Volp. It doth, good Mosca.
Mos. Then it was, sir.

NANO and CASTRONE sing.
"Fools, they are the only nation
Worth men's envy or admiration;
Free from care or sorrow-taking,
Selves and others merry making :
All they speak or do is sterling.
Your fool he is your great man's darling,
And your ladies' sport and pleasure;
Tongue and bauble are his treasure.
E'en his face begetteth laughter,

And he speaks truth free from slaughter;

He's the grace of every feast,

And sometimes the chiefest guest;

Hath his trencher and his stool,

When wit waits upon the fool.

O, who would not be
He, he, he?"

[Knocking without.

Volp. Who's that? Away!

[Exeunt NANO and

[Exit ANDROGYNO.

CASTRONE.] Look, Mosca. Fool, begone!

Mos. 'Tis Signior Voltore, the advocate; I know

him by his knock.

Volp. Fetch me my gown,

My furs, and night-caps; say my couch is changing.

And let him entertain himself awhile

Without i'the gallery. [Exit MOSCA.] Now, now my clients

Begin their visitation! Vulture, kite,

Raven, and gorcrow, all my birds of prey,

That think me turning carcase, now they come ·

I am not for them yet.

Re-enter MOSCA, with the gown, &c.

How now! the news?

Mos. A piece of plate, sir.

Volp. Of what bigness?

Mos. Huge,

Massy, and antique, with your name inscribed,

And arms engraven.

Volp. Good! and not a fox

Stretched on the earth, with fine delusive sleights,
Mocking a gaping crow? ha, Mosca !

Mos. Sharp, sir.

Volp. Give me my furs. [Puts on his sick dress.] Why dost thou laugh so, man?

Mos. I cannot choose, sir, when I apprehend

What thoughts he has without now, as he walks:
That this might be the last gift he should give;
That this would fetch you; if you died to-day,
And gave him all, what he should be to-morrow;
What large return would come of all his ventures;
How he should worshipped be, and reverenced;
Ride with his furs, and foot-cloths; waited on
By herds of fools and clients; have clear way
Made for his mule, as lettered as himself;
Be called the great and learned advocate:
And then concludes, there's nought impossible.
Volp. Yes, to be learned, Mosca.

Mos. O, no: rich

Implies it. Hood an ass with reverend purple,
So you can hide his two ambitious ears,

And he shall pass for a cathedral doctor.

Volp. My caps, my caps, good Mosca. Fetch him

in.

Mos. Stay, sir; your ointment for your eyes.
Volp. That's true;

Dispatch, dispatch: I long to have possession

Of my new present.

Mos. That, and thousands more,

I hope to see you lord of.

Volp. Thanks, kind Mosca.

Mos. And that, when I am lost in blended dust,

And hundreds such as I am, in succession-
Volp. Nay, that were too much, Mosca.

Mos. You shall live

Still to delude these harpies.

Volp. Loving Mosca !

'Tis well my pillow now, and let him enter.

[Exit MOSCA. Now, my feigned cough, my phtisic, and my gout, My apoplexy, palsy, and catarrhs,

Help, with your forced functions, this my posture, Wherein, this three year, I have milked their hopes. He comes; I hear him-Uh! [coughing.] uh! uh!

uh!

Re-enter MOSCA, introducing VOLTORE with a piece of Plate.

Mos. You still are what you were, sir. Only you,

Of all the rest, are he commands his love,
And you do wisely to preserve it thus,

With early visitation, and kind notes

Of your good meaning to him, which, I know,
Cannot but come most grateful. Patron! sir!
Here's Signior Voltore is come▬▬

Volp. [faintly.] What say you?

Mos. Sir, Signior Voltore is come this morning To visit you.

Volp. I thank him.

Mos. And hath brought

A piece of antique plate, bought of St. Mark,
With which he here presents you.

Volp. He is welcome.

Pray him to come more often.

Mos. Yes.

Volt. What says he?

Mos. He thanks you, and desires you to see him

often.

Volp. Mosca.

Mos. My patron!

Volp. Bring him near, where is he?

I long to feel his hand.

Mos. The plate is here, sir.

Volt. How fare you, sir?

Volp. I thank you, Signior Voltore;

Where is the plate? mine eyes are bad.

Volt. [putting it into his hands.] I'm sorry

To see you still thus weak.

Mos. That he's not weaker.

Volp. You are too munificent.
Volt. No, sir; would to heaven,

I could as well give health to you, as that plate!

[Aside.

Volp. You give, sir, what you can; I thank you.

Your love

Hath taste in this, and shall not be unanswered :

Volt. Yes, I shall, sir.

Volp. Be not far from me.

Mos. Do you observe that, sir?

Volp. Hearken unto me still; it will concern you. Mos. You are a happy man, sir; know your good.

Volp. I cannot now last long

Mos. You are his heir, sir.

Volt. Am I?

Jon. III.

C

34

Volp. I feel me going: Uh! uh! uh! uh!

I'm sailing to my port, Uh! uh! uh! uh!

And I am glad I am so near my haven.

Mos. Alas, kind gentleman! Well, we must all

go-

Volt. But, Mosca-

Mos. Age will conquer.

Volt. Pray thee, hear me ;

Am I inscribed his heir for certain?

Mos. Are you !

I do beseech you, sir, you will vouchsafe

To write me in your family. All my hopes
Depend upon your worship: I am lost

Except the rising sun do shine on me.

Volt. It shall both shine, and warm thee, Mosca.
Mos. Sir,

I am a man that hath not done your love

All the worst offices: here I wear your keys,
See all your coffers and your caskets locked,
Keep the poor inventory of your jewels,

Your plate, and monies; am your steward, sir,
Husband your goods here.

Volt. But am I sole heir?

Mos. Without a partner, sir: confirmed this morning:

The wax is warm yet, and the ink scarce dry

Upon the parchment.

Volt. Happy, happy me!

By what good chance, sweet Mosca ?

Mos. Your desert, sir;

I know no second cause.

Volt. Thy modesty

Is not to know it; well, we shall requite it.

Mos. He ever liked your course, sir; that first took him.