I do but tell you, sir. Besides, they are all Now striving, who shall first present him. Therefore I could entreat you, briefly, conclude somewhat : Prevent 'em if you can. Corv. Death to my hopes! This is my villanous fortune! Best to hire Mos. Ay, I thought on that, sir. But they are all so subtle, full of art, Corv. "Tis true. Corv. I pr'ythee, give me leave. If any man But I had had this luck--The thing in't self, I know is nothing-Wherefore should not I As well command my blood and my affections As this dull doctor! In the point of honour, The cases are all one, of wife and daughter. Mos. I hear him coming. Corv. She shall do't: 'Tis done. Corv. We'll make all sure. Shall be mine own wife, Mosca. Mos. Sir, the thing The party you (But that I would not seem to counsel you) Why! 'tis directly taking a possession! Coro. Ay, a plague on't, My conscience fools my wit. Well, I'll be brief, On the first hearing (as thou may'st do truly) Mos. Sir, I warrant you, I'll so possess him with it, that the rest Corv. Faith, I am not, I, nor never was: It is a poor, unprofitable humour. Do not I know, if women have a will, They'll do 'gainst all the watches o' the world? And that the fiercest spies are tamed with gold? Tut, I am confident in thee, thou shalt see't: And see, I'll give thee cause too to believe it. Come, kiss me. Go and make thee ready straight, In all thy best attire, thy choicest jewels, Put 'em all on, and, with 'em, thy best looks: We are invited to a solemn feast, At old Volpone's, where it shall appear How far I'm free from jealousy or fear. [Exeunt. I mean not those that have your bare town-art, Make their revenue out of legs and faces, And change a visor, swifter than a thought! Mos. And thrust you forth, As a mere stranger to his blood; 'tis true, sir: Bon. This tale hath lost thee much of the late trust Thou hadst with me; it is impossible: I know not how to lend it any thought, My father should be so unnatural. Mos. It is a confidence that well becomes Your piety; and form'd, no doubt, it is Bon. Nay, pr'ythee know thy way, and leave From your own simple innocence; which makes me: I would be loth to interchange discourse With such a mate as thou art. Mos. Courteous sir, Scorn not my poverty. Bon. Not I, by Heav'n: But thou shalt give me leave to hate thy baseness. Bon. Ay, answer me, is not thy sloth Mos. Heav'n be good to me! Your sentence may be righteous, yet you are not, I do repent me, that I was so harsh. Mos. 'Tis true, that, sway'd by strong necessity, I am enforced to eat my careful bread Your wrong more monstrous and abhorr'd. But, First, for your dwarf, he's little and witty, Admit your fool's face be the mother of laughter, Send it be Mosca, and with fair return. Nan. It is the beauteous madam- Nan. The same. Volp. Now, torment on me! 'squire her in, For she will enter, or dwell here for ever. Nay, quickly, that my fit were past. I fear A second hell too, that my loathing this Will quite expel my appetite to the other: Would she were taking, now, her tedious leave. Lord, how it threats me, what I am to suffer! SCENE IV. Lady, VOLPONE, NANO, and two Women. you, good sir. Pray you signify Lady. I thank Unto your patron I am here. This band Shews not my neck enough (I trouble you, sir, Let me request you bid one of my women Come hither to me;) in good faith, I am drest Most favourably to-day; it is no matter, 'Tis well enough. Look, see, these petulant things! How they have done this! Volp. I do feel the fever Entering in at mine ears; O, for a charm Lady. Come nearer is this curl In his right place? or this? why is this higher Than all the rest? you ha' not wash'd your eyes yet? Or do they not stand even i'your head? Nan. Now, St Mark Deliver us; anon she'll beat her women, Lady. I pray you, view This tire, forsooth: are all things apt, or no? Wom. One hair a little, here, sticks out, forsooth. Lady. Does't so, forsooth? and where was your dear sight When it did so, forsooth? what now? bird-ey'd? And you too? pray you both approach, and mend it. Now (by that light) I muse, you're not asham'd! 1, that have preach'd these things so oft unto you, Read you the principles, argued all the grounds, Disputed every fitness, every grace, Called you to counsel of so frequent dressingsNan. More carefully, than of your fame or honour. Lady. Made you acquainted, what an ample dowry The knowledge of these things would be unto you, Able, alone, to get you noble husbands At your return: and you thus to neglect it! Besides, you seeing what a curious nation Th' Italians are, what will they say of me? The English lady cannot dress herself; Here's a fine imputation to our country! Well, go your ways, and stay i'the next room. This fucus was too coarse too, it's no matter. Good sir, you'll give 'em entertainment? Volp. The storm comes toward me. Lady. How does my Volp? Volp. Troubled with noise, I cannot sleep: I dream'd That a strange fury enter'd, now, my house, Lady. Believe me, and I Had the most fearful dream, could I remen ber't Volp. Out on my fate! I ha' given her the oc casion How to torment me: she will tell me hers. Volp. O, if you do love me, No more; I sweat, and suffer, at the mention Lady. Alas, good soul! the passion of the heart! Seed-pearl were good now, boil'd with syrup of apples, Tincture of gold, and coral, citron-pills, Volp. Ah me, I have ta'en a grasshopper by the Lady. Burnt silk and amber, you have muscadel me. Volp. The sun, the sea, will sooner both stand stili, Than her eternal tongue! nothing can 'scape it. Lady. Here's Pastor Fido. Volp. Profess obstinate silence; That's now my safest. Lady. All our English writers, I mean such as are happy in th' Italian, Volp. Alas, my mind's perturb'd. Lady. Why, in such cases, we must cure our- Make use of our philosophy— Lady. And, as we find our passions do rebel, And clouds the understanding, than too much Voip. Now, the spirit Of patience help me! Lady. Come, in faith I must Visit you more a-days, and make you well: Volp. My good angels save me! Lady. There was but one sole man in all the world, With whom I e'er could sympathise; and he Would lie you often three or four hours together To hear me speak; and be sometime so rapp'd, As he would answer me quite from the purpose MOSCA, Lady, and VOLPONE. Mos. God save you, madam. Volp. Mosca! Welcome, Rid me of this my torture, quickly, there She has let fall. For hell's sake rid her hence. Volp. O, I do not care, I'll take her absence upon any price, Mos. Madam Lady. I ha' brought your patron I had forgot to tell you, I saw your knight Lady. Where? Mos. Marry, Where yet, if you make haste, you may appre hend him, Rowing upon the water in a gondola, Mos. Pursue 'em, and believe your eyes: Leave me to make your gift. I knew 'twould take. For lightly they that use themselves most licence, Are still most jealous. Volp. Mosca, hearty thanks, For thy quick fiction, and delivery of me. Volp. Again! I fear a paroxysm. Row'd they together? Mos. Toward the Rialto. Lady. I pray you lend me your dwarf. Your hopes, sir, are like happy blossoms fair, [To BONARIO. It will be half an hour ere he come; Bon. Yes, I will stay there. I do doubt this Mos. There, he is far enough; he can hear nothing: And for his father, I can keep him off. Corv. Nay, now, there is no starting back, and therefore Resolve upon it: I have so decreed. It must be done. Nor would I move't afore, Cel. Sir, let me beseech you, Not horn-mad, see you. Go too, shew yourself Obedient, and a wife. Cel. O Heaven! Cel. Was this the train? Coro. I have told you reasons; What the physicians have set down; how much Coro. Honour? Tut, a breath; There's no such thing in nature: A mere terin Why, this's no more. An old decrepit wretch, Cel. Lord! what spirit is this hath enter'd Corv. And for your fame, That's such a jig; as if I would go tell it, Cel. Are Heav'n and saints then nothing? Cory. How? Cel. Good sir, Be jealous still, emulate them; and think Coro. I grant you; if I thought it were a sin, Cel. O Heav'n! canst thou suffer such a change? Volp. Thou art mine honour, Mosca, and my pride, My joy, my tickling, my delight! go, bring 'em, Mos. Please you draw near, sir. Corv. Come on, what You will not be rebellious? by that light Mos. Sir, Signior Corvino here is come t |