Ben Jonson - Volpone; Or, The Fox (Act 5 Scene 5.8) lyrics

THE SCRUTINEO, OR SENATE-HOUSE. AVOCATORI, BONARIO, CELIA, CORBACCIO, CORVINO, COMMANDADORI, SAFFI, ETC., AS BEFORE. 1 AVOC These things can ne'er be reconciled. He, here, [SHEWING THE PAPERS.] Professeth, that the gentleman was wrong'd, And that the gentlewoman was brought thither, Forced by her husband, and there left. VOLT Most true. CEL How ready is heaven to those that pray! 1 AVOC But that Volpone would have ravish'd her, he holds Utterly false; knowing his impotence. CORV Grave fathers, he's possest; again, I say, Possest: nay, if there be possession, and Obsession, he has both. 3 AVOC Here comes our officer. [ENTER VOLPONE.] VOLP The parasite will straight be here, grave fathers. 4 AVOC You might invent some other name, sir varlet. 3 AVOC Did not the notary meet him? VOLP Not that I know. 4 AVOC His coming will clear all. 2 AVOC Yet, it is misty. VOLT May't please your fatherhoods— VOLP [whispers volt.]: Sir, the parasite Will'd me to tell you, that his master lives; That you are still the man; your hopes the same; And this was only a jest— VOLT How? VOLP Sir, to try If you were firm, and how you stood affected. VOLT Art sure he lives? VOLP Do I live, sir? VOLT O me! I was too violent. VOLP Sir, you may redeem it, They said, you were possest; fall down, and seem so: I'll help to make it good. [voltore falls.] —God bless the man!— Stop your wind hard, and swell: See, see, see, see! He vomits crooked pins! his eyes are set, Like a dead hare's hung in a poulter's shop! His mouth's running away! Do you see, signior? Now it is in his belly! CORV Ay, the devil! VOLP Now in his throat. CORV Ay, I perceive it plain. VOLP 'Twill out, 'twill out! stand clear. See, where it flies, In shape of a blue toad, with a bat's wings! Do you not see it, sir? CORB What? I think I do. CORV 'Tis too manifest. VOLP Look! he comes to himself! VOLT Where am I? 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 [WHISPERS VOLT.]: 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? VOLT Grave fathers, No more than his good patron, old Volpone. 4 AVOC Why, he is dead. VOLT O no, my honour'd fathers, He lives— 1 AVOC How! lives? VOLT Lives. 2 AVOC This is subtler yet! 3 AVOC You said he was dead. VOLT Never. 3 AVOC You said so. CORV I heard so. 4 AVOC Here comes the gentleman; make him way. [ENTER MOSCA.] 3 AVOC A stool. 4 AVOC [ASIDE.]: A proper man; and, were Volpone dead, A fit match for my daughter. 3 AVOC Give him way. VOLP [ASIDE TO MOSCA.]: Mosca, I was almost lost, the advocate Had betrayed all; but now it is recovered; All's on the hinge again—Say, I am living. MOS What busy knave is this!—Most reverend fathers, I sooner had attended your grave pleasures, But that my order for the funeral Of my dear patron, did require me— VOLP [ASIDE.]: Mosca! MOS Whom I intend to bury like a gentleman. VOLP [ASIDE.]: Ay, quick, and cozen me of all. 2 AVOC Still stranger! More intricate! 1 AVOC And come about again! 4 AVOC [ASIDE.]: It is a match, my daughter is bestow'd. MOS [ASIDE TO VOLP.]: Will you give 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; This gentleman told me so. [ASIDE TO VOLP.] —Thou shalt have half.— MOS Whose drunkard is this same? speak, some that know him: I never saw his face. [ASIDE TO VOLP.] —I cannot now Afford it you so cheap. VOLP No! 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 [POINTS TO MOSCA.] told me. [ASIDE.] —I was born, With all good stars my enemies. MOS Most grave fathers, If such an insolence as this must pa** Upon me, I am silent: 'twas not this For which you sent, I hope. 2 AVOC Take him away. VOLP Mosca! 3 AVOC Let him be whipt. VOLP Wilt thou betray me? Cozen me? 3 AVOC And taught to bear himself Toward a person of his rank. 4 AVOC Away. [THE OFFICERS SEIZE VOLPONE.] MOS I humbly thank your fatherhoods. VOLP [ASIDE.]: Soft, soft: Whipt! And lose all that I have! If I confess, It cannot be much more. 4 AVOC Sir, are you married? VOLP They will be allied anon; I must be resolute: The Fox shall here uncase. [THROWS OFF HIS DISGUISE.] MOS Patron! VOLP Nay, now, My ruins shall not come alone; your match I'll hinder sure: my substance shall not glue you, Nor screw you into a family. MOS Why, patron! VOLP I am Volpone, and this is my knave; [POINTING TO MOSCA.] This [TO VOLT.], his own knave; This [TO CORB.], avarice's fool; This [TO CORV.], a chimera of wittol, fool, and knave: And, reverend fathers, since we all can hope Nought but a sentence, let's not now dispair it. You hear me brief. CORV May it please your fatherhoods— COM Silence. 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 them their liberty. BON Heaven could not long let such gross crimes be hid. 2 AVOC If this be held the high-way to get riches, May I be poor! 3 AVOC This is 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 T'have been the chiefest minister, if not plotter, In all these lewd impostures; and now, lastly, Have with your impudence abused the court, And habit of a gentleman of Venice, Being a fellow of no birth or blood: For which our sentence is, first, thou be whipt; Then live perpetual prisoner in our gallies. VOLT I thank you for him. MOS Bane to thy wolvish nature! 1 AVOC Deliver him to the saffi. [MOSCA IS CARRIED OUT.] —Thou, Volpone, By blood and rank a gentleman, canst not fall Under like censure; but our judgment on thee Is, that thy substance all be straight confiscate To the hospital of the Incurabili: And, since the most was gotten by imposture, By feigning lame, gout, palsy, and such diseases, Thou art to lie in prison, cramp'd with irons, Till thou be'st sick, and lame indeed.—Remove him. [HE IS TAKEN FROM THE BAR.] VOLP This is call'd mortifying of a Fox. 1 AVOC Thou, Voltore, to take away the scandal Thou hast given all worthy men of thy profession, Art banish'd from their fellowship, and our state. Corbaccio!—bring him near—We here possess Thy son of all thy state, and confine thee To the monastery of San Spirito; Where, since thou knewest not how to live well here, Thou shalt be learn'd to die well. CORB Ah! what said he? AND 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 can*le, Wearing a cap, with fair long a**es' ears, Instead of horns; and so to mount, a paper Pinn'd on thy breast, to the Berlina— CORV Yes, And have mine eyes beat out with stinking fish, Bruised fruit and rotten eggs—'Tis well. I am 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: And these are all your judgments. ALL Honour'd fathers.— 1 AVOC Which may not be revoked. Now you begin, When crimes are done, and past, and to be punish'd, To think what your crimes are: away with them. Let all that see these vices thus rewarded, Take heart and love to study 'em! Mischiefs feed Like beasts, till they be fat, and then they bleed. [EXEUNT.] [VOLPONE COMES FORWARD.] VOLPONE The seasoning of a play, is the applause. Now, though the Fox be punish'd by the laws, He yet doth hope, there is no suffering due, For any fact which he hath done 'gainst you; If there be, censure him; here he doubtful stands: If not, fare jovially, and clap your hands. [EXIT.]