PENALOPEE, PENELOPE, PENELOPEE, wife of Odysseus, remained steadfastly faithful to him for the ten years he was at Troy. This fidelity became one of the commonplaces of classical and medieval literature. Jerome names her in this connection, Epistola adversus Jovinianum (Letter Against Jovinian), I.45 (PL 23: 275), and Gower mentions her as one of four loyal wives, Confessio Amantis VIII.2621-2631. The others are Lucrece, Alceste, Alcyone.

Penelope is exemplary of wifely fidelity, MLI 75; FranklT 1443; BD 1081; Anel 82; Tr V.1772-1778; LGW F 252-253, LGW G 206-207. [Dorigen: Ulixes]

Penalopee, with a long final vowel, occurs once initially, LGW F 252; and once in final rhyming position, FranklT 1443. Penelope occurs once initially, LGW G 206; and once medially, Anel 82. Penelopee, with a long final vowel, occurs twice medially, MLI 75; BD 1081. Penelopeës, the ME genitive case with five syllables, occurs once, Tr V.1778.