A court attendant, Antigonus' primary role of the carrying of messages.
ARCADIUS
The nephew of Macarius. The long-standing bad blood between Eubulus and Macarius of course affects Arcadius as well. Though he loves Polidora and wishes to travel to other scenes and courts, Arcadius ends up being the chosen of the queen Sophia, who has abandoned her former love Lisimachus. Before Arcadius and Sophia can wed, however, the Bishop informs them that Arcadius is really Demetrius, son of the former king Theodosius and given away by the king to protect the child from political upheaval. Demetrius is therefore Sophia's brother and the true king. He holds his throne but briefly; Leonatus, the supposed son of Eubulus, is proven to be Theodosius' older son and therefore the rightful heir to the throne, leaving Demetrius free to pursue his love Polidora.
BISHOP
The Bishop first affects Epire when he testifies that the deceased Theodosius gave son Demetrius to Macarius to raise safe from political intrigues. Later, the Bishop affirms that Leonatus is really the elder son of Theodosius; Leonatus/Seleucus is the rightful heir to the crown of Epire.
CASSANDER
Cassander begins as lord protector of Epire. He wants his sons Lisimachus to become king, and he therefore encourages his son's affection to Sophia, the heir to the crown. He arranges the coronation of Sophia when she claims she cannot wed Lisimachus until she is made queen absolute; when Sophia instead chooses Arcadius as her mate, Cassander plots with Eubulus to place Seleucus on the throne. Cassander is surprised to learn later that instead of being a counterfeit heir, Seleucus is Leonatus, the real heir to the crown.
CHARILLA
Charilla is Sophia's companion and expresses concern about her mistress' passionate mature. After Seleucus is established as king, it is Charilla who urges Sophia to reaffirm her love to Cassander's sons Lisimachus.
CUPID
A character appearing in a masque that Polidora arranges to have performed for Arcadius.
DEMETRIUS
The true name of Arcadius.
EUBULUS
The supposed father of Seleucus, Eubulus has long carried a grudge against Arcadius' uncle Macarius, a grudge that the two men agree to dismiss when it appears that Arcadius and Seleucus might duel. Later, Eubulus plots with Cassander to establish a false claim to the throne for Seleucus. Thanks to the Bishop's testimony, Eubulus learns-along with everyone else-that Seleucus' claim to the crown is genuine.
FAME
A character appearing in a masque that Polidora arranges to have performed for Arcadius.
FORTUNE
A character appearing in a masque that Polidora arranges to have performed for Arcadius.
HEALTH
A character appearing in a masque that Polidora arranges to have performed for Arcadius.
HONOUR
A character appearing in a masque that Polidora arranges to have performed for Arcadius.
LEONATUS
Leonatus is the true name of Seleucus, revealed at the play's end by the Bishop when he testifies that Leonatus is truly the elder son of the dead king Theodosius and is the throne's rightful heir.
LISANDER
Lisander is a court attendant who brings to the audience's attention the fact that the young queen directs most of her attention toward Cassander's son Lisimachus.
LISIMACHUS
Lisimachus is the son of Cassander, Epire's lord protector. Lisimachus is favored by Sophia and is expected to be her chosen mate. But when she becomes queen absolute and instead chooses Arcadius, Lisimachus says that he feels no dishonor. Lisimachus is an honorable noble, offering his services to Arcadius when the latter is deposed by Seleucus.
LOVE
A character appearing in a masque that Polidora arranges to have performed for Arcadius.
MACARIUS
Macarius is a noble of Epire and uncle of Arcadius. Macarius bears an old grudge toward Eubulus but is agreeable to reconciliation when Eubulus' supposed son Seleucus would fight Arcadius to settle the families' feud. Macarius' nephew Arcadius is later proven to be the younger son of the deceased king Theodosius.
NESTORIUS
Nestorius is the father of Polidora. When Arcadius is deposed by Seleucus, Arcadius seeks refuge in Nestorius' house.
PHILOCLES
Philocles is a court attendant who mistrusts Cassander and dislikes the power wielded by the lord protector.
PLEASURE
A character appearing in a masque that Polidora arranges to have performed for Arcadius.
POET
A "ghost character." The Poet is mentioned in the Prologue as a reference to the play's author.
POLIANUS
Polianus is the captain of the Epire castle. He is brought into the plot to claim that Seleucus is yet another lost son of Theodosius. He helps take the throne from Arcadius.
POLIDORA
Daughter of Nestorius and beloved of Arcadius, Polidora is mortified when Sophia chooses Arcadius as mate. In her mourning she arranges to have a masque performed for Arcadius and thus expresses her views about Arcadius' rise to royalty and apparent preference for the accompanying royal trappings. She goes to the palace and offers hope to Arcadius near the plays end when Seleucus is proved to be the real heir to the crown.
PROLOGUE
The Prologue introduces the play, mentioning the Poet as the play's author.
SELEUCUS
Leonatus, known throughout his life as Seleucus, is the supposed son of Eubulus. He suggests a battle of honor to end the "bad blood" between his family and that of Macarius; only the reconciliation of Eubulus and Macarius stops a duel between Leonatus and Macarius' supposed nephew Arcadius. When Arcadius is proclaimed king, Cassander and Eubulus work to place Leonatus unrightfully on the throne. By the play's end, however, the Bishop has testified that Leonatus is truly the elder son of the dead king Theodosius and is the throne's rightful heir.
SERVANT
The Servant explains to Polidora about Arcadius' reaction to Sophia's proposal at court. The Servant also carries a letter from Polidora to Arcadius.
SOPHIA
Sophia begins the play as queen of Epire and beloved of Cassander's son Lisimachus. She obtains the title of queen absolute after her coronation by the lord protector Cassander; her first royal decision is to abandon Lisimachus and choose Arcadius as king and mate. Shortly, however, Arcadius is proven to be her brother, as is later Seleucus. Free then from queenship and matrimonial entanglements, Sophia hopes to win back the love and trust of Lisimachus. It is Sophia who speaks the play's Epilogue.
THEODOSIUS
A "ghost character." Theodosius is the deceased king of Epire. Of his three children, only Sophia has been raised royally. The sons-Demetrius and Leonatus-were each sent to separate households to be raised free and safe from the political intrigues of Cassander.
YOUTH
A character appearing in a masque that Polidora arranges to have performed for Arcadius.