Note: This play has a variety of textual problems that affect the logic of character and action. Some of the play's difficulties have been pointed out. The line numbers are derived from Allan Holaday's edition, prepared for The University of Illinois Press, 1950.
ARUNS
Aruns is a prince of Rome, a son of Tullia and Tarquin, a brother to Sextus and nephew to Brutus. After Tarquin has bad dreams, Aruns, Sextus, and Brutus, go to the Oracle. The Oracle declares that the blame for Servius' death squarely on Tullia, but that Tarquin's successor will be someone who first kisses his mother. Brutus faints on the news. Falling to the ground, he kisses mother earth and, thus, fulfils the prophecy. Aruns and Sextus do not interpret Brutus' fall correctly and race home to kiss their mother. Aruns and Sextus are at odds over some matter, which we only find out after Sextus promises to put the past behind him at line 1290. In the civil war, Aruns suggests that Lucrece wanted to be raped. As battle lines join, he fights with Brutus. Both are wounded, though neither fatally. Later in the battle, Aruns is killed by Horatius Cocles.
BRUTUS
Brutus is a nobleman and cousin to both Tarquin and Lucrece. He speaks in enigmatic phrases. Most, especially his nephews Aruns and Sextus think he is a fool. He is asked by Aruns and Sextus to go with them to the Oracle, who places the blame for Servius' death squarely on Tullia. The Oracle also states that Tarquin's successor will be someone who first kisses his mother. Brutus faints on the news. Falling to the ground, he kisses mother earth and , thus, fulfils the prophecy. Aruns and Sextus do not interpret Brutus' fall correctly and race home to kiss their mother. Brutus is ordered to join Collatine, Sextus, Valarius and Mutius Scevola in Ardea, leaving Porsenna's forces in charge of Rome. He is present at the drunken banquet in which Sextus belligerently denies Collatine's claim to having the most virtuous wife. Collatine decides to bet horse and armor that his wife is the most virtuous and the most beautiful. They decide to visit Horatius Cocles', Aruns', Valarius' , and Mutius Scevola's respective wives, and then Collatine's wife, Lucrece. Brutus is ordered to stay behind with the army. He is asked to come to Lucrece's house by Pompie, and does so, accompanied by Collatine, Horatius Cocles, Aruns, Valarius, and Mutius Scevola. After Lucrece commits suicide, Brutus is nominated general of the rebellion. He orders the body of Lucrece be laid out in the marketplace. (Presumably, the body is laid out for some sort of oration, but it is missing from the extant text.) As the civil war breaks out, we see Brutus and his allies chasing Tarquin and Tullia. Horatius Cocles demands that Brutus be made counsel; Rome will have no more kings. In the civil war, Aruns fights with Brutus. Both are wounded, though neither fatally. Brutus dies in single combat with Sextus.
CLOWN
Pompie, also referred to as "Clowne," is a servant of Collatine. He offers comic commentary on the doings of the court and country. He further suggests that the only reason he serves Collatine is his lust for Lucrece. Lucrece says that Pompie is in love with Mistress Mirable, but he denies it; fearful that their lust might taint Lucrece's reputation, she fires them both. However, she later employs Pompie to seek out Collatine. The night Sextus visits her, Pompie wonders why he and the Servingman have not been ordered to attend to Sextus. In the morning, Pompie readies Sextus' horse. Soon after, Lucrece has Pompie deliver a letter enjoining that Brutus, Collatine, Horatius Cocles, Mutius Scevola, Valarius and Lucretius come to her as soon as possible.
COLLATINE
Collatine is the husband to Lucrece and is loyal to Servius. When he meets the singing Valarius, Collatine alone suspects that his friend is merely mad-in-craft, biding his time before striking at Tarquin. He soon after councils Brutus and Valarius, Horatius Cocles and Mutius Scevola to be a frivolous and apolitical as possible, thus seeming "offencelesse"; however, he also counsels them to plot secretly against Tarquin carefully. He, Mutius Scevola, Valarius, and Horatius Cocles visit Lucrece as part of a bet to see who has the most virtuous and most beautiful wife. Riding back to camp, Collatine asks Sextus to deliver a ring to Lucrece. Pompie delivers a letter to Brutus, Collatine, Horatius Cocles, Mutius Scevola, and Valarius, asking them to come quickly to Lucretius' house. When they arrive, Lucrece declares that Sextus forced himself upon her. She blames Collatine for sending Sextus with the ring. He seems deaf to what she says and forgives her for being raped. Brutus swears revenge. They all agree. Lucrece then kills herself. As civil war breaks out, Sextus is captured and confesses his guilt. He argues, however, that if the army kills him, Collatine will loose honor. Brutus agrees to a single combat in which they are both killed. Collatine is made Counsel. (Why Collatine did not fight Sextus himself is unclear.)
GABINES
The Gabines are a warlike enemy of Rome. Sextus is sent with an army to fight them. For e brief time, he becomes their general. Later, he has the heads of their leaders cut off.
HORATIUS COCLES
Horatius Cocles is a supporter of King Servius. After Servius' death, Horatius Cocles instantly switches allegiances to Tarquin. Soon after, he voices dissatisfaction with Tarquin, whom he finds to be too proud and too tyrannous. He is ordered to join Sextus, Collatine, Brutus, Valarius, and Mutius Scevola in Ardea, leaving Porsenna's forces in charge of Rome He is part of a drunken banquet in which Sextus belligerently denies Collatine's claim to having the most virtuous wife. Collatine decides that is might be nice to visit Horatius Cocles', Aruns', Valarius' , and Mutius Scevola's respective wives, and then Collatine's wife, Lucrece. Soon after, Pompie delivers a letter to Horatius Cocles, Brutus, Collatine, Mutius Scevola, Valarius, asking them to come quickly to Lucretius' house. When they arrive, Lucrece tells how she was raped. Brutus swears revenge. They all agree. Lucrece then kills herself. In the civil war, Tarquin and his army are beaten off but for reasons that are not fully explained, Brutus retreats, leaving Horatius Cocles to man the bridge alone. Tarquin and his army re enter and attack. For reasons that are not explained, the bridge falls. Was it by divine intervention or the sheer weight of Tarquin's army? Inexplicably, Horatius Cocles then decides to kill himself by jumping from the bridge. Miraculously, he survives and swims to shore, where Brutus' cheering army greets him. Later in the same battle, he further distinguishes himself by killing Aruns.
LUCRECE
Lucrece is the wife of Collatine and daughter to Lucretius. Fearful that her lusty servants Pompie and Mistress Mirable might taint her reputation, she fires them both. This is probably playful or a sign of textual corruption as both remain in her employ. She repeated declines an invitation by Lord Turnus to dine with him because good wives don't go out of the house when their husbands are away. When Collatine, Horatius Cocles', Aruns', Valarius' , and Mutius Scevola arrive unannounced, Lucrece asks whether they will all spend the night, but she is informed that they must return to camp. Half way back to the camp, Collatine asks Sextus to go back to Lucrece, bearing a ring on his behalf. Sextus returns and they have a drink together, Sextus urging Lucrece to drink her wine as fast as possible. Clearly, his intent is to get her drunk. She refuses, but her self-moderation only fuels his lust for her. He delivers the ring and begs for a goodbye kiss. (The lack of stage directions leaves it unclear as to whether she complies.) She states that it is getting late and she doesn't want to be seen spending so much time so late at night with another man and, thus, says her farewells for the evening. When the house is quiet, Sextus sneaks into her bedroom and wakes her, calls her "sweet," and expects his sexual advances will succeed. When she refuses him, he threatens to kill her and one of the grooms and then to say he found them in bed together. This renders her near silent. The scene ends with her invoking Jove's protection and Sextus carrying her off stage. (Lucrece's invocation to Jove is problematic. Since Jove was guilty of many rapes, Sextus might interpret her call to him as a tacit compliance.) After the rape, he begs a goodbye kiss, but she, crying, flies from him. The next time we see Lucrece, she complains to the gods that they are unjust. Lucrece then writes a letter to Brutus, Collatine, Horatius Cocles, Mutius Scevola, And Valarius, asking them to meet Lucrece at her father's house. When they arrive, Lucrece tells her story, blaming Collatine for sending Sextus with the ring. He seems deaf to what she says and forgives her for being raped. Brutus swears revenge. They all agree. Lucrece then kills herself. Brutus orders that her body be taken to the marketplace.
LUCRETIUS
Lucretius is the father to Lucrece. Soon after Tarquin becomes king, he abandons the court, fearing that Tarquin's reign will come to no good. Pompie delivers a letter to Brutus, Collatine, Horatius Cocles, Mutius Scevola, Valarius, asking them to come quickly to Lucretius' house. When they arrive, they met Lucretius and Lucrece. Lucrece then tells her story and kills herself. After her death, he is virtually absent for the rest of the play. He fights in the war but complains of his age and ineffectiveness.
MISTRESS MIRABLE
Mistress Mirable is a servant of Lucrece. Lucrece states that she is in love with Pompie, but she denies it; fearful that their lust might taint Lucrece's reputation, she fires them both. But for reasons that remain unexplained, they both remain in her employment. When Sextus visits, she orders Pompie and the Servingman to bed, for fear that the noise of their conversation will disturb Lucrece. After Lucrece has been raped, Mirable notes that her mistress looks upset but can't figure out why. She promises to cheer Lucrece up by playing the viola, but the scene in which she does so is missing.
MUTIUS SCEVOLA
Mutius Scevola is a supporter of King Servius. After the king's death, he instantly switches allegiances to Tarquin. Soon after, he voices dissatisfaction with Tarquin, whom he finds to be too proud and too tyrannous. He is ordered to join Sextus, Collatine, Brutus, Valarius in Ardea, leaving Porsenna's forces in charge of Rome. He is part of a drunken banquet in which Sextus belligerently denies Collatine's claim to having the most virtuous wife. Collatine decides to bet horse and armor that his wife is the most virtuous and the most beautiful. They decide to visit Mutius Scevola's, Horatius Cocles', Aruns', and Valarius' respective wives, and then Collatine's wife, Lucrece. Soon after the visit, Pompie delivers a letter to Mutius Scevola, Brutus, Collatine, Horatius Cocles, Valarius, asking them to come again to Lucretius' house. When they arrive, Lucrece explains that Sextus raped her. Lucrece then kills herself. In the civil war, Mutius Scevola enters Porsenna's camp in disguise, hoping to kill the King of Tuscan but kills his secretary. He is discovered and is about to kill himself but Porsenna pardons him.
ORACLE
The Oracle is a Priest of Apollo. He declares that the blame for Servius' death lies squarely with Tullia. He also declares that Tarquin's successor will be someone who first kisses his mother.
PENATES
The Penates or Senators are supporters of Brutus and fight on his behalf.
POMPIE
Pompie, also referred to as "Clowne," is a servant of Collatine. He offers comic commentary on the doings of the court and country. He further suggests that the only reason he serves Collatine is his lust for Lucrece. Lucrece says that Pompie is in love with Mistress Mirable, but he denies it; fearful that their lust might taint Lucrece's reputation, she fires them both. However, she later employs Pompie to seek out Collatine. The night Sextus visits her, Pompie wonders why he and the Servingman have not been ordered to attend to Sextus. In the morning, Pompie readies Sextus' horse. Soon after, Lucrece has Pompie deliver a letter enjoining that Brutus, Collatine, Horatius Cocles, Mutius Scevola, Valarius and Lucretius come to her as soon as possible.
PORSENNA
Porsenna is King of the Tuscans. His forces are in charge of protecting Rome from Brutus' rebel army. During the civil war, Mutius Scevola enters Porsenna's camp in disguise, hoping to kill the King of Tuscany but kills his secretary. He is discovered by Porsenna, who pardons him. After Tarquin, his wife, and children are killed, Porsenna offers Collatine the same warlike pact he had with Tarquin.
SENATORS
The Penates or Senators are supporters of Brutus and fight on his behalf.
SERVINGMAN
The Servingman serves Sextus and accompanies him on a visit to Lucrece. He has a short conversation with Pompie about why he has not been asked to sleep in the same room as his master. In the morning, the Servingman orders Pompie to have the horses ready, as his lord means to depart early.
SERVIUS
Servius is the King of Rome, if only through the usurpation of Tarquin's (unnamed) father. He has one child: Tullia. When he hears that his son-in-law, Tarquin, has proclaimed himself king, he raises an army. He is killed in an encounter with Tarquin and Tullia, though who exactly kills him is not clear. (The stage direct reads only "Servius is slaine.") His daughter tramples his corpse and has her chariot roll over him; Tarquin, however, orders that the former king be burned in a pyre with all solemn and due obsequies.
SEXTUS
Sextus is a Prince of Rome, the son of Tullia and Tarquin, brother to Aruns and nephew to Brutus. After Tarquin has bad dreams, Sextus, Aruns, and Brutus, go to the Oracle. Upon his return to Rome, Sextus sets out with an army to fight the Gabines. Sextus is somehow made general of the Gabines and attacks the Roman forces, twice defeating them. Soon after, on command of his father, he decides switch sides yet again. He has the leaders of Gabines beheaded. His father is proud of him and makes his general of his Roman forces. We also learn in his reconciliation, that he had some friction with his brother Aruns. Sextus is ordered to join Collatine, Brutus, Valarius and Horatius Cocles and Mutius Scevola in Ardea, leaving Porsenna's forces in charge of Rome. After a drunken banquet, Sextus belligerently denies Collatine's claim to having the most virtuous wife. Collatine decides to bet horse and armor that his wife is the most virtuous and the most beautiful. They decide to visit Horatius Cocles', Aruns', Valarius' , and Mutius Scevola's respective wives, and then Collatine's wife, Lucrece. Sextus is asked to judge the outcome. He chooses Collatine's Lucrece. Half way back to the camp, Collatine asks Sextus to go back to Lucrece, bearing a ring on his behalf. Sextus returns and they have a drink together, Sextus urging Lucrece to drink her wine as fast as possible. Clearly, his intent is to get her drunk. She refuses, but her self-moderation only fuels his lust for her. He delivers the ring and begs for a goodbye kiss. (The lack of stage directions leaves it unclear as to whether she complies.) She states that it is getting late and she doesn't want to be seen spending so much time so late at night with another man and, thus, says her farewells for the evening. When the house is quiet, Sextus sneaks into her bedroom and wakes her, calls her "sweet," and expects his sexual advances will succeed. When she refuses him, he threatens to kill her and one of the grooms and then to say that he found them in bed together. This renders her near silent. The scene ends with Lucrece invoking Jove's protection and Sextus carrying her off stage. (Lucrece's invocation to Jove is problematic. Since Jove was guilty of many rapes, her call to him might be interpreted by Sextus as a tacit compliance.) After the rape, he begs a goodbye kiss, but she, crying, flies from him. Sextus returns to the camp and is taciturn. As civil war breaks out, Sextus is captured and confesses that he is guilty of rape and is prepared to die bravely. He argues, however, that if the army kills him, Collatine will loose honor. Brutus agrees to a single combat in which they are both killed. Collatine is made Counsel. (Why Collatine did not fight Sextus himself is unclear.)
TARQUIN
Tarquin is the Prince of Rome, son of the former king (unnamed), and husband to Tullia. He is convinced by his wife to overthrow Servius. After Tullia desecrates her father's corpse, Tarquin orders that Servius be burned in a pyre with all solemn and due obsequies. His son Sextus temporarily rebels but is brought back into the family fold when he decapitates the leaders of the Gabines. Tarquin also makes a pact (a "religious league") with the King of the Tuscans, Porsenna. Tarquin then orders Sextus to join Collatine and his forces, leaving Porsenna's forces in charge of Rome. As the civil war breaks out, we see Brutus and his allies chasing Tarquin and Tullia. Tarquin swears to fight on, calling on Jove to help his cause, an ironic echo of Lucrece's invocation. (See entry for Lucrece.) Tarquin and his army are beaten off but then re enter and attack Horatius Cocles, who has been left alone to man the bridge. For reasons that are not explained, the bridge falls. Was it by divine intervention or the sheer weight of Tarquin's army? Later in the same battle, an arrow wounds Tarquin. Tarquin asks that Tullia take horse and live to fight another day, but she stands by her man as Collatine, Lucretius and Mutius Scevola close on them. Both Tarquin and Tullia are killed. Brutus, covered in blood, vows that they will not be buried, an act that is in stark contrast to Tarquin's decorous burial of Servius. The bodies of the Tarquin and Tullia and Aruns are displayed to weaken the resolve of Sextus and his remaining troops.
TARQUIN'S FATHER
A "ghost character." The former King of Rome, Tarquin's father was overthrown and killed by Servius.
TULLIA
Tullia is the Princess of Rome and wife to Tarquin. She longs to be queen and plans with her husband to kill her own father, Servius. After his death, she tramples his body under foot and rides a chariot over his corpse. Her husband calls her unkind but does not stop her. Once her husband is made king, she councils him to maintain his position through fear. When Tarquin is wounded by an arrow, he asks that Tullia take horse and live to fight another day. She stands by her man as Collatine, Lucretius and Mutius Scevola close on them. Both Tarquin and Tullia are killed. Brutus covered in blood vows that they will not be buried, an act that is in stark contrast to Tarquin's decorous burial of Servius. The bodies of the King and Queen and Aruns are displayed to weaken the resolve of Sextus and his remaining troops.
TURNUS
A "ghost character." One of Lucrece's maids states that Lord Turnus has sent a servant on repeated occasions to invite Lucrece to dine with him. She has repeatedly declined the invitation because, she says, good wives shouldn't go out of the house when their husbands are away.
VALARIUS
Valarius is a friend of Collatine, but has no distinct political allegiances. Initially, he is happy to serve Tarquin but quickly grow disenchanted and, possibly, a bit mad. He begins to answer his friends in Ophelia-like song. Horatius Cocles calls him "either mad or love-sicke." Collatine suspects that Valarius is merely mad-in-craft, biding his time before striking at Tarquin. He is ordered to join Sextus, Collatine, Brutus, and Mutius Scevola in Ardea, leaving Porsenna's forces in charge of Rome. He is present at the drunken banquet in which Sextus belligerently denies Collatine's claim to having the most virtuous wife. Collatine decides that is might be nice to visit Valarius', Horatius Cocles', Aruns', and Mutius Scevola's respective wives, and then Collatine's wife, Lucrece. Soon after their return, Pompie delivers a letter to Valarius, Brutus, Collatine, Horatius Cocles, and Mutius Scevola asking them to come quickly to Lucretius' house. When they arrive, Lucrece tells her story and then kills herself then kills herself. Once civil war breaks out, Valarius stops singing and fights bravely. The printed text, however, includes an appendix of yet more songs by Valarius, which Heywood admits were added by a stranger who "lately acted Valerius his part."
WIFE, ARUNS'
A "ghost character." After a drunken banquet, Sextus belligerently denies Collatine's claim to having the most virtuous wife. Collatine decides to bet horse and armor that his wife is the most virtuous and the most beautiful. They decide to visit Aruns', Horatius Cocles', Valarius', and Mutius Scevola's respective wives, and then Collatine's wife, Lucrece. Arun's wife is found reveling.
WIFE, HORATIUS COCLES'
A "ghost character." After a drunken banquet, Sextus belligerently denies Collatine's claim to having the most virtuous wife. Collatine decides to bet horse and armor that his wife is the most virtuous and the most beautiful. They decide to visit Horatius Cocles', Aruns', Valarius', and Mutius Scevola's respective wives, and then Collatine's wife, Lucrece. Horatius Cocles' wife is found dancing.
WIFE, MUTIUS SCEVOLA'S
A "ghost character." After a drunken banquet, Sextus belligerently denies Collatine's claim to having the most virtuous wife. Collatine decides to bet horse and armor that his wife is the most virtuous and the most beautiful. They decide to visit Mutius Scevola's, Horatius Cocles', Aruns', and Valarius' respective wives, and then Collatine's wife, Lucrece. The intended visit to Mutius Scevola's wife is mentioned at lines 1459–1462, but the outcome of the visit is not. Presumably, she too was found reveling and/or dancing.
WIFE, VALARIUS'
A "ghost character." After a drunken banquet, Sextus belligerently denies Collatine's claim to having the most virtuous wife. Collatine decides to bet horse and armor that his wife is the most virtuous and the most beautiful. They decide to visit Valarius', Horatius Cocles', Aruns', and Mutius Scevola's respective wives, and then Collatine's wife, Lucrece. The intended visit to Valarius' wife is mentioned at lines 1503–4, but the outcome of the visit is not. Presumably, she too was found reveling and/or dancing.