Philip Massinger,
The Bondman

I.ii: Syracuse. A room in Cleon's house . Cleon, a fat, impotent lord, and Corisca, his wife, banter about their sex lives. It is soon clear that Corsica is sleeping with a young, energetic doctor, but flatters her husband into believing that she knows he is equally unfaithful.

I.iii: The Senate house . Archidamus, Cleon, Diphilus, a senator of Syracuse, Olympia, a rich widow, Corisca, Cleora, daughter of Archidamus, and Zanthia, a slave to Corisca, enter. Archidamus announces Syracuse's need for the guidance of Corinth, and asks that the ladies need to do their best to welcome Timoleon and his followers. The men leave and the ladies are left to discuss the attributes of Corinthian men.

Archidamus, Diphilus, and Cleon lead in Timagoras, Leosthenes, Asotus and Timoleon. The slaves, Pisander, Gracculo, and Cimbrio, follow. Timoleon accepts the position as head of the state offered to him by Archidamus. His first decree is that all private money must be forfeited to the public treasury. At this, the lords object. Cleora speaks up, outraged at the behavior of the noblemen and women. She offers the jewels she is wearing as a show of support to the men of the army of Syracuse, one of whom she loves. The others, humbled by Cleora's actions, promise to give their wealth to the treasury. Inspired by Cleora, Timoleon asks if he may wear her colors in combat. She agrees. The other women are jealous. The slaves, worried as to what their part in the fighting will be, plan a meeting for the next night.

II.i: A room in Archidamus' house . Archidamus tells Timagoras and Leosthenes, who are attended by Pisander (disguised as the slave Marullo), what living conditions they might expect in the army. Diphilus and Cleora enter. Archidamus bids Cleora farewell and instructs Pisander to take care of his daughter. Leosthenes is left alone with Cleora, and predictably commences to affirm his love for her. He expresses worry that she will find another while he is gone. Cleora attempts to comfort him, and says that she will wear a band around her eyes so that she may see no other man, and stay sequestered in her room until he returns.

II.ii: A room in Cleon's house . Asotus is chiding Gracculo for the horse that threw him that morning when Corisca enters with Zanthia. Corisca misses the attentions of her husband, but states that she will not stoop so low as to sleep with a tailor or shoemaker, as some other women have been doing. She inquires after his pursuit of Cleora; Asotus responds that it is not going well. Corisca seductively suggests that Asotus reenact his encounters with Cleora, this time with Corisca taking her part. Asotus believes that Corisca wishes to have him and finds no wrong in this since she is only his stepmother. Corisca resists just as Cleon enters to say goodbye.

II.iii: A grove near the Walls of Syracuse . Pisander is speaking with his confident Poliphron, a gentleman who has unselfishly disguised himself as a slave to help his friend, when Cimbrio, Gracculo, and other slaves enter. Pisander hopes to get them all slightly drunk before he makes his proposal that all the slaves should rise up together and defy their lords and ladies.

III.i: A room in Archidamus' house . Timandra, the sister of Pisander, disguised as a slave to Cleora, informs Pisander that Cleora is still steadfast in her vow. Hoping for her support, Pisander tells his sister that she must make Cleora both empathetic to his political cause of revolt, and sympathetic to his personal enslavement to her. Timandra leaves as Poliphron enters with news that the slaves have taken to "leaping, shouting, drinking, dancing, [and] whoring" in the streets.

III.ii: Another room in Archidamus' house . Timandra, who has also disguised herself as a slave, tells Cleora that her brother, the slave Marullo, is in love. Marullo/Pisander explains to Cleora that he loves her. Since Leosthenes is away, he would now only like to be "paid for all my sufferings" while Leosthenes is away. He offers Cleora time to think on the matter.

III.iii: A room in Cleon's house . A slave revolt has taken place: Gracculo enters leading Asotus in an ape's costume with a chain around his neck. Zanthia follows wearing Corisca's clothes, while Corisca carries the train. Gracculo and Zanthia are taking great pleasure in treating Asotus and Corisca as slaves. Cimbrio, Cleon, Poliphron and Olympia enter. Poliphron, sill acting as a slave, introduces Olympia, a rich widow who has agreed to marry him. Gracculo demands a celebration, to which music is played and everyone dances. Pisander enters upon this with news that he has prepared a banquet for Cleon, Corisca, Asotus, with Marullo/Pisander, who guards them. Corisca and Asotus both apologize to Cleon: the wife for unfaithfulness; the son for attempting to seduce his stepmother. Cleon forgives them as Marullo/Pisander observes their "human frailty." The slaves return, drunk and quarreling. Marullo/Pisander orders his prisoners be taken away. Addressing the slaves, he reminds them of the revolt and the importance, now more than ever, of being prepared.

III.iv: The country near Syracuse. The camp of Timoleon . Timagoras reassures Leosthenes that his sister is faithfully awaiting his return.

IV.i: A room in Archidamus' house . Timandra/Stitilia explains to Marullo/Pisander that Cleora longs for Leosthenes' return, but is worried that his return will mean that Marullo/Pisander will be executed. Heartened by her agony, he presses on with the slave revolt.

IV.ii: Before the walls of Syracuse . The army returns from its successful campaign against Carthage. Timoleon praises the men on their fighting, especially Leosthenes. Suddenly they realize that the gates are locked against them, and they see armed slaves upon the walls, led by Marullo/Pisander. Gracculo claims that they now hold control. Pisander exclaims that they are tired of tyranny. Timoleon promises to retake the city by force. Senators enter with whips, which sends a portion of the slaves running, frightened, away. But Leosthenes explains that he cannot fight without first knowing of the condition of Cleora.

IV.iii: A room in Archidamus' house . Pisander explains to his sister, Timandra, that Leosthenes has followed him. Concerned to Cleora's safety, he plans on seeing her if possible. At this, Leosthenes comes forward, declaring that he has no doubt Cleora was abused by Marullo. Timandra denies his accusations and brings in the still-blinded Cleora. Leosthenes unbinds her eyes, and implores her to speak. Cleora explains that while she was at the mercy of Marullo, he never once took advantage of her. She says she loves him for his suffering, and asks that Leosthenes find it in his heart not to harm him.

IV.iv: Another room in Archidamus' house . The slave revolt has been put down. Yet Timagoras, Cleon, Asotus, Corisca, and Olympia, who is there despite being newly-married to Philophron, reflect upon recent events. They blame the slave revolt on their own tyrannous actions, and licentious lifestyles. Leosthenes and Diphilus enter with a guard to arrest the leader of the slaves, Marullo/Pisander. He is found in Cleora's room.

V.i: A room in Archidamus' house . Cleora laments over having to choose between Marullo/Pisander and Leosthenes, both of whom love her. Timandra/Stitilia enters with news that Marullo has been arrested. Cleora is outraged and leaves to speak with her brother, Timagoras. Upon her exit, Leosthenes and Timagoras enter at the house. Timandra informs them that Cleora has departed for the prison to see to Marullo's care. She also reveals that Archidamus has promised to do his best at securing freedom for Marullo since his daughter loves him.

V.ii: A prison. Pisander discovered in chains . Half-delirious, Marullo/Pisander believes Cleora to be an angel from heaven. He protests her tears when Leosthenes and Timagoras enter. Cleora is in the process of promising herself to Marullo/Pisander when Timagoras steps forward and states that Marullo is to be hanged. Cleora attempts to defend Pisander and Timagoras pulls his sword with the intent to kill Pisander. Archidamus and Diphilus enter with guards to stop the assault. He states that all will be decided in court.

V.iii: The court of justice . Timoleon enters, prepared to hear the arguments. Timoleon states that he will hear Leosthenes first. Leosthenes states that he loves Cleora, and that she deserves better than Marullo, a slave. Marullo finally reveals that he is Pisander, a gentleman of Thebes. He states that Leosthenes is "more unworthy than myself." He notes that long before Leosthenes's love for Cleora, Leosthenes had promised himself to his sister Statilia-still disguised as Timandra-but then forgot about her. Pisander was going to kill Leosthenes, until he fell in love with Cleora. Since she loves him, he was willing to spare Leosthenes. Timandra now reveals herself as the jilted Statilia. Leosthenes is shocked, guilt-ridden-and yet delighted-to find Timandra is Statilia. He reveals that he still loves her and wishes to marry her. With this, Archidamus gives his consent for Cleora to marry Pisander. With this resolved, Gracculo, Cimbrio, Poliphron, Zanthia, and the rest of the slaves are brought in. Timoleon states that if they return to their masters as "obedient and humble," then justice will have been done. They all agree and Timoleon adjourns the court so that they may all celebrate.

Archidamus, the praetor of Syracusa and father of both Timagoras and Cleora, turns the city over to Timoleon's power, and asks all the women to be nice to him and his soldiers. Yet, he protects Pisander from being killed by Timagoras.

Diphilus, a senator of Syracusa, fights nobly against both the Carthaginians and the slave revolt.

Cleon, a fat, impotent lord, is married to the randy Corsica. He is the father of the foolish Asotus. He mistreats his slaves, but after the uprising, forgives his family for their infidelities to him, and blames himself for the slave uprising.

Pisander, a gentleman of Thebes disguise, as a slave named Marullo, leads a slave's revolt against Timoleon. He wants to kill Leosthenes, because the latter has abandoned Pisander's sister, Statilia, who appears in the play as the disguised Timandra. Pisander refrains from killing Leosthenes because Cleora asks him to. He leads a slave revolt, which is for a time successful. He is defeated by Timoleon, who returns from a war with Carthage. Cleora falls in live with him, and runs to the jail to see him. Timagoras, Cleora's brother tries to execute him. But he is saved by Archidamus. At the play's close, Timoleon allows Pisander to marry Cleora.

Poliphron, friend to Pisander, aids in the slave revolt and acts as a messenger for Pisander.

Leosthenes, a gentleman of Syracusa, was enamored of Statilia, is then enamored of Cleora. As he leaves for the wars, he asks her to promise to be true to him. When he finds that Marullo/Pisander is his rival, he is prepared to fight for her. After he helps put the revolt down, he appears in court to reclaim Cleora. Yet, after Statilia reveals herself, he once more promises to marry her.

Asotus, a son of Cleon, foolishly pursues Cleora abuses his slaves, harbors lust for his stepmother, and is held captive when the slaves revolt. After the revolt, he is apologetic to his father, whom he meant to cuckold.

Timagoras, the son of Archidamus, councils Leosthenes to be patient in his pursuit of his sister. When he finds that Marullo/Pisander has won the love of sister, Cleona, and now lies in chains in the jail, Timagoras attempts to kill him. He is stopped by his father.

Cleora, daughter of Archidamus, pursued by both Leosthenes and Marullo. At first, she seems interested in Leosthenes, and promises to wear a band around her eyes, so that she remain blind to temptation in his absence. But she quickly falls for Pisander, who she intends to marry at the close.

Corisca, a proud, wanton woman and wife of Cleon, sleeps around with her doctor, abuses her slaves, and entices her stepson, while her impotent husband is away at the wars. At one point, Corisca seductively suggests that Asotus re enact his encounters with Cleora, this time with Corisca taking her part. Asotus believes that Corisca wishes to have him and finds no wrong in this since she is only his stepmother. Corisca resists just as Cleon enters to say goodbye. After the revolt is put down, she will apologize to her husband for her actions.

Olympia, a rich widow, sympathetic to the slave revolt, falls in love with Poliphron and marries him.

Statilia, sister to Pisander, disguises herself as the slave Timandra. Long ago, she had a relationship with Leosthenes, but he abandoned her. She helps her brother gain access to Cleora, and is promises to marry Leosthenes at the close of the play.

Zanthia, slave to Corisca, she revolts and is able to exact revenge on her mistress but wearing Corsica's clothes, and forcing Corsica to be her slave.

Gracculo and Cimbrio, slaves; they revolt, and run amok through the city. They are spared at the end of the play by Timoleon, on the condition that they return to their masters.

A Gaoler, Officers, Senators, Guards and Other Slaves.