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Something that's brief; and bid good-morrow, gen

eral.1

Enter the Clown.

[Music.

Clo. Why, masters, have your instruments been at Naples, that they speak i'the nose thus?

1 Mus. How, sir, how!

Clo. Are these, I pray you, call'd wind instruments? 2

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 sake, 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 air; away!

[Exeunt Musicians.

Cas. Dost thou hear, mine honest friend?
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?

1 It was usual for friends to serenade a new-married couple on the morning after the celebration of the marriage, or to greet them with a morning song to bid them good morrow.

2 Thus both the quartos: the folio omits call'd.

H.

Clo. She is stirring, sir: if she will stir hither, I shall seem to notify unto her.

Enter IAGO.

[Exit.

Cas. Do, good my friend.3-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.

Cas. I humbly thank you for❜t.

A Florentine more kind and honest.*

Enter EMILIA.

[Exit.

I never knew

Emil. Good morrow, good lieutenant : I am sorry For your displeasure; 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

3 These words are in both the quartos, but not in the folio.

H.

4 In consequence of this line a doubt has been entertained concerning the country of Iago. Cassio was undoubtedly a Florentine, as appears by the first scene of the play, where he is expressly called one. That Iago was a Venetian is proved by a speech in the third scene of this act, and by what he says in the fifth act, after having stabbed Roderigo. All that Cassio means to say in the present passage is, I never experienced more honesty and kindness even in one of my own countrymen.

5 That is, the displeasure you have incurred from Othello. The folio has sure instead of soon.

He might not but refuse you; but, he protests, he

loves you,

6

And needs no other suitor but his likings,
To take the saf'st occasion by the front,
To bring you in again.

If

Cas.

Yet, I beseech you,

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 you. [Exeunt.

SCENE II. A Room in the Castle.

Enter OTHELLO, IAGO, and Gentlemen.

Oth. These letters give, Iago, to the pilot; And by him do my duties to the senate:1 That done, I will be walking on the works; Repair there to me.

Iago.

Well, my good lord, I'll do't.

Oth. This fortification, gentlemen, shall we see't? Gent. We'll wait upon your lordship. [Exeunt.

All

SCENE III. Before the Castle.

Enter DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and EMILIA.

Des. Be thou assur'd, good Cassio, I will do
my abilities in thy behalf.

This line is wanting in the folio, and the last speech of the scene in the quarto of 1622.

H.

1 Thus the folio: both quartos have state instead of senate.

H.

Emil. Good madam, do: I know it grieves my

husband,

As if the case were his.2

Des. O, that's an honest fellow!-Do not doubt,

Cassio,

But I will have my lord and you again

As friendly as you were.

Cas.

Bounteous madam,

Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,
He's never any thing but your true servant.

Des. O, sir! 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 further off
Than in a politic distance.

Cas.

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.

Des. 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 last article: my lord shall never rest;

5

I'll watch him tame," and talk him out of patience;
His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;
I'll intermingle every thing he does

With Cassio's suit.

Therefore be merry, Cassio;

2 Thus both the quartos: the folio has warrant instead of know, and cause instead of case.

3 The folio has 1 know't instead of O, sir.

H.

4 He may either of himself think it politic to keep me out of office so long, or he may be satisfied with such slight reasons, or so many accidents may make him think my readmission at that time improper, that I may be quite forgotten. -JOHNSON.

5 Hawks and other birds are tamed by keeping them from sleep. To this Shakespeare alludes.

For thy solicitor shall rather die,
Than give thy cause away.

Enter OTHELLO, and IAGO, at a distance.
Emil. Madam, here comes my lord.
Cas. Madam, I'll take my leave.

Des. Why, stay, and hear me speak.

Cas. Madam, not now: I am very ill at ease,

Unfit for mine own purpose.

Des. Well, do your discretion.
Iago. Ha! I like not that.

Oth. What dost thou say?

[Exit CASSIO.

Iago. Nothing, my lord; or if-I know not what. Oth. Was not that Cassio, parted from my wife? Iago. Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it,

That he would steal away so guilty-like,

Seeing you coming.

Oth.

I do believe 'twas he.

Des. How now, my lord!

I have been talking with a suitor here,

A man that languishes in your displeasure.
Oth. Who is't you mean?

Des. Why, your lieutenant Cassio.

lord,

Good my

If I have any grace, or power to move you,
His present reconciliation take;

For, if he be not one that truly loves you,
That errs in ignorance, and not in cunning,"
I have no judgment in an honest face.

I pr'ythee call him back.

Oth.

Went he hence now?

Des. Ay, sooth; so humbled,

• Cunning here means knowledge, the old sense of the word.

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