Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-15

his daughter too, and the spells and conJura-
tons which Othello had used in his ccurtship
plainly appeared to have been no more than
the honest arts of men in love; and the only
witchcraft which he had used, the faculty OF
telling soft tale to win lady's ear.
This statement of Othello was confirmed by
the testimony of the lady pesdemona herself
who appeared in court, and processing duty to
her father for life and education, challenged
leave of him to profess a yet higher duty to
her lord and husband, even much as her
mother had shown in preferring him (Braban-
tio) above her father.
The old senator, unable to maintain his plea
called the Moor to him with many expressions
of sorrow, and, as an act of necessity, bestowed
upon him his daughter, whom, if he had been
free to withhold her the told HIM he would
with all his heart have kept from him; adding,
that he was glad at soul that he had no other
child for this behavior of Desdemona would
have taught him to be tyrant, and hang clogs
on them for her desertion.
This difficulty being got over, Othello, to
whom custom had rendered the hardships Of a
military life as natural as food and rest are to
other men, readily undertook the management
of the wars in Cyprus: and Desdemona, pre-
ferring the honor of her lord Though with
danger) before the indulgence Of those idle de
lights in which newmarket people usually
waste their time, cheerfully consented to his
going.
No sooner were Othelo and his lady landed
in Cyprus than news arrived that desperate
tempest had dispersed the Turkish feet anc
thus the island was secure from an immedi-
ate apprehension of attack. But the war
which Othello was to suffer now begin
ming; and the enemies which malice stirred up
against this innocent lady proved in their ma
ture more deadly than strangers or infdels.
Among all the generals friends no one pos
sessed the confidence of Otheo more entirely
than Cassie Michael Cassie was a young sol
der, FIorentine, gay, amorous. and of pleas
ing address, favorite qualities with women; he
was handsome, and eloquent and exactly such
a person as might alarm the jealousy Of man
advanced in years (as Othello in some measure
was), who had married a young and beautiful
wife, but Othello free from jealousy as
he was noble, and as incapable of suspecting,
as Of doing a base action.
He had employed this Cassie in his love
affair with Desdemona, and Cassie had been
sort of go-Between in his suit; for Othelo, fear
ing that himself had not those soft parts OF
conversation which please ladies' and finding
these qualities in his friend, would often depute
Cassie to go las he phrased 1t, accounting for
him: such innocent simplicity being honor
rather than a blemish to the character Of the
valiant Moor. SO that no wonder it, next to
Othelo himself (but at far distance, as beseems
a virtuous wife,, the gentle Desdemona loved
and trusted Cassie He frequented their house,
and his free and rafting talk was no unpleas
ing variety to Othello who himself of a
more serious temper: for such tempers are OBJ
served often to delight in their contraries, as
a relief from the oppressive excess Of their
own: and Desdemona and Cassie would talk
and laugh together, as in the days when he
went acquiring for his friend.
OtheUo had lately promoted Cassie to be the
lieutenant. place of trust and nearest to the
generals person This promotion gave great
offense TO Iago, an older officer, who thought
he had a better claim than Cassie and would
often ridicule Cassie as a fellow fit only for
the company of ladies', and one that knew no
more of the art of war, or how to set an army
in array for battle, than a girl Iago hated
Cassie, and he hated Othello as well for favor
ing Cassie as for an unjust suspicion which he
ldO ugnllN TAKEN up against OlitilD tlidL tLS
Moor was too fond of lagos wife Emilia. From
these imaginary provocations, the plotting
mind of Iago conceived a horrid scheme Of re-
venge which should involve both Cassie, the
Moor, and DesdemOna in one common ruin.
Iago was artfIl. and had studied human ma
ture deeply and he knew that OF all the tor
ments which affict the mind Of man land far
beyond bodily torture), the pains of Jealousy
were the most intolerable and had the sorest
sting. II he could succeed in making othelio
jealous Of Cassie, he thought it would be an
exquisite plot of revenge, and might end in the
death Of Cassie or OtheIlo, or both; he cared
not
The arrival of the general and his lady in
Cyprus. meeting with the news Of the disper-
sion Of the enemy's feet, made sort Of hoIi
day in the island. Everybody gave themselves
up to feasting and making merry. Wine flowed
in abundance, and cups went round to the
health Of the black othelo, and his lady The
fair Desdem0na.
Cassie had the direction Of the guard that
night. with the charge from Othello to keep the
soldiers from excess in drinking that no braRl