Othello by William Shakespeare
Act 1 - Scene 2
Another street.
Iago : Though in the trade of war I have slain men,
[p]Yet do I hold it very
stuff o' the conscience
[p]To do no contrived murder: I lack
iniquity
[p]Sometimes to do me service: nine or ten times
[p]I had
thought to have yerk'd him here under the ribs.
Othello : 'Tis better as it is.
Iago : Nay, but he prated,
[p]And spoke such scurvy and provoking
terms
[p]Against your honour
[p]That, with the little godliness I
have,
[p]I did full hard forbear him. But, I pray you, sir,
[p]Are you
fast married? Be assured of this,
[p]That the magnifico is much
beloved,
[p]And hath in his effect a voice potential
[p]As double as
the duke's: he will divorce you;
[p]Or put upon you what restraint and
grievance
[p]The law, with all his might to enforce it on,
[p]Will
give him cable.
Othello : Let him do his spite:
[p]My services which I have done the
signiory
[p]Shall out-tongue his complaints. 'Tis yet to
know,--
[p]Which, when I know that boasting is an honour,
[p]I shall
promulgate--I fetch my life and being
[p]From men of royal siege, and
my demerits
[p]May speak unbonneted to as proud a fortune
[p]As this
that I have reach'd: for know, Iago,
[p]But that I love the gentle
Desdemona,
[p]I would not my unhoused free condition
[p]Put into
circumscription and confine
[p]For the sea's worth. But, look! what
lights come yond?
Iago : Those are the raised father and his friends:
[p]You were best go in.
Othello : Not I. I must be found:
[p]My parts, my title and my perfect
soul
[p]Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they?
Iago : By Janus, I think no.
Othello : The servants of the duke, and my lieutenant.
[p]The goodness of the
night upon you, friends!
[p]What is the news?
Cassio : The duke does greet you, general,
[p]And he requires your
haste-post-haste appearance,
[p]Even on the instant.
Othello : What is the matter, think you?
Cassio : Something from Cyprus as I may divine:
[p]It is a business of some
heat: the galleys
[p]Have sent a dozen sequent messengers
[p]This very
night at one another's heels,
[p]And many of the consuls, raised and
met,
[p]Are at the duke's already: you have been
[p]hotly call'd
for;
[p]When, being not at your lodging to be found,
[p]The senate
hath sent about three several guests
[p]To search you out.
Othello : 'Tis well I am found by you.
[p]I will but spend a word here in the
house,
[p]And go with you.
Cassio : Ancient, what makes he here?
Iago : 'Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land carack:
[p]If it prove lawful
prize, he's made for ever.
Cassio : I do not understand.
Iago : He's married.
Cassio : To who?
Iago : Marry, to--Come, captain, will you go?
Othello : Have with you.
Cassio : Here comes another troop to seek for you.
Iago : It is Brabantio. General, be advised;
[p]He comes to bad intent.
Othello : Holla! stand there!
Roderigo : Signior, it is the Moor.
Brabantio : Down with him, thief!
Iago : You, Roderigo! come, sir, I am for you.
Othello : Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.
[p]Good
signior, you shall more command with years
[p]Than with your weapons.
Brabantio : O thou foul thief, where hast thou stow'd my daughter?
[p]Damn'd as
thou art, thou hast enchanted her;
[p]For I'll refer me to all things
of sense,
[p]If she in chains of magic were not bound,
[p]Whether a
maid so tender, fair and happy,
[p]So opposite to marriage that she
shunned
[p]The wealthy curled darlings of our nation,
[p]Would ever
have, to incur a general mock,
[p]Run from her guardage to the sooty
bosom
[p]Of such a thing as thou, to fear, not to delight.
[p]Judge me
the world, if 'tis not gross in sense
[p]That thou hast practised on
her with foul charms,
[p]Abused her delicate youth with drugs or
minerals
[p]That weaken motion: I'll have't disputed on;
[p]'Tis
probable and palpable to thinking.
[p]I therefore apprehend and do
attach thee
[p]For an abuser of the world, a practiser
[p]Of arts
inhibited and out of warrant.
[p]Lay hold upon him: if he do
resist,
[p]Subdue him at his peril.
Othello : Hold your hands,
[p]Both you of my inclining, and the rest:
[p]Were it
my cue to fight, I should have known it
[p]Without a prompter. Where
will you that I go
[p]To answer this your charge?
Brabantio : To prison, till fit time
[p]Of law and course of direct
session
[p]Call thee to answer.
Othello : What if I do obey?
[p]How may the duke be therewith
satisfied,
[p]Whose messengers are here about my side,
[p]Upon some
present business of the state
[p]To bring me to him?
First Officer : 'Tis true, most worthy signior;
[p]The duke's in council and your
noble self,
[p]I am sure, is sent for.
Brabantio : How! the duke in council!
[p]In this time of the night! Bring him
away:
[p]Mine's not an idle cause: the duke himself,
[p]Or any of my
brothers of the state,
[p]Cannot but feel this wrong as 'twere their
own;
[p]For if such actions may have passage free,
[p]Bond-slaves and
pagans shall our statesmen be.
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Next: Act 1 - Scene 3
