Chapter 18

THE SCRUTINEO OR SENATE-HOUSE.

ENTER AVOCATORI, NOTARIO, BONARIO, CELIA, CORBACCIO, CORVINO, COMMANDADORI, SAFFI, ETC.

1 AVOC: Are all the parties here?

NOT: All but the advocate.

2 AVOC: 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--

VOLP [ASIDE.]: What will he do now?

VOLT: O, I know not which to address myself to first; Whether your fatherhoods, or these innocents--

CORV [ASIDE.]: Will he betray himself?

VOLT: Whom equally I have abused, out of most covetous ends--

CORV: The man is mad!

CORB: What's that?

CORV: He is possest.

VOLT: For which, now struck in conscience, here, I prostate Myself at your offended feet, for pardon.

1, 2 AVOC: Arise.

CEL: O heaven, how just thou art!

VOLP [ASIDE.]: I am caught In mine own noose--

CORV [TO CORBACCIO.]: Be constant, sir: nought now Can help, but impudence.

1 AVOC: Speak forward.

COM: Silence!

VOLT: It is not passion in me, reverend fathers, But only conscience, conscience, my good sires, That makes me now tell trueth. That parasite, That knave, hath been the instrument of all.

1 AVOC: Where is that knave? fetch him.

VOLP: I go.

[EXIT.]

CORV: Grave fathers, This man's distracted; he confest it now: For, hoping to be old Volpone's heir, Who now is dead--

3 AVOC: How?

2 AVOC: Is Volpone dead?

CORV: Dead since, grave fathers--

BON: O sure vengeance!

1 AVOC: Stay, Then he was no deceiver?

VOLT: O no, none: The parasite, grave fathers.

CORV: He does speak Out of mere envy, 'cause the servant's made The thing he gaped for: please your fatherhoods, This is the truth, though I'll not justify The other, but he may be some-deal faulty.

VOLT: Ay, to your hopes, as well as mine, Corvino: But I'll use modesty. Pleaseth your wisdoms, To view these certain notes, and but confer them; As I hope favour, they shall speak clear truth.

CORV: The devil has enter'd him!

BON: Or bides in you.

4 AVOC: We have done ill, by a public officer, To send for him, if he be heir.

2 AVOC: For whom?

4 AVOC: Him that they call the parasite.

3 AVOC: 'Tis true, He is a man of great estate, now left.

4 AVOC: Go you, and learn his name, and say, the court Entreats his presence here, but to the clearing Of some few doubts.

[EXIT NOTARY.]

2 AVOC: This same's a labyrinth!

1 AVOC: Stand you unto your first report?

CORV: My state, My life, my fame--

BON: Where is it?

CORV: Are at the stake

1 AVOC: Is yours so too?

CORB: The advocate's a knave, And has a forked tongue--

2 AVOC: Speak to the point.

CORB: So is the parasite too.

1 AVOC: This is confusion.

VOLT: I do beseech your fatherhoods, read but those-- [GIVING THEM THE PAPERS.]

CORV: And credit nothing the false spirit hath writ: It cannot be, but he's possest grave fathers.

[THE SCENE CLOSES.]