Volpone and Other Plays by Ben Jonson

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    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Let me see: a pearl!
    90        A diamond! plate! chequins! Good morning’s purchase.
    Why, this is better than rob churches, yet,
    Or fat , by eating once a month a man.
    [
Enter
MOSCA .]
    Who is ’t?
    MOSCA :                The beauteous lady would-be, sir,
    Wife to the English knight, Sir Politic Would-be,
    (This is the style, sir, is directed me)
    Hath sent to know how you have slept tonight,
    And if you would be visited?
    VOLPONE :                                        Not now.
    Some three hours hence, –
    MOSCA :                                   I told the squire so much.
    VOLPONE : When I am high with mirth and wine, then, then.
    100      ‘Fore heaven, I wonder at the desperate valour
    Of the bold English, that they dare let loose
    Their wives to all encounters!
    MOSCA :                                           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.
    But had she Signior Corvino’s wife’s face –
    VOLPONE : Has she so rare a face?
    MOSCA :                                             O, sir, the wonder,
    The blazing star of Italy! a wench
    O’the first year! a beauty ripe as harvest!
    110      Whose skin is whiter than a swan, all over!
    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!
    VOLPONE : Why had not I known this before?
    MOSCA :                                                                  Alas, sir,
    Myself but yesterday discovered it.
    VOLPONE : How might I see her?
    MOSCA :                                             O, not possible;
    She’s kept as warily as is your gold,
    Never does come abroad, never takes air
    120      But at a window. All her looks are sweet
    As the first grapes or cherries, and are watched
    As near as they are.
    VOLPONE :                              I must see her –
    MOSCA :                                                           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,
    When he goes out, when he comes in, examined.
    VOLPONE : I will go see her, though but at her window.
    MOSCA : In some disguise then.
    VOLPONE :                                     That is true. I must
    Maintain mine own shape still the same: we’ll