of the same calling, and equally worthy members of their profession; Rosko, however, is a keen, active, witty rogue, but the Clown is full of low cunning disguised under an affected simplicity. The stupid constable, Elbow, bears a greater resemblance to Dogberry, in Much Ado About Nothing, than to any personage in Whetstone's play. Bernardine indeed is the only character entirely original, and considering the small space he occupies in the play, it is astonishing with what distinctness his peculiarities are marked. Some sportive fancy of Shakspeare caused his appearance, for a character more unnecessary for the advancing of a plot was never placed in a list of dramatis personæ.

69

OTIIELLO.

1604.

THE story of Othello is found in the seventh novel of the third decade of Cinthio's Hecatommithi.

A Moor once commanded the military force of Venice. His virtues, his talents, and the fame of his martial exploits captivated the affections of Desdemona, a lady of the city: the passion was reciprocal; and, heedless of the remonstrances of her kindred, she married the object of her love. The command of Cyprus was committed to the Moor, and he repaired to that island with his bride.

Among the officers of the army was a Lieutenant whose handsome person indicated nobleness of mind, and whose gaiety and frankness gained him the friendship of all his military associates to him the Moor was particularly attached, and their wives also were intimate.

But this state of happiness was disturbed by the endeavour of the Lieutenant to corrupt the fidelity of Desdemona. The lady's heart however was engrossed by conjugal affection, and the assiduities of the gallant were unheeded. Ignorant of the cause of her indifference, the Lieutenant erroneously attributed her coldness to the pre-occupation of her regard by a young Cypriot Captain: he resolved, therefore, on his death, and that his revenge for his disappointment might be complete, he determined to accuse Desdemona of disloyalty to the Moor.

Fortune favoured his malignity, for just at this period the Captain was deprived of his command for indiscreetly wounding a soldier. Desdemona greatly lamented his misfortune, and knowing her husband's regard for him, she often solicited his pardon. In the course of his interviews with the Lieutenant, the Moor remarked that he believed he should re-instate the Captain in compliance with the very earnest entreaties of Desdemona, She has reason, replied the villain, she will then see him as usual: do not urge me to be more explicit, he continued, observing some surprise in the face of his friend; I wish not to blight your matrimonial felicity, yet I think if you were watchful, strange things would be apparent to you. The Moor

pondered deeply on these suggestions: every renewed solicitation of the innocent Desdemona tortured him with additional doubts, and he peremptorily demanded of the Lieutenant an explicit avowal of his meaning. Dissembling reluctance, the villain artfully resisted, and pretended to yield only to the earnestness of importunity. I cannot deny, he said, but that my extreme reluctance to give you, my lord, uneasiness, has hitherto closed my lips on a subject deeply affecting your happiness; but since you command me to speak out, my regard for your honour as my friend, and my duty to you as my general, compel me to declare the truth. Know then, that your black colour is odious to your wife; she is ardently in love with the Captain, and impatience at the loss of his company is the cause of her anxiety for his restoration,

The Moor, though fatally credulous, affected awhile to doubt the truth of what he heard. How darest thou presume, said he, to asperse the fair fame of Desdemona? This rage, replied the Lieutenant, is the reward I expected, but my duty to you and my regard for your honour have carried me thus far, and I will not now retract: what I have related is too true, and if your wife, with cunningly assumed affection, has blinded you to your shame, I will not, on

that account, suppress the communication of circumstances which I positively know are true. The Captain has made me the confidant of his happiness his infamous confession merited death, and the fear of your resentment alone restrained me from inflicting it. Give me the means, exclaimed the frantic Moor, of witnessing with mine own eyes the infidelity of Desdemona, or else I will make thee wish thou hadst been dumb. While the Captain and yourself were united in friendship, and his access to your house was unrestrained, replied the Lieutenant, the task would have been easy; but it is otherwise now; and though I am convinced he often converses with Desdemona, dread of detection obliges him to act with caution; yet I do not still absolutely despair of being able to give you ocular demonstration.

With much deliberation, the Lieutenant matured his scheme. He stole from the girdle of Desdemona a handkerchief of curious Morisco workmanship, a bridal present from her lord. This he dropt in the Captain's room, who, knowing it to belong to Desdemona, sought an opportunity of returning it to her. Being under the General's displeasure, he took advantage of his absence from home to knock softly at the back door of the house. The Moor at that