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Edwin Booth Reading From Othello

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November 25, 1864, "Julius Caesar," Winter Garden, New York:  The first and last appearance together of Junius Brutus Booth, Jr. (right) and two of his sons, John Wilkes (left) and Edwin (middle).  

In April 1865, John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln.  Of Junius Jr.'s 10 children, only two survived to the end of the 19th century, Joseph and Edwin.  

The recording comes from the Vincent Voice Library at Michigan State University.  The photograph is from The Theater Collection, Harvard College Library.

A special thanks to my Mom and Dad for saving all the old issues of American Heritage for me.  This came out of October 1961.

OTHELLO , Act 1, Scene 3

 

Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors,
My very noble and approved good masters,

That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter,
It is most true; true, I have married her:
The very head and front of my offending
Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech,
And little bless'd with the soft phrase of peace:
For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith,
Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used
Their dearest action in the tented field,
And little of this great world can I speak,
More than pertains to feats of broil and battle,
And therefore little shall I grace my cause
In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience,
I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver
Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what charms,
What conjuration and what mighty magic,
For such proceeding I am charged withal,
I won his daughter.

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