"If I can fasten but one cup upon him, / With that which he hath drunk tonight already, / He’ll be as full of quarrel and offense / As my young mistress' dog. Now my sick fool Roderigo, / Whom love hath turned almost the wrong side out, / To Desdemona hath tonight caroused / Potations pottle-deep, and he’s to watch. / Three lads of Cyprus, noble swelling spirits / That hold their honors in a wary distance, / The very elements of this warlike isle, / Have I tonight flustered with flowing cups, / And they watch too. Now ’mongst this flock of drunkards / Am I to put our Cassio in some action / That may offend the isle. But here they come. / If consequence do but approve my dream / My boat sails freely, both with wind and stream" (2.3 49-66).
Iago is trying to sabotage Cassio by making him look bad. Cassio admits that he is not a heavy drinker and that he is already drunk from watered down wine. Iago realizes that if he can get Cassio to drink just a little bit more, he will be so drunk that he will be prone to violence. He wants him to fight another drunk guard so the people of Cyprus can see how much of an unstable person Cassio is. Iago has already gotten Roderigo to drink a lot by toasting Desdemona because he loves her so much. He has successfully gained further control of Roderigo.
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