The Tragedy Of Othello, The Moor Of Venice

1 Enter Cassio and some Musicians.
2 CASSIO.
3 Masters, play here, I will content your pains,
4 Something that’s brief; and bid “Good morrow, general.”
5 [_Music._]
6 Enter Clown.
7 CLOWN.
8 Why, masters, have your instruments been in Naples, that they speak i’
9 the nose thus?
10 FIRST MUSICIAN.
11 How, sir, how?
12 CLOWN.
13 Are these, I pray you, wind instruments?
14 FIRST MUSICIAN.
15 Ay, marry, are they, sir.
16 CLOWN.
17 O, thereby hangs a tail.
18 FIRST MUSICIAN.
19 Whereby hangs a tale, sir?
20 CLOWN.
21 Marry, sir, by many a wind instrument that I know. But, masters, here’s
22 money for you: and the general so likes your music, that he desires
23 you, for love’s sake, to make no more noise with it.
24 FIRST MUSICIAN.
25 Well, sir, we will not.
26 CLOWN.
27 If you have any music that may not be heard, to’t again. But, as they
28 say, to hear music the general does not greatly care.
29 FIRST MUSICIAN.
30 We have none such, sir.
31 CLOWN.
32 Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I’ll away. Go, vanish into air,
33 away!
34 [_Exeunt Musicians._]
35 CASSIO.
36 Dost thou hear, mine honest friend?
37 CLOWN.
38 No, I hear not your honest friend. I hear you.
39 CASSIO.
40 Prithee, keep up thy quillets. There’s a poor piece of gold for thee:
41 if the gentlewoman that attends the general’s wife be stirring, tell
42 her there’s one Cassio entreats her a little favour of speech. Wilt
43 thou do this?
44 CLOWN.
45 She is stirring, sir; if she will stir hither, I shall seem to notify
46 unto her.
47 CASSIO.
48 Do, good my friend.
49 [_Exit Clown._]
50 Enter Iago.
51 In happy time, Iago.
52 IAGO.
53 You have not been a-bed, then?
54 CASSIO.
55 Why, no. The day had broke
56 Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago,
57 To send in to your wife. My suit to her
58 Is, that she will to virtuous Desdemona
59 Procure me some access.
60 IAGO.
61 I’ll send her to you presently,
62 And I’ll devise a mean to draw the Moor
63 Out of the way, that your converse and business
64 May be more free.
65 CASSIO.
66 I humbly thank you for’t.
67 [_Exit Iago._]
68 I never knew
69 A Florentine more kind and honest.
70 Enter Emilia.
71 EMILIA.
72 Good morrow, good lieutenant; I am sorry
73 For your displeasure, but all will sure be well.
74 The general and his wife are talking of it,
75 And she speaks for you stoutly: the Moor replies
76 That he you hurt is of great fame in Cyprus
77 And great affinity, and that in wholesome wisdom
78 He might not but refuse you; but he protests he loves you
79 And needs no other suitor but his likings
80 To take the safest occasion by the front
81 To bring you in again.
82 CASSIO.
83 Yet, I beseech you,
84 If you think fit, or that it may be done,
85 Give me advantage of some brief discourse
86 With Desdemona alone.
87 EMILIA.
88 Pray you, come in.
89 I will bestow you where you shall have time
90 To speak your bosom freely.
91 CASSIO.
92 I am much bound to you.
93 [_Exeunt._]