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intentively。 I did consent； And often did beguile her of her tears When I
did speak of some distressful stroke That my youth suffer'd。 My story
being done； She gave me for my pains a world of sighs； She swore； in
faith； 'twas strange； 'twas passing strange； 'Twas pitiful； 'twas wondrous
pitiful。 She wish'd she had not heard it； yet she wish'd That heaven had
made her such a man； she thank'd me； And bade me； if I had a friend that
loved her； I should but teach him how to tell my story； And that would
woo her。 Upon this hint I spake： She loved me for the dangers I had pass'd；
And I loved her that she did pity them。 This only is the witchcraft I have
used。 Here comes the lady； let her witness it。
Enter Desdemona； Iago； and Attendants。
DUKE。 I think this tale would win my daughter too。 Good Brabantio；
Take up this mangled matter at the best： Men do their broken weapons
rather use Than their bare hands。 BRABANTIO。 I pray you； hear her
speak。 If she confess that she was half the wooer； Destruction on my head；
if my bad blame Light on the man！ Come hither； gentle mistress。 Do you
perceive in all this noble company Where most you owe obedience？
DESDEMONA。 My noble father； I do perceive here a divided duty。 To
you I am bound for life and education； My life and education both do learn
me How to respect you； you are the lord of duty； I am hitherto your
daughter。 But here's my husband； And so much duty as my mother show'd
To you； preferring you before her father； So much I challenge that I may
profess Due to the Moor； my lord。 BRABANTIO。 God be with you！ I have
done。 Please it your Grace； on to the state affairs； I had rather to adopt a
child than get it。 Come hither； Moor。 I here do give thee that with all my
heart Which； but thou hast already； with all my heart I would keep from
thee。 For your sake； jewel； I am glad at soul I have no other child； For thy
escape would teach me tyranny； To hang clogs on them。 I have done； my
lord。 DUKE。 Let me speak like yourself； and lay a sentence Which； as a
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THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO； MOOR OF VENICE
grise or step； may help these lovers Into your favor。 When remedies are
past； the griefs are ended By seeing the worst； which late on hopes
depended。 To mourn a mischief that is past and gone Is the next way to
draw new mischief on。 What cannot be preserved when Fortune takes；
Patience her injury a mockery makes。 The robb'd that smiles steals
something from the thief； He robs himself that spends a bootless grief。
BRABANTIO。 So let the Turk of Cyprus us beguile； We lose it not so long
as we can smile。 He bears the sentence well； that nothing bears But the
free comfort which from thence he hears； But he bears both the sentence
and the sorrow That； to pay grief； must of poor patience borrow。 These
sentences； to sugar or to gall； Being strong on both sides； are equivocal。
But words are words； I never yet did hear That the bruised heart was
pierced through the ear。 I humbly beseech you； proceed to the affairs of
state。 DUKE。 The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for Cyprus。
Othello； the fortitude of the place is best known to you； and though we
have there a substitute of most allowed sufficiency； yet opinion； a
sovereign mistress of effects； throws a more safer voice on you。 You must
therefore be content to slubber the gloss of your new fortunes with this
more stubborn and boisterous expedition。 OTHELLO。 The tyrant custom；
most grave senators； Hath made the flinty and steel couch of war My
thrice…driven bed of down。 I do agnize A natural and prompt alacrity I find
in hardness and do undertake These present wars against the Ottomites。
Most humbly therefore bending to your state； I crave fit disposition for my
wife； Due reference of place and exhibition； With such accommodation
and besort As levels with her breeding。 DUKE。 If you please； Be't at her
father's。 BRABANTIO。 I'll not have it so。 OTHELLO。 Nor I。
DESDEMONA。 Nor I。 I would not there reside To put my father in
impatient thoughts By being in his eye。 Most gracious Duke； To my
unfolding lend your prosperous ear； And let me find a charter in your
voice To assist my simpleness。 DUKE。 What would you； Desdemona？
DESDEMONA。 That I did love the Moor to live with him； My downright
violence and storm of fortunes May trumpet to the world。 My heart's
subdued Even to the very quality of my lord。 I saw Othello's visage in his
mind； And to his honors and his valiant parts Did I my soul and fortunes
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THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO； MOOR OF VENICE
consecrate。 So that； dear lords； if I be left behind； A moth of peace； and he
go to the war； The rites for which I love him are bereft me； And I a heavy
interim shall support By his dear absence。 Let me go with him。 OTHELLO。
Let her have your voices。 Vouch with me； heaven； I therefore beg it not To
please the palate of my appetite； Nor to comply with heatthe young
affects In me defunctand proper satisfaction； But to be free and
bounteous to her mind。 And heaven defend your good souls； that you think
I will your serious and great business scant For she is with me。 No； when
light…wing'd toys Of feather'd Cupid seal with wanton dullness My
speculative and officed instruments； That my disports corrupt and taint my
business； Let housewives make a skillet of my helm； And all indign and
base adversities Make head against my estimation！ DUKE。 Be it as you
shall privately determine； Either for her stay or going。 The affair cries
haste； And speed must answer't： you must hence tonight。 DESDEMONA。
Tonight； my lord？ DUKE。 This night。 OTHELLO。 With all my heart。
DUKE。 At nine i' the morning here we'll meet again。 Othello； leave some
officer behind； And he shall our commission bring to you； With such
things else of quality and respect As doth import you。 OTHELLO。 So
please your Grace； my ancient； A man he is of honesty and trust。 To his
conveyance I assign my wife； With what else needful your good Grace
shall think To be sent after me。 DUKE。 Let it be so。 Good night to
everyone。 ＇To Brabantio。＇ And； noble signior； If virtue no delighted beauty
lack； Your son…in…law is far more fair than black。 FIRST SENATOR。
Adieu； brave Moor； use Desdemona well。 BRABANTIO。 Look to her；
Moor； if thou hast eyes to see； She has deceived her father； and may thee。
Exeunt Duke； Senators； and Officers。 OTHELLO。 My life upon her faith！
Honest Iago； My Desdemona must I leave to thee。 I prithee； let thy wife
attend on her； And bring them after in the best advantage。 Come；
Desdemona； I have but an hour Of love； of worldly matters and direction；
To spend with thee。 We must obey the time。 Exeunt Othello and
Desdemona。 RODERIGO。 Iago！ IAGO。 What say'st thou； noble heart？
RODERIGO。 What will I do； thinkest thou？ IAGO。 Why； go to bed and
sleep。 RODERIGO。 I will incontinently drown myself。 IAGO。 If thou dost；
I shall never love thee after。 Why； thou silly gentleman！ RODERIGO。 It is
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THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO； MOOR OF VENICE
silliness to live when to live is torment； and then have we a prescription to
die when death is our physician。 IAGO。 O villainous！ I have looked upon
the world for four times seven years； and since I could distinguish betwixt
a benefit and an injury； I never found man that knew how to love himself。
Ere I would say I would drown myself for the love of a guinea hen； I
would change my humanity with a baboon。 RODERIGO。 What should I
do？ I confess it is my shame to be so fond； but it is not in my virtue to
amend it。 IAGO。 Virtue？ a fig！ 'Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus。
Our bodies are