ACT THIRD.

Scene I.

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.'

Enter Clown.

[Music.

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 20

away: go; vanish into air; away!

Cas. Dost thou hear, my honest friend?

[Exeunt Musicians. 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.

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[Exit Clown.

Cas. Do, good my friend.

Enter Iago.

In happy time, Iago.

lago. You have not been a-bed, then?

Cas. Why, no; the day had broke

Iago.

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.

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.

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Cas. I humbly thank you for 't. [Exit lago.] 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 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

Cas.

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.

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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.

Scene II.

A room in the castle.

Enter Othello, Iago, and Gentlemen.

Oth. These letters give, Iago, to the pilot;
And by him do my duties to the senate :
That done, I will be walking on the works;

Iago.

Repair there to me.

Well, my good lord, I'll do't. Oth. This fortification, gentlemen, shall we see't? Gent. We'll wait upon your lordship.

Scene III.

The garden of the castle.

Enter Desdemona, Cassio, and Emilia.

Des. Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do
All my abilities in thy behalf.

[Exeunt. As friendly as you were.

Cas.

Emil. Good madam, do: I warrant it grieves my husband As if the case were his.

Des. O, that's an honest fellow. Do not doubt, Cassio, But I will have my lord and you again

Bounteous madam,

Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,
He's never any thing but your true servant.

Des. I know't: I thank you. You do love my lord:

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You have known him long; and be you well assured
He shall in strangeness stand no farther off

Cas.

Ay, but, lady,

Than in a politic distance.

That policy may either last so long,
Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet,
Or breed itself so out of circumstance,
That, I being absent and my place supplied,
My general will forget my love and service.

Des. Do not doubt that; before Emilia here
I give thee warrant of thy place: assure thee,
If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it
To the last article: my lord shall never rest;
I'll watch him tame and talk him out of patience;
His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;
I'll intermingle every thing he does

With Cassio's suit: therefore be merry, Cassio ;
For thy solicitor shall rather die

Than give thy cause away.

Enter Othello and lago, at a distance.

Emil. Madam, here comes my lord.
Cas. Madam, I'll take my leave.

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Des. Nay, stay and hear me speak.

Cas. Madam, not now: I am very ill at ease,

Unfit for mine own purposes.

Des. Well, do your discretion.

lago. Ha! I like not that.

Oth. What dost thou say?

[Exit Cassio.

lago. Nothing, my lord: or if I know not what.
Oth. Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?
lago. Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it,

Oth.

That he would steal away so guilty-like,

Seeing you coming.

I do believe 'twas he.

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Des. How now, my lord!

I have been talking with a suitor here.

A man that languishes in your displeasure.

Oth. Who is 't you mean?

Des. Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord,
If I have any grace or power to move you,
His present reconciliation take;

Oth.

For if he be not one that truly loves you,
That errs in ignorance and not in cunning,
I have no judgement in an honest face :

I prithee, call him back.

Went he hence now?

Des. Ay, sooth; so humbled,

That he hath left part of his grief with me,

To suffer with him. Good love, call him back.

Oth. Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other time.

Des. But shall 't be shortly?

Oth.

The sooner, sweet, for you.

Des. Shall't be to-night at supper?
Oth.

No, not to-night.

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