Caf. Good night, honest Iago.

[Exit CASSIO

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 fram'd as fruitful
As the free elements. And then for her
To win the Moor,-were't to renounce his baptifm,
All feals and symbols of redeemed fin,-
His foul is so enfetter'd to her love,

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 Caffio to this parallel course,
Directly to his good? Divinity of hell!
When devils will their blackest fins put on,
• They do suggest at first with heavenly shows,
As I do now: For, while this honest fool
Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes,
And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor,
I'll pour this pestilence into his ear,-
That she repeals him for her body's luft;
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.-How now, Roderigo?

Enter RODERIGO.

Rod. I do follow here in the chace, 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 cudgell'd;

cudgell'd; 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 to Venice.

lago. 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? Caffio hath beaten thee,
And thou, by that small hurt, haft cashier'd Caffio :
Though other things grow fair against the fun,
Yet fruits, that blossom first, will first be ripe :
Content thyself a while. By the mass, 'tis morning;
Pleasure, and action, make the hours seem short.-
Retire thee; go where thou art billeted :
Away, I fay; 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 Caffio find
Soliciting his wife :- Ay, that's the way;
Dull not device by coldness and delay.

[Exit.

ACT ACT III. SCENE I.

Before the Castle.

Enter CASSIO, and fome Musicians.

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

[Mufick.

Enter Clown.

Clo. Why, masters, have your instruments been at Na

ples, that they speak i'the nose thus ?

1. Mus. How, fir, how!

Clo. Are these, I pray you, call'd wind instruments?

1. Muf. Ay, marry, are they, fir. Clo. O, thereby hangs a tail.

1. Muf. Whereby hangs a tale, fir?

Clo. Marry, fir, by many a wind instrument that I know. But, masters, here's money for you: and the general fo likes your musick, that he defires you, of all loves, to make no more noise with it.

1. Muf. Well, fir, we will not.

Clo. If you have any musick that may not be heard, to't again: but, as they say, to hear musick, the general does not greatly care.

1. Mus. We have none such, fir.

Clo. Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll away:

Go; vanish into air; away.

[Exeunt Musicians.

Clo.

Caf. Doft thou hear, my honest friend?

E

Clo. No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear you. Caf. 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, fir; if she will stir hither, I shall feem to notify unto her. [Exit.

Enter IAGO.

Caf. Do, good my friend. -In happy time, Iago.

lago. You have not been a-bed then?

Caf.

Why, no; the day had broke

Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago,

To fend in to your wife: My fuit to her

Is, that the will to virtuous Desdemona

Procure me some access.

Iago.

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.

Caf. I humbly thank you for't. I never knew A Florentine more kind and honeft.

Enter EMILIA.

[Exit.

Emil. Good morrow, good lieutenant: I am forry For your difpleasure; but all will foon 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

And needs no other suitor, but his likings,
To take the faf'st occafion by the front,

To bring you in again.

Caf.

Yet, I beseech you,

If you think fit, or that it may be done,-
Give me advantage of some brief discourse

With Desdemona alone.

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 fee't?
Gent. We'll wait upon your lordship.

[Exeunt.