Iago.

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,Cannot with safety cast him; 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 none, 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 the raised search"; And there will I be with him. So, farewell. [Exit.

Enter BRABANTIO, and Servants with Torches. Bra. It is too true an evil: gone she is; And what's to come of my despised time, Is nought but bitterness.-Now, Roderigo, Where didst thou see her?-0, unhappy girl With the Moor, say'st thou ? — Who would be a

father? How didst thou know 'twas she? -0! thou deceiv'st

met Past thought. - What said she to you?-Get more

tapers !

Raise all my kindred !Are they married, think you?

Rod. Truly, I think, they are.
Bra. O heaven SHow got she out ?_0, treason of

the blood !
Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters' minds
By what you see them act.—Are there not charms,
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. — 0, that you had had

her!— 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.

SCENE II.

The Same. 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 contriv'd murder: I lack iniquity Sometimes, to do me service. Nine or ten times

5 Yes, sir ; I have, indeed.] So the folio, and quarto, 1630, completing the line : the quarto, 1622, has merely,“ I have, sir.”

6 0), that you had had her !) The folio,“ 0, would you had had her.” 7 Pray you, lead on.] The quarto, 1622, “ Pray lead me on.”

officers of night.) So the quarto : the folio has might for “ night,” probably a misprint. Malone showed from Lewkenor's" Commonwealth of Venice," 1599, that “officers of night” were einployed in that city,

8

I had thought to have yerk’d him here, under the ribs.

Oth. 'Tis better as it is.
Iago.

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 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, or 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; and my demerits:
May speak, unbonneted, 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 free condition
Put into circumscription and confine

1

But, I pray,

sir, Are you fast married ? for, be sure of this,] The folio reads

“But, I pray you, sir, Are you fast married ? Be assured of this.” Our text is that of the quartos, 1622 and 1630.

what restraint or grievance] So the folio, and probably rightly, instead of “and grievance" of the quartos.

For the sea's worth.

But, look! what lights come

yonder?

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.

Enter Cassio, and certain Officers with Torches.
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 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 galleys 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 ;

When, being not at your lodging to be found,
The senate hath sent above three several quests,
To search you out.
Oth.

'Tis well I am found by you.
I will but spend a word here in the house,
And

go
with
you.

[Erit.

4

sequent messengers] The folio and the quarto, 1630, read “sequent,” the quarto, 1622, frequent.

5 The senate hath sent ABOVE three several quests,] We print "above" (instead of about of the folio,) on the authority, not merely of the quarto, 1622, but of that of 1630, which was not a mere reprint of a former edition. A"quest " necessarily searches in various directions, and the word about may therefore be considered surplusage. Cassio means that more than “three several quests” have been sent in search of Othello.

99

Cas.

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.

Cas. I do not understand.
Iago.

He's married.
Cas.

To whom?

Re-enter OTHELLO.
Iago. Marry, to—Come, captain, will you go?
Oth.

Have with you”. Cas. Here comes another troop to seek for you.

Iago. It is Brabantio.-General, be advis’d: He comes to bad intent.

Enter BRABANTIO, RODERIGO, and Officers, with Torches

and Weapons.

Oth.

Holla! stand there!
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 boundo,