Enter Avocatori and take their seats, BONARIO, CELIA, Notario,

Commandadori, Saffi, and other Officers of justice. Ist Avoc. The like of this the senate never heard of. 2nd Avoc. 'Twill come most strange to them when we report it.

4th. The gentlewoman has been ever held Of unreprovéd name.

3rd Avoc. So has the youth.
4th Avoc. The more unnatural part that of his father.
2nd Avoc. More of the husband.

Ist Avoc. I not know to give
His act a name, it is so monstrous !

4th Avoc. But the impostor, he's a thing created To exceed example!

Ist Avoc. And all after-times !

2nd Avoc. I never heard a true voluptuary Described, but him.

3rd Avoc. Appear yet those were cited ?
Not. All but the old magnifico, Volpone.
ist. Why is not he here?

Mos. Please your fatherhoods,
Here is his advocate : himself's so weak,
So feeble-

4th Avoc. What are you?

Bon. His parasite,
His knave, his pandar : I beseech the court,
He may be forced to come, that your grave eyes
May bear strong witness of his strange impostures.

Volt. Upon my faith and credit with your virtues,
He is not able to endure the air.

2nd Avoc. Bring him, however.
3rd Avoc. We will see him.
4th Avoc. Fetch him.
Volt. Your fatherhoods' fit pleasures be obeyed ;

(Exeunt Officers.
But sure, the sight will rather move your pities,
Than indignation. May it please the court,
In the meantime, he may be heard in me :
I know this place most void of prejudice,
And therefore crave it, since we have no reason
To fear our truth should hurt our cause.

3rd. Speak free.

Volt. Then know, most honoured fathers, I must now
Discover to your strangely abused ears,
The most prodigious and most frontless piece
Of solid impudence and treachery,
That ever vicious nature yet brought forth
To shame the State of Venice. This lewd woman,

That wants no official look or tears
To help the vizor she has now put on,
Hath long been known a close adulteress
To that lascivious youth there ; not suspected,
I say, but known and taken in the act
With him; and by this man, the easy husband,
Pardoned; whose timeless bounty makes him now
Stand here the most unhappy, innocent person,
That ever man's own goodness ade acci ed.
For these not knowing how to owe a gift
Of that dear grace, but with their shame; being placed
So above all powers of their gratitude,
Began to hate the benefit ; and, in place
Of thanks, devise to extirpe the remory
Of such an act : wherein I pray your fatherhoods
To observe the malice, yea, the rage of creatures
Discovered in their evils; and what heart
Such take, even from their crimes :- but that anon
Will more appear-This gentleman, the father,
Hearing of this foul fact, with many others,
Which daily struck at his too tender ears,
And grieved in nothing more than that he could not
Preserve himself a parent (his son's ills
Growing to that strange flood), at last decreed
To disinherit him.

Ist Avoc. These be strange turns !
2nd Avoc. The young man's fame was ever fair and honest.

Volt. So much more full of danger is his vice,
That can beguile so under shade of virtue.
But, as I said, my honoured sires, his father
Having this settled purpose, by what means
To him betrayed, we know not, and this day
Appointed for the deed; that parricide,
I cannot style him better, by confederacy
Preparing this his paramour to be there,
Entered Volpone's house (who was the man,
Your fatherhoods must understand designed
For the inheritance), there sought his father :-
But with what purpose sought he him, my lords?
I tremble to pronounce it, that a son
Unto a father, and to such a father,
Should have so foul, felonious intent !
It was to murder him : when being prevented
By his more happy absence, what hen did he ?
Not check his wicked thoughts; no, now new deeds ;
(Mischief doth never end where it begins)
An act of horror, fathers ! he dragged forth
The aged gentleman that had there lain bed-rid

F 2

Three years and more, out of his innocent couch,
Naked upon the floor, there left him ; wounded
His servant in the face : and, with this strumpet
The stale to his forged practice, who was glad
To be so active,-(I shall here desire
Your fatherhoods to note but my collections,
As most remarkable,-) thought at once to stop
His father's ends, discredit his free choice
In the old gentleman, redeem themselves,
By laying infamy upon this man,
To whom, with blushing, they should owe their lives.

Ist Avoc. What proofs have you of this ?

Bon. Most honoured fathers,
I humbly crave there be no credit given
To this man's mercenary tongue.

2nd Avoc. Forbear.
Bon. His soul moves in his fee.
3rd Avoc. Oh, sir.

Bon. This fellow,
For six sols more, would plead against his Maker.

Ist Avoc. You do forget yourself.

Volt. Nay, nay, grave fathers,
Let him have scope : can any man imagine
That he will spare his accuser, that would not
Have spared his parent ?
ist Avoc. Well, produce your proofs.
Cel. I would I could forget I were a creature.
Volt. Signior Corbaccio. [CORBACCIO comes forward.
4th Avoc. What is he?
Volt. Volt.
2nii Avoc. Has he had an oath ?
Not. Yes.
Corb. What must I do now?
Not. Your testimony's craved.
Corb. Speak to the knave ?
I'll have my mouth first stopped with earth; my heart
Abhors his knowledge : I disclaim in him.

Ist Avoc. But for what cause ?
Corb. The mere portent of nature!
He is an utter stranger to my loins.

Bon. Have they made you to this?

Corb. I will not hear thee,
Monster of men, swine, goat, wolf, parricide !
Speak not, thou viper.

Bon. Sir, I will sit down,
And rather wish my innocence should suffer,
Than I resist the authority of a father.
Volt. Signor Corvino!

[CORVINO comes forward.

2nd Avoc. This is strange.
Ist Avoc. Who's this?
Not. The husband.
4th Avoc. Is he sworn ?
Not. He is.
3rd Avoc. Speak then.

Corv. This woman, please your fatherhoods, is a strumpet
Of most hot exercise, more than a partridge,
Upon record
Ist 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 into that piece of cedar,
That fine well-timbered gallant; and that here
The letters may be read through the horn,
That make the story perfect.

Mos. Excellent! sir.
Corv. There is no shame in this now, is there?

[Aside to Mos. Mos. None.

Corv. Or if I said I hoped that she were onward
To her damnation, if there be a hell
Greater than a foul woman; a good catholic
May make the doubt.

3rd Avoc. His grief hath made him frantic.
Ist Avoc. Remove him hence.
2nd Avoc. Look to the woman.

[CELIA swoons. Corv. Rare ! Prettily feigned, again! 4th Avoc. Stand from about her. Ist Avoc. Give her the air. 3rd Avoc. What can you say ?

[To MOSCA. Mos. My wound, May it please your wisdoms, speaks for me, received In aid of my good patron, when he missed His sought-for father, when that well-taught dame Had her cue given her to cry out A Rape !

Bon. Oh, most laid impudence! Fathers-

3rd Avoc. Sir, be silent ; You had your hearing free, so must they theirs.

2nd Avoc. I do begin to doubt the imposture here.
4th Avoc. This woman has too many moods.

Volt. Grave fathers,
She is a creature cf a most profest
And prostituted 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.

Ist Avoc. Produce that lady. 2nd Avoc. Let her come.

[Exit MOSCA, 4th Avoc. These things, They strike with wonder. 3rd 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 camelion harlot! Now thine eyes Vie tears with the hyæna. Dar'st thou look Upon my wrongéd face? I cry your pardons ; I fear I have forgettingly transgrest Against the dignity of the court2nd Avoc. No, madam. Lady P. And been exorbitant2nd Avoc. You have not, lady. 4th Avoc. These proofs are strong.

Lady P. Surely, I had no purpose
To scandalize your honours or my sex's,

3rd Avoc. We do believe it.
Lady P. Surely, you may believe it.
2nd Avoc. Madam, we do.

Lady P. Indeed you may ; ny breeding is not so coarse

4th Avoc. We know it. Lady P. To offend With pertinacy

3rd Avoc. Lady-

Lady P. Such a presence !
No surely.

Ist Avoc. We well think it.
Lady P. You may think it.

Ist Avoc. Let her o'ercome. What witnesses have you
To make good your report?

Bon. Our consciences.
Cel. And Heaven, that never fails the innocent.
4th Avoc. These are no testimonies.