That shall enmesh them all.-How now, Roderigo?

1

Enter RODERIGO.
Rod. I do follow here in the chace, not like a
hound that hunts, but one that fills up the cry.
My money is almost spent; I have been to-night ex.
ceedingly well cudgelled; and, I think, the issue
will be- I shall have so much experience for my
pains: and so, with no money at all, and a little
more wit, return to Venice.

Iago. How poor are they, that have not patience!
What wound did ever heal, but by degrees ?
Thou know'st, we work by wit, and not by witchcraft;
And wit depends on dilatory time.
Does't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee,
And thou, by that small hurt, hast cashier'd Cassio:
Though other things grow fair against the sun,
Yet fruits, that blossom first, will first be ripe:
Content thyself a while. --By the mass, 'tis morning ;
Pleasure, and action, make the hours seem short.
Retire thee; go where thou art billeted :
Away, I say, thou shalt know more hereafter:
Nay, get thee gone. [Exit Rod.) Two things are

to be done,-
My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress;
I'll set her on;
Myself, the while, to draw the Moor apart,
And bring him jump' when he may Cassio find
Soliciting his wife:Ay, that's the way;
Dull not device by coldness and delay. [Exit.

3

bring him jump-] i. e. just at the time when.

Enter Cassio, and some Musicians. Cas. Masters, play here, I will content your pains, Something that's brief; and bid-good-morrow, general.4

[Musick.

Enter Clown. Clo. Why, masters, have your instruments been at Naples, that they speak i’the nose thus ?

1 Mus. How, sir, how !

Clo. Are these, I pray you, called wind instru ments ? i Mus. Ay, marry, are they, sir.

. Clo. O, thereby hangs a tail. 1 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 musick, that he desires you, of all loves, to make no more noise with it.

1 Mus. Well, sir, we will not.

Clo. If you have any musick that may not be heard, to't again : but, as they say, to hear musick, the general does not greatly care.

1 Mus. We have none such, sir.

and bid-good-morrow, general.] It is the usual practice of the waits, or nocturnal minstrels, in several towns in the North of England, after playing a tune or two, to cry, “ Good-morrow, maister such a one, good-morrow, dame,” adding the hour, and state of the weather. It should seem to have prevailed at Stratfordupon-Avon. They formerly used hautboys, which are the windinstruments here meant. Ritson,

Clo. Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll away: Go; vanish into air; away.

[Exeunt Musicians. Cas. Dost thou hear, my honest friend ?

Clo. No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear you.

Cas. 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?

Clo. She is stirring, sir; if she will stir hither, I shall seem to notify unto her.

[Exit.

Enter Iago.

Cas. Do, good my friend. In happy tíme, 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.

[Exit. Čas. I humbly thank you for't. I never knew A Florentine more kind and honest.

Enter EMILIA.
Emil. Good morrow, good lieutenant: I am sorry
For your displeasure;s but all will soon be well.
The general, and his wife, are talking of it;

For your displeasure ;] i.e. the displeasure you have incurred from Othello.

1

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 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.

SCENE II.

A Room in the Castle.

Enter OTHELLO, Fago, and Gentlemen.
Oth. These letters give, Iago, to the pilot;
And, by him, do my duties to the state :
That done, I will be walking on the works,
Repair there to me.
Iago.

Well, my good lord, I'll do't.
Oth. This fortification, gentlemen,-shall we

see't? Gent. We'll wait upon your lordship. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Before the Castle.
Enter DESDEMONA, Cassio, and EMILIA.
Des. Be thou assur’d, good Cassio, I will do
All

my abilities in thy behalf. Emil. Good madam, do; I know 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
As friendly as you were.
Cas.

Bounteous madam,
Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,
He's never any thing but your true servant.
Des. O, sir, I thank you : You do love my

lord:
You have known him long; and be you well assur'd,
He shall in strangeness stand no further off
Than in a politick distance.
Cas.

Ay, but, lady,
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 : assu

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;

6 I'll watch him tame,] Hawks and other birds are tamed by keeping them from sleep, to which management Shakspeare alludes.