Enter a Messenger. Mes. The Ottomites, reverend and gracious, Steering with due course toward the isle of Rhodes, Have there injointed them with an after fleet. 351 1 Sen. Ay, so I thought :-How many, as you guess? Mes. Of thirty sail: and now they do re-stem Their backward course, bearing with frank appear ance Their purposes toward Cyprus. Signior Montano, Your trusty and most valiant servitor, With his free duty, recommends you thus, And prays you to believe him. Duke. 'Tis certain then for Cyprus. Marcus Lucchesé, is not he in town? 1 Sen. He's now in Florence. ვით Duke. Write from us; wish him, post, post-haste : dispatch. 1 Sen. Here comes Brabantio, and the valiant Moor. Enter BRABANT10, OTHELLO, IAGO, RODERIGO, and Officers. Duke. Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you Against the general enemy Ottoman. I did not see you; welcome gentle signior; [To BRAB. Bra. We lack'd your counsel and your help to-night. Bra. So did I yours: Good your grace, pardon me; Neither my place, nor aught I heard of business, Hath 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? Bra. My daughter! O, my daughter! Bra. Ay, to me; She is abus'd, stol'n from me, and corrupted By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks: Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense, 370 381 Duke. Whoe'er he be, that, in this foul proceeding, Hath thus beguil'd your daughter of herself, And you of her, the bloody book of law You shall yourself read in the bitter letter, After your own sense; yea, though our proper son Stood in your action. Bra. Humbly I thank your grace. 390 Here is the man, this Moor; whom now, it seems, Your special mandate, for the state affairs, Hath hither brought. All. We are very sorry for it. Duke. What, in your own part, can you say to this? [TO OTHELLO. Bra. Bra. Nothing, but this is so. 400 Oth. Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, More than pertains to feats of broil and battle; In speaking for myself: Yet, by your gracious pa tience, I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver 410 Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what charms, What conjuration, and what mighty magic (For such proceeding I am charg'd withal), I won his daughter with. Bra. A maiden never bold; Of spirit so still and quiet, that her motion Blush'd at herself; And she,-in spite of nature, Το To find out practices of cunning hell, Why this should be. I therefore vouch again, Duke. To vouch this, is no proof; * Without more certain and more overt test, Oth. I do beseech you, Send for the lady to the Sagittary, 430 And let her speak of me before her father: 440 The trust, the office, I do hold of you, Duke. Fetch Desdemona hither. [Exeunt Two or Three. Oth Ancient, conduct them; you best know the place : [Exit IAGO. And, 'till she come, as truly as to heaven I do confess the vices of my blood, 450 Duke. Duke. Say it, Othello. Oth. Her father lov'd me; oft invited me; From year to year, the battles, sieges, fortunes, I ran it through, even from my boyish days, 460 Of hair-breadth scapes i' the imminent deadly breach; And sold to slavery; of my redemption thence, Wherein of antres vast, and desarts idle, Rough quarries, rocks, and hills whose heads touch heaven, It was my hint to speak, such was the process; The Anthropophagi, and men whose heads Do grow beneath their shoulders. These things to hear, Would Desdemona seriously incline: But still the house affairs would draw her thence; She'd come again, and with a greedy ear Devour up my discourse: Which I observing, Whereof by parcels she had something heard, 470 But |