ACT III. 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. [Music. 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 instruments? 1 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 music, 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 music that may not be heard, to't again: but, as they say, to hear music, the general does not greatly care. 1 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, my honest friend? Clo. No, I hear not your honest friend. I hear you. Cas. Prythee, 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. Enter LAGO. Cas. Do, good my friend.-In happy time, Iago. Cas. Why, no; the day had broke Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago, Iago. I'll send her to you presently; Cas. I humbly thank you for't. I never knew Enter EMILIA. Emil. Good morrow, good lieutenant: I am sorry For your displeasure; † but all will soon be well. *Nice distinctions. [Exit. [Exit. + The displeasure you have incurred. The general, and his wife, are talking of it, And she speaks for you stoutly: The Moor replies, 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, Emil. Pray you, come in; I will bestow you where you shall have time Cas. I am much bound to you. 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 state: That done, I will be walking on the works, Repair there to me. Oth. This fortification, gentlemen, shall we see't? Iago. Well, my good lord, I'll do't. Gent. We'll wait upon your lordship. SCENE III.—Before the Castle. [Exeunt. [Exeunt. Enter DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and EMILIA. Des. Be thou assured, 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 anything but your true servant. Des. O, Sir, I thank you: You do love my lord: You have known him long; and be you well assured, He shall in strangeness stand no further off Than in a politic distance. Cas. Ay, but, lady, That policy may either last so long, Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet, Des. Do not doubt that; before Emilia here, To the last article: my lord shall never rest; I'll watch him tame,* and talk him out of patience; With Cassio's suit: Therefore be merry, Cassio; Than give thy cause away. Enter OTHELLO, and IAGO, at a distance. Emil. Madam, here comes My lord. Cas. Madam, I'll take my leave. Des. Why, stay, And hear me speak. Cas. Madam, not now: I am very ill at ease, Unfit for mine own purposes. Des. Well, well, Do your discretion. Iago. Ha! I like not that. Oth. What dost thou say? [Exit CASSIO. Iago. Nothing, my lord: or if-I know not what. Oth. Was not that Cassio, parted from my wife? Iago. Cassio, my lord? No, sure I cannot think it, That he would steal away so guilty-like, Seeing you coming. Oth. I do believe 'twas he. Des. How now, my lord? I have been talking with a suitor here, Good my lord, Des. Why, your lieutenant Cassio. For, if he be not one that truly loves you, I pr'ythee, call him back. Oth. Went he hence now? Des. Ay, sooth; so humbled, That he hath left part of his grief with me: I 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. Des. To-morrow dinner then? Oth. I shall not dine at home; I meet the captains at the citadel. Des. Why then, to-morrow night; or Tuesday morn; Or Tuesday noon, or night; or Wednesday morn ; * Hawks are tamed by keeping them from sleep. † Submission. * Knowledge. I pray thee, name the time; but let it not (Save that, they say, the wars must make examples To incur a private check: When shall he come ? What you could ask me, that I should deny, Or stand so mammering† on. What! Michael Cassio, Hath ta'en your part; to have so much to do To bring him in ! Trust me, I could do much,— I will deny thee nothing. Des. Why this is not a boon, "Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves, To your own person; Nay, when I have a suit, Oth. I will deny thee nothing: Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this, To leave me but a little to myself. Des. Shall I deny you? no: Farewell, my lord. Oth. Farewell, my Desdemona: I will come to thee straight. Des. Emilia, come:-Be it as your fancies teach you; Whate'er you be, I am obedient. [Exit, with EMILIA. Oth. Excellent wretch! § Perdition catch my soul, But I do love thee! and when I love thee not, Chaos is come again. Iago. My noble lord, Oth. What dost thou say, Iago? Iago. Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my lady, Oth. He did, from first to last: Why dost thou ask? No further harm. Oth. Why of thy thought, Iago? Iago. I did not think, he had been acquainted with her. Oth. O, yes, and went between us very oft. Iago. Indeed? Oth. Indeed! ay, indeed:-Discern'st thou aught in that? Is he not honest ? Iago. Honest, my lord? Oth. Ay, honest. Iago. My lord, for aught I know. Oth. What dost thou think? Iago. Think, my lord? *Best men. + Hesitating. § An expression equivalent to deur, tender creature. ✰ Weight. Oth. Think, my lord! By heaven, he echoes me, As if there were some monster in his thought Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean something: Iago. My lord, you know I love you. Oth. I think, thou dost; And, for I know thou art full of love and honesty, And weigh'st thy words before thou giv'st them breath,- Are tricks of custom; but in a man that's just, Iago. For Michael Cassio, I dare be sworn, I think that he is honest. Oth. I think so too. Iago. Men should be what they seem; Or, those that be not, 'would they might seem none ! Iago. Why, then, I think that Cassio is an honest man. Oth. Nay, yet there's more in this: I pray thee, speak to me as to thy thinkings, As thou dost ruminate; and give thy worst of thoughts The worst of words. Tago. Good my lord, pardon me; Though I am bound to every act of duty, I am not bound to that all slaves are free to. Utter my thoughts? Why, say, they are vile and false,→ As where's that palace, whereinto foul things Sometimes intrude not? who has a breast so pure, But some uncleanly apprehensions Keep leets, and law-days, and in session sit With meditations lawful? Oth. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago, If thou but think'st him wrong'd, and mak'st his ear A stranger to thy thoughts. Iago. I do beseech you, Though I, perchance, am vicious in my guess, As, I confess, it is my nature's plague To spy into abuses; and, oft, my jealousy Shapes faults that are not,-I entreat you then, From one that so imperfectly conjects,† You'd take no notice; nor build yourself a trouble |