SCENE VII.-A Street.

Enter VOLPONE.

Volp. To make a snare for mine own neck! and run My head into it, wilfully! with laughter!

When I had newly scaped, was free and clear,
Out of mere wantonness! O, the dull devil
Was in this brain of mine when I devised it,
And Mosca gave it second; he must now
Help to sear up this vein, or we bleed dead.

Enter NANO, ANDROGYNO, and CASTRONE.

How now! who let you loose? whither go you now?
What, to buy gingerbread, or to drown kitlings?
Nan. Sir, Master Mosca called us out of doors,
And bid us all go play, and took the keys.
And. Yes.

Volp. Did Master Mosca take the keys? why, so! I'm farther in. These are my fine conceits!

I must be merry, with a mischief to me!

What a vile wretch was I, that could not bear

My fortune soberly? I must have my crochets,

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 VIII.-The Scrutineo, or Senate House.

Avocatori, BONARIO, CELIA, CORBACCIO, CORVINO, Commandadori, Saffi, &c., as before.

here

I Avoc. These things can ne'er be reconciled. He [Showing the papers. Professeth that the gentleman was wronged,

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!
I Avoc. But that

Volpone would have ravished 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

Willed 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 poulterer'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.

Vollo 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.

I 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. Show 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 honoured fathers,

He lives

I 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.

3 Avoc. A stool.

Enter MOSCA.

4 Avoc. A proper man; and were Volpone dead, A fit match for my daughter.

3 Avoc. Give him way.

Volp. 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.

[Aside.

[Aside to Mos.

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. Mosca !

Mos. Whom I intend to bury like a gentleman.

Volp. Ay, quick, and cozen me of all.

[Aside.

[Aside.

2 Avoc. Still stranger!

More intricate !

I Avoc. And come about again!

4 Avoc. It is a match, my daughter is bestowed.

The advocate.-Sir, did you not affirm

Volpone was alive?

Volp. Yes, and he is;

This gentleman told me so.-Thou shalt have half.

[Aside to Mos.

Mos. Whose drunkard is this same? speak, some

that know him :

I never saw his face.-I cannot now

Afford it you so cheap.

Volp. No!

I Avoc. What say you?

Volt. The officer told me.

Volp. I did, grave fathers,

[Aside to VOLP.

And will maintain he lives, with mine own life,

And that this creature [points to Mos.] told me.—I

was born

With all good stars my enemies.

Mos. Most grave fathers,

[Aside.