Another street.
[Enter OTHELLO, IAGO, and
Attendants with torches]
IAGO Though in the trade of war I have slain men,
Yet do I hold it very stuff o’ the conscience
To do no contrived murder: I lack iniquity
Sometimes to do me service: nine or ten times
I had thought to have yerk’d him here under the ribs.
OTHELLO ‘Tis better as it is.
IAGO Rodrigo 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 you, sir,
Are you fast married? Be assured of this,
That the magnifico 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 will give him cable.
OTHELLO Let him do his spite:
My services which I have done the state
Shall out-tongue his complaints. For know, Iago,
But that I love the gentle Desdemona,
I would not my unhoused free condition
Put into circumscription and confine
For the sea’s worth. But, look! what lights come yond?
IAGO Those are the raised father and his friends:
You were best go in.
OTHELLO 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.
[Enter CASSIO, and certain
Officers with torches]
OTHELLO The servants of the duke,
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-haste appearance,
Even on the instant.
OTHELLO What is the matter, think you?
CASSIO Something from Cyprus as I may divine:
And many of the consuls, raised and met,
Are at the duke’s already: you have been
hotly call’d for;
OTHELLO I will but spend a word here in the house,
And go with you.
[Exit]
CASSIO Ancient, what makes he here?
IAGO ‘Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land carack:
If it prove lawful prize, he’s made for ever.
CASSIO I do not understand.
IAGO He’s married.
CASSIO To who?
[Re-enter OTHELLO]
IAGO Marry, to–Come, captain, will you go?
OTHELLO Have with you.
CASSIO Here comes another troop to seek for you.
IAGO It is Brabantio. General, be advised;
He comes to bad intent.
[Enter BRABANTIO, RODERIGO,
and Officers with torches and weapons]
OTHELLO Holla! stand there!
RODERIGO Signior, it is the Moor.
BRABANTIO Down with him, thief!
[They draw on both sides]
OTHELLO Keep up your bright swords,
for the dew will rust them.
Good signior, you shall more command with years
Than with your weapons.
BRABANTIO
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,
Would ever have run from her guardage
to the sooty bosom of such a thing as thou,
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.
OTHELLO Hold your hands,
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?
BRABANTIO To prison!
OTHELLO What if I do obey?
How may the duke be therewith satisfied,
Whose messengers are here about my side,
To bring me to him?
First 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,
Cannot but feel this wrong as ’twere their own;
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