farther glimmering into the affair: until at last, frantic with rage and jealousy, Othello insists upon satisfactory information; and by these means, the discoveries which he makes are made to appear more the effect of necessity than inclination.

Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore.

Incomplete knowledge of what concerns us deeply, besides the tortures of suspense into which it throws the mind, has a natural effect to make it appear in the most hideous colours which it is possible to devise. Alarmed with a thousand phantoms, the affrighted imagination is at a loss what to decide, or where to rest; racked with many contending arguments, agitated with the anxiety of hope and fear, and impatient to be relieved from this internal war, it flies into whatever asylum it can find; and solicitous about the danger, it generally choses the worst.

Upon the whole, in this intercourse betwixt Iago and Othello, Shakspeare has shown the most complete knowledge of the human heart. Here he has put forth all the strength of his genius; the faults which he is so prone to fall into are entirely out of sight. We find none of his quibbling, his punning, or bombast; all is seriousness, all is passion. He brings human nature into the most difficult situation that can be conceived, and with matchless skill he supports it. Who can read those admirable scenes without being touched in the most sensible manner for the high grief of

Othello? Plunged into a sea of troubles did not deserve, we see him torn asund most cruel manner. How feeling are h tions on his own state of mind!

Perdition catch my soul

If I do not love thee; and when I love thee
Chaos is come again.

To try me with affliction; had he rain'd
All kinds of sores and shames on my bare h
Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips,
Given to captivity me and my hopes;
I should have found in some place of my sou
A drop of patience. But, alas! to make m
A fixed figure for the hand of scorn

well.

hea

To point his slow and moving finger at-
Yet could I bear that too, well, very
But there, where I have garner'd up my
Where either I must live, or bear no life;
The fountain from the which my current run
Or else dries up; to be discarded thence,
Or keep it as a cistern for foul toads
To knot and gender in: Turn thy complecti
Patience, thou young and rose-lipt cherubim
Ay, there look grim as hell.

After sustaining a violent conflict bet

and revenge, his high spirit finally resolves into the latter.f

W. N.o

Bishop Lowth, speaking of Othello, judiciously observes, "that the passion of jealousy, its causes, circumstances, progress, and effects, are more accurately, more copiously, more satisfactorily described in one drama of Shakspeare than in all the disputations of philosophy.

Anderson's Bee, Vol. i, pp. 87 ad 90, p. 132 ad 136.

No. VIII.

CRITICAL REMARKS ON OTHELLO CONC

IT has been observed of Shakspeare has not often exhibited the delicacy character, and this has been sufficient gized for, from the uncivilized age in lived; and women never appearing stage in his time, might have made studious in this department of the drama when we consider his strength of mind gination, which delighted in whatever and daring, we should almost think it i that he could enter into all the softness a ment of love. But in spite of all th vantages, he has shown that, in whateve chose to behold human nature, he coul it superior to any other; for nowhe writings of Shakspeare, or any where we found the female character drawi much tenderness and beauty as in that mona. The gentleness with which she all with whom she converses, the p modesty, the warmth of her love, her I in the deepest distress, together with he accomplishments, attract our highest re that which chiefly distinguishes her, i

quisite sensibility of imagination which interested her so much in the dangers of Othello's youthful adventures; a passion natural enough indeed, though it is not every one who is capable of experiencing it. Othello, as we have seen, was naturally of an heroic and amiable disposition; but when by his bold undertakings he is exposed to imminent dangers, he would then shine in his brightest colours: all his magnanimity and all his address are brought to view; at that moment all the generous affections of the soul would be drawn towards him,-admiration of his virtues, wishes for his success, and solicitude for his safety. And when the best feelings of the heart are thus lavished on a certain object, it is no wonder it should settle into fixed love and esteem.

Such was the sublimated passion of Desdemona, inspired solely by internal beauty. The person of Othello had every thing to cool desire: possessing not only the black complexion and the swarthy features of the African, he was also declined, as he says, into the vale of years. But his mind was every thing to Desdemona; it supplied the place of youth by its ardour, and of every personal accomplishment by its strength, its elevation, and softness. Where, in all the annals of love, do we find so pure and so disinterested a passion, supported with so much dignity and nature? She loved him for the dangers he had passed; upon this fleeting and incorporeal idea did she rest her affections, upon abstract feelings and qualities of the mind, which