Acknowledgments -- Chapter one" The Scope of the inquiry -- Chapter two: Comical satire -- The Playwright in the play -- Chapter three: Volpone -- "Salt" for the creative talent -- Chapter four: The Crisis -- Epicene and the Alchemist -- Chapter five: Bartholomew fair -- The Metamorphosis of Quarlous -- Chapter six: Epilogue: Tale of a tub -- Notes -- Index.