That understand the fingering Volt. 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, custon'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. 'Tis a mere toy to you, sir; candle-rents: your learn'd worship knows As 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! Cory. 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 Would stand the fury of a distracted cuckold, Corb. What! come again? 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. 'Tis true; 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? Corv. Are at the stake. 1 Avoc. Is your's too? Corb. The advocate's a knave: And has a forked tongue2 Avoc. Speak to the point. Corb. So is the parasite too. 1 Avoc. This is confusion. Volt. I do beseech your fatherhoods, read but And. Yes. Volp. Did master Mosca take the keys? why so? I am farther in. These are my fine conceits! 3 Avoc. Did not the notary meet him? Volp. Not that I know. 4 Avoc. His coming will clear all. 2 Anoc. Yet it is misty. Volt. May't please your fatherhoods- Will'd me to tell you, that his master lives; He vomits crooked pins! his eyes are set, Coro. Ay, the devil! Coro. Ay, I perceive it plain. Volp. 'Twill out, 'twill out; stand clear. In shape of a blue toad, with bat's wings! Corb. What? I think I do. Cort. '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. Corv. 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. 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? Volt. The officer told me. Volp. I did, grave fathers, 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 Avoc. 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 Apoc. 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, A fit match for my daughter. 3 Avoc. Give him way. Volp. Mosca, I was almost lost, the advocate VOL. III. you, Nor screw you into a family. Mos. Why, patron? Volp. I am Volpone, and this is my knave; E This, his own knave; this avarice's fool; Corv. May it please your fatherhoods !- 1 Avoc. The knot is now undone, by miracle! Bon. Heav'n could not long let such gross 2 Avoc. If this be held the highway to get riches, May I be poor. 3 Avoc. This's not the gain, but torment. Which trulier may be said to possess them. Cory. Mos. Most honour'd fathers! And, since the most was gotten by imposture, Volp. This is call'd mortifying of a fox. 1 Avoc. Thou Voltore, to take away the scan- Thou hast giv'n all worthy men of thy profession, Where, since thou knew'st not how to live well Thou shalt be learn'd to die well. Corb. Ha, what said he? Com. You shall know anon, sir. Be straight embark'd from thine own house, and Round about Venice, through the grand canal, 1 Avoc. Can you plead aught to stay the Wearing a cap, with fair long ass's ears course of justice? If you can, speak. Coro. Volt. We beg favour. Cel. And mercy. 1 Avoc. You hurt your innocence, suing for 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 Instead of horns; and so to mount, a paper Corv. Yes, 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, |