SCENE VI.
Enter Brabantio, Rodorigo, with officers and torches.
Iago.
It is Brabantio: General, be advis'd;
He comes to bad intent.
Oth.
Holla! stand there.
Rod.
Signior, it is the Moor.
Bra.
Down with him, thief!
[They draw on both sides.
Iago.
You, Rodorigo! come, Sir, I am for you—
-- 286 --
Oth.
Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust 'em.
Good Signior, you shall more command with years,
Than with your weapons.
Bra.
O thou foul thief! where hast thou stow'd my daughter?
Damn'd as thou art, thou hast enchanted her;
For I'll refer me to all things of sense,
If she in chains of magick were not bound,
Whether a maid, so tender, fair, and happy,
So opposite to marriage, that she shunn'd
3 note
The wealthy culled darlings of our nation,
Would ever have, t'incur a general mock,
Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom
Of such a thing as thou, to fear, not to delight?
4 noteJudge me the world, if 'tis not gross in sense,
That thou hast practis'd on her with foul charms,
Abus'd her delicate youth with drugs or minerals,
That weaken (a) note Notion.—I'll hav't disputed on;
'Tis probable, and palpable to thinking.
I therefore apprehend and do attach thee
For an abuser of the world, a practiser
Of arts inhibited and out of warrant;
Lay hold upon him; if he do resist,
Subdue him at his peril.
Oth.
Hold your hands,
Both you of my inclining, and the rest.
-- 287 --
Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it
Without a prompter. Where will you I go
To answer this your charge?
Bra.
To prison, 'till fit time
Of law, and course of direct Session
Call thee to answer.
Oth.
What if I do obey?
How may the Duke be therewith satisfied,
Whose messengers are here about my side,
Upon some present business of the State,
To bring me to him?
Offi.
True, most worthy signior,
The Duke's in Council; and your noble self,
I'm sure, is sent for.
Bra.
How! the Duke in Council?
In this time of the night? bring him away;
Mine's not an idle cause. The Duke himself,
Or any of my Brothers of the State,
Cannot but feel this wrong, as 'twere their own;
For if such actions may have passage free,
5 noteBond-slaves, and Pagans, shall our Statesmen be.
[Exeunt.
-- 288 --
Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
