Chapter 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.

_Origin._--Livy, iii. 44, 47-57.

_Parallels._--_Mediæval_: Gower, _Conf. Amant._ vii.; Chaucer,
_Cant. Tales_, Doctour’s Tale; _Modern_: Macaulay, _Lays_.

_Painter_, I. i. 13; II. i. 12; III. i. 31; IV. i. 35.

_Derivates._--R. B., _A new tragical comedy of Apius and Virginia_,
1575.--Webster, _Appius and Virginia_. Hazlewood also refers to
tragedies on the subject by Betterton, Crisp, Dennis, Moncrieff,
Brooke, Bidlake, &c. Vincent Brooke, the actor, made his greatest
hit in the part of Virginius.]

VI. CANDAULES AND GYGES.

Candaules king of Lidia, shewing the secretes of his wyues beautie to Gyges, one of his guarde: was by counsaile of his wife, slaine by the said Gyges, and depriued of his kingdome.

[_Source and Origin._--Herodotus, i. 7-13.

_Parallels._--Justin, i. 7. _Mod._: Guicciardini, 44; Federmann,
_Erquickstunden_, 1574, 65; Albertinus, 186; Kirchhof, iv. 1.

_Painter_, I. i. 19; II. i. 18; III. i. 32; IV. i. 46.]

VII. CRŒSUS AND SOLON.

King Cræsus of Lydia reasoneth with the wyseman Solon, of the happie life of man. Who little esteeming his good aduise, vnderstoode before his death, that no man (but by vertue) can in this life attaine felicitie.

[_Source and Origin._--Herod, i. 50 _seq._

_Parallels._--I. _Ancient_: Diod. xvi. 56; Plutarch, _Solon_. II.
_Modern_: Albertinus, 235; Kirchhof, _Wendenmuth_, i. 4; Wanley,
_Wonders of the Little World_, ed. 1774. III. li. 7.

_Painter_, I. i. 21; II. i. 20; III. i. 35; IV. i. 49.

_Derivates._--A tragedy under this name was written by Earl Stirling
about 1601.]

VIII. RHACON AND CARTOMES.

Of a father that made suite, to haue his owne sonne put to death.

[_Source and Origin._--Ælian, i. 34.

_Parallels._--Wanley, _Wonders_, IV. iii. 1.

_Painter_, I. i. 24; II. i. 22; III. i. 39; IV. i. 53.]

IX. ARTAXERCES AND SINETAS.

Water offered of good will to Artaxerxes King of Persia, and the liberall rewarde of the Kinge to the giuer.

[_Source and Origin._--Ælian, i. 32.

_Painter_, I. i. 24; II. i. 23; III. i. 40; IV. i. 54.]

X. CHARITON AND MENALIPPUS.

The loue of Chariton and Menalippus.

[_Source and Origin._--Ælian, ii. 17 [Melanippus].

_Painter_, I. i. 25; II. i. 24; III. i. 42; IV. i. 56.]

XI. CYRUS AND PANTHEA.

Kinge Cyrus perswaded by Araspas, to dispose himselfe to loue a ladie called Panthea, entreth into a pretie disputation and talke of loue and beautie. Afterwards Araspas himselfe falleth in loue with the saide ladie, but she indued with greate chastitie, auoydeth his earnest sute. And when shee heard tell that her husbande was slaine in the seruice of Cyrus, she killed herselfe.

[_Source._--Probably Bandello, iii. 9.

_Origin._--Xenophon (given as source by Painter).

_Parallels._--_Anc._: Plutarch, _Moralia; De curiositate. Modern_:
Belleforest; _Hist. trag._ iv. 265; Wanley, _Wonders_, I. xi. 30.

_Painter_, I. i. 27; II. i. 25; III. i. 44; IV. i. 58.

_Derivates--Warres of Cyrus, with the tragical Ende of Panthea_,
a tragedy, was printed in 1594.]

XII. ABDOLOMINUS KING OF SCYTHIA.

Abdolominus is from poore estate, aduaunced by Alexander the Great, through his honest life, to be kyng of Sydone.

[_Source and Origin._--Quinct. Curtius, IV. i. 19-16.

_Parallels--Anc._: Diod. Sic. xvii. _Mod._: Wanley, _Wonders_, VI.
xiv.

_Painter_, I. i. 33; II. i. 31; III. i. 45; IV. i. 69.]

XIII. ALEXANDER AND THE SCYTHIAN AMBASSADORS.

The oration of the Scythian Ambassadours to Alexander the great, reprouing his ambicion, and desire of Empire.

[_Source and Origin._--Quintus Curtius, ix. 2.

_Painter_, I. i. 34; II. i. 32; III. i. 57; IV. i. 71.]

XIV. METELLUS ON MARRIAGE.

The woordes of Metellus of mariage, and wiuing with the prayse and dispraise of the same.

[_Source._--Aulus Gellius, _Noct. Att._ i. 6.

_Origin._--Livy, ii. 32.

_Parallels._--I. _Ancient_: Plut. _Coriol._ 6. Dio. Halic. vi. 76.

_Painter_, I. i. 36; II. i. 24; III. i. 60; IV. i. 74.]

XV. LAIS AND DEMOSTHENES.

Of Lais and Demosthenes.

[_Source and Origin._--A. Gellius, _Noct. Att._ i. 8.

_Parallels._--Repeated in Painter II. xiii.

_Painter_, I. i. 38; II. i. 35; III. i. 63; IV. i. 77.]

XVI. FABRICIUS AND PYRRHUS.

C. Fabritius and Emillius Consuls of Rome, beyng promised that king Pyrrhus for a somme of money should be slayne (which was a notable enemie to the Romaine state) aduertised Pyrrhus thereof by letters, and of other notable thinges doen by the same Fabritius.

[_Source._--A. Gellius, _Noct. Att._ i. 14.

_Origin._--(?) Livy, _Epit._ xiii.

_Parallels._--I. _Ancient_: Plutarch _Pyrr._ 18, 19; _An seni sit_,
&c., 21; Cicero, _Pro Cœl._, 14, 24; _Brut._ 14, 55; 16, 61; _Phil._
i. 5, 11; _Cato_, vi. 16; Val. Max., viii. 13, 5; Sueton. _Tib._, 2;
Justin, 18, 2; Ovid, _Fasti_, xvi. 203.

_Painter_, I. i. 38; II. i. 36; III. i. 64; IV. i. 78.]

XVII. CAMILLUS AND SCHOOLMASTER.

A Scholemaister traiterously rendring the noble mens sonnes of Faleria to the hands of Camillus, was wel acquited and rewarded for his paines and labour.

[_Source._--A. Gellius, _Noct. Att._ xvii. 24.

_Origin._--Livy, v. 26.

_Parallels._--I. _Ancient_: Plutarch, _Camillus_, 10; Dion. Halic.
excerp. Vatec. 13, 1; Frontinus, _Strat._ iv. 4, 1; Polyænus,
_Strat._ viii. 7; Val. Max. vi. 5, 1; Aur. Victor, _De vir. ill._
33; Zonar. vii. 32. II. _Modern_: _Enxemplos_, 187. III. _Modern_:
Gallensis, _Commumilog._ 1489, i. 11; H. Sachs, III. ii. 46; Hanmer,
_Hist. Roseng._ 1654, 437; _Acerra_, i. 100; Kirch, i. 18.

_Painter_, I. i. 39; II. i. 37; III. i. 66; IV. i. 80.]

XVIII. PAPYRIUS PRÆTEXTATUS.

The Hystorie of Papyrius Prætextatus [and how he misled his mother].

[_Source and Origin._--A. Gellius, _Noct. Att._ i. 23.

_Parallels._--_Sabell. Exemp._ i. 3; Bruson, _Facet._ iv. 4; Wanley,
_Wonders_, III. xlvii. 4.

_Painter_, I. i. 41; II. i. 38; III. i. 69; IV. i. 83.]

XIX. PLUTARCH’S ANGER.

How Plutarche did beate his man, and of pretie talke touching signes of anger.

[_Source and Origin._--A. Gellius, _Noct. Att._ i. 26.

_Painter_, I. i. 42; II. i. 39; III. i. 71; IV. i. 85.]

XX. ÆSOP’S FABLE OF THE LARK.

A pretie tale drawne out of the Larke of Æsope.

[_Source._--A. Gellius, _Noct. Att._ ii. 29.

_Origin and Parallels._--_Cf._ Caxton’s _Æsop_, ed. Jacobs, Ro.
i. 20; vol. i. p. 238.

_Painter_, I. i. 42; II. i. 40; III. i. 72; IV. i. 86.

_Derivates._--A ballad on the subject, entitled _A mirror most
true_, was licensed to Richard Jones 1576-7.]

XXI. HANNIBAL AND ANTIOCHUS.

A merie geste, uttered by Hanniball to King Antiochus.

[_Source and Origin._--A. Gellius.

_Painter_, I. i. 44; II. i. 41; III. i. 74; IV. i. 88.]

XXII. ANDRODUS.

The marueilous knowledge of a Lion, being acquainted with a man, called Androdus.

[_Source._--A. Gellius, _Noct. Att._ v. 14, 10.

_Origin and Parallels._--_Cf._ Caxton’s _Æsop_, ed. Jacobs, Ro. iii.
1, vol. i. p. 243.

_Painter_, I. i. 44; II. i. 41; III. i. 79; IV. i. 89.]

XXIII. FAVORINUS.

A pretie disputation of the philosopher Phauorinus, to perswade a woman not to put forth her child to nursse, but to nourishe it herselfe with her owne milke.

[_Source and Origin._--A. Gellius, _Noct. Att._ xvii. 12.

_Painter_, I. i. 45; II. i. 42; III. i. 77; IV. i. 91.]

XXIV. SERTORIUS.

Of Sertorius, a noble Romaine capitaine.

[_Source and Origin._--A Gellius, _Noct. Att._

_Painter_, I. i. 48; II. i. 45; III. i. 81; IV. i. 95.

_Derivates._--A tragedy with this title, by J. Bancroft, appeared in
1679, but it is scarcely likely to have been derived from Painter.]

XXV. SIBYLLINE LEAVES.

Of the bookes of Sybilla.

[_Source._--A. Gellius, _Noct. Att._ i. 19.

_Origin._--Pliny, _Hist. Nat._ xiii. 28.

_Painter_, I. i. 49; II. i. 46; III. i. 84; IV. i. 98.]

XXVI. MASTER AND SCHOLAR.

A difference and controuersie betwene a maister and a scholler, so subtile that the iudges coulde not geue sentence.

[_Source and Origin._--A. Gellius.

_Painter_, I. i. 80; II. i. 46; III. i. 85; IV. i. 99.]

XXVII. SELEUCUS AND ANTIOCHUS.

Seleucus king of Asia, gaue his wife to his owne sonne in mariage, being his mother in lawe; who so feruently did loue her, that he was like to die, whiche by a discrete and wyse inuention, was discouered to Seleucus by a Phisition.

[_Source and Origin._--Plutarch, _Demetrius_ (probably in Amyot’s
translation).

_Parallels_.--Val. Max. v. 7; Wanley, _Wonders_, III. ix. 4.

_Painter_, I. i. 51; II. i. 48; III. i. 88; IV. i. 102.]

XXVIII. TIMON OF ATHENS.

Of the straunge and beastlie nature of Timon of Athens, enemie to mankinde, with his death, buriall, and Epitaphe.

[_Source and Origin._--Plutarch, _Marc Antonius_ (probably through
Amyot’s translation).

_Parallels_.--Erasmus, _Adagio_; _Sabell. Exemp._ ii. 2; Reynolds,
_Treatise of Passions_, c. 13; Wanley, _Wonders_, II. ix. 8.

_Painter_, I. i. 57; II. i. 54; III. i. 98; IV. i. 112.

_Derivates._--Shakespeare’s _Timon of Athens_ (c. 1608) is founded
on this, though much expanded. There is a play of _Timon_ anterior
to Shakespeare’s, and printed by Mr. Hazlitt.]

XXIX. MARRIAGE OF WIDOW AND WIDOWER.

The mariage of a man and woman, hee being the husband of xx. wiues: and shee the wife of xxii. husbandes.

[_Source._--Pedro di Messia, _Selva di varie Lezzioni_, i. 34.

_Origin._--St. Jerome.

_Painter_, I. i. 59; II. i. 55; III. i. 100; IV. i. 114.]

XXX. THE THREE RINGS.

How Melchisedech a iewe, by telling a pretie tale of three Ringes, saued his life.

[_Source._--Boccaccio, _Decameron,_ giorn. i., nov. 3.

_Origin._--_Cento novelle antichi_, 72 (through Busone),
_L’avventuroso Ciciliano_; _cf._ Landau, _Die Quellen_{2} 183.
Probably original source was Jewish. _Cf._ G. Paris in _Revue des
études juives_, t. xvii., and A. Wünsche in _Lessing-Mendelssohn
Gedenkbuch_.

_Parallels._--_Med.: Shebet Jehuda_ (Heb.), _Gesta Rom._ 89.
Lessing, _Nathan der Weise_.

_Painter._--I. i. 60; II. i. 56; III. i. 102; IV. i. 116.]

XXXI. BORSIERI AND GRIMALDI.

One called Guglielmo Borsiere with certaine wordes well placed, taunted the couetous life of Ermino Grimaldi.

[_Source._--Boccaccio, _Dec._, giorn. i., nov. 8.

_Origin._--Benvenuto Rambaldi. Commentary on _Inferno_ xvi.

_Painter._--I. i. 61; II. i. 57; III. i. 105; IV. i. 119.]

XXXII. ALBERTO OF BOLOGNA.

Maister Alberto of Bologna, by a pleasaunt aunsweare made a gentlewoman to blushe, which had thoughte to haue put him out of countenaunce, in telling him that he was in loue with her.

[_Source and Origin._--Boccaccio, _Dec._ i. 10.

_Painter._--I. i. 63; II. i. 58; III. i. 108; IV. i. 122.]

XXXIII. RINALDO OF ESTE.

Rinaldo of Esti being robbed, arrived at Castel Guglielmo, and was succoured of a wydowe: and restored to his losses, retourning saulfe and sounde home to his owne house.

[_Source._--Boccaccio, _Dec._ ii. 2.

_Origin._--_Pantschatantra_ (Fables of Bidpai), II. iv. tr. Benfey,
183.

_Parallels._--_Mediæval_: von der Hagen, _Gesammtabenteuer_, No. 42;
_Mod.:_ Lope de Vega, _Llegar en ocasion:_ Lafontaine, _L’oraison de
St. Julien;_ La Moth, _Le Talisman_.

_Painter._--I. i. 64; II. i. 60; III. i. 111; IV. i. 125.

_Derivatives._--_The Widow,_ attributed to Ben Jonson, Fletcher and
Middleton, seems to have been derived from this.]

XXXIV. THE KING OF ENGLAND’S DAUGHTER.

Three yonge men hauing fondlye consumed all that they had, became verie poore, whose nephewe (as he retourned out of Englande into Italie,) by the waye fell into acquaintaunce with an abbote, whome (vpon further familiaritie) he knewe to be the king of Englande’s doughter, whiche toke him to husbande. Afterwardes she restored his vncles to all their losses, and sent them home in good state and reputation.

[_Source and Origin._[66]--Boccaccio, _Dec._, giorn. ii., nov. 3.

_Painter._--I. i. 68; II. i. 63; III. i. 116; IV. i. 130.]

[Footnote 66: Landau, _Quellen_{2}, p. 331, points out that the
tale is related to the “Youngest-best” folk tales, which deal with
the successes of the youngest.]

XXXV. LANDOLFO RUFFOLO.

Landolpho Ruffolo being impooerished, became a pirate and taken by the Geneuois, was in daunger of drowning, who sauing himselfe vpon a litle coafer full of rich iewels, was receiued at Corfu, and beinge cherished by a woman, retourned home very riche.

[_Source and Origin._--Boccaccio, _Decamerone,_ giorn. ii., nov. 4.

_Painter._--I. i. 73; II. i. 68; III. i. 124; IV. i. 138.]