othello,the moor of venice(奥塞罗)-第4章
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Against all rules of nature； and must be driven To find out practices of
cunning hell Why this should be。 I therefore vouch again That with some
mixtures powerful o'er the blood； Or with some dram conjured to this
effect； He wrought upon her。 DUKE。 To vouch this is no proof； Without
more certain and more overt test Than these thin habits and poor
likelihoods Of modern seeming do prefer against him。 FIRST SENATOR。
But； Othello； speak。 Did you by indirect and forced courses Subdue and
poison this young maid's affections？ Or came it by request； and such fair
question As soul to soul affordeth？ OTHELLO。 I do beseech you； Send for
the lady to the Sagittary； And let her speak of me before her father。 If you
do find me foul in her report； The trust； the office I do hold of you； Not
only take away； but let your sentence Even fall upon my life。 DUKE。
Fetch Desdemona hither。 OTHELLO。 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 How I did thrive in this fair lady's love And she in mine。
DUKE。 Say it； Othello。 OTHELLO。 Her father loved me； oft invited me；
Still question'd me the story of my life From year to year； the battles；
sieges； fortunes； That I have pass'd。 I ran it through； even from my boyish
days To the very moment that he bade me tell it： Wherein I spake of most
disastrous chances； Of moving accidents by flood and field； Of hair…
breadth 'scapes i' the imminent deadly breach； Of being taken by the
insolent foe And sold to slavery； of my redemption thence And portance in
my travels' history； Wherein of antres vast and deserts idle； Rough
quarries； rocks； and hills whose heads touch heaven； It was my hint to
speaksuch was the process And of the Cannibals that each other eat；
The Anthropophagi； and men whose heads Do grow beneath their
shoulders。 This to hear Would Desdemona seriously incline； But still the
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THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO； MOOR OF VENICE
house affairs would draw her thence； Which ever as she could with haste
dispatch； She'ld come again； and with a greedy ear Devour up my
discourse； which I observing； Took once a pliant hour； and found good
means To draw from her a prayer of earnest heart That I would all my
pilgrimage dilate； Whereof by parcels she had something heard； But not
intentively。 I did consent； And often did beguile her of her tears When I
did speak of some distressful stroke That my youth suffer'd。 My story
being done； 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 bade me； if I had a friend that
loved her； I should but teach him how to tell my story； And that would
woo her。 Upon this hint I spake： She loved me for the dangers I had pass'd；
And I loved her that she did pity them。 This only is the witchcraft I have
used。 Here comes the lady； let her witness it。
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 Than their bare hands。 BRABANTIO。 I pray you； hear her
speak。 If she confess that she was half the wooer； Destruction on my head；
if my bad blame Light on the man！ 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。 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； And so much duty as my mother show'd
To you； preferring you before her father； So much I challenge that I may
profess Due to the Moor； my lord。 BRABANTIO。 God be with you！ I have
done。 Please it your Grace； on to the state affairs； I had rather to adopt a
child than get it。 Come hither； Moor。 I here do give thee that with all my
heart Which； but thou hast already； with all my heart I would keep from
thee。 For your sake； jewel； I am glad at soul I have no other child； For thy
escape would teach me tyranny； To hang clogs on them。 I have done； my
lord。 DUKE。 Let me speak like yourself； and lay a sentence Which； as a
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THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO； MOOR OF VENICE
grise or step； may help these lovers Into your favor。 When remedies are
past； the griefs are ended By seeing the worst； which late on hopes
depended。 To mourn a mischief that is past and gone Is the next way to
draw new mischief on。 What cannot be preserved when Fortune takes；
Patience her injury a mockery makes。 The robb'd that smiles steals
something from the thief； He robs himself that spends a bootless grief。
BRABANTIO。 So let the Turk of Cyprus us beguile； We lose it not so long
as we can smile。 He bears the sentence well； that nothing bears But the
free comfort which from thence he hears； But he bears both the sentence
and the sorrow That； to pay grief； must of poor patience borrow。 These
sentences； to sugar or to gall； Being strong on both sides； are equivocal。
But words are words； I never yet did hear That the bruised heart was
pierced through the ear。 I humbly beseech you； proceed to the affairs of
state。 DUKE。 The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for Cyprus。
Othello； the fortitude of the place is best known to you； and though we
have there a substitute of most allowed sufficiency； yet opinion； a
sovereign mistress of effects； throws a more safer voice on you。 You must
therefore be content to slubber the gloss of your new fortunes with this
more stubborn and boisterous expedition。 OTHELLO。 The tyrant custom；
most grave senators； Hath made the flinty and steel couch of war My
thrice…driven bed of down。 I do agnize A natural and prompt alacrity I find
in hardness and do undertake These present wars against the Ottomites。
Most humbly therefore bending to your state； I crave fit disposition for my
wife； Due reference of place and exhibition； With such accommodation
and besort As levels with her breeding。 DUKE。 If you please； Be't at her
father's。 BRABANTIO。 I'll not have it so。 OTHELLO。 Nor I。
DESDEMONA。 Nor I。 I would not there reside To put my father in
impatient thoughts By being in his eye。 Most gracious Duke； To my
unfolding lend your prosperous ear； And let me find a charter in your
voice To assist my simpleness。 DUKE。 What would you； Desdemona？
DESDEMONA。 That I did love the Moor to live with him； My downri
