THREE PLAYS IN ONE, or
2 SEVEN DEADLY SINS The text of this play is lost, but a plot survives.
21 February 1585 (projected) revived as 2 Seven Deadly Sins by Strange's circa 1590; and (possibly) as Four Plays in One on 6 March 1592
a synoptic, alphabetical character list
ADRIEL
An angel. He helps Gabriel convince Mahomet that he should investigate
reports of the Arabs' sinfulness before punishing them. Sings the fifth
song-a debate about the relative importance of the virtues-along with
Mahomet, Gabriel, the Chorus of Spirits, and Metraon. On Mahomet's order,
Adriel goes northward in search of Mahomet's missing agents, Haroth and
Maroth. When Epimenide arrives in Heaven, he takes her for some sort of
beast.
ALPATIA
One of Sardinapalus' concubines. Appears in the second playlet.
ARBACTUS
A Captain under Sardinapalus. He discovers Sardinapalus' hedonism and
cross-dressing and attacks the King. He and the other captains
successfully defeat the King.
ATTENDANTS
Attendants to Ferrex and Porrex. Appear in the first playlet.
CAPTAINS
Captains under Sardinapalus. Appear in the second playlet. They help
Arbactus defeat Sardinapalus.
COUNCILLORS
Advisors to Gorboduc. Appear in the first playlet.
COVETOUSNESS
A mute character. One of the seven deadly sins. Appears in the first
scene with the other six sins.
DORDAN
Porrex's servant. Appears in the first playlet.
DAMASUS
Appears in the first playlet.
ENVY
Envie is one of the seven deadly sins. Appears in the first scene with the other
six sins, then crosses the stage again to announce the first playlet, which
dramatizes envy.
FERREX
Gorboduc's son. Appears in first playlet. When Gorboduc divides his
kingdom between his two sons, they feud. Their dispute turns into civil
war. Ultimately, Porrex kills Ferrex in a swordfight.
GIRALDUS
One of Sardinapalus' concubines. Appears in the second playlet.
GLUTTONY
A mute character. One of the seven deadly sins. Appears in the first
scene with the other six sins.
GORBODUC
Legendary early British king. Appears in the first playlet. After
consulting with his Lords, he divides his kingdom between his two sons.
This spurs a civil war between them and Porrex ultimately kills Ferrex.
HENRY VI
King Henry VI of England. The first scene reveals him sleeping. The plot
indicates that there is a tent on stage, but also suggests that Henry is in
a room in the Tower. He wakes in the second scene and watches subsequent
scenes with Lidgate. The plot does not clarify the relationship between
these layers of theatricality. W. W. Greg postulates that the scenes in
the Tower that bookend the play are an induction in which Henry is
dreaming; his dreams take him to the battlefield (the tent) and through
three stories dramatizing the sins of envy, sloth, and lechery. In the
final scene before the epilogue, Warwick visits his cell, presumably to
free him.
ITIS
Tereus and Progne's son. Appears in the third playlet. Progne and
Philomele kill him and serve his head to Tereus.
JULIO
A subject of Tereus and Progne. Appears in the third playlet.
KEEPER
Keeper of the Tower of London. He holds Henry VI captive. Appears in the
second scene.
LADY
Attendant upon Queen Videna. Appears in the first playlet.
LECHERY
One of the seven deadly sins. Appears in the first scene with the other
six sins, then crosses the stage again to announce the third playlet, which
dramatizes lechery.
LIDGATE
Watches the three playlets with Henry. He acts as expositor for the dumb
shows and also interjects in the middle of the first and second playlets,
thereby dividing these playlets into two acts each. He also delivers the
epilogue.
LIEUTENANT
Lieutenant of the Tower. Appears in the induction scenes.
LORDS
Advisors to Gorboduc. Appear in the first playlet.
LORDS
Advisors to Tereus. Appear in the third playlet. They hunt with Tereus
and witness Philomele serve Itis' head to the King.
LUCIUS
Appears in the first playlet.
MERCURY
A mute character. Appears in the dumb show at the end of the third
playlet.
MESSENGER
Appears in the second playlet.
MUSICIANS
Appear in the second playlet. Provide entertainment for Sardinapalus and
his concubines.
NICANOR
A Captain under Sardinapalus. He helps Arbactus defeat Sardinapalus.
PANTHEA
Companion of Queen Progne (perhaps Itis' nurse?) Appears in the third
playlet.
PHILOMELE
Progne's sister. Appears in the third playlet. Tereus rapes her, then
cuts out her tongue so she cannot reveal his crime. She finds a way to
tell Progne (the common legend is that she weaves the story into a
tapestry, although the plot gives no indication of how Progne learns the
truth in Tarlton's play). She brings Itis' head to Tereus in a dish.
PHRONESIUS
One of Sardinapalus' concubines. Appears in the second playlet.
POMPEIA
One of Sardinapalus' concubines. Appears in the second playlet.
PORREX
Gorboduc's son. Appears in first playlet. When Gorboduc divides his
kingdom between his two sons, they feud. Their dispute turns into civil
war. Ultimately, Porrex kills Ferrex in a swordfight.
PRIDE
A mute character. One of the seven deadly sins. Appears in the first
scene with the other six sins.
PROGNE
Tereus' wife, Philomele's sister, Itis' mother. Appears in the third
playlet. When she learns that Tereus has raped and mutilated her sister,
she beheads Itis and serves his head to Tereus in a dish.
QUEEN VIDENA
Ferrex's and Porrex's mother. Appears in the first playlet.
RODOPE
One of Sardinapalus' concubines. Appears in the second playlet.
SARDINAPALUS
Legendary Assyrian king. Appears in the second playlet. Arbactus
discovers that he is a cross-dressing hedonist and leads a revolt against
him. He flees with "as many Jewels robes and Gold as he can carry."
SERVANT
Servant to the Keeper of the Tower. Appears in the second scene.
SLOTH
One of the seven deadly sins. Appears in the first scene with the other
six sins, then crosses the stage again to announce the second playlet,
which dramatizes sloth.
SOLDIERS
Soldiers under Ferrex and Porrex. Appear in the first playlet.
TEREUS
King of Thrace. Appears in the third playlet. He rapes his wife's sister,
Philomele, then cuts out her tongue so she cannot reveal his crime. When
his wife learns of his deeds, she and Philomele kill his son, Itis, and
serve his head to Tereus on a platter.
WARDER
Warder of the Tower. Possibly a mute character. Appears in the induction
scenes.
WARWICK
The Earl of Warwick, King-Maker. He comes into Henry's tower cell in the
penultimate scene of the play, presumably to espouse his cause and free the
captive monarch.
WILL FOOL
A clown. Appears in the second playlet.
WRATH
A mute character. One of the seven deadly sins. Appears in the first
scene with the other six sins.