CORV: This woman, please your fatherhoods, is a wh.o.r.e, Of most hot exercise, more than a partrich, Upon record-
1 AVOC: No more.
CORV: Neighs like a jennet.
NOT: Preserve the honour of the court.
CORV: I shall, And modesty of your most reverend ears.
And yet I hope that I may say, these eyes Have seen her glued unto that piece of cedar, That fine well-timber"d gallant; and that here The letters may be read, through the horn, That make the story perfect.
MOS: Excellent! sir.
CORV [ASIDE TO MOSCA.]: There"s no shame in this now, is there?
MOS: None.
CORV: Or if I said, I hoped that she were onward To her d.a.m.nation, if there be a h.e.l.l Greater than wh.o.r.e and woman; a good catholic May make the doubt.
3 AVOC: His grief hath made him frantic.
1 AVOC: Remove him hence.
2 AVOC: Look to the woman.
[CELIA SWOONS.]
CORV: Rare!
Prettily feign"d, again!
4 AVOC: Stand from about her.
1 AVOC: Give her the air.
3 AVOC [TO MOSCA.]: What can you say?
MOS: My wound, May it please your wisdoms, speaks for me, received In aid of my good patron, when he mist His sought-for father, when that well-taught dame Had her cue given her, to cry out, A rape!
BON: O most laid impudence! Fathers-
3 AVOC: Sir, be silent; You had your hearing free, so must they theirs.
2 AVOC: I do begin to doubt the imposture here.
4 AVOC: This woman has too many moods.
VOLT: Grave fathers, She is a creature of a most profest And prost.i.tuted lewdness.
CORV: Most impetuous, Unsatisfied, grave fathers!
VOLT: May her feignings Not take your wisdoms: but this day she baited A stranger, a grave knight, with her loose eyes, And more lascivious kisses. This man saw them Together on the water in a gondola.
MOS: Here is the lady herself, that saw them too; Without; who then had in the open streets Pursued them, but for saving her knight"s honour.
1 AVOC: Produce that lady.
2 AVOC: Let her come.
[EXIT MOSCA.]
4 AVOC: These things, They strike with wonder!
3 AVOC: I am turn"d a stone.
[RE-ENTER MOSCA WITH LADY WOULD-BE.]
MOS: Be resolute, madam.
LADY P: Ay, this same is she.
[POINTING TO CELIA.]
Out, thou chameleon harlot! now thine eyes Vie tears with the hyaena. Dar"st thou look Upon my wronged face?-I cry your pardons, I fear I have forgettingly transgrest Against the dignity of the court-
2 AVOC: No, madam.
LADY P: And been exorbitant-
2 AVOC: You have not, lady.
4 AVOC: These proofs are strong.
LADY P: Surely, I had no purpose To scandalise your honours, or my s.e.x"s.
3 AVOC: We do believe it.
LADY P: Surely, you may believe it.
2 AVOC: Madam, we do.
LADY P: Indeed, you may; my breeding Is not so coa.r.s.e-
1 AVOC: We know it.
LADY P: To offend With pertinacy-
3 AVOC: Lady-
LADY P: Such a presence!
No surely.