Chapter XI: Act V: Scene I

_The same. An upper Chamber in_ CHAROMONTE'_s House_.

_Enter_ SANAZARRO.

_Sanaz._ 'Tis proved in me: the curse of human frailty,
Adding to our afflictions, makes us know
What's good; and yet our violent passions force us
To follow what is ill. Reason assured me
It was not safe to shave a lion's skin;
And that to trifle with a sovereign was
To play with lightning: yet imperious beauty,
Treading upon the neck of understanding,
Compell'd me to put off my natural shape
Of loyal duty, to disguise myself
In the adulterate and cobweb-mask
Of disobedient treachery. Where is now
My borrow'd greatness, or the promised lives
Of following courtiers echoing my will?
In a moment vanish'd! Power that stands not on
Its proper base, which is peculiar only
To absolute princes, falls or rises with
Their frown or favour. The great duke, my master,
(Who almost changed me to his other self,)
No sooner takes his beams of comfort from me,
But I, as one unknown, or unregarded,
Unpitied suffer. Who makes intercession
To his mercy for me now? who does remember
The service I have done him? not a man:
And such as spake no language but my lord
The favourite of Tuscany's grand duke,
Deride my madness.--Ha! what noise of horses?
[_He looks out at the back window._
A goodly troop! This back part of my prison
Allows me liberty to see and know them.
Contarino! yes, 'tis he, and Lodovico[89]:
And the duchess Fiorinda, Urbin's heir,
A princess I have slighted: yet I wear
Her favours; and, to teach me what I am,
She whom I scorn'd can only mediate for me.
This way she makes, yet speak to her I dare not;
And how to make suit to her is a task
Of as much difficulty.--Yes, thou blessed pledge
[_Takes off the ring._
Of her affection, aid me! This supplies
The want of pen and ink; and this, of paper.
[_Takes a pane of glass._
It must be so; and I in my petition
Concise and pithy. [_Exit._

FOOTNOTE:

[89] _Lodovico_,] i. e. _Lodovico Hippolito_.

SCENE II.

_The Court before_ CHAROMONTE'_s House_.

_Enter_ CONTARINO, _leading in_ FIORINDA, ALPHONSO, HIPPOLITO, HIERONIMO, _and_ CALAMINTA.

_Fior._ 'Tis a goodly pile, this.

_Hier._ But better by the owner.

_Alph._ But most rich
In the great states[90] it covers.

_Fior._ The duke's pleasure
Commands us hither.

_Cont._ Which was laid on us
To attend you to it.

_Hip._ Signior Charomonte,
To see your excellence his guest, will think
Himself most happy.

_Fior._ Tie my shoe.--[_The pane falls down._]--What's that?
A pane thrown from the window, no wind stirring!

_Calam._ And at your feet too fall'n:--there's something writ on 't.

_Cont._ Some courtier, belike, would have it known
He wore a diamond.

_Calam._ Ha! it is directed
To the princess Fiorinda.

_Fior._ We will read it. [_Reads._

_He, whom you pleased to favour, is cast down
Past hope of rising, by the great duke's frown,
If, by your gracious means, he cannot have
A pardon;--and that got, he lives your slave.
Of men the most distressed_,
SANAZARRO.

Of me the most beloved; and I will save thee,
Or perish with thee. Sure, thy fault must be
Of some prodigious shape, if that my prayers
And humble intercession to the duke

_Enter_ COZIMO _and_ CHAROMONTE.

Prevail not with him. Here he comes; delay
Shall not make less my benefit.

_Coz._ What we purpose
Shall know no change, and therefore move we not:
We were made as properties, and what we shall
Determine of them cannot be call'd rigour,
But noble justice. When they proved disloyal,
They were cruel to themselves. The prince that pardons
The first affront offer'd to majesty,
Invites a second, rendering that power
Subjects should tremble at, contemptible.
Ingratitude is a monster, Carolo,
To be strangled in the birth, not to be cherish'd.
Madam, you're happily met with.

_Fior._ Sir, I am
An humble suitor to you; and the rather
Am confident of a grant, in that your grace,
When I made choice to be at your devotion,
Vow'd to deny me nothing.

_Coz._ To this minute
We have confirm'd it. What's your boon?

_Fior._ It is, sir,
That you, in being gracious to your servant,
The ne'er sufficiently praised Sanazarro,
That now under your heavy displeasure suffers,
Would be good unto yourself. His services,
So many, and so great, (your storm of fury
Calm'd by your better judgment,) must inform you
Some little slip, for sure it is no more,
From his loyal duty, with your justice cannot
Make foul his fair deservings. Great sir, therefore,
Look backward on his former worth, and turning
Your eye from his offence, what 'tis I know not,
And, I am confident, you will receive him
Once more into your favour.

_Coz._ You say well,
You are ignorant in the nature of his fault;
Which when you understand, as we'll instruct you,
Your pity will appear a charity,
It being conferr'd on an unthankful man,
To be repented. He's a traitor, madam,
To you, to us, to gratitude; and in that
All crimes are comprehended.

_Fior._ If his offence
Aim'd at me only, whatsoe'er it is,
'Tis freely pardon'd.

_Coz._ This compassion in you
Must make the colour of his guilt more ugly.
The honours we have hourly heap'd upon him,
The titles, the rewards, to the envy of
The old nobility, as the common people,
We now forbear to touch at, and will only
Insist on his gross wrongs to you. You were pleased,
Forgetting both yourself and proper greatness,
To favour him, nay, to court him to embrace
A happiness, which, on his knees, with joy
He should have sued for. Who repined not at
The grace you did him? yet, in recompense
Of your large bounties, the disloyal wretch
Makes you a stale; and, what he might be by you,
Scorn'd and derided, gives himself up wholly
To the service of another. If you can
Bear this with patience, we must say you have not
The bitterness of spleen, or ireful passions
Familiar to women. Pause upon it,
And when you seriously have weigh'd his carriage,
Move us again, if your reason will allow it,
His treachery known: and then, if you continue
An advocate for him, we perhaps, because
We would deny you nothing, may awake
Our sleeping mercy. Carolo!

_Char._ My lord. [_They talk aside._

_Fior._ To endure a rival that were equal to me,
Cannot but speak my poverty of spirit;
But an inferior, more: yet true love must not
Know or degrees, or distances. Lidia may be
As far above me in her form, as she
Is in her birth beneath me; and what I
In Sanazarro liked, he loves in her.
But, if I free him now, the benefit
Being done so timely, and confirming too
My strength and power, my soul's best faculties being
Bent wholly to preserve him, must supply me
With all I am defective in, and bind him
My creature ever. It must needs be so,
Nor will I give it o'er thus.

_Coz._ Does your nephew
Bear his restraint so constantly[91], as you
Deliver it to us?

_Char._ In my judgment, sir,
He suffers more for his offence to you,
Than in his fear of what can follow it.
For he is so collected, and prepared
To welcome that you shall determine of him,
As if his doubts and fears were equal to him.
And sure he's not acquainted with much guilt,
That more laments the telling one untruth,
Under your pardon still, for 'twas a fault, sir,
Than others, that pretend to conscience, do
Their crying secret sins.

_Coz._ No more; this gloss
Defends not the corruption of the text.
Urge it no more.
[CHAROMONTE _and the others talk aside_.

_Fior._ I once more must make bold, sir,
To trench upon your patience. I have
Consider'd my wrongs duly: yet that cannot
Divert my intercession for a man
Your grace, like me, once favour'd. I am still
A suppliant to you, that you would vouchsafe
The hearing his defence, and that I may,
With your allowance, see and comfort him.
Then, having heard all that he can allege
In his excuse, for being false to you,
Censure him as you please.

_Coz._ You will o'ercome;
There's no contending with you. Pray you, enjoy
What you desire, and tell him, he shall have
A speedy trial; in which, we will forbear
To sit a judge, because our purpose is
To rise up his accuser.

_Fior._ All increase
Of happiness wait on Cozimo!
[_Exeunt_ FIORINDA _and_ CALAMINTA.

_Alph._ Was it no more?

_Char._ My honour's pawn'd for it.

_Cont._ I'll second you.

_Hip._ Since it is for the service and the safety
Of the hopeful prince, fall what can fall, I'll run
The desperate hazard.

_Hier._ He's no friend to virtue
That does decline it.
[_They all come forward and kneel._

_Coz._ Ha! what sue you for?
Shall we be ever troubled? Do not tempt
That anger may consume you.

_Char._ Let it, sir:
The loss is less, though innocents we perish,
Than that your sister's son should fall, unheard,
Under your fury. Shall we fear to entreat
That grace for him, that are your faithful servants,
Which you vouchsafe the count, like us a subject?

_Coz._ Did not we vow, till sickness had forsook
Thy daughter Lidia, and she appear'd
In her perfect health and beauty to plead for him,
We were deaf to all persuasion?

_Char._ And that hope, sir,
Hath wrought a miracle. She is recover'd,
And, if you please to warrant her, will bring
The penitent prince before you.

_Coz._ To enjoy
Such happiness, what would we not dispense with?

_Alph. Hip. Hier._ We all kneel for the prince.

_Cont._ Nor can it stand
With your mercy, that are gracious to strangers,
To be cruel to your own.

_Coz._ But art thou certain
I shall behold her at the best?

_Char._ If ever
She was handsome, as it fits not me to say so,
She is now much better'd.

_Coz._ Rise; thou art but dead,
If this prove otherwise. Lidia, appear,
And feast an appetite almost pined to death
With longing expectation to behold
Thy excellencies: thou, as beauty's queen,
Shalt censure[92] the detractors. Let my nephew
Be led in triumph under her command;
We'll have it so; and Sanazarro tremble
To think whom he hath slander'd. We'll retire
Ourselves a little, and prepare to meet
A blessing, which imagination tells us
We are not worthy of: and then come forth,
But with such reverence, as if I were
Myself the priest, the sacrifice my heart,
To offer at the altar of that goodness
That must or kill or save me. [_Exit._

_Char._ Are not these
Strange gambols in the duke?

_Alph._ Great princes have,
Like meaner men, their weakness.

_Hip._ And may use it
Without control or check.

_Cont._ 'Tis fit they should;
Their privilege were less else, than their subjects'.

_Hier._ Let them have their humours; there's no crossing them.
[_Exeunt._

FOOTNOTES:

[90] _States_,] i. e. _statesmen_, _men of power_. A common
acceptation of the word.

[91] _So constantly_,] i. e. _with such constancy_.

[92] _Censure._] It has been already observed, that this word is used
by our old writers, where we should now use _judge_, and
with the same latitude of meaning through its various
acceptations.--GIFFORD.

SCENE III.

_A State-room in the same._

_Enter_ FIORINDA, SANAZARRO, _and_ CALAMINTA.

_Sanaz._ And can it be, your bounties should fall down
In showers on my ingratitude, or the wrongs
Your greatness should revenge, teach you to pity?
What retribution can I make, what service
Pay to your goodness, that, in some proportion,
May to the world express I would be thankful?
Since my engagements are so great, that all
My best endeavours to appear your creature
Can but proclaim my wants, and what I owe
To your magnificence.

_Fior._ All debts are discharged
In this acknowledgment: yet, since you please
I shall impose some terms of satisfaction
For that which you profess yourself obliged for,
They shall be gentle ones, and such as will not,
I hope, afflict you.

_Sanaz._ Make me understand,
Great princess, what they are, and my obedience
Shall, with all cheerful willingness, subscribe
To what you shall command.

_Fior._ I will bind you to
Make good your promise. First, I then enjoin you
To love a lady, that, a noble way,
Truly affects you; and that you would take
To your protection and care the dukedom
Of Urbin, which no more is mine, but yours.
And that, when you have full possession of
My person as my fortune, you would use me,
Not as a princess, but instruct me in
The duties of an humble wife, for such,
The privilege of my birth no more remember'd,
I will be to you. This consented to,
All injuries are forgotten.

_Sanaz._ I am wretched,
In having but one life to be employ'd
As you please to dispose it. And, believe it,
If it be not already forfeited
To the fury of my prince, as 'tis your gift,
With all the faculties of my soul I'll study,
In what I may, to serve you.

_Fior._ I am happy

_Enter_ GIOVANNI _and_ LIDIA.

In this assurance. What sweet lady's this?

_Sanaz._ 'Tis Lidia, madam, she----

_Fior._ I understand you.
Nay, blush not; by my life, she is a rare one!
And, if I were your judge, I would not blame you
To like and love her. But, sir, you are mine now;
And I presume so on your constancy,
That I dare not be jealous.

_Sanaz._ All thoughts of her
Are in your goodness buried.

_Lid._ Pray you, sir,
Be comforted; your innocence should not know
What 'tis to fear; and if that you but look on
The guards that you have in yourself, you cannot.
The duke's your uncle, sir, and, though a little
Incensed against you, when he sees your sorrow,
He must be reconciled. What rugged Tartar,
Or cannibal, though bathed in human gore,
But, looking on your sweetness, would forget
His cruel nature, and let fall his weapon,
Though then aim'd at your throat?

_Giov._ O Lidia,
Of maids the honour, and your sex's glory!
It is not fear to die, but to lose you,
That brings this fever on me. I will now
Discover to you, that which, till this minute,
I durst not trust the air with. Ere you knew
What power the magic of your beauty had,
I was enchanted by it, liked, and loved it,
My fondness still increasing with my years;
And, flatter'd by false hopes, I did attend
Some blessed opportunity to move
The duke with his consent to make you mine:
But now, such is my star-cross'd destiny,
When he beholds you as you are, I may
As well entreat him give away his crown,
As to part from a jewel of more value.
Yet, howsoever, when you are his duchess,
And I am turn'd into forgotten dust,
Pray you, love my memory:--I should say more,
But I'm cut off.

_Enter_ COZIMO, CHAROMONTE, CONTARINO, HIERONIMO, HIPPOLITO, _and_ ALPHONSO.

_Sanaz._ The duke! That countenance, once,
When it was clothed in smiles, show'd like an angel's,
But, now 'tis folded up in clouds of fury,
'Tis terrible to look on.

_Lid._ Sir.

_Coz._ A while
Silence your musical tongue, and let me feast
My eyes with the most ravishing object that
They ever gazed on. There's no miniature
In her fair face, but is a copious theme
Which would, discoursed at large of, make a volume.
What clear arch'd brows! what sparkling eyes! the lilies
Contending with the roses in her cheeks,
Who shall most set them off. What ruby lips!--
Or unto what can I compare her neck,
But to a rock of crystal? every limb
Proportion'd to love's wish, and in their neatness
Add lustre to the riches of her habit,
Not borrow from it.

_Lid._ You are pleased to show, sir,
The fluency of your language, in advancing
A subject much unworthy.

_Coz._ How! unworthy?
By all the vows which lovers offer at
The Cyprian goddess' altars, eloquence
Itself presuming, as you are, to speak you,
Would be struck dumb!--And what have you deserved then,
[GIOVANNI _and_ SANAZARRO _kneel_.
(Wretches, you kneel too late,) that have endeavour'd
To spout the poison of your black detraction
On this immaculate whiteness? Was it malice
To her perfections? or----

_Fior._ Your highness promised
A gracious hearing to the count.

_Lid._ And prince too:
Do not make void so just a grant.

_Coz._ We will not:
Yet, since their accusation must be urged,
And strongly, ere their weak defence have hearing,
We seat you here, as judges, to determine
Of your gross wrongs and ours. [_Seats the Ladies
in the chairs of state._] And now, remembering
Whose deputies you are, be neither sway'd
Or with particular spleen, or foolish pity,
For neither can become you.

_Char._ There's some hope yet,
Since they have such gentle judges.

_Coz._ Rise, and stand forth, then,
And hear, with horror to your guilty souls,
What we will prove against you. Could this princess,
Thou enemy to thyself, [_To_ SANAZARRO.] stoop her high flight
Of towering greatness to invite thy lowness
To look up to it, and with nimble wings
Of gratitude couldst thou forbear to meet it?
Were her favours boundless in a noble way,
And warranted by our allowance, yet,
In thy acceptation, there appear'd no sign
Of a modest thankfulness?

_Fior._ Pray you, forbear
To press that further; 'tis a fault we have
Already heard, and pardon'd.

_Coz._ We will then
Pass over it, and briefly touch at that
Which does concern ourself; in which both being
Equal offenders, what we shall speak points
Indifferently at either. How we raised thee,
Forgetful Sanazarro! of our grace,
To a full possession of power and honours,
It being too well known, we'll not remember.
And what thou wert, rash youth, in expectation,
[_To_ GIOVANNI.
And from which headlong thou hast thrown thyself,
Not Florence, but all Tuscany, can witness
With admiration. To assure thy hopes,
We did keep constant to a widow'd bed,
And did deny ourself those lawful pleasures
Our absolute power and height of blood allow'd us;
Made both, the keys that open'd our heart's secrets,
And what you spake, believed as oracles:
But you, in recompense of this, to him
That gave you all, to whom you owed your being,
With treacherous lies endeavour'd to conceal
This jewel from our knowledge, which ourself
Could only lay just claim to.

_Giov._ 'Tis most true, sir.

_Sanaz._ We both confess a guilty cause.

_Coz._ Look on her.
Is this a beauty fit to be embraced
By any subject's arms? can any tire
Become that forehead but a diadem?
Or, should we grant your being false to us
Could be excused, your treachery to her,
In seeking to deprive her of that greatness
(Her matchless worth consider'd) she was born to,
Must ne'er find pardon. We have spoken, ladies,
Like a rough orator, that brings more truth
Than rhetoric to make good his accusation;
And now expect your sentence.
[_The Ladies descend from the state[93]._

_Lid._ In your birth, sir,
You were mark'd out the judge of life and death,
And we, that are your subjects, to attend,
With trembling fear, your doom.

_Fior._ We do resign
This chair, as only proper to yourself.

_Giov._ And, since injustice we are lost, we fly
Unto your saving mercy. [_All kneeling._

_Sanaz._ Which sets off
A prince much more than rigour.

_Char._ And becomes him,
When 'tis express'd to such as fell by weakness,
That being a twin-born brother to affection,
Better than wreaths of conquest.

_Hier. Hip. Cont. Alph._ We all speak
Their language, mighty sir.

_Coz._ You know our temper,
And therefore with more boldness venture on it:
And, would not our consent to your demands
Deprive us of a happiness hereafter
Ever to be despair'd of, we, perhaps,
Might hearken nearer to you; and could wish
With some qualification, or excuse,
You might make less the mountains of your crimes,
And so invite our clemency to feast with you.
But you, that knew with what impatiency
Of grief we parted from the fair Clarinda,
Our duchess, (let her memory still be sacred!)
And with what imprecations on ourself
We vow'd, not hoping e'er to see her equal,
Ne'er to make trial of a second choice,
If nature framed not one that did excel her,
As this maid's beauty prompts us that she does:--
And yet, with oaths then mix'd with tears, upon
Her monument we swore our eye should never
Again be tempted;--'tis true, and those vows
Are register'd above, something here tells me.--
Carolo, thou heard'st us swear.

_Char._ And swear so deeply,
That if all women's beauties were in this,
(As she's not to be named with the dead duchess,)
Nay, all their virtues bound up in one story,
(Of which mine is scarce an epitome,)
If you should take her as a wife, the weight
Of your perjuries would sink you. If I durst,
I had told you this before.

_Coz._ 'Tis strong truth, Carolo:
And yet what was necessity in us
Cannot free them from treason.

_Char._ There's your error:
The prince, in care to have you keep your vows
Made unto Heaven, vouchsafed to love my daughter[94].

Surely Massinger intended that his characters should here be
understood as speaking the truth. The contrivance by which
he exculpates Giovanni is a clumsy one; but he was anxious
to conclude his play, and took the first that suggested itself.
Awkward as it may appear to the reader, it has, perhaps,
quite enough dramatic probability to satisfy an audience

_Lid._ He told me so, indeed, sir.

_Fior._ And the count
Averr'd as much to me.

_Cos._ You all conspire,
To force our mercy from us.

_Char._ Which given up,
To aftertimes preserves you unforsworn:
An honour which will live upon your tomb
When your greatness is forgotten.

_Coz._ Though we know
All this is practice[95], and that both are false,
Such reverence we will pay to dead Clarinda,
And to our serious oaths, that we are pleased
With our own hand to blind our eyes, and not
Know what we understand. Here, Giovanni,
We pardon thee; and take from us, in this,
More than our dukedom: love her. As I part
With her, all thoughts of women fly fast from us.
Sanazarro, we forgive you: in your service
To this princess, merit it. Yet let not others
That are in trust and grace, as you have been,
By the example of our lenity,
Presume upon their sovereign's clemency.

_Enter_ CALANDRINO _and_ PETRONELLA.

_All._ Long live great Cozimo!

_Cal._ Sure the duke is
In the giving vein, they are so loud. Come on, spouse;
We have heard all, and we will have our boon too.

_Coz._ What is it?

_Cal._ That your grace, in remembrance of
My share in a dance, and that I play'd your part
When you should have drunk hard, would get this signior's grant
To give this damsel to me in the church,
For we are contracted. In it you shall do
Your dukedom pleasure.

_Coz._ How?

_Cal._ Why, the whole race
Of such as can act naturally fools' parts
Are quite worn out; and they that do survive
Do only zany us: and we will bring you,
If we die not without issue, of both sexes
Such chopping mirth-makers, as shall preserve
Perpetual cause of sport, both to your grace
And your posterity, that sad melancholy
Shall ne'er approach you.

_Coz._ We are pleased in it,
And will pay her portion.----[_Comes forward._
_May the passage prove,
Of what's presented, worthy of your love
And favour, as was aim'd; and we have all
That can in compass of our wishes fall._ [_Exeunt._

FOOTNOTES:

[93] _The state_,] i. e. _the raised platform on which the chairs were
placed_.

[94] _The prince, in care to have you keep your vows Made unto Heaven,
vouchsafed to love my daughter._] This attempt to impose upon the
great duke is more deplorable than the former. It has falsehood
and improbability written on its face. The duke, indeed, is not
deceived by it; but surely the author showed a strange want of
judgment in this gratuitous degradation of three of his most
estimable characters.--GIFFORD.

[95] _Practice_,] i. e. _artifice, or insidious combination_.

THE BONDMAN.

The Bondman was performed, as we learn from the Office-book of Sir Henry Herbert, Master of the Revels, at the Cockpit in Drury-lane, December 3, 1623. It was printed the following year, and again in 1638.

The main incident of the plot is taken from the life of Timoleon, as related by Plutarch. The revolt and subsequent reduction of the slaves to their duty may have been taken either from Herodotus or Justin, or Purchas's Pilgrim. The artifice by which they are quelled is silly and unnatural, and its introduction degrades a very beautifully managed plot.

The play was revived in 1660 by Betterton, who played Pisander; and several alterations of it have since been produced, but without success.

Our author never writes with more effect than when he combines his own fancy with real history; and in The Bondman he has produced a piece which is, with few exceptions, at once stately and playful, impressive and tender. He matures the love under the cover of the history; till at length the interest changes, and the history becomes subordinate to the love.

The characters are drawn with much variety and interest. The modest gravity and self-command of Timoleon well agrees with the ancient descriptions of the man from whose mouth _nihil unquam insolens, neque gloriosum exiit_.

TO

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, MY SINGULAR GOOD LORD,

PHILIP, EARL OF MONTGOMERY,

KNIGHT OF THE MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE GARTER, &C.

RIGHT HONOURABLE,

However I could never arrive at the happiness to be made known to
your lordship, yet a desire, born with me, to make a tender of
all duties and service to the noble family of the Herberts,
descended to me as an inheritance from my dead father, Arthur
Massinger. Many years he happily spent in the service of your
honourable house, and died a servant to it; leaving his to be
ever most glad and ready to be at the command of all such as
derive themselves from his most honoured master, your lordship's
most noble father. The consideration of this encouraged me
(having no other means to present my humblest service to your
honour) to shroud this trifle under the wings of your noble
protection; and I hope, out of the clemency of your heroic
disposition, it will find, though perhaps not a welcome
entertainment, yet, at the worst, a gracious pardon. When it was
first acted, your lordship's liberal suffrage taught others to
allow it for current, it having received the undoubted stamp of
your lordship's allowance: and if in the perusal of any vacant
hour, when your honour's more serious occasions shall give you
leave to read it, it answer, in your lordship's judgment, the
report and opinion it had upon the stage, I shall esteem my
labours not ill employed, and, while I live, continue

the humblest of those that
truly honour your lordship,
PHILIP MASSINGER.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

TIMOLEON, _the general, of Corinth_.
ARCHIDAMUS, _prætor of Syracusa_.
DIPHILUS, _a senator of Syracusa_.
CLEON, _a fat foolish lord_.
MARULLO, _the Bondman_ (_i. e._ PISANDER, _a gentleman of
Thebes, disguised as a slave_).
POLIPHRON, _friend to_ MARULLO, _also disguised as a slave_.
LEOSTHENES, _a gentleman of Syracusa, enamoured of_ CLEORA.
ASOTUS, _a foolish lover, and the son of_ CLEON.
TIMAGORAS, _the son of_ ARCHIDAMUS.
GRACCULO, } _slaves._
CIMBRIO, }
_A Gaoler._

CLEORA, _daughter of_ ARCHIDAMUS.
CORISCA, _a proud lady, wife to_ CLEON.
OLYMPIA, _a rich widow_.
TIMANDRA, _slave to_ CLEORA (_i. e._ STATILIA, _sister to_ PISANDER).
ZANTHIA, _slave to_ CORISCA.

_Other Slaves, Soldiers, Officers, Senators._

SCENE, Syracuse, and the adjacent country.

THE BONDMAN.