Is of so flood-gate and o'erbearing nature, Duke. Why, what's the matter? Bra. My daughter! O, my daughter! Bra. Ay, to me; She is abus'd, stol'n from me, and corrupted By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks : Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense, Sans witchcraft could not Duke. Whoe'er he be, that, in this foul proceeding, Hath thus beguil'd your daughter of herself, And you of her, the bloody book of law You shall yourself read in the bitter letter, After your own sense; yea, though our proper son Bra. Humbly I thank your grace. Here is the man, this Moor; whom now, it seems, Your special mandate, for the state affairs, Hath hither brought. Duke & Sen. We are very sorry for it. Duke. What, in your own part, can you say to this? Bra. Nothing, but this is so. [TO OTHELLO. Oth. Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, My very noble and approv'd good masters,— It is most true; true, I have married her; Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech, And little bless'd with the set phrase of peace; And little of this great world can I speak, More than pertains to feats of broil and battle; In speaking for myself: Yet, by your gracious patience, I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what charms, What conjuration, and what mighty magic, (For such proceeding I am charg'd withal,) I won his daughter with. Bra. A maiden never bold; Of spirit so still and quiet, that her motion Why this should be. I therefore vouch again, Duke. To vouch this, is no proof; Without more certain and more overt test, Subdue and poison this young maid's affections? Oth. I do beseech you, Send for the lady to the Sagittary, And let her speak of me before her father: The trust, the office, I do hold of you, Not only take away, but let your sentence Duke. Fetch Desdemona hither. Oth. Ancient, conduct them; you best know the place. [Exeunt IAGO and Attendants. And, till she come, as truly as to heaven I do confess the vices of my blood, So justly to your grave ears I'll present Duke. Say it, Othello. Oth. Her father lov'd me; oft invited me; From year to year; the battles, sieges, fortunes, I ran it through, even from my boyish days, Of hair-breadth scapes i'the imminent deadly breach; And sold to slavery; of my redemption thence, And portance in my travel's history: Wherein of antres vast, and desarts idle, Rough quarries, rocks, and hills whose heads touch heaven, It was my hint to speak, such was the process; And of the Cannibals that each other eat, The Anthropophagi, and men whose heads Do grow beneath their shoulders. These things to hear, But still the house affairs would draw her thence; Devour up my discourse: Which I observing, Whereof by parcels she had something heard, And often did beguile her of her tears, 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 that would woo her. Upon this hint, I spake; She lov'd me for the dangers I had pass'd; And I lov'd her, that she did pity them. This only is the witchcraft I have us'd; 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, Bra. I pray you, hear her speak; If she confess, that she was half the wooer, Des. 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; To you, preferring you before her father, Bra. God be with you!-I have done :— I here do give thee that with all my heart, I am glad at soul I have no other child; |