Act III

Scene 1

Before the Castle.

Enter Cassio, with Musicians and the Clown.

CASSIO. Masters, play here, I will content your pains,

    Something that’s brief, and bid“Good morrow, general.”

(They play.)

CLOWN. Why, masters, ha’ your instruments been atNaples, that they speak i’ the nose thus?

FIRST MUSICIAN. How, sir, how?[5]

CLOWN. Are these, I pray, call’dwind-instruments?

FIRST MUSICIAN. Ay marry are they, sir.

CLOWN. O, thereby hangs a tail.

FIRST MUSICIAN. Whereby hangs a tale, sir?

CLOWN. Marry, sir, by many a wind-instrument that I[10] know. But, masters, here’s money for you, and the general so likes your music, that he desires you, of all loves, to make no more noise with it.

FIRST MUSICIAN. Well sir, we will not.

CLOWN. If you have any music that may not be heard,[15] to’t again, but, as they say, to hear music, the general does not greatly care.

FIRST MUSICIAN. We ha’ none such, sir.

CLOWN. Then put your pipes in your bag, for I’ll away; go, vanish away![20]

(Exeunt Musicians.)

CASSIO. Dost thou hear my honest friend?

CLOWN. No, I hear not your honest friend, I hear you.

CASSIO. Prithee keep up thyquillets, there’s a poor piece of gold for thee: if the gentlewoman that attends the general’s wife bestirring, tell her there’s[25] one Cassio entreats her a little favour of speech ... wilt thou do this?

CLOWN. She is stirring, sir, if she will stir hither, I shall seem tonotify unto her.

(Enter Iago.)

CASSIO. Do, good my friend.

(Exit Clown.)

     In happy time, Iago.[30]

IAGO. You ha’ not been a-bed, then?

CASSIO. Why no, the day had broke before we parted:

    I ha’made bold, Iago,

    To send in to your wife, ... my suit to her

    Is, that she will to virtuous Desdemona[35]

    Procure me someaccess.

IAGO. I’ll send her to you presently,

    And I’lldevise a mean to draw the Moor

    Out of the way, that yourconverse and business

    May be more free.

CASSIO. I humbly thank you for it.(Exit Iago.) I never knew[40]

    A Florentine more kind and honest.

(Enter Emilia.)

EMILIA. Good morrow, good lieutenant; I am sorry

    For your displeasure, but all will soon be well,

    The general and his wife are talking of it,

    And she speaks for youstoutly: the Moor replies,[45]

    That he you hurt is of great fame in Cyprus,

    And greataffinity, and that inwholesome wisdom

    He might not but refuse you; but he protests he loves you,

    And needs no other suitor but his likings

    To take the safest occasion by the front,[50]

    To bring you in again.

CASS