Rodorigo.
Never tell me, I take it much unkindly,
That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse,
As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this.

Iago.
But you'll not hear me.
If ever I did dream of such a matter, abhor me.

Rod.
Thou told'st me thou did'st hold him in thy hate.

Iago.
Despise me,
If I do not. Three great ones of the city,

In personal suit, to make me his lieutenant,
Off-cap'd to him: and, by the faith of man,
I know my price, I'm worth no worse a place.
But he, as loving his own pride and purpose,
Nonsuits my mediators. “For certes,” says he,
“I have already chose my officer.”
And what was he?
Forsooth, a great arithmetician,
One Michael Cassio; a fellow
That never set a squadron in the field,
Nor the division of a battle knows,
More than a spinster.
He, in good time, must his lieutenant be,
And I, sir, (bless the mark!) his moorship's ancient.

Rod.
By Heav'n, I rather would have been his hangman.

Iago.
Now, sir, be judge yourself,
If I in any just term am assign'd
To love the Moor.

Rod.
I would not follow him, then.

Iago.
O, sir, content you;
I follow him, to serve my turn upon him.
Heaven is my judge, not I
For love and duty; but, seeming so,
For my peculiar end.
For, when my outward action doth demonstrate
The native act and figure of my heart,
In compliment extern, 'tis not long after
But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve,
For daws to peck at. I'm not what I seem.

Rod.
What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe,
If he can carry her thus!

Iago.
Call up her father,
Rouse him, make after him, poison his delight.
Tho' his joy be joy,
Yet throw such changes of vexation on't,
As it may lose some colour.

Rod.
Here is her father's house. I'll call aloud.

Iago.
Do, with like timorous accent, and dire yell,
As when, by night and negligence, a fire
Is 'spied in populous cities.

Rod.
What, hoa! Brabantio! signior Brabantio! hoa!

Iago.
Awake! What, hoa! Brabantio! hoa, thieves! thieves!
Look to your house, your daughter, and your bags.
Thieves, thieves.* ^note Brabantio appears above, at a Window.

Bra.
What is the matter, there?

Rod.
Signior, is all your family within?

Iago.
Are all your doors lock'd?

Bra.
Why? Wherefore ask you this?

Iago.
Sir, you're robb'd:
You have lost half your soul;
Ev'n now, ev'n very now, an old black ram† ^note
Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise,
Awake the snorting citizens with the bell,
Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you.
Arise, I say.

Bra.
What, have you lost your wits!

Rod.
Most reverend signior, do you know my voice?

Bra.
Not I. What are you?

Rod.
My name is Rodorigo.

Bra.
The worse welcome.
In honest plainness, thou hast heard me say,
My daughter's not for thee. And now in madness
Dost thou come, to start my quiet.

Rod.
Sir, sir, sir!—

Bra.
But thou must needs be sure,
My spirit and my place have in their power
To make this bitter to thee.

Rod.
Patience, good sir.

Bra.
What, tell'st thou me of robbing? This is Venice;
My house is not a grange.

Rod.
Most brave Brabantio,
In simple and pure soul, I come to you.

Iago.

Sir, you'll have your daughter cover'd with a Barbary horse: you'll have your nephews neigh to you: you'll have coursers for cousins; and gennets for germans.* ^note

Bra.
What profane wretch art thou?

Iago.

I am one, sir, that comes to tell you, your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs.

Bra.
Thou art—a villain.

Iago.
You are—a senator.

Bra.
This thou shalt answer. I know thee, Rodorigo.

Rod.
Sir, I will answer any thing. But I beseech you,
Straight satisfy yourself.
If she be in her chamber, or your house,
Let loose on me the justice of the state,
For thus deluding you.

Bra.† ^note
Give me a taper.—Call up my people.—

This accident is not unlike my dream;
Belief of it oppresses me, already.
Light; I say, light!

Iago.
Farewel; for I must leave you.
It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place,
To be produc'd (as, if I stay, I shall)
Against the Moor.
In which regard,
Tho' I do hate him, as I do hell's pains,
Yet, for necessity of present life,
I must shew out a flag and sign of love,
(Which is, indeed, but sign.) That you may surely find him,
Lead to the Sagittary the raised search;
And there will I be with him. So farewel. [Exit. Enter Brabantio, and Servants, with Torches.

Bra.
It is too true an evil. Gone she is!
Now, Rodorigo,
Where didst thou see her? Oh! unhappy girl.
With the Moor, saidst thou?
How didst thou know 'twas he?
Get more tapers.
Raise all my kindred—Are they married, think you?

Rod.
Truly, they are.

Bra.
Oh Heaven! How gat she out?
Oh treason of my blood!
Fathers, from hence, trust not your daughter's minds,
By what you see them act. Are there not charms,
By which the property of youth and maid-hood
May be abus'd? Have you not read, Rodorigo,
Of some such thing?

Rod.
Yes, sir, I have, indeed.

Bra.
Call up my brother:
Some one way, some another—Do you know
Where we may apprehend her and the Moor?

Rod.
I think I can discover him, if you please
To get good guard, and go along with me.

Bra.
Pray you, lead on. At ev'ry house I'll call,

I may command at most. Get weapons, hoa!
And raise some special officers of might.
On, good Rodorigo, I'll deserve your pains. [Exeunt.

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