Othello: Act 3, Scene 1 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 3, Scene 1 of Othello from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Cassio with Musicians. CASSIO Masters, play here (I will content your pains) Something that’s brief; and bid “Good morrow, general.” They play. Enter the Clown. CLOWN Why masters, have your instruments been in Naples, that they speak i’ th’ nose thus? 5	Cassio, eager to please, has sent some musicians to play, badly, in hopes of winning back Othello's good favor. Othello's clown comes out and asks the players why their instruments sound so nasal.
MUSICIAN How, sir, how? CLOWN Are these, I pray you, wind instruments? MUSICIAN Ay, marry, are they, sir. CLOWN O, thereby hangs a tail. MUSICIAN Whereby hangs a tale, sir? 10 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. MUSICIAN Well, sir, we will not. 15 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. MUSICIAN We have none such, sir. CLOWN Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I’ll 20 away. Go, vanish into air, away! Musicians exit.	Next, the Clown insults the musicians by comparing the noise from their instruments to...well, farts. (Get it? Wind instruments, breaking wind?) Then he tells them that Othello likes their music so much he wants them to stop making noise with it. Of course, if they have any music that can't be heard (ahem, silence), they're welcome to play it. The musicians say they don't have any music like that, so he sends them away.
CASSIO Dost thou hear, mine honest friend? CLOWN No, I hear not your honest friend. I hear you. CASSIO Prithee, keep up thy quillets. Giving money. There’s a poor piece of gold for thee. If the gentlewoman 25 that attends the General’s wife be stirring, tell her there’s one Cassio entreats her a little favor of speech. Wilt thou do this? CLOWN She is stirring, sir. If she will stir hither, I shall seem to notify unto her. 30 CASSIO Do, good my friend. Clown exits. Enter Iago. In happy time, Iago.	The Clown starts to joke with Cassio and Cassio tells him to keep his wit to himself. He gives him some gold and asks the Clown to see if Emilia is up yet. If she is, he wants the Clown to tell her he (Cassio) wants to talk to her.
IAGO You have not been abed, then? CASSIO Why, no. The day had broke Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago, 35 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 40 Out of the way, that your converse and business May be more free. CASSIO I humbly thank you for ’t. Iago exits. I never knew A Florentine more kind and honest. 45	Iago enters and is shocked to see Cassio hasn't yet gone to bed. Cassio says it was pretty much daylight when they parted, and besides, he's eager to make his case to Othello...by way of Desdemona, by way of Emilia. Cassio says he's already sent for Emilia, and Iago promises to send her to Cassio quickly, so she can hear his plea and make it to Desdemona. In the meantime, Iago promises to lure Othello away from Desdemona, so Cassio can speak with her freely. Iago exits and Cassio says, "Wow, what a great guy." (Iago's really got everyone fooled.)
Enter Emilia. EMILIA Good morrow, good lieutenant. I am sorry For 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 replies That he you hurt is of great fame in Cyprus 50 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 safest occasion by the front 55 To bring you in again.	Emilia enters and reports that Desdemona is already pleading to Othello on Cassio's behalf. Othello worries that Montano, Cassio's victim, is kind of a big deal in Cyprus, though Othello has decided that his liking for Cassio should be enough to overcome the fact that Cassio has wronged the wrong guy.
CASSIO Yet I beseech you, If you think fit, or that it may be done, Give me advantage of some brief discourse With Desdemon alone. 60 EMILIA Pray you come in. I will bestow you where you shall have time To speak your bosom freely. CASSIO I am much bound to you. They exit.	Instead of being satisfied that things look like they're going to be okay, Cassio says he'd still like to talk with Desdemona. He asks Emilia if she can help him set up a private meeting, and she says she'll see what she can do.