What wound did ever heal, but by degrees?
Thou know'st, we work by wit, and not by witch-

craft;
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, 'tis morn-

ing; 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. [Erit 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. [Erit.

Enter Cassio, and some Musicians. Cas. Masters, play here, I will content your

pains, Something that's brief; and bid-good-morrow, general.

[Musick.

Enter Clown. Clo. Why, masters, have your instruments been at Naples, that they speak i’the nose thus?

1 Mus. How, sir, how!

Clo. Are these, I pray you, call’d 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 musick, that he desires you,

of all loves, to make no more noise with it. 1 Mus. Well, sir, we will not. Clo. If

you

have 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, sir.

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

[E.reunt Musicians.

any

Cas. Dost thou hear, my honest friend?

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.

[Erit.

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.

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.

[Erit. Cas. I humbly thank you

for't. I never knew A Florentinę more kind and honest.

Enter Emilia.

Emil. Good morrow, 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 saf'st occasion by the front,
To bring you in again.
Cas.

Yet, I beseech you, —
If you think fit, or that it may be done, -
Give me advantage of some brief discourse
With Desdemona alone.
Emil.

Pray you, come in;
I will bestow you where you shall have time
To speak your bosom freely.
Cas.

I am much bound to you.

[Ereunt.

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'll wait upon your lordship. (Exeunt,

SCENE III.

BEFORE THE CASTLE.

Enter Desdemona, Cassio, and Emilia. Des. Be thou assur’d, good Cassio, I will do AN

my abilities in thy behalf. 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 further off
Than in a politick 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;