Act 3

Scene I

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 tail.
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, my honest friend?
Clown	No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear you.
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?
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.