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.