Where didst thou see her?—O unhappy girl!—

With the Moor, sayst thou?—Who would be a

father?—

How didst thou know ’twas she?—O, she deceives me

Past thought!—What said she to you? (To servants)

Get more tapers,

Raise all my kindred.

⌈Exit one or more⌉

(To Roderigo) Are they married, think you?

RODERIGO Truly, I think they are.

BRABANZIO

O heaven, how got she out? O, treason of the blood!

Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters’ minds

By what you see them act. Is there not charms

By which the property of youth and maidhood

May be abused? Have you not read, Roderigo,

Of some such thing?

RODERIGO

Yes, sir, I have indeed.

BRABANZIO (to servants)

Call up my brother. (To Roderigo) O, would you had

had her.

(To servants) Some one way, some another.

⌈Exit one or more⌉

(To Roderigo) Do you know

Where we may apprehend her and the Moor?

RODERIGO

I think I can discover him, if you please

To get good guard and go along with me.

BRABANZIO

Pray you lead on. At every house I’ll call;

I may command at most. (Calling) Get weapons, ho,

And raise some special officers of night.

On, good Roderigo. I will deserve your pains. Exeunt

1.2 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’th’ conscience

To do no contrived murder. I lack iniquity,

Sometime, to do me service. Nine or ten times

I had thought to’ve yerked him here, under the ribs.

OTHELLO

’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 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 or grievance

The law, with all his might to enforce it on,

Will give him cable.

OTHELLO

Let him do his spite.

My services which I have done the signory

Shall out-tongue his complaints. ’Tis yet to know—

Which, when I know that boasting is an honour,

I shall promu]gate—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 reached. For know, Iago,

But that I love the gentle Desdemona

I would not my unhousèd free condition

Put into circumscription and confine

For the seas’ worth.

Enter Cassio and officers, with torches

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.

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;

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, raised and met,

Are at the Duke’s already. You have been hotly called

for,

When, being not at your lodging to be found,

The senate sent about three several quests

To search you out.

OTHELLO

’Tis well I am found by you.

I will but spend a word here in the house

And go with you. Exit

CASSIO

Ensign, what makes he here?

IAGO

Faith, he tonight hath boarded a land-carrack.

If it prove lawful prize, he’s made for ever.

CASSIO

I do not understand.

IAGO

He’s married.

CASSIO

To who?

Enter Brabanzio, Roderigo, and officers, with lights

and weapons

IAGO

Marry, to—

Enter Othello

(To Othello) Come, captain, will you go?

OTHELLO Have with you.

CASSIO

Here comes another troop to seek for you.

IAGO

It is Brabanzio. General, be advised.

He comes to bad intent.

OTHELLO

Holla, stand, there!

RODERIGO (to Brabanzio)

Signor, it is the Moor.

BRABANZIO

Down with him, thief!

IAGO (drawing his sword)

You, Roderigo? Come, sir, I am for you.

OTHELLO

Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust ’em.

(To Brabanzio) Good signor, you shall more command

with years

Than with your weapons.

BRABANZIO

O thou foul thief, where hast thou stowed my

daughter?

Damned 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,

So opposite to marriage that she shunned

The wealthy curled darlings of our nation,