Masters, play here, I will content your pains,

Something that’s brief; and bid “Good morrow, general.”

Why, masters, have your instruments been in Naples, that they speak i’

the nose thus?

How, sir, how?

Are these, I pray you, wind instruments?

Ay, marry, are they, sir.

O, thereby hangs a tail.

Whereby hangs a tale, sir?

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.

Well, sir, we will not.

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.

We have none such, sir.

Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I’ll away. Go, vanish into air,

away!

Dost thou hear, mine honest friend?

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

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 favour of speech. Wilt

thou do this?

She is stirring, sir; if she will stir hither, I shall seem to notify

unto her.

Do, good my friend.

In happy time, Iago.

You have not been a-bed, then?

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.

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.

I humbly thank you for’t.

I never knew

A Florentine more kind and honest.

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.

Yet, I beseech you,

If you think fit, or that it may be done,

Give me advantage of some brief discourse

With Desdemona alone.

Pray you, come in.

I will bestow you where you shall have time

To speak your bosom freely.

I am much bound to you.