James Shirley

THE ARCADIA
(an earlier play falsely ascribed?)

1640 (publication date)

a synoptic, alphabetical character list

ARISTOMES

A "ghost character". A rich man who has been banished from Arcadia. Alleged by Misodorus to have buried a large amount of gold under a tree in an effort to distract Dametas.

BASILIUS

King of Arcadia. For fear of a prophecy coming true, Basilius has gone into hiding with his wife, Gynecia, and their two daughters, Philoclea and Pamela. His marriage has been lacking in affection. He becomes infatuated with the amazon Zellmane (Pyrocles), arranging to meet with "her" secretly. Finds Gynecia there instead, drinks a potion she gives him, and falls asleep, appearing to be dead. Revives at the end, negating Euarchus' sentencing of Gynecia, Musidorus, and Pyrocles for his murder. On awakening, Basilius finds that the prophecy has come true despite his precautions, yet all is well.

CALANDER

A lord. With Philanax, he counsels Basilius to leave his hiding place and return to the throne. Assists in defeating the Rebels who try to capture Philanax and Basilius.

CALODOULUS

Servant to Musidorus. Reveals the true identity of Musidorus and Pyrocles to Euarchus after they are sentenced.

CHARITA

A "ghost character", does not appear onstage. Said by Musidorus to be having an affair with Dametas, so that Miso will go after them and leave Pamela to him.

CUPID

At the revels and feasting in the glen, Cupid recites a love poem, possibly written by "Zellmane."

DAMETAS

A shepherd, husband of Miso, father of Mopsa. Appointed guardian to Pamela while the royal family is in hiding. Gruff and demanding of the respect of Dorus, Pamela, Miso, and Mopsa. Tricked by Misodorus into looking for hidden gold buried under a tree. Finds Philoclea and Pyrocles together, and brings them to Philanax, who arrests all three for conspiracy in the death of Basilius. Dametas is sentenced to be executioner for life in response to the neglect of his duty in guarding Pamela.

DAIPHANTUS

Assumed name of Pyrocles at the trial for the murder of Basilius.

DORUS

Assumed name of Misodorus, disguised as a shepherd.

EUARCHUS

King of Macedonia. Father of Pyrocles and uncle of Musidorus. In the last act he comes to visit Basilius, finds that the king is has been poisoned and is thought to be dead. He sits on Basilius' throne as he tries Gynecia, Pyrocles, and Misodorus for the murder. Not recognizing them, Euarchus sentences his disguised son and nephew to death and cannot recant when he discovers who they are.

GYNECIA

Wife of Basilius, mother of Pamela and Philoclea. Disenchanted with her marriage, Gynecia pursues Pyrocles when she sees through his disguise and finds that he is a man, though she knows he is in love with Philoclea. She blackmails Pyrocles with the wrath of Basilius and her own threat to kill Philoclea, so that he agrees to meet with her secretly in the cave. After meeting Basilius in the cave instead, she thinks she has killed him after giving him an aphrodisiac potion, which puts him to sleep. Sentenced by Euarchus to be buried alive with the corpse of Basilius.

MESSENGER

Announces the arrival of Euarchus.

MISO

Bad-tempered wife of Dametas, mother of Mopsa. She wants to make a match between Mopsa and Dorus (Misodorus). She is fooled by Misodorus, who tells her that Dametas is having an affair with Charita, so that she will go after them, leaving him alone with Pamela.

MOPSA

Daughter of Dametas and Miso. Bad-tempered and sarcastic, jealous of princess Pamela's station in life, disdainful of the (pretended) attentions of the shepherd Dorus (Misodorus). Tricked by Misodorus into going to the "wishing" tree to ask Apollo to make her a queen, so that Misodorus is left alone with Pamela.

MUSIDORUS

Prince of Thesslay, nephew of Euarchus, cousin of Pyrocles. Disguised as the shepherd Dorus, he has come to Arcadia with Pyrocles to woo the beautiful daughters of Basilius. Having hired himself out to Dametas, he falls in love with the princess Pamela while pretending to be courting Mopsa. He devises a threefold ruse to get Dametas, Miso, and Mopsa out of the way, so he can elope with Pamela. Arrested by Philanax for conspiracy in the murder of Basilius and sentenced to death by Euarchus, who does not recognize his nephew. At the trial, Misodorus says he is Palladius of Iberia.

PALLADIUS

Assumed name of Misodorus at the trial for the murder of Basilius.

PAMELA

Eldest daughter of Basilius and Gynecia, sister of Philoclea. She is sent to stay with the shepherd Dametas to keep her away from men, and to prevent the fulfilling of the Oracle. When she first meets the shepherd Dorus (Misodorus in disguise) she encourages him to court Mopsa. When she sees that Mopsa is rejecting Dorus, Pamela falls for him herself, and Pamela and Misodorus elope. The couple are caught by the Rebels and arrested by Philanax for conspiracy in the murder of Basilius. She is pardoned by Euarchus because she won't be responsible for her actions until she has been married for some years.

PHILANAX

A nobleman appointed as regent during the retirement of Basilius. With Calander, he tries to persuade Basilius to return to his throne. Fights off the Rebels with Basilius, Pyrocles and Calander. Philanax arrests Gynecia, Musidorus, Pyrocles, Pamela, Philoclea, and Dametas for the alleged murder of Basilius. Over the protests of the crown princess Pamela, he assumes control of the government of Arcadia, until Basilius revives and resumes the throne.

PHILOCLEA

Younger daughter of King Basilius and Gynecia, sister of Pamela. Falls in love with Pyrocles, after seeing through his disguise as Zellmane. Though Pyrocles arranges for both Gynecia and Basilius to wait for Zellmane/Pyrocles in the cave so that he and Philoclea can escape and elope, Philoclea does not want to betray her parents. The couple is found sleeping by Dametas who brings them to Philanax who charges them with conspiracy in the murder of Basilius. She is sentenced by Euarchus to a life of chastity.

PYROCLES

Prince of Macedonia, son of Euarchus. Disguised as the amazon Zellmane, he has come to Arcadia with his cousin, Musidorus to woo the beautiful daughters of Basilius. Though seeming to be attracted to Mopsa, Pyrocles falls in love with Philoclea. He is romantically pursued by Gynecia, who can see that he is really a man, and Basilius, who cannot. Agrees to meet both Gynecia and Basilius in a cave for lovers. Philoclea, though she loves him, will not abandon her parents and run away with him. Arrested by Philanax for the murder of Basilius and sentenced to death by Euarchus, who does not recognize his son. At the trial, Pyrocles says he is Daiphantus of Lycia.

CAPTAIN OF THE REBELS

Leader of a group of comic characters who, with Thumb, attempt to take over the kingdom from Philanax in Basilius' absence. Trying to overpower Philanax, they are beaten off by Basilius, Pyrocles, Philanax, and Calander. The Captain leads the group of rebels and Thumb against the king, who the captain thinks has abandoned his people. Suggests new laws encouraging drunkenness and loose women, and a plan to empty the prisons and burn them. When the rebels are defeated, he leads them into the woods to become outlaws, where they capture the runaways Musidorus and Pamela and take them back to the king to try to bargain for a pardon

FIRST REBEL

One of a band of comic characters who try to take over in Basilius' absence.

SECOND REBEL

One of a band of comic characters who try to take over in Basilius' absence. With the captain of the rebels, second rebel is a major instigator of the plot against King Basilius.

THIRD REBEL

One of a band of comic characters who try to take over in Basilius' absence. Third Rebel agrees with whatever was last spoken by another Rebel or Thumb.

FOURTH REBEL

One of a group of comic characters who try to take over in Basilius' absence. Volunteers to be ambassador from the rebels to the Basilius; has the idea to lure him into ambush with music and dancing.

SIMPATHUS

A guard at the prison. He is sympathetic to the prisoners Pamela, Philoclea, Misodorus, and Pyrocles.

SHEPHERD

With Dametas, discovers Gynecia with the supposed dead body of Basilius.

THUMB

A miller, argues with the Rebels in the king and queen's favor; conspires with the Rebels, challenging Philanax's authority. Killed in the battle between the Rebels and Basilius' company.

ZELLMANE

An amazon, actually Pyrocles in disguise.