Blackfriars
Stuff that happens in the play
- Childless, rich Volpone pretends to be on his deathbed to trick his three avaricious visitors: Voltore, a lawyer; Corbaccio, a rich old man; and Corvino, a merchant. The three vultures foolishly hope to inherit Volpone’s riches.
- Mosca, Volpone’s man, convinces Corbaccio to disinherit his son, Bonario, and take Volpone as his heir.
- Volpone and Mosca hatch a plan to woo Corvino’s beautiful wife, Celia.
- Two Englishmen, Sir Politic Would-be, a knight, and Peregrine, a young traveler, meet and talk about England when Volpone – disguised as a street mountebank – arrives.
- Volpone convinces Celia, who has been watching from her window, to throw him her handkerchief just as her husband arrives.
- Corvino flies into a jealous rage, and imprisons Celia.
- Mosca convinces Corvino that the cure for Volpone’s illness is to have a “young woman...Lusty and full of juice...sleep by him” and that, if Corvino offers Celia as the cure, Volpone will make Corvino his heir.
- Lady Would-Be drops in to see Volpone.
- Mosca hides Bonario in Volpone’s room, so he can witness his father sign the papers giving Volpone everything. Celia arrives, and Volpone begins his seduction. Bonario stops Volpone, saves Celia, and wounds Mosca as they escape.
- Seductions, false accusations, trials, and actual illness ensue.
Volpone, or the Fox
Argument
V O L P O N E, childless, rich, feigns sick, despairs,
O ffers his state to hopes of several heirs,
L ies languishing: his parasite receives
P resents of all, assures, deludes; then weaves
O ther cross plots, which ope themselves, are told.
N ew tricks for safety are sought; they thrive: when bold,
E ach tempts the other again, and all are sold.