But he bears both the sentence and the sorrow
That, to pay grief, must of poor patience borrow.

But words are words, I never yet did hear

That the bruised heart was pierced through the ear."

Then, as if unable to endure the subject longer, or unwilling to take up more of the Senate's attention at this important meeting, he adds:

"I humbly beseech you, proceed to the affairs of State."

The Duke, seeing that his words prevail nothing with Brabantio, gives him no more advice, but states that the Turks are preparing to attack Cyprus. The Duke says:

"Othello, the fortitude of the place is best known to you,"

and therefore he, in the name of Venice, requests Othello to go there in command of troops, despite of his recent marriage, saying:

"You must therefore be content to slubber the gloss of your new fortunes with this more stubborn and boisterous expedition."

Othello replies that the trials and hardships of war are delightful to him, but while gladly accepting the trust of leading the Venetian troops against the Turks, he asks where he should leave Desdemona. The Duke suggests at her father's house, but Brabantio refuses consent, and then Desdemona entreats the Senate to permit her accompanying Othello. The Duke says that the Moor must set

off for Cyprus this same evening. Othello agrees, saying he will leave Desdemona under the care of Iago, whom he terms and believes is "a man of honesty and trust," till she rejoins him in Cyprus.

The Duke agrees, and warmly admiring Othello, whom he would gladly reconcile with Brabantio, says a few impressive words praising Othello to the implacable father-in-law:

"Noble signor,

If virtue no delighted beauty lack
Your son-in-law is far more fair than black."

A friendly Senator also exclaims :

"Adieu, brave Moor; use Desdemona well."

Brabantio, at parting, says the most severe and injurious words he can imagine about her to Othello, words which Iago never forgot, and which he was fated to recall later on with terrible effect:

"Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see:
She has deceived her father, and may thee."

The Duke departs after these words without noticing them.

This warning denunciation proves indeed the implacability of Brabantio towards his married daughter, though he little foresaw its fearful effect on her future life. His indignation against Othello, and his suspicion of his having practised occult arts, "Delighting."-Staunton's notes.

I

completely vanish, while his confidence in Desdemona's innocence or virtue in any respect seems utterly destroyed by what he thinks her ungrateful deceit towards himself. Her conduct in never even hinting to her father about her love for Othello can hardly be quite excused by her believing he would never consent to her marriage. She might surely have tried the effect of some entreaty before eloping at night from his house, hitherto her home, and causing him, at his advanced age, all the danger and distress of such an alarm. In filial duty, and apparently in affection also, she falls far short indeed of Cordelia in "King Lear," and yet apparently had a more kind father than that passionate old monarch was. Cordelia replies to her enraged father, when told, or rather ordered to state, how much she loves him :

"Good my lord,

You have begot me, bred me, loved me: I
Return those duties back as are right fit,
Obey you, love you, and most honour you.

Haply, when I shall wed,

That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry
Half my love with him; half my care, and duty."

These sentiments surely raise Cordelia morally far above Desdemona, eloping in secret from her old father's house at night, and thus letting the event unexpectedly be told him, which shortens his life. She never throughout this tragedy inquires after him, while Cordelia loves her denouncing father to the last, and dies in trying to rescue him.

Othello, at hearing Brabantio's terrible words, eagerly notices them, yet with perfect confidence in his denounced bride, and firmly replies:

"My life upon her faith!"

Then, addressing his trusted follower, yet most bitter enemy, he says:

"Honest lago,

My Desdemona must I leave with thee:
I prythee, let thy wife attend on her,
And bring them after in the best advantage.
Come, Desdemona, I have but an hour
Of love, of worldly matter and direction,

To spend with thee: we must obey the time."

They depart, and probably Brabantio left before with the Duke, leaving Iago and Roderigo alone together. No one hears, or likely even guesses about their extraordinary conference. Roderigo is apparently unacquainted with Othello-at least they never exchange a word. But Iago, knowing all about his rejected love for Desdemona, has obtained his thorough confidence, and has for some time successfully pretended to be his friend.

During the important scene before the Venetian Senate, Iago and Roderigo, though both deeply interested in its result, have remained quite silent, and not till they are alone together do they venture to reveal their feelings. Roderigo, grieved and disconsolate, patiently asks his treacherous friend:

"What will I do, think'st thou ?"

and Iago, in reply, advising him to

"Go to bed and sleep,"

Roderigo impetuously, if not frantically, exclaims :

"I will incontinently drown myself."

This desperate resolve Iago, who intends using him as a profitable instrument for some time longer, sarcastically discourages, replying:

"If thou dost, I shall never love thee after. Why, thou silly gentleman!"

And when poor Roderigo answers:

"It is silliness to live when to live is a torment, and then have we a prescription to die when death is our physician,"

Iago rejoins emphatically :

"O villainous! I have looked upon the world for four times seven years, and since I could distinguish between a benefit and an injury, I never found man that knew how to love himself."

Then, determined to encourage Roderigo by persuading him that he may yet win Desdemona, by following his advice, lago, scornfully scornfully alluding to Roderigo's idea of suicide, calmly proceeds:

Drown thyself! drown cats and blind me thy friend. . . . I could never Put money in thy purse; follow thou with an usurped beard; I say, put

"Come, be a man. puppies. I have professed better stead thee than now. the wars; defeat thy favour money in thy purse.'

"Change thy countenance by putting on a spurious beard.”— Staunton's notes.