Cupid and Psyche (The Golden Ass)

Henry Chettle, John Day, Thomas Dekker (1600)

Historical Records

Payments

To playwrights in Philip Henslowe's diary

Fol. 68^v (Greg, I.120)

Fol. 69 (Greg, I.121)

For apparel in Philip Henslowe's diary

Fol. 69^v (Greg, I.122)

Theatrical Provenance

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Probable Genre(s)

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Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

The likely source is the 1596 edition of The Eleven Books of the Golden Asse by Apulieus and translated by William Adlington. The story of Cupid and Psyche is covered in books four, five, and six. Adlington's translation of Apulieus was first published in 1566 and also in 1571 and 1582. In Plays Confuted in Five Actions (1582), Stephen Gosson mentions an earlier production of the Cupid and Psyche story that was “plaid at Paules” (D5v).

References to the Play

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Critical Commentary

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For What It's Worth

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Works Cited

Apuleius, The Eleven Books of the Golden Asse. trans. William Adlinton. London: Valentine Symmes, 1596. Gosson, Stephen, Plays Confuted in Five Actions. London: Thomas Gosson, 1582.

Site created and maintained by Roslyn L. Knutson, Professor Emerita, University of Arkansas at Little Rock; updated 30 October 2009.