Ben Jonson - Volpone; Or, The Fox (Act 5 Scene 5.6) lyrics

THE SCRUTINEO OR SENATE-HOUSE. ENTER AVOCATORI, NOTARIO, BONARIO, CELIA, CORBACCIO, CORVINO, COMMANDADORI, SAFFI, ETC. 1 AVOC Are all the parties here? NOT All but the advocate. 2 AVOC And here he comes. [ENTER VOLTORE AND VOLPONE.] 1 AVOC Then bring them forth to sentence. VOLT O, my most honour'd fathers, let your mercy Once win upon your justice, to forgive— I am distracted— VOLP [ASIDE.]: What will he do now? VOLT O, I know not which to address myself to first; Whether your fatherhoods, or these innocents— CORV [ASIDE.]: Will he betray himself? VOLT Whom equally I have abused, out of most covetous ends— CORV The man is mad! CORB What's that? CORV He is possest. VOLT For which, now struck in conscience, here, I prostate Myself at your offended feet, for pardon. 1, 2 AVOC Arise. CEL O heaven, how just thou art! VOLP [ASIDE.]: I am caught In mine own noose— CORV [TO CORBACCIO.]: Be constant, sir: nought now Can help, but impudence. 1 AVOC Speak forward. COM Silence! VOLT It is not pa**ion in me, reverend fathers, But only conscience, conscience, my good sires, That makes me now tell trueth. That parasite, That knave, hath been the instrument of all. 1 AVOC Where is that knave? fetch him. VOLP I go. [EXIT.] CORV Grave fathers, This man's distracted; he confest it now: For, hoping to be old Volpone's heir, Who now is dead— 3 AVOC How? 2 AVOC Is Volpone dead? CORV Dead since, grave fathers— BON O sure vengeance! 1 AVOC Stay, Then he was no deceiver? VOLT O no, none: The parasite, grave fathers. CORV He does speak Out of mere envy, cause the servant's made The thing he gaped for: please your fatherhoods, This is the truth, though I'll not justify The other, but he may be some-deal faulty. VOLT Ay, to your hopes, as well as mine, Corvino: 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. CORV The devil has enter'd him! BON Or bides in you. 4 AVOC We have done ill, by a public officer, To send for him, if he be heir. 2 AVOC For whom? 4 AVOC Him that they call the parasite. 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. [EXIT NOTARY.] 2 AVOC This same's a labyrinth! 1 AVOC Stand you unto your first report? CORV My state, My life, my fame— BON Where is it? CORV Are at the stake 1 AVOC Is yours so too? CORB The advocate's a knave, And has a forked tongue— 2 AVOC Speak to the point. CORB So is the parasite too. 1 AVOC This is confusion. VOLT I do beseech your fatherhoods, read but those— [GIVING THEM THE PAPERS.] CORV And credit nothing the false spirit hath writ: It cannot be, but he's possest grave fathers. [THE SCENE CLOSES.]