I am dead, Horatio:-Wretched queen, adieu! You that look pale and tremble at this chance, Thou liv'st; report me and my cause aright Ifor. Never believe it; I am more an antique Roman than a Dane, Ham. As thou'rt a man, [it. Give me the cup; let go; by heaven I'll have O God!-Horatio, what a wounded name, Things standing thus unknown, shall live behind me? If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart, Absent thee from felicity awhile, [pain, And in this harsh world draw thy breath in To tell my story. [March afar off, and Shot within. What warlike noise is this? Osr. Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from Poland, To the ambassadors of England gives Ham. O, I die, Horatio; The potent poison quite o'er-crowst my spirit; [March within. Enter FORTINBRAS, the ENGLISH AMBASSADORS, and others. What feast is toward in thine eternal cell, 1 Amb. The sight is dismal; And our affairs from England come too late: The ears are senseless, that should give us hearing, To tell him, his commandment is fulfill'd, That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead: Where should we have our thanks? Hor. Not from his mouth,* Had it the ability of life to thank you; Are here arriv'd; give order, that these bodies Fort. Let us haste to hear it, And call the noblest to the audience. ACT I. SCENE Venice.-A Street. Enter RODERIGO and IAGO. Rod. Tush, never tell me, I take it much unkindly, That thou, Iago,-who hast had my purse, As if the strings were thine,-shouldst know of this. Iago. 'Sblood, but you will not hear me :If ever I did dream of such a matter, Abhor me. Rod. Thou told'st me, thou didst hold him in thy hate. Iago. Despise me, if I do not. Three great ones of the city, In personal suit to make me his lieutenant, My mediators; for, certes, says he, And what was he? Wherein the toged consuls* can propose By debitor and creditor, this counter-caster ;+ Rod. By heaven, I rather would have been his hangman. lago. But there's no remedy; 'tis the curse of service; Preferment goes by letter, and affection, Whether I in any just term am affin'd÷ Rod. I would not follow him then. I follow him to serve my turn upon him: And, throwing but shows of service on their lords, Do well thrive by them, and, when they have lin'd their coats, Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul; And such a one do I profess myself. It is as sure as you are Roderigo, Iugo. Call up her father, [owe,t Rouse him: make after him, poison his delight, Proclaim him in the streets; incense her kins Thieves! thieves! BRABANTIO, above, at u Window. Bra. What is the reason of this terrible sumWhat is the matter there? [mons? [soul; Rod. Siguior, is all your family within? Bra. What, have you lost your wits? my voice? Bra. Not I; What are you? Rod. My name is-Roderigo. Bra. The worse welcome: [doors: I have charg'd thee, not to haunt about my In honest plainness thou hast heard me say, My daughter is not for thee; and now, in mad ness, Being full of supper, and distempering draughts, Upon malicious bravery, dost thou come Rod. Sir, Sir, Sir, Sir, Bra. But thou must needs be sure, My spirit, and my place, have in them power To make this bitter to thee. Rod. Patience, good Sir. Bra. What tell'st thou me of robbing? this is Venice; My house is not a grange.” Rod. Most grave Brabantio, In simple and pure soul I come to you. Iago. 'Zounds, Sir, you are one of those, that will not serve God, if the devil bid you. Because we come to do you service, you think we are ruffians: You'll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse; you'll have your nephews neigh to you: you'll have coursers for cousins, and gennets for germans.+ Bra. What profane wretch art thou? Iugo. I am one, Sir, that comes to tell you, your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs. Bra. Thou art a villain. Bra. This thou shalt answer: I know thee, Rod. Sir, I will answer any thing. But I If't be your pleasure, and most wise consent, (As partly, I find, it is,) that your fair daughter, At this odd-event and dull watch o'the night, To the gross clasps of a lascivious Moor,- wrongs; [me, But, if you know not this, my manners tell We have your wrong rebuke. Do not believe, That, from the sense of all civility, [ence : I thus would play and trifle with your reverYour daughter,-if you have not given her leave, I say again, hath made a gross revolt; If she be in her chamber, or your house, Bra. Strike on the tinder, ho! [Exit from above. With such loud reason to the Cyprus' wars, To lead their business; in which regard, I must show out a flag and sign of love, Which is indeed but sign. That you shal surely find him, Lead to the Sagittary the rais'd search; And there will I be with him. So, farewell, [Exil. 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, As double as the duke's; he will divorce you; Oth. Let him do his spite: My services, which I have done the signiory, Shall out-tongue his complaints. 'Tis yet to know, [our, (Which, when I know that boasting is an honI shall promulgate,) I fetch my life and being From men of royal siege; and my demerits May speak, unbonnetted, to as proud a for tune As this that I have reach'd: For know, Iago, * Old age. + Brabantio, magnifico is his title as a Senator. Demerits has the same meaning in Shakspeare as merits. Put into circumspection 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 You were best go in. [friends: Oth. Not I: I must be found; My parts, my title, and my perfect soul, Oth. The servants of the duke, and my lieutenant. What is the news? Cas. The duke does greet you, general; divine; Oth. Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.[years, Good signior, you shall more command with 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 bound, Whether a maid-so tender, fair, and happy; So opposite to marriage, that she shunn'd' The wealthy curled darlings of our nation,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.§ Following. A rich vessel. + Searchers. To terrify not delight Both you of my inclining, and the rest: [it Were it my cue to fight, I should have known Without a prompter.-Where will you that I To answer this your charge? Bra. To prison: till fit time Of law, and course of direct session, Oth. What if I do obey? How may the duke be therewith satisfied; Igo Of: "Tis true, most worthy signior, The duke's in council; and your noble self, I am sure, is sent for. Bra. How! the duke in council! In this time of the night!-Bring him away: Mine's not an idle cause: the duke himself, Or any of my brothers of the state, [own: Cannot but feel this wrong, as 'twere their For if such actions may have passage free, Bond-slaves and pagans, shall our statesmen be. [Exeunt. So may he with more facile question* bear it, We must not think, the Turk is so unskilful, Off. Here is more news. Enter a MESSenger. Mess. The Ottomites, reverend and gracious, Steering with due course toward the isle of Rhodes, Have there injointed them with an after fleet. 1 Sen. Ay, so I thought:-How many, as you guess? Mess. Of thirty sail: and now do they re stem Their backward course, bearing with frank appearance [tano, Their purposes toward Cyprus.-Signior MonYour trusty and most valiant servitor, With his free duty recommends you thus, And prays you to believe him. Duke. "Tis certain then for Cyprus.Marchus Lucchesé, is he not in town? 1 Sen. He's now in Florence. Duke. Write from us; wish him post-posthaste: despatch. 1 Sen. Here comes Brabantio, with the valiant Moor. SCENE III.-The same.-A Council Chamber. Enter BRABANTIO, OTHELLO, IAGO, RODERIGO, The DUKE, and SENATORS, sitting at a Tuble; Officers attending. and Officers. Duke. Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you Duke. There is no compositiont in these Against the general enemy Ottoman. news, That gives them credit. 1 Sen. Indeed, they are disproportion'd; My letters say, a hundred and seven gallies. Duke. And mine, a hundred and forty. 2 Sen. And mine, two hundred : But though they jump not on a just account, (As in these cases, where the aim‡ reports, "Tis oft with difference,) yet do they all confirm A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus. Duke. Nay, it is possible enough to judgement; I do not so secure me in the error, Sailor. [Within.] What ho! what ho! what ho! Enter an OFFICER, with a SAILOR. Off. A messenger from the gallies. I did not see you; welcome, gentle Signior; [To BRABANTIO. We lack'd your counsel and your help to-night. Bra. So did I yours: Good your grace, par[ness, don me; Neither my place, nor aught I heard of busiHath rais'd me from my bed; nor doth the general care Take hold on me; for my particular grief Duke. Why, what's the matter? Bru. My daughter! O, my daughter! Bra. Ay, to me; She is abus'd, stol'n from me, and corrupted For nature so preposterously to err, Sailor. The Turkish preparation makes for Sans witchcraft could not Rhodes; So was I bid report here to the state, By signior Angelo. Duke. How say you by this change? 1 Sen. This cannot be, By no assay of reason; 'tis a pageant, To keep us in false gaze: When we consider The pagans and bond-slaves of Africa. + Consistency. 1 Conjecture. Duke. Whoe'er he be, that, in this foul proceeding, Hath thus beguil'd your daughter of herself, |