A young gentleman and Cassandra's brother. Offstage, Promos' court
condemns him to execution for committing adultery (specifically,
fornication). When Cassandra comes to his prison window, he implores her
to beg Promos for his life. After Promos offers to pardon him in exchange
for sex with Cassandra, Andrugio begs his sister to submit. She eventually
agrees. Promos betrays his vow and orders Andrugio executed, but the
jailer takes pity on him and frees him, displaying the mangled head of
another executed prisoner and claiming it to be Andrugio's. Andrugio flees
in secret, anguished that Cassandra and Polina ignorantly mourn for him.
BEADLE
An under-bailiff. He helps Gripax and Rapax bring Lamia and Rosko to
Phallax.
BILLMAN
An minor officer of the peace, called a billman because he carries a weapon
known as a brown bill. He helps Gripax and Rapax bring Lamia and Rosko to
Phallax.
BOY SERVANT
A servant under Rosko. Brings sweet water to Rosko while Grimball is being barbered.
CASSANDRA
A young gentlewoman and Andrugio's sister. Outside Andrugio's prison, she
laments her brother's fate and the sorrow caused by lust. Andrugio hears
her and implores her to beg Promos for his life. She meets Promos in the
street and begs for her brother's life. Promos is so taken with her that
he agrees to stay the execution for a day to allow her to plead her case.
Cassandra appears before Promos and pleads for Andrugio, arguing that his
sexual encounters with Polina were consensual and he can mend the fault by
marrying her. Promos confesses his passion for Cassandra and agrees to
pardon Andrugio if she will sleep with him. She is disgusted by the irony
of his proposition-he refuses to pardon Andrugio's crime unless she and he
commit the very same crime. She argues that if he really loves her, his
conscience should compel him to release Andrugio. He replies that one
favor deserves another. She refuses his proposition. He offers her wealth
and favors. She refuses again. He offers to marry her. She refuses once
more. He tells her that if she changes her mind, she should come to him by
night dressed as a page. She tells Andrugio of her encounter. He urges
her to accept Promos' proposition, but she argues that honor is worse than
death, for death is inevitable but the retention of honor gives
distinction. She fears slander, but eventually agrees to accept Promo's
offer. She goes to Promos dressed as a page and they have sex. When the
jailer brings her what she believes is Andrugio's severed head, she wails
and rages at Promos' treachery. She vows to tell the King about Promos'
sins.
CATCHPOLE
Part of the party which leads the prisoners to execution. He goads the
gypsy prisoner and is rebuked by the preacher.
CORVINUS
A "ghost character." King of Hungary. Cassandra vows to take her story to
the king at the end of the play and ask him for justice.
DALIA
A maid in service to the prostitute Lamia. Delivers a short soliloquy
praising Lamia's resourcefulness at seducing Phallax. Grimball tries to
woo her, but she rejects him because he is penniless.
GANIO
Boy servant to Andrugio. He fetches Cassandra after her audience with
Promos and brings her to Andrugio.
GRIMBALL
A would be suitor to Dalia. He tries to woo Dalia, but she refuses to kiss
him unless he produces money. He comes back with a full purse, but Rowke
intercepts him. Rowke leads him to Rosko for barbering and, while his eyes
are closed, Rowke steals his purse.
GRIPAX
An informer for Phallax. He and his fellow Rapax tease each other
constantly and acerbically. They arrest Lamia on suspicion of her
prostitution and present her to Phallax.
GYPSY
One of the condemned prisoners. Recites a prayer for mercy with the other
prisoners. The hangman expresses his pleasure at the opportunity to
execute the gypsy and the catchpole goads him on the way to execution.
HACKSTER, FIRST and SECOND
The First Hackster is one of the condemned prisoners and recites a prayer for mercy with the other prisoners. Implores onlookers to reform their faults lest they end up hanging. The Second Hackster is also a condemned prisoners and recites along with the First Hackster.
HANGMAN
Hangs the prisoners that Promos orders executed. In a soliloquy, he
expresses pleasure in his work. He expresses particular pleasure at the
opportunity to hang a gypsy, for he characterizes the gypsies as despicable
swindlers.
HIPPOLITO
A "ghost character." One of Lamia's clients.
JAILER
Andrugio's jailer. When Promos orders him to behead Andrugio and bring his
head to Cassandra, the jailer disobeys. He spares Andrugio and brings the
mangled, unrecognizable head of another, recently executed prisoner
instead. He urges Andrugio to flee and keep hidden from everyone for his
own safety.
LAMIA
A prostitute. Before learning of Promos' arrival, she describes (in a song
and a soliloquy) her luxurious lifestyle-paid for by the impetuous youths
and lascivious old men of Julio. Then Rosko arrives and tells Lamia of the
court's sentence on Andrugio. She vows to live chastely, and tells Rosko
to seek employment elsewhere. But Rosko convinces her to abandon her fresh
vow of chastity in favor of another plan. He suggests that she seduce
Phallax, for with his protection no one will dare turn her in. Rapax and
Gripax arrest her and Rosko and bring them to Phallax. She insists she is
innocent and chaste and Phallax attempts to seduce her. She invites him to
her house for dinner.
MAID TO LAMIA
Finds Lamia and tells her that a client named Hippolito is waiting at her
house.
MAYOR
Mayor of the city of Julio. Openly submits to Promos' authority and
presents him with the city's "sword of justice" in the opening scene.
PHALLAX
A lawyer and principal officer to Promos. In opening scene, he reads aloud
the king's patent making Promos his deputy in Julio. In a soliloquy, he
admits that he is "neither learned, true, nor honest" and seeks bribes from
wealthy lawbreakers who wish to avoid incarceration and public humiliation.
When Promos reveals his passion for Cassandra, Phallax advises him to offer
her Andrugio's pardon in exchange for sex. When his officers bring Lamia
before him, having apprehended her on charges of prostitution, he is
immediately attracted to her and arranges to visit her home.
POLINA
A young gentlewoman betrothed to Andrugio. The court condemns her for
fornicating with Andrugio and forces her to wear a blue gown-a badge of
adultery. In a soliloquy, she laments her fate and Andrugio's death and
vows to mourn him for the rest of her life.
PREACHER
Offers comfort to the prisoners as they go off to execution.
PROMOS
Corvinus' deputy in the city of Julio. He has just taken the post at the
beginning of the play and announces that he will strictly enforce all laws
and mete out harsh punishments to lawbreakers. His court condemns thirty
lawbreakers to death, and he orders them executed quickly to serve as
examples for the "swarms of unthrifts" plaguing Julio. Cassandra begs him
to pardon Andrugio and he is so taken with her that he agrees to stay the
execution for a day to allow her to plead her case. He tells Phallax about
his newfound passion for Cassandra. At Phallax's suggestion, Promos
promises Cassandra that he will pardon Andrugio if she sleeps with him.
She refuses his proposition. He offers her wealth and favors. She refuses
again. He offers to marry her. She refuses once more. He tells her that
if she changes her mind, she should come to him by night dressed as a
page. She does and they have sex. Afterward, in a soliloquy, he laments
his vows to free Andrugio and marry Cassandra and decides to break them in
order to save his reputation for fierce justice. He orders the jailer to
execute Andrugio and bring his head to Cassandra.
RAPAX
An informer for Phallax. He and his fellow Gripax tease each other
constantly and acerbically. They arrest Lamia on suspicion of her
prostitution and present her to Phallax.
ROGUE
One of the condemned prisoners. Recites a prayer for mercy with the other
prisoners. As he is led off to be hanged, he begs Jesus for salvation and
states that he is condemned for stealing a purse containing only three
half-pence.
ROSKO
Lamia's servant and pimp. Alerts Lamia to the court's sentence on Andrugio
and urges her to abandon her business and "be quiet." She agrees, vows to
live chastely, and tells Rosko to seek employment elsewhere. Rosko knows
no one in this climate will take on a former prostitute's servant, so he
quickly backpedals and entices her to abandon her fresh vow of chastity in
favor of another plan. He suggests that she seduce Phallax, for with his
protection no one will dare turn her in. He is arrested with Lamia, but
Phallax frees the pair in hopes of seducing Lamia. When he fetches Phallax
and escorts him to Lamia's house, he reveals that he has skill in
barbering. He uses this skill to help Grimball primp for his rendezvous
with Dalia, creating an opportunity for Rowke to steal Grimball's purse.
ROWKE
A companion to Rosko. He leads Grimball to Rosko for barbering and steals
Grimball's purse while Rosko is cleaning his face.
SHERIFF
Sheriff of the city of Julio. Openly submits to Promos' authority and
presents him with the keys to the city in the opening scene.
WOMAN
One of the condemned prisoners. Recites a prayer for mercy with the other
prisoners. As she is led off to be hanged, she advises women to "shun
pride and sloth, the roots of every vice," for these are what led to her
execution.