Act 3 — Scene II.[1647]

Who’s this? Bonario, old Corbaccio’s son? The person I was bound to seek. Fair sir, You are happ’ly met. Bon. That cannot be by thee. Mos. Why, sir? Bon. Nay, pray thee know thy way, and leave me: I would be loth to interchange discourse5 With such a mate[1648] as thou art. Mos. Courteous sir, Scorn not my poverty. Bon. Not I, by heaven; But thou shalt give me leave to hate thy baseness. Mos. Baseness! Bon. Ay; answer me, is not thy sloth Sufficient argument? thy flattery?10 Thy means of feeding? Mos. Heaven be good to me! These imputations are too common, sir, And easily stuck on virtue when she’s poor. You are unequal[1649] to me, and however Your sentence may be righteous, yet you are not,15 That, ere you know me, thus proceed in censure: St. Mark bear witness ’gainst you, ’t is inhuman. [Weeps.] Bon. [Aside.] What! does he weep? the sign is soft and good: I do repent me that I was so harsh. Mos. ’T is true, that, sway’d by strong necessity,20 I am enforc’d to eat my careful bread With too much obsequy; ’t is true, beside, That I am fain to spin mine own poor raiment Out of my mere observance, being not born To a free fortune: but that I have done25 Base offices, in rending friends asunder, Dividing families, betraying counsels, Whisp’ring false lies, or mining men with praises, Train’d their credulity with perjuries, Corrupted chastity, or am in love30 With mine own tender ease, but would not rather Prove the most rugged and laborious course, That might redeem my present estimation, Let me here perish, in all hope of goodness. Bon. [Aside.] This cannot be a personated passion.—35 I was to blame, so to mistake thy nature; Prithee forgive me: and speak out thy business. Mos. Sir, it concerns you; and though I may seem At first to make a main offence in manners, And in my gratitude unto my master,40 Yet for the pure love which I bear all right, And hatred of the wrong, I must reveal it. This very hour your father is in purpose To disinherit you—— Bon. How! Mos. And thrust you forth, As a mere stranger to his blood: ’t is true, sir. The work no way engageth me, but as45 I claim an interest in the general state Of goodness and true virtue, which I hear T’ abound in you; and for which mere respect, Without a second aim, sir, I have done it.50 Bon. 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. Mos. It is a confidence that well becomes55 Your piety; and form’d, no doubt, it is From your own simple innocence, which makes Your wrong more monstrous and abhorr’d. But, sir, I now will tell you more. This very minute, It is, or will be doing; and if you60 Shall be but pleas’d to go with me, I ’ll bring you, I dare not say where you shall see, but where Your ear shall be a witness of the deed; Hear yourself written bastard, and profest The common issue of the earth. Bon. I’m maz’d!65 Mos. Sir, if I do it not, draw your just sword, And score your vengeance on my front and face; Mark me your villain: you have too much wrong, And I do suffer for you, sir. My heart69 Weeps blood in anguish—— Bon. Lead; I follow thee. [Exeunt.]