Cas. Good night, honest Iago.

[Exit. 340

Iago. And what's he then that says I play the villain?
When this advice is free I give and honest,
Probal to thinking, and indeed the course
To win the Moor again? For 'tis most easy
The inclining Desdemona to subdue

In any honest suit. She's framed as fruitful

As the free elements. And then for her

To win the Moor, were 't to renounce his baptism,
All seals and symbols of redeemed sin,
His soul is so enfetter'd to her love,

350

That she may make, unmake, do what she list,
Even as her appetite shall play the god

With his weak function. How am I then a villain
To counsel Cassio to this parallel course,
Directly to his good? Divinity of hell!
When devils will the blackest sins put on,

They do suggest at first with heavenly shows,

As I do now: for whiles this honest fool

Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes,

And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor, 360
I'll pour this pestilence into his ear,

That she repeals him for her body's lust;
And by how much she strives to do him good,
She shall undo her credit with the Moor.
So will I turn her virtue into pitch;

And out of her own goodness make the net
That shall enmesh them all.

Enter Roderigo.

How now, Roderigo!

Rod. I do follow here in the chase, not like a hound

that hunts, but one that fills up the cry. My money is almost spent; I have been to-night 370 exceedingly well cudgelled; and I think the issue will be, I shall have so much experience for my pains; and so, with no money at all and a little more wit, return again to Venice. Iago. How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees? Thou know'st we work by wit and not by witch

craft,

And wit depends on dilatory time.

Does 't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee, 380
And thou by that small hurt hast cashier'd Cassio:
Though other things grow fair against the sun,
Yet fruits that blossom first will first be ripe:
Content thyself awhile. By the mass, 'tis morning;
Pleasure and action make the hours seem short.
Retire thee; go where thou art billeted:

Away, I say; thou shalt know more hereafter:
Nay, get thee gone. [Exit Rod.] Two things are

to be done:

My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress;

I'll set her on;

390

Myself the while to draw the Moor apart,

And bring him jump when he may Cassio find

Soliciting his wife: ay, that's the way;

Dull not device by coldness and delay.

[Exit.

135

75

ACT THIRD.

Scene I.

Before the castle.

Enter Cassio and some Musicians.

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

general.'

Enter Clown.

[Music.

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

First Mus. How, sir, how?

Clo. Are these, I pray you, wind-instruments?
First Mus. Ay, marry, are they, sir.

Clo. O, thereby hangs a tail.

First Mus. Whereby hangs a tale, sir?

ΙΟ

Clo. Marry, sir, by many a wind-instrument that I 10 know. But, masters, here's money for you:

and the general so likes your music, that he de-
sires you, for love's sake, to make no more noise
with it.

First Mus. Well, sir, we will not.

Clo. 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.

First Mus. We have none such, sir.

Clo. Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll 20 away: go; vanish into air; away!

[Exeunt Musicians.

Cas. Dost thou hear, my honest friend?

Clo. No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear you.
Cas. 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?

Clo. She is stirring, sir: if she will stir hither, I shall

seem to notify unto her.

Cas.. Do, good my friend.

30

[Exit Clown.

Enter Iago.

In happy time, Iago.

Iago. You have not been a-bed, then?

Cas. Why, no; the day had broke

Iago.

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.

40

Cas. I humbly thank you for 't. [Exit Iago.] I never knew

A Florentine more kind and honest.

Enter Emilia.

Emil. 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

Cas.

Emil.

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.

50

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

Cas.

I am much bound to you.

[Exeunt.

Scene II.

A room in the castle.

Enter Othello, Iago, and Gentlemen.

Oth. These letters give, Iago, to the pilot;
And by him do my duties to the senate:
That done, I will be walking on the works;
Repair there to me.

Iago.

Well, my good lord, I 'll do 't. Oth. This fortification, gentlemen, shall we see 't?

Gent. We'll wait upon your lordship.

Scene III.

The garden of the castle.

Enter Desdemona, Cassio, and Emilia.

Des. Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do

All my abilities in thy behalf.

[Exeunt.