the maps.
Enter MESSENGER, with a letter, from stage right.
DUKE
Now, what’s the business?
MESSENGER
A Turkish fleet, of thirty sail:
Their purposes toward Cyprus.
Exit MESSENGER stage right.
FIRST SENATOR
Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor.
Enter BRABANTIO, OTHELLO, IAGO, and RODERIGO from stage right.
DUKE
Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you
Against the general enemy Ottoman. (to BRABANTIO)
Brabantio, why, what’s the matter?
BRABANTIO
My daughter! O, my daughter!
FIRST SENATOR
Dead?
BRABANTIO
Ay, to me;
She is abused, stol’n from me, and corrupted.
Here is the man, this Moor. (points to OTHELLO)
DUKE (to OTHELLO)
What, in your own part, can you say to this?
OTHELLO walks downstage center and stands left of DUKE.
My very noble and approved good masters,
Rude am I in my speech,
And little bless’d with the soft phrase of peace;
And little of this great world can I speak,
More than pertains to feats of broil and battle;
I won his daughter.
BRABANTIO
To fall in love with what she fear’d to look on!
It is a judgment maim’d and most imperfect.
FIRST SENATOR
But, Othello, speak:
Did you subdue and poison this young maid’s
affections?
OTHELLO
I do beseech you,
Send for the lady to the Sagittary,
And let her speak of me before her father.
DUKE
Fetch Desdemona hither.
Exit IAGO and MESSENGER stage right. They re-enter immediately with DESDEMONA. DESDEMONA moves to BRABANTIO’S right side; OTHELLO stands to his left.
BRABANTIO
Come hither, gentle mistress.
Do you perceive in all this noble company
Where most you owe obedience?
DESDEMONA
My noble father,
I do perceive here a divided duty:
I am hitherto your daughter: but here’s my husband;
(moves to OTHELLO’S side)
That I did love the Moor to live with him
My downright violence and storm of fortunes
May trumpet to the world. My heart’s subdued
Even to the very quality of my Lord.
(turns to BRABANTIO)
Let me go with him.
BRABANTIO
Come hither, Moor:
I here do give thee that with all my heart
I would keep from thee. For your sake, jewel,
I am glad at soul I have no other child.
BRABANTIO turns away from DESDEMONA.
DUKE
To mourn a mischief that is past and gone
Is the next way to draw new mischief on.
The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes
for Cyprus.
FIRST SENATOR
You must away to-night.
OTHELLO
With all my heart.
DUKE
Good night to every one. (to BRABANTIO)
And, noble signior,
If virtue no delighted beauty lack,
Your son-in-law is far more fair than black.
BRABANTIO (to OTHELLO)
Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see:
She has deceived her father, and may thee.
Exit DUKE and FIRST SENATOR stage right.
OTHELLO
