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DUKE. And mine, a hundred and forty. `
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SECOND SENATOR. And mine, two hundred. `
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But though they jump not on a just account- `
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As in these cases, where the aim reports, `
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'Tis oft with difference- yet do they all confirm `
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A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus. `
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DUKE. Nay, it is possible enough to judgement. `
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I do not so secure me in the error, `
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But the main article I do approve `
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In fearful sense. `
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SAILOR. [Within.] What, ho! What, ho! What, ho! `
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FIRST OFFICER. A messenger from the galleys. `
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Enter Sailor. `
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DUKE. Now, what's the business? `
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SAILOR. The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes, `
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So was I bid report here to the state `
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By Signior Angelo. `
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DUKE. How say you by this change? `
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FIRST SENATOR. This cannot be, `
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By no assay of reason; 'tis a pageant `
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To keep us in false gaze. When we consider `
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The importancy of Cyprus to the Turk, `
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And let ourselves again but understand `
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That as it more concerns the Turk than Rhodes, `
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So may he with more facile question bear it, `
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For that it stands not in such warlike brace, `
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But altogether lacks the abilities `
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That Rhodes is dress'd in. If we make thought of this, `
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We must not think the Turk is so unskillful `
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To leave that latest which concerns him first, `
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Neglecting an attempt of ease and gain, `
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To wake and wage a danger profitless. `
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DUKE. Nay, in all confidence, he's not for Rhodes. `
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FIRST OFFICER. Here is more news. `
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Enter a Messenger. `
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MESSENGER. The Ottomites, reverend and gracious, `
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Steering with due course toward the isle of Rhodes, `
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Have there injointed them with an after fleet. `
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FIRST SENATOR. Ay, so I thought. How many, as you guess? `
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MESSENGER. Of thirty sail; and now they do re-stem `
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Their backward course, bearing with frank appearance `
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Their purposes toward Cyprus. Signior Montano, `
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Your trusty and most valiant servitor, `
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With his free duty recommends you thus, `
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And prays you to believe him. `
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DUKE. 'Tis certain then for Cyprus. `
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Marcus Luccicos, is not he in town? `
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FIRST SENATOR. He's now in Florence. `
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DUKE. Write from us to him, post-post-haste dispatch. `
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FIRST SENATOR. Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor. `
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Enter Brabantio, Othello, Iago, Roderigo, and Officers. `
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DUKE. Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you `
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Against the general enemy Ottoman. `
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[To Brabantio.] I did not see you; welcome, gentle signior; `
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We lack'd your counsel and your help tonight. `
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BRABANTIO. So did I yours. Good your Grace, pardon me: `
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Neither my place nor aught I heard of business `
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Hath raised me from my bed, nor doth the general care `
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Take hold on me; for my particular grief `
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Is of so flood-gate and o'erbearing nature `
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That it engluts and swallows other sorrows, `
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And it is still itself. `
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DUKE. Why, what's the matter? `
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BRABANTIO. My daughter! O, my daughter! `
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ALL. Dead? `
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BRABANTIO. Ay, to me. `
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She is abused, stol'n from me and corrupted `
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By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks; `
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For nature so preposterously to err, `
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Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense, `
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Sans witchcraft could not. `
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DUKE. Whoe'er he be that in this foul proceeding `
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Hath thus beguiled your daughter of herself `
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And you of her, the bloody book of law `
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You shall yourself read in the bitter letter `
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After your own sense, yea, though our proper son `
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Stood in your action. `
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BRABANTIO. Humbly I thank your Grace. `
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Here is the man, this Moor, whom now, it seems, `
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Your special mandate for the state affairs `
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Hath hither brought. `
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ALL. We are very sorry for't. `
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DUKE. [To Othello.] What in your own part can you say to this? `
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BRABANTIO. Nothing, but this is so. `
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OTHELLO. Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, `
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My very noble and approved good masters, `
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That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter, `
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It is most true; true, I have married her; `
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The very head and front of my offending `
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Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech, `
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And little blest with the soft phrase of peace; `
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For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith, `
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Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used `
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Their dearest action in the tented field, `
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And little of this great world can I speak, `
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More than pertains to feats of broil and battle; `
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And therefore little shall I grace my cause `
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In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience, `
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I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver `
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Of my whole course of love: what drugs, what charms, `
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What conjuration, and what mighty magic- `
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For such proceeding I am charged withal- `
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I won his daughter. `
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BRABANTIO. A maiden never bold, `
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Of spirit so still and quiet that her motion `
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Blush'd at herself; and she- in spite of nature, `
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Of years, of country, credit, everything- `
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To fall in love with what she fear'd to look on! `
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It is judgement maim'd and most imperfect, `
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That will confess perfection so could err `
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Against all rules of nature, and must be driven `
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To find out practices of cunning hell `
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Why this should be. I therefore vouch again `
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That with some mixtures powerful o'er the blood, `
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Or with some dram conjured to this effect, `
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He wrought upon her. `
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DUKE. To vouch this is no proof, `
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Without more certain and more overt test `
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Than these thin habits and poor likelihoods `
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Of modern seeming do prefer against him. `
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FIRST SENATOR. But, Othello, speak. `
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Did you by indirect and forced courses `
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Subdue and poison this young maid's affections? `
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Or came it by request, and such fair question `
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As soul to soul affordeth? `
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OTHELLO. I do beseech you, `
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Send for the lady to the Sagittary, `
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And let her speak of me before her father. `
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If you do find me foul in her report, `
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The trust, the office I do hold of you, `
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Not only take away, but let your sentence `
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Even fall upon my life. `
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DUKE. Fetch Desdemona hither. `
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OTHELLO. Ancient, conduct them; you best know the place. `
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Exeunt Iago and `
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Attendants. `
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And till she come, as truly as to heaven `
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I do confess the vices of my blood, `
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So justly to your grave ears I'll present `
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How I did thrive in this fair lady's love `
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And she in mine. `
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DUKE. Say it, Othello. `
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OTHELLO. Her father loved me, oft invited me, `
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Still question'd me the story of my life `
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From year to year, the battles, sieges, fortunes, `
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That I have pass'd. `
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I ran it through, even from my boyish days `
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To the very moment that he bade me tell it: `
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Wherein I spake of most disastrous chances, `
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Of moving accidents by flood and field, `
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Of hair-breadth 'scapes i' the imminent deadly breach, `
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Of being taken by the insolent foe `
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And sold to slavery, of my redemption thence `
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And portance in my travels' history; `
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Wherein of antres vast and deserts idle, `
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Rough quarries, rocks, and hills whose heads touch heaven, `
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It was my hint to speak- such was the process- `
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And of the Cannibals that each other eat, `
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The Anthropophagi, and men whose heads `
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Do grow beneath their shoulders. This to hear `
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Would Desdemona seriously incline; `
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But still the house affairs would draw her thence, `
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Which ever as she could with haste dispatch, `
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She'ld come again, and with a greedy ear `
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Devour up my discourse; which I observing, `
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Took once a pliant hour, and found good means `
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To draw from her a prayer of earnest heart `
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That I would all my pilgrimage dilate, `
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Whereof by parcels she had something heard, `
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But not intentively. I did consent, `
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And often did beguile her of her tears `
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When I did speak of some distressful stroke `
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That my youth suffer'd. My story being done, `
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She gave me for my pains a world of sighs; `
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She swore, in faith, 'twas strange, 'twas passing strange; `
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'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful. `
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She wish'd she had not heard it, yet she wish'd `
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That heaven had made her such a man; she thank'd me, `
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And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her, `
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I should but teach him how to tell my story, `
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And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake: `
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She loved me for the dangers I had pass'd, `
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And I loved her that she did pity them. `
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This only is the witchcraft I have used. `
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Here comes the lady; let her witness it. `
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Enter Desdemona, Iago, and Attendants. `
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DUKE. I think this tale would win my daughter too. `
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Good Brabantio, `
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Take up this mangled matter at the best: `
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Men do their broken weapons rather use `
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Than their bare hands. `
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BRABANTIO. I pray you, hear her speak. `
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If she confess that she was half the wooer, `
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