Volpone Or the Fox Part 32

MOS: Do so. My Fox Is out of his hole, and ere he shall re-enter, I'll make him languish in his borrow'd case, Except he come to composition with me.- Androgyno, Castrone, Nano!

[ENTER ANDROGYNO, CASTRONE AND NANO.]

ALL: Here.

MOS: Go, recreate yourselves abroad; go sport.- [EXEUNT.]

So, now I have the keys, and am possest.

Since he will needs be dead afore his time, I'll bury him, or gain by him: I am his heir, And so will keep me, till he share at least.

To cozen him of all, were but a cheat Well placed; no man would construe it a sin: Let his sport pay for it, this is call'd the Fox-trap.

[EXIT.]

SCENE 5.4

A STREET.

ENTER CORBACCIO AND CORVINO.

CORB: They say, the court is set.

CORV: We must maintain Our first tale good, for both our reputations.

CORB: Why, mine's no tale: my son would there have kill'd me.

CORV: That's true, I had forgot:- [ASIDE.]-mine is, I am sure.

But for your Will, sir.

CORB: Ay, I'll come upon him For that hereafter; now his patron's dead.

[ENTER VOLPONE.]

VOLP: Signior Corvino! and Corbaccio! sir, Much joy unto you.

CORV: Of what?

VOLP: The sudden good, Dropt down upon you-

CORB: Where?

VOLP: And, none knows how, From old Volpone, sir.

CORB: Out, arrant knave!

VOLP: Let not your too much wealth, sir, make you furious.

CORB: Away, thou varlet!

VOLP: Why, sir?

CORB: Dost thou mock me?

VOLP: You mock the world, sir; did you not change Wills?

CORB: Out, harlot!

VOLP: O! belike you are the man, Signior Corvino? 'faith, you carry it well; You grow not mad withal: I love your spirit: You are not over-leaven'd with your fortune.

You should have some would swell now, like a wine-fat, With such an autumn-Did he give you all, sir?

CORB: Avoid, you rascal!

VOLP: Troth, your wife has shewn Herself a very woman; but you are well, You need not care, you have a good estate, To bear it out sir, better by this chance: Except Corbaccio have a share.

CORV: Hence, varlet.

VOLP: You will not be acknown, sir; why, 'tis wise.

Thus do all gamesters, at all games, dissemble: No man will seem to win.

[exeunt corvino and corbaccio.]

-Here comes my vulture, Heaving his beak up in the air, and snuffing.

[ENTER VOLTORE.]

VOLT: Outstript thus, by a parasite! a slave, Would run on errands, and make legs for crumbs?

Well, what I'll do-

VOLP: The court stays for your wors.h.i.+p.

I e'en rejoice, sir, at your wors.h.i.+p's happiness, And that it fell into so learned hands, That understand the fingering-

VOLT: What do you mean?

VOLP: I mean to be a suitor to your wors.h.i.+p, For the small tenement, out of reparations, That, to the end of your long row of houses, By the Piscaria: it was, in Volpone's time, Your predecessor, ere 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 wors.h.i.+p give me but your hand, That I may have the refusal, I have done.

'Tis a mere toy to you, sir; candle-rents; As your learn'd wors.h.i.+p knows-

VOLT: What do I know?

VOLP: Marry, no end of your wealth, sir, G.o.d decrease it!

VOLT: Mistaking knave! what, mockst thou my misfortune?

[EXIT.]

VOLP: His blessing on your heart, sir; would 'twere more!- Now to my first again, at the next corner.

[EXIT.]

SCENE 5.5.

ANOTHER PART OF THE STREET.