Act 3 — Scene V.[1661]

Mos. God save you, madam! Lady P. Good sir. Volp. Mosca! welcome, Welcome to my redemption. Mos. Why, sir? Volp. Oh, Rid me of this my torture, quickly, there; My madam with the everlasting voice: The bells, in time of pestilence, ne’er made5 Like noise, or were in that perpetual motion! The Cock-pit comes not near it. All my house, But now, steam’d like a bath with her thick breath, A lawyer could not have been heard; nor scarce Another woman, such a hail of words10 She has let fall. For hell’s sake, rid her hence. Mos. Has she presented? Volp. Oh, I do not care; I ’ll take her absence upon any price, With any loss. Mos. Madam—— Lady P. I ha’ brought your patron A toy, a cap here, of mine own work. Mos. ’T is well.15 I had forgot to tell you I saw your knight Where you would little think it.—— Lady P. Where? Mos. Marry, Where yet, if you make haste, you may apprehend him, Rowing upon the water in a gondole, With the most cunning courtesan of Venice.20 Lady P. Is ’t true? Mos. Pursue ’em, and believe your eyes: Leave me to make your gift. [Exit Lady P. hastily.] I knew ’t would take: For, lightly, they that use themselves most licence, Are still most jealous. Volp. Mosca, hearty thanks For thy quick fiction, and delivery of me.25 Now to my hopes, what sayst thou?

Lady P. But do you hear, sir?—— Volp. Again! I fear a paroxysm. Lady P. Which way Row’d they together? Mos. Toward the Rialto. Lady P. I pray you lend me your dwarf.29 Mos. I pray you take him. [Exit Lady P.] Your hopes, sir, are like happy blossoms, fair, And promise timely fruit, if you will stay But the maturing; keep you at your couch, Corbaccio will arrive straight, with the will; When he is gone, I’ll tell you more. [Exit.] Volp. My blood,35 My spirits are return’d; I am alive: And, like your wanton gamester at primero, Whose thought had whisper’d to him, not go[1662] less, Methinks I lie, and draw[1663]——for an encounter.[1663]