Act III, Scene 1

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, 1550
  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 tail. 1555

• 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. 1560

• 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. 1565

• Clown. Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll away:
  go; vanish into air; away!

[Exeunt Musicians]

• Cassio. Dost thou hear, my honest friend?

• Clown. No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear you. 1570

• Cassio. 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? 1575

• 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] 1580
  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 1585
  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 1590
  May be more free.

• Cassio. I humbly thank you for't.
  [Exit IAGO]
  I never knew
  A Florentine more kind and honest. 1595

[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, 1600
  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 1605
  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. 1610

• 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]