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.

Bra.
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 you must owe obedience?

Des.
My noble father,
I do perceive here a divided duty;
To you I'm bound for life and education:
My life and education both do learn me
How to respect you. You're the lord of duty;
I'm hitherto your daughter. But here's my husband;
And so much duty as my mother shew'd
To you, preferring you before her father;
So much I challenge, that I may profess
Due to the Moor, my lord.

Bra.
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'm 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.
^{8 note}Let me speak like our self; and lay a sentence,
Which, as a grise, or step, may help these lovers
Into your favour—
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 preserv'd 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.

Bra.
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.
^{9 note}

Beseech you, now to the affairs o' th' 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 safe voice on you; you must therefore be content to slubber the gloss of your new fortunes, with this more stubborn and boisterous expedition.

Oth.
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
This present war 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.
Why, at her father's.

Bra.
I will not have it so.

Oth.
Nor I.

Des.
Nor would I there reside,
To put my father in impatient thoughts
By being in his eye. Most gracious Duke,
To my unfolding lend your gracious ear,
And let me find a charter in your voice

T' assist my simpleness.

Duke.
What would you, Desdemona?

Des.
That I did love the Moor to live with him,
^{1 note}
My down-right violence to forms, my fortunes
May trumpet to the world. My heart's subdu'd
Ev'n to the very quality of my lord;
I saw Othello's visage in his mind,
And to his honours and his valiant parts
Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate.
So that, dear lords, if I be left behind
A moth of peace, and he go to the war,
^{2 note}

Oth.
Your voices, lords; beseech you, let her will
Have a free way. I therefore beg it not,
To please the palate of my appetite;
^{3 note}
Nor to comply with heat, the young affects

In my defunct and proper Satisfaction;
But to be free and bounteous to her mind.
And heav'n 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 foil with wanton dulness
My speculative and offic'd instruments,
That my disports corrupt and taint my business;
Let housewifes 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,
Or for her stay or going; th' affair cries haste;
And speed must answer. You must hence to night.

Des.
To night, my lord?

Duke.
This night.

Oth.
With all my heart.

Duke.
At nine i'th' morning here we'll meet again.
Othello, leave some officer behind,
And he shall our commission bring to you;
And such things else of quality and respect
As doth import you.

Oth.
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 every one. And, noble Signior,
^{4 note}If virtue no belighted beauty lack,
Your son-in-law is far more fair than black.

Sen.
Adieu, brave Moor, use Desdemona well.

Bra.
Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see.
She has deceiv'd her father, and may thee. [Exit Duke, with Senators.

Oth.
My life upon her faith.—Honest Iago,
My Desdemona must I leave to thee;
I pr'ythee, let thy wife attend on her;
And bring her after in the best advantage.
Come, Desdemona, I have but an hour
Of love, of worldly matter and direction
To speak with thee. We must obey the time. [Exeunt.

Previous section

Next section