| [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] |