Act III, Scene i:
Cyprus. Before the Castle.

[Enter Cassio and some Musicians.]

CASSIO:

Masters, play here,—I will content your pains,

Something that's brief; and bid good-morrow, general.

[Music.]

[Enter Clown.]

CLOWN:

Why, masters, have your instruments been in Naples, that

they speak i' the nose thus?

FIRST MUSICIAN:

How, sir, how!

CLOWN:

Are these, I pray you, wind instruments?

FIRST MUSICIAN:

Ay, marry, are they, sir.

CLOWN:

O, thereby hangs a tale.

FIRST MUSICIAN:

Whereby hangs a tale, sir?

CLOWN:

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 MUSICIAN:

Well, sir, we will not.

CLOWN:

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 MUSICIAN:

We have none such, sir.

CLOWN:

Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll away:

go, vanish into air, away!

[Exeunt Musicians.]

CASSIO:

Dost thou hear, mine honest friend?

CLOWN:

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

CASSIO:

Pr'ythee, 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?

CLOWN:

She is stirring, sir; if she will stir hither I shall

seem to notify unto her.

CASSIO:

Do, good my friend.

[Exit Clown.]

[Enter Iago.]

In happy time, Iago.

IAGO:

You have not been a-bed, then?

CASSIO:

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.

CASSIO:

I humbly thank you for't.[Exit Iago.]I never knew

A Florentine more kind and honest.

[Enter Emilia.]

EMILIA:

Good-morrow, good lieutenant; I am sorry

For your displeasure; but all will sure 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 safest occasion by the front

To bring you in again.

CASSIO:

Yet, I beseech you,—

If you think fit, or that it may be done,—

Give me advantage of some brief discourse

With Desdemona alone.

EMILIA:

Pray you, come in:

I will bestow you where you shall have time

To speak your bosom freely.

CASSIO:

I am much bound to you.

[Exeunt.]