ACT ONE Scene Two
［Another street Enter OTHELLO， IAGO， and Attendant with torches］
IAGO
Though in the trade of warI have slain men，
Yet do Ihold it very stuff o’the conscience
Todo no contrivedmurder：Ilack 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
Nay， but he prated，
And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms
Against your honour
That， with the little godlinessI have，
I did full hard for bearhim． But， Ipray you， sir,
Are you fast married？ Be assured of this，
That the magnificois much beloved，
And hath inhiseffect a voicepotential
As double as the duke’s： he will divorce you；
Or put upon youwhat restraint and grievance
The law， with all his might to enforce it on，
Will give him cable
OTHELLO
Let him do his spite：
My services whichI havedone the signiory
Shall out-tongue his complaints. ‘Tis yet to know，——
Which， whenI 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 afortune
As this thatI have reach’d： for know， Iago，
But thatI love the gentle Desdemona，
I would not my unhoused free condition
Put into circumscriptionand confine
For thesea’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
Imustbefound：
My parts， my title and my perfect soul
Shall manifestme rightly． Is it they？
IAGO
By Janus， Ithink no．
［Enter CASSIO， and certain Officerswith 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- hasteappearance，
Even on the instant.
OTHELLO
What is the matter， thinkyou？
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 call’d for；
When，being not at yourlodgingto be found，
The senatehath sent about three several guests
To search you out.
OTHELLO
‘Tis well Iam foundvy you.
I will butspend a word here in the house，
Andgowithyou．
〔Exit〕
CASSIO
Ancient， what makes he here？
IAGO
Faith， he to-night hath boardeda 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－enterOTHELLO］
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］
IAGO
You，Roderigo！come，sir，Iam for you．
OTHELLO
Keep up your bright swords， for the dewwill rust them，
Good signior，you shall more command with years
Than with your weapons.
BRABANTIO
O thou foul thief，where hast thou stow’dmy daughter?
Damn’dasthouart，thouhastenchantedher；
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，
Would everhave， to incur ageneral mock，
Run from herguardageto thesootybosom
Of such a thingas thou， to fear，not to delight．
Judge me theworld， if’tisnotgrossin sense
That thou hast practised on her with foul charms，
Abused her delicate youthwith drugsor minerals
That weaken motion：I’ll have’t disputedon；
‘Tis probable and palpable
I therefore apprehend and do attach thee
For an abuserof the world， a practiser
Of arts inhibited and out of warrant．
Lay holduponhim：ifhedoresist，
Subdue him at his peril．
OTHELLO
Hold your hands，
Both you of my inclining，and the rest：
Wereitmycuetofight，Ishouldhaveknownit
Without a prompter． Where will youthatI go
To answer this your charge？
BRABANTIO
Toprison，tillfittime
Oflawandcourse ofdirectsession
Call thee to answer
OTHELLO
What ifI do obey？
How may the duke be therewithsatisfied，
Whose messengers are here about my side，
Upon some present business of the state
Tobring me to him？
First Officer
‘Tis true，most worthy signior；
The duke’s in council and your noble self，
I am sure，issentfor．
BRABANTIO
How！ the duke in council！
In this time of the night！Bring him away：
Mine’s not an idlecause：the duke himself，
Or any of my brothers of the state，
Cannot but feel this wrong as’twere their own；
For if such actions may havepassage free，
Bond-slavesand pagansshall our statesmenbe
［Exeunt］