The word “intrigue” derives from the Latin intricare (“to entangle, perplex”) and tricae (“perplexities, subterfuges”). The later Italian intrigare (“to become entangled”) and the related noun intrighi (“web of deceit”) refer to the intrigue in the sense of an entangled and perplexing story. As a literary subject, primarily involving intrighi amorosi (“amorous intrigues”), the intrigue in the 17th century found its way, via the Dutch intrigeblijspel and the theater pieces about amorous adventures and misadventures that were popular at the Spanish court, to England [4]. The…