[_Enter_] CORBACCIO, CORVINO.
_Corb._ They say the court is set.
_Corv._ We must maintain
Our first tale good, for both our reputations.
_Corb._ Why, mine ’s no tale. my son would there have kill’d me.
_Corv._ That ’s true, I had forgot:—mine is, I ’m sure.
But for your will, sir.
_Corb._ Ay, I ’ll come upon him 5
For that hereafter, now his patron ’s dead.
[_Enter_ VOLPONE.]
_Volp._ Signior Corvino! and Corbaccio! sir,
Much joy unto you.
_Corv._ Of what?
_Volp._ The sudden good
Dropt down upon you——
_Corb._ Where?
_Volp._ And none knows how,
From old Volpone, sir.
_Corb._ Out, arrant knave! 10
_Volp._ Let not your too much wealth, sir, make you furious.
_Corb._ Away, thou varlet.
_Volp._ Why, sir?
_Corb._ Dost thou mock me?
_Volp._ You mock the world, sir; did you not change wills?
_Corb._ Out, harlot!
_Volp._ O! belike you are the man,
Signior Corvino? Faith, you carry it well; 15
You grow not mad withal; I love your spirit:
You are not over-leaven’d with your fortune.
You should ha’ some would swell now, like a wine-fat,
With such an autumn.—Did he gi’ you all, sir?
_Corb._ Avoid, you rascal!
_Volp._ Troth, your wife has shown 20
Herself a very woman; but you are well,
You need not care, you have a good estate,
To bear it out, sir, better by this chance:
Except Corbaccio have a share.
_Corb._ Hence, varlet.
_Volp._ You will not be acknown, sir; why, ’t is wise. 25
Thus do all gamesters, at all games, dissemble:
No man will seem to win. [_Exeunt_ CORVINO _and_ CORBACCIO.] Here
comes my vulture,
Heaving his beak up i’ the air, and snuffing.