Tried and executed for the murder of a relative, she became the subject of a lyrical tragedy by a 19th-century poet. Who was she?

dejavucub4

Lizzy Borden? Apr 11 05, 5:31 PM

lanfranco

Um, no. Though I did see the Joffrey Ballet's "Fall River Legend," and I will admit that it was lyrical. Anyone else? Apr 11 05, 5:45 PM

gmackematix

I was going to say Janet Dalrymple, the inspiration for Scott's "Bride of Lammermoor", but while she badly wounded her husband, unlike her literary equivalent, she didn't kill him and her subsequent fate is a bit of a mystery. http://www.lammermoor.com/bride/intro.html Apr 11 05, 7:03 PM

lanfranco

Fascinating suggestion, gmack, but not what I had in mind. This person's fate is quite well known. Alas. Apr 11 05, 7:28 PM

TabbyTom

Beatrice Cenci was executed in Rome in 1599 for the murder of her father, who had abused and imprisoned her. She is the subject of Shelley's verse tragedy "The Cenci." Apr 12 05, 1:49 AM

lanfranco

Bello! Nicely done, TT. Her trial is of special interest, because it was the first recorded instance of an attempt by an attorney to offer a psychological defense. This Beatrice, like Dante's platonic inamorata, has also been the subject of paintings and sculptures. I thought of the question while looking at a picture of Harriet Hosmer's "Beatrice Cenci" in St. Louis. Apr 12 05, 8:09 AM