Volpone; Or, The Fox Ben Jonson - Volpone ([volpone], Italian for "sly fox") is a comedy play by English playwright Ben Jonson first produced in 16051606, drawing on elements of city comedy and beast fable. A merciless satire of greed and lust, it remains Jonson''s most-performed play, and it is ranked among the finest Jacobean era comedies.