Cupid and Psyche

Playwright's Name (Year) Anon.

Historical Records

In Plays Confuted in Five Actions (1582), Stephen Gosson states that a play by the name of 'Cupid and Psyche' was "plaid at Paules" (D5v).

Theatrical Provenance

Paules. <Enter information about which company performed the play, and where/when it was performed, etc.>

Probable Genre(s)

Romance. <List possible genres of the play: if noted by a critic, cite them, e.g. "Comedy (Harbage)". If an original speculation, simply list the genre.>

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

The likely source is either the 1566 edition or the 1571 edition of The xi. 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. In Plays Confuted in Five Actions (1582), Stephen Gosson lists the Golden Asse as one of the books "ransackt to furnish the Play houses in London" (D6v). <Enter any information about possible or known sources. Summarise these sources where practical/possible, or provide an excerpt from another scholar's discussion of the subject if available.>

References to the Play

Stephen Gosson mentioned 'Cupid and Psyche' as an example of flawed plays in which thing are "fained, that never were." (D5v) <List any known or conjectured references to the lost play here.>

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 Adlington. London: Valentine Symmes, 1596. Gosson, Stephen. Plays Confuted in Five Actions. London: Thomas Gossson, 1566, 1571.

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