Volume I Part 7 (2/2)

II. THE RAPE OF LUCRECE.

s.e.xtus Tarquinius ravished Lucrece. And she, bewailing the losse of her chast.i.tie, killed herselfe.

[_Source and Origin._--Livy, i. 57-60.

_Parallels._--I. _Ancient_: Dionys. Hal. iv. 64; Cicero, _De Fin._ ii. 20-26; Val. Max. 6, i. 1; Ovid, _Fasti_, ii. 761; Aurel. _De Vir. Ill._ 9; Augustin, _De Civit. Dei_, i. 19. II. _Mediaeval_: Vincent Bellov. _Spec. Doct._ iv. 100; _Gesta Rom._, 135; _Violier_, 113. III. _Modern_: Hans Sachs, i. 2, 184; 3, 21, _Ein schon spil von der geschicht der edlen Romerin Lucretia_, Stra.s.sburg, 1550, 8vo; Kirchhof, vi. 67-70; _Eutrapelos, i. 92_; _Acerra_, ii. 51; _Histor. Handbuchlein_, 247; Albertinus, 279; Abraham a Sta. Clara, _Etwas fur Alle_, ii. 623.

_Painter_, Ed. I. i. 5; II. i. 5; III. i. 8; IV. i. 22.

_Derivates._--There can be no doubt Shakspeare derived his _Rape of Lucrece_ from Painter, though he has expanded the four pages of his original into 164 stanzas. Heywood has also a play called _The Rape of Lucrece_.]

III. MUCIUS SCaeVOLA.

The siege of Rome by Porsenna, and the valiaunt deliuerie thereof by Mutius Scaeuola, with his stoute aunswere vnto the kinge.

[_Source and origin._--Livy, ii. 12. 13.

_Parallels._--I. _Ancient_: Plutarch, _Public_. 17; Valerius Max. 3.

3. I; Dionys. 5 27-30; Aurel. Vict. 72; Cicero, _pro s.e.xt._ 21. 48; Flor. i. 105; Martial, i. 51; Orosius, ii. 5; Augustin, _De Civit._ v. 18; Zonar, vii. 12; Dio Ca.s.s. 45, 31; 46, 19; 53, 8. II.

_Modern_: H. Sachs, I. 2. 156: 2. 3. 39; Kirchhof, i. 15; Acerra, i. 19; Albertinus, 287.

_Painter_, I. i. 7; II. i. 7; III. i. 12; IV. 26.

_Derivates._--A play called _Mutius Scevola_ was played at Windsor in 1577 (Fleay, _Hist. of Stage_, p. 380).]

IV. CORIOLa.n.u.s.

Martius Coriola.n.u.s goinge aboute to represse the common people of Rome with dearth of Corne was banished. For reuengement whereof he perswaded Accius Tullius king of the Volscians, to make warres upon the Romaynes, and he himselfe in their ayde, came in his owne person. The Citie brought to greate miserye, the fathers deuised meanes to deliuer the same, and sent vnto the Volscian campe, the mother, the wife and children of Coriola.n.u.s. Vpon whose complaintes Coriola.n.u.s withdrewe the Volscians, and the citie was reduced to quietnes.

[_Source and Origin._--Livy, ii. 35 _seq._

_Parallels._--I. _Ancient_: Dionys. Hal. viii. 1; Zonar vii. 16; Plutarch _Coriola.n.u.s_; Val. Max. 5. 4. I; Dio Ca.s.s. (Exc. Vat.) 16 p. 148; Aur. Vict. 19. II. _Mediaeval_: Holkot _Narrat._ 175; _Gesta Rom._, Lat. 137; Germ. 89; _Violier_, 115; _Rosarium, i. 120_. III.

_Modern_: Abr. a St. Clara; _Laubenhut_, I. 301; _Acerra_, 2. 17; Albertinus, 291; Kirchhof, vi. 73-6, 82.

_Painter_, I. i. 9; II. i. 9; III. i. 35; IV. i. 29.

_Derivates._--It is possible that Shakespeare first got the idea of the dramatic capabilities of the story of Coriola.n.u.s from Painter though he filled in the details from North's Plutarch.]

V. APPIUS AND VIRGINIA.

Appius Claudius, one of the Decemuiri of Rome, goeth about to rauishe Virginia a yonge mayden, which indeuour of Appius, when her father Virginius vnderstode being then in the warres, hee repaired home to rescue his doughter. One that was betrouthed vnto her, clamed her, whereupon rose great contention. In the ende her owne father, to saue the shame of his stocke, killed her with a Bocher's knife, and went into the Forum, crying vengeance vpon Appius. Then after much contention and rebellion, the Decemuiri were deposed.

[_Source._--Giovanni, _Pecorone_, giorn. xx. nov. 2.

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