Polydamas
Polydamas is the king of Sicily and father of Palmyra. He usurped the throne from the rightful king, Leonidas's father, and is a suspicious and unforgiving ruler. He ultimately shows that he has a gentle heart, but he is the primary antagonist for most of the play.
Hermogenes
A fisherman who raises Polymara and Leonidas. After a series of lies, he reveals the truth about the respective origins of Polymara and Leonidas.
Leonidas
Leonidas is a handsome young man, raised by the fisherman Hermogenes. He discovers late in the play that he is in fact the son of the rightful king of Sicily. When he discovers the truth about his origins, Leonidas decides to overthrow the usurper Polydamas and marry Palmyra. He is ultimately goodhearted, however, and spares Polydamas' life. He is a forgiving and just man.
Palmyra
Palmyra is the daughter of Polydamas, also raised by Hermogenes. She is in love with Leonidas, but worried about having to betray her father in order to help Leonidas ascend the throne. She is pure of heart and deeply devoted to Leonidas.
Argaleon
Argaleon is Polydamas's favorite, and is a conniving and meddling courtier who only exacerbates the conflict of the plot. He wants to marry Palmyra and steal her away from Leonidas.
Amalthea
Amalthea is the sister of Argaleon, in love with Leonidas, but completely overlooked by him. She helps Leonidas, even though she knows full well that he is devoted to Palmyra.
Rhodophil
The captain of the king's guard, husband of Doralice, and friend of Palamede. He is in love with Palamede's intended Melantha, and goes out of his way to carry on an affair, until he realizes that he is better off just staying loyal to his wife, Doralice.
Palamede
Rhodophil's friend and courtier, who is engaged to Melantha, but falls in love with Doralice, Rhodophil's wife. After the truth comes out, he breaks off his relationship with Doralice and agrees to marry Melantha.
Doralice
Rhodophil's wife, pursued by Palamede. She is coy about Palamede's advances, but eventually succumbs. She is exceedingly witty and plays a game of cat-and-mouse with both her husband and would-be lover.
Melantha
A young woman engaged to Palamede, pursued by Rhodophil. She is not a member of the court, but pretentiously goes to court in order to win social status, even though she is regularly ignored by her social betters. She also has a pretentious preoccupation with French words and phrases, which she sprinkles into her sentences, often inaccurately.
Philotis
Malentha's maid.
Beliza
Doralice's maid.
