Volpone: Act 4, Scene 6 Summary & Analysis

Lady Would-be enters the court and immediately curses out Celia as a whore. She then apologizes at length if she has been dishonorable or offensive in court. The Avocatori ask Bonario and Celia what witnesses they have to their defense, and they say only their consciences and heaven, which never fails the innocent. But the Avocatori say that these are not testimonies.

Volpone then enters, pretending to be diseased and disabled. Voltore says that he will offer testimony that will silence Celia and Bonario. He points to Volpone and asks the court if the sickly man could possibly have raped Celia. Bonario says he wants Volpone tested for impotence, and then Voltore describes some tortures, which he says (sarcastically) have been said to cure some ailments. Voltore says that even after these curing tortures, Volpone will still have as many diseases as Celia has adulterers and Bonario has whores. Voltore closes his argument by calling Celia and Bonario slanderers and asking a series of rhetorical questions that amount to ‘if you don’t convict them, who is safe?’ The Avocatori call for Celia and Bonario to be taken into custody, they let Volpone go home, and they thank Voltore for revealing the plot. Then the Avocatori, the Notario, the Officers and Celia and Bonario all exit.

Voltore asks Mosca what he thought of the trial, and Mosca praises Voltore, saying if he were as skilled as language he could have made Voltore heir to the whole city. Mosca then tells Corvino to go out in public, saying it’s much better that people think he is a cuckold than if they knew he tried to prostitute his own wife. Now, Corvino says, people will blame Celia instead of him. Corvino is still suspicious of Voltore competing for Volpone’s wealth, but Mosca reassures Corvino and he exits. Corbaccio tells Mosca to go make Volpone’s will, and Mosca agrees, saying that a fee for Voltore’s lawyer services must be deducted. Corbaccio pays Voltore the fee and tips Mosca before exiting. Mosca then reassures Voltore, who also exits. Mosca turns to Lady Would-be and says he’ll bring her home. At first, she resists, but he starts to say that he will convince Volpone to name her heir, and Lady Would-be immediately cuts Mosca off and agrees with him.