Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 19 (piety, thalander, crimes, blessings, loathed, pretend…). Matches are highlighted.
eyes May bear strong witness of his strange impostures. Most honoured father's, I humbly crave, there be no credit given To this men mercenary tongue. His soul moves in his fee. This fell low, For six sols more, would plead against his maker. Have they made you to this! Sir, I will fit down, And rather wish my innocence should
multitude, and clamour overcomes. So he do's. I would have him proved. Oh, sure vengeance! Or bides in you. (Where is't?) Heaven could not, long, let such gross crimes be hid.
Full speech
That cannot be, by thee. Nay pray thee know thy way, & leave me: I would be loath to interchange discourse, With such a mate, as thou art. Not I, by heaven: But thou shalt give me leave to hate thy baseness. I, answer me, is not thy sloth Sufficient argument? thy flattery? Thy means of feeding? What? do's he weep? the sign is soft, and good! I do repent me, that I was so harsh. This cannot be a personated passion! I was to blame, so to mistake thy nature; pray thee forgive me: and speak out thy business. How! This tale hath lost thee much of the late trust, Thou hadst with me; it is impossible: I know not how to lend it any thought, My father should be so unnatural. I'm mazed! Led. I follow thee. MOSCA stays long, me thinks. Bring forth your sports And help, to make the wretched time more sweet. Do so. Yet, Cannot my thought imagine this a truth. DEath on me! you are come too soon, what meant you? Did not I say, I would send? Yes, I will stay there, I do doubt this fellow. Forbear, foul ravisher, libidinous swine, Free the forced lady, or thou diest, impostor. But that I am loath to snatch thy punishment Out of the hand of justice, thou shouldst, yet, Be made the timely sacrifice of vengeance, Before this altar, and this dross, thy idol. Lady, let's quit the place, it is the den Of villainy; fear nought, you have a guard: And he, ere long, shall meet his joust reward. His parasite, His knave, his pandar: I beseech the court, He may be forced to come, that your graven eyes May bear strong witness of his strange impostures. Most honoured father's, I humbly crave, there be no credit given To this men mercenary tongue. His soul moves in his fee. This fell low, For six sols more, would plead against his maker. Have they made you to this! Sir, I will fit down, And rather wish my innocence should suffer, Then I resist the authority of a father. Oh, most laid impudence! Father's— Our consciences. Not in your courts, Where multitude, and clamour overcomes. So he do's. I would have him proved. Oh, sure vengeance! Or bides in you. (Where is't?) Heaven could not, long, let such gross crimes be hid.
Plot summary
Plot — Volpone, or The Fox
The wealthy Welpone has no family to inherit his gold. Seeking to augment his riches, he pretends to be mortally ill, and receives visitors bringing gifts and false solicitude in the hope of being named his heir. His servant Mosea encourages one of them, SlG@IGGrbaccio} to make a will in Volpone’s favour in hope of reciprocation, temporarily disinheriting his own son Bonario. He also engages Volpone’s interest in @éliaj the wife of @Grvinid) another visitor. Eager to see her, Volpone poses as a mountebank selling potions; Celia watches from a window and expresses her interest by dropping her handkerchief before the jealous Corvino intervenes and locks her away. The sight of Celia has inflamed Volpone’s sexual desire, so Mosca makes the necessary arrangements. He tells Corvino that the mountebank’s medicine, bought by his rivals, has wrought an improvement in Volpone’s condition, and that physicians have prescribed a cure: Volpone must sleep beside a healthy, vigorous young woman. @6rviniG decides to proffer Gélid for the purpose, getting himself back into favour; even if the cure works, Volpone can always be murdered later once he has made his will. On the way back to Volpone’s house, Mosca meets BOnari6, tells him of Corbaccio’s plans to make a new will, and counters Bonario’s scepticism by offering to place him where he can watch it happen. He then returns in time to free Volpone from the unwelcome company of the loquacious Dady§WoOulasBe: on being told that her husband has been seen in a gondola with a courtesan, she rushes away, pausing only to borrow a dwarf. Moses conceals BOfariG in Volpone’s room, but Corbaccio is late. @6RViHG, however, arrives early with Celia and leaves her with Volpone, who proves less decrepit than he seemed. Bonario intervenes to prevent a rape, and leaves the house with Celia. This gives the tardy Corbaccio a good reason to disinherit him. Wolteré the lawyer, another would-be heir, arrives in time to witness the new will being made, but MG@sea persuades him that the plan is to augment his own wealth: BOnano will angrily kill his father, whose wealth will pass to Volpone and so on to Voltore, the true heir. When the case comes to court, Voltore alleges adultery between Bonario and Celia, justifying Corbaccio’s actions and presenting @OFVinG as a patient, forgiving husband. The court is convinced when Volpone is produced from his sick-bed, an unlikely rapist. Celia and Bonario are imprisoned pending sentence. Lady Would-Be…