Othello. William Shakespeare

There is no composition in these news

       That gives them credit.

       FIRST SENATOR

       Indeed, they are disproportion’d;

       My letters say a hundred and seven galleys.

       DUKE

       And mine a hundred and forty.

       SECOND SENATOR

       And mine two hundred:

       But though they jump not on a just account,—

       As in these cases, where the aim reports,

       ‘Tis oft with difference,—yet do they all confirm

       A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus.

       DUKE

       Nay, it is possible enough to judgement:

       I do not so secure me in the error,

       But the main article I do approve

       In fearful sense.

       SAILOR

       [Within.] What, ho! what, ho! what, ho!

       FIRST OFFICER

       A messenger from the galleys.

       [Enter a Sailor.]

       DUKE

       Now,—what’s the business?

       SAILOR

       The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes;

       So was I bid report here to the state

       By Signior Angelo.

       DUKE

       How say you by this change?

       FIRST SENATOR

       This cannot be,

       By no assay of reason: ‘tis a pageant

       To keep us in false gaze. When we consider

       The importancy of Cyprus to the Turk;

       And let ourselves again but understand

       That, as it more concerns the Turk than Rhodes,

       So may he with more facile question bear it,

       For that it stands not in such warlike brace,

       But altogether lacks the abilities

       That Rhodes is dress’d in. If we make thought of this,

       We must not think the Turk is so unskilful

       To leave that latest which concerns him first;

       Neglecting an attempt of ease and gain,

       To wake and wage a danger profitless.

       DUKE

       Nay, in all confidence, he’s not for Rhodes.

       FIRST OFFICER

       Here is more news.

       [Enter a Messenger.]

       MESSENGER

       The Ottomites, reverend and gracious,

       Steering with due course toward the isle of Rhodes,

       Have there injointed them with an after fleet.

       FIRST SENATOR

       Ay, so I thought.—How many, as you guess?

       MESSENGER

       Of thirty sail: and now they do re-stem

       Their backward course, bearing with frank appearance

       Their purposes toward Cyprus.—Signior Montano,

       Your trusty and most valiant servitor,

       With his free duty recommends you thus,

       And prays you to believe him.

       DUKE

       ‘Tis certain, then, for Cyprus.—

       Marcus Luccicos, is not he in town?

       FIRST SENATOR

       He’s now in Florence.

       DUKE

       Write from us to him; post-post-haste despatch.

       FIRST SENATOR

       Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor.

       [Enter Brabantio, Othello, Iago, Roderigo, and Officers.]

       DUKE

       Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you

       Against the general enemy Ottoman.—

       [To Brabantio.] I did not see you; welcome, gentle signior;

       We lack’d your counsel and your help tonight.

       BRABANTIO

       So did I yours. Good your grace, pardon me;

       Neither my place, nor aught I heard of business

       Hath rais’d me from my bed; nor doth the general care

       Take hold on me; for my particular grief

       Is of so floodgate and o’erbearing nature

       That it engluts and swallows other sorrows,

       And it is still itself.

       DUKE

       Why, what’s the matter?

       BRABANTIO

       My daughter! O, my daughter!

       DUKE and SENATORS

       Dead?

       BRABANTIO

       Ay, to me;

       She is abused, stol’n from me, and corrupted

       By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks;

       For nature so preposterously to err,

       Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense,

       Sans witchcraft could not.

       DUKE

       Whoe’er he be that, in this foul proceeding,

       Hath thus beguiled 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

       Stood in your action.

       BRABANTIO

       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 and SENATORS

       We are very sorry for’t.

       DUKE

       [To Othello.] What, in your own part, can you say to this?

       BRABANTIO

       Nothing, but this is so.

       OTHELLO

       Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors,

       My very noble and approv’d good masters,—

       That I have ta’en away this old man’s daughter,

       It is most true; true, I have married her:

       The very head and front of my offending

       Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech,

       And little bless’d with the soft phrase of peace;

       For since these arms of mine had seven years’ pith,

       Till now some nine moons wasted, they have us’d

       Their dearest action in the tented field;

       And little of this great world can I speak,