John Lyly

MIDAS

1589–1590

a synoptic, alphabetical character list

AMERULA

Amerula is a lady of the court. She offers to tell Sophronia and the other ladies a story while they wait for news of Midas' trip to Pactolus.

AMYNTAS

Amyntas (also listed as Cimyntas) is a shepherd. He and the other shepherds learn that Midas' ears have been transformed into those of an ass. The reeds overhear the shepherds talking about Midas.

APOLLO

Apollo, the god, competes with Pan in a musical competition to be judged by Midas and the nymphs. Midas prefers the sounds of Pan's pipes. Angry, Apollo transforms Midas' ears into those of an ass and only restores them when Midas abases himself before the oracle and ends his needless wars.

BACCHUS

Bacchus, the god, is entertained by King Midas. In return, Bacchus offers Midas anything that the King should ask for. Midas requests the ability to turn everything he touches into gold.

CAELIA

Caelia is a lady of the court. She comforts Sophronia while they wait for news of Midas' trip to Pactolus

CAMILLA

Camilla is a lady of the court. She comforts Sophronia while they wait for news of Midas' trip to Pactolus

CELTHUS

Celthus is a shepherd. He and the other shepherds learn that Midas' ears have been transformed into those of an ass. The reeds overhear the shepherds talking about Midas.

CORYN

Coryn is a shepherd. He and the other shepherds learn that Midas' ears have been transformed into those of an ass. The reeds overhear the shepherds talking about Midas.

CIMYNTAS

An alternative spelling for Amyntas.

DELLO

Dello is servant to Motto. He tries to protect his master from the plots of the other servants.

DRIAPON

Driapon is a shepherd. He and the other shepherds learn that Midas' ears have been transformed into those of an ass. The reeds overhear the shepherds talking about Midas.

ERATO

Erato is one of the nymphs who listen to Apollo and Pan's musical competition.

ERISTUS

Eristus is a gentleman of the court and an advisor to the King. When Bacchus offers Mydas anything he wishes, Eristus urges the King to ask for a mistress.

HUNTSMAN

A huntsman who looks for Midas in the forest.

LICIO

Licio is one of a group of comic servants who steal and pawn Midas' golden beard. Forced to redeem it by the barber Motto, the servants have their revenge by tricking Motto into saying that the King has assess' ears, for which (by law) Motto should have his own ears cut off. However, when he pleads for mercy, the servants let him go.

MARTIUS

Martius is a gentleman of the court and an advisor to the King. When Bacchus makes his offer to Mydas, Martius urges the King to ask to be made 'monarch of the world.' Martius constantly pushes Midas into unnecessary wars and, when the King isolates himself, Martius determines to find out the cause.

MELLACRITES

Mellacrites is a gentleman of the court and an advisor to the King. When Bacchus makes his offer to Midas, Mellacrties urges the King to ask for the ability to turn everything he touches into gold.

MENALCAS

Menalcas is a shepherd. He and the other shepherds learn that Midas' ears have been transformed into those of an ass. The reeds overhear the shepherds talking about Midas.

MIDAS, KING of PHYRGIA

Midas is King of Phrygia. After enjoying Midas' hospitality, Bacchus offers to grant a wish to the King. After consulting his advisors, Midas asks for the ability to turn everything he touches into gold. However, this gift soon becomes a burden, so Midas seeks advice from the oracle, who instructs the King to go to Pactolus and bathe in the waters there. Having done this, Midas is overjoyed. He goes hunting in the woods, where he encounters Apollo and Pan arguing about which of them is the better musician. They seek Midas' opinion by playing before him - but when Midas praises Pan, Apollo becomes angry and gives Midas the ears of an ass. Midas retreats from his court, which is now run by advisors who start needless wars, and orders that anyone who refers to his ears should have their own cut off. Returning to the oracle once more, Midas realizes that his pride and his needless wars have offended the gods. On the condition that he end his wars, return the crowns that are not his, and pay homage to Apollo, his true ears are restored.

MOTTO

Motto is barber to the king. When he clashes with the other servants over the King's golden beard, Motto becomes the victim of a comic revenge plot. The servants manage to trick him into saying that the King has assess' ears, for which Motto should (by law) have his own ears cut off. However, Motto begs for mercy and the servants let him go.

NYMPHS

The nymphs of the wood are asked to judge between the musical skills of Apollo and Pan. They judge that Apollo is the better musician.

PAN

Pan is a god who believes that his pipe playing is better than Apollo's lute playing. The two gods have a competition.

PETULUS

Petulus serves Mellacrites and is a friend of Licio. He is one of a group of comic servants who steal and pawn Midas' golden beard. Forced to redeem it by the barber Motto, the servants have their revenge by tricking Motto into saying that the King has assess' ears, for which (by law) Motto should have his own ears cut off. However, when he pleads for mercy, the servants let him go.

PIPENETTA

Pipenetta is a servant who brings news to the others of Midas' new ability to turn things into gold. She is one of a group of comic servants who steal and pawn Midas' golden beard. Forced to redeem it by the barber Motto, the servants have their revenge by tricking Motto into saying that the King has assess' ears, for which (by law) Motto should have his own ears cut off. However, when he pleads for mercy, the servants let him go.

SOPHRONIA

Sophronia is Midas' daughter. She expresses her concerns about Midas to the court and is entertained by the ladies of the court while the King seeks a remedy. When Midas closets himself on his return, Sophronia is determined to find out why.

SUAVIA

Suavia is a lady of the court. She comforts Sophronia while they wait for news of Midas' trip to Pactolus