Anonymous
(O. Gwyn in part?)

THE PILGRIMAGE TO PARNASSUS

1598–1599

a synoptic, alphabetical character list

AMORETTO
Literally, one who loves (Latin). Amoretto resides in the Land of Poetry, and is reading Ovid when he encounters Philomusus and Studiosus. He quickly expresses his relief that the pilgrims have left the company of Stupido, whom he describes as a "moving piece of clay" and a "speaking asse." Philomusus and Studiosus are attracted by the promise of verse and sex in the Land of Poetry, and Amoretto promises to satisfy their urges, telling the pair to abandon the journey to Parnassus and take advantage of their youth.

CLOWN
Appearing briefly near the play's conclusion at Parnassus, the Clown is drawn onstage by Dromo, who has tied a rope around him. Dromo tells the Clown that all plays require a clown and instructs him to "drawe thy mouth awrye, laye thy legg ouer thy staffe, sawe a peece of cheese asunder with thy dagger, lape vp drinke on the earth," and the audience will laugh. When Dromo leaves him on stage alone, the Clown delivers a mock soliloquy lamenting his pain from the "great pinne" that "Cupid hath latelie prickt mee in the breech with." Dromo ushers the Clown from the stage when Philomusus and Studiosus arrive at Parnassus.

CONSILIODORUS
From the Latin "consilio," referring to one who advises or consults and possesses great mental ability and capacity for judgement. Philomusus's father and Studiosus's uncle, who offers them his "gray-bearded counsell" as they embark upon their pilgrimage. Consiliodorus advises Philomusus and Studiosus to be "warie pilgrims" and stay away from "graceless boys," "lozell, lazie, loiteringe gromes," "foggie sleepers," and "idle lumps," who will attempt to entice them into the taverns and away from their pilgrimage. As a scholar who "lives but poore," Consiliodorus believes in thriftiness and devotion to study.

CORINNA
A "ghost character". Amoretto's lover. She never appears onstage but is described in some detail by Amoretto, who praises her in Ovidian terms during his opening speech.

DROMO
Appearing briefly prior to the play's final scene at Parnassus, Dromo instructs the Clown on proper clown behavior. Dromo and the Clown's scene ostensibly seeks to be a kind of comic relief before the conclusion, drawing attention to the play's artifice and foreshadowing the disillusionment experienced by the pilgrims upon their arrival at Parnassus.

INGENIOSO
From the Latin; one who is "ingenious" or "naturally talented." Philomusus and Studiosus meet Ingenioso, an "ould schoolefelowe," in the Land of Philosophy. Ingenioso admits he is guilty of "mispending some time in Philosophie," which according to him, is full of barbarians, and as a result, he has begun to forsake the land. The pilgrims invite Ingenioso to join them, but he has "burnte [his] bookes, splitted [his] pen, rent [his] papers, and curste the cooseninge artes, that brought [him] up to noe better fortune." Overcome by disillusionment, Ingenioso advises Philomusus and Studiosus to return home, but they continue on their way.

MADIDO
From the Latin for "drunk" or "tipsy." When Philomusus and Studiosus meet Madido in Logic Land, he is reading Horace's Epistles and drinking wine. The pair invite Madido to join them on their journey to Parnassus, but he declines, since "there is scarce a good taverne or ale house" between Logic Land and Parnassus. Madido tells Philomusus and Studiosus that Parnassus and Hellicon are "but the fables of the poetes, there is noe true Parnassus but the third lofte in a wine taverne, noe true Hellicon but a cup of browne bastard." Though he tries to persuade the pilgrims that drink will inspire them more than Parnassus ever can, they resist Madido, and continue on their journey.

PHILOMUSUS
From the Latin roots; literally, "one who loves poetry." Philomusus, son of Consiliodorus and a student of "beardless years," and "budded youth," sets out with Studiosus to find Helicon and Parnassus at the beginning of the play, a journey that allegorically parallels their education at university. The pilgrims first pass through Logic Land, which according to "Seton's mapp," is "muche like Wales, full of craggie mountaines and thornie vallies." There Philomusus and Studiosus meet the intoxicated Madido, but manage to resist the temptations of the taverns. When the pilgrims reach the Land of Rhetoric, Stupido the Puritan rages against poetry, philosophy, and rhetoric, but is unable to dissuade them from continuing to Parnassus. Amoretto greets them in the Land of Poetry, where Philomusus and Studiosus encounter the most difficult test of all, the lure of sex and poetry. The last stage of their journey is through the Land of Philosophy, where they face Ingenioso's extreme disillusionment. At the end of four years, the pilgrims reach Parnassus, where Philomusus declares he will "lie with Phoebus by the Muses springes."

STUDIOSUS
From the Latin for "full of zeal; eager; fond of," and likely punning on the fact that Studiosus is a student and therefore one who studies. Also known as Studioso in some editions. Sets out with Philomusus, a cousin and fellow student, to find Helicon and Parnassus at the beginning of the play, a journey that allegorically parallels their education at university. The pilgrims first pass through Logic Land, which according to "Seton's mapp," is "muche like Wales, full of craggie mountaines and thornie vallies." There Philomusus and Studiosus meet the intoxicated Madido, but manage to resist the temptations of the taverns. When the pilgrims reach the Land of Rhetoric, Stupido the Puritan rages against poetry, philosophy, and rhetoric, but is unable to dissuade them from continuing to Parnassus. Amoretto greets them in the Land of Poetry, where Philomusus and Studiosus encounter the most difficult test of all, the lure of sex and poetry. The last stage of their journey is through the Land of Philosophy, where they face Ingenioso's extreme disillusionment. After four years of traveling, the pilgrims arrive at Parnassus, and the metaphorical end of their education.

STUPIDO
In Latin: "senseless," "stupid," and "dull." Puritan and enemy of learning whom Philomusus and Studiosus encounter while traveling through the Land of Rhetoric. Stupido opposes the theatre and all "vain arts," particularly "Rhetorique, Poetrie, and Philosphie," which he calls the "rags and parings of learning." Stupido criticizes the "diabolicall ruffs" and "wicked great breeches full of sin" worn by those who study and practice rhetoric. After advising Philomusus and Studiosus to abandon the profane arts and purchase volumes of catechisms, Stupido parts company with the pair prior to their arrival in the Land of Poetry.