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That weaken notion.---I'll have't difputed on;
'Tis probable, and palpable to thinking.
I therefore apprehend and do attach thee
For an abuser of the world, a practifer
Of arts inhibited and out of warrant:
Lay hold upon him; if he do refift,
Subdue him at his peril.

Oth. Hold your hands,

Both you of my inclining, and the reft.
Were it my cue to fight, I fhould have known it
Without a prompter. Where will you I go
To answer this your charge?

Bra. To prifon, 'till fit time

Of law, and course of direct feffion
Call thee to answer.

Oth. What if I do obey?

How may the Duke be therewith fatisfied,
Whose meffengers are here about my fide,
Upon fore prefent business of the State,
To bring me to him?

Ofi. True, moft worthy Signior.

The Duke's in council; and your noble self,
I'm fure, is fent for.

Bra. How! the Duke in council?
In this time of the night? bring him away;
Mine's not an idle caufe. The Duke himself,
Or any of my brothers of the State,

Cannot but feel this wrong as 'twere their own;
For if fuch actions may have paffage free, (11)
Bond-flaves and pageants fhall our statesmen be.
[Exeunts

(11) For if fuch actions may have paffage free,

Bondflaves and pagans fhall our statefmen be.] I have long had a fufpicion of pagans here. Would Brabantio infer, if his private injury were not redreffed, the fenate should no longer pretend to call themselves Chriftians? But pagans are as frict and moral we find all the world ever, as the most regular.

SCENE changes to the Senate-house. Duke and Senators, fet at a Table, with Lights,

and Attendants.

Duke. There is no compofition in these news,. That gives them credit.

1 Ser. Indeed they're difproportioned; My letters fay, a hundred and feven gallies. Duke. And mine a hundred and forty. 2 Sen. And mine two hundred:

But though they jump not on a just account, (As in thefe cafes, 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 poffible enough to judgment; I do not fo fecure me in the error,

But the main article I do approve
In fearful fenfe.

Sailors within.] What hoa! what hoa! what hoa!

Christians, in the prefervation of private property. The difference of faith is not at all concerned, but mere human policy, in ascertaining the right of meum and tuum. I have ventured to imagine that our Author wrote;

Bondlaves and pageants fhall our statesmen be:

i. e. if we'll let fuch injurious actions go unpunished, our ftatefmen must be flaves, cyphers in ffice, and have no power of redrefling; be things of mere fhow, and gaudy ap pearance only.

So, in Meafure for Mcafure;

Mine were the very cypher of a function,

To fine the faults, whofe fine ftands in record,
And let go by the actor.

And fo, in King Henry VIII.

-if we ftand ftill in fear,

Our motion will be mocked or carped at:
We fhould take root here where we fit;
Or fit flate-jfatues only,

Enter Sailors.

Offi. A meffenger from the gallies.
Duke. Now!---what's the bufinefs?

Sail. The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes,
So was I bid report here to the State.
Duke. How fay you by this change?
1 Sen. This cannot be,

By no affay of reafon. 'Tis a pageant,'
To keep us in falfe gaze; when we confider
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; (12)
For that it ftands not in fuch warlike brace,
But altogether lacks th' abilities.

That Rhodes is dreffed in. If we make thought of
We must not think the Turk is fo unfkilful, [this,
To leave that latest which concerns him first;
Neglecting an attempt of eafe and gain,

To wake, and wage a danger profitlefs.

Duke. Nay, in all confidence, he's not for Rhodes. Ofi. Here is more news.

(12) So may be with more fertile question bear it;] This is Mr Pope's reading; but upon what authorities, I am yet to learn. All the old impreffions, Quartos and Folios, I know have it;

So may he with more facile queftion bear it.

i. e. He may with a more eafy ftruggle, with lefs ftrength, carry Cyprus; and the Poet fubjoins this reafon for it, becaufe Cyprus was not near fo well fortified, nor in the condition to oppofe, as Rhodes was. I ought to mention, to the praise of my friend Mr Warburton's fagacity, that though he had none of the old editions to collate or refer to, he fent me word by letter, that the context absolutely required facile queftion.

Enter a Meffenger.

Mef. The Ottomites (reverend and gracious,) Steering with due courfe towards the ifle of Rhodes,

Have there enjoined them with an after-fleet—— 1 Sen. Ay, fo I thought; how many, as you guefs?

Mef. Of thirty fail; and now they do re-stem Their backward courfe, bearing with frank ap

pearance

Their purpofes toward Cyprus. Signior Montano,
Your trufty and moft valiant fervitor,

With his free duty, recommends you thus,
And prays you to believe him.

Duke. 'Tis certain then for Cyprus: Marcus Is he not here in town?

1 Sen. He's now in Florence.

[Luccicos,

Duke. Write from us to him, poft, post-haste, dispatch.

1 Sen. Here comes Brabantio, and the valiant Moor.

To them, enter BRABANTIO, OTHELLO, CASSIO, JAGO, RODORIGO, and Officers.

Duke. Valiant Othello, we must straight employ Against the general enemy Ottoman. I did not fee you; welcome, gentle Signior:

[you,

[To Bra. We lacked your counfel, and your help to-night. Bra. So did I yours; good your Grace, pardon

me;

Neither my place, nor aught I heard of bufinefs,
Hath raised me from my bed; nor doth the general
Take hold on me; for my particular grief
Is of fo flood-gate and o'erbearing nature,

That it inglats and fwallows other forrows,
And yet is still itself.

Duke. Why, what's the matter?

Bra. My daughter! oh, my daughter!----
Sen. Dead?.

Bra. To me;

She is abufed, ftolen from me, and corrupted By fpells and medicines bought of mountebanks; For nature fo prepofterously to err,

(Being not deficient, blind, or lame of fenfe,) Sans witchcraft could not

Duke. Whoe'er he be that in this foul proceedHath thus beguiled your daughter of herfelf, [ing And you of her, the bloody book of law You fhall yourfelf read in the bitter letter,'

After your own fenfe: yea, though our proper fon Stood in your action.

Bra. Humbly I thank your Grace.

Here is the man, this Moor, whom now, it feems,
Your fpecial mandate, for the State-affairs,
Hath hither brought.

All. We're very forry for't.

Duke. What in your own part can you fay to this?

Bra. Nothing, but this is fo.

[To Othel.

Oth. Molt potent, grave, and reverend figniors, My very noble and approved good maters; 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 fpeech, And little blefs'd with the foft phrafe of peace; For fince thefe arms of mine had feven years' pith, 'Till now, fo ne nine moons walted, they have used Their dearest action in the tented field;

And little of this great world can I speak,

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