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THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO； MOOR OF VENICE
SCENE III。 A council chamber。 The Duke and
Senators sitting at a table； Officers attending。
DUKE。 There is no composition in these news That gives them credit。
FIRST SENATOR。 Indeed they are disproportion'd； My letters say a
hundred and seven galleys。 DUKE。 And mine； a hundred and forty。
SECOND SENATOR。 And mine； two hundred。 But though they jump not
on a just account As in these cases； where the aim reports； 'Tis oft with
differenceyet 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； But the main article I do approve In fearful sense。
SAILOR。 ＇Within。＇ What； ho！ What； ho！ What； ho！ FIRST OFFICER。 A
messenger from the galleys。
Enter Sailor。 DUKE。 Now； what's the business？ SAILOR。 The
Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes； So was I bid report here to the
state By Signior Angelo。 DUKE。 How say you by this change？ FIRST
SENATOR。 This cannot be； By no assay of reason； 'tis a pageant To keep
us in false gaze。 When we consider The importancy of Cyprus to the Turk；
And let ourselves again but understand That as it more concerns the Turk
than Rhodes； So may he with more facile question bear it； For that it
stands not in such warlike brace； But altogether lacks the abilities That
Rhodes is dress'd in。 If we make thought of this； We must not think the
Turk is so unskillful To leave that latest which concerns him first；
Neglecting an attempt of ease and gain； To wake and wage a danger
profitless。 DUKE。 Nay； in all confidence； he's not for Rhodes。 FIRST
OFFICER。 Here is more news。
Enter a Messenger。
MESSENGER。 The Ottomites； reverend and gracious； Steering with
due course toward the isle of Rhodes； Have there injointed them with an
after fleet。 FIRST SENATOR。 Ay； so I thought。 How many； as you guess？
MESSENGER。 Of thirty sail； and now they do re…stem Their backward
course； bearing with frank appearance Their purposes toward Cyprus。
Signior Montano； Your trusty and most valiant servitor； With his free duty
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THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO； MOOR OF VENICE
recommends you thus； And prays you to believe him。 DUKE。 'Tis certain
then for Cyprus。 Marcus Luccicos； is not he in town？ FIRST SENATOR。
He's now in Florence。 DUKE。 Write from us to him； post…post…haste
dispatch。 FIRST SENATOR。 Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor。
Enter Brabantio； Othello； Iago； Roderigo； and Officers。
DUKE。 Valiant Othello； we must straight employ you Against the
general enemy Ottoman。 ＇To Brabantio。＇ I did not see you； welcome；
gentle signior； We lack'd your counsel and your help tonight。
BRABANTIO。 So did I yours。 Good your Grace； pardon me： Neither my
place nor aught I heard of business Hath raised me from my bed； nor doth
the general care Take hold on me； for my particular grief Is of so flood…
gate and o'erbearing nature That it engluts and swallows other sorrows；
And it is still itself。 DUKE。 Why； what's the matter？ BRABANTIO。 My
daughter！ O； my daughter！ ALL。 Dead？ BRABANTIO。 Ay； to me。 She is
abused； stol'n from me and corrupted By spells and medicines bought of
mountebanks； For nature so preposterously to err； Being not deficient；
blind； or lame of sense； Sans witchcraft could not。 DUKE。 Whoe'er he be
that in this foul proceeding Hath thus beguiled 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。 BRABANTIO。 Humbly I thank your Grace。 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't。 DUKE。 ＇To Othello。＇
What in your own part can you say to this？ BRABANTIO。 Nothing； but
this is so。 OTHELLO。 Most potent； grave； and reverend signiors； My very
noble and approved good masters； That I have ta'en away this old man's
daughter； It is most true； true； I have married her； The very head and front
of my offending Hath this extent； no more。 Rude am I in my speech； And
little blest with the soft phrase of peace； For since these arms of mine had
seven years' pith； Till now some nine moons wasted； they have used Their
dearest action in the tented field； And little of this great world can I speak；
More than pertains to feats of broil and battle； And therefore little shall I
grace my cause In speaking for myself。 Yet； by your gracious patience； I
will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver Of my whole course of love： what
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THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO； MOOR OF VENICE
drugs； what charms； What conjuration； and what mighty magic For such
proceeding I am charged withal I won his daughter。 BRABANTIO。 A
maiden never bold； Of spirit so still and quiet that her motion Blush'd at
herself； and shein spite of nature； Of years； of country； credit；
everything To fall in love with what she fear'd to look on！ It is judgement
maim'd and most imperfect； That will confess perfection so could err
Against all rules of nature； and must be driven To find out practices of
cunning hell Why this should be。 I therefore vouch again That with some
mixtures powerful o'er the blood； Or with some dram conjured to this
effect； He wrought upon her。 DUKE。 To vouch this is no proof； Without
more certain and more overt test Than these thin habits and poor
likelihoods Of modern seeming do prefer against him。 FIRST SENATOR。
But； Othello； speak。 Did you by indirect and forced courses Subdue and
poison this young maid's affections？ Or came it by request； and such fair
question As soul to soul affordeth？ OTHELLO。 I do beseech you； Send for
the lady to the Sagittary； And let her speak of me before her father。 If you
do find me foul in her report； The trust； the office I do hold of you； Not
only take away； but let your sentence Even fall upon my life。 DUKE。
Fetch Desdemona hither。 OTHELLO。 Ancient； conduct them； you best
know the place。 Exeunt Iago and Attendants。 And till she come； as truly as
to heaven I do confess the vices of my blood； So justly to your grave ears
I'll present How I did thrive in this fair lady's love And she in mine。
DUKE。 Say it； Othello。 OTHELLO。 Her father loved me； oft invited me；
Still question'd me the story of my life From year to year； the battles；
sieges； fortunes； That I have pass'd。 I ran it through； even from my boyish
days To the very moment that he bade me tell it： Wherein I spake of most
disastrous chances； Of moving accidents by flood and field； Of hair…
breadth 'scapes i' the imminent deadly breach； Of being taken by the
insolent foe And sold to slavery； of my redemption thence And portance in
my travels' history； Wherein of antres vast and deserts idle； Rough
quarries； rocks； and hills whose heads touch heaven； It was my hint to
speaksuch was the process And of the Cannibals that each other eat；
The Anthropophagi； and men whose heads Do grow beneath their
shoulders。 This to hear Would Desdemona seriously incline； But still the
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THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO； MOOR OF VENICE
house affairs would draw her thence； Which ever as she could with haste
dispatch； She'ld come again； and with a greedy ear Devour up my
discourse； which I observing； Took once a pliant hour； and found good
means To draw from her a prayer of earnest heart That I would all my
pilgrimage dilate； Whereof by parcels she had something heard； But not
intentively。 I did consent； And often did beguile her of her tears When I
did speak of some distressful stroke