1590, w, Spenser's The Faerie Queene, Book I Chapter , * L Amongst these mightie men were wemen mixt, Proud wemen, vaine, forgetfull of their yoke: The bold Semiramis,* whose sides transfixt With sonnes own blade, her fowle reproches spoke; 445 Faire Sthenoboea,* that her selfe did choke With wilfull cord, for wanting of her will; High minded Cleopatra,* that with stroke Of Aspes sting her selfe did stoutly kill: And thousands moe the like, that did that dongeon fill; 450 LI Besides the endlesse routs of wretched thralles, Which thither were assembled day by day, From all the world after their wofull falles Through wicked pride, and wasted wealthes decay.
1831, William Stewart Rose, Orlando Furioso Chapter , XI "When I from Nicosia thee expected (When thou wast journeying to the plenar court) To cheer me, -- left with fever sore infected, And in the dread of death, -- I heard report That thou wast gone to Syria; and dejected By that ill tiding, suffered in such sort, I, all unable to pursue thy quest, Had nigh with this right hand transfixt my breast.
1881, Various, The Best of the World's Classics, Vol. V (of X) - Great Britain and Ireland III Chapter , Lockhart and another domestic, who had in vain attempted to oppose his passage through the gallery or antechamber, were seen standing on the threshhold transfixt with surprize, which was instantly communicated to the whole party in the stateroom.
