He thus persists in his idea that Desdemona has been enchanted or bewitched when she eloped with Othello, and threatens to bring forward a public trial of the case. Yet his audience, except followers on both sides, now alone comprise the rejected "curled darling," Roderigo, and Othello, the suspected evil magician, whose dark complexion, Moorish origin and supposed deceit now drive the proud, formal, and prejudiced old Venetian Senator almost beyond the verge of reason. Had Othello been an infamous criminal instead of a distinguished, trusted officer, the vehement enmity of his father-in-law could hardly have been more deep or more implacable. Fully impressed with the belief that the Moor is a dangerous magician, he indignantly proceeds:

"I therefore apprehend and do attach thee
For an abuser of the world, a practiser
Of arts inhibited and out of warrant.
Lay hold upon him: if he do resist,
Subdue him at his peril."

There might now have been a dangerous conflict between the opposing followers of the Moor and Brabantio, had not Othello again calmly intervened, saying:

"Hold your hands!

Both you of my inclining and the rest";

adding, with cool dignity:

"Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it
Without a prompter.'

Then, addressing Brabantio :

"Where will you that I go,

To answer this charge?"

Brabantio sternly replies:

"To prison,"

when an attendant officer announces that the Duke is now in council, and evidently some pressing State business on hand, about which Othello is summoned, although at night. Brabantio, surprised at this news, asks all around to bring Othello at once before the Duke, to whom he is going himself, and boldly exclaims:

"Mine's not an idle cause; the Duke himself

Or any of my brothers of the State,

Cannot but feel this wrong as 'twere their own."

He adds, as if hardly believing in Othello's being a Christian:

"For if such actions may have passage free,

Bond-slaves and pagans shall our statesmen be."

About this period the island of Cyprus was apparently either wholly or partly under Venetian rule, but now menaced by a Turkish attack. While the Duke and some Senators are discussing how to meet this public danger, Othello, Brabantio, lago and Roderigo appear with attendants before the Duke, who, first seeing the Moor, says:

"Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you
Against the general enemy Ottoman."

Then, perceiving Brabantio, he exclaims :

"I did not see you; welcome, gentle signor,
We lack'd your counsel and your help to-night."

Brabantio replies:

"So did I yours,"

and sadly proceeds:

"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 flood-gate and o'erbearing nature
That it engluts and swallows other sorrows,
And it is still itself."

He then accuses Othello openly of having

'By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks,"

stolen his daughter from him. The Duke, astonished, and likely divided in mind between friendship for Brabantio and admiration for the gallant Moorish general now about to head Venetian troops, asks Othello what he has to say in defence. Then the Moor addresses the Venetian Senate in an eloquent speech, perhaps better known, or more admired, than any other passage in this play:

"Most potent, grave, and reverend signors,
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."

He proceeds after this avowal in a manly, frank manner, which probably impressed all the Senators except Brabantio in his favour:

"Rude am I in my speech,

And little blessed 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,

More than pertains to feats of broils and battle,

And therefore little shall I grace my cause

In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience,
I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver

Of my whole course of love."

He then, utterly scorning, almost in sarcasm, the idea that he had used magic or evil charms, and evidently grieved or irritated at such an accusation, proceeds:

"What drugs, what charms,

What conjuration, and what mighty magic,
For such proceeding am I charged withal,
I won his daughter."

Brabantio, firmly impressed with his original idea, is evidently quite unmoved by Othello's words. His prejudice against Othello's nationality and appearance now completely overcomes all the esteem which he, in common with other Venetians, has hitherto felt for the Moorish general. He is yet more incensed or astounded, if possible, at what he considers Desdemona's deceit towards himself, apparently her only parent. Distrusting therefore, or perhaps hardly understanding all Othello's words, the afflicted father again reverts to his child in pathetic language, evidently hardly able

to abandon his fond idea, if not hope, that she has been drugged or bewitched by Othello's secret arts, and he perhaps thinks that, if so, she may yet be recovered or restored to her right senses. Without noticing Othello's declaration, he recalls to his distressed and excited mind his daughter's peculiar disposition and character, exclaiming :

"A maiden never bold,

Of spirit so still and quiet, that her motion
Blush'd at herself, and she-in spite of nature,
Of years, of country, credit, everything-

To fall in love with what she fear'd to look on!
It is a judgment maim'd and most imperfect.

I therefore vouch again

That with some mixture powerful o'er the blood,
Or with some dram conjured to this effect,
He wrought upon her."

The Duke, who likely thinks that such baseness is altogether inconsistent with Othello's character, and probably unwilling to in any way punish or degrade a distinguished officer so useful to the Venetian State, replies with calm truth:

"To vouch this is no proof,

Without more wider and more overt test."

A Senator here asks Othello a direct question how he obtained Desdemona's love, to which the Moor replies by asking that she should be sent for to state her case before the assembled Senators. Othello then bids Iago to conduct her to their presence, adding significantly :

"You best know the place,"