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Scene I.—: Cyprus. Before the Castle. - William Shakespeare, Othello the Moor of Venice [1622]

Edition used:

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (The Oxford Shakespeare), ed. with a glossary by W.J. Craig M.A. (Oxford University Press, 1916).

Part of: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (The Oxford Shakespeare)

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Scene I.—

Cyprus. Before the Castle.

EnterCassio,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 in Naples, that they speak i’ the nose thus?

First Mus.

How, sir, how?

Clo.

Are these, I pray you, wind-instruments?

First Mus.

Ay, marry, are they, sir.

Clo.

O! thereby hangs a tail.

First 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, for love’s sake, to make no more noise with it.

First 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.

First 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, mine honest friend?

Clo.

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

Cas.

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?

Clo.

She is stirring, sir: if she will stir hither,

I shall seem to notify unto her.

Cas.

Do, good my friend.

[Exit Clown.

EnterIago.

In happy time, 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.

Cas

I humbly thank you for ’t.

[ExitIago.

I never knew

A Florentine more kind and honest.

EnterEmilia.

Emil.

Good morrow, good lieutenant: I am sorry

For your displeasure; but all will soon 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 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.