341Officer. A Messenger from the Gallies.

342Duke. Now? What's the businesse?

343Sailor. The Turkish Preparation makes for Rhodes,

344So was I bid report here to the State,

345By Signior Angelo.

346Duke. How say you by this change?

3471. Sen. This cannot be

348By no assay of reason. 'Tis a Pageant

349To keepe vs in false gaze, when we consider

350Th'importancie of Cyprus to the Turke;

351And let our selues againe but vnderstand,

352That as it more concernes the Turke then Rhodes,

353So may he with more facile question beare it,

354For that it stands not in such Warrelike brace,

355But altogether lackes th'abilities

356That Rhodes is dress'd in. If we make thought of this,

357We must not thinke the Turke is so vnskillfull,

358To leaue that latest, which concernes him first,

359Neglecting an attempt of ease, and gaine

360To wake, and wage a danger profitlesse.

361Duke. Nay, in all confidence he's not for Rhodes.

362Officer. Here is more Newes.

364Messen. The Ottamites. Reueren'd, and Gracious,

365Steering with due course toward the Ile of Rhodes,

366Haue there inioynted them with an after Fleete.

3671. Sen. I, so I thought: how many, as you guesse?

368Mess. Of thirtie Saile: and now they do re-stem

369Their backward course, bearing with frank appearance

370Their purposes toward Cyprus. Signior Montano,

371Your trustie and most Valiant Seruitour,

372With his free dutie, recommends you thus,

373And prayes you to beleeue him.

374Duke. 'Tis certaine then for Cyprus:

375Marcus Luccicos is not he in Towne?

3761. Sen. He's now in Florence.

377Duke. Write from vs,

378To him, Post, Post-haste, dispatch.

3791. Sen. Here comes Brabantio, and the Valiant Moore.

382Duke. Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you

383Against the generall Enemy Ottoman.

384I did not see you: welcome gentle Signior,

385We lack't your Counsaile, and your helpe to night.

386Bra. So did I yours: Good your Grace pardon me.

387Neither my place, hor ought I heard of businesse

388Hath rais'd me from my bed; nor doth the generall care

389Take hold on me. For my perticular griefe

390Is of so flood-gate, and ore-bearing Nature,

391That it engluts, snd swallowes other sorrowes,

392And it is still it selfe.

393Duke. Why? What's the matter?

394Bra. My Daughter: oh my Daughter!

395Sen. Dead?

396Bra. I, to me.

397She is abus'd, stolne from me, and corrupted

398By Spels, and Medicines, bought of Mountebanks;

399For Nature, so prepostrously to erre,

400(Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense,)

401Sans witch-craft could not.

402Duke. Who ere he be, that in this foule proceeding

403Hath thus beguil'd your Daughter of her selfe,

404And you of her; the bloodie Booke of Law,

405You shall your selfe read, in the bitter letter,

406After your owne sense: yea, though our proper Son

407Stood in your Action.

408Bra. Humbly I thanke your Grace,

409Here is the man; this Moore, whom now it seemes

410Your speciall Mandate, for the State affaires

411Hath hither brought.

412All. We are verie sorry for't.

413Duke. What in yonr owne part, can you say to this?

414Bra. Nothing, but this is so.

415Othe. Most Potent, Graue, and Reueren'd Signiors,

416My very Noble, and approu'd good Masters;

417That I haue tane away this old mans Daughter,

418It is most true: true I haue married her;

419The verie head, and front of my offending,

420Hath this extent; no more. Rude am I, in my speech,

421And little bless'd with the soft phrase of Peace;

422For since these Armes of mine, had seuen yeares pith,

423Till now, some nine Moones wasted, they haue vs'd

424Their deerest action, in the Tented Field:

425And little of this great world can I speake,

426More then pertaines to Feats of Broiles, and Battaile,

427And therefore little shall I grace my cause,

428In speaking for my selfe. Yet, (by your gratious patience)

429I will a round vn-varnish'd u Tale deliuer,

430Of my whole course of Loue.

431What Drugges, what Charmes,

432What Coniuration, and what mighty Magicke,

433(For such proceeding I am charg'd withall)

434I won his Daughter.

435Bra. A Maiden, neuer bold:

436Of Spirit so still, and quiet, that her Motion

437Blush'd at her selfe, and she, in spight of Nature,

438Of Yeares, of Country, Credite, euery thing

439To fall in Loue, with what she fear'd to looke on;

440It is a iudgement main'd, and most imperfect.

441That will confesse Perfection so could erre

442Against all rules of Nature, and must be driuen

443To find out practises of cunning hell

444Why this should be. I therefore vouch againe,

445That with some Mixtures, powrefull o're the blood,

446Or with some Dram, (coniur'd to this effect)

447He wtought vp on her.

448To vouch this, is no proofe,

449Without more wider, and more ouer Test

450Then these thin habits, and poore likely-hoods

451Of moderne seeming, do prefer against him.

452Sen. But Othello, speake,

453Did you, by indirect, and forced courses

454Subdue, and poyson this yong Maides affections?

455Or came it by request, and such faire question

456As soule, to soule affordeth?

457Othel. I do beseech you,

458Send for the Lady to the Sagitary.

459And let her speake of me before her Father;

460If you do finde me foule, in her report,

461The Trust, the Office, I do hold of you,

462Not onely take away, but let your Sentence

463Euen fall vpon my life.

464Duke. Fetch Desdemona hither.

465Othe. Aunciant, conduct them:

466You best know the place.

467And tell she come, as truely as to heauen,

468I do confesse the vices of my blood,

469So iustly to your Graue eares, Ile present