Scene II

[Another street.]

Enter Othello, Iago, and Attendants with torches.

IAGO:

Though in the trade of war I have slain men,
Yet do I hold it very stuff o' the conscience
To do no contrived murder. I lack iniquity
Sometimes to do me service. Nine or ten times
I had thought to have yerk'd him here under the ribs.(5)

IAGO:

Although I have slain men during a war,
I believe it is a grave matter of the conscience
To do a premeditated murder. I don’t have evil in me
Sometimes to do me service. Nine or ten times
I had thought to have stabbed him here under the ribs.

OTHELLO:

'Tis better as it is.

OTHELLO:

It is better as it is.

IAGO:

Nay, but he prated
And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms
Against your honor
That, with the little godliness I have,(10)
I did full hard forbear him. But I pray you, sir,
Are you fast married? Be assured of this,
That the magnifico is much beloved,
And hath in his effect a voice potential
As double as the Duke's. He will divorce you,(15)
Or put upon you what restraint and grievance
The law, with all his might to enforce it on,
Will give him cable.

IAGO:

No, but he chattered on,
And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms
Against your honor,
That, with the little godliness I have,
I worked hard to tolerate him. But, I beg you, sir,
Are you really married? Be assured of this,
That the magnifico is very popular;
And has, in his office, a voice equal
To twice the duke's. he will divorce you;
Or apply to you what restraint and grievance
The law will allow him to do,
With all his might to do it.

OTHELLO:

Let him do his spite.
My services, which I have done the signiory,(20)
Shall out-tongue his complaints. 'Tis yet to know—
Which, when I know that boasting is an honor,
I shall promulgate—I fetch my life and being
From men of royal siege; and my demerits
May speak unbonneted to as proud a fortune(25)
As this that I have reach'd. For know, Iago,
But that I love the gentle Desdemona,
I would not my unhoused free condition
Put into circumscription and confine
For the sea's worth. But, look! What lights come yond?(30)

OTHELLO:

Let him do his worse.
My services that I have done for the signiory
Shall out-shout his complaints. It is still to know,
Which one I shall proclaim, when I know that boasting is
An honor, I earn my living and being
From men of royal battle; and my demerits
May speak publicly to as proud a fortune
As this that I have reached, because know, Iago,
Except that I love the gentle Desdemona,
I would not have my absolutely free condition
Limited and confined
For the sea's worth. But, look! what lights are coming?

IAGO:

Those are the raised father and his friends.
You were best go in.

IAGO:

Those are the awakened father and his friends.
You had better go in.

OTHELLO:

Not I; I must be found.
My parts, my title, and my perfect soul
Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they?(35)

OTHELLO:

Not I; I must be found;
My parts, my title, and my perfect soul
Shall show me truthfully. Is it they?

IAGO:

By Janus, I think no.

Enter Cassio and certain Officers with torches.

IAGO:

By Janus, I don’t think so.

OTHELLO:

The servants of the Duke?
And my lieutenant?
The goodness of the night upon you, friends!
What is the news?(40)

OTHELLO:

The servants of the duke and my lieutenant.
The goodness of the night on you, friends!
What’s the news?

CASSIO:

The Duke does greet you, general,
And he requires your haste-post-haste appearance,
Even on the instant.

CASSIO:

The duke greets you, general;
And he requires your super-speedy appearance
This instant.

OTHELLO:

What is the matter, think you?

OTHELLO:

What’s the matter, do you think?

CASSIO:

Something from Cyprus, as I may divine;(45)
It is a business of some heat. The galleys
Have sent a dozen sequent messengers
This very night at one another's heels;
And many of the consuls, raised and met,
Are at the Duke's already. You have been hotly call'd for;(50)
When, being not at your lodging to be found,
The Senate hath sent about three quests
To search you out.

CASSIO:

Something from Cyprus, as I may guess.
It is a business of some heat. The galleys
Have sent a dozen sequential messengers
This very night at one another's heels;
And many of the consuls, awakened and meeting,
Are at the duke's already. You have been hotly called for;
When, you weren’t found at your lodging,
The senate sent about three different requests
To search for you.

OTHELLO:

'Tis well I am found by you.
I will but spend a word here in the house(55)
And go with you.

OTHELLO:

It is good that you found me.
I will only say one more word here in the house,
And I’ll go with you.

[Exit.]

CASSIO:

Ancient, what makes he here?

CASSIO:

Ensign, what is he doing here?

IAGO:

Faith, he tonight hath boarded a land carack;
If it prove lawful prize, he's made forever.

IAGO:

Faith, he has boarded a land warship tonight.
If it turns out to be a legal prize, he's made forever.

CASSIO:

I do not understand.(60)

CASSIO:

I don’t understand.

IAGO:

He's married.

IAGO:

He's married.

CASSIO:

To who?

CASSIO:

To whom?

[Reenter Othello.]

IAGO:

Marry, to—Come, captain, will you go?

IAGO:

By Mary, to… Come, captain, will you go?

OTHELLO:

Have with you.

OTHELLO:

Let’s go.

CASSIO:

Here comes another troop to seek for you.(65)

CASSIO:

Here comes another group to see for you.

IAGO:

It is Brabantio.—General, be advised;
He comes to bad intent.

IAGO:

It is Brabantio. General, be careful;
He comes with bad intentions.

Enter Brabantio, Roderigo, and Officers with torches and weapons.

OTHELLO:

Holla! Stand there!

OTHELLO:

Stop! Stop there!

ROD:

Signior, it is the Moor.

ROD:

Signior, it is the Moor.

BRAB:

Down with him, thief! They draw on both sides.(70)

BRAB:

Down with him. Thief!

IAGO:

You, Roderigo! Come, sir, I am for you.

IAGO:

You, Roderigo! Come, sir, I will fight you.

OTHELLO:

Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust
them.—
Good signior, you shall more command with years
Than with your weapons.(75)

OTHELLO:

Put your bright swords away, because the dew will rust
Them. Good Signior, you shall order more from me with
Years than with your weapons.

BRAB:

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 magic were not bound,(80)
Whether a maid so tender, fair, and happy,
So opposite to marriage that she shunn'd
The wealthy, curled darlings of our nation,
Would ever have, to incur a general mock,
Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom(85)
Of such a thing as thou—to fear, not to delight.
Judge me the world, if 'tis not gross in sense
That thou hast practiced on her with foul charms;
Abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals
That weaken motion:—I'll have't disputed on;(90)
'Tis probable, and palpable to thinking.
I therefore apprehend and do attach thee
For an abuser of the world, a practicer
Of arts inhibited and out of warrant.—
Lay hold upon him. If he do resist,(95)
Subdue him at his peril.

BRAB:

O you foul thief, where have you hidden my daughter?
Damned as you are, you have cast a spell on her;
Because I'll restore myself to all things of sense,
If she wasn’t bound in chains of magic,
Would a maid so tender, beautiful, and happy,
So opposed to marriage that she shunned
The wealthy, curled darlings of our country,
Would she ever have, to merit a public joke,
Run from her father to the black bosom
Of a thing such as you, to fear, not to delight in?
The world will judge me, if it is not evil in feeling
That you have cast disgusting spells on her,
Abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals
That knocked her out. I'll have it judged;
It is probable and tangible to thinking.
I therefore arrest and attack you
As an abuser of the world, a practitioner
Of the forbidden and illegal arts.
Seize him! If he resists,
Subdue him at his peril.

OTHELLO:

Hold your hands,
Both you of my inclining, and the rest:
Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it
Without a prompter.—Where will you that I go(100)
To answer this your charge?

OTHELLO:

Stop,
Both you my friends, and the rest.
Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it
Without a prompter. Where will you take me so that I can
Answer this your charge?

BRAB:

To prison; till fit time
Of law and course of direct session,
Call thee to answer.

BRAB:

To prison until the right time
Of law and course of justice
Call you to answer.

OTHELLO:

What if I do obey?(105)
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?

OTHELLO:

What if I obey?
How may the duke be satisfied with that,
Whose messengers are here by my side,
On some urgent business of the state,
To bring me to him?

FIRST OFFICER:

'Tis true, most worthy signior;(110)
The Duke's in council, and your noble self,
I am sure, is sent for.

FIRST OFFICER:

It is true, very worthy Signior;
The duke's in council, and your noble self,
I am sure, is sent for.

BRAB:

How? The Duke in council?
In this time of the night?—Bring him away;
Mine's not an idle cause. The Duke himself,(115)
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,
Bond-slaves and pagans shall our statesmen be.

BRAB:

What! The duke in council!
AT this time of the night! Take him away.
Mine's not an trivial matter. The duke himself,
Or any of my brothers of the state,
Can only feel this wrong as if it were their own;
Because if such actions may have passage free,
Bond slaves and pagans shall be our statesmen.

Exeunt.