The persona
The persona in the poem is an elderly man. He regrets how he spent his youth in extravagance and excess because he was bearing the consequences in his advanced age.
The youth
The persona cautions the youth against their behaviors. The persona says that the youth do not listen to reason and anyone else’s opinion. Rather, they do as the wish.
The young girls
The persona talks of the young girls that he found in the tavern. The girls would offer kisses and other times sex to the customers of the bar.
Bacchus
Bacchus owns a tavern which the persona frequents. The persona says that the street sign that Bacchus has for his tavern is so enticing that he cannot turn away.
The persona's friends
The friends of the persona are very compassionate and caring towards him. They advise him to stop his extravagance ways for they would lead him to ruin.
