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Shakespeare on Stage
SIP Editors, King Henry VIII. To Aug. 4, 2013.
Original Shakespeare Company, A Midsommer Night's Dreame (Midsummer Midsommer). To Jun. 21, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, All's Well That Ends Well. To Nov. 29, 2013.
Original Shakespeare Company, Comedie of Errors. To Jun. 22, 2013.
Original Shakespeare Company, As You Like It. To Jun. 23, 2013.
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Othello (Modern)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Jessica Slights
Not Peer Reviewed

3.1

Enter Cassio, Musicians, and Clown.
Cassio Masters, play here --I will content your pains--1520something that's brief, and bid "Good morrow, general."
[The musicians play.]
Clown Why, masters, have your instruments been in Naples that they speak i'th'nose thus?
Musician How, sir? How?
Clown Are these, I pray you, wind instruments?
1525Musician Ay, marry, are they, sir.
Clown Oh, thereby hangs a tale.
Musician Whereby hangs a tale, sir?
Clown Marry, sir, by many a wind instrument that I know. But, masters--here's money for you--and the 1530general so likes your music that he desires you for love's sake to make no more noise with it.
Musician Well, sir, we will not.
Clown If you have any music that may not be heard, to't again. But, as they say, to hear music the 1535general does not greatly care.
Musician We have none such, sir.
Clown Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll away. Go, vanish into air, away.
Exit Musicians.
Cassio Dost thou hear, my honest friend?
1540Clown No, I hear not 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 1545entreats her a little favor of speech. Wilt thou do this?
Clown She is stirring, sir. If she will stir hither, I shall seem to notify unto her.
1547.1Cassio
Do, my good friend.
Exit Clown.
Enter Iago.
Cassio
In happy time, Iago.
Enter Iago.
1550Iago You have not been abed 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.
1555Iago
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 [Iago].
Cassio
I humbly thank you for't.
I never knew 1560a 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,
1565And 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
1569.1To take the safest occasion by the front
1570To bring you in again.
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.
1575Emilia
Pray you come in.
I will bestow you where you shall have time
To speak your bosom freely.
Cassio
I am much bound to you.
[Exeunt.]