Act III. The great hall of the castle. At the back a terrace. After a

brief scene in which the approach of a galley with the Venetian ambassadors is announced, _Desdemona_ enters. Wholly unaware of the cause of _Othello's_ strange actions toward her, she again begins to plead for _Cassio's_ restoration to favour. _Iago_ has pretended to _Othello_ that _Desdemona's_ handkerchief (of which he surreptitiously possessed himself) had been given by her to _Cassio_, and this has still further fanned the flame of the _Moor's_ jealousy. The scene, for _Othello_, is one of mingled wrath and irony. Upon her knees _Desdemona_ vows her constancy: "Esterrefatta fisso lo sguardo tuo tremendo" (Upon my knees before thee, beneath thy glance I tremble). I quote the phrase, "Io prego il cielo per te con questo pianto" (I pray my sighs rise to heaven with prayer).

[Music: Io prego il cielo per te con questo pianto]

_Othello_ pushes her out of the room. He soliloquizes: "Dio! mi potevi scagliar tutti i mali della miseria" (Heav'n had it pleased thee to try me with affliction).

_Iago_, entering, bids _Othello_ conceal himself; then brings in _Cassio_, who mentions _Desdemona_ to _Iago_, and also is led by _Iago_ into light comments on other matters, all of which _Othello_, but half hearing them from his place of concealment, construes as referring to his wife. _Iago_ also plays the trick with the handkerchief, which, having been conveyed by him to _Cassio_, he now induces the latter (within sight of _Othello_) to draw from his doublet. There is a trio for _Othello_ (still in concealment), _Iago_, and _Cassio_.

The last-named having gone, and the _Moor_ having asked for poison with which to kill _Desdemona_, _Iago_ counsels that _Othello_ strangle her in bed that night, while he goes forth and slays _Cassio_. For this counsel _Othello_ makes _Iago_ his lieutenant.

The Venetian ambassadors arrive. There follows the scene in which the recall of _Othello_ to Venice and the appointment of _Cassio_ as Governor of Cyprus are announced. This is the scene in which, also, the _Moor_ strikes down _Desdemona_ in the presence of the ambassadors, and she begs for mercy--"A terra--sì--nel livido fango" (Yea, prostrate here, I lie in the dust); and "Quel sol sereno e vivido che allieta il cielo e il mare" (The sun who from his cloudless sky illumes the heavens and sea).

[Music: Quel Sol sereno e vivido che allieta il cielo e il mare]

After this there is a dramatic sextet.

All leave, save the _Moor_ and his newly created lieutenant. Overcome by rage, _Othello_ falls in a swoon. The people, believing that the _Moor_, upon his return to Venice, is to receive new honours from the republic, shout from outside, "Hail, Othello! Hail to the lion of Venice!"

"There lies the lion!" is _Iago's_ comment of malignant triumph and contempt, as the curtain falls.