Othello

time³⁰²,

     man. I tell you what you shall do. Our general’s wife is now

     the general: I may say so in this respect, for that³⁰⁴ he hath

     devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, ³⁰⁵

     and denotement of her parts³⁰⁶ and graces: confess yourself

     freely to her, importune³⁰⁷ her help to put you in your place

     again. She is of so free³⁰⁸, so kind, so apt, so blessed a

     disposition, she holds it a vice in her goodness not to do more

     than she is requested. This broken joint between you and her

     husband entreat her to splinter³¹¹, and, my fortunes against

     any lay³¹² worth naming, this crack of your love shall grow

     stronger than it was before.CASSIO   You advise me well.IAGO   I protest³¹⁵, in the sincerity of love and honest

      kindness.CASSIO   I think it freely³¹⁷, and betimes in the morning I will

     beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake³¹⁸ for me: I am

     desperate of³¹⁹ my fortunes if they check me.IAGO

     You are in the right. Goodnight, lieutenant: I must

     to the watch.CASSIO   Goodnight, honest Iago.Exit Cassio

IAGO   And what’s he then that says I play the villain?

     When this advice is free³²⁴ I give, and honest,

     Probal³²⁵ to thinking, and indeed the course

     To win the Moor again? For ’tis most easy

     Th’inclining³²⁷ Desdemona to subdue

     In any honest suit: she’s framed as fruitful³²⁸

     As the free elements. And then for her

     To win the Moor — were’t to renounce his baptism,

     All seals³³¹ and symbols of redeemed sin —

     His soul is so enfettered³³² to her love

     That she may make, unmake, do what she list³³³,

     Even as her appetite³³⁴ shall play the god

     With his weak function³³⁵. How am I then a villain

     To counsel Cassio to this parallel³³⁶ course

     Directly to his good? Divinity³³⁷ of hell!

     When devils will the blackest sins put on³³⁸,

     They do suggest³³⁹ at first with heavenly shows,

     As I do now. For whiles this honest fool

     Plies³⁴¹ Desdemona to repair his fortune,

     And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor,

     I’ll pour this pestilence³⁴³ into his ear,

     That she repeals him³⁴⁴ for her body’s lust,

     And by how much she strives to do him good,

     She shall undo her credit³⁴⁶ with the Moor.

     So will I turn her virtue into pitch³⁴⁷,

     And out of her own goodness make the net

     That shall enmesh them all.—

Enter RodorigoHow now, Rodorigo?RODORIGO   I do follow here in the chase³⁵⁰, not like a hound that

     hunts, but one that fills up the cry³⁵¹. My money is almost

     spent; I have been tonight exceedingly well cudgelled³⁵², and I

     think the issue³⁵³ will be I shall have so much experience for my

     pains, and so, wit³⁵⁴h 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 witchcraft,

     And wit depends on dilatory³⁵⁹ time.

     Does’t not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee,

     And thou, by that small hurt, hath cashiered³⁶¹ Cassio.

     Though other things grow fair against³⁶² the sun,

     Yet fruits that blossom first will first be ripe³⁶³.

     Content thyself awhile. In troth³⁶⁴, ’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 Rodorigo

     Two things are to be done:

     My wife must move³⁷⁰ for Cassio to her mistress:

     I’ll set her on:

     Myself the while³⁷² to draw the Moor apart

     And bring him jump³⁷³ when he may Cassio find

     Soliciting his wife: ay, that’s the way.

     Dull not device³⁷⁵ by coldness and delay.Exit

Act 3 Scene 1running scene 7

Location: Cyprus (governor’s residence/citadel)

Enter Cassio, Musicians, ClownCASSIO   Masters, play here: I will content your pains¹:

     Something that’s brief, and bid ‘Good morrow,Music

general.’CLOWN   Why masters, have your instruments been in

     Naples⁴, that they speak i’th’nose thus? MUSICIAN   How⁵, sir? How?CLOWN   Are these, I pray you, wind instruments?MUSICIAN   Ay, marry, are they, sir.CLOWN   O, thereby hangs a tail⁸.MUSICIAN   Whereby hangs a tale, sir? CLOWN   Marry, sir, by many a wind instrument¹⁰ that I know.

     But, masters, here’s money for you: and theGives money

     general so likes your music that he desires you, for love’s¹²

     sake, to make no more noise¹³ 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 general does not

     greatly care.MUSICIAN   We have none such, sir.CLOWN   Then put up¹⁹ your pipes in your bag, for I’ll away: go,

     vanish into air, away! Exeunt Musicians

CASSIO   Dost thou hear me, mine honest friend?CLOWN   No, I hear not your honest friend: I hear you.CASSIO   Prithee keep up thy quillets²³. There’s aGives money

     poor piece of gold for thee: if the gentlewoman²⁴ that attends

     the general be stirring²⁵, tell her there’s one Cassio entreats

     her a little favour of speech: wilt thou do this?CLOWN   She is stirring, sir: if she will stir hither, I shall seem²⁷

     to notify unto her.Exit Clown

Enter IagoCASSIO   In happy time²⁹, Iago.IAGO   You have not been a-bed, 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.IAGO   I’ll send her to you presently³⁶,

     And I’ll devise a mean³⁷ to draw the Moor

     Out of the way, that your converse and business

     May be more free.Exit

CASSIO   I humbly thank you for’t.— I never knew

     A Florentine⁴¹ more kind and honest.

Enter EmiliaEMILIA   Good morrow, good Lieutenant: I am sorry

     For your displeasure⁴³, 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 fame⁴⁶ in Cyprus

     And great affinity⁴⁷, and that in wholesome wisdom

     He might not but refuse you: but he protests he loves you

     And needs no other suitor⁴⁹ but his likings

     To bring you in again.CASSIO   Yet, I beseech you,

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

     Give me advantage of⁵³ some brief discourse

     With Desdemon alone.EMILIA   Pray