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. ACT I. SCENE I. _The Camp of_ TIMOLEON, _near Syracuse_. _Enter_ TIMAGORAS _and_ LEOSTHENES.