Act III · Scene I

Before the castle

Enter Cassio and some Musicians.[5749]

Cas. Masters, play here; I will content your pains;[5750]
Something that's brief; and bid 'Good morrow, general.' [Music.

Enter Clown.[5751]

Clo. Why, masters, have your instruments been in [5752]
Naples, that they speak i' the nose thus?[5753]

First Mus. How, sir, how![5754] 5

Clo. Are these, I pray you, wind-instruments?[5755]

First Mus. Ay, marry, are they, sir.[5754]

Clo. O, thereby hangs a tail.[5756]

First Mus. Whereby hangs a tale, sir?[5757]

Clo. Marry, sir, by many a wind-instrument that I know. 10
But, masters, here's money for you: and the general so [5758]
likes your music, that he desires you, for love's sake, to [5759]
make no more noise with it.[5760]

First Mus. Well, sir, we will not.

Clo. 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 Mus. We have none such, sir.[5761]

Clo. Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll away:[5762]
go; vanish into air; away! [Exeunt Musicians.[5763] 20

Cas. Dost thou hear, my honest friend?[5764]

Clo. No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear you.[5765]

Cas. Prithee, keep up thy quillets. There's a poor
piece of gold for thee: if the gentlewoman that attends the
general's wife be stirring, tell her there's one Cassio entreats [5766] 25
her a little favour of speech: wilt thou do this?[5767]

Clo. She is stirring, sir: if she will stir hither, I shall
seem to notify unto her.[5768]

Cas. Do, good my friend. [Exit Clown.[5769]

Enter Iago.[5770]

In happy time, Iago.

Iago. You have not been a-bed, then?[5771][5772] 30

Cas. Why, no; the day had broke [5773]
Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago,[5772][5773][5774]
To send in to your wife: my suit to her[5773][5775]
Is, that she will to virtuous Desdemona[5773][5776]
Procure me some access.

Iago. I'll send her to you presently;[5777] 35
And I'll devise a mean to draw the Moor
Out of the way, that your converse and business
May be more free.

Cas. I humbly thank you for't. [Exit Iago.] I never knew [5778][5779]
A Florentine more kind and honest.[5779][5780] 40

Enter Emilia.

Emil. Good morrow, good lieutenant: I am sorry
For your displeasure; but all will sure be well.[5781]
The general and his wife are talking of it,
And she speaks for you stoutly: the Moor replies,
That he you hurt is of great fame in Cyprus 45
And great affinity, and that in wholesome wisdom [5782]
He might not but refuse you; but he protests he loves you,[5783]
And needs no other suitor but his likings [5784]
To take the safest occasion by the front [5785]
To bring you in again.

Cas. Yet, I beseech you, 50
If you think fit, or that it may be done,
Give me advantage of some brief discourse
With Desdemona alone.

Emil. Pray you, come in:[5786]
I will bestow you where you shall have time
To speak your bosom freely.

Cas. I am much bound to you. [Exeunt.[5787]55

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