The Fox's Reward Act Two Scene Three

Marguerite and Vulpes discuss their deception and realize that Jasper will return.

ACT TWO SCENE THREE

The same. Marguerite outside watching Jasper go. Vulpes comes to the door and whispers.

Vulpes

So has that sneaking son of an abacus

Gone yet?

Marguerite

Hush, hush, you fool.! Get back to bed.

For if, by sudden chance, he did return

And found you strolling round with such a look

Of health and satisfaction like some fox

Whose furry belly’s fat with farm-bred fowl,

I’m sure he’d see with but a single glance

Right through the whole of our well-played pretence.

Vulpes

Still, nonetheless, by all the shining shields

Of all brave-hearted, dragon-slaying knights,

We really shafted that coin-hoarding reptile!

Marguerite (laughing)

You should have seen the stunned bewilderment

All-featured on his face as he was leaving!

His mind was so divided that his vision

Was seeing truth and falsity as one.

Vulpes

            Now by the patron saint of cheats and rascals,

Whoever that may be, stop laughing, dear!

For now I ponder it, you were full-right,

He may return at any present time,

And if he heard your laughing ringing out,

Our trick so fine would flame in smoke and fire,

Its slyly-crafted edifice consumed

By seeing truth’s incendiary, bright eye.

Marguerite (giggling)

Oh, dear, oh, dear, I'd stop if I were able!

(Marguerite puts her hand to her mouth to stifle the giggling)

Jasper (coming to the door of his shop)

Now by the glorious sun that lights our eyes

And brings night-hidden truths to every view,

I'm bravely going back to battle that

Light-fingered lawyer and his lying ways.

A little, golden nest egg, did he say?

I'll hatch those hidden eggs or hatch a case.

For, by Saint Jude, I know he's got my cloth.

Now I'm back here, recovered to clear mind,

I trust to proof of memory and reason;

And thus I know with knowing’s certainty

That he absconded with his woven booty,

Tight-tucked beneath his healthy, thieving arm,

This very day indeed- indeed he did!

Vulpes (urgently to Marguerite)

Stop laughing, dear! He may bounce back, you know.

Indeed, my very marrow tells me so.

For he’s of stubborn, thick and solid stock

And will not be put off by just one shock.

(Vulpes shepherds Marguerite inside)