Othello, Act 3 Scene 1 runs 62 lines of dialogue, spoken by 5 speakers. That is shorter than the play’s average scene length of about 237 lines. This scene is part of Act 3 of Othello.
Full Dialogue
Cassio ♂
Masters, play here; I will content your pains;
Something that's brief; and bid 'Good morrow, general.'
Something that's brief; and bid 'Good morrow, general.'
Clown ♂
Why masters, have your instruments been in Naples,
that they speak i' the nose thus?
that they speak i' the nose thus?
First Musician ♂
How, sir, how!
Clown ♂
Are these, I pray you, wind-instruments?
First Musician ♂
Ay, marry, are they, sir.
Clown ♂
O, thereby hangs a tail.
First Musician ♂
Whereby hangs a tale, 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.
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.
First Musician ♂
Well, sir, we will not.
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.
again: but, as they say to hear music the general
does not greatly care.
First Musician ♂
We have none such, sir.
Clown ♂
Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll away:
go; vanish into air; away!
go; vanish into air; away!
Cassio ♂
Dost thou hear, my honest friend?
Clown ♂
No, I hear not 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?
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?
Clown ♂
She is stirring, sir: if she will stir hither, I
shall seem to notify unto her.
shall seem to notify unto her.
Cassio ♂
Do, good my friend.
In happy time, Iago.
In happy time, Iago.
Iago ♂
You have not been a-bed, then?
Cassio ♂
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.
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.
And I'll devise a mean to draw the Moor
Out of the way, that your converse and business
May be more free.
Cassio ♂
I humbly thank you for't.
I never knew
A Florentine more kind and honest.
I never knew
A Florentine more kind and honest.
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,
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
To bring you in again.
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,
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
To bring you in again.
Cassio ♂
Yet, I beseech you,
If you think fit, or that it may be done,
Give me advantage of some brief discourse
With Desdemona alone.
If you think fit, or that it may be done,
Give me advantage of some brief discourse
With Desdemona alone.
Emilia ♀
Pray you, come in;
I will bestow you where you shall have time
To speak your bosom freely.
I will bestow you where you shall have time
To speak your bosom freely.
Cassio ♂
I am much bound to you.
62 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cassio | 23 | 37.1% |
| Clown | 16 | 25.8% |
| Emilia | 13 | 21.0% |
| First Musician | 5 | 8.1% |
| Iago | 5 | 8.1% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 23 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 12 lines.
Total speakers on stage
5 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 3
This is Scene 1 of 4 in Act 3 of Othello.
Scene length vs. play average
At 62 lines, this scene is shorter than the Othello average scene in Othello (~237 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 2 Scene 3 · Next: Act 3 Scene 2
About Act 3 Scene 1 of Othello
Who carries Act 3 Scene 1 of Othello?
Cassio, with 23 lines — about 37% of the scene.
Is the scene a dialogue or a solo?
With 5 speakers and the lead holding 37% of the lines, this scene is a balanced multi-voice exchange.