SCENE I.
Before the Castle.
Enter Cassio, and some Musicians.
Cas.
Master, play here, I will content your pains,
Something that's brief; and bid—good-morrow, general4 note.
[Musick.
Enter Clown.
Clo.
Why, masters, have your instruments been
at Naples, that they speak i'the nose thus5 note
?
-- 342 --
1 Mus.
How, sir, how!
Clo.
Are these, I pray you, called wind instruments?
1 Mus.
Ay, marry, are they, sir.
Clo.
O, thereby hangs a tail.
1 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 musick, that he desires
you, of all loves6 note, to make no more noise with it.
1 Mus.
Well, sir, we will not.
Clo.
If you have any musick that may not be
heard, to't again: but, as they say, to hear musick,
the general does not greatly care.
1 Mus.
We have none such, sir.
Clo.
Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll
away7 note: Go; vanish into air8 note; away.
[Exeunt Musicians.
Cas.
Dost thou hear, my honest friend?
Clo.
No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear
you.
Cas.
Pr'ythee, keep up thy quillets9 note. 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.
[Exit.
Enter Iago.
Cas.
Do, good my friend.—In happy time, Iago.
-- 343 --
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.
[Exit.
Cas.
I humbly thank you for't. I never knew
A Florentine more kind and honest1 note
.
Enter Emilia.
Emil.
God morrow, good lieutenant: I am sorry
For your displeasure2 note; 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,
-- 344 --
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 front3 note,
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 you4 note.
[Exeunt.
James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
