READ STUDY GUIDE: Act III, scenes i–iii |
|
Act III, Scene i:
Cyprus. Before the Castle.
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.] |
|
|
||||
|
