Wherein the toged counf’lors can propofer (2)
As masterly as he; mere prattle, without practice,
Is all his soldiership:

he had th' ele&tion; !
And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof'..!
At Rhodes, at Cyprus, and on other grounds..my
Christian and heathen must be belee'd and calm'de
By Debitor and Creditor, this Counter-Cafter;
He, in good time, must his lieutenant be,
And I, (God bless the mark !) his moor-ship’s ancient.

Rod. By Heav'n, I rather would have been his hangman.

lago. But there's no remedy, 'tis the curse of service ; Preferment goes by letter and affection, And not by old gradation, where each second Stood heir to thi first. Now, Sir, be judge yourself, If I in any juft term am asign'd To love the Moor.

Rod. I would not follow him then.

lago. O Sir, content you;
I follow him to ferve my turn upon him.
We cannot all be masters, nor all matters
Cannot be truly follow'd. You halt mark
Many' a duteous and knee-crooking knave,
That, doting on his own obsequious bondage,

(2) Wherein the tongued Confuls.) So the generality of the Ime presions read; but the oldest Quarto has it roged; (which gave the Hint for my Emendation;) the Senators, that affifted the Duke in Council, in their proper Gowns -- But let me explain why I have rengared to fubfti: ute Counsellors in the Room of Core fuis: and then, I hope, the Alteration will riot appear arbitrary; The Venetian Nobility, it is well known, constitute the great Council of the Senate, and are a part of the Administration; and Cum mrned to assist and counsel the Dage, who is Prince of the Senate; and, in that Regard, has only Precedency before the other Magi!

So that, in this Respect, they may very properly be called Counsellors. Besides, though the Government of Venice was Democratick at first, under Consuls and Tribunes; that Form of Power has bëen totally abrogated, since Doges have been elected: And whatever Consuls of other States may be resident there, yet they have no more a Voice, or Place, in the publick Councils, or in what concerns Peace or War than foreign Ambassadors can have in our Parliament.

Wears out his time, much like his master's afs,
For nought but provender; and when he's old, cashier'd;
Whip me such honeft knaves-

-Others there are,
Who, trimm'd in forms and visages of duty,
Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves ;
And, throwing but shows of service on their lords, A
Well thrive by them; and when they've lin’d their coats,
Do themselves homage. These folks have some foul,
And such a one do I profess myself.
It is as sure as you are Rodorigo,
Were I the Moor, I would not be lago :
In following him, I follow but myself,
Heav'n is my judge, not I, for love and duty:
But, seeming so, for my peculiar end : at
For when my outward action doth demonstrate
The native act and figure of my

heart
In compliment extern, 'tis not long after
But I will wear my heart upon my fleeve,
For daws to peck at; I'm not what I seem.

Rod. What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe, If he can carry her thus ?

DVOR lago. Call up her father,

9,682 v Roule him, make after him, poison his delight; un Proclaim him in the streets, incense her kinsmen: A And tho' he in a fertile climate dwell, Plague him with flies; tho' that his joy be joy, Yet throw such changes of vexation on't, As it may lose some colour.

Rod. Here is her father's house, I'll call aloud.

lago. Do, with like timorous accent, and dire yell, As when, by night and negligence, the fire Is spied in populous cities.

Rod. What, ho! Brabantio! Signior Brabantio ! ho. Jago. Awake! what, ho! Brabantio ! ho! thieves !

thieves ! Look to your house, your, daughter, and your bags : Thieves thieves !

Brabantio Brabantio appears above, at a Window.

Bra. What is the reason of this terrible summons ? What is the matter there?

Rod. Signior, is all your family within ?
Iago. Are all doors lock'd ?
Bra. Why? wherefore ask

you

this? Iago. Zounds! Sir, you're robb’d, for same, put on

your gown ;
Your heart is burst, you have lost half your

foul :
Ev'n now, ev’n very now, an old black ram
Is tupping your white ewe. 'Arife, asife, T
Awake the snorting citizens with the bell,
Or else the Devil will make a grand fire of you.
Arise, I say.

Bra. What, have you lost your wits?
Rod. Moft reverend fignior, do you know my voice
Bra. Not I; what are you?
Rod. My name is Rodorige.

Bra. The worse welcome;
I've charg'd thee not to haunt about my doors :
In honest plainnefs thou haft heard me say,
My daughter's not for thee. And now in madness,
Being full of fupper and diftemp'ring draughts,
Upon malicious bravery dost thou come
To start my quiet.

Rod. Sir, Sir, Sir

Bra. But thou must needs be sure,
My spirit'and my place have in their power
To make this bitter to thee. :-

Rod. Patience, good Sir.
Bra. What tell’it thou me of robbing? this is l'enice:
My house is not a grange.

Rod. Most grave Brabantio,
In simple and pure foul, I come to you.

lago. 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 rufians; you'll have your daughter cover'd with a Barbary horse, you'll bave your nephews neigh to you; you'll have coursers for cousins, and gennets for germanes.

Bra. What prophane wretch art thou?

lago. 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. logo. You are a fenator. Bra. This thou shalt answer. I know thee, Rodorigo.

Rod. Sir, I will answer any thing. But I beseech you, If't be your pleasure and most wile consent, (As partly, I find, it is,) that your fair daughter, At this oud even and dull watch o’th' night! Tranported with no worse nor better guard, But with a knave of hire, a Gondelier, To the gross clasps of a lascivious Moor: If this be known to you, and your allowance, We then have done you bold and saucy wrongs. But if you know not this, my manners tell me, We have your wrong rebuke. Do not believe, That from the sense of all civility I thus would play, and trifle with your reverence. Your daughter, if you have not giv'n her leave, I say again, hath made a gross revolt; Tying her duty, beauty, wit and fortunes To an extravagant and wheeling stranger, Of here and every where ; straight fatisfy yourself. If the be in her chamber, or your house, Let loose on me the justice of the State For thus deluding you.

Pra. Strike on the tinder, ho!
Give me a taper ;-

call
up
all

my people ;-
This accident is not unlike my dream,
Belief of it opprefies me already.
Light, I say, light!

Tago. Farewel; for I must leave you.
It seems not meet, nor wholsome to my place,
To be produc'd (as, if I stay, I shall)
Against the Moor. For I do know, the State,
However this may gall him with some check,

Cannot

Cannot with safety cast him. For he's embark'd
With such loud reason to the Cyprus' wars,
Which ev'n now stand in act, that, for their souls,
Another of his fadom they have none,
To lead their business. In which regard,
Tho' I do hate him as I do hell's pains,
Yet, for neceflity of present life,
I muft fhew out a flag and sign of love :
(Which is indeed, but lign.) Thatyou may furely find him,
Lead to the Sagittary the rais'd search ;
And there will I be with him. So, farewel.

[Exit.
Enter Brabantio, and servants with torches.
Bra. It is too trúe an evil. Gone she is ;
And what's "to come of my despised time,
Is nought but bitterness. Now, Rodorigo,
Where didst thou see her - oh unhappy girl!
With the Moor, faidit thou ?? who would be a father?
How didit thou know 'twas me? oh, me deceives me
Paft thought--What said she to you ? get more tapers
Raise all my kindred--are they married, think you?

Rod. Truly, I think, they are.

Brä. Oh heaven! how gat me out Oh treason of "my blood ! 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, Rodorigo, of some such thing?

Rod. Yes, Sir, I have, indeed.

Bru. Call up my brother: oh, 'would you had had her; Some one way, some another-- Do

you

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.
Bra. Pray you, lead on.