TPTT The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice: ACT III
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
SCENE I. Before the castle.
SCENE II. A room in the castle.
SCENE III. The garden of the castle.
SCENE IV. Before the castle.
ACT IV
ACT V
About the Play
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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
5     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
10    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
15    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:
20    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
25    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
30    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,
35    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
40    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
45    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,
50    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
55    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;
60    I will bestow you where you shall have time
      To speak your bosom freely.
CASSIO
      I am much bound to you.
Exeunt
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