That understand the fingeringVolt. What do you mean? Volp. I mean to be a suitor to your worship, For the small tenement, out of reparations; That, at the end of your long row of houses, By the Piscaria: It was, in Volpone's time, Your predecessor, e'er he grew diseased, A handsome, pretty, custom❜d bawdy-house, As any was in Venice (none dispraised) But fell with him; his body and that house Decay'd together. Volt. Come, sir, leave your prating. Volp. Why, if your worship give me but your hand, That I may ha' the refusal; I have done. Volt. What do I know? Volp. Marry, no end of your wealth, sir; God decrease it. Volt. Mistaken knave! what, mock'st thou my misfortune? Volp. His blessing on your heart, sir; would 'twere more. (Now, to my first again) at the next corner. SCENE VIII. CORBACCIO, CORVINO, (MOSCA passant,) and VOLPONE. Corb. See, in our habit! see the impudent varlet ! Coro. That I could shoot mine eyes at him, like gun-stones. Volp. But is this true, sir, of the parasite ? I'm heartily grieved, a beard of your grave length cozen: Would stand the fury of a distracted cuckold, [MOSCA walks by them. Corb. What! come again? Volp. Upon 'em, Mosca; save me. Volp. Excellent basilisk! turn upon the vul ture. SCENE IX. VOLTORE, MOSCA, and VOLPONE. Volt. Well, flesh-fly, it is summer with you now: Your winter will come on. Mos. Good advocate, Pr'y thee not rail, nor threaten out of place, thus; Volp. Would you ha' me beat the insolent slave? Throw dirt upon his first good clothes? Is, doubtless, some familiar! Volp. Sir, the court In troth stays for you; I am mad, a mule, Volt. A strange, officious, It cannot be, sir, that you should be cozen'd; 3 Avoc. How' 2 Avoc. Is Volpone dead? Corv. Dead since, grave fathersBon. O, sure vengeance! 1 Avoc. Stay, Then he was no deceiver? Out of mere envy, 'cause the servant's made Volt. Ay, to your hopes, as well as mine, But I'll use modesty. Pleaseth your wisdoms To view these certain notes, and but confer them; As I hope favour, they shall speak clear truth. Corc. The devil has ent'red him! Bon. Or bides in you. He is a man of great estate, now left. 4 Avoc. Go you, and learn his name; and say, the court Entreats his presence here; but, to the clearing Of some few doubts. 2 Avoc. This same's a labyrinth! 1 Avoc. Stand you unto your first report? Coro. My state, my life, my fame-Bon. Where is't? Corv. Are at the stake. 1 Avoc. Is your's too? Corb. The advocate's a knave: And has a forked tongue- Volt. I do beseech your fatherhoods, read but those. Corv. And credit nothing the false spirit hath writ; It cannot be, but he is possess'd, grave fathers. What? to buy ginger-bread? or to drown kitlings? Volp. Did master Mosca take the keys? why so? I am farther in. These are my fine conceits! He vomits crooked pins! his eyes are set, Coro. Ay, the devil! Coru. Ay, I perceive it plain. Volp. Twill out, 'twill out; stand clear. where it flies! In shape of a blue toad, with bat's wings! Do not you see it, sir? Corb. What? I think I do. Corr. 'Tis too manifest. Volp. Look, he comes t' himself! Volt. Where am I? See Volp. Take good heart, the worst is past, sir. You are dispossest. 1 Avoc. What accident is this? 2 Avoc. Sudden, and full of wonder! 3 Avoc. If he were Possest, as it appears, all this is nothing. Cort. He has been often subject to these fits. 1 Avoc. Shew him that writing; do you know it, sir? Volp. Deny it, sir, forswear it, know it not. Volt. Yes, I do know it well, it is my hand: But all that it contains is false. Bon. O practice! 2 Avoc. What maze is this! 1 Avoc. Is he not guilty then, Whom you there name the parasite? No more than his good patron, old Volpone. 4 Avoc. Why, he is dead? Volt. O no, my honour'd fathers, He lives More intricate! 1 Avoc. And come about again! 4 Avoc. It is a match, my daughter is bestow'd. Mos. Will you gi' me half? Volp. First, I'll be hang'd. Mos. I know, Your voice is good, cry not so loud 1 Avoc. Demand The advocate. Sir, did not you affirm Volpone was alive? Volp. Yes, and he is; [Aside. This gentleman told me so.-Thou shalt have half. Mos. Whose drunkard is this same? speak some that know him : I never saw his face.-I cannot now Afford it you so cheap. 1 Avoc. What say you? And will maintain he lives, with mine own life, And that this creature told me. I was born With all good stars my enemies! Mos. Most grave fathers, If such an insolence as this must pass 2 Avoc. Take him away. Volp, Mosca! 3 Apoc. Let him be whipp❜d. Volp. Wilt thou betray me! cozen me? 3 Avoc. And taught to bear himself Toward a person of his rank, 4 Avoc. Away! Mos, I humbly thank your fatherhoods. And lose all that I have? If I confess, It cannot be much more. 4 Avoc. Sir, are you married? Volp. They'll be allied, anon; I must be re solute : The fox shall here uncase. Mos. Patron! Volp. Nay, now, My ruin shall not come alone: your match [He puts off his disguise 4 Avoc. A proper man! and, were Volpone I'll hinder sure: my substance shall not glew dead, This, his own knave; this avarice's fool; Cord. May it please your fatherhoods !— 1 Avoc. The knot is now undone, by miracle! 2 Avoc. Nothing can be more clear. 3 Avoc. Or can more prove these innocent. 1 Avoc. Give 'em their liberty. Bon. Heav'n could not long let such gross crimes be hid. 2 Avoc. If this be held the highway to get riches, May 1 be poor. 3 Aroc. This's not the gain, but torment. 1 Avoc. These possess wealth, as sick men possess fevers, Which trulier may be said to possess them. 2 Avoc. Disrobe that parasite. Corv. Mos. Most honour'd fathers! 1 Avoc. Can you plead aught to stay the course of justice? If you can, speak. Corv. Volt. We beg favour. Cel. And mercy. 1 Avoc. You hurt your innocence, suing for the guilty. Stand forth; and first the parasite. You appear For which our sentence is, first thou be whipp'd, Mos. Bane to thy wolfish nature! 1 Avoc. Deliver him to the Saffi. Thou, Vol And, since the most was gotten by imposture, By feigning lame, gout, palsy, and such diseases, Thou art to lie in prison, crampt with irons, "Till thou beʼst sick and lame indeed.--Remove him! Volp. This is call'd mortifying of a fox. 1 Avoc. Thou Voltore, to take away the scandal Thou hast giv'n all worthy men of thy profession, Thou shalt be learn'd to die well. Corb. Ha, what said he ? Com. You shall know anon, sir. 1 Avoc. Thou Corvino, shalt Be straight embark'd from thine own house, and row'd Round about Venice, through the grand canal, Wearing a cap, with fair long ass's ears Instead of horns; and so to mount, a paper Pinn'd on thy breast, to the Berlino Coro. Yes, And have mine eyes beat out with stinking fish, Bruis'd fruit, and rotten eggs-'Tis well. I'm glad I shall not see my shame yet. 1 Avoc. And to expiate Thy wrongs done to thy wife, thou art to send her Home to her father, with her dowry trebled: All. Honoured fathers! 1 Avoc. Which may not be revok'd.-Now you begin, When crimes are done and past, and to be punish'd, To think what your crimes are: away with them! Like beasts, 'till they be fat, and then they bleed. [Exeunt. VOLPONE. The seas'ning of a play is the applause. If not, fare jovially, and clap your hands! THE ALCHEMIST. BY BEN JONSON. PROLOGUE. Did never aim to grieve, but better men; They are so natural follies, but so shown, THE ARGUMENT. The sickness hot, a master quit, for fear, |