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.
– William Shakespeare
Othello, Act 3, Scene 3. Cassio urges Desdemona to act quickly to plead his case with Othello. If he is not around to remind Othello of his loyalty and love then Othello might replace him, Cassio warns. This foreshadows that Othello will indeed forget Cassio’s love and appoint Iago as his lieutenant.