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Othello - Act 3, scene 1
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Othello - Act 3, scene 1Act 3, scene 1
Scene 1
Synopsis:
Cassio arrives with musicians to honor Othello and Desdemona. As Iago has recommended, Cassio asks Emilia to arrange a meeting with Desdemona, even though Emilia assures him that Desdemona is already urging Othello to reinstate him.
Enter Cassio ⟨with⟩ Musicians.CASSIO
1533 Masters, play here (I will content your pains)
1534 Something that’s brief; and bid “Good morrow,
1535 general.”⌜They play.⌝
⌜Enter the Clown.⌝
CLOWN 1536 Why masters, have your instruments been in
1537 5 Naples, that they speak i’ th’ nose thus?
MUSICIAN 1538 How, sir, how?
CLOWN 1539 Are these, I pray you, wind instruments?
MUSICIAN 1540 Ay, marry, are they, sir.
CLOWN 1541 O, thereby hangs a tail.
MUSICIAN 1542 10Whereby hangs a tale, sir?
CLOWN 1543 Marry, sir, by many a wind instrument that I
1544 know. But, masters, here’s money for you; and the
1545 General so likes your music that he desires you, for
1546 love’s sake, to make no more noise with it.
MUSICIAN 1547 15Well, sir, we will not.
CLOWN 1548 If you have any music that may not be heard, to
1549 ’t again. But, as they say, to hear music the General
1550 does not greatly care.
MUSICIAN 1551 We have none such, sir.
CLOWN 1552 20Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I’ll
1553 away. Go, vanish into air, away!
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113
Musicians exit.CASSIO 1554 Dost thou hear, mine honest friend?
CLOWN 1555 No, I hear not your honest friend. I hear you.
CASSIO 1556 Prithee, keep up thy quillets.⌜Giving money.⌝
1557 25 There’s a poor piece of gold for thee. If the gentlewoman
1558 that attends the ⟨General’s wife⟩ be stirring,
1559 tell her there’s one Cassio entreats her a little favor
1560 of speech. Wilt thou do this?
CLOWN 1561 She is stirring, sir. If she will stir hither, I shall
1562 30 seem to notify unto her.
⟨CASSIO
1563 Do, good my friend.⟩Clown exits.
Enter Iago.
1564 In happy time, Iago.
IAGO 1565 You have not been abed, then?
CASSIO 1566 Why, no. The day had broke
1567 35 Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago,
1568 To send in to your wife. My suit to her
1569 Is that she will to virtuous Desdemona
1570 Procure me some access.
IAGO 1571 I’ll send her to you presently,
1572 40 And I’ll devise a mean to draw the Moor
1573 Out of the way, that your converse and business
1574 May be more free.
CASSIO
1575 I humbly thank you for ’t. ⌜Iago⌝ exits. I never
1576 knew
1577 45 A Florentine more kind and honest.
Enter Emilia.
EMILIA
1578 Good morrow, good lieutenant. I am sorry
1579 For your displeasure, but all will sure be well.
1580 The General and his wife are talking of it,
1581 And she speaks for you stoutly. The Moor replies
p.
115
1582
50 That he you hurt is of great fame in Cyprus1583 And great affinity, and that in wholesome wisdom
1584 He might not but refuse you. But he protests he
1585 loves you
1586 And needs no other suitor but his likings
1587 55 ⟨To take the safest occasion by the front⟩
1588 To bring you in again.
CASSIO 1589 Yet I beseech you,
1590 If you think fit, or that it may be done,
1591 Give me advantage of some brief discourse
1592 60 With Desdemon alone.
EMILIA 1593 Pray you come in.
1594 I will bestow you where you shall have time
1595 To speak your bosom freely.
[CASSIO 1596 I am much bound to you.]
⟨They exit.⟩