Scene I

[Before the castle.]

Enter Cassio, with Musicians, and the Clown.

CASSIO:

Masters, play here, I will content your pains;
Something that's brief; and bid “Good morrow, general.”

CASSIO:

Gentlemen, play here, I will reward your pains, Something that's brief and say, “Good morning, General.”

CLOWN:

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

CLOWN:

Hey, fellows, have your instruments been in Naples, that
they sound as horrible as like this?

FIRST MUSICIAN:

How, sir, how?(5)

FIRST MUSICIAN:

What, sir, how!

CLOWN:

Are these, I pray you, wind instruments?

CLOWN:

Are these, I beg you, wind instruments?

FIRST MUSICIAN:

Ay, marry, are they, sir.

FIRST MUSICIAN:

Yes, by Mary, they are, sir.

CLOWN:

O, thereby hangs a tail.

CLOWN:

O, knowing that is not even half the story.

FIRST MUSICIAN:

Whereby hangs a tale, sir?

FIRST MUSICIAN:

What “half the story,” sir?

CLOWN:

Marry, sir. But, masters, here's money for you; and the(10)
general so likes your music, that he desires you, for love's
sake, to make no more noise with it.

CLOWN:

By Mary, sir, by many a wind instrument that I know. But,
gents, 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.

FIRST MUSICIAN:

Well, sir, we won’t.

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(15)
greatly care.

CLOWN:

If you have any music that may not be heard, try it again.
but, as they say, the general does not greatly care to
hear music.

FIRST MUSICIAN:

We have none such, sir.

FIRST MUSICIAN:

We don’t have any, sir.

CLOWN:

Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll away. Go,
vanish into air, away! [Exeunt Musicians.]

CLOWN:

Then put your pipes away in your bag, because I'm
leaving. Go, vanish into air, go away!

CASSIO:

Dost thou hear, my honest friend?(20)

CASSIO:

Did you hear, my honest friend?

CLOWN:

No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear you.

CLOWN:

No, I don’t hear your honest friend; I hear you.

CASSIO:

Prithee, 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 favor of speech. Wilt thou do this?

CASSIO:

I beg you, keep up your jokes. There's a poor piece of
gold for you. If the gentlewoman that attends the
general's wife is awake, tell her there's one Cassio begs
a little favor of speaking with her. Will you do this?

CLOWN:

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

CLOWN:

She is awake, sir; if she will get up, I shall seem to notify
her.

CASSIO:

Do, good my friend.

[Exit Clown.]

[Enter Iago.]

In happy time, Iago.

CASSIO:

Do, my good friend.

Good to see you, Iago.

IAGO:

You have not been abed, then?(30)

IAGO:

You have not been to 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.(35)

CASSIO:

Why, no; the day dawned
Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago,
To send for your wife. My request to her
Is, that she will manage to get me access
To virtuous Desdemona.

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.

IAGO:

I'll send her to you right away,
And I'll devise a plan to get the Moor
Out of the way, that your conversation and business
May be more free.

CASSIO:

I humbly thank you for't. Exit [Iago.] I never knew(40)
A Florentine more kind and honest.

CASSIO:

I humbly thank you for it.

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(45)
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(50)
To bring you in again.

EMILIA:

Good morning, good lieutenant; I am sorry
For your misfortune, but all will surely be okay.
The general and his wife are talking about it;
And she strongly speaks up for you. The Moor replies
That the man you hurt is very famous in Cyprus
And has a great reputation, and that, in pure wisdom,
He might not refuse you, but he protests he loves you
And needs no other person begging than his own opinion
To take the safest public occasion
To bring you back 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.

CASSIO:

Still, I beg you,
If you think it’s okay, or that it may be done,
Get me a chance to speak briefly
With Desdemona alone.

EMILIA:

Pray you, come in.
I will bestow you where you shall have time
To speak your bosom freely.

EMILIA:

I beg you, come in.
I will hide you where you shall have time
To speak your heart freely.

CASSIO:

I am much bound to you.

CASSIO:

Thank you so much.

Exeunt.