The Duke of Ferrara disguises himself as an ambassador to the court of the Duchess Urbino. In his disguised role, the duke is able to watch Aurelio pretending to be Borgia and attracting the attention of both the duchess and Cornelia. The Ambassador/Duke is also involved in the sundry games and series of mistaken meanings and identities presented by Cornelia and the duchess. The Ambassador is revealed as duke at the play's end and will wed the Duchess Urbino.
ASCANIO
Ascanio is the son of the innkeeper Grutti. He and his father go to great lengths to please Pimponio-the servant of Aurelio-as he poses as a Spanish prince in disguise. Donning a Switzer habit and pretending to be a High German, Ascanio sets Pimponio up with a falsified call to court the duchess.
AURELIO
Aurelio Andreozzi is a Milanese noble who, upon entering Urbino, is mistaken for the banished Borgia. Accepting the false role, Aurelio is summoned to court where the Duchess Urbino pardons him for the killing of Ursini's brother. Through the course of the play Aurelio thinks he has fallen in love with Cornelia, the sister of the Borgia that Aurelio pretends to be. He also attracts the attention of the duchess and spends many confused moments uncertain of where his affections truly lie and of what his destiny shall truly be. Eventually he finds no true opportunity in Urbino; he and companion Pisauro leave town to continue the search for beauteous women and adventure that had initially brought them to Urbino.
BORGIA
A "ghost character." Borgia, the son of Mercutio and the brother of Cornelia, never appears in the play, but his identity is assumed by Aurelio, who is mistaken for Borgia upon entering Urbino. The real Borgia has been banished for killing Ursini's brother; the real Borgia also obtains a pardon for this deed, should he ever return in earnest.
CORNELIA
Cornelia is the daughter of Mercutio and the sister to the banished Borgia. She, too, accepts Aurelio as her brother, wondering only at the passionate feelings she now entertains for her sibling. Close to the duchess and involved in the series of mistaken identities and misheard conversations that totally confuse Aurelio, Cornelia eventually decides that though Aurelio is not really her brother Borgia, her true hope of happiness lies in wedding Ursini, who has loved her long and faithfully.
DUCHESS URBINO
The Duchess Urbino is pleased to honor Ursini's request for Borgia's pardon, for she expresses an interest in Borgia herself, unaware that the man is truly Aurelio Andreozzi from Milan. She installs Aurelio in her vacant secretary's post, thereby keeping him close to her court. As the result of a series of mistaken identities and misheard conversations, Aurelio becomes confused about the duchess' feelings for him; the duchess at times encourages Aurelio and yet at other times scolds him for being too opportunistic. By the end of the play, it is the Duke of Ferrara who will wed the Duchess Urbino.
DUKE of FERRARA
The Duke of Ferrara disguises himself as an ambassador to the court of the Duchess Urbino. In his disguised role, the duke is able to watch Aurelio pretending to be Borgia and attracting the attention of both the duchess and Cornelia. The Ambassador/Duke is also involved in the sundry games and series of mistaken meanings and identities presented by Cornelia and the duchess. The Ambassador is revealed as duke at the play's end and will wed the Duchess Urbino.
DUKE URBINO
A "ghost character." Duke Urbino is the deceased husband of the Duchess Urbino.
GRUTTI
Grutti is an innkeeper and the father of Ascanio. Originally fooled by Pimponio's masquerade as a Spanish prince, Grutti eventually helps his son turn the tables on Pimponio and show up the servant for what he truly is.
JULIO
A courtier in the duchess' court at Urbino, Julio is the third person in the play to mistake Aurelio for Borgia.
LAURA
Laura is a lady attending the Duchess Urbino. She and Melinda note how the duchess is emotionally affected by Aurelio, who poses as Borgia.
LUCIO
Lucio is a courtier in the duchess' court at Urbino. He is the first to mistake the visiting Aurelio for Borgia.
MELINDA
Melinda is a lady attending the Duchess Urbino. She and Laura note how the duchess is emotionally affected by Aurelio, who poses as Borgia.
MERCUTIO
Mercutio is the father of Cornelia and of the banished Borgia. Not recognizing that Aurelio is not Borgia, Mercutio accepts Aurelio as his son and is made comptroller of the duchess' household. Originally aghast that his "son" would even consider marriage with the duchess a possibility, Mercutio later agrees that his son should accept whatever preferment and opportunity come his way. Consequently, when the Duke of Ferrara dons Borgia's cloak, Mercutio mistakes the duke for Borgia and allows entrance to the duchess, who has forbade entry to all save Borgia.
PAOLO ANDREOZZI
A "ghost character." Paolo Andreozzi is the major domo to the Duke of Milan and is the father of Aurelio.
PIETRO
Pietro is a courtier in the duchess' court in Urbino. He is the second person to mistake the visiting Aurelio for Borgia, and he remarks that "Borgia" may repent having returned.
PIMPONIO
This servant of Aurelio is left behind at Grutti's inn while his master and Pisauro explore the city. Certain that his unreturned master is dead, Pimponio uses his master's gold and sets himself up as a Spanish prince, disguised and intent upon courting the duchess. When Grutti and Ascanio trick Pimponio into appearing at court, the masquerading servant next claims to be the Duke of Ferrara. Pimponio's farce ends when he leaves Urbino, again in service to Aurelio.
PISAURO
Pisauro is Aurelio's friend and companion. He plays along when Aurelio accepts the role of Borgia, just as he does not immediately betray Pimponio's masquerade as a Spanish prince, though he connives with Grutti and Ascanio to reveal Pimponio's foolishness before the duchess. At the play's end, Pisauro leaves Urbino with Aurelio; both men go in search of wars.
SERVANT, FIRST and SECOND
The First and Second Servants work for the false "prince" Pimponio. The First Servant finds his master unusually jovial for Spaniard. The Second Servant comments upon the majesty with which Pimponio consumes alcohol.
UNCLE
A "ghost character." The Uncle is mentioned as the deceased uncle of Borgia; his estate passed to Mercutio.
URSINI
Ursini lives at court in Urbino. As a favorite of the duchess, he obtains a pardon for Borgia; though Borgia had killed Ursini's brother, Ursini wants no bad blood between himself and Borgia's family, for Ursini has been courting Borgia's sister Cornelia. By the end of the play, Aurelio is revealed to be a visiting Milanese and is not Borgia, the brother of Cornelia; Ursini and Cornelia plan to wed.