Desdemona, Cassio

Emilia

DESDEMONA. Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do All my abilities in thy behalf. 

EMILIA. Good madam, do. I warrant it grieves my husband As if the cause were his. 

DESDEMONA. O, that’s an honest fellow. Do not doubt, Cassio, But I will have my lord and you again As friendly as you were. 

CASSIO. Bounteous madam, Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio, He’s never anything but your true servant. 

DESDEMONA. I know’t. 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. 

CASSIO. 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. 

DESDEMONA. 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 everything 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.

Othello

Iago

EMILIA. Madam, here comes my lord. 

CASSIO. Madam, I’ll take my leave. 

DESDEMONA. Why, stay, and hear me speak. 

CASSIO. Madam, not now. I am very ill at ease, Unfit for mine own purposes. 

DESDEMONA. Well, do your discretion. 

 [Exit Cassio.]

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