Othello, Act 3, Scene 1

Cassio

Masters, play here, I will content your pains,Something that’s brief; and bid “Good morrow, general.”

Gentlemen, play here. I’ll pay you for your trouble. Something short, and wish the general a good morning.

Clown

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

Gentlemen, have your instruments been to Naples? Is that why they sound so nasal?

First Musician

How, sir, how?

What’s that, sir? What?

Clown

Are these, I pray you, wind instruments?

Tell me, are these wind instruments?

First Musician

Ay, marry, are they, sir.

Yes, indeed they are, sir.

Clown

O, thereby hangs a tail.

Oh, there’s a tail attached to that.

First Musician

Whereby hangs a tale, sir?

What’s the tale attached to, sir?

Clown

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.

Well, sir, to plenty of wind-producing instruments I know. But gentlemen, here’s some money for you. The general likes your music so much that he asks you, for love’s sake, not to make any more noise with it.

First Musician

Well, sir, we will not.

All right, sir, we won’t.

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.

If you have any music that can’t be heard, go ahead and play it. But as they say, the general doesn’t much care to hear music.

First Musician

We have none such, sir.

We don’t have any of that kind, sir.

Clown

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

Then pack your pipes into your bag, because I’m leaving. Go on, disappear into thin air! Away!

Cassio

Dost thou hear, mine honest friend?

Do you hear, my honest friend?

Clown

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

No, I don’t hear your honest friend. I hear you.

Cassio

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?

Please, put away your word games. Here’s a little gold for you. If the lady who attends the general’s wife is up, tell her a man named Cassio asks the favor of a brief conversation. Will you do that?

Clown

She is stirring, sir; if she will stir hither, I shall seem to notify unto her.

She’s up and moving, sir. If she’ll move this way, I’ll appear to let her know.

Cassio

Do, good my friend.

Please do, my good friend.

Iago

You have not been a-bed, then?

You haven’t been to bed, then?

Cassio

Why, no. The day had brokeBefore we parted. I have made bold, Iago,To send in to your wife. My suit to herIs, that she will to virtuous DesdemonaProcure me some access.

No, I haven’t. It was already daylight when we parted. I’ve taken the liberty, Iago, of sending a message to your wife. I’m asking her to arrange for me to speak with the virtuous Desdemona.

Iago

I’ll send her to you presently,And I’ll devise a mean to draw the MoorOut of the way, that your converse and businessMay be more free.

I’ll send her to you right away, and I’ll find a way to get the Moor out of the way so you can talk and conduct your business more freely.

Cassio

I humbly thank you for’t.

I humbly thank you for it.

Emilia

Good morrow, good lieutenant; I am sorryFor 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 repliesThat he you hurt is of great fame in CyprusAnd great affinity, and that in wholesome wisdomHe might not but refuse you; but he protests he loves youAnd needs no other suitor but his likingsTo take the safest occasion by the frontTo bring you in again.

Good morning, good lieutenant. I’m sorry you’ve fallen out of favor, but everything will surely turn out well. The general and his wife are discussing it, and she’s speaking up strongly for you. The Moor replies that the man you hurt has a great reputation in Cyprus and powerful family connections, so good judgment left him no choice but to dismiss you. But he insists that he loves you and needs no one to plead for you: his own affection is enough to make him seize the first safe opportunity to reinstate you.

Cassio

Yet, I beseech you,If you think fit, or that it may be done,Give me advantage of some brief discourseWith Desdemona alone.

Still, I beg you, if you think it’s suitable, or possible, give me a chance to speak briefly with Desdemona alone.

Emilia

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

Please come in. I’ll take you somewhere you’ll have time to speak your heart freely.

Cassio

I am much bound to you.

I’m deeply in your debt.