Volp. You mock the world, sir; did you not change Wills?

Corb. Out, harlot!

Volp. O belike you are the man, Signior Corvino? 'faith, you carry it well; You grow not mad withal; I love your spirit: You are not over-leaven'd with your fortune. You should have some would swell now, like a

wine-fat,

With such an autumn-Did he give you all, sir? Coro. Avoid, you rascal!

Volp. Troth, your wife has shewn

Herself a very woman; but you are well,
You need not care, you have a good estate,
To bear it out, sir, better by this chance:
Except Corbaccio have a share.

Corb. Hence, varlet.

Volp. You will not be acknown, sir; why, 'tis wise.

Thus do all gamesters, at all games, dissemble: No man will seem to win. [Exeunt Corvino and Corbaccio.]-Here comes my vulture, Heaving his beak up in the air, and snuffing.

Enter VOLTORE.

Volt. Outstript thus, by a parasite! a slave, Would run on errands, and make legs for crumbs Well, what I'll do

Volp. The court stays for your worship.

meaning. When the word first became (like knave) a term of reproach, it was appropriated solely to males: in Jonson's days it was applied indiscriminately to both sexes; though without any determinate import; and it was not till long afterwards that it was restricted to females, and to the sense which it now bears. To derive harlot from Arlotta, the mistress of the duke of Normandy, is ridiculous. If it be not the same word as varlet, its most likely derivation is from carl, or churl, of which it appears to be a diminutive.

I e'en rejoice, sir, at your worship's happiness,
And that it fell into so learned hands,
That understand the fingering-

Volt. What do you mean?

Volp. I mean to be a suitor to your worship, For the small tenement, out of reparations, That, at the end of your long row of houses, By the Piscaria: it was, in Volpone's time, Your predecessor, ere he grew diseased, A handsome, pretty, custom'd bawdy-house As any was in Venice, none dispraised; But fell with him: his body and that house Decay'd together.

Volt. Come, sir, leave your prating.

Volp. Why, if your worship give me but your hand,

That I may have the refusal, I have done. 'Tis a mere toy to you, sir; candle-rents; As your learn'd worship knows-

Volt. What do I know?

Volp. Marry, no end of your wealth, sir; God decrease it!

Volt. Mistaking knave! what, mock'st thou my misfortune?

[Exit.

Volp. His blessing on your heart, sir; would

'twere more!

Now to my first again, at the next corner. [Exit.

SCENE V.

Another part of the Street.

Enter CORBACCIO and CORVINO;-MOSCA passes over the Stage, before them.

Corb. See, in our habit! see the impudent varlet !

Coro. That I could shoot mine eyes at him,

like gun-stones!

Enter VOLPONE.

Volp. But is this true, sir, of the parasite?
Corb. Again, to afflict us! monster!
Volp. In good faith, sir,

I'm heartily grieved, a beard of your grave length
Should be so over-reach'd. I never brook'd

That parasite's hair; methought his nose should

cozen:

There still was somewhat in his look, did promise The bane of a clarissimo.

Corb. Knave

Volp. Methinks

Yet you, that are so traded in the world,
A witty merchant, the fine bird, Corvino,
Crow
That have such moral emblems on your name,
Should not have sung your shame, and dropt
your cheese,

To let the Fox laugh at your emptiness.

Corv. Sirrah, you think the privilege of the place,

And your red saucy cap, that seems to me
Nail'd to your jolt-head with those two chequines,'
Can warrant your abuses; come you hither:
You shall perceive, sir, I dare beat you; approach.
Volp. No haste, sir, I do know your valour well,
Since you durst publish what you are, sir.
Coro. Tarry,

I'd speak with you.

Volp. Sir, sir, another time-

with those two chequines,] The dress of a commandadore, (officer of justice,) in which Volpone was now disguised, consisted of a black stuff gown, and a red cap with two gilt buttons in front.

Corv. Nay, now.

Volp. O lord, sir! I were a wise man,

Would stand the fury of a distracted cuckold. [As he is running off, re-enter Mosca..

Corb. What, come again!

Volp. Upon 'em, Mosca; save me.

Corb. The air's infected where he breathes. Coro. Let's fly him. [Exeunt Corv. and Corb. Volp. Excellent basilisk! turn upon the vul

ture.

Enter VOLTORE.

Volt. Well, flesh-fly, it is summer with you

Prithee not rail, nor threaten out of place thus ;
Thou'lt make a solecism, as madam says.1
Get you a biggin more; your brain breaks loose.

Volt. Well, sir.

[Exit.

Volp. Would you have me beat the insolent slave,

Throw dirt upon his first good clothes?

Thou'lt make a solecism, as madam says.] Referring to what lady Would-be had said just before:

2 Get you a biggin more ;] A kind of coif, or nightcap. Our old dramatists usually connect it with infancy or old age; though the allusion, in this place, seems to be to the law, the profession of Voltore. Thus Mayne:

"One, whom the good old man, his uncle,
"Kept to the Inns of Court, and would in time,
"Have made him barrister, and raised him to
"The satin cap and biggin." City Match

Volt. This same

Is doubtless some familiar.
Volp. Sir, the court,

In troth, stays for you. I am mad, a mule
That never read Justinian, should get up,
And ride an advocate. Had you no quirk
To avoid gullage, sir, by such a creature?
I hope you do but jest; he has not done it:
'Tis but confederacy, to blind the rest.
You are the heir.

Volt. A strange, officious,

Troublesome knave! thou dost torment me.
Volp. I know--

It cannot be, sir, that you should be cozen'd;
'Tis not within the wit of man to do it;

You are so wise, so prudent; and 'tis fit

That wealth and wisdom still should go together, [Exeunt.

SCENE VI.

The Scrutineo or Senate House.

Enter Avocatori, Notario, BONARIO, CELIA, CORBACCIO, CORVINO, Commandadori, Saffi, &c.

1 Avoc. Are all the parties here? Not. All but the advocate.

2 Apoc. And here he comes.

Enter VOLTORE and VOLPONE.

1 Avoc. Then bring them forth to sentence. Volt. O, my most honour'd fathers, let your mercy

Once win upon your justice, to forgive-
I am distracted-