THE TWO MERRY MILKMAIDS, or
THE BEST WORDS WEAR THE GARLAND

1619–1620

a synoptic, alphabetical character list

ALIENS
This group of mute characters appears briefly along with the Doctor in Corolus' chambers.

ASMODY
A name assumed by Landoffe when he appears before Bernard as a spirit.

BERNARD
Son to Guido and a student at Wittenberg, Bernard believes he is in possession of magical abilities taught him by Landoffe. Believing to control a spirit Asmody (really Landoffe disguised), Bernard assists Dorilus in his suit for Dorigene by having Landoffe procure for him a garland of flowers to give to his beloved. Along with his tutor, he plays a significant roll in penetrating Raymond's corrupt scheme to inflame the Duke against Dorigene and plays a signal roll in the masque given by the Duke which caps the play.

BISHOP
An ecclesiastical attendant at Duke Earnest's court.

CALLOWE
Friend to Ranoffe, this foolish Lord in the court of Duke Earnest pursues a suit for the newly arrived milkmaid Julia. Surprised, the courtier attempts to fight Frederick while he is invisible; recognizing the futility of this pugilism, he agrees to guide the invisible man.

CAROLUS
A courtier and servant to Lord Raymond. Surprised, the courtier attempts to fight Frederick while he is invisible; recognizing the futility of this pugilism, he agrees to guide the invisible man. He assists Raymond on his deathbed by summoning Julia who reveals Raymond's scheme to inflame the Duke against Dorigene, leading to Raymond's subsequent exile from the court.

CORNELIUS
A courtier and servant to Lord Raymond.

DOCTOR
Attends various of the "Lords Gentlemen" in the play; he sends Ferdinand to summon Doctor Lopez.

DOCTOR LOPEZ
A "ghost character" summoned by Ferdinand on the Doctor's request.

DORIGENE
A duchess, whose ambition is to "advance greatness," travels to the court of her husband, Duke Earnest, disguised as a milkmaid. To the chagrin of the Duke's courtiers, Earnest promptly falls in love with and subsequently marries Dorigene, installing her father Lodwicke as Earl. Despite her marriage, she encourages Dorilus' suit towards her, for which she and her family are banished form the court. She is subsequently tried on the behest of Raymond, who seeks to inflame the Duke against his wife, but is pardoned after a disguised Dorilus provides exculpatory evidence. She intercedes on behalf of Raymond, urging the Duke to banish him from the court rather than execute him.

DORILUS
Brother to Julia, he falls in love with Dorigene who encourages his suit despite her marriage to the duke. He brings his beloved the garland of flowers she requested, seemingly acquired supernaturally by Landoffe, disguised as the spirit Asmody. When Dorigene accepts his suit despite her marriage to the Duke, Dorilus gives "her vows back freely" in an attempt to do what is most "righteous." When the duke discovers his suit for his wife, however, Dorilus is promptly imprisoned. After Landoffe provides him with a ring that makes its bearer invisible, Dorilus is able to escape with Julia and, appearing (again invisible) at Dorigene's trial, explains the true facts of the proceeding, advocates mercy, and procures the Duke's pardon for Dorigene. He subsequently loses the ring which is recovered by Frederick and later by Smircke before the Spirit retrieves it.

JOHN EARNEST
The Duke of Saxony. He invites Julia and Dorigene to court after taking a fancy to the two women disguised as milkmaids. When he believes that his wife and Dorilus are having an affair due to false information disseminated by Raymond, Dorilus is imprisoned and Dorigene and her family are bainished from the court. Dorigene is subsequently tried, at the Duke's behest, by Raymond but is interrupted by a disguised Dorilus who explains the true facts of the proceeding, advocates mercy, and procures the Duke's pardon for Dorigene. The duke, at Raymond's behest, pleads forgiveness of Dorigene and, in turn, exiles Raymond for his deceit. The duke hosts a masque at the play's conclusion to celebrate the reconciliation with his wife.

ENVY
Allegorical mute character in a masque performed for John Earnest, Duke of Saxony at the play's conclusion.

FAUSTUS
Only mentioned. He is invoked to warn Bernard of the dangers involved in his pursuit of magical arts.

FERDINAND
A courtier and servant to Lord Raymond, integral in the celebratory masque presented by the Duke that concludes the play.

FREDERICK
Son of Lodowicke, Frederick expresses his displeasure at his hasty marriage to Dorigene and, believing that Saxony will become "ruled by women," chastises his brother for his continued encouragement of the two milkmaids while secretly pursuing Julia himself. He recovers the magic ring that provides invisibility to its bearer when Dorilus loses it. Invisible, he witnesses the marriage contract between Julia and Raymond and vows to put an end to it, advocating instead just punishment for Raymond. Although he eventually loses the ring to Smircke, his service is appreciated in the Duke's masque that concludes the play.

GUARD
A mute character attending John Earnest, the Duke of Saxony.

GROOM
A servant in the stables of Duke Earnest of Saxony.

GUIDO
Father to Bernard, he pleads justice from the Duke for his son's mistreatment by Landoffe, the alleged Faustian "President of Wittenberg." His anger turns to happiness when he realizes that Landoffe has not misused his son, but rather educated him in the dangers and follies of the black arts.

HOST
Introduces the masque given by Duke Earnest that concludes the play.

JUDGES
These unnamed characters preside over a court convened to indict Dorigene after her alleged affair with Dorilus. The Duchess is acquitted.

JULIA
The sister of Dorilus and friend of Duchess Dorigene, she disguises herself as a milkmaid and repairs to Duke Earnest's court where she is pursued by numerous citizens and courtiers. Overheard by the invisible Frederick, Julia agrees to marry Raymond, on the condition that he mends the rift between the Duke and Duchess that his false rumors have created. Summoned by Raymond, she breaks her oath to him and reveals his treachery in attempting to inflame the Duke against Dorigene.

LADY
She attends Dorigene.

LANDOFFE
Tutor to his novice Bernard, Landoffe disguises himself as a spirit Asmody who Bernard believes he has conjured. After temporarily serving Bernard in this disguise, Landoffe reveals his deception in an effort to chastise his overreaching pupil, but vows to once again dawn the disguise when necessity warrants. In an effort to counter Raymond's deceit, he summons an unnamed spirit who provides Dorilus and others with a ring which renders its bearers invisible. He summons the spirit at the play's conclusion to retrieve the magic ring from Smircke and plays an integral in the masque that concludes the play.

LODWICKE
Father to Dorigene, Duke Earnest installs him as an Earl at his daughter's request. Despite protestations to the contrary, he encourages Frederick's suit for an unnamed Lady in Dorigene's service.

MESSENGER
Traveling attendant of John Earnest, Duke of Saxony.

PAGE
A mute character attending John Earnest, the Duke of Saxony.

PLEASURE
Allegorical mute character in a masque performed for John Earnest, Duke of Saxony at the play's conclusion.

PEDRO
An incidental servant of Earnest, Duke of Saxony who is nevertheless integral to the masque performed at the play's conclusion.

RANOFFE
A foolish knight in the court of Duke Earnest, Ranoffe takes an immediate dislike to Cornelius and the two milkmaids (really Julia and Dorigene) that accompany him. Surprised, the courtier attempts to fight Frederick while he is invisible; recognizing the futility of this pugilism, he agrees to guide the invisible man. Along with Smircke, he plays an integral roll in the masque that concludes the play.

RAYMOND
A lord in the court of Duke John Earnest, Raymond disapproves of the Duke's hasty marriage to the widow Dorigene and is therefore overjoyed when she is banished form the court for allegedly pursuing an affair with Dorilus, using the opportunity to make advances toward Julia, Dorigene's intimate, also disguised as a milkmaid. He acts as prosecutor at Dorigene's trial, but is interrupted by an invisible Dorilus who explains the true facts of the proceeding, advocates mercy, and procures the Duke's pardon for Dorigene. Overheard by the invisible Frederick, Raymond vows to mend the relationship between the Duke and the Duchess if Julia will marry him. After the reconciliation, however, Julia chastises him as a lustful "villain" and is caught by the Duke and Bernard when he attempts to ravish her. He is sentenced to death but the punishment is revoked at Dorigene's intercession; he is subsequently banished from the court.

SMIRKE
A clown attending Lord Raymond, Smircke is an intimate of Frederick and commiserates with him when his family's fortunes deteriorate as they are expelled from the Duke's court. He comes to possess the magic ring of invisibility, taking the opportunity to kiss Julia and commit other mischievous deeds, but he soon comes to despise what he had erstwhile considered a gift. He is freed from his burden by the spirit summoned by Landoffe. His pun on his name earns him good-natured smirks during the masque that concludes the play.

SPIRIT
A ghost conjured by Landoffe who provides a magic ring that renders the bearer invisible. He retrieves the ring from Smircke at the end of the play.

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