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.s.s 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.]