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)

Receaued of mr Henshlowe in behalfe of the Company	}
to geue Tho: Deckers & John Day in earnest of a	} xxxs
booke Called The golden Ass & Cupid & Psiches . . . . .	}
by me Robt Shaa

Fol. 69 (Greg, I.121)

Lent at the apoyntment of Robart shawe to	}
Thomas deckers & John daye & harye chetell the	} iijll
10 of maye 1600 in þte of payment of a Booke called	}
the gowlden asse cupid & siches some of . . . . . . . .	}
by John daye to the vse of Th Dekker Harry
Chettle and himselfe

pd at the apoyntment of Robart shawe the 14	}
daye of maye 1600 in fulle payment of a Boocke	} xxx/s
called the gowlden asse cuped & siches to thomas	}
deckers & hary chettell John daye some of . . . . .	}

For apparel in Philip Henslowe's diary

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

Lent vnto Thomas dowton the 5 of June	}
1[59]600 to bye a sewt for his boye in the	} xxxxs
playe of cvped & siches the some of	}

Theatrical Provenance

In late spring of 1600, the Admiral's men purchased "Cupid and Psyche (The Golden Ass)" from a consortium of playwrights: Thomas Dekker, John Day, and Henry Chettle. By June they were costuming the play. Initial performances fall during the transition period from staging at the Rose in Southwark and opening the Fortune in Middlesex.

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.