Othello Act 3 Scene 1
Cyprus. Outside the citadel, early morning.
The Original
Plain Modern English
Enter Cassio with Musicians.
Cassio
Masters, play here (I will content your pains)
Something that's brief; and bid "Good morrow,
general."
Cassio
Gentlemen, play here — I'll pay you for your trouble —
something short. And wish him 'Good morning,
general.'
They play.
Enter the Clown.
Clown
Why masters, have your instruments been in
Naples, that they speak i' th' nose thus?
Clown
Well, gentlemen — have your instruments been to
Naples, that they talk through their noses like that?
Musician
How, sir, how?
Musician
What's that, sir? What?
Clown
Are these, I pray you, wind instruments?
Clown
Tell me — are these wind instruments?
Musician
Ay, marry, are they, sir.
Musician
They certainly are, sir.
Clown
O, thereby hangs a tail.
Clown
Ah — thereby hangs a tail.
Musician
Whereby hangs a tale, sir?
Musician
Hangs a tale, sir? What story would that be? (The Clown says 'tail'; the musician hears the ordinary phrase 'thereby hangs a tale', meaning there's a story behind it. The Clown means the other sort of wind, from the other end.)
Clown
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.
Clown
Well, sir — by many a wind instrument I've
known. But, gentlemen, here's money for you, and the
General likes your music so much that he begs you, for
the love of God, to stop making a noise with it.
Musician
Well, sir, we will not.
Musician
Right you are, sir. We'll stop.
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 greatly care.
Clown
If you've any music that can't be heard, go
back to it. But as they say, the General doesn't much
care for hearing music.
Musician
We have none such, sir.
Musician
We haven't got any of that sort, sir.
Clown
Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll
away. Go, vanish into air, away!
Clown
Then pack your pipes into your bag, because I'm
off. Go on — vanish into thin air. Away!
Musicians exit.
Cassio
Dost thou hear, mine honest friend?
Cassio
Do you hear me, 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
Please — keep your quibbles to yourself.
(giving him money) Here's a poor little gold coin for you. If the lady
who waits on the General's wife is up and about,
tell her a man called Cassio begs the small favour
of a word with her. Will you do that?
Clown
She is stirring, sir. If she will stir hither, I shall
seem to notify unto her.
Clown
She is up and about, sir. If she'll stir herself this way, I'll
make it my business to let her know.
Cassio
Do, good my friend.
Cassio
Do that, my good friend.
Clown exits.
Enter Iago.
Cassio
In happy time, Iago.
Cassio
Well timed, Iago.
Iago
You have not been abed, then?
Iago
So you've not been to bed?
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.
Cassio
No. It was already light
before we parted. I've taken the liberty, Iago,
of sending word in to your wife. What I'm asking her
is to get me some access to the 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 out to you right away.
And I'll work out a way of drawing the Moor
off somewhere, so your conversation and your business
can be freer. (He describes the trap to its victim, as a favour. Getting Othello out of the house — so that he can be brought back at the chosen moment — is the whole of the plan.)
Cassio
I humbly thank you for 't. I never
knew
A Florentine more kind and honest.
Cassio
I'm humbly grateful to you for it. (Iago leaves.) I never
knew
a Florentine kinder or more honest. (Cassio is the Florentine here; Iago is Venetian. He means that even among his own countrymen he has never met a better man.)
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
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.
Emilia
Good morning, good lieutenant. I'm sorry
you're out of favour, but it will all come right.
The General and his wife are discussing it now,
and she's arguing your case strongly. The Moor answers
that the man you wounded is well known in Cyprus
and well connected, and that plain good sense meant
he had no choice but to dismiss you. But he insists he's
fond of you
and needs no one to plead for you except his own liking,
which will take the first safe opportunity it can
to bring you back. (Cassio's problem is already solving itself. Desdemona is winning the argument and Othello is hunting for a way to reinstate him, which makes the private meeting Iago has just arranged completely unnecessary.)
Cassio
Yet I beseech you,
If you think fit, or that it may be done,
Give me advantage of some brief discourse
With Desdemon alone.
Cassio
Even so, I beg you —
if you think it proper, or possible at all —
get me the chance of a short conversation
with Desdemona alone.
Emilia
Pray you come in.
I will bestow you where you shall have time
To speak your bosom freely.
Emilia
Please, come inside.
I'll put you somewhere you'll have time
to say what's on your mind freely.
Cassio
I am much bound to you.
Cassio
I'm deeply obliged to you.
They exit.