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In the commedia dell'arte who was the partner that Columbine chose?

Harlequin. Commedia dell'arte, an Italian comedy, began in the Renaissance. A band of travelling actors, archetypal clowns performed plays. Columbine was the daughter of Pantaloon and chose Harlequin over Pierrot.

Who was the wife of Hiawatha?

Minnehaha. Immortalised in the epic poem, 'The Song of Hiawatha' by the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The poem recounts a story of revenge and love.

Sir Winston Churchill, politician and statesman was married for 57 years. What was the name of his wife?

Clementine. Winston Churchill married Clementine Hozier in 1908. They had five children. They wrote to each other almost daily. Sir Winston died in 1965 aged 90 and Clementine died in 1977, aged 92.

On learning of his death, Cleopatra killed herself with the bite of an asp. Who was this lover?

Mark Antony. Cleopatra (69-30 BC) Queen of Egypt. Married her brother Ptolemy and later had a son to Julius Caesar. In 41BC she met Mark Antony. He committed suicide after being defeated at Actium.

Nell Gwyn, orange-seller and actress was mistress of which King of England?

Charles II. Nell Gwyn (1651-1687) was mistress to Charles II and bore him two sons. She was honoured with a burial in St. Martins in the Field.

When Mumtaz Mahal died during childbirth her husband commissioned the Taj Mahal to be built in her honour. Who was her husband?

Shah Jehan. Mumtaz died in childbirth soon after her husband ascended the throne. Shah Jehan took ten years to build the Taj Mahal.

Queen Guinevere allegedly caused the downfall of Camelot due to her liaison with whom?

Sir Lancelot. Guinevere was married to King Arthur however her love affair with Sir Lancelot, one of the Knights of the Round Table, allegedly caused the downfall of Camelot. The earliest record of this story is told in 'Life of St Gildas' c1130 by Cardoc of Llancarton.

King Edward VIII of England gave up his throne for this woman - what was her name?

Wallis Simpson. Edward VIII was born in 1894. He reigned for eleven months before abdicating the throne when he chose to marry the twice divorced Wallis Simpson.

Which Shakespearean heroine 'won' Bassanio in a lottery to decide her future husband?

Portia. From the 'Merchant of Venice' by William Shakespeare. Portia, a barrister, is to marry the man who chooses, from three caskets, the one containing her portrait.

Orpheus travelled to the underworld to reclaim his dead wife but 'lost' her again when he broke a promise and looked back. What was the name of his wife?

Eurydice. When Eurydice dies early in their marriage, Orpheus travels to Hades to seek her out. Pluto agrees to release her on the promise that neither of them look back until they reach the air. Orpheus does look back and Eurydice vanishes immediately.

Cio-Cio-San, otherwise known as Madam Butterfly marries which serviceman?

Lieutenant Pinkerton. From Puccini's opera, Madama Butterfly (1904). Set in Japan early 20th Century. Lieutenant Pinkerton enters into a 999 year marriage contract with Cio-Cio-San. He does not keep to his side of the bargain and Cio-Cio-San kills herself.

Admiral Nelson was already married when he scandalised England with his affair with which married woman?

Lady Hamilton. Nelson was married to Frances Nisbet when, in 1793, met and fell in love with Lady Hamilton. Nelson died in the Battle of Trafalgar on board his ship Victory.

Guy of Warwick married the daughter of an Earl. After forty days he leaves to fight in the Crusades and perform deeds of courage. Whom did he marry?

Felice. On his return to England from the Crusades he becomes a hermit and lives in a cave near his wife. On his death-bed he is re-united with Felice.

Rodolfo is a poet in Puccini's opera, 'La Boheme'. He falls in love with a mortally ill seamstress. What was her name?

Mimi. La Boheme depicted the poor artists etc of Left Bank society in their garrets. Mimi falls in love with Rodolfo but she is extremely ill and dies in the final scene.

The star-crossed lovers in the novel 'Lorna Doone' are eventually united in marriage. Who was the man with whom Lorna Doone fell in love?

John Ridd. Blackmore wrote Lorna Doone - A Romance of Exmoor, in 1869. It revolves around murder, treachery, kidnapping and love between two families.