Act III.
Scene I.
Act III. Scene I.—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 wis-
dom
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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