Act 3, scene 1

Cyprus.  Before the Castle.

  Enter CASSIO, and some Musicians.

  CAS:  Masters, play here, I will content your pains;
Something that’s brief; and bid ‘Good morrow, general.’  [Music.]

  Enter Clown.        

  CLO:  Why, masters, have your instruments been in Naples, that they speak i’ the nose thus?

  FIRST MUS:  How, sir, how?

  CLO:  Are these, I pray you, wind-instruments?

  FIRST MUS:  Ay, marry, are they, sir.

  CLO:  O! thereby hangs a tail.        

  FIRST MUS:  Whereby hangs a tale, sir?

  CLO:  Marry, sir, by many a wind-instrument that I know. But, masters, here’s money for you; and the general so likes your music, that he desires you, for love’s sake, to make no more noise with it.

  FIRST MUS:  Well, sir, we will not.

  CLO:  If you have any music that may not be heard, to ’t again; but, as they say, to hear music the general does not greatly care.

  FIRST MUS:  We have none such, sir.        

  CLO:  Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I’ll away. Go; vanish into air; away!  [Exeunt Musicians.]

  CAS:  Dost thou hear, mine honest friend?

  CLO:  No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear you.

  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 her a little favour of speech: wilt thou do this?

  CLO:  She is stirring, sir: if she will stir hither, I shall seem to notify unto her.        

  CAS:  Do, good my friend.  [Exit Clown.]

  Enter IAGO.

        In happy time, Iago.

  IAGO:  You have not been a-bed, then?

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

  IAGO:        I’ll send her to you presently;        
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        
A Florentine more kind and honest.

  Enter EMILIA.

  EMIL:  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 you stoutly: the Moor replies
That he you hurt is of great fame in Cyprus
And great affinity, and that in wholesome wisdom
He might not but refuse you; but he protests he loves you,
And needs no other suitor but his likings        
To take the saf’st occasion by the front
To bring you in again.

  CAS:        Yet, I beseech you,
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:
I will bestow you where you shall have time
To speak your bosom freely.

  CAS:        I am much bound to you.  [Exeunt.]

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