Ben Jonson — Volpone Or The Fox Act 5 Scene 5.6

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.]