Othello
Text Circles Dramatis Personae Synopsis All Definitions

Share
All
text
First folio
Modern text
Definitions
Key line
Enter Cassio, Musitians, and Clowne.Enter Cassio and Musicians Oth III.i.1.1
Cassio. CASSIO 
Masters, play heere, I wil content your paines,Masters, play here – I will content your pains –content (v.)
reward, compensate, recompense		Oth III.i.1
Something that's briefe: and bid, goodmorrow General.Something that's brief; and bid ‘ Good morrow, General.’morrow (n.)
morning		Oth III.i.2
They play Oth III.i.3.1
Enter Clown Oth III.i.3.2
Clo. CLOWN 
Why Masters, haue your Instruments bin inWhy, masters, have your instruments been in Oth III.i.3
Naples, that they speake i'th'Nose thus?Naples, that they speak i'th' nose thus? Oth III.i.4
Mus. FIRST MUSICIAN 
How Sir? how?How, sir, how? Oth III.i.5
Clo. CLOWN 
Are these I pray you, winde Instruments?Are these, I pray you, wind instruments? Oth III.i.6
Mus. FIRST MUSICIAN 
I marry are they sir.Ay, marry are they, sir.marry (int.)
[exclamation] by Mary		Oth III.i.7
Clo. CLOWN 
Oh, thereby hangs a tale.O, thereby hangs a tail. Oth III.i.8
Mus. FIRST MUSICIAN 
Whereby hangs a tale, sir?Whereby hangs a tale, sir? Oth III.i.9
Clow.CLOWN 
Marry sir, by many a winde Instrument that IMarry, sir, by many a wind instrument that I Oth III.i.10
know. But Masters, heere's money for you: and theknow. But, masters, here's money for you: and the Oth III.i.11
Generall so likes your Musick, that he desires you forGeneral so likes your music that he desires you, for Oth III.i.12
loues sake to make no more noise with it.love's sake, to make no more noise with it. Oth III.i.13
Mus. FIRST MUSICIAN 
Well Sir, we will not.Well, sir, we will not. Oth III.i.14
Clo. CLOWN 
If you haue any Musicke that may not be heard,If you have any music that may not be heard, Oth III.i.15
too't againe. But (as they say) to heare Musicke, the Generallto't again. But, as they say, to hear music the General Oth III.i.16
do's not greatly care.does not greatly care. Oth III.i.17
Mus. FIRST MUSICIAN 
We haue none such, sir.We have none such, sir. Oth III.i.18
Clow. CLOWN 
Then put vp your Pipes in your bagge, for IleThen put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll Oth III.i.19
away. Go, vanish into ayre, away. away. Go, vanish into air, away. Oth III.i.20
Exit Mu.Exeunt Musicians Oth III.i.20
Cassio CASSIO 
Dost thou heare me, mine honest Friend?Dost thou hear, mine honest friend? Oth III.i.21
Clo. CLOWN 
No, I heare not your honest Friend: / I heare you.No, I hear not your honest friend: I hear you. Oth III.i.22
Cassio. CASSIO 
Prythee keepe vp thy Quillets, ther's a poore peecePrithee keep up thy quillets – there's a poor piecequillet (n.)
quibble, equivocation, hair-splitting distinction		Oth III.i.23
of Gold for thee: if the Gentlewoman that attends theof gold for thee. If the gentlewoman that attends theattend (v.)
serve, follow, wait [on/upon]		Oth III.i.24
Generall be stirring, tell her, there's one Cassio General's wife be stirring, tell her there's one Cassio Oth III.i.25
entreats her a little fauour of Speech. Wilt thou do this?entreats her a little favour of speech. Wilt thou do this? Oth III.i.26
Clo. CLOWN 
She is stirring sir: if she will stirre hither, I shallShe is stirring, sir. If she will stir hither, I shall Oth III.i.27
seeme to notifie vnto her. seem to notify unto her.seem (v.)

old form: seeme
arrange, contrive, try speciously		Oth III.i.28
CASSIO 
Do, good my friend. Oth III.i.29
Exit Clo.Exit Clown Oth III.i.29
Enter Iago.Enter Iago Oth III.i.30
In happy time, Iago.In happy time, Iago.happy time, in
well met		Oth III.i.30.1
Iago. IAGO 
You haue not bin a-bed then?You have not been abed then?abed, a-bed (adv.)
in bed		Oth III.i.30.2
Cassio. CASSIO 
Why no: the day had broke before we parted.Why, no: the day had broke before we parted. Oth III.i.31
I haue made bold (Iago)I have made bold, Iago, Oth III.i.32
to send in to your wife: / My suite to herTo send in to your wife. My suit to hersuit (n.)

old form: suite
formal request, entreaty, petition		Oth III.i.33
is, that she will to vertuous DesdemonaIs that she will to virtuous Desdemona Oth III.i.34
Procure me some accesse.Procure me some access. Oth III.i.35.1
Iago. IAGO 
Ile send her to you presently:I'll send her to you presently;presently (adv.)
immediately, instantly, at once		Oth III.i.35.2
And Ile deuise a meane to draw the MooreAnd I'll devise a mean to draw the Moormean (n.)

old form: meane
means, way, method		Oth III.i.36
Out of the way, that your conuerse and businesseOut of the way, that your converse and businessconverse (n.)

old form: conuerse
conversation, discourse, interaction		Oth III.i.37
May be more free. May be more free. Oth III.i.38.1
Cassio.CASSIO 
I humbly thanke you for't.I humbly thank you for't. Oth III.i.38.2
ExitExit Iago Oth III.i.38
I neuer knew / A Florentine more kinde, and honest.I never knew a Florentine more kind and honest.Florentine (n.)
someone from Florence, Italy		Oth III.i.39
Enter Amilia.Enter Emilia Oth III.i.40.1
Amil. EMILIA 
Goodmorrow (good Lieutenant) I am sorrieGood morrow, good Lieutenant; I am sorrymorrow (n.)
morning		Oth III.i.40
For your displeasure: but all will sure be well.For your displeasure: but all will sure be well.displeasure (n.)
being out of favour, discredit; or: discomfort, trouble		Oth III.i.41
The Generall and his wife are talking of it,The General and his wife are talking of it, Oth III.i.42
And she speakes for you stoutly. The Moore replies,And she speaks for you stoutly. The Moor replies Oth III.i.43
That he you hurt is of great Fame in Cyprus,That he you hurt is of great fame in Cyprus, Oth III.i.44
And great Affinitie: and that in wholsome WisedomeAnd great affinity; and that in wholesome wisdomwholesome (adj.)

old form: wholsome
reasonable, sensible, rational		Oth III.i.45
affinity (n.)

old form: Affinitie
kinship, relationship, connections
He might not but refuse you. But he protests he loues youHe might not but refuse you; but he protests he loves you Oth III.i.46
And needs no other Suitor, but his likingsAnd needs no other suitor but his likings Oth III.i.47
To take the safest occasion by the frontfront (n.)
forelock		Oth III.i.48
To bring you in againe.To bring you in again. Oth III.i.49.1
Cassio. CASSIO 
Yet I beseech you,Yet I beseech you, Oth III.i.49.2
If you thinke fit, or that it may be done,If you think fit, or that it may be done, Oth III.i.50
Giue me aduantage of some breefe DiscourseGive me advantage of some brief discourse Oth III.i.51
With Desdemon alone.With Desdemona alone. Oth III.i.52.1
Amil. EMILIA 
Pray you come in:Pray you, come in: Oth III.i.52.2
I will bestow you where you shall haue timeI will bestow you where you shall have time Oth III.i.53
To speake your bosome freely.To speak your bosom freely. Oth III.i.54.1
Cassio. CASSIO 
I am much bound to you.I am much bound to you. Oth III.i.54.2
Exeunt Oth III.i.54
 Previous Act III, Scene I Next  
x

Jump directly to