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Volp. So many cares, so many maladies, So many fears attending on old age,

Yea, death so often call'd on, as no wish

Can be more frequent with them, their limbs faint,
Their senses dull, their seeing, hearing, going,
All dead before them; yea, their very teeth,
Their instruments of eating, failing them :
Yet this is reckon'd life! nay, here was one,
Is now gone home, that wishes to live longer!
Feels not his gout, nor palsy; feigns himself
Younger by scores of years, flatters his age
With confident belying it, hopes he may,
With charms, like Eson, have his youth restored :
And with these thoughts so battens, as if fate
Would be as easily cheated on, as he,

[now a third ! And all turns air! [Knocking within.] Who's that there, Mos. Close, to your couch again; I hear his voice :

It is Corvino, our spruce merchant.

Volp. [lies down as before.] Dead.

Mos. Another bout, sir, with your eyes. [Anointing them.]-Who's there?

Enter CORVINO.

Signior Corvino ! come most wish'd for

0,

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?

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, sir?

Corv. Venice was never owner of the like.
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 twelfth caract.
Mos. Sir,

He cannot understand, his hearing's gone;
And yet it comforts him to see you-
Corv. Say,

I have a diamond for him, too.

Mos. Best shew it, sir;

Put it into his hand; 'tis only there

He apprehends: he has his feeling, yet,

See how he grasps it!

Corv. 'Las, good gentleman!

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 shew the will Till he be dead; but here has been Corbaccio, Here has been Voltore, here were others too, 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

Paper, and pen, and ink, and there I asked him, Whom he would have his heir?

...19...

Corvino. Who

Should be executor? Corvino. And,
To any question he was silent to,

I still interpreted the nods he made,

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.

No face of friend, nor name of any servant,

[man,

He knows no

Who 'twas 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 blackmoors, when he was

drunk.

Knew you not that, sir? 'tis 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 given them nothing.
Corv. That's well, that's well! Art sure he does not
hear us?

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'

Thoroughly, and thoroughly, and the plague to boot!-
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—
That look like frozen dish-clouts set on end!

Corv. [aloud.] Or like an old smoke 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.

Mos. 'Tis 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:

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, begone.

Corv. I will not trouble him now, to take my pearl. Mos. Puh not 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 !

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,

Now is he gone: we had no other means
To shoot him hence, but this.

[Exit CORV.

Volp. My divine Mosca !

Thou hast to-day outgone thyself. [Knocking within.]

-Who's there?

I will be troubled with no more.

Prepare

Me music, dances, banquets, all delights;

The Turk is not more sensual in his pleasures,

Then will Volpone. [Exit Mos.] Let me see; a pearl! A diamond plate! chequines !

purchase.

Good

Why, this is better than rob churches, yet;
Or fat, by eating, once a month a man.

morning's

་་。

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