Volpone pretends to be dying in order to trick greedy men into thinking they will inherit his fortune, but is ultimately outed as alive and punished along with his accomplice Mosca. Volpone and Mosca deceive Corvino, Corbaccio, and Voltore into believing they will each be named the heir in exchange for gifts, going so far as to have Volpone disguise himself and seduce Corvino's wife Celia. However, their schemes are uncovered and Volpone, Mosca, and the deceived legacy hunters are all punished by the court.

1. Volpone

2.  Volpone pretends  about to die
 Corvino, Corbaccio,Voltore, Lady Politic
Would-be bring presents to be his heir
 Mosca tells them they’ll be the heir one by
one.
 Mosca also tells Corbaccio, if he disinherits
his son, he’ll be the heir.
 Mosca describes the beauty of Corvino's wife
Celia toVolpone.
 They agree to go to her in disguise.

3.  Sir PoliticWould-be and Peregrine are in the
public square discussing some bad omens.
 Mosca sets up a stage in the square.
 Volpone takes the stage in disguise as a
mountebank.
 At some point, he asks for a handkerchief.
 Gets one from Celia.
 Corvino goes mad.

4.  Back home,Volpone allows Mosca to do
everything to get Celia.
 At Corvino’s house, he threatens Celia for
being nice to a mountebank.
 Mosca comes and tells Corvino thatVolpone
needs a female companion to be healthy.
 Corvino offers his wife.

5.  Mosca talks about the superiority of natural parasites.
 Bonario enters, looks down on Mosca.
 Mosca tells him that he’s about to be disinherited and he can hear
it for himself.
 AtVolpone’s house, Lady Politic Would-be enters, brings him a
gift.
 Mosca tells her he’s seen her husband with another woman and
hides Bonario to hear the conversation with Corbaccio about his
heritage.
 However, Corvino and Celia arrive early, Bonario is moved
elsewhere.
 Celia is forced to be alone withVolpone, she learns he’s not sick.
 Celia declinesVolpone’s offers, and he attempts to rape her, but
Bonario interrupts and saves her.
 Mosca convinces Corbaccio andVoltore to go after Bonario.

6.  Sir Politic Would-be and Peregrine discuss being a gentleman and
making easy money (sellingVenice to theTurks).
 Lady Politic Would-be enters, accuses Peregrine for being a
woman and seducing her husband.
 Mosca enters, convinces Lady Politic that Celia is the seducer.
 LadyWould-be apologizes, but Peregrine vows revenge.
 At theVenetian Court,Voltore, Corbaccio, Corvino tell their
stories.
 The judges supportVoltore –> Bonario attempted to kill his father
for Celia’s love.
 Lady Politic Would-be testifies that Celia seduced her husband.
 Bonario and Celia lose the case. (They resort to the court at first)

7.  Volpone complains about pain in his body,
becomes really sick. (Foreshadowing of his
punishment)
 Mosca enters to celebrate their victory and sets
himselfVolpone’s heir.
 To collect what he earned,Volpone spreads the
word that he’s dead.
 All the legacy hunters enter, knowing they have
been deceived, Mosca gets rid of them.
 Volpone and Mosca decide to make fun of them
in disguise on the street.

8.  At Sir PoliticWould-be’s house, Peregrine
decides to play a joke on him.
 Tells Sir Politic that his plan to sellVenice to
theTurks has been revealed.
 Sir Politic panics and hides under a tortoise
shell.
 Three merchants, dressed officially enter and
laugh at Sir Politic.
 Peregrine says “Now, we are even”.
 Sir Politic decides to leaveVenice.

9.  Volpone, in disguise, makes fun of the legacy
hunters by saying he’s heard they’ve acquired
a great fortune.
 Voltore cannot take it, goes to the court to
confess he lied in the previous court hearing.
 Volpone interrupts, tells the judgesVolpone is
alive.
 Voltore retracts, says he was possesses while
making the statement.

10.  Mosca enters, saysVolpone is dead.
 Volpone wants him to tell the truth, he wants
half of his fortune.
 While they are debating,Volpone is
apprehended by court officers.
 While beign taken away, he reveals his diguise,
takes Mosca down with him.
 Volpone, Mosca and the legacy hunters are all
punished.
 The author at the end, asks the audience to
applaud if they like the play.