Othello: Act 3, Scene 1
Enter CASSIO [and some] MUSICIANS.
CASSIO
1 Masters, play here; I will content your pains;
1. content: reward.
2 Something that's brief; and bid "Good morrow, general."
[They play, and shout "Good morrow, general."
Then enter] CLOWN [a servant of Othello.]
CLOWN: "Clown" isn't the character's personal name; it's the name of a character type who always witty and wise remarks.
Clown
3 Why masters, have your instruments been in
4 Naples, that they speak i' the nose thus?
4. speak i' the nose thus: i.e., sound like a man whose nose has been affected by syphilis (a disease supposed to have originated in Naples).
First Musician
Cassio and the musicians.
Illustrator: Sir John Gilbert
5 How, sir, how!
Clown
6 Are these, I pray you, wind-instruments?
First Musician
7 Ay, marry, are they, sir.
Clown
8 O, thereby hangs a tail.
First Musician
9 Whereby hangs a tale, sir?
Clown
10 Marry. sir, by many a wind-instrument that I know.
10. wind-instrument: this term, together with tail in line 8, suggests a joke on flatulence.
11 But, masters, here's money for you: and the general
12 so likes your music, that he desires you, for love's
13 sake, to make no more noise with it.
First Musician
14 Well, sir, we will not.
Clown
15 If you have any music that may not be heard, to't
15. may not: cannot.
16 again: but, as they say to hear music the general
17 does not greatly care.
First Musician
18 We have none such, sir.
Clown
19 Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll away:
20 go; vanish into air; away!
Exeunt Musicians.
CASSIO
21 Dost thou hear, my honest friend?
Clown
22 No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear you.
CASSIO
23 Prithee, keep up thy quillets.
23. Prithee . . . quillets: please keep your quibbles and puns to yourself.
Gives the Clown a gold coin.
There's a poor piece
24 of gold for thee: if the gentlewoman that attends
25 the general's wife be stirring, tell her there's
26 one Cassio entreats her a little favor of speech:
26. a little favor of speech: the favor of a brief conference.
27 wilt thou do this?
Clown
28 She is stirring, sir: if she will stir hither, I
29 shall seem to notify unto her.
CASSIO
30 Do, good my friend.
Exit Clown
Enter IAGO.
In happy time, Iago.
30. In happy time: You have come at just the right time.
IAGO
31 You have not been a-bed, then?
CASSIO
32 Why, no; the day had broke
33 Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago,
34 To send in to your wife: my suit to her
35 Is, that she will to virtuous Desdemona
36 Procure me some access.
IAGO
I'll send her to you presently;
36. presently: right away.
37 And I'll devise a mean to draw the Moor
38 Out of the way, that your converse and business
39 May be more free.
CASSIO
I humbly thank you for't.
Exit [Iago].
40 I never knew a Florentine more kind and honest.
40. I never knew a Florentine more kind and honest: Cassio is surprised that Iago, a Venetian, is more kind and honest that anyone Cassio knows from Cassio's home town, Florence.
Enter EMILIA.
EMILIA
41 Good morrow, good Lieutenant: I am sorry
42 For your displeasure; but all will sure be well.
42. displeasure: loss of [Othello's] favor.
43 The general and his wife are talking of it;
44 And she speaks for you stoutly: the Moor replies,
45 That he you hurt is of great fame in Cyprus,
46 And great affinity, and that in wholesome wisdom
46. affinity: kindred, family connections.
47 He might not but refuse you. But he protests he loves you
48 And needs no other suitor but his likings
49 To take the safest occasion by the front
49. occasion: opportunity. front: forelock.
Anna Patrick, who played Emilia in the 1995 movie of Othello
50 To bring you in again.
CASSIO
Yet, I beseech you,
51 If you think fit, or that it may be done,
52 Give me advantage of some brief discourse
53 With Desdemona alone.
EMILIA
Pray you, come in;
54 I will bestow you where you shall have time
55. bosom: inmost thoughts, most private concerns.
55 To speak your bosom freely.
CASSIO
I am much bound to you.
Exeunt.