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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, mine honest friend?
CLOWN
No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear you.
CASSIO
Pr’ythee, 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.]
SCENE II
Cyprus. A Room in the Castle.
[Enter Othello, Iago, and Gentlemen.]
OTHELLO
These letters give, Iago, to the pilot;
And by him do my duties to the senate:
That done, I will be walking on the works;
Repair there to me.
IAGO
Well, my good lord, I’ll do’t.
OTHELLO
This fortification, gentlemen,—shall we see’t?
GENTLEMEN
We’ll wait upon your lordship.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE III
Cyprus. The Garden of the Castle.
[Enter Desdemona, Cassio, and Emilia.]
DESDEMONA
Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do
All my abilities in thy behalf.
EMILIA
Good madam, do: I warrant it grieves my husband
As if the cause were his.
DESDEMONA
O, that’s an honest fellow.—Do not doubt, Cassio,
But I will have my lord and you again
As friendly as you were.
CASSIO
Bounteous madam,
Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,
He’s never anything but your true servant.
DESDEMONA
I know’t,—I thank you. You do love my lord:
You have known him long; and be you well assur’d
He shall in strangeness stand no farther off
Than in a politic distance.
CASSIO
Ay, but, lady,
That policy may either last so long,
Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet,
Or breed itself so out of circumstance,
That, I being absent, and my place supplied,
My general will forget my love and service.
DESDEMONA
Do not doubt that; before Emilia here
I give thee warrant of thy place: assure thee,
If I do vow a friendship, I’ll perform it
To the