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.]