་

And what's to come of my despised time,

8

Is nought but bitterness. - Now, Roderigo,

Where didst thou see her?-O, unhappy girl! With the Moor, say'st thou? Who would be a fa

How didst thou know 'twas she? - O, thou deceiv'st me Past thought! What said she to you? Get more

tapers;

you?

Raise all my kindred. Are they married think you Rod. Truly, I think, they are.

How got she out! O treason

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.

Bra. Call up my
her! -

Yes, sir; I have indeed. brother.-O, that you had had

you

Some one way, some another. Do 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.

I

Bra. Pray you, lead on. At every house I'll call ; may command at most; Get weapons, ho!

And raise some special officers of night.

On, good Roderigo; - I'll deserve your pains.

[Exeunt.

s And what's to come of my despised time,] Despised time, is time of no value.

SCENE II.

The same. Another Street.

Enter OTHELLO, IAGO, and Attendants.

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

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 restrainst 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

9 stuff o'the conscience,] This expression to common readers appears harsh. Stuff of the conscience is, substance or essence of the conscience. Stuff is a word of great force in the Teutonick languages. The elements are called in Dutch, hoefd stoffen, or head stuffs.

JOHNSON.

1- the magnifico-] "The chief men of Venice are by a peculiar name called magnifici, i. e. magnificoes."

From men of royal siege2; and my demerits3
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

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† appearance,

Even on the instant.

2

Oth.

What is the matter, think you?

Cas. Something from Cyprus, as I may divine;

men of royal siege ;] Men who have sat upon royal thrones. Siege is used for seat by other authors.

3 and my demerits-] Demerits has the same meaning in our author, and many others of that age, as merits.

4 May speak, unbonneted,] Mr. Fuseli (and who is better acquainted with the sense and spirit of our author?) explains this contested passage as follows:

"I am his equal or superior in rank; and were it not so, such are my demerits, that, unbonneted, without the addition of patrician or senatorial dignity, they may speak to as proud a fortune, &c.

5 unhoused-] Free from domestick cares. A thought natural to an adventurer.

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

When, being not at your lodging to be found,

The senate hath sent about three several quests, 6

To search you out.

Oth.
I will but spend a word here in the house,

And go with you.

'Tis well I am found by you.

[Exit.

Cas.
Ancient, what makes he here?
Iago. 'Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land carack;7

If it

prove lawful prize, he's made for ever. Cas. I do not understand.

Iago.

He's married.

Cas.

To who?

Re-enter OTHELLO.

Iago. Marry, to- Come, captain, will you go?
Oth.

Have with you.

Cas. Here comes another troop to seek for

you.

Enter BRABANTIO, RODERIGO, and Officers of night, with Torches and Weapons.

Iago. It is Brabantio:-general, be advis'd; He comes to bad intent.

7

Oth.

Hola! stand there!

Rod. Signior, it is the Moor.
Bra.

8

Down with him, thief! [They draw on both sides.

three several quests,] Quests are, on this occasion, searches. a land carack;] A carack is a ship of great bulk, and commonly of great value; perhaps what we now call a galleon. be advis'd;] That is, be cool; be cautious; be discreet.

8

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 magick were not bound,
Whether a maid — so tender, fair, and happy;
So opposite to marriage, that she shunn'd
The wealthy curled darlings of our nation,9
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.'
Judge me the world, if 'tis not gross in sense,
That thou hast practis'd on her with foul charms;
Abus'd her delicate youth with drugs, or minerals,
That waken motion 2: I'll have it disputed on;
'Tis probable, and palpable to thinking.
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; if he do resist,
Subdue him at his peril.

Oth.

Hold your hands, Both you of my inclining, and the rest:

that I go

Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it
Without a prompter. - Where will
To answer this your charge?

Bra.

you

To prison: till fit time

9 The wealthy curled darlings of our nation,] Curled is elegantly and ostentatiously dressed.

1 Of such a thing as thou; to fear, not to delight.] To fear, in the present instance, may mean to terrify.

2 That waken motion] Excite desires.