Sardanapalus, An Emperour of Assyria, so exceedinglye giuen to effeminate wantonnesse and follye. as he maye seeme to haue chaunged his sere or kynde, and by nature being framed a man, in condicions to bee a berye woman. For he was mont continually in some inner part of his palaiceto fit in the companie of light women, arrayed in womens apparaile, spinning and carding as they did, and in lightnesse of counteuaunce and wanton gestures farre passing the most amelesse strumpets. Which lighte behauiour although be long cloked and hid, vnder pretence of maiestie, not suffring any to come to him, yet at the length it was sptrd by one Arbaces his Liefrenant of Media, vpon speciall fauont being let in vnto him. Wherat this Arbaces a man of stout courage, conceiued so great indignation, that shortly after he incensed the people to rebellion: saying that it was a foule rebuke for martiall people vsed to handle armout and weapen, to be subiecre to one that did spende his tyme in tosing of wooll among harlots and lighte women. Wherefore they gathering a power made warre agaynste Satdanapalus. Who being ouercome fled to his palaice, and making a great sire, after he had cast into it his Iewels and most precious ornaments, lept himselfe also into it and so perished, in this onely sollowing a man, that he seemed valtauntly to die.
Lewis and Short: Latin dictionary
Sardănăpālus (-pallus), i, m., = *sardana/palos, a celebrated effeminate king of Assyria, who at last burned himself, together with his treasures, Vell. 1, 6, 2; Just. 1, 3, 1; Cic. Tusc. 5, 35, 101; Juv. 10, 362; Ov. Ib. 313; Val. Max. 4, 7 pr.—Poet., as a designation for a weak, effeminate person, Mart. 11, 11, 6.—Hence, Sardănăpā-lĭcus, a, um, adj., of or pertaining to Sardanapalus: Sardanapalicum in morem prandere, Sid. Ep. 2, 13 med.