Volpone Or the Fox Part 31

3 MER: How!

1 MER: St. Mark!

What beast is this!

PER: It is a fish.

2 MER: Come out here!

PER: Nay, you may strike him, sir, and tread upon him; He'll bear a cart.

1 MER: What, to run over him?

PER: Yes, sir.

3 MER: Let's jump upon him.

2 MER: Can he not go?

PER: He creeps, sir.

1 MER: Let's see him creep.

PER: No, good sir, you will hurt him.

2 MER: Heart, I will see him creep, or p.r.i.c.k his guts.

3 MER: Come out here!

PER: Pray you, sir!

[ASIDE TO SIR POLITICK.]

-Creep a little.

1 MER: Forth.

2 MER: Yet farther.

PER: Good sir!-Creep.

2 MER: We'll see his legs.

[THEY PULL OFF THE Sh.e.l.l AND DISCOVER HIM.]

3 MER: Ods so, he has garters!

1 MER: Ay, and gloves!

2 MER: Is this Your fearful tortoise?

PER [DISCOVERING HIMSELF.]: Now, sir Pol, we are even; For your next project I shall be prepared: I am sorry for the funeral of your notes, sir.

1 MER: 'Twere a rare motion to be seen in Fleet-street.

2 MER: Ay, in the Term.

1 MER: Or Smithfield, in the fair.

3 MER: Methinks 'tis but a melancholy sight.

PER: Farewell, most politic tortoise!

[EXEUNT PER. AND MERCHANTS.]

[RE-ENTER WAITING-WOMAN.]

SIR P: Where's my lady?

Knows she of this?

WOM: I know not, sir.

SIR P: Enquire.- O, I shall be the fable of all feasts, The freight of the gazetti; s.h.i.+p-boy's tale; And, which is worst, even talk for ordinaries.

WOM: My lady's come most melancholy home, And says, sir, she will straight to sea, for physic.

SIR P: And I to shun this place and clime for ever; Creeping with house on back: and think it well, To shrink my poor head in my politic sh.e.l.l.

[EXEUNT.]

SCENE 5.3.

A ROOM IN VOLPONE'S HOUSE.

ENTER MOSCA IN THE HABIT OF A CLARISSIMO; AND VOLPONE IN THAT OF A COMMANDADORE.

VOLP: Am I then like him?

MOS: O, sir, you are he; No man can sever you.

VOLP: Good.

MOS: But what am I?

VOLP: 'Fore heaven, a brave clarissimo, thou becom'st it!

Pity thou wert not born one.

MOS [ASIDE.]: If I hold My made one, 'twill be well.

VOLP: I'll go and see What news first at the court.

[EXIT.]