Scene III

The garden of the castle.

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

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

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

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

I know’t; I thank you. You do love my lord: You have known him long; and be you well assured He shall in strangeness stand no further off Than in a polite distance.

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.

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 every thing he does With Cassio’s suit: therefore be merry, Cassio; For thy solicitor shall rather die Than give thy cause away.

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

Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it, That he would steal away so guilty-like, Seeing you coming.

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