SCENE III. Another Part of the Same. Enter Mosca and CORVINO, CELIA following. Mos. Death on me! you are come too soon, what meant you? Did not I say, I would send? Coro. Yes, but I fear'd You might forget it, and then they prevent us. Mos. Prevent! did e'er man haste so, for his horns? A courtier would not ply it so, for a place. [Aside. Coro. Where are you, Celia? [Exit. You know not wherefore I have brought you hither? Cel. Not well, except you told me. Corv. Now, I will: Hark hither. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. A Closet opening into a Gallery. Enter MOSCA and BONARIO. Mos. Sir your father hath sent word, It will be half an hour ere he come; And therefore, if you please to walk the while Into that gallery-at the upper end, There are some books to entertain the time: And I'll take care no man shall come unto you, sir. Bon. Yes, I will stay there.--I do doubt this fellow. [Aside, and exit. Mos. [Looking after him.] There; he is far enough; he can hear nothing: And, for his father, I can keep him off. SCENE V. [Exit. Volpone's Chamber.- VOLPONE on his couch. MOSCA sitting by him. Enter CORVINO forcing in CELIA. Corv. Nay, now, there is no starting back, and therefore, Resolve upon it: I have so decreed. It must be done. Nor would I move't afore, Cel. Sir, let me beseech you, Affect not these strange trials; if you doubt My chastity, why, lock me up for ever; Make me the heir of darkness. Let me live, Where I may please your fears, if not your trust. Corv. Believe it, I have no such humour, I. All that I speak I mean; yet I'm not mad; Nor horn-mad, see you? Go to, shew yourself Obedient, and a wife. Cel. O heaven! Do so. Cel. Was this the train? Coro. I've told you reasons; What the physicians have set down; how much It may concern me; what my engagements are; My means; and the necessity of those means, For my recovery: wherefore, if you be Corv. Honour! tut, a breath :* There's no such thing in nature: a mere term The worse for touching, clothes for being look'd on? Cel. Lord! what spirit Is this hath enter'd him? Coro. And for your fame, [Aside. That's such a jig; as if I would go tell it, Cel. Are heaven and saints then nothing? Corv. How ! Cel. Good sir, Be jealous still, emulate them; and think Coro. I grant you: if I thought it were a sin, 4 Honour? tut, a breath, &c.] This is excellent after what we had from him, p. 224. The genius and skill with which Jonson has conceived and conducted this extraordinary vicious character, are altogether surprising. The conclusion of this speech is from Juvenal: -hujus Pallida labra cibum capiunt digitis alienis: That had read Aretine, conn'd all his prints, And I would look upon him, and applaud him, Cel. O heaven! canst thou suffer such a change? Volp. Thou art mine honour, Mosca, and my pride, My joy, my tickling, my delight! Go bring them. You will not be rebellious? by that light-- Signior Corvino, here, is come to see you. Mos. And hearing of the consultation had, Coro. Thanks, sweet Mosca. Mos. Freely, unask'd, or unintreated--- Mos. As the true fervent instance of his love, His own most fair and proper wife; the beauty, Only of price in Venice Corv. 'Tis well urged. Mos. To be your comfortress, and to preserve you. Volp. Alas, I am past, already! Pray you, thank him For his good care and promptness; but for that, 'Tis a vain labour e'en to fight 'gainst heaven; Applying fire to stone-uh, uh, uh, uh! [coughing.] Making a dead leaf grow again. I take His wishes gently, though; and you may tell him, What I have done for him: marry, my state is hopeless. Will him to pray for me; and to use his fortune With reverence, when he comes to't. Mos. Do you hear, sir? Go to him with your wife. Corv. Heart of my father! Wilt thou persist thus? come, I pray thee, come. Cel. Sir, kill me, rather: I will take down poison, Eat burning coals, do any thing.-— Corv. Be damn'd! Heart, I will drag thee hence, home, by the hair; Coro. Be not thus obstinate, I have not de- Think who it is intreats you. 'Prithee, sweet;— Good faith, thou shalt have jewels, gowns, attires, What thou wilt think, and ask. Do but go kiss him. Or touch him, but. For my sake.-At my suit.-This once.-No! not! I shall remember this. Will you disgrace me thus? Do you thirst my undoing? 5 Like a raw rochet!] A rochet or rouget, so named from its red colour, is a fish of the gurnet kind, but not so large. WHAL. |