Act 3 Scene 1

Musicians, hired by Cassio, are playing outside Othello’s lodgings in Cyprus# but the Clown sends them away. Cassio asks to see Emilia, and when she appears he begs for her help in gaining access to Desdemona. The music, and the Clown’s feeble jokes, give a momentary relief from the tension built up in the previous scene.
1	content your pains: pay you for your trouble.
2	bid . . . general: It was a courtly Elizabethan custom to wake the newly-married couple with a song.
3, 4	in Naples . . . nose: The Neapolitan accent may have been rather nasal in sound# and the Clown is attempting some poor sexual joke based on the “Neapolitan disease”, which was a venereal condition.
5	What do you mean?
6	wind instruments: probably a form of bagpipe (see line 19).
7	Yes, indeed.
8	There’s a story (“tale”) to be told there# but the Clown is also making a pun on “tail” = penis.
16	to’t again: play some more.
23	quillets: quibbles.
25	stirring: awake# but the Clown makes a pun in line 27.
26	a little favour of speech: the favour of a few words with her.
27	stirring: sexually active.
28	seem . . . her: The Clown is making fun of Cassio’s courtly manners.
29	In happy time: You have come at the right time.
30	abed: to bed.
32	suit: request.
35	presently: immediately.
36	a mean: a way.
39	a Florentine: i.e. one of Cassio’s own countrymen# Iago is a Venetian.
41	your displeasure: that you have incurred Othello’s displeasure.
43	stoutly: loyally.
44	of great fame: well known.
45	great affinity: with important connections.
wholesome wisdom: all commonsense.
46	He . . . you: He could not do anything except dismiss you.
48	To take the first possible opportunity# the early emblems of Opportunity depict a figure who is bald behind and must be seized by the forelock (“by the front”).
49	in again: back in favour.
54	bosom: heart.
much bound: very grateful.