SCENE I.
Before the Castle.
11Q1087
Enter Cassio, 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?
1 Mus.
How, sir, how?
Clo.
Are these, I pray you, called wind instruments2 note?
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 music, that he desires you, for
love's sake3 note, to make no more noise with it.
1 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.
1 Mus.
We have none such, sir.
Clo.
Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll
away. Go; vanish into air4 note; away!
[Exeunt Musicians.
Cas.
Dost thou hear, mine honest friend?
-- 555 --
Clo.
No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear you.
Cas.
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?
Clo.
She is stirring, sir: if she will stir hither, I shall
seem to notify unto her.
[Exit.
Enter Iago.
Cas.
Do, good my friend5 note.—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.
[Exit.
Cas.
I humbly thank you for't. I never knew
A Florentine more kind and honest6 note
.
Enter Emilia.
Emil.
Good morrow, good lieutenant: I am sorry
For your displeasure; but all will soon be well7 note.
The general, and his wife, are talking of it,
And she speaks for you stoutly: the Moor replies,
-- 556 --
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 front8 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 alone9 note.
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 you1 note.
[Exeunt.
J. Payne Collier [1842–1844], The works of William Shakespeare. The text formed from an entirely new collation of the old editions: with the various readings, notes, a life of the poet, and a history of the Early English stage. By J. Payne Collier, Esq. F.S.A. In eight volumes (Whittaker & Co. [etc.], London) [word count] [S10101].
