John Fletcher
with Beaumont? or Field?

FOUR PLAYS, OR MORAL REPRESENTATIONS, IN ONE
INDUCTION by Beaumont or Field
1. THE TRIUMPH OF HONOR by Beaumont or Field
2. THE TRIUMPH OF LOVE by Beaumont or Field
3. THE TRIUMPH OF DEATH by Fletcher
4. THE TRIUMPH OF TIME by Fletcher

circa 1608–1613

a synoptic, alphabetical character list

ALPHONSO

Alphonso is the true identity of Gerrard.

ANGELINA

Angelina is a character in "The Triumph of Love," the second play within the play. She is the wife of Benvoglio. She helps to conceal her daughter Violanta's marriage to Gerrard, as well as the birth of their child.

ANTHROPOS

Anthropos is a character in "The Triumph of Time," the final play within the play. He sends Desire out to gather wealth from Craft, Lucre, Vanity, Pleasure, and Flattery. They all refuse to serve him. Anthropos goes on a journey with Poverty. Jupiter has pity upon him and sends Plutus and Time to help him. Anthropos reforms his ways, and his wealth is restored.

ARTS

Arts is a character in "The Triumph of Time," the final play within the play. Plutus commands him to serve Anthropos.

ASCANIO

Ascanio is the true identity of Ferdinand.

BENVOGLIO

Benvoglio is a character in "The Triumph of Love," the second play within the play. He is the brother of Rinaldo. He plans to marry his daughter Violanta to Ferdinand but discovers the secret relationship between Violanta and Gerrard. Furious at the deception, he sends Violanta poison to avoid public execution and demands the death of Gerrard. Benvoglio is spared from punishment when Dorothea gives Violanta opium instead of the poison.

BOUNTY

Bounty is a character in "The Triumph of Time," the final play within the play. He serves Anthropos until he is released from service.

CASTA

Casta is a character in "The Triumph of Death," the third play within the play. She is the virtuous daughter of Gentille. At his wedding to Hellena, Lavall sees her and plots her seduction/rape. She escapes during his attempt.

CORNELIA

Cornelia is a character in "The Triumph of Love," the second play within the play. The wife of Rinaldo, the banished Duke of Milan, she conceals her identity and those of her sons Gerrardo (Alphonso) and Ferdinand (Ascanio). By "remote means," she makes them the wards of Randulpho and Benvoglio and poses as Gerrard's aunt. She helps Gerrard and Violanta marry and conceal the birth of their child. When Rinaldo is restored to power, Cornelia reveals her own identity and those of her sons.

CORNELIUS

Cornelius is a character in "The Triumph of Honor," the first play within the play. He is a food vendor and a gull who has been cuckolded by Nicodemus and to whom Nicodemus owes money. Cornelius challenges Nicodemus, but their fight is interrupted by Florence, Cornelius's wife. A money-making scheme proposed by Nicodemus results in a beating for Cornelius at the hands of Martius.

CRAFT

Craft is a character in "The Triumph of Time," the final play within the play. He fails to serve Anthropos and is unmasked at the end.

CUPID

Cupid appears in a chariot at the end of "The Triumph of Love."

DESIRE

Desire is a character in "The Triumph of Time," the final play within the play. He unsuccessfully seeks wealth for Anthropos until he is released from service.

DIANA

The goddess Diana delivers the epilogue for "The Triumph of Honor."

DORIGEN

Dorigen is a character in "The Triumph of Honor," the first play within the play. She is the chaste wife of Sophocles. When Sophocles refuses to bow before Martius or beg for his life, Dorigen intercedes on her husband's behalf. Martius falls in love with Dorigen and attempts to seduce her; she asserts that she will not yield to his lust until "these rocks" be moved. When Valerius creates the appearance of having moved the rocks, Dorigen vows to kill herself rather than sacrifice her virtue, resulting in Martius's repentance.

DOROTHEA

Dorothea is a character in "The Triumph of Love," the second play within the play. She is attendant to Violanta and helps conceal the birth of Violanta's child. When Benvoglio gives her poison to give to Violanta, Dorothea saves the day by replacing it with opium.

DUKE of ANJOU

The Duke of Anjou is a character in "The Triumph of Death," the third play within the play. He is the father of Lavall. At the end of the play, he sees to the burying of Lavall, Perelot, Gabrielle, and Maria.

EMANUEL

Emanuel is the King of Portugal and Castile. He marries Isabella, and the four plays are presented at the celebration of their nuptials.

FAME

Fame is a character in "The Triumph of Time," the final play within the play. He announces the restoration of Anthropos to wealth and prosperity.

FERDINAND

Ferdinand is a character in "The Triumph of Love," the second play within the play. He is raised as a ward of Benvoglio, who offers Ferdinand his daughter Violanta in marriage. Ferdinand accidently reveals to Benvoglio the illicit relationship between Violanta and Gerrard and the birth of their child. Benvoglio sends poison to Ferdinand via Dorothea, who secretly replaces it with opium. Ferdinand is to give the poison to Violanta so that she can avoid the shame of public execution; they both drink the opium and faint away. They awaken before Rinaldo, the newly reinstated Duke of Milan, and Ferdinand's mother, Cornelia, reveals his true identity: Ascanio, son of Rinaldo.

FLORENCE

Florence is a character in "The Triumph of Honor," the first play within the play. She is the wife of Cornelius and the lover of Nicodemus.

FRIAR

The friar is a character in "The Triumph of Love," the second play within the play. In the dumbshow he marries Gerrard to Violanta.

FRIGOZO

Frigozo is a courtier and a spectator of the plays at the celebration of Emanuel and Isabella's nuptials.

GABRIELLA

Gabrielle is a character in "The Triumph of Death," the third play within the play. She is the neglected first wife of Lavall. She secretly marries him when she learns that her lover Perelot has been killed in battle. When he marries Helena-a more advantageous match-Gabrielle plots his death. After killing him she commits suicide.

GENTILLE

Gentille is a character in "The Triumph of Death," the third play within the play. He is a courtier and the father of Perelot and Casta.

GERRARD

Gerrard is a character in "The Triumph of Love," the second play within the play. Raised as a ward of Randulpho, he is the childhood sweetheart of Violanta; together they conceive a child out of wedlock, conceal its birth, and secretly marry. His brother Ferdinand accidently reveals the relationship to Benvoglio, Violanta's father, who demands Gerrard's execution. Gerrard's life is spared when his mother Cornelia reveals his true identity: Alphonso, son of Rinaldo, the newly reinstated Duke of Milan.

HELLENA

Helena is a character in "The Triumph of Death," the third play within the play. She is the second wife of Lavall. After his death she expresses her desire to join a monastery.

HONESTY

Honesty is a character in "The Triumph of Time," the final play within the play. He accompanies Anthropos along with Poverty.

HONOR

At the end of "The Triumph of Honor," Honor appears in a chariot drawn by two moors.

HUMILITY

Humility is a character in "The Triumph of Time," the final play within the play. He accompanies Anthropos along with Poverty.

INDIANS

The Indians appear in "The Triumph of Time," the final play within the play. They dance around Plutus.

INDUSTRY

Industry is a character in "The Triumph of Time," the final play within the play. Plutus commands him to serve Anthropos.

ISABELLA

Isabella is the Queen of Portugal and Castile. She marries Emanuel, and the four plays are presented at the celebration of their nuptials.

JUPITER

Jupiter is a character in "The Triumph of Time," the final play within the play. Jupiter takes pity on Anthropos's suffering and sends Plutus and Time to help him.

LABOUR

Labour is a character in "The Triumph of Time," the final play within the play. Plutus commands him to serve Anthropos.

LAVALL

Lavall is a character in "The Triumph of Death," the third play within the play. He is the lecherous son of the Duke of Anjou. He is visited by a spirit that tempts him. Lavall secretly marries Gabriella, grows weary of her, and then marries Hellena, a more advantageous match. He also attempts to seduce and then rape Casta. He is killed by Gabrielle.

LONGAVILE

Longavile is a character in "The Triumph of Death," the third play within the play. He appears in the wedding procession of Lavall and Hellena.

LUCRE

Lucre is a character in "The Triumph of Time," the final play within the play. He fails to serve Anthropos and is unmasked before him at the end.

MARIA

Maria is a character in "The Triumph of Death," the third play within the play. She is a servant to Gabrielle. She helps Gabrielle plot Lavall's death and commits suicide with her.

MARINE

Marine is a character in "The Triumph of Death," the third play within the play. He is the father of Hellena.

MARTIUS

Martius is a character in "The Triumph of Honor," the first play within the play. He is a Roman general who conquers Athens. Martius commands Sophocles, the Duke of Athens, to bow before him; when Sophocles refuses, Martius commands his execution but yields to the pleas of Dorigen, Sophocles's wife. He falls in love with Dorigen and attempts to seduce her; she says she will not yield to his desire until "these rocks be moved." Martius' brother Valerius ceates the illusion that the rocks have been moved. Martius repents of his lust when Dorigen vows to kill herself rather than sacrifice her virtue.

MERCURIE

Mercurie is a character in "The Triumph of Time," the final play within the play. He acts as a messenger for Jupiter.

MOORS

At the end of "The Triumph of Honor," two Moors draw a chariot in which Honor is seated.

NICODEMUS

Nicodemus is a character in "The Triumph of Honor," the first play within the play. He is a corporal in the Roman army who owes Cornelius money and who has slept with Cornelius's wife. He gulls Cornelius with a money-making plan that results in a beating for Cornelius.

PERELOT

Perelot is a character in "The Triumph of Death," the third play within the play. He is the former lover of Gabrielle. In collusion with Lavall, he gives out that he has been killed in Orleance in order to test Gabrielle's love for him. He returns home to find that Lavall has married Gabrielle, consequently married Hellena, and plans either to seduce or rape Perelot's sister Casta. He tries to murder Lavall but is himself killed in the attempt.

POVERTY

Poverty is a character in "The Triumph of Time," the final play within the play. He accompanies Anthropos until he is dismissed by Time.

PLEASURE

Pleasure is a character in "The Triumph of Time," the final play within the play. He fails to serve Anthropos and is unmasked at the end.

PLUTUS

Plutus, the god of wealth, is a character in "The Triumph of Time," the final play within the play. Jupiter sends Plutus to bestow his wealth on Anthropos.

RANDULPHO

Randulpho is a character in "The Triumph of Love," the second play within the play. He is a brother to Rinaldo and Benvoglio and acts as guardian to Gerrard (Alphonso) and Cornelia.

RINALDO

Two Rinaldos figure in the play.
  • The first Rinaldo is an acquaintance of Frigozo and a spectator of the plays at the celebration of Emanuel and Isabella's nuptials.
  • The second Rinaldo is a character in "The Triumph of Love," the second play within the play. He is the Duke of Milan, restored after years of banishment. He is the husband of Cornelia and the father of Ferdinand (Ascanio) and Gerrard (Alphonso), all of whom he believes are dead. When Rinaldo resumes his Dukedom, Benvoglio demands the execution of his daughter, Violanta, and her lover, Gerrard, for fornication. Rinaldo pardons them when Cornelia reveals herself and her sons' true identities, and the family is reunited.

SHALOON

Shaloon is a character in "The Triumph of Death," the third play within the play. He is a servant to Lavall.

SIMPLICITY

Simplicity is a character in "The Triumph of Time," the final play within the play. He accompanies Anthropos along with Poverty.

SOPHOCLES

Sophocles is a character in "The Triumph of Honor," the first play within the play. He is the Duke of Athens. Sophocles refuses to bow before the conqueror Martius and beg for his life; it is spared only through the intercession of Sophocles's chaste wife, Dorigen. When Dorigen informs him of her vow not to yield to Martius until the rocks have been moved, Sophocles tells that honor demands she fulfill her vow.

SPIRIT

The spirit is a character in "The Triumph of Death," the third play within the play. He tempts Lavall to seduce Casta, and, failing that, to rape her.

TIME

Time is a character in "The Triumph of Time," the final play within the play. Jupiter sends him to release Anthropos from the bands of Poverty and Want.

VAIN DELIGHT

Vain Delight is a character in "The Triumph of Time," the final play within the play. He follows Anthropos until he is released from service.

VALERIUS

Valerius is the brother of Martius. He aids Martius in his amorous pursuit of Dorigen by making it appear that the rocks have moved.

VALOR

At the end of "The Triumph of Honor," Valor appears as a knight accompanying women who represent clemency, chastity, and constancy.

VANITY

Vanity is a character in "The Triumph of Time," the final play within the play. He fails to serve Anthropos and is unmasked at the end.

VIOLANTA

Violanta is a character in "The Triumph of Love," the second play within the play. Her lover is Gerrard; they conceive a child out of wedlock, marry, and she secretly gives birth. Her father, Benvoglio, plans to marry Violanta to Ferdinand; when Benvoglio discovers the relationship between Violanta and Gerrard, he send her poison so that she can avoid the shame of public execution. However, Dorothea, Violanta's maid, has secretly replaced the poison with opium. Violanta drinks the opium and awakens to find herself before the Rinaldo, the newly reinstated Duke of Milan, who affirms her marriage to Gerrard.