seen
Othello's first love-token, her lace-handkerchief in Cassio's hands,
and both swear to avenge Desdemona's infidelity.

In the third act Othello pretending to have a head-ache, asks for
Desdemona's lace-handkerchief. She has lost it, she tells him, but he
is incredulous and charges her with infidelity. All her protests are
useless, and at length he forces her to retire. Meanwhile Jago has
brought Cassio and urges Othello to hide himself. Cassio has a
lady-love named Bianca, and of her they speak, but Jago dexterously
turns the dialogue so as to make Othello believe that they are speaking
of his wife. His jealousy reaches its climax, when Cassio draws forth
Desdemona's handkerchief which Jago has deposited in Cassio's house.
All his doubts now seem to be confirmed. A cannon-shot announcing the
arrival of a galley interrupts the conversation and Cassio quickly
leaves.

In the following scene Jago advises Othello to strangle his wife.
Othello consents and gives Jago a captaincy.

Lodovico, an Ambassador of Venice, arrives {253} with other nobles to
greet their liberator Othello. Desdemona once more asks pardon for
Cassio, but is roughly rebuked by her husband. The latter reads the
order, which has been brought to him, and tells Cassio, that he is to
be General in his stead by will of the Doge of Venice, but while Cassio
is confounded by this sudden change of fortune, Jago secretly vows his
death, instigating his rival Rodrigo to kill him. At last Othello
faints, overcome by conflicting emotions.

In the fourth act Desdemona filled with sad forebodings takes a
touching farewell of Emilia. When she has ended her fervent prayer
(one of the most beautiful things in the opera), she falls into a
peaceful slumber. Othello awakes her with a kiss, and tells her
immediately thereafter that she must die. She protests her innocence,
but in vain, for Othello telling her that Cassio can speak no more,
smothers her. Hardly has he completed his ghastly work than Emilia
comes up, announcing that Rodrigo has been killed by Cassio. Desdemona
with her dying breath once more asserts her innocence, while Emilia
loudly screams for help. When the others appear, Emilia discovers her
husband's villany. Jago flies, and Othello stabs himself at the feet
of his innocent spouse.

{254}

PAGLIACCI.

(MERRY ANDREW.)

Musical Drama in two acts and a Prologue.

Music and Text by R. LEONCAVALLO.

Translated into the