SCENE V.[1581

MOSCA, VOLPONE. [_Enter_] CORVINO.

Signior Corvino! come most wish’d for! O, How happy were you, if you knew it, now!

_Corv._ Why? what? wherein?

_Mos._ The tardy hour is come, sir.

_Corv._ He is not dead?

_Mos._ Not dead, sir, but as good; He knows no man.

_Corv._ How shall I do then?

_Mos._ Why, sir? 5

_Corv._ I have brought him here a pearl.

_Mos._ Perhaps he has So much remembrance left as to know you, sir: He still calls on you; nothing but your name Is in his mouth. Is your pearl orient,[1582] sir?

_Corv._ Venice was never owner of the like. 10

_Volp._ [_faintly._] Signior Corvino!

_Mos._ Hark!

_Volp._ Signior Corvino.

_Mos._ He calls you; step and give it him.— He’s here, sir. And he has brought you a rich pearl.

_Corv._ How do you, sir? Tell him it doubles the twelve carat.

_Mos._ Sir, He cannot understand, his hearing’s gone; 15 And yet it comforts him to see you——

_Corv._ Say I have a diamond for him, too.

_Mos._ Best show ’t, sir; Put it into his hand: ’t is only there He apprehends: he has his feeling yet. See how he grasps it!

_Corv._ ’Las, good gentleman! 20 How pitiful the sight is!

_Mos._ Tut, forget, sir. The weeping of an heir should still be laughter Under a visor.

_Corv._ Why, am I his heir?

_Mos._ Sir, I am sworn, I may not show the will Till he be dead: but here has been Corbaccio, Here has been Voltore, here were others too, 26 I cannot number ’em, they were so many; All gaping here for legacies: but I, Taking the vantage of his naming you, _Signior Corvino_, _Signior Corvino_, took 30 Paper, and pen, and ink, and there I ask’d him Whom he would have his heir! _Corvino_. Who Should be executor? _Corvino_. And To any question he was silent to, I still interpreted the nods he made, 35 Through weakness, for consent: and sent home th’ others, Nothing bequeath’d them, but to cry and curse.

_Corv._ O, my dear Mosca. (_They embrace._) Does he not perceive us?

_Mos._ No more than a blind harper. He knows no man, No face of friend, nor name of any servant, 40 Who ’t was that fed him last, or gave him drink. Not those he hath begotten, or brought up, Can he remember.

_Corv._ Has he children?

_Mos._ Bastards, Some dozen, or more, that he begot on beggars, Gypsies, and Jews, and black-moors, when he was drunk. 45 Knew you not that, sir? ’t is the common fable, The dwarf, the fool, the eunuch, are all his; He’s the true father of his family, In all save me:—but he has giv’n ’em nothing.

_Corv._ That’s well, that’s well! Art sure he does not hear us? 50

_Mos._ Sure, sir! why, look you, credit your own sense. [_Shouts in_ VOL.’s _ear_.] The pox approach, and add to your diseases, If it would send you hence the sooner, sir, For your incontinence, it hath deserv’d it Throughly and throughly, and the plague to boot!— 55 You may come near, sir.—Would you would once close Those filthy eyes of yours, that flow with slime Like two frog-pits; and those same hanging cheeks, Cover’d with hide instead of skin—Nay, help, sir[1583]—— That look like frozen dish-clouts set on end! 60

_Corv._ Or like an old smok’d wall, on which the rain Ran down in streaks!

_Mos._ Excellent, sir! speak out: You may be louder yet; a culverin Discharged in his ear would hardly bore it.

_Corv._ His nose is like a common sewer, still running. 65

_Mos._ ’T is good! And what his mouth?

_Corv._ A very draught.

_Mos._ O, stop it up——

_Corv._ By no means.

_Mos._ Pray you, let me: Faith I could stifle him rarely with a pillow As well as any woman that should keep him.

_Corv._ Do as you will; but I’ll begone.

_Mos._ Be so; 70 It is your presence makes him last so long.

_Corv._ I pray you use no violence.

_Mos._ No, sir! why? Why should you be thus scrupulous, pray you, sir?

_Corv._ Nay, at your discretion.

_Mos._ Well, good sir, be gone.

_Corv._ I will not trouble him now to take[1584] my pearl. 75

_Mos._ Puh! nor your diamond. What a needless care Is this afflicts you? Is not all here yours? Am not I here, whom you have made your creature? That owe my being to you?

_Corv._ Grateful Mosca! 79 Thou art my friend, my fellow, my companion, My partner, and shalt share in all my fortunes.

_Mos._ Excepting one.

_Corv._ What’s that?

_Mos._ Your gallant wife, sir. [_Exit_ CORV.] Now is he gone: we had no other means To shoot him hence but this.

_Volp._ My divine Mosca! 85 Thou hast to-day outgone thyself. Who’s there? _Another knocks._ I will be troubled with no more. Prepare Me music, dances, banquets, all delights; The Turk is not more sensual in his pleasures Than will Volpone. [_Exit_ MOS.] Let me see; a pearl! A diamond! plate! chequins! Good morning’s purchase.[1585] 90 Why, this is better than rob churches, yet; Or fat, by eating, once a month, a man—— [_Re-enter_ MOSCA.] Who is ’t?

_Mos._ The beauteous Lady Would-be, sir, Wife to the English knight, Sir Politic Would-be, (This is the style, sir, is directed me,) 95 Hath sent to know how you have slept to-night, And if you would be visited?

_Volp._ Not now: Some three hours hence.

_Mos._ I told the squire[1586] so much.

_Volp._ When I am high with mirth and wine; then then: 99 ’Fore heaven, I wonder at the desperate valour Of the bold English, that they dare let loose Their wives to all encounters!

_Mos._ Sir, this knight Had not his name for nothing, he is _politic_, And knows, howe’er his wife affect strange airs, She hath not yet the face to be dishonest: 105 But had she Signior Corvino’s wife’s face——

_Volp._ Hath she so rare a face?

_Mos._ O, sir, the wonder, The blazing star of Italy! a wench Of the first year, a beauty ripe as harvest! Whose skin is whiter than a swan all over, 110 Than silver, snow, or lilies; a soft lip, Would tempt you to eternity of kissing! And flesh that melteth in the touch to blood! Bright as your gold, and lovely as your gold!

_Volp._ Why had not I known this before?

_Mos._ Alas, sir, 115 Myself but yesterday discover’d it.

_Volp._ How might I see her?

_Mos._ O, not possible; She’s kept as warily as is your gold; Never does come abroad, never takes air But at a windore. All her looks are sweet, 120 As the first grapes or cherries, and are watch’d As near as they are.

_Volp._ I must see her.

_Mos._ Sir, There is a guard of ten spies thick upon her, All his whole household; each of which is set Upon his fellow, and have all their charge, 125 When he goes out, when he comes in, examin’d.

_Volp._ I will go see her, though but at her windore.

_Mos._ In some disguise then.

_Volp._ That is true; I must Maintain mine own shape still the same: we’ll think. [_Exeunt._]