The first of four Shepherds who plan a country entertainment for Diocles. They are Alexis, Egon, Ladon, and Thirsis.
AMARYLLIS
A "ghost character." A shepherdess named by the Shepherds and Countrymen as they plan their entertainment for Diocles.
AMBASSADORS
Sent from Persia to negotiate the release of the princess Cassana, the Ambassadors, in a dumb show, assist the soldiers who release Cassana and capture Aurelia, Charinus, and Maximinian.
APER, VOLUTIUS
The emperor Numerianus' provost. Aper has killed the emperor but has created an elaborate fiction that Numerianus is still alive but in seclusion because his eyes are extremely sensitive to light. Although Aurelia claims her brother's eyes are "wept out," Aper implies that the weak eyes are due to syphilis. Aper has a large army, who fear him, at his command. When Diocles wishes to see the emperor, Aper conducts an elaborate charade using a covered litter. The charade is complicated by the fact that the emperor's corpse is beginning to putrefy. Diocles captures Aper and confronts him with evidence that the emperor is indeed dead. Aper confesses and is killed by Diocles, thereby punningly fulfilling Delphia's prophecy that Diocles will become emperor "cum Aprum gradem interfeceris" ("when he has killed a mighty boar"). As Aper dies, Delphia causes the music of the spheres to sound to show her approval.
AURELIA
Sister of the dead emperor Numerianus and his successor Charinus. Aurelia offers herself in marriage to anyone brave enough to assassinate Aper, the former emperor's murderer. After Diocles kills Aper, Aurelia offers to marry him, not knowing that Delphia has prophesied that Diocles will marry Drusilla after he becomes emperor. Increasingly imperious, Aurelia refuses to give up Cassana, the captured Persian princess she keeps as a companion, despite the huge ransom the Persian ambassadors offer. Under a spell cast by Delphia, Aurelia makes romantic overtures to Maximinian despite the protests of her brother and, later, the presence of Diocles. She dismisses Diocles as an unworthy suitor. Delphia casts another spell to make Aurelia love Diocles as much as he loves Drusilla. In the dumb show, Aurelia rebuffs the attempts of Charinus and Niger to persuade her to marry Diocles and continues to pursue Maximinian. To prove his love, Diocles draws a sword, chases Maximinian, and lays the sword at Aurelia's feet, but she scorns him. She is captured by the Persian soldiers and ambassadors and, despite her defiance of her captors, is treated mercifully by Cassana. After Diocles defeats the Persians in battle, Aurelia is freed; Diocles gives up his right to her to his nephew Maximinian who marries her. The marriage is marred by Maximinian's terror that his uncle and Charinus might conspire to take away his power. Aurelia offers to disown her brother and dismisses the threat that Diocles poses, causing Maximinian to praise her "masculine greatness." After Maximinian and Charinus exchange accusations of tyranny and mismanagement of the empire, Charinus advises his sister to leave her husband; she chastises Maximinian for his meek behavior with her brother. Aurelia accompanies Maximinian on his mission to kill Diocles, and when Delphia sends thunder, lightning, and an earthquake to prevent the plot, Aurelia is forced to kneel and ask forgiveness, which Diocles grants.
CAMURIUS
A Captain and a "creature" of the corrupt and murderous Aper. Camurius knows that the emperor Numerianus is dead but helps maintain the fiction that he is in seclusion. When Diocles, Maximinian, and Geta attempt to visit the emperor's covered litter, Camurius tries to prevent them and is killed by Diocles.
CASSANA
A Persian princess kept as a companion by Aurelia. Aurelia demotes Cassana to slavery in defiance of the Persian ambassadors' effort to negotiate a ransom for their princess. During the dumb show, the ambassadors and Persian soldiers rescue Cassana. Later, when Persians capture Aurelia, Cassana shows her mercy.
CERES
Ceres is forced by Delphia to lend her a dragon-drawn throne. Ceres (or a spirit in the form of Ceres?) later appears to lead a dance of Shepherds and Shepherdesses choreographed by Delphia to honor Diocles and Drusilla.
CHARINUS
Brother of the Roman emperor Numerianus. Charinus is offered proof by his loyal servant Niger that Aper has murdered the emperor. Niger encourages Charinus to put a price on Aper's head, and Charinus offers half his empire and, at her suggestion, his sister Aurelia's hand in marriage to the successful assassin. After Diocles kills Aper, Charinus and Aurelia congratulate him and embrace him as co-partner of the empire, with Charinus asserting that virtue, not birth, is the source of nobility. After the flamen refuses to approve the marriage between Aurelia and Diocles, Charinus agrees to bury his brother first, then negotiate the marriage. Charinus' efforts to persuade Aurelia to stop making love to Maximinian are unsuccessful, as are his efforts in the dumb show to resist being captured by the Persian soldiers. Charinus proves a defiant prisoner, asserting Roman superiority at every opportunity. Freed after Diocles defeats the Persians, Charinus proposes additional honors for Diocles, who declines them and gives his share of the empire to his nephew Maximinian. Charinus and Maximinian quarrel over how to rule Rome. When Maximinian travels to Diocles' country retreat to kill his uncle, Charinus follows with his troops, but Delphia intervenes to prevent a war and to reconcile the two emperors.
CHORUS
A complex piece of the play's plot–the capture of the Roman emperor and his train by Persian soldiers–takes place in an elaborate dumb show. The slightly self-conscious Chorus introduces and then interprets the dumb show. The Chorus returns after Diocles' retirement to explain Maximinian's metamorphosis into a tyrant.
COSROE
King of Persia. Cosroe greets his sister Cassana and the Roman captives, threatening Aurelia with treatment worse than that she meted out to his sister. Unintimidated by the defiant Roman captives, Cosroe challenges Diocles to a battle and negotiates the terms with Niger, confident that the Persians will win and thus be able to keep the captives. Defeated by Diocles in battle, Cosroe is stunned to be set free without ransom when Diocles decides to renounce his worldly honors.
COUNTRY–MEN
Two Roman countrymen meet with three shepherds, Alexis, Ladon, and (possibly) Thirsis, to marvel at Diocles' country estates and to plan a suitable entertainment for him. The second countryman claims both men are carters.
DELPHIA
A powerful prophetess and a holy Druid, the title character. Delphia makes the unlikely prediction that the humble Diocles will become emperor and marry Delphia's niece Drusilla. Delphia's magic is strong:
she detects and thwarts Maximinian's efforts to kill her by paralyzing his arm;
she commandeers Ceres' dragon so that she and Drusilla can watch Diocles capture Aper and also serve as Diocles' guardian angels;
she travels with Drusilla in "a Throne drawn by Dragons" to Rome to watch Aper's execution;
she causes the music of the spheres to be heard when Diocles executes Aper;
she causes thunder to be heard when Diocles violates the prophecy by accepting Aurelia as his wife.
Offended by Diocles' lack of faith, Delphia vows revenge and casts spells to make Aurelia and Maximinian fall in love with each other. Insulted and scorned by the newly promoted Geta, and then arrested by him and charged with whoredom and being a keeper of devils, Delphia offers Geta a free servant in the form of a she-devil. Delphia arranges for Drusilla to overhear Diocles's distressed soliloquy, and casts another spell to ensure that Aurelia will love Diocles only as much as Diocles loves Drusilla. Diocles appears to make up with Drusilla, but this is only part of a plan to reunite with Aurelia. Delphia reveals this to Drusilla to teach her niece a lesson about fidelity then decides she must remove Aurelia from Rome to ensure that Drusilla and Diocles marry. In an elaborate dumb show, interpreted by a Chorus, Delphia conspires with Persian soldiers, charming them with her magic rod to give them access to the Roman court. She raises a mist so the soldiers can escape with Cassana, Aurelia, Charinus, and Maximinian. Acknowledging her power, Diocles prays to Delphia, who appears before him but is not easily persuaded that he is sincere in his vows to be faithful to Drusilla. When Drusilla kisses Diocles to show her faith and forgiveness, Delphia casts a spell to help Diocles' fleet and troops defeat the Persians. After Diocles retires to the country, Delphia helps the local shepherds and shepherdesses arrange an entertainment for him. During the dance, a Spirit informs Delphia that Maximinian is on his way to kill Diocles. When Maximinian arrives and is unmoved by Diocles' powerful chastisements, Delphia calls up thunder, lightning, and an earthquake, then causes a hand holding a lightning bolt to descend from heaven to persuade Maximinian to repent. Maximinian acknowledges Delphia's power, and begs Diocles for forgiveness. Once the men are reconciled, Delphia calls for the dancing to begin again.
DIOCLES
The bravest soldier of the Roman empire. Diocles has no rank; despite this, the prophetess Delphia predicts he will be emperor "cum Aprum grandem interfeceris" ("when he has killed a great boar") and that he will then marry her niece Drusilla. In an effort to make the prophecy come true, Diocles spends his days hunting with the assistance of his jester Geta. Although he has killed many boars, he is still not emperor, and complains to Delphia of the delay. He agrees to help Maximinian test Delphia's powers, and is impressed when she recognizes and stops Maximinian's effort to kill her. Hearing Niger repeat Charinus' offer to make Aper's assassin co-emperor of Rome, Diocles undertakes this task. He kills Camurius for trying to deny him access to Numerianus, then discovers Numerianus' putrefying corpse. After he identifies Aper as the emperor's murderer, Diocles gains the support of the emperor's guards and captures the corrupt provost. As Drusilla and Delphia watch, Diocles presents Aper and the corpse to the Romans, then executes Aper, fulfilling the prophecy and causing Delphia to call for the music of the spheres. Diocles asks that his name be changed to Dioclesianus. Delphia and Drusilla are dismayed that Diocles does not acknowledge their assistance, and are even more dismayed when he accepts the offer of marriage to Aurelia, the sister of Numerianus and Charinus. When Delphia confronts Diocles, he insists that his new rank demands that he marry a princess, not someone of Drusilla's "cheap common sweetness." Delphia casts several spells to complicate Diocles' pursuit of Aurelia, including one that causes Aurelia and Maximinian to fall in love. After Aurelia rebuffs him, Diocles plots to kill Maximinian. Drusilla still loves and pities Diocles, and after Delphia reveals the spells, Diocles begs Drusilla's forgiveness. It is a ploy, however, to counteract Delphia's intervention, and saddens Drusilla when Diocles rejects her again. In the dumb show, Diocles fights Maximinian over Aurelia, lays his sword at Aurelia's feet, is rejected by Aurelia, and is unable to prevent her capture by the Persian soldiers and ambassadors. Blaming his behavior toward Drusilla and Delphia for the Persian attack, Diocles vows to redeem his friends from the Persians. With the loyal support of the Roman senate and guards, Diocles decides to attack Persia. He prays to Delphia for assistance. She scoffs at his vows to be faithful to Drusilla, but when Drusilla kisses Diocles, Delphia relents and casts a spell to assist his fleet and troops. Diocles defeats the Persians, and appears in triumph with the Persian captives. Charinus and Niger propose additional honors for Diocles, which Maximinian envies. Diocles, in a stoical speech, declines the honors and releases the Persian prisoners without ransom. Announcing he intends to dedicate his life to virtue, Diocles names Maximinian as emperor, renounces Aurelia, and proposes to Drusilla. Living in the country in retirement, Drusilla and Diocles are happy together, and on a walk through a grove, are presented with flowers and a song by a Spirit dwelling in a Crystal Well. Local shepherds and shepherdesses, assisted by Geta and by Spirits playing Pan and Ceres, dance for Drusilla and Diocles; the dance is interrupted when a Spirit informs Delphia that Maximinian is on his way to kill Diocles. Diocles vigorously chastises his nephew, but Maximinian is determined to kill his uncle and thus rule in safety. Delphia conjures thunder, lightning, and an earthquake, then summons a hand holding a thunderbolt to descend from the heavens. Maximinian repents moments before the drums of Charinus' army are heard. Diocles forgives his nephew, and the country dance resumes.
DIOCLESIANUS
The name by which Diocles is known after he kills Aper and is made co-emperor of Rome.
DRUSILLA
Niece of the prophetess Delphia. Drusilla is in love with Diocles. Delphia has predicted Diocles will marry Drusilla when he becomes emperor, a possibility that seems unlikely given Diocles' lowly social station. Drusilla begs her aunt to make Diocles love her or at least to moderate her passion for him. When Diocles kills Aper and becomes co-emperor of Rome, Drusilla asks Delphia to be allowed to witness his triumph, and the women travel to Rome in "a Throne drawn by Dragons." They are dismayed to find that Diocles appears to have forgotten them because his co-emperor, Charinus, has promised his sister Aurelia's hand in marriage to Diocles. Drusilla is jealous of Aurelia's beauty, and is rejected by Diocles because of her low social standing. When Aurelia in turn rejects Diocles, because of a spell cast by Delphia, Drusilla sees him in his misery and forgives him. She does not realize he is asking for her forgiveness in order to further his relationship with Aurelia. When Delphia shows Drusilla proof of Diocles' infidelity, Drusilla is greatly saddened. After the Persians, with Delphia's assistance, capture Charinus, Aurelia, and Maximinian, Diocles prays to Delphia for assistance. Delphia is unconvinced by Diocles' new vows to be faithful to Drusilla, but Drusilla immediately forgives and kisses him, persuading her aunt to cast spells to help Diocles' fleet and troops defeat the Persians. When Diocles returns in triumph and is offered additional honors, he declines them, gives the empire to his nephew Maximinian, and proposes to Drusilla, who gladly accepts. Living in the country in retirement, Drusilla and Diocles are happy together, and on a walk through a grove, are presented with flowers and a song by a Spirit dwelling in a Crystal Well. Local shepherds and shepherdesses, assisted by Geta and by Spirits playing Pan and Ceres, dance for Drusilla and Diocles; the dance is interrupted when a Spirit informs Delphia that Maximinian is on his way to kill Diocles. Delphia thwarts this plot and the dance continues.
EGON
A "ghost character." An elderly shepherd with a cold who is to help Alexis, Ladon, and Thirsis with the country entertainment planned for Diocles.
FLAMEN
A holy man. Brought in to certify the legitimacy of the marriage between Diocles and Aurelia, the Flamen claims that "the signs are fatal" and the marriage should not take place.
GETA
Diocles' jester and the son of a tiler. Geta complains about his workload while assisting Diocles at a boar hunt. When Diocles becomes co-emperor of Rome after killing Aper, Geta–now wish to be called Getianus–becomes a justice and uses his power badly. Eager to dispense justice, Geta is dismayed by the dearth of criminals and begins to plot ways to drum up business for the court. He insults Delphia the prophetess and her niece Drusilla when they ask to see Diocles, and has Delphia arrested. Delphia promises Geta one of her devils as a servant if he will release her. She conjures a She-Devil, Lucifera, who kisses Geta, sits on his lap, and causes his chair to do a dance. The She-Devil whispers something in Geta's ear that causes him to repent and announce that he is returning to the life of a tiler. Instead, he joins the Roman troops in their battle against the Persians, and behaves like a coward on the battlefield. Complaining of nonexistent severe wounds and threatened by his fellow Romans, Geta helps defeat three Persian soldiers. During their triumphant entry into Rome, Diocles praises Geta's fighting skills. When the three shepherds and two countrymen meet to plan an entertainment for the retired Diocles, Geta interrupts them, but his pretentious dismissal of their efforts is overruled by Delphia who persuades Geta to "be a merry man again" and help rehearse the dancers.
GETIANUS
The name by which Diocles' jester Geta would like to be known after Diocles becomes co-emperor of Rome and adopts the name Dioclesianus.
GUARDS
Three guards are stationed at the covered litter holding the emperor Numerianus' corpse. The guards, like most Romans, believe Aper's assertion that the emperor is alive but unable to come into the sunlight because of his sensitive eyes. The guards watch Diocles kill Camurius and hear his defense. When Diocles reveals the emperor's corpse, the guards shift their loyalty to him, and confirm their loyalty once he is named co-emperor. In the dumb show, the guards are unable to prevent Aurelia, Cassana, Charinus, and Maximinian from being captured by the Persians, primarily because Delphia raises a mist to hide the Persian soldiers. The guards remain loyal to Diocles after the attack and support his plans to counterattack the Persians. When Geta proposes to desert the army, the guards encourage him to stay, resorting to force when Geta tries to flee the battlefield.
LADON
The third of four shepherds, along with Alexis, Egon, and Thirsis, arranging a country entertainment for Diocles.
LICTORS, TWO
Roman officials. After Geta's promotion, he employs the two Lictors to perform unreasonable orders, such as whipping a suitor to Geta for having eaten garlic. The Lictors offer Geta poor advice about using and keeping his authority.
LUCIFERA
The she-devil raised by Delphia to punish Geta for his abuse of power. Lucifera sits on Geta's knee, kisses him, causes his chair to do a dance, and whispers in his ear, after which the merry knave repents and decides to return to a life as a tiler.
MAXIMINIAN
Diocles' nephew and a melancholy man. Skeptical of Delphia's prophecy that his uncle will become emperor, Maximinian decides to test the prophetess's powers by trying to shoot her with an arrow. She detects this plot and paralyzes his arm. After Diocles kills Aper and become co-emperor, Maximinian speaks a soliloquy about his envy of his uncle's new glory and power. Delphia has used a spell to make Maximinian discontent, and uses another to force him to fall in love with Aurelia. A similar spell forces Aurelia to fall in love with Maximinian, much to the dismay of Diocles. In the dumb show, the Persian soldiers capture Maximinian. Freed after a battle led by his uncle, and jealous of Diocles' new honors, Maximinian watches dumbfounded as Diocles receives and then rejects Rome's highest honors. Diocles gives the empire, and his rights to Aurelia, to Maximinian. The Chorus arrives to provide a compressed account of Maximinian's ambition-driven transformation into a tyrant. Maximinian reveals to Aurelia his terror of being overthrown by his uncle Diocles or her brother Charinus; Aurelia agrees to disown her brother and dismisses Diocles as harmless. Meeting Charinus, Maximinian exchanges accusations and insults with his co-emperor. Deciding that to rule in peace he first needs to kill his uncle Diocles, Maximinian travels with soldiers to Diocles' country estate. He is chastised by his uncle, yet remains determined to kill him until Delphia produces thunder, lightning, and an earthquake, rendering Maximinian's soldiers useless. Maximinian repents and is forgiven by Diocles.
NIGER
A loyal soldier and a servant to the emperor Numerianus. Niger reveals his suspicions that the emperor has been murdered to Charinus, Numerianus' brother. Niger identifies Aper as the killer and suggests that Charinus put a price on Aper's head. When Charinus agrees, Niger discreetly spreads the word that Aper's killer will be named co-emperor and will win the hand of Aurelia, Charinus' sister. Diocles hears Niger make this offer. After Aper's execution, Niger announces the arrival of Charinus and Aurelia, and Diocles rewards him by making him pro-consul of France. In the dumb show, Niger tries to persuade Aurelia to marry Diocles, and is unable to defend Aurelia and Charinus against the Persians. After expressing his loyalty to Diocles, who proposes to rescue the captives, Niger negotiates the terms of the battle between the Romans and Persians and entreats the Persians to treat their captives well. When the Romans defeat the Persians, Niger announces the victory, and suggests additional honors for Diocles. Diocles declines the honors and gives his share of the empire to his nephew Maximinian. When Maximinian and Charinus have a falling out over how to rule Rome, Niger attempts to appease Charinus.
NUMERIANUS
A "ghost character." Emperor of Rome and brother of Charinus and Aurelia, Numerianus has been murdered by his provost Aper, who pretends the emperor is still alive but refusing to come out of his covered litter because his eyes are too sensitive to light. Numerianus' putrefying corpse causes Aper some difficulty in sustaining his charade, and once Aper is captured, the corpse is displayed to expose the provost's treachery.
PAN
A Spirit costumed as Pan leads the Shepherds in a dance choreographed by Delphia in honor of Diocles and Drusilla.
PERSIAN LORDS
Members of Cosroe's court, the two Persian Lords express their admiration for the Roman captives.
SENATORS
Two Roman Senators witness the trial of Aper and name Diocles emperor after Diocles executes the corrupt provost. After the Persian attack on Rome, the Senators express the country's support for Diocles and his efforts to rescue Charinus, Aurelia, and Maximinian.
SHE–DEVIL
Lucifera, a devil raised by Delphia to punish Geta's arrogant abuse of his judicial power. The She-Devil sits on Geta's lap and causes his chair to dance. She whispers in his ear, causing him to repent and vow to return to life as a tiler.
SHEPHERDS
Three Roman shepherds. Alexis, Ladon, and Thirsis marvel that Diocles has returned the countryside to prosperity and enabled its inhabitants to hold their traditional celebrations. In gratitude, they (along with a fourth shepherd, Egon) plan a country entertainment for Diocles.
SHEPHERDESSES
Led by Ceres, the unnumbered Shepherdesses perform a dance choreographed by Delphia to honor Diocles.
SOLDIERS
During the dumb show, Persian soldiers conspire with Delphia who uses her magic rod to enable the soldiers to rescue their princess Cassana and capture Aurelia, Charinus, and Maximinian. Delphia raises a mist to allow the soldiers and their captives to escape from Rome. During the battle between Rome and Persia, Geta and two Roman guards defeat three Persian soldiers. Two Roman soldiers accompany Maximinian when he comes to kill Diocles, but the thunder and lightning Delphia sends causes an earthquake that prevents the soldiers from moving.
SPIRITS
At Delphia's command, a Spirit from a Crystal Well enters as flowers rise from the well; the spirit sings for Diocles and Drusilla. A second spirit enters during the dance of the Shepherds and Shepherdesses and warns Delphia that Maximinian is on his way to kill Diocles. Two additional spirits in the forms of Pan and Ceres dance for Diocles and Drusilla.
SUITORS
Four Suitors approach Diocles' jester Geta, who has been promoted to the chair of justice. Geta treats them poorly, accepts their bribes, and allows the fourth suitor to attempt to pander his daughter to Geta in return for favors.
THIRSIS
A "ghost character." A shepherd who is to help Alexis, Egon, and Ladon with the country entertainment planned for Diocles.