Celia is one of Ceres' nymphs. She is being courted by Montanus but she refuses to return his love, despite a lecture from Cupid on the proper way for lovers to behave. Montanus complains to Cupid, who turns Celia into a flower. Celia is only returned to her true form when Ceres pleads with Cupid. However, Celia says she would rather be turned back into a flower than fall in love. Ceres tries to change her mind and eventually Celia agrees to be Montanus' lover.
CERES
Ceres is a goddess. Her nymphs dance around a tree that was also once a nymph. Erisicthon, a churlish huntsman, cuts down the tree and kills the nymph inside. In revenge, Ceres sends famine to him. Ceres then takes her nymphs to the god Cupid for instruction in love but, when the nymphs disobey Cupid's commands and reject their suitors, they are transformed into a rock, a flower and a bird. Ceres pleads with Cupid, who temporarily restores the nymphs to their proper form–but Ceres then has to persuade each of the nymphs that being in love is better than being transformed back again.
CUPID
Cupid is the god of love. After the murder of Fidelia, Ceres takes her nymphs to Cupid to be taught how to love. Cupid tells them not to be obstinate but to be faithful. When, in turn, each of the nymphs repels their suitors, Cupid transforms them–Nisa into a stone, Celia into a flower and Niobe into a bird of paradise. Ceres asks for them to be restored but Cupid only grants this after the nymphs reluctantly agree to love. Finally, struck by Protea's love for her father and for Petulius, Cupid ends Erisicthon's famine.
ERISICTHON
Erisicthon is a churlish husbandman who chops down Ceres' tree, killing Fidelia (a nymph who had been transformed into the tree). Incensed by this outrage, Ceres sets Famine on Erisicthon who, starving, is forced to sell his daughter Protea. When Protea manages to trick her way out of the sale, Erisicthon decides to carry on selling his daughter to raise money. Protea's love persuades the god Cupid to lift the famine, provided that Erisicthon worship Cupid.
FAMINE
Famine does not appear in the play. At Ceres' request, Famine starves Erisicthon as a punishment for murdering the tree-nymph Fidelia.
FIDELIA
Fidelia is one of Ceres' nymphs. She has been changed into a tree, upon which lovers hang messages for the other nymphs, but Fidelia's true form is revealed when Erisicthon cuts the tree down, killing the nymph.
GHOST of ULYSSES
A disguise of Protea's. Protea changes into the Ghost of Ulysses to frighten the Syren and rescue Petulius.
MERCHANT
The Merchant buys Protea from her father, Erisicthon, who has been forced to raise money. However, Protea prays to Neptune for the ability to change her shape and, with this power, escapes the merchant, who is at sea before he realizes the deception.
MONTANUS
Montanus is in love with the nymph Celia and leaves declarations of his love on the tree around which the nymphs dance. But Celia is proud and disdainful, and rejects his love. Montanus complains to Cupid, demanding that Celia be turned into a flower as punishment. Cupid grants his wish but restores Celia at Ceres' request. However, Celia says she would rather be a flower than be in love. Ceres tries to change her mind and eventually Celia agrees to be Montanus' lover.
NIOBE
Niobe is one of Ceres' nymphs. She is being courted by Silvestris but she refuses to return his love, despite a lecture from Cupid on the proper way for lovers to behave. Silvestris complains to Cupid, who turns Niobe into a bird of paradise. Niobe is only returned to her true form when Ceres pleads with Cupid. However, Niobe says she would rather be turned back into a bird than fall in love. Ceres tries to change her mind and eventually Niobe agrees to be Silvestris' lover.
NISA
Nisa is one of Ceres' nymphs. She is being courted by Ramis but she refuses to return his love, despite a lecture from Cupid on the proper way for lovers to behave. Ramis complains to Cupid, who turns Nisa into stone. Nisa is only returned to her true form when Ceres pleads with Cupid. However, Nisa says she would rather be turned back into stone than fall in love. Ceres tries to change her mind and eventually Nisa agrees to be Ramis' lover.
PETULIUS
Petulius is in love with Protea, but he is enchanted by the Syren. However, he is saved Protea, who disguises herself as the ghost of Ulysses.
PROTEA
Protea is the daughter of Erisicthon, the churlish husbandman who kills the nymph Fidelia and is made to starve by Ceres. When her father sells her to a merchant, Protea prays to Neptune (who took her virginity) for the power to change shape. With this power, she escapes the merchant and then, later, transforms herself into the ghost of Ulysses in order to rescue her lover, Petulius, from the Syren. Finally, her constancy to both her father and to Petulius pleases Cupid, who lifts the famine from Erisicthon.
RAMIS
Ramis is in love with the nymph Nisa and leaves declarations of his love on the tree around which the nymphs dance. But Nisa is proud and disdainful, and rejects his love. Ramis complains to Cupid, demanding that Celia be turned into stone as punishment. Cupid grants his wish but restores Nisa at Ceres' request. However, Nisa says she would rather be a stone than be in love. Ceres tries to change her mind and eventually Nisa agrees to be Ramis' lover.
SILVERSTRIS
Silvertris is in love with the nymph Niobe and leaves declarations of his love on the tree around which the nymphs dance. But Niobe is proud and disdainful, and rejects his love. Silvertris complains to Cupid, demanding that Niobe be turned into a bird of paradise as punishment. Cupid grants his wish but restores Niobe at Ceres' request. However, Niobe says she would rather be a bird than be in love. Ceres tries to change her mind and eventually Niobe agrees to be Silvertris' lover.
SYREN
The Syren tries to enchant Petulius but is frightened off by Protea, who disguises herself as the ghost of Ulysses.
TIRTENA
Tirtena is one of Ceres' nymphs. When Erisicthon cuts down the tree-nymph Fidelia, Ceres sends Tirtena to set Famine on the husbandman.