SOURCE: Nearing, Alice Jones. “Marmion's Family Background, His Life, and Works” and “Cupid and Psyche—Its Relation to the Amatory Mythological Poetry of Its Time.” In Cupid and Psyche, by Shakerly Marmion—A Critical Edition, with an Account of Marmion's Life and Works, pp. 11-34; 59-67. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 1944.

In the following essays, Nearing discusses Marmion's background and career, his status as a literary figure, and the relation of Cupid and Psyche to the tradition of amatory mythological poetry.

Chapter I: Marmion's Family Background, His Life, and Works1

A. the Marmions

The first question which has interested biographers of Shakerly Marmion is whether or not he was descended from the noble Marmions² of Tamworth and Scrivelsby, who came to England with William the Conqueror, and whose arms were vair, a fess gules.³ Five authorities say that Marmion was descended from the noble line,⁴ but with one exception...