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Lady P. Where?

Mos. Marry,

Where yet, if you

hend him,

make haste, you may appre

Rowing upon the water in a gondole,

With the most cunning courtezan of Venice.' Lady P. Is't true?

Mos. Pursue them, and believe your eyes: Leave me, to make your gift. [Exit Lady P. hastily.]-I knew 'twould take:

For, lightly, they that use themselves most license," Are still most jealous.

Volp. Mosca, hearty thanks,

For thy quick fiction, and delivery of me.
Now to my hopes, what say'st thou ?

Re-enter Lady P. WOULD-BE.

Lady P. But do you hear, sir?—
Volp. Again! I fear a paroxysm.
Lady P. Which way

Row'd they together?

Mos. Toward the Rialto.

Lady P. I pray you lend me your dwarf.

says, "I was at one of their play-houses, where I saw a comedie acted. The house is very beggarly and base in comparison of our stately play-houses in England: neither can the actors compare with us for apparel, shewes, and musicke." p. 247. The conclusion of this speech is from Juvenal. Sat. vi.

With the most cunning courtezan of Venice.] Venice succeeded, and not unjustly, to all the celebrity of Corinth for rapacious, subtle, and accomplished wantons. Shakspeare notices this circumstance; as, indeed, do all the writers of his age, who have occasion to mention the city. The "leg-stretcher of Odcombe," (as Coryat aptly calls himself,) whose simple love of novelty involved him in the most ridiculous adventures, has a great deal of curious matter on this subject.

2

For, lightly,] i. e. usually, or in common course. See Vol. II. p. 255.

WHAL.

Mos. I pray you take him.—

[Exit Lady P. Your hopes, sir, are like happy blossoms, fair, And promise timely fruit, if you will stay But the maturing; keep you at your couch, Corbaccio will arrive straight, with the Will; When he is gone, I'll tell you more.

Volp. My blood,

[Exit.

My spirits are return'd; I am alive:
And, like your wanton gamester at primero,'
Whose thought had whisper'd to him, not go less,
Methinks I lie, and draw--for an encounter.
[The scene closes upon Volpone.

SCENE II.

The Passage leading to Volpone's Chamber.
Enter MOSCA and BONARIO.

Mos. Sir, here conceal'd, [shews him a closet.] you may hear all. But, pray you,

Have patience, sir; [knocking within.]-the same's your father knocks:

I am compell'd to leave you.
Bon. Do so.-Yet

Cannot my thought imagine this a truth.

[Exit.

[Goes into the closet.

3 And like your wanton gamester at primero, &c.] Jonson has adopted the terms of this game, as they appear in, what sir John Harrington is pleased to call, an Epigram upon "The story of Marcus' life at Primero."

"Our Marcus never can encounter right,

"Yet drew two aces, and, for further spight,
"Had colour for it with a hopeful draught,
"But not encountered it avail'd him naught."

Not to go less, as I have already observed,-is not to adventure a smaller sum.

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. Well, now there is no helping it, stay here;

I'll presently return.

Coro. Where are you, Celia ?

[Exit.

You know not wherefore I have brought you

hither?

Cel. Not well, except you told me.

Coro. 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. [Exit.

SCENE V.

Volpone's Chamber.- VOLPONE on his couch. MOSCA sitting by him.

Enter CORVINO forcing in CELIA.

Coro. 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,
Because I would avoid all shifts and tricks,
That might deny me.

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.
Coro. 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!
Coro. I say it,

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
Loyal, and mine, be won, respect my venture.
Cel. Before your honour?

Coro. Honour! tut, a breath :*

There's no such thing in nature: a mere term Invented to awe fools. What is my gold

The worse for touching, clothes for being look'd on? Why, this 's no more. An old decrepit wretch, That has no sense, no sinew; takes his meat With others fingers; only knows to gape,

When you do scald his gums; a voice, a shadow; And, what can this man hurt

Cel. Lord! what spirit

Is this hath enter'd him?
Coro. And for your fame,

you ?

[Aside.

That's such a jig; as if I would go tell it,
Cry it on the Piazza! who shall know it,
But he that cannot speak it, and this fellow,
Whose lips are in my pocket? save yourself,
(If you'll proclaim't, you may,) I know no other
Should come to know it.

Cel. Are heaven and saints then nothing?
Will they be blind or stupid?

Corv. How!

Cel. Good sir,

Be jealous still, emulate them; and think
What hate they burn with toward every sin.

Coro. I grant you: if I thought it were a sin,
I would not urge you. Should I offer this
To some young Frenchman, or hot Tuscan blood

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:

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