Volpone monologue for men Essay Example For Students

Volpone monologue for men Essay A monologue from the play by Ben Jonson NOTE: This monologue is reprinted from Volpone (1605). CORVINO: Death of mine honour, with the citys fool! A juggling, tooth-drawing, prating mountebank! And at a public window! where, whilst he, With his strained action, and his dole of faces, To his drug-lecture draws your itching ears, A crew of old, unmarried, noted lechers Stood leering up like satyrs; and you smile Most graciously, and fan your favours forth, To give your hot spectators satisfaction! What, was your mountebank their call? their whistle? Or were y enamoured on his copper rings? His saffron jewel with the toad-stone int? Or his embroidered suit, with the cope-stitch, Made of a hearse-cloth? or his old tilt-feather? Or his starched beard? Well, you shall have him, yes! He shall come home, and minister unto you The fricace of the mother. Or, let me see, I think youd rather mount; would you not mount? Why, if youll mount, you may; yes, truly, you may! And so you may be seen, down to th foot. Get you a cittern, Lady Vanity, And be a dealer with the virtuous man; Make one. Ill but protest myself a cuckold, And save your dowry. Im a Dutchman, I! For if you thought me an Italian, You would be damned ere you did this, you whore! Thoudst tremble to imagine that the murder Of father, mother, brother, all thy race, Should follow, as the subject of my justice! I should strike this steel into thee, with as many stabs As thou wert gazed upon with goatish eyes! You were an actor, with your handkerchief, Which he most sweetly kissed in the receipt, And might, no doubt, return it with a letter, And point the place where you might meetyour sisters, Your mothers, or your aunts might serve the turn. And therefore mark me: thy restraint before Was liberty To what I now decree. First, I will have this bawdy light damned up; And tillt be done, some two or three yards off, Ill chalk a line, oer which if thou but chance To set thy desprate foot, more hell, more horror, More wild remorseless rage shall seize on thee, Than on a conjuror that had heedless left His circles safety ere his devil was laid. Then, heres a lock which I will hang upon thee; And, now I think ont, I will keep thee backwards; Thy lodging shall be backwards, thy walks backwards, Thy prospect all be backwards, and no pleasure, That thou shalt know, but backwards. Nay, since you force My honest nature, know it is your own Being too open, makes me use you thus; Since you will not contain your subtle nostrils In a sweet room, but they must snuff the air Of rank and sweaty passengers! We will write a custom essay on Volpone monologue for men specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now