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.

How now, Roderigo!

Enter 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 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 witchcraft;
And wit depends on dilatory time.

Does 't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee,
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 a while. By the mass, 't is 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:

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.

Enter CASSIO, and some Musicians.

Cas. Masters, play here, I will content your pains: Something that's brief; and bid good-morrow, general. [Music.

Enter Clown.

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

1 Mus. How, Sir, how?

Clo. Are these, I pray you, called wind instruments? 1 Mus. Ay, marry, are they, Sir.

Clo. O thereby hangs a tail.

1 Mus. Whereby hangs a tale, Sir?

Clo. Marry, Sir, by many a wind instrument that I know. But masters, here 's money for you; and the general so likes your music, that he desires you, for love's sake, to make no more noise with it.

1 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.

1 Mus. We have none such, Sir.

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

Cas. Dost thou hear, mine honest friend?

[Exeunt Musicians.

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

Cas. Pr'ythee, 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.

[Exit.

Enter IAGO.

Cas. Do, good my friend. In happy time, Iago.
Iago. You have not been a-bed, then?

Cas. 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.

And I'll devise a mean to draw the Moor

I'll send her to you presently;

[Exit.

Out of the way, that your converse and business
May be more free.

Cas. I humbly thank you for 't. I never knew
A Florentine more kind and honest.

Enter EMILIA.

Emil. Good morow, good lieutenant: I am sorry
For your displeasure; but all will soon 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

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.

Cas.

Yet, I beseech you,

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 state:

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 wait upon your lordship.

SCENE III.

Before the Castle.

Enter DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and EMILIA.

Des. Be thou assur'd, good Cassio, I will do

All my abilities in thy behalf.

[Exeunt.

Emil. Good Madam, do: I know it grieves my husband, As if the case were his.

Des. O that's an honest fellow. Do not doubt, Cassio, But I will have my lord and you again

As friendly as you were.

Cas.

Bounteous Madam,

Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,

He's never any thing but your true servant.

Des. O, Sir! I thank you. You do love my lord;
You have known him long, and be you well assur'd,
He shall in strangeness stand no farther off

Than in a politic distance.

Cas.

Ay, but, lady,

That policy may either last so long,

Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet,
Or breed itself so out of circumstance,
That, I being absent, and my place supplied,
My general will forget my love and service.

Des. Do not doubt that: before Emilia here,
I give thee warrant of thy place. Assure thee,
If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it

To the last article: my lord shall never rest;
I'll watch him tame, and talk him out of patience;
His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;
I'll intermingle every thing he does

With Cassio's suit. Therefore, be merry, Cassio;
For thy solicitor shall rather die,

Than give thy cause away.

Enter OTHELLO and IAGO, at a distance.

Emil. Madam, here comes my lord.

Cas. Madam, I'll take my leave.

Des. Why, stay, and hear me speak.

Cas. Madam, not now: I am very ill at ease,

Unfit for mine own purpose.

Des. Well, do your discretion.

Iago. Ha! I like not that.

[Exit CASSIO.

What dost thou say

?

Oth.

Iago. Nothing, my lord: or if I know not what.
Oth. Was not that Cassio, parted from my wife?
Iago. Cassio, my lord? No, sure;

That he would steal away so guilty-like,

Seeing you coming.

Oth.

I do believe 't was he.

Des. How, now, my lord!

I have been talking with a suitor here,

A man that languishes in your displeasure.
Oth. Who is 't you mean?

cannot think it,

Des. Why, your lieutenant Cassio. Good, my lord,

If I have any grace, or power to move you,

His present reconciliation take;

For if he be not one that truly loves you,

That errs in ignorance, and not in cunning,
I have no judgment in an honest face.

I pr'ythee, call him back.