What a vile wretch was I, that could not bear My fortune soberly? I must have my crotchets, And my conundrums! Well, go you, and seek him: His meaning may be truer than my fear.
Bid him, he straight come to me to the court; Thither will I, and, if"t be possible, Unscrew my advocate, upon new hopes: When I provoked him, then I lost myself.
[EXEUNT.]
SCENE 5.8.
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.]
-G.o.d 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?