timorous accent, and dire yell, As when, by night and negligence, the fire Is spied in populous cities.

Rod. What ho! Brabantio! signior Brabantio, ho! Iago. Awake! what, ho! Brabantio! thieves! thieves! thieves!

Look to your house, your daughter, and your bags! Thieves! thieves!

BRABANTIO, above, at a Window.

Bra. What is the reason of this terrible summons? What is the matter there?

Rod. Signior, is all your family within?
Iago. Are your doors lock'd?
Bra.

Why? wherefore ask you this? Iago. 'Zounds, sir, you are robb'd; for shame, put on your gown;

Your heart is burst, 17) you have lost half your soul;
Even now, very now, an old black ram
Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise;
Awake the snorting citizens with the bell,
Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you:
Arise, I say.

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Bra. What, have you lost your wits? Rod. Most reverend signior, do you know my voice? Bra. Not I; what are you? Rod. My name is Bra. The worse welcome: I have charg'd thee, not to haunt about my doors: In honest plainness thou hast heard me say, My daughter is not for thee; and now, in madness, Being full of supper, and distempering draughts, 18) Upon malicious bravery, dost thou come

To start my quiet.

Rod. Sir, sir, sir, sir,
Bra.

But thou must needs be sure, My spirit, and my place, have in them power To make this bitter to thee. Rod.

Patience, good sir.

Bra. What tell'st thou me of robbing? this is Venice;

My house is not a grange. 19) Rod. Most grave Brabantio, In simple, and pure soul I come to you. Iago. 'Zounds, sir, you are one of those, that will not serve God, if the devil bid you. Because we come to do you service, you think we are ruffians: You'll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse: you'll have your nephews neigh to you: 20) you'll have coursers for cousins, and gennets for germans. 21)

Bra. 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.

Bra. Thou art a villain.

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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, 22)
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, 23)

We have your wrong rebuke. Do not believe,
That, from the sense of all civility, 24)

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 25) and wheeling stranger,
Of here and every where: 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.

Bra.

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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! Iago.

[Exit, from above. Farewell; for I must leave you: It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place, To be produc'd (as, if I stay, I shall,) Against the Moor: For, I do know, the state, However this may gall him with some check,26) Cannot with safety cast him; 27) for he's embark'd With such loud reason to the Cyprus' wars, (Which even now stand in act,) that, for their souls, Another of his fathom they have not, To lead their business: in which regard, Though I do hate him as I do hell 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 28) the rais'd search;
And there will I be with him. So, farewell. [Exit.

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By which the property of youth and maidhood
May be abus'd? Have you not read, Roderigo,
Of some such thing?
Rod.

Yes, sir; I have indeed. Bra. Call up my brother. O, that you had had

her!

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Some one way, some another. Do you know
Where we may apprehend her and the Moor?

Rod. I think, I can discover him; if you please
To get good guard, and go along with me.
Bra. '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.

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Oth. "Tis better as it is. lago Nay, but he prated, And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms Against your honour,

That, with the little godliness I have,

I did full hard forbear him. But, I pray, sir,
Are you fast married? for, be sure of this,
That the magnifico 32) 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.
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 honour,
I shall promulgate,) I fetch my life and being
From men of royal siege; 33) and my demerits 34)
May speak, unbonneted, 35) 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 36) free condition
Put into circumscription and confine

For the sea's worth. But, look! what lights come yonder?

Enter CASSIO, at a distance, and certain
Officers with Torches.

Iago. These are the raised father, and his friends:
You were best go in.
Oth.
Not I: I must be found;
My parts, my title, and my perfect soul,
Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they?
Iago. By Janus, I think no.

Oth. The servants of the duke, and my lieutenant. The goodness of the night upon you, friends! What is the news?

Cas. The duke does greet you, general; And he requires your haste-post-haste 37) appearance,

Even on the instant. Oth.

What is the matter, think you? Cas. Something from Cyprus, as I may divine; It is a business of some heat: the gallies Have sent a dozen sequent messengers This very night, at one another's heels; And many of the consuls, rais'd, and met, Are at the duke's already: You have been hotly

call'd for;

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Rod. Signior, it is the Moor.
Bra.

Down with him, thief! [They draw on both sides. Iago. You, Roderigo! come, sir, I am for you. Oth. Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them. Good signior, you shall more command with years, Than with your weapons.

--

Bra. O thou foul thief, where hast thou stow'd my daughter?

Damn'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;
The wealthy curled darlings of our nation, 41)
So opposite to marriage, that she shunn'd
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. 42)
Judge me the world, if 'tis not gross in sense,
That thou hast practis'd on her with foul charins;
Abus'd her delicate youth with drugs or minerals,
That waken motion:43) I'll have it disputed on;
'Tis probable, and palpable to thinking.

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To prison: till fit time Of law, and course of direct session, Call thee to answer.

Oth.

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? Off. "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! 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 passage free, Bond-slaves, and pagans **) shall our statesmen be. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

The same. A Council-Chamber.

The DUKв and Senators, sitting at a Table;

Officers attending.

Duke. There is no composition 45) in these news,

He's married.

To who? That gives them credit.

1 Sen. Indeed, they are disproportion'd; My letters say, a hundred and seven gallies. Duke. And mine, a hundred and forty. And mine, two hundred: 2 Sen. But though they jump not on a just account, (As in these cases, where the aim reports, 46) "Tis oft with difference,) yet do they all confirm A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus. 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.
Off. 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,
By signior Angelo.

Duke. How say you by this change? 1 Sen.

This cannot be,
By no assay of reason; 47) '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 48) bear it,
For that it stands not in such warlike brace, 49)
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, 50) a danger profitless.
Duke. Nay, in all confidence, he's not for Rhodes.
Off. Here is more news.

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Duke. Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you Against the general enemy Ottoman. I did not see you; welcome, gentle signior; [To BRABANTIO. We lack'd your counsel and your help to-night. 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 care Take hold on me; for my particular grief Is of so flood-gate and o'erbearing nature, That it engluts and swallows other sorrows, And it is still itself.

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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, After your own sense; yea, though our proper son Stood in your action. 52)

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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 & Sen. We are very sorry for it. Duke. What, in your own part, can you say to this? [TO OTHELLO. Bra. Nothing, but this is so. Oth. Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, My very noble and approv'd 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 front of my offending 53) Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech, And little bless'd with the set phrase of peace; For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith, Till now some nine moons wasted, they have us'd Their dearest action 54) in the tented field; 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,
What conjuration, and what mighty magic,
(For such proceeding I am charg'd withal,)
I won his daughter with. 55)
Bra.
A maiden never bold;
Of spirit so still and quiet, that her motion
Blush'd at herself; And she, in spite of nature,
Of years, of country, credit, every thing,
To fall in love with what she fear'd to look on?
It is a judgment maim'd, and most imperfect,
That will confess perfection so could err
Against all rules of nature; and must be driven
To find out practices of cunning hell,
Why this should be. I therefore vouch again,
That with some mixtures powerful o'er the blood,
Or with some dram conjur'd to this effect,
He wrought upon her.

Duke.
To vouch this, is no proof;
Without more certain and more overt test, 56)
Than these thin habits, and poor likelihoods
Of modern seeming, 57) do prefer against him.
1 Sen. But, Othello, speak;

Did you by indirect and forced courses
Subdue and poison this young maid's affections?
Or came it by request, and such fair question
As soul to soul affordeth?

Oth.
I do beseech you,
Send for the lady to the sagittary, 58)
And let her speak of me before her father:
If you do find me foul in her report,
The trust, the office, I do hold of you,
Not only take away, but let your sentence
Even fall upon my life.
Duke.

Fetch Desdemona hither.

55*

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