Category Archives: Ben Jonson

— 5.11 — Volpone walked on a street, alone. He said to himself, “I have made a snare — a noose — for my own neck by pretending to have died! I have run my head into the snare and … Continue reading →

— 5.9 — Voltore walked over to Mosca and said, “Well, flesh-fly, it is summer with you now.” A flesh-fly is a fly that lays its eggs in dead bodies. The Italian word “mosca” means “flesh-fly.” Voltore continued, “Your winter … Continue reading →

— 5.7 — Voltore complained to himself, “Outstripped thus, by a parasite — a man dependent upon another for the necessities of life! A slave who used to run errands, and make bows for crumbs! Well, what I’ll do —” … Continue reading →

— 5.5 — Just outside Volpone’s house, Volpone and Mosca were talking. Mosca was wearing the clothing of a clarrissimo, aka Venetian gentleman. Volpone was wearing the uniform of a police officer. Volpone asked, “Do I look like the police … Continue reading →

— 5.4 — Outside Sir Politic Would-be’s house, Peregrine, who was in disguise, and three merchants talked. Peregrine asked, “Am I well enough disguised?” The First Merchant said, “I promise that you are.” “All my ambition is only to frighten … Continue reading →

— 5.3 — Voltore entered the room and asked, “How are you now, my Mosca?” Mosca sat at the desk, writing as he inventoried Volpone’s wealth. He said, “Turkish carpets, nine —” Voltore said with approval, “Taking an inventory! That … Continue reading →