Confidant to Lord Paulo Ferneze, who asks him to protect his beloved,
Rachel de Prie, while he is away at war. Angelo flirts with Lord Paulo's
sister, Aurelia, with her apparent encouragement, but Count Ferneze tells
Aurelia he has numerous mistresses. Angelo denies this, but he does intend
to seduce Rachel away from his friend Paulo. He woos her in the guise of
comforting her at the news of Paulo's capture, but she rejects him.
Returning to Jaques de Prie's with Christophero, who also hopes to marry
Rachel, he advises Christophero to lure de Prie out of the house with a
trail of gold coins and then hide. Meanwhile, Angelo claims, he will take
Rachel to a priory and await Christophero to be married. However, Angelo
really plans to marry Rachel himself. As de Prie follows the golden trail,
Angelo tells Rachel that Paulo Ferneze has escaped and awaits her at the
priory, and she willingly follows him. He makes love to her at the priory
and she rebuffs him, horrified, calling upon Lord Paulo, who returns at
that moment and attacks Angelo, accusing him of treachery. Angelo begs
forgiveness and promises to redeem himself.
ANTONIO BALLADINO
Pageant-maker for Milan and confidante to Lord Paulo Ferneze.
AURELIA FERNEZE
Count Ferneze's daughter and Paulo's sister. Irreverent and witty, she is
wooed by Maximilian but mocks him behind his back. Angelo also flirts with
her, but she is taken with "Jasper," who is actually Chamont. She jokingly
accuses Phoenixella of being in love with "Chamont" (actually Jasper).
Upon learning that Jasper and Chamont have switched identities, she
rejoices that the man she loves is the noble one, and longs for his
promised return. In the general reconciliation at the end, she is happily
betrothed to Chamont.
BALTHASAR
Serving-man to Count Ferneze.
CAMILLO FERNEZE
Supposed lost at the age of two in Chamont's attack on Vicenze 19 years
ago, he was adopted by Chamont (the elder), and is known throughout most of
the play as "Jasper," Chamont's adopted brother and companion. His true
identity is revealed by Chamont.
CHAMONT
A French soldier and son to the man (also named Chamont) who captured the
Count's oldest son, Camillo, in battle when the boy was only two, 19 years
before the time of the play; longtime companion to the boy, now called
Jasper. Chamont and Jasper are captured by Maximilian in the same battle
in which Lord Paulo is captured by the French. Chamont poses as "Jasper"
as a protective measure, and gallantly offers to remain imprisoned by
Count Ferneze so that an even prisoner-exchange can be made, "Chamont"
(actually Jasper) for Lord Paulo. After the exchange is approved, he is
sent, as "Jasper," to escort Lord Paulo back home. He returns with Lord
Paulo as promised, in time to rescue Rachel from Angelo. Chamont tries to
soothe Lord Paulo's anger at Angelo unsuccessfully. They appear at Count
Ferneze's in time to prevent Jasper's execution; at that time Chamont,
learning that the Count had lost another son 19 years ago, reveals that
Jasper is the long-lost Camillo. He is rewarded with the hand of Aurelia.
(Sometimes spelled "Chamount" in text.)
CHAMONT (THE ELDER)
A "ghost" character: the deceased French war leader who captured the Count's
oldest son, Camillo, in battle when the boy was only two, 19 years before
the time of the play; he raised the boy, called "Jasper," as companion to
his son, Chamont.
CHRISTOPHERO
Steward to Count Ferneze. When Onion asks him to woo Rachel de Prie for
him, Christophero plans to woo Rachel for himself. He asks the Count for
permission to marry Rachel, not knowing that the Count is in love with her
himself. He asks Jaques de Prie for his daughter's hand, but de Prie puts
him off, fearing Christophero knows about the stolen treasure.
Christophero leaves, planning to return when de Prie is more reasonable. He
returns to de Prie's with Angelo, who advises Christophero to lure de Prie
out of the house with a trail of gold coins and then hide. Meanwhile,
Angelo claims, he will take Rachel to a priory and await Christophero to be
married. However, Angelo really plans to marry Rachel himself. As de Prie
follows the golden trail, Christophero becomes worried and calls for Rachel
at the door, but finds only Jaques, who raves that his gold and his
daughter are stolen. Christophero hurries to the Count's, where he joins
the lamenting Jaques and Count Ferneze. When Paulo and Rachel arrive, he
chides her, but is silenced by Angelo.
COUNT FERNEZE
Recently widowed, he also mourns his long-lost son, Camillo. Although he
agrees to allow his steward, Christophero, to marry Rachel de Prie, he
actually loves her himself and plots to steal her. His visit to Jaques de
Prie to ask for Rachel's hand is interrupted by the news that his son,
Paulo, has been taken prisoner in battle. Count Ferneze takes this news as
a punishment for his frivolous plan to woo and marry Rachel and leaves
quickly to arrange Paulo's ransom. He agrees with Maximilian to exchange
"Chamont" (actually Jasper in disguise) for his captured son, Lord Paulo.
Maximilian asks "Jasper" (actually Chamont in disguise) to return to France
and escort Paulo, and invites "Chamont" to remain behind as Count Ferneze's
honored guest. Upon learning that Jasper and Chamont have switched
identities, he is angered and blames Maximilian, in spite of Jasper's
assurances that Maximilian didn't know about the switch. He orders Jasper
imprisoned and tortured. On the day of Chamont's promised return, Count
Ferneze orders Jasper hung, although everyone tries to dissuade him. He
then intends to kill Jasper himself, but can't bring himself to do so. He
begins to rave about his lost son, Paulo. He is comforted by the
appearance of Chamont and Lord Paulo, and even more so by Chamont's
revelation that Jasper is really his long-lost son Camillo. He rewards
Chamont with Aurelia's hand.
COUNTESS FERNEZE
A "ghost" character: Count Ferneze's recently deceased wife and mother to
Camillo, Paulo, Aurelia and Phoenixella.
FINIO
Page to Camillo Ferneze. Talks Pacue into becoming page to the newly-rich
Onion.
FRANCISCO COLONNIA
Friend to the Ferneze family. Courts Phoenixella. One of those who tries
to dissuade Count Ferneze from hanging Jasper. (Sometimes spelled
"Francesco" in text)
GARLIC
A "ghost" character, the mastiff hound Jaques de Prie invents to scare off
Onion and Juniper. (Spelled Garlique in text.)
ISABEL
The true name of Rachel de Prie.
JAQUES DE PRIE
A miser posing as a beggar, he is the former steward of the elder Chamont.
While Chamont was at war 19 years ago, de Prie stole his treasure and
daughter, and passes Rachel off as his own. He is made frantic by the
numerous men who wish to marry Rachel because he believes (erroneously)
that they have discovered his hidden treasure. He takes the sudden
arrivals and departures of Christophero and Count Ferneze as proof that
they are not really interested in Rachel but in his gold, and hides his
treasure in a pile of horse dung, unaware that he is observed by Onion, who
steals it. When de Prie rapturously follows Angelo and Christophero's
golden trail, only to discover the loss of both his treasure and Rachel, he
runs mad. As Count Ferneze raves about his lost son, Jaques joins the
scene, raving about his lost gold. Complaining to the Count, he admits
Rachel is not his daughter. Too late, he realizes his error in admitting
he lost a treasure and tries to recant, but is forced to confess by the
Count. He confesses his thefts and that his name is really Melun, steward
to the elder Chamont. Chamont, happy in his betrothal to Aurelia, forgives
Melun and allows him to keep what treasure he can recover from Onion and
Juniper.
JASPER
The name by which Camillo Ferneze is called during his 19 years in France,
after he was found abandoned in the confusion of battle by the elder
Chamont, who adopted him as brother and companion to his son, also named
Chamont. Captured along with Chamont by Maximilian in the same battle in
which Lord Paulo is captured by the French, Jasper and his adopted brother
exchange identities in order to protect Chamont. Jasper as "Chamont"
pretends to find Maximilian's offer to exchange him and "Jasper" for Lord
Paulo insulting, but remains as an honored guest at Count Ferneze's court
while "Jasper" (actually Chamont) returns to France to retrieve Lord Paulo
Ferneze. Phoenixella is struck by "Chamont's" (actually Jasper's)
resemblance to her mother, but Aurelia jokingly accuses her of being in
love with him. When it is revealed that Jasper and Chamont have switched
identities, Jasper hastens to assure Count Ferneze that Maximilian was
unaware of the switch, and that Chamont will surely return with Lord Paulo
as promised. Count Ferneze, furious, orders him imprisoned and tortured.
He is almost executed when Chamont is late in returning, but Count Ferneze
spares his life and is overjoyed to learn from Chamont that Jasper is
actually his long-lost son, Camillo. (Also spelled "Gasper" in d.p. and
text)
JUNIPER
Cobbler and intimate of the Ferneze servants. Sings and enjoys baiting
Onion. Accompanies him to de Prie's to woo Rachel, and is invited by Onion
to share the buried treasure he discovers there. Becomes drunk and
quarrelsome after becoming rich. He spends his treasure on clothes, pages,
and a knighthood. Arrives at Count Ferneze's court to show off, but is
identified by Jaques de Prie as a thief and ordered into the stocks by the
Count.
LORD PAULO FERNEZE
Count Ferneze's son, in love with Rachel. He confides his passion to
Antonio and to his friend Angelo, asking Angelo to watch over Rachel while
he is away with Maximilian's battalion. He is captured by Chamont's forces
and held for ransom. He is retrieved by Chamont and arrives in time to
rescue Rachel from Angelo. He angrily accuses Angelo of treachery, and
rebuffs Angelo's pleas for forgiveness and his promises to redeem himself.
He accompanies Chamont back to his father's court and is reunited with his
long-lost brother as well as his father and sisters. His father and
Chamont bless his union with Rachel when it is learned she is actually
Chamont's sister, Isabel.
MARTINO
Serving-man to Count Ferneze. Plays a game of cudgels with Onion and
injures him slightly.
MAXIMILIAN
A braggart soldier and guest of Count Ferneze, suitor to Aurelia. Leads a
battalion, which includes Lord Paulo Ferneze, into a war against Chamont in
which Paulo is captured. Takes Chamont and Jasper prisoner and brings them
to Ferneze's court, unaware that they have switched identities. He offers
to trade Chamont and Jasper for Lord Paulo, but "Chamont" (actually Jasper)
apparently finds this insulting. Maximilian admires his sense of honor. He
agrees with Count Ferneze to send "Jasper" to France for his captured son,
Lord Paulo, and invites "Chamont" (actually Jasper) to remain behind as an
honored guest. When it is revealed that Jasper and Chamont have switched
identities, Jasper hastens to assure Count Ferneze that Maximilian was
unaware of the switch, and that Chamont will surely return with Lord Paulo
as promised. Count Ferneze, furious, does not believe him and quarrels
with Maximilian, who is dissuaded from dueling with the Count by Aurelia.
He reconciles with the Count and tries to dissuade him from hanging
Jasper. He is only slightly disappointed when Aurelia is given to Chamont
in marriage.
MELUN
The true name of Jaques de Prie, when he was steward to Chamont's father,
Chamont.
NUNCIO
Messenger who brings word to Count Ferneze of Lord Paulo Ferneze's capture.
PACUE
Page to Jasper. Exchanges bilingual quips with Juniper and Onion. He
agrees to become page to the newly-rich Juniper in order to mock him.
Offstage, he accidentally admits to Phoenixella that Jasper and Chamont
have switched identities.
PETER ONION
Head Groom for Count Ferneze, an illiterate who pretends to be
intellectual. In love with Rachel de Prie, he solicits Valentine to write
him a love ballad and Christophero to woo him for her. He is slightly
injured by Martino during a bout of cudgels and insulted by the French
page, Pacue. Returning to de Prie's with Juniper to court Rachel, they are
chased off by Jaques de Prie's imaginary mastiff, Garlic, but Onion,
climbing a tree, sees de Prie visiting his treasure. After debating
whether to share the treasure with Juniper, he tells him and they dig it up
together. He spends his treasure on clothes, pages, and a knighthood, and
arrives at Count Ferneze's court to show off. Identified by Jaques de Prie
as a thief, he is ordered into the stocks by the Count.
PHOENIXELLA
Count Ferneze's daughter and Paulo's sister. Sober and serious, she offers
Francisco Colonna little encouragement when he courts her. Upon meeting
Chamont and Jasper (posing as one another), she is struck by "Chamont"'s
(actually Jasper's) resemblance to her mother, but Aurelia facetiously
accuses her of being in love with him. When it is revealed that Jasper and
Chamont have switched identities, Phoenixella notes her even stronger
emotional response to Jasper, which is justified when it is revealed that
he is her long-lost brother, Camillo.
RACHEL DE PRIE
Supposed daughter to Jaques de Prie and beloved of Paulo Ferneze. Actually
the daughter of the elder Chamont, stolen (along with his fortune) by de
Prie when he was his steward. She is wooed by Onion, Christophero, Count
Ferneze, and Angelo as well. She mourns Lord Paulo's capture and refuses
Angelo's attempts to comfort her. As de Prie follows Angelo and
Christophero's golden trail, Angelo tells Rachel that Paulo Ferneze has
escaped and awaits her at the priory, and she willingly follows him. He
makes love to her at the priory and she rebuffs him, horrified, calling
upon Lord Paulo, who returns at that moment and attacks Angelo, accusing
him of treachery. He rescues Rachel and brings her to the Count's, where
Jaques unwillingly reveals that she is actually the stolen daughter of old
Chamont, named Isabel. Her marriage to Lord Paulo is then blessed by Count
Ferneze and Chamont.
SEBASTIAN
Serving-man to Count Ferneze.
VALENTINE
Francisco Colonnia's man. Becomes Onion's page, and makes up a colorful
life story to win tips from the newly rich Onion and Juniper.