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  • Title: Othello (Folio 1, 1623)
  • Editor: Donald Bailey

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-466-0

    Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Donald Bailey
    Peer Reviewed

    Othello (Folio 1, 1623)

    Actus Tertius. Scena Prima.
    Enter Cassio, Musitians, and Clowne.
    Cassio. Masters, play heere, I wil content your paines,
    1520Something that's briefe: and bid, good morrow General.
    Clo. Why Masters, haue your Instruments bin in Na-
    ples, that they speake i'th'Nose thus?
    Mus. How Sir? how?
    Clo. Are these I pray you, winde Instruments?
    1525Mus. I marry are they sir.
    Clo. Oh, thereby hangs a tale.
    Mus. Whereby hangs a tale, sir?
    Clow. Marry sir, by many a winde Instrument that I
    know. But Masters, heere's money for you: and the Ge-
    1530nerall so likes your Musick, that he desires you for loues
    sake to make no more noise with it.
    Mus. Well Sir, we will not.
    Clo. If you haue any Musicke that may not be heard,
    too't againe. But (as they say) to heare Musicke, the Ge-
    1535nerall do's not greatly care.
    Mus. We haue none such, sir.
    Clow. Then put vp your Pipes in your bagge, for Ile
    away. Go, vanish into ayre, away. Exit Mu.
    Cassio Dost thou heare me, mine honest Friend?
    1540Clo. No, I heare not your honest Friend:
    I heare you.
    Cassio. Prythee keepe vp thy Quillets, ther's a poore
    peece of Gold for thee: if the Gentlewoman that attends
    the Generall be stirring, tell her, there's one Cassio en-
    1545treats her a little fauour of Speech. Wilt thou do this?
    Clo. She is stirring sir: if she will stirre hither, I shall
    seeme to notifie vnto her. Exit Clo.
    Enter Iago.
    In happy time, Iago.
    1550Iago. You haue not bin a-bed then?
    Cassio. Why no: the day had broke before we parted.
    I haue made bold (Iago) to send in to your wife:
    My suite to her is, that she will to vertuous Desdemona
    Procure me some accesse.
    1555Iago. Ile send her to you presently:
    And Ile deuise a meane to draw the Moore
    Out of the way, that your conuerse and businesse
    May be more free. Exit
    Cassio. I humbly thanke you for't. I neuer knew
    1560A Florentine more kinde, and honest.
    Enter AEmilia.
    AEmil. Good morrow (good Lieutenant) I am sorrie
    For your displeasure: but all will sure be well.
    The Generall and his wife are talking of it,
    1565And she speakes for you stoutly. The Moore replies,
    That he you hurt is of great Fame in Cyprus,
    And great Affinitie: and that in wholsome Wisedome
    He might not but refuse you. But he protests he loues you
    And needs no other Suitor, but his likings
    1570To bring you in againe.
    Cassio. Yet I beseech you,
    If you thinke fit, or that it may be done,
    Giue me aduantage of some breefe Discourse
    With Desdemon alone.
    1575AEmil. Pray you come in:
    I will bestow you where you shall haue time
    To speake your bosome freely.
    Cassio. I am much bound to you.
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