ACT 3. SCENE I. Before the castle.

by William Shakespeare

　　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 generalso likes your music, that he desires you, for love'ssake, 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'tagain: but, as they say to hear music the generaldoes 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 pieceof gold for thee: if the gentlewoman that attendsthe general's wife be stirring, tell her there'sone Cassio entreats her a little favour of speech:wilt thou do this?Clown

　　She is stirring, sir: if she will stir hither, Ishall 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 brokeBefore we parted. I have made bold, Iago,To send in to your wife: my suit to herIs, that she will to virtuous DesdemonaProcure me some access.Iago

　　I'll send her to you presently;And I'll devise a mean to draw the MoorOut of the way, that your converse and businessMay be more free.Cassio

　　I humbly thank you for't.Exit IAGO

　　I never knewA Florentine more kind and honest.Enter EMILIA

　　Emilia

　　Good morrow, good Lieutenant: I am sorryFor 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 wisdomHe might not but refuse you; but he protests he loves youAnd needs no other suitor but his likingsTo take the safest occasion by the frontTo 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 discourseWith Desdemona alone.Emilia

　　Pray you, come in;I will bestow you where you shall have timeTo speak your bosom freely.Cassio

　　I am much bound to you.Exeunt