Endymion

Endymion, the Man in the Moon is an Elizabethan era comedy by John Lyly, written circa 1588. The action of the play centers around a young courtier, Endymion, who is sent into an endless slumber by Tellus, his former lover, because he has spurned her to worship the ageless Queen Cynthia. The prose is characterised by Euphuism, Lyly's highly ornate, formalised style, meant to convey the intelligence and wit of the speaker. Endymion has been called "without doubt, the boldest in conception and the most beautiful in execution of all Lyly's plays." Lyly makes allusions to ancient Greek and Roman texts and traditional English folklore throughout the play. While the title and characters are references to the myth of Endymion, the plot sharply deviates from the classical story and highlights contemporary issues in Elizabeth I's court through its allegorical framework. Characters Endymion- a young man Cynthia- the queen Eumenides- Endymion's friend Tellus- lady-in-waiting at Cynthia's court Semele- lady-in-waiting Floscula- Tellus's servant Dares- Endymion's page Samias- Eumenides' page Sir Tophas- a knight Epiton- Sir Tophas' page Dipsas- aged sorceress who bewitches Endymion for Tellus Bagoa- a sorceress, assistant to Dipsas Geron- old man, Dipsas's estranged husband Corsites – a captain Pythagoras- Greek philosopher Gyptes- Egyptian soothsayer Scintilla- maid-in-waiting Flavilla- maid-in-waiting Zontes- Nobleman at court, sent to Greece Panelion- Nobleman at court, sent to Egypt Three ladies and an old man, in a dumbshow Fairies Plot