Anonymous
Thomas Middleton(?)
Thomas Dekker(?)

The 1601 Quarto edition does not mention any author for this play. Francis Kirkman's catalogue of 1661 ascribes Blurt, Master Constable to Middleton, but twentieth-century studies have seriously questioned the attribution. Most of them (e.g. Leland Berger, 1979) assign the play to Thomas Dekker.

BLURT, MASTER CONSTABLE, or
THE SPANIARD'S NIGHT WATCH

1601

a synoptic, alphabetical character list

ALEXANDER the GREAT
Only mentioned. The braggart Lazarillo tells Blurt that he will pass through the world like "Alexander Magnus" did, by conquering it. Not having heard of Alexander the Great, the dull constable understands that Lazarillo is a relative of Alexander of St. Magnus. Considering the Spaniard an important person, whose identity must be kept confidential for political reasons, Blurt invites Lazarillo to stay in his house.

ASORINO
Asorino is a Venetian gentleman and a mute character. At Camillo's house, Camillo incites the Venetian gentlemen Hipolito, Virgilio, Asorino, Baptista, and Bentivolio to take revenge against Fontinel. Claiming that the Frenchman has dishonored Violetta by doting on a courtesan, Camillo sends them to Imperia's house to kill Fontinel. In the street before Imperia's house, Asorino and the other Venetian gentlemen declare they are dishonored and want to kill Fontinel. When the Duke requests them to explain the cause of their revolt, Camillo speaks in their name. When Camillo says that, if impeded, they will use their swords to cut a passage through the Duke's guards, all the Venetian gentlemen say the same thing. When Blurt brings Fontinel under arrest, all the Venetian gentlemen want to kill him immediately, as Camillo says. When the Duke makes peace between them and Fontinel, the Venetian gentlemen promise they will be friends.

BAPTISTA
Baptista is a Venetian gentleman and a mute character. Like Hipolito, Bentivolio, and Virgilio, Baptista has just returned from war. At Camillo's house, Baptista and the other Venetian gentlemen are invited at a banquet in honor of the war heroes. Each cavalier wears a glove in his hat, since it was customary for gallants to wear their mistresses' gloves in their hats. At Camillo's house, Camillo incites the Venetian gentlemen Hipolito, Virgilio, Asorino, Baptista, and Bentivolio to take revenge against Fontinel. Claiming that the Frenchman has dishonored Violetta by doting on a courtesan, Camillo sends them to Imperia's house to kill Fontinel. In the street before Imperia's house, Baptista and the other Venetian gentlemen declare they are dishonored and want to kill Fontinel. When the Duke requests them to explain the cause of their revolt, Camillo speaks in their name. When Camillo says that, if impeded, they will use their swords to cut a passage through the Duke's guards, all the Venetian gentlemen say the same thing. When Blurt brings Fontinel under arrest, all the Venetian gentlemen want to kill him immediately, as Camillo says. When the Duke makes peace between them and Fontinel, the Venetian gentlemen promise they will be friends.

BENTIVOLIO
Bentivolio is a Venetian gentleman and a mute character. Like Hipolito, Baptista, and Virgilio, Bentivolio has just returned from war. At Camillo's house, Bentivolio and the other Venetian gentlemen are invited at a banquet in honor of the war heroes. Each cavalier wears a glove in his hat, since it was customary for gallants to wear their mistresses' gloves in their hats. At Camillo's house, Camillo incites the Venetian gentlemen Hipolito, Virgilio, Asorino, Baptista, and Bentivolio to take revenge against Fontinel. Claiming that the Frenchman has dishonored Violetta by doting on a courtesan, Camillo sends them to Imperia's house to kill Fontinel. In the street before Imperia's house, Bentivolio and the other Venetian gentlemen declare they are dishonored and want to kill Fontinel. When the Duke requests them to explain the cause of their revolt, Camillo speaks in their name. When Camillo says that, if impeded, they will use their swords to cut a passage through the Duke's guards, all the Venetian gentlemen say the same thing. When Blurt brings Fontinel under arrest, all the Venetian gentlemen want to kill him immediately, as Camillo says. When the Duke makes peace between them and Fontinel, the Venetian gentlemen promise they will be friends.

BLURT
Blurt is the master constable in Venice. The name suggests a contemptuous interjection. The constable is wary of the warlike Lazarillo, who is in search of suitable lodgings. Speaking of his identity, Blurt says he has "two voices," one as master constable, another as Blurt, and a "third" as Blurt, master constable. His arithmetic, as his writing, are faulty, nevertheless Blurt makes the case that his office is so important that it becomes part of himself. Anxious to maintain law and order in the city, Blurt asks for Lazarillo's permit from the Duke. Blurt is illiterate, but he hates to admit it. Slubber reads Lazarillo's permit. Thinking that Lazarillo is an important person Blurt invites him to lodge in his house. In the street before Imperia's house, Blurt and his watch are on their midnight rounds when Blurt sees Curvetto stand below an illumined window and hears him whistle. When Curvetto ascends the rope ladder hanging from Imperia's window and Frisco calls for help against thieves, Blurt arrests Curvetto and orders Gulch and Woodcock to take him away to prison. Returning on the second round before Imperia's house, Blurt finds an almost naked and drenched Lazarillo. Blurt charges the Spaniard with suspicion of burglary and arrests him. Blurt accompanies the Duke to restore law and order to the impetuous Venetian gentlemen, who have come in arms to kill Fontinel. At the Duke's order, Blurt and his watch arrest Fontinel and a masked lady, then they fetch Curvetto and Lazarillo from prison. Hearing that the Duke has pardoned both Curvetto and Lazarillo, Blurt claims that the Spaniard owes him twenty shillings for his lodgings, though it is clear that Lazarillo has spent all the night at Imperia's house. Blurt accepts the Duke's offer to cover Lazarillo's debt, saying he trusts the Duke's word completely.

CAMILLO
Camillo is a Venetian gentleman in love with Violetta. Camillo gives a banquet at his house in honor of the war heroes, where Violetta and her ladies are invited. Telling Violetta that his love for her inspired all his chivalric exploits during the war, Camillo mentions he has taken a French gentleman prisoner in her name. After Fontinel is introduced to Violetta, Camillo dances with Violetta. At Violetta's sudden departure from the party, Camillo confesses to Hipolito that love is a maze of joy and suffering. Outside the tennis court, Camillo sees Fontinel wearing Violetta's colors. Camillo declares that Fontinel is his prisoner and has him sent to prison. In front of Hipolito's house, Camillo learns that Imperia fell in love with Fontinel's picture. Hoping to have Fontinel become entangled with Imperia and then dispatch him to France, Camillo tries to convince the Frenchman to go to Imperia and leave Violetta. On Fontinel's refusal, Camillo orders that he be taken back to prison and face the death penalty. Hoping to win Violetta's love, Camillo sings a serenade below her windows. When Violetta rejects his amorous declarations, Camillo says he will take revenge against Fontinel. In his house, Camillo summons the warlike Venetian gentlemen Hipolito, Asorino, Virgilio, Baptista, and Bentivolio to assault Imperia's house and kill Fontinel. According to Camillo, Fontinel stole Violetta's love, married her secretly, and then went to spend time at the courtesan's house. In the street before Imperia's house, Camillo speaks in the name of all the Venetian gentlemen, telling the Duke that Fontinel has dishonored a Venetian lady and must be punished. Camillo speaks in the name of his friends before Fontinel is arrested, but he is discredited when Violetta reveals that the courtesan-scheme had been part of her plan to save Fontinel from Camillo's jealousy.

CERBERUS
Only mentioned. When he finds Frisco giving Hipolito information about what happens in Imperia's house, Camillo asks if this Mercury brings him notice from the courtesan. Frisco responds he may be a sort of Mercury for running Imperia's errands, but he is certainly a "Cerebrus" because he is porter to hell. Cerberus is the watchdog that guarded the entrance to the underworld. Frisco confuses Cerberus, Hell's guard, with cerebrum, the Latin for brain.

COURTESAN, FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH, and FIFTH
At Imperia's house, the barely dressed courtesans wait for Lazarillo's arrival. When Lazarillo pours forth his loquacious advice of how women should behave in public and in private, he notes that it is important for a wife to keep the reins in a marriage.

While Imperia complains that Curvetto has left a disgusting smell of liquor and onions, the First Courtesan approves. Lazarillo enters and gives the courtesans a long speech on ladies' behavior, which he claims to have taken from the book entitled Economical Cornucopia. The First Courtesan does not understand the oxymoronic title. When Lazarillo continues with advice on how a wife should treat her husband, derived from the wisdom of the above-mentioned book, the First Courtesan asks him to repeat his statement. It seems that the First Courtesan is, or feigns to be, rather hard of hearing. At Lazarillo's flippant retort, the First Courtesan, her notebook in hand, announces to the Spaniard that he is so far in their debt that he should not be so snappish in his answers. When Imperia tells her courtesans to take Lazarillo away to the banquet in the gallery, the First Courtesan promises they will stuff themselves with sweets. Thus, she ironically implies they will ward off the bitter aftertaste of Lazarillo's discourse.
Lazarillo also warns them to be wary of who thrusts his fingers into their fur. Lazarillo refers to the fur of their muff, but the Second Courtesan takes the allusion sexually and promises to watch carefully for it. The Second Courtesan seems interested in Lazarillo's counsel, asking the First Courtesan not to interrupt his disquisition. At Imperia's question whether she likes the Spaniard, the Second Courtesan says she likes him very much, because he is able to put down twenty women such as she is. When the First Courtesan says she will eat a lot of sweets at the banquet, probably to ward off the bitter aftertaste of Lazarillo's discourse, the Second Courtesan says she will not, implying that she liked the speech.
the Third Courtesan approves eagerly of a wife keeping the reins of marriage. When the discussion addresses the issue of pregnancy, all the courtesans are against getting pregnant. The Third Courtesan remarks ironically that they need not go to a cunning woman, since men can teach them all their learning. The courtesan alludes to the midwife who helps the prostitutes to get rid of their unwanted babies.
The Fourth Courtesan also approves eagerly. She notes that, if women can take the upper hand in the family by not getting pregnant, their husbands will be their fools.
The Fifth Courtesan also approves eagerly. Using bawdy innuendo, the Fifth Courtesan employs language from the game at bowls to suggest indirectly that a smart wife should not let herself get pregnant and she should make her husband use condoms once a month.

CUCKOO
Cuckoo is part of the watch and a mute character. During their midnight watch, Blurt sees Curvetto climbing a rope ladder to Imperia's window. When Frisco calls for help against the pretended "thief," the constable orders Cuckoo and the others to take Curvetto away to prison. On the second round of the watch, Blurt orders his men to take the half-naked urine stinking Lazarillo to prison. In the street before Imperia's house, Blurt and his guards enter with the Duke to enforce the law when the incensed Venetian gentlemen want to kill Fontinel. When Camillo calls Blurt a peasant, the members of the watch jump with their swords to retaliate. Blurt tells Cuckoo not to be so impetuous with his torch and sword because he feels obliged to stop him, being a representative of law and order.

CUPID
Only mentioned. When she falls in love with Fontinel at Camillo's banquet, Violetta promises she will make Fontinel love her by using him Cupid knows how. When he confesses his love for Imperia to Pilcher, Lazarillo tells his page he is hungry by using a metaphor. He says that Cupid has given him a stomach and he longs for mutton. When he is in the company of the almost naked courtesans, Lazarillo begs Cupid to help him keep his desires in check and not make him blush too much. The braggart Lazarillo waits anxiously for Imperia's sexual favors. On his way to the room he thinks to be for his amorous delight, Lazarillo says he kisses Cupid's bow in expectation of love's pleasures. When Violetta begs Imperia to let her lie with her husband, the courtesan pretends to take pity on Violetta, telling her she will never let Cupid toll the bell for Violetta's love-sick heart. Many characters invoke the god of love throughout.

CURVETTO
Curvetto is an old courtier and a customer of Imperia's courtesans. Imperia does not want to receive Curvetto when he comes to her house, so she pretends to be asleep. When Frisco lets Curvetto in, Imperia pretends a reward from Curvetto for having awakened her. Seeing that Curvetto is wearing a diamond, Imperia swears by her virginity to possess it. Curvetto hides the diamond in his hose, implying that, since she swore by something that is not, there is no diamond to be taken. When Hipolito, Camillo, and the other gallants enter for a banquet in Imperia's house, Curvetto wants to leave but Imperia commands him to stay and dance with her. During the dance, Imperia steals Curvetto's diamond. He notices its absence while playing dice with Hipolito and wants to retrieve it from Imperia. In another room in Imperia's house, Curvetto pays Simperina asking her to lower a cord from Imperia's room at ten o'clock that night. On the appointed hour, Curvetto comes below Imperia's window, expecting to find the rope. Seeing a cord hanging from the window, Curvetto pulls it and is drenched with slops. When Simperina comes to the window, she tells Curvetto the water was meant for a rat, telling him to come back at midnight, when a rope shall be ready for him. Around midnight, Curvetto returns. Frisco lies in wait for him this time. Knowing Blurt's midnight watch to be at hand, Frisco cries for help against thieves while Curvetto is climbing the rope. Blurt and his men arrest Curvetto on suspicion of burglary. In the street before Imperia's house, Blurt brings Curvetto under arrest, at the Duke's request. When the Duke informs Curvetto of the fact that Imperia has accused him of robbery and he must either marry her or die, Curvetto absolutely refuses to marry the courtesan. He remains silent but probably pleased when the Duke pardons him magnanimously, stating that the pretended robbery was just a prank.

CYNTHIA
Only mentioned. Violetta receives a message from Fontinel, instructing her to meet him at the old chapel next Saint Lorenzo's monastery in the company of a Friar, in order to get married secretly. Violetta invokes Cynthia, the moon goddess, to wrap her light in a sable sheet and let the lovers meet securely in darkness.

DANDIPRAT
Dandiprat is Camillo's page. The name suggests a small coin worth three halfpence. In front of Blurt's house, Dandiprat enters with Doyt, and Pilcher asks them about the constable's home. Having pointed it out to Pilcher, Dandiprat tells Doyt that Lazarillo's page is very short. Doyt and Dandiprat crack a few jokes at Pilcher's name, alluding to the fact that he is short and lean. The three pages sing a comic song about their deprivation of good food. Attending to his master at the game of tennis, Dandiprat witnesses the dispute between Camillo and Fontinel. When Fontinel is taken to prison because of Camillo's jealousy, the Frenchman appeals to Truepenny to confirm his relationship with Violetta. Because the frightened Truepenny denies it and runs away, Hipolito sends Dandiprat after him to get the truth out of Violetta's page. Dandiprat runs for it, saying he is as light as is a clipped angel. Dandiprat implies that he will not be too fast, probably because Truepenny is his friend.

DON DEGO
Only mentioned. When the hotheaded Lazarillo comes to Imperia's house demanding the courtesans' undivided attention, Hipolito calms him down and calls him Don Dego. This is a derisive term for a Spaniard, from a story circulating around 1600 concerning a Don Dego who disgraced himself with flatulence in Saint Paul's cathedral. Blurt also mentions Don Dego in relation to Lazarillo.

DOYT
Doyt is Hipolito's page. The name refers to a small Dutch coin worth a trifling sum, half a farthing. In front of Blurt's house, Doyt enters with Dandiprat. Doyt seems to be acquainted with Pilcher. Doyt and Dandiprat crack a few jokes at Pilcher's name, alluding to the fact that he is short and lean. The three pages sing a comic song about their lack of good food. Pilcher asks them about the constable's home. Having pointed it out to Pilcher, Doyt tells Dandiprat that Lazarillo is a coward who ran from the battlefield. Attending to his master at the game of tennis, Doyt witnesses the dispute between Camillo and Fontinel. When Doyt invites the gentlemen to the serving table for dinner, Camillo reprimands him, ordering his men to arrest Fontinel. Hipolito expresses his aggressive philosophy of winning a woman, according to which the only way to triumph over a woman is to make her fall; Doyt strengthens the argument by saying that the only way to make her fall is to throw her down. Though Doyt apparently says nothing brilliant, Hipolito reads sexual innuendo and compliments him on his "cunning." Doyt replies flatteringly that he had a good master in this matter. When Hipolito sends Doyt to give Fontinel's picture to Imperia, the page notes that the courtesan likes to have pictures of men in her chamber, implying that he is acquainted with Imperia's intimate quarters. Giving Fontinel's picture to Imperia, Doyt has a bawdy exchange with her. Doyt warns Imperia that Hipolito is coming at nine o'clock that night.

DUKE
The Duke of Venice imparts final justice and pleads for reconciliation. In the street before Imperia's house, the inflamed and revenge-seeking Venetian youths enter with torches and swords to kill Fontinel. The Duke, accompanied by Blurt and his watch, tries to pacify the young men. Warning the Venetian gentlemen against this reckless action, the Duke sends Blurt to arrest Fontinel. When Fontinel is brought out of Imperia's house under arrest, the Duke warns the Venetian gentlemen against killing him and sends Blurt to fetch Imperia from the house. Seeing that the masked "courtesan" is actually Violetta, the Duke requires clarification. When Violetta's plot to save Fontinel from Camillo's jealousy is revealed, the Duke pacifies the gentlemen, making them promise to forgive each other and be friends. The Duke turns his attention to Curvetto and Lazarillo, also under arrest. Informing Curvetto that Imperia accused him of burglary, the Duke announces that Curvetto's penalty is either death or marriage to Imperia. At Curvetto's strong refusal to marry the courtesan, the Duke pardon's him magnanimously. The Duke also pardons Lazarillo, promising to pay Lazarillo's debt of twenty shillings to Blurt for the lodgings. The Duke has the final word of reconciliation, concluding that all potentially tragic situations have ended in a comic event, so that everything may close with banquet and music.

FONTINEL
Fontinel is a French gentleman. He arrives in Venice as Camillo's prisoner, wins Violetta's love and marries her. The name suggests in medical terms the soft part of an infant's skull. The implication is of a vulnerable part, therefore an exposed person. At a banquet in his house, Camillo announces that he has taken the Frenchman prisoner in Violetta's name. Violetta wants to see the prisoner and, impressed by his gallantry and dancing skills, falls in love with him. In his turn, Fontinel admires Violetta's beauty and declares himself a captive to her looks. Outside a tennis court, Fontinel discusses his love with Violetta's page. When Camillo sees Fontinel wearing Violetta's colors, he has him disarmed and taken to prison. In the street before Hipolito's house, Fontinel expresses his undying love for Violetta in the sonneteering mode. When Camillo and Hipolito propose that Fontinel should leave Violetta and instead take Imperia as his mistress, Fontinel refuses, saying he prefers to die rather than leave his beloved Violetta. Camillo has Fontinel sent back to prison. In the street before an old chapel, Fontinel enters in Frisco's clothes, while the porter wears Fontinel's garments. This is meant to make possible Violetta's secret marriage to Fontinel. Violetta enters with the Friar, and Fontinel asks the Friar to proceed. In Imperia's house, Fontinel pretends to be in love with the courtesan. When the warning comes that somebody who claims to be Camillo is at the door, Fontinel hides in Imperia's closet. Violetta, who has claimed to be Camillo in order to gain entrance to Imperia's house, joins Fontinel in Imperia's bedroom. At the Duke's orders, Blurt arrests Fontinel under the charge of dishonoring a Venetian lady. Violetta is unmasked and reveals that she had devised the plot and that Fontinel only pretended to love Imperia in order to save her lover from Camillo's jealousy. Fontinel pledges his love for Violetta and declares himself her champion.

FRIAR
The Friar performs the secret marriage between Violetta and Fontinel. Before an old chapel next to Saint Lorenzo's monastery, Violetta enters with the Friar, whom she has brought as instructed in the letter from Fontinel. In the dark, Fontinel inquires about the Friar, probably because he cannot see him beside Violetta. The Friar responds readily and exits with Violetta and Fontinel, presumably to celebrate the marriage ceremony.

FRISCO
Frisco is Imperia's porter. The name suggests a brisk movement in dancing, a caper. At Imperia's courtesan house in Venice, Doyt knocks and Frisco answers the door. At Imperia's orders, Frisco exits to hang Fontinel's picture at her bedside. Frisco and Simperina mock the old courtier Curvetto's avarice and lechery. Frisco later informs Hipolito that Imperia has fallen in love with Fontinel's portrait. When Camillo has Fontinel sent to prison, Hipolito sends Frisco after with the purpose of impressing Imperia's passion upon the Frenchman. While promising to Hipolito to do just that, Frisco notes, in an aside, that this is a good opportunity to free Fontinel. In the street before an old chapel, Frisco enters wearing Fontinel's garments, while the Frenchman wears Frisco's clothes. They have effected Fontinel's escape and have come to the chapel for his secret marriage to Violetta. At Imperia's house, following the courtesan's arrangements, Frisco watches Lazarillo slide down through a trapdoor into the sewers of Venice. At midnight, Frisco is at the window of Imperia's room while Curvetto tries to climb the rope ladder. Frisco calls for help against the "thieves," and Curvetto is arrested for attempted burglary. Having managed to escape from the Venetian sewers, Lazarillo wants to enter Imperia's house to reclaim his suit. Frisco will not let him in, however, and instead drenches Lazarillo with urine. While Fontinel pretends to court Imperia, Frisco enters with Trivia and Simperina, announcing that Camillo and Hipolito have arrived. Frisco thinks they seek to kill him for helping Fontinel escape from prison, but Fontinel declares they are looking for him and hides in Imperia's closet. However Frisco re-enters accompanied by Violetta, who has pretended to be Camillo and Hipolito to gain entrance to the house, Frisco facetiously wonders how two men are transformed into one woman.

FURIES
Only mentioned. Camillo is jealous of Fontinel because Violetta loves the Frenchman. In the hope of winning back Violetta's love, Camillo has a serenade played under her window. When Violetta refuses his offer of love, Camillo says he only plays music to her eye, while the Furies are raging in his breast. Camillo mentions the Greek goddesses of vengeance in order to demonstrate his desire to eradicate Fontinel.

GANYMEDE
Only mentioned. Seeing Fontinel's picture, Imperia admires the Frenchman's youth and beauty. She says that, even if he refused to marry her, he will still be her Ganymede. By mentioning the name of the Greek gods' cupbearer, Imperia alludes to Fontinel's youth and charm, but also to the impossibility of a sexual relationship. Zeus also fell in love with the youth Ganymede, the son of Tros the Dardan king. Zeus took the form of an eagle and kidnapped the youth from mount Ida. Imperia extends the metaphor of Ganymede in the love song she sings to Fontinel when he pretends to declare his love for her. The lyrics say that, if Jove/Zeus had seen her lover's bright eyes, Ganymede would no longer serve wine to the gods. Imperia's association of Fontinel with Ganymede continues in her conversation with Violetta, when the Venetian lady begs Imperia to let her spend the night in the courtesan's bed with her husband. Imperia answers she will not make her suffer, even if Fontinel were Jove's own favorite, Ganymede.

GARLIC
Garlic is part of Blurt's night watch and a mute character. During their midnight watch, Blurt sees Curvetto climbing a rope ladder to Imperia's window. When Frisco calls for help against the pretended "thief," the constable orders Garlic and the others to take Curvetto away to prison. On the second round of the watch, Blurt orders his men to take the half-naked urine stinking Lazarillo to prison. In the street before Imperia's house, Blurt and his guards enter with the Duke to enforce the law when the incensed Venetian gentlemen want to kill Fontinel. Blurt asks Garlic and the others to follow him inside Imperia's house to arrest Fontinel.

GULCH
Gulch is part of the watch and a mute character. During their midnight watch, Blurt sees Curvetto climbing a rope ladder to Imperia's window. When Frisco calls for help against the pretended "thief," the constable orders Gulch and the others to take Curvetto away to prison. On the second round of the watch, Blurt orders his men to take the half-naked urine stinking Lazarillo to prison. In the street before Imperia's house, Blurt and his guards enter with the Duke to enforce the law when the incensed Venetian gentlemen want to kill Fontinel. When Camillo calls Blurt a peasant, the members of the watch jump with their swords to retaliate.

HECTOR
Only mentioned. At the banquet in Camillo's house, Hipolito asks whether Fontinel, Camillo's French prisoner, drinks well, and Camillo denies it. Hipolito uses the common stereotype that any Frenchman should be addicted to drinking or whoring, since they are as resolute as Hector and as valiant as Troilus.

HELENA
Only mentioned. Lazarillo falls prey to Imperia's trick and falls through a trapdoor into the sewers of Venice. When he hears the disconcerting music and birds' singing, Lazarillo calls for the "bright" Helena of the house, probably Imperia, and wishes her Troy should be on fire, so that she might come to his rescue. Lazarillo prays for a Trojan Horse to ride away from that haunted place.

HERCULES
Only mentioned. When Camillo and Fontinel argue over Violetta's love and are about to start a fight, Hipolito invokes the powerful Hercules to stand between them. The braggart Lazarillo is confused with all the strange sounds coming from the room in Imperia's house and he swears by Hercules that he will fight the evil spirits with his sword.

HERO
The first lady accompanying Violetta to the banquet at Camillo's house is called Hero. Before the festivity, the ladies listen to Hipolito bragging about his war exploits and the extreme sexually intense pleasures derived from violence and murder. Hipolito says he has seen more human heads kicked like footballs than are maidenheads in Venice, and more legs of men served at dinner than ever he should see legs of capon on a platter. The First Lady ironically observes that maybe he saw capon's legs and mistook them for human limbs. While Virgilio sustains Hipolito's exaggerations, Violetta tends to disbelieve them. At Violetta's suggestion that they should change the conversation topic, the First Lady recommends beauty as a suitable subject for ladies. When Violetta is falling in love with Fontinel at the dance, she stops dancing with Camillo and invites Hero to dance with Fontinel.

HIPPOLITO
Hipolito is a Venetian gentleman and Violetta's brother. At a banquet in Camillo's house in honor of the war heroes, Hipolito extols the pride of being a soldier, extracting violent and often sexual pleasure from the furious action of the battlefield. Outside the tennis court, Camillo and Hipolito see Fontinel wear Violetta's colors. When Camillo becomes furious, Hipolito takes his friend's part. Trying to play a trick on Fontinel and his sister, Hipolito sends Doyt to take Fontinel's portrait to Imperia's establishment. Being well acquainted with Imperia's habits, Hipolito knows that she will hang it beside her bed, together with the pictures of other customers. Hipolito comes with a party of gallants to attend a banquet at Imperia's house. After inviting Curvetto to a game of dice, Hipolito sings a bawdy love song. In a street before Hipolito's house, Frisco reports to Hipolito that Imperia has fallen in love with Fontinel's picture. In his usual bellicose terms, Hipolito invites Camillo to renew his assault for Violetta's heart, being sure his sister will surrender to Camillo like a besieged city to its conqueror. At Camillo's house, Camillo incites the Venetian gentlemen Hipolito, Virgilio, Asorino, Baptista, and Bentivolio to take revenge against Fontinel. Claiming that the Frenchman has dishonored Violetta by doting on a courtesan, Camillo sends them to Imperia's house to kill Fontinel. Hipolito declares he will repudiate his sister. In the street before Imperia's house, Hipolito and the other Venetian gentlemen want to kill Fontinel. Camillo speaks to the Duke in their name. Hearing that Imperia's pretended love for Fontinel had been part of Violetta's plot to save the Frenchman from Camillo's jealousy, Hipolito tells Imperia he will stop her mouth with a kiss. After the final reconciliation, it is understood that Hipolito will resume his relationship with Imperia.

HYMEN
Only mentioned. Camillo expresses his intention of entangling Fontinel with Imperia and then dispatching him to France. In this way, Camillo hopes to divert Violetta's love from Fontinel and make her come back to him. Camillo says he has singled out Violetta's eyes "in Hymen's holy battle," thus revealing his intention of marrying Violetta, since Hymen is the Greek god of marriage.

IMPERIA
Imperia is a Venetian courtesan. The name might suggest a comical allusion to Bel-Imperia, the chaste heroine of Kyd's Spanish Tragedy. The name could also indicate a particular mannerism in the courtesan's behavior because she orders everybody around. Expecting a party of gallants for a banquet, Imperia orders music. She listens to Trivia and Simperina read Hipolito's sonnet. Doyt brings Fontinel's picture sent by Hipolito. Imperia admires Fontinel and orders Frisco to hang the picture in her bedroom. When Curvetto is announced, Imperia feigns to be asleep, demanding Curvetto a reward for waking her. Seeing that Curvetto has a diamond, Imperia dances with him and steals it. Later, and to quiet the talkative Spaniard, Imperia invites Lazarillo to join the ladies for a banquet in the gallery. Alone with Simperina, Imperia says that this is the night of her supposed assignation with Fontinel. Imperia instructs Simperina to lure Lazarillo into a special room and have him slip through a trapdoor into the Venice sewers. Imperia and Fontinel exchange amorous declarations. Word comes from Frisco that Camillo and Hipolito have arrived. Imperia hides Fontinel in her closet. The "visitors" turn out to be Violetta alone. She asks Imperia to allow her to spend the night in Imperia's bedroom with Fontinel. Imperia accepts, telling her servants that Violetta is a fool. In the final revelation, Violetta and Fontinel have paid Imperia to be part of their arrangement. Imperia was supposed to pretend to be in love with Fontinel's picture and agree to the bed-trick. Though she no longer speaks in the final scene, Imperia is present and it is understood that Hipolito will resume his affair with her.

JERONIMO
Only mentioned. Jeronimo is a character in Kyd's Spanish Tragedy. When Simperina enjoys her trick of having drenched Curvetto with foul water, she calls the old courtier "Old Jeronimo." By telling Curvetto that he shrinks in the wetting, Simperina probably alludes to the fact that Curvetto looks like a small and wrinkled old man.

JOVE
Only mentioned. In the love-song Imperia sings to Fontinel when he pretends to declare his love for her, Jove is mentioned in relation to his cup-bearer, the youth Ganymede. The lyrics say that, if Jove/Zeus had seen the lover's bright eyes, Ganymede would no longer serve wine to the gods. Violetta begs Imperia to let her spend the night in the courtesan's bed with her husband Fontinel. Imperia answers she will not make her suffer, even if Fontinel were Jove's own favorite, Ganymede.

KILDERKIN
Kilderkin is part of the watch and a mute character. The name suggests a cask for liquor or fish. During their midnight watch, Blurt sees Curvetto climbing a rope ladder to Imperia's window. When Frisco calls for help against the pretended "thief," the constable orders Kilderkin and the others to take Curvetto away to prison. On the second round of the watch, Blurt orders his men to take the half-naked urine stinking Lazarillo to prison. In the street before Imperia's house, Blurt and his guards enter with the Duke to enforce the law when the incensed Venetian gentlemen want to kill Fontinel. When Camillo calls Blurt a peasant, the members of the watch jump with their swords to retaliate. Blurt restrains Kilderkin and Pissbreech from attacking the Venetian gentlemen.

KING of SPAIN
The King of Spain is a "ghost character." When Lazarillo de Tormes in Castille introduces himself to Blurt, he claims he is first cousin to the lieutenant of the King of Spain.

LADY, FIRST, SECOND, and THIRD
Three ladies accompany Violetta to the banquet at Camillo's house. Before the festivity, the ladies listen to Hipolito bragging about his war exploits and the extremely intense sexual pleasures derived from violence and murder. Hipolito says he has seen more human heads kicked like footballs than are maidenheads in Venice, and more legs of men served at dinner than ever he should see legs of capon on a platter.

The first lady is called Hero. The First Lady ironically observes that maybe he saw capon's legs and mistook them for human limbs. While Virgilio sustains Hipolito's exaggerations, Violetta tends to disbelieve them. At Violetta's suggestion that they should change the conversation topic, the First Lady recommends beauty as a suitable subject for ladies. When Violetta is falling in love with Fontinel at the dance, she stops dancing with Camillo and invites Hero to dance with Fontinel.
When Violetta dismisses her brother's bravado about his war exploits by diverting the guests' attention to the food, the Second Lady uses the parallel of the teeth and food being masticated. She alludes to the fact that, with his mouth full, it will be difficult for the braggart to speak so much about the excesses of war. At Violetta's request to change the topic of conversation, beauty is suggested as a more suitable theme for ladies. When Camillo exposes the Neoplatonic and romantic notion that Beauty turns men into immortal gods by making them live for ever in love, the Second Lady notes ironically that some men have even died for love.
When Hipolito brags about his warlike exploits, combining violence with sexual innuendo, the Third Lady observes that these great talkers are never great doers.

LAZARILLO
Lazarillo de Tormes in Castille is a Spanish soldier and the protagonist of the Spanish picaresque novel of the same name. In a street before Blurt's house, Lazarillo confesses his love for Imperia and decides to stay in Venice for her sake. Lazarillo is looking for suitable lodgings, and Pilcher tells him that the constable distributes housing in Venice to foreigners. When Blurt enters, Lazarillo shows him his pass from the Duke and introduces himself as the first cousin to the lieutenant of the king of Spain. Thinking he is an important person, the constable tells Lazarillo that he may stay at his home. At Imperia's courtesan house, Imperia and Hipolito devise a masque game of men disguised as women to trick Lazarillo. The Spaniard gives the courtesans an elaborate and lengthy lesson of how they should treat their fictional husbands. Imperia instructs Simperina to get rid of Lazarillo. She confuses Lazarillo with sudden noises, music, and birds' singing inside Imperia's house–he is wearing only his shirt and slippers, but holds firmly on his sword, thinking the room is haunted. Hearing a Spanish tune, he starts dancing and falls through a trapdoor into the sewers of Venice. Frisco hears Lazarillo scream for help from the pit, but Imperia orders him to let Lazarillo lie there. Having managed to extricate himself from the sewers, Lazarillo comes to Imperia's house to reclaim his clothes, but Frisco will not let him enter and drenches him with urine from the upstairs window. Blurt the constable then arrests Lazarillo on suspicion of robbery. In the street before Imperia's house, Blurt brings Lazarillo under arrest, at the Duke's command. When the Duke magnanimously pardons the Spaniard, Blurt claims from Lazarillo the debt of twenty shillings for having lodged him. The Spaniard protests, but the Duke offers to cover his debt.

MARS
Only mentioned. When Blurt asks Lazarillo to introduce himself, the Spaniard says he is a servitor to god Mars, referring to his soldier activity. When Blurt asks him for money, Lazarillo responds he depends on Mars for his money, meaning that he has it only in time of war. At Imperia's house, Lazarillo invokes "Mars armipotent" to give power to his sword and let him deal with the courtesans vigorously. The parallel of war and sex is evident here. In expectation of Imperia's sexual favors, Lazarillo swears that a woman can make him surrender, while Mars could not do so. When Frisco pours urine on Lazarillo's head from Imperia's window, the Spaniard menaces that Mars cannot save the porter from punishment. Lazarillo and Hipolito often swear by the god of war.

MEPHISTOPHILES
Only mentioned. When Hipolito realizes that Violetta has been exchanging love-letters with Fontinel using Truepenny as an intermediary, Hipolito calls the page "Sirrah Mephistophiles" from Marlowe's Faustus. Hipolito refers to Truepenny's double dealing, in his opinion, a devilish game.

MERCURY
Only mentioned. Camillo finds Frisco giving his report to Hipolito about what happened in Imperia's house. Camillo asks Hipolito if this Mercury brings him intelligence about the courtesan. The messenger of the gods becomes here the paid spy conveying information to a gallant from a brothel. Frisco takes over the reference to classical mythology by saying that he may be a Mercury for the running of errands, but he is certainly Imperia's Cerberus for guarding her gate.

MOTTE, MONSIEUR
Only mentioned. Curvetto gives a flattering description of himself in his youth for Imperia's benefit. He fits his description in a time scheme, saying he looked youthful when Monsieur Motte was ambassador "here," presumably in Venice, but actually in London. The reference is to Bertrand de Salignac Fenelon, Seigneur de la Mothe, Ambassador to England from 1568 to 1575.

NINE WORTHIES
Only mentioned. When Hipolito accuses Truepenny of having played the pander between Fontinel and Violetta, the page denies the allegation vigorously, swearing by the Nine Worthies that he would never do such a thing. Truepenny takes over Hipolito's association with Sir Pandarus of Troy and refers to a group of nine famous conquerors comprised of three pagans (Hector, Alexander, Julius Caesar), three Jews (Joshua, David, Maccabeus), and three Christians (Arthur, Charlemagne, Godfrey of Bouillon).

PHOEBE
Only mentioned. In her love-song to Fontinel, Imperia praises the Frenchman's youth and beauty. The lyrics say that, should Phoebe, the moon goddess, lie one night with her lover, she would change her face and look much younger. The metaphor of Fontinel's youthful beauty is an extension of his association with Ganymede.

PILCHER
Pilcher is Lazarillo's page. The name suggests a small fish, usually dried. Pilcher and Lazarillo are in the street before Blurt's house. While his master confesses his undying love for Imperia, the practical Pilcher reminds Lazarillo that she is a courtesan, alluding to his more immediate need for food. Pilcher informs Lazarillo that Blurt distributes the housing for foreigners in Venice. Seeing Doyt and Dandiprat approach, Pilcher asks them about the constable's house. When Lazarillo exits with Blurt and Slubber, Doyt and Dandiprat re-enter and the two pages make fun of Pilcher's stature and his being so thin and undernourished. Doyt, Dandiprat, and Pilcher sing a comic song about the Spaniard's being a cheapskate because he keeps his page fed on dry fish, playing on the pun of Pilcher's name.

PISSBREECH
Pissbreech is part of the watch and a mute character. The name is suggestive for this guard's cowardice. During their midnight watch, Blurt sees Curvetto climbing a rope ladder to Imperia's window. When Frisco calls for help against the pretended "thief," the constable orders Pissbreech and the others to take Curvetto away to prison. On the second round of the watch, Blurt orders his men to take the half-naked urine stinking Lazarillo to prison. In the street before Imperia's house, Blurt and his guards enter with the Duke to enforce the law when the incensed Venetian gentlemen want to kill Fontinel. When Camillo calls Blurt a peasant, the members of the watch jump with their swords to retaliate. Blurt restrains Kilderkin and Pissbreech from attacking the Venetian gentlemen.

SAINT DENNIS
Only mentioned. When Camillo and Fontinel are about to fight over Violetta's love, the Frenchman Fontinel swears by Saint Dennis, the patron saint of France, to knock Camillo down. Hipolito is revolted that Fontinel dares to use the name of Saint Dennis. Learning from Frisco that Imperia seems to be in love with Fontinel's picture, Hipolito prays to Saint Dennis to make Fontinel become Imperia's slave.

SAINT JAQUES
Having fallen to Imperia's trick of confusing Lazarillo with music and birds' singing, the Spaniard invokes Saint Jaques, or Saint James, or Saint Iago in Spanish to pardon him for his sins. In the same phrase, however, Lazarillo invokes the seven deadly sins next to the saint's name.

SAINT MARK
Only mentioned. When Camillo and Fontinel are about to start a fight over Violetta's love, Camillo the Venetian swears by Saint Mark, the patron saint of Venice, that Fontinel is a villain. Many Venetian bellicose youths swear by Saint Mark. When Hipolito wants to prove to Camillo that he fought for Venice in the wars, he shows him the scars of his wounds and says Saint Mark has put these signs on his body. Imperia's brothel is in the middle of Saint Mark's Street, and most of the important events in the play happen in front of Imperia's house. Hipolito and Imperia swear frequently by Saint Mark, showing that they are patriotic citizens of Venice.

SATAN
Only mentioned. When Blurts sees Lazarillo armed to his teeth, he thinks he looks like the devil, saying that Satan is very busy when he finds one like himself. Lazarillo falls to Imperia's trick and falls through a trapdoor into the sewers of Venice. In his perplexity, Lazarillo hears Spanish music and thinks it comes from the "tawny" Satan, though he thought the devil could not understand Spanish. However, since the devil proves to be his countryman, Lazarillo promises Satan to dance after his music. There is a visible association of the Catholic Spanish with the devil.

SEVEN WISE MASTERS
Only mentioned. Having fallen for Imperia's trick of confusing Lazarillo with music and birds' singing, the Spaniard invokes the Seven Wise Masters of the world. Yet, he makes the confusion with the Seven Deadly Sins. The Seven Wise Masters is a term traditionally used to describe a group of ancient Greek sages of the seventh and sixth centuries B.C., also called Sophoi. Plato in his "Protagoras" provided a first listing of these wise men. Most prominently remembered are

Thales of Miletus, a philosopher, and
Solon, lawgiver of Athens.

Others, hardly known now, were

Pittacus of Mitylene,
Bias of Priene,
Cleobulus the Lindian,
Myson the Chenian, and
Chilo of Lacedaemonia.

Some lists of the seven give other names.

SIMPERINA
Simperina is, along with Trivia, Imperia's maid. At Imperia's request, Simperina and Trivia read in alternate dialogue the lyrics of Hipolito's sonnet about a woman's chaste heart. Imperia orders her maids to prepare the banquet. Curvetto pays Simperina to let down a cord from Imperia's window at ten o'clock that night. While the courtesans and Imperia listen to Lazarillo's eloquent counsel on how they should behave to their fictional husbands, Simperina confirms that she has the trapdoor ready for the blabbering Spaniard, She then leads him into the foul-smelling trap. At ten o'clock, Simperina is at Imperia's window and drenches Curvetto with foul water when he pulls the cord, pretending the water was prepared for a rat. Simperina asks Curvetto to come later, at midnight, when she says a rope ladder will be ready for him. When Fontinel pretends to declare his love for Imperia in her house, Simperina enters with Frisco and Trivia. While Frisco announces that there is somebody at the door claiming to be Camillo and Hipolito, Simperina and Trivia seem very frightened. At Imperia's orders, they smooth her gown and shuffle the rushes, while Fontinel hides in Imperia's closet. Seeing how Violetta pleads with Imperia to return her husband to her, Simperina is revolted and says that, if her man had fallen for Imperia, she would have scratched the courtesan's eyes.

SIR PANDARUS
Only mentioned. When Fontinel asks Truepenny to testify that he has Violetta's love, Hipolito calls Truepenny "Sir Pandarus, the broking knight of Troy." Truepenny denies any involvement in the love affair between Violetta and Fontinel. In Greek legend, Pandarus was a Lycian, hero of the Trojan War, distinguished as an archer and slain by Diomedes. He acted as go-between in the ill-starred affair of Troilus and Cressida.

SLUBBER
Slubber is Blurt's beadle, but Blurt uses him as his secretary, being reluctant to admit that he is himself illiterate. Slubber's name suggests a careless person. In front of his house, Blurt has Slubber show the Spaniard Lazarillo his staff as a symbol of his weighty position. Seeing that the Spaniard is armed to the teeth and looks bellicose, the cautious Slubber orders Blurt's men to turn their arms towards Lazarillo. When Lazarillo shows Blurt his pass from the Duke, Blurt pretends to be unable to read it because of the importance of his office and hands the paper to Slubber. Slubber reads the pass and notes it is not written in the Duke's hand. However, he notices a little blot on the paper. At Blurt's suggestion that this blot looks like the wart on the Duke's hand, and therefore this is his "hand," Slubber accepts the ridiculous idea and Lazarillo's pass is validated. When Lazarillo tells his long Spanish name, Slubber concludes, according to his peculiar logic, that the Spaniard must be a great man in his country. Slubber writes Lazarillo's long name incorrectly, as he hears it from Blurt's inaccurate dictation. The mace-bearer follows Blurt and Lazarillo to the constable's house. In the street before Imperia's house, Blurt and his guards enter with the Duke to enforce the law when the incensed Venetian gentlemen want to kill Fontinel. When, at the Duke's command, Blurt goes to fetch Curvetto and Lazarillo from prison, the constable calls Slubber and the rest of his watch to follow him.

SUSANNA
Only mentioned. When Violetta refuses Camillo's serenade and his declarations of love, Hipolito calls his sister a scurvy hussy and compares her to Susanna. This might be an ironic reference to the chaste and beautiful Susanna of the Apocrypha. Susanna was condemned to die on a false charge of immorality by two elders, but Daniel, the prophet, established her innocence by cross-examining her accusers who were then put to death.

TAMBURLAINE
Only mentioned. When Violetta hears Hipolito's bragging about the honor and excessive pleasures drawn from the activity of war, she dismisses the matter diplomatically, calling her brother a "most terrible Tamburlaine." By referring ironically to the Mongol conqueror whose short-lived empire stretched from India to Asia Minor, Violetta highlights the futility of war.

TAMER CHAM
Only mentioned. Tamer Cham is a variant of Timur Khan. The reference is to the Mongol conqueror whose short-lived empire stretched from India to Asia Minor, also known as Tamburlaine. Lazarillo wants to show his audacity, though he is reported to be a coward. When he hears Blurt speak about running from the enemy, Lazarillo says he will never run from the face of Tamer Cham. By claiming he is so brave that he does not fear one of the greatest conquerors of the world, Lazarillo creates a contrast with what Doyt says about him, namely that he ran from the enemy during the war.

TRIVIA
Trivia is, along with Simperina, Imperia's maid. When Imperia says she feels sick with the heat, Trivia tries to prevent her from vomiting. Listening to Imperia's singing out of key, Trivia and Simperina make a show of admiring her voice. Imperia notices Trivia and Simperina's complimentary manner and tells them to stop, telling them that she does not have a gown to cast off till the next week. At Imperia's request, Simperina and Trivia read in alternate dialogue the lyrics of Hipolito's sonnet about a woman's chaste heart. When Doyt brings Fontinel's portrait, Trivia is asked to hold it. Trivia admires Fontinel's face, saying it is most sweetly made. Imperia orders her maids to prepare a banquet, rushing them to execute the commands. Trivia is visibly displeased with being rushed, but she pretends to execute the orders in a hurry. When Fontinel pretends to declare his love for Imperia, Trivia enters with Frisco and Simperina. While Frisco announces that there is somebody at the door claiming to be Camillo and Hipolito, Trivia and Simperina seem very frightened. At Imperia's orders, they smooth her gown and shuffle the rushes, while Fontinel hides in Imperia's closet.

TROILUS
Only mentioned. At the banquet in Camillo's house, Hipolito asks whether Camillo's French prisoner drinks well, and Camillo denies it. Hipolito uses the common stereotype that any Frenchman should be addicted to drinking or whoring, since they are as resolute as Hector and as valiant as Troilus.

TRUEPENNY
Truepenny is Violetta's page. The name suggests a trusty person and an honest fellow. He acts as a go-between in the exchange of love letters between Violetta and Fontinel. Outside a tennis court, Fontinel confesses his undying love for Violetta to Truepenny. Truepenny notes that Fontinel does not have the haggard look usually associated with a hopeless romantic lover. When the jealous Camillo orders that Fontinel be taken to prison, the Frenchman asks Truepenny to vouch for Violetta's love and that they have been exchanging love letters. The page denies any involvement and diplomatically leaves, fearing a beating by Camillo. At Violetta's house, Truepenny brings her a message from Fontinel, saying he received it from Frisco, Imperia's groom. The message contains Fontinel's instructions for his planned secret marriage to Violetta.

VENUS
Only mentioned. When he sees the almost naked courtesans, the lecherous Lazarillo invokes Venus, the goddess of love, to let him suck of her dugs, so that he may perform adequately in his expected sexual encounters. Imperia also swears "by the panting pulse of Venus" when she receives Fontinel's kisses. In her love-song to Fontinel, the lyrics say that, should Venus take a sip of her lover's cherry lips, the love goddess would sell her doves and team of sparrows.

VIOLETTA
Violetta is a Venetian lady and Hipolito's sister. At a banquet in Camillo's house she listens to her brother's bragging about his war exploits. She dismisses the violent discussion, suggesting a more suitable topic for ladies. The discussion is changed from war and sex to beauty and honor, and Camillo announces he has taken a French gentleman as his prisoner in Violetta's name. Violetta asks to see the prisoner, and Fontinel is introduced to her. While he dances, Violetta admires Fontinel's beauty and stature, confessing she has fallen in love with him. Revealing her intention to win Fontinel's love, Violetta leaves Camillo's party. Camillo orders a serenade to be played under Violetta's window, but Violetta dismisses Camillo's romantic declaration. Truepenny brings Violetta a letter, which he says is from Fontinel via Frisco. Violetta wonders why Fontinel would employ Imperia's groom as his messenger, but she reads the letter. The message is an invitation to meet Fontinel at midnight at the old chapel and bring a Friar with her. In the street before the old chapel, Violetta comes in the company of a Friar and they proceed with the secret marriage ceremony. At Imperia's house, Violetta seeks entrance by pretending to be Camillo. Flattering Imperia, Violetta begs the courtesan to allow her to spend the night in her bedroom with Fontinel. This ploy sounds similar to the popular bed-trick, but the crucial difference is that Fontinel, in hiding, hears Violetta's request, as Violetta herself realizes. In the street before Imperia's house, Blurt brings Fontinel under arrest, in the company of a masked lady. Violetta unmasks and reveals that she has devised the courtesan plot in an attempt to save Fontinel from Camillo's jealousy. They have paid Imperia to pretend to be in love with Fontinel and arrange the bed-trick so Violetta was found in the courtesan's bed with her husband.

VIRGILIO
Virgilio is a Venetian gentleman. At the banquet in Camillo's house, Virgilio confirms Hipolito's exaggerations before the ladies, maintaining he witnessed some of them. At Camillo's house, Camillo incites the Venetian gentlemen Hipolito, Virgilio, Asorino, Baptista, and Bentivolio to take revenge against Fontinel. Claiming that the Frenchman has dishonored Violetta by doting on a courtesan, Camillo sends them to Imperia's house to kill Fontinel. Incensed by the others, Virgilio rushes to kill Fontinel, telling Camillo not to delay action by talking too much. Virgilio seems to be the only one among the Venetian pugnacious youths who keeps his head and asks Camillo where they should go first. When Camillo tells them they should go first to Imperia's house to find and kill Fontinel, Virgilio conjures a gory image of revenge. Virgilio suggests they should hang Fontinel's reeking body at his harlot's window, while Camillo adds the image of Imperia's dead body by Fontinel's, and Hipolito visualizes his sister's dead body beside the two. Concluding that only by such bloody but exemplary action the tragedy is "just," Virgilio gives the signal to begin the assault.

WOODCOCK
Woodcock is part of Blurt's night watch and a mute character. The name suggests a bird easily netted and thus a fool and a simpleton. During their midnight round before Imperia's house, Woodcock notices a light at the window, which draws Blurt's attention to Curvetto's whistling and rope climbing. When Frisco calls for help against the supposed "thief," Blurt arrests Curvetto. Seeing Woodcock in Blurt's company, Curvetto acknowledges acquaintance with him, probably because Woodcock was a courtier before being part of the night watch. Curvetto tries to get out of his predicament by calling on Woodcock. Blurt intervenes, saying that Woodcock's commitment lies with the guard now, and his former acquaintances at court cannot serve in this situation. Blurt orders Woodcock and the other members of the watch to take Curvetto to prison. In the street before Imperia's house, Blurt and his guards enter with the Duke to enforce the law when the incensed Venetian gentlemen want to kill Fontinel. When Camillo calls Blurt a peasant, the members of the watch jump with their swords to retaliate. Blurt tells Woodcock to keep by his side, but the furious Venetian gentlemen take it out on Woodcock and want to kill him. Only the Duke's intervention saves Woodcock from being stabbed.