Abstemia is Lorenzo's wife and sister to the Duke of Venice. In spite of
her husband's jealousy, she has turned out to be virtuous, modest, and
chaste. In Act One, she comes to Lorenzo to tell him that Lodovico,
Strosmo, Spinoso and Pandulpho are to meet the Duke of Verona, who comes
from Venice. When she is left alone with Philippo, she is told to try her
husband's faithfulness, but she rejects such an idea because in society it
is not the same that a husband suspects his wife than the other way round.
Such is the state of suspicion in which Abstemia has been placed that
Lorenzo takes her in front of the Duke of Verona accusing Abstemia of
adultery. Lorenzo divorces her and she has to flee. Abstemia goes to Milan
where she takes the disguise of a bawd called Millicent until she
reconciles with Lorenzo.
ANTONIO
Antonio is the Duke of Milan's son. In Act Four, he shows up at the bawd
house with his Turk, where Antonio has gone at night looking for pleasure.
Such a behavior is not well considered by Millicent, with whom he has
fallen in love. She will teach him a lesson on true love that will make
him leave his lecherous life.
BULL
Silent character who takes part in the masque in Act Four.
DOROTHEA
Dorothea is Lodovico's wanton Lady. In Act One, when she is left with her
servant Francisco, Dorothea tells him that the verses that he is reading to
her should be an example of the Christian doctrine. However, something is
fishy in her guardian. Thus, when Francisco asks her for sexual favors,
Dorothea delays her marital treason until the sun is set. She will give a
drugged drink to Lodovico, who will fall sound sleep and she will send
Pambo to bring Antonio to her at eleven. However, Dorothea takes advantage
of such an opportunity to keep herself loyal to her husband by betraying
her lover, who gets away with the offence. She needs to talk to her
confessor, but in Act Three she is informed that Father Jacomo has passed
away. Thus, she accepts Father Anthony as her new confessor. In the
confession, she admits to have sinned three times. Her first sin is to have
ordered a gown with short sleeves. Her second fault is that her chamber
maid has almost broken her crown. And finally she confesses that she has
lain in bed with another man. She is given a penance to be suffered during
a masque. There, Dorothea tells her husband that she has dreamt of
Francisco, and she is sent to a nunnery.
DOROTHEA'S CHAMBER MAID
A "ghost character." She is referred by Dorothea in her second sin because
Dorothea thinks that the chamber maid has almost gotten injured because of
her.
DOROTHEA'S TAILOR
A "ghost character." He is mentioned by Dorothea in her confession. He has
made a gown for her with the sleeves too short.
DUKE of MILAN
In Act Five, the Duke of Milan is worried about his son's reputation and so
he follows Antonio to take care of him. In his journey, with Sanchio and
Sebastiano, he discovers the corpse of Antonio's Turk wearing his owner's
garments so they think that his son has been murdered.
DUKE of VENICE
The Duke of Venice is brother to Abstemia. When he hears about Abstemia's
punishment, he asks his troops in Bergamo to march towards Verona to avenge
his sister's dishonor. Abstemia's stain dirties his family's name.
Therefore, there is to be another trial to administer justice with the same
witnesses. Then, he restores Abstemia's name and punishes Lorenzo.
DUKE of VERONA
The Duke of Verona is the highest representative of justice in his kingdom,
and to him Abstemia is to be taken accused with the charges of adultery. He
will punish Abstemia by grating Lorenzo a divorce, and Philippo by
banishing him from the dukedom. Later, in Act Three, he will change his
judgment when it is found out that there were false witnesses.
ENGLISH GENTLEMAN
A "ghost character." In Act One, he is invited to Lodovico's as he is
interested in buying one of his houses.
FATHER ANTHONY
Disguise that in Act Three Lodovico takes to find out whether his wife has
been unfaithful to him or not. He is thought to be supported by Madona
Lussuriosa. In the confession with his wife, he is informed about her sins.
However, it is the third one which annoys him the most, as he finds out
that he is a cuckold. He decides to take his revenge in a masque by making
his wife say to her husband that he is not the father of a son and to
unmask her lover. It is the perfect occasion because masques are thought to
be the place where women are dishonored.
FATHER JACOMO
A "ghost character." Father Jacomo used to be Dorothea's confessor, but he
passes away. He used receive twice weekly visits. Now, he is to be
replaced by Father Anthony.
FRANCISCO
Francisco is a servant to Lodovico. He is in charge of entertaining his
wife Dorothea for whom he plays music, and reads poetry for forty crowns
per annum. However, when he is left alone with her in Act One, he discovers
that he is a gentleman of Milan, who had heard of her chastity and beauty,
and who had fallen in love with her. Thus, Francisco has the intention of
sleeping with her. In Act Two, he is invited to Dorothea's chamber thinking
that Lodovico is asleep, but he is not and Francisco is betrayed by the
faithful wife. Nevertheless, Francisco manages to convince Lodovico that
nothing has happened and he is appointed Steward at Lodovico's.
GOAT
Silent character who takes part in the masque in Act Four.
GUARD
There is a guard in Act Two who attends the trial, but who keeps silent.
JASPRO
Jaspro is a lord of Verona who attends the trial in Act Two.
JOVANI
Jovani is a lord of Verona who attends the trial in act Two.
LODOVICO
Lodovico is husband to Dorothea. In Act One, being asked about his wife, he
says that she stays at home with his servant. On this respect, he says that
he invited an English gentleman to his house the other day and that she had
shown him very modest and proper respect at home. However, when Lodovico
finds Francisco in his chamber, he is confused and does not know what to
do. Instead of punishing the offender, he appoints him his Steward. But, to
find out the truth, he decides to take the disguise of Father Anthony to
hear his wife in confession. Also, he has a project: he wants to write down
his wife's virtues and send a letter to the Duke of Verona to advise him to
choose the right wife. Later, in Act Four, his wife tells him about her
dream and so Lodovico sends her to the Monastery of the Matrons, where she
is going to spend the rest of her life.
LORENZO MEDICO
Lorenzo is a gentleman of Verona, husband to Abstemia. He asks his friend
Philippo to court Abstemia one more time to know if she is truly virtuous.
Lorenzo thinks that, as any other woman, she is a smooth flatterer and a
cunning injurer. Thus, despite not having any evidence, Lorenzo believes
that Abstemia has slept with Philippo as Lorenzo is the best representative
of the proverb Crede quod habes et habes, which governs the development of
the events in the play. So, Lorenzo plans to take her to the Duke of Verona
to administer justice. He is to bring two slaves to him, who will bear
witness against his wife at a trial in front of the Duke of Verona and
other lords and authorities. They are to say that they saw Abstemia having
sex with Philippo. He is granted divorce from his wife. But, in Act Three,
when the Duke of Venice comes to avenge his sister, Lorenzo is founded
guilty and expelled from the two dukedoms and his own family. He will go to
Milan, where he finds his wife, who has not forgotten him, and he makes up
with her.
MADONA LUSSURIOSA
A "ghost character". Madona Lussuriosa is a lady that is thought to have
supported the appointment of Father Anthony as Dorothea's confessor.
MILLICENT
Disguise that Abstemia takes in Milan while she stays at the bawd house.
Under the disguise, she rejects the Duke's son, whom she criticizes for his
lecherous behavior. She still loves her husband Lorenzo, about whom she
thinks. That love will change the Duke's son heart, and he will leave his
lustful life.
MORBO
Morbo is a Pander and a silent character.
PAMBO
Pambo is a clown. In Act Two, he takes Francisco to Abstemia's chamber as
it has been agreed between them two. Later, when his lord forgives
Francisco, he remains silent.
PAMBO'S FATHER
A "ghost character." In Act Two, Pambo's ancestor is remembered by his son,
who says that his father had been a costermonger.
PANDULPHO
Pandulpho is a lord of Verona. In Act Three, with Spinoso, he comes to
Verona to announce that the Duke of Venice is sending his troops to march
toward Verona.
PEDRO SEBASTIANO
In Act Four, he meets Antonio at the bawd house. He is a gentleman of Milan
and then he goes with the Duke of Milan seeking for Antonio.
PHILIPPO
Philippo is a gentleman of Verona, and Lorenzo's friend. He has wooed his
friend's wife twice and he has not found any sign of weakness. But, Lorenzo
is not still happy with the reply and asks him to try her for the third
time. In those attempts, however, Philippo has fallen in love with the
chaste wife. Talking to Abstemia in Act One, he suggests her trying her
husband with ballet dancers, but she rejects such an idea. In Act Two,
Philippo appears at court to swear that Lorenzo has made him try Abstemia,
and that failing to prove her adultery, he has brought false witnesses.
However, Philippo is punished by banishment from Verona. He goes to Milan,
where he visits a bawd house, from where he is kicked out by Antonio's
slave. However, later, he will avenge his offence by shooting to kill the
Turk.
RAM
Silent character who takes part in the masque in Act Four.
SANCHIO
Sanchio is a lord of Milan. In Act Five, he accompanies his lord in search
of Antonio.
SLAVE, FIRST and SECOND
Two slaves figure in the play.
In Act Two, the First Slave testifies at a trial where he says that together with his partner he has seen Abstemia having sex with Philippo. Later, in Act Three, he has to appear again and there he repeats his confession. However, he is betrayed by his accomplice.
Together with the First Slave, the Second Slaave accuses Abstemia of adultery at the first trial. However, when the Duke of Venice has recourse to law in Act Three, he changes his testimony and confesses that Lorenzo has paid them with promises and gifts.
SPINOSO
Spinoso is a lord of Verona. In act Three, he comes with Pandulpho to
announce the arrival of the Duke of Venice.
STAG
Silent character who takes part in the masque in Act Four.
STROSMO
Strosmo is a lord of Verona that goes to receive the Duke of Verona in Act
One.
TIMPANINA
Timpanina is a bawd at whose house Abstemia dwells in Act Four.
TURK
This Turk is servant to Antonio. In Act Four, he kicks Philippo out of the
bawd house. Later, he comes back to see him again and the slave is killed
by Philippo.