Otello ACT III: The great hall of the castle. A herald announces that a ship bearing Venetian ambassadors has been sighted. Iago tells Otello he will get Cassio to talk to him while Otello hides to listen. Desdemona approaches and once more pleads for Cassio. In turn, Otello asks her to bind his head with her handkerchief. When she produces the wrong one, he warns her that the one he had given her was woven by a sorceress and carries a terrible spell. He orders her to fetch it, but she continues to speak about Cassio. Enraged, he seizes her and, ignoring her protests of faithfulness, accuses her of falsity. Changing from anger to irony, he leads her to the door, begging her pardon for wronging the 'whore who is Otello's wife'. Alone, he sings of his betrayal and vows she will confess her sins (Dio! mi potevi scagliar — God you could have tried me). Iago re-enters to announce the arrival of Cassio who is looking for Desdemona. As Otello eavesdrops, Iago gets Cassio to speak of the one he loves, naming theex-captain's mistress, Bianca, under his breath so that Otello does not hear the name. As they joke about the girl, Otello thinks they are speaking of Desdemona. Cassio then tells of finding the handkerchief in his house, produces it, and they sing of its beauty (Questa è una ragna — This is a spider web). Otello is finally completely convinced. Suddenly, trumpets announce the docking of the Venetian ship. As an off-stage chorus hails its arrival, Otello asks Iago to get him some poison, but Iago persuades him it would be better to strangle Desdemona. Pleased, Otello makes him his new captain. Lodovico and his entourage enter, and Desdemona and Emilia join them. Otello is given a message from the Doge. While he reads, Lodovico asks Desdemona about Cassio and when Otello hears her speak of her affection for the ex-captain, he suddenly strikes out at her. Lodovico restrains him and asks the ensign about Otello's outburst. Iago implies that such behavior is usual. Otello sends the herald to find Cassioand, when he arrives, announces that the Doge is recalling him to Venice and has appointed Cassio in his place. Furiously he throws his wife to the ground ordering her to weep. She does so (A terra!...sì...nel livido fango — On the ground, yes, in the mud). As the others respond in horror, Iago urges Otello to speed his revenge and suggests to Roderigo that, if Cassio was to be killed, Otello would have to remain in Cyprus. Roderigo takes the hint. Otello orders all to leave. Alone with Iago, he falls in an epilectic fit, and as the crowd outsid—e hails the "Lion of Venice", the sneering villain places his foot on the unconscious hero saying Ecco il Leone! (Behold the lion!)
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