An Egyptian Lady. Also referred to as "the Moor." In reality, Acanthe is Milesia in disguise, and dares not reveal her true identity upon hearing prince Lysicles's interest in Hermione. She counsels Hermione on issues of love and helps her to put a stop to the prince's claim, since she intends to win his love back. She sends Lysicles to the tomb of Milesia and there, disguised as Milesia's ghost, tells him that "the Moor" was responsible for Milesia's death. She is, therefore, poisoned by Lysicles, who, on hearing that she is no other than Milesia herself, orders the Physician to provide him with the antidote, restores her health and takes her as his bride.
AGENOR
A stranger. It is because of his conversation with Phormio and his interest on Milesia's story that the play opens with the narrative of Milesia's alleged murder.
ARIMON
A "ghost character." Also referred to as Strimon. Mentioned by Phormio to narrate Milesia's presumed murder. Governor of Thessaly, father to prince Lysicles and commander of the Thessalian fleet. He defeats the Duke of Argos, commander of the Spartan fleet and uncle of Milesia. He is succeeded as governor by Eugenio.
ARNALDO
A physician. He provides Lysicles with the poison for Acanthe the Moor and, once it becomes known that Acanthe is no other but Milesia in disguise, he provides the antidote to restore her health.
CLEON
A libertine, companion to Ergasto. Aided by Phormio, he tries to win Hermione's favors for Ergasto, discusses his master's taste for women, and plots to stop Lysicles in the race to win Hermione's love. He fancies Phillida.
DUKE of ARGOS
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Phormio to recount the story of Milesia's alleged murder. Commander of the Spartan fleet, he is defeated by Arimon, governor of Thessaly and father to prince Lysicles. He plans the death of his own niece, Milesia, because she loves Lysicles, but at the end we learn that Milesia is alive, and that her uncle, seeing that his servants had killed Milesia's servant instead, clothes the dead body in Milesia's robe and leaves a note saying that she has died for her love, hence he has stirred all the confusion in the play.
ERGASTO
A young wild Lord. Main suitor of Hermione, and rival to Eugenio and Lysicles. His claims are the strongest for Hermione's father since he has inherited a great sum of money and a state after his older brother's death. He also fancies Hermione's servant, Irene, who will eventually marry him after Hermione chooses Eugenio as husband.
EUGENIO
Fellow soldier and friend to Lysicles. Loves Hermione, who also loves him, but he has been banished from Thessaly for having attacked Ergasto, a fellow rival in the race to win Hermione's love. Being called back from exile he learns that Hermione has been presumably suited by Lysicles and is about to marry Ergasto. In his confusion, he vows to revenge his love, later trying to commit suicide by having Lysicles kill him, but learns that Lysicles suited Hermione on his behalf, and finally becomes engaged to her. He succeeds Arimon as governor of Thessaly.
HERMIONE
Daughter of Pindarus. She is in love with Eugenio, who is exiled, but is also suited by Ergasto, whom her father favors, and prince Lysicles, who suits her on behalf of Eugenio. With the help of Acanthe, she devices a plan to trick her father into thinking she loves Ergasto, so as to do away with Lysicles's claim and gain time for Eugenio to return from exile. Once Eugenio succeeds Lysicles's father as governor, Pindarus accepts him as son-in-law and Hermione and Eugenio become engaged.
IRENE
Cousin to Hermione and niece to Pindarus. She is secretly in love with Ergasto, who suits Hermione, and thus tries to stop their betrothal. When Hermione finally chooses Eugenio as husband, Irene is shocked by Ergasto's proposal that she should marry him, but later accepts him as her husband.
LYSICLES
Main character, prince of Thessaly and son to the governor. Haunted by the memory of his love, Milesia, who was presumably killed by her own uncle in revenge for loving Lysicles. He seeks Hermione's love on behalf of his friend Eugenio, much to the confusion of the people who think it is the prince himself who fancies her. At the Moor's request, he visits Milesia's tomb at night, where he learns from Milesia's ghost that the Moor was the cause of her death. He vows to revenge his love, poisons the Moor, but later learns that the Moor is Milesia herself in disguise. Upon hearing the news, he orders the Physician to provide him with the antidote, restores her health, and becomes engaged to Milesia.
MILESIA
Presumably killed by her uncle, the Duke of Argos. She is the love for whom Lysicles mourns. Appears first in the tale of her presumed murder, then to Lysicles as a ghost at the foot of her tomb and, later, as Acanthe the Moor. Prince Lysicles, having been led to believe that the Moor was responsible for Milesia's death, poisons her, and she is forced to reveal herself as Milesia. She explains that her uncle mistakenly killed her servant in her place, that she did not reveal herself as Milesia upon learning about Lysicles's interest in Hermione and, after being cured by the Physician, becomes engaged to Lysicles.
PHILLIDA
Servant to Hermione. She represents worldly love, claiming that it does not matter who is by your side, as long as somebody is at your side. She does not believe in true love.
PHORMIO
A libertine, companion to Ergasto. With Cleon, another libertine, tries to win Hermione's favors for Ergasto, discusses his master's taste for women and plots to stop Lysicles in the ract to win Hermione's love. He fancies Acanthe the Moor.
PINDARUS
A lord, father to Hermione. Obsessed with money, he favors Ergasto's claims to the love of his daughter against those of Eugenio and Lysicles. He is tricked by Hermione into thinking that she really loves Ergasto, only to do away with the more powerful claim of Lysicles, and gain time for Eugenio to return from exile. Eventually he accepts Eugenio as son-in-law, once the latter has become the governor of Thessaly.
STRIMON
A "ghost character." Also referred to as Arimon. Mentioned by Phormio to narrate Milesia's presumed murder. Governor of Thessaly, father to prince Lysicles and commander of the Thessalian fleet. He defeats the Duke of Argos, commander of the Spartan fleet and uncle of Milesia. He is succeeded as governor by Eugenio.