Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama, Vol 2, by The Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D

PREFACE.

An American reprint of “The Reader’s Handbook of allusions, references, plots and stories, by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D., of Trinity Hall, Cambridge,” has been for several years in the hands of cis-Atlantic students.

Too much praise cannot be awarded to the erudition and patient diligence displayed in the compilation of this volume of nearly twelve hundred pages. The breadth of range contemplated by the learned editor is best indicated in his own words:

“The object of this Handbook is to supply readers and speakers with a lucid, but very brief account of such names as are used in allusions and references, whether by poets or prose writers;—to furnish those who consult it with the plot of popular dramas, the story of epic poems, and the outline of well-known tales. The number of dramatic plots sketched out is many hundreds. Another striking and interesting feature of the book is the revelation of the source from which dramatists and romancers have derived their stories, and the strange repetitions of historic incidents. It has been borne in mind throughout that it is not enough to state a fact. It must be stated attractively, and the character described must be drawn characteristically if the reader is to appreciate it, and feel an interest in what he reads.”

All that Dr. Brewer claims for his book is sustained by examination of it. It is nevertheless true that there is in it a mass of matter comparatively unattractive to the American student and to the general reader. Many of his “allusions” are to localities and neighborhood traditions that, however interesting to English people, seem to us trivial, verbose and inopportune, while he, whose chief object in the purchase of the work is to possess a popular encyclopædia of literature, is rather annoyed than edified by even an erudite author when his “talk is of oxen,” fish, flesh and fowl.

Furthermore, the Handbook was prepared so long ago that the popular literature of the last dozen years is unrecorded; writers who now occupy the foremost places in the public eye not being so much as named.

In view of these and other drawbacks to the extended usefulness of the manual, the publishing-house whose imprint is upon the title-page of the present viiiwork, taking the stanch foundation laid by Dr. Brewer, have caused to be constructed upon it a work that, while retaining all of the original material that can interest and aid the English-speaking student, gives also “characters and sketches found in American novels, poetry and drama.”

It goes without saying that in the attempt to do this, it was necessary to leave out a greater bulk of entertaining matter than could be wrought in upon the original design. The imagination of the compiler, to whose reverent hands the task was entrusted, recurred continually, while it was in progress, to the magnificent hyperbole of the sacred narrator—“The which, if they should be written, every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.” Appreciation of the honor put upon her by the commission deepened into delight as the work went on—prideful delight in the richness and variety of our national literature. To do ample justice to every writer and book would have been impossible, but the leading works of every author of note have the honorable place. It is hoped that the company of “characters” introduced among dramatis personæ of English and foreign classics, ancient and modern, will enliven pages that are already fascinating. Many names of English authors omitted from the Handbook for the reason stated awhile ago, will also be found in their proper positions.

The compiler and editor of this volume would be ungrateful did she not express her sense of obligation for assistance received in the work of collecting lists of writers and books from “The Library of American Literature,” prepared by Mr. Edmund Clarence Stedman and Miss Ellen Hutchinson.

Besides this, and a tolerable degree of personal familiarity with the leading literature of her own land, her resort has been to the public libraries in New York City—notably, to The Astor and The Mercantile. For the uniform courtesy she has received from those in charge of these institutions she herewith makes acknowledgement in the publisher’s name and in her own.

1

Gabble Rechet, a cry like that of hounds, heard at night, foreboding trouble. Said to be the souls of unbaptized children wandering through the air till the day of judgment.—Charles Reade, Put Yourself in His Place.

Gabor, a Hungarian who aided Ulric in saving Count Stral´enheim from the Oder, and was unjustly suspected of being his murderer.—Bryon, Werner (1822).

Ga´briel (2 or 3 syl.), according to Milton is called “chief of the angelic guards” (Paradise Lost, iv. 549); but in bk. vi. 44, etc., Michael is said to be “of celestial armies prince,” and Gabriel “in military prowess next.”

⁂ Gabriel is so called “The Messenger of the Messiah,” because he was sent by the Messiah to execute his orders on the earth. He is referred to in Daniel viii. 16, ix. 21; and in Luke i. 19, 26.

Gabriel (according to the Korân and Sale’s notes):

1. It is from this angel that Mahomet professes to have received the Korân; and he acts the part of the Holy Ghost in causing believers to receive the divine revelation.—Ch. ii.

2. It was the angel Gabriel that won the battle of Bedr. Mahomet’s forces were 319, and the enemy’s a thousand; but Gabriel (1) told Mahomet to throw a handful of dust in the air, and so doing the eyes of the enemy were “confounded;” (2) he caused the army of Mahomet to appear twice as many as the army opposed to it; (3) he brought from heaven 3000 angels, and, mounted on his horse Haïzûm, led them against the foe.—Ch. iii.

3. Gabriel appeared twice to Mahomet in his angelic form: first “in the highest part of the horizon,” and next “by the lote tree,” on the right hand of the throne of God.—Ch. liv.

5. Gabriel’s horse is called Haïzûm, and when the golden calf was made, a little of the dust from under this horse’s feet being thrown into its mouth, the calf began to low, and received life.—Ch. ii.

Gabriel (according to other legends):

The Persians call Gabriel “the angel of revelations,” because he is so frequently employed by God to carry His messages to man.

The Jews call Gabriel their enemy and the messenger of wrath; but Michael they call their friend, and the messenger of all good tidings.

In mediæval romance, Gabriel is the second of the seven spirits which stand before the throne of God, and he is frequently employed to carry the prayers of man to heaven, or bring the messages of God to man.

Longfellow, in the Golden Legend, makes Gabriel “the angel of the moon,” and says that he “brings to man the gift of hope.”

Gabriel Lajeunesse, son of Basil the blacksmith of Grand Pré, in Acadia (now Nova Scotia). He was legally plighted to Evangeline, daughter of Benedict Bellefontaine (the richest farmer of the village); but next day all the inhabitants were exiled by order of George II., and their property confiscated. Gabriel was parted from his troth-plight wife, and Evangeline spent her whole life in trying to find him. After many wanderings, she went 56to Philadelphia, and became a sister of mercy. The plague visited this city, and in the almshouse the sister saw an old man stricken down by the pestilence. It was Gabriel. He tried to whisper her name, but died in the attempt. He was buried, and Evangeline lies beside him in the grave.—Longfellow, Evangeline (1849).

Gabrielle (Charmante), or La Belle Gabrielle, daughter of Antoine d’Estrèes (grand-master of artillery and governor of the Ile de France). Henri IV. (1590) happened to stay for the night at the chateau de Cœuvres, and fell in love with Gabrielle, then 19 years old. To throw a veil over his intrigue, he gave her in marriage to Damerval de Liancourt, created her duchess of Beaufort, and took her to live with him at court.

The song beginning “Charmante Gabrielle ...” is ascribed to Henri VI.

Gabrielle (von Dohna). Brought up by her widowed father in singleness of heart and happiness until when she is over twenty he is again betrothed, and his fiancée persuades him to send his daughter to visit a relative, the Countess von Kronfels. She is a selfish old woman who adores her dog, and slights her invalid son. Gabrielle is dutiful to the old countess, and an angel of mercy to her son, although for awhile she dislikes and fears him. Finally, she tells the crippled man:

“You are a greater hero in my eyes than if you were leading men to battle. You may send me away if you will, but you will break my heart.”

He loves her too well to let her go.—Blanche Willis Howard, The Open Door (1889).

Gabri´na, wife of Arge´o, baron of Servia, tried to seduce Philandre, a Dutch knight; but Philandre fled from the house, where he was a guest. She then accused him to her husband of a wanton insult, and Argeo, having apprehended him, confined him in a dungeon. One day, Gabrina visited him there, and implored him to save her from a knight who sought to dishonor her. Philandre willingly espoused her cause, and slew the knight, who proved to be her husband. Gabrina then told her champion that if he refused to marry her, she would accuse him of murder to the magistrates. On this threat he married her, but ere long was killed by poison. Gabrina now wandered about the country as an old hag, and being fastened on Odori´co, was hung by him to the branch of an elm.—Ariosto, Orlando Furioso (1516).

Gabriolet´ta, governess of Brittany, rescued by Am´adis de Gaul from the hands of Balan (“the bravest and strongest of all giants”).—Vasco de Lobeira, Amadis de Gaul, iv. 129 (fourteenth century.)

Gadshill, a companion of Sir John Falstaff. This thief receives his name from a place called Gadshill, on the Kentish road, notorious for the many robberies committed there.—Shakespeare, 1 Henry IV. act ii. sc. 4 (1597).

Ga´heris (Sir), son of Lot (king of Orkney) and Morgause (King Arthur’s sister). Being taken captive by Sir Turquine, he was liberated by Sir Launcelot du Lac. One night, Sir Gaheris caught his mother in adultery with Sir Lamorake, and, holding her by the hair, struck off her head.

Gaiour [Djow.´r], emperor of China, and father, of Badour´a (the “most beautiful woman ever seen upon earth”). Badoura married Camaral´zaman, the most beautiful of men.—Arabian Nights (“Camaralzaman 57and Badoura”). (See Giaour).

Gal´ahad (Sir), the chaste son of Sir Launcelot and the fair Elaine (King Pelles’s daughter, pt. iii. 2), and thus was fulfilled a prophecy that she should become the mother of the noblest knight that was ever born. Queen Guenevere says that Sir Launcelot “came of the eighth degree from our Saviour, and Sir Galahad is of the ninth ... and, therefore, be they the greatest gentlemen of all the world” (pt. iii. 35). His sword was that which Sir Balin released from the maiden’s scabbard (see Balin), and his shield belonged to King Euelake [Evelake], who received it from Joseph of Arimathy. It was a snow-white shield, on which Joseph had made a cross with his blood (pt. iii. 39). After divers adventures, Sir Galahad came to Sarras, where he was made king, was shown the sangraal by Joseph of Arimathy, and “took“took the Lord’s body between his hands,” and died. Then suddenly “a great multitude of angels bear his soul up to heaven,” and “sithence was never no man that could say he had seen the sangraal” (pt. iii. 103).

Sir Galahad was the only knight who could sit in the “Siege Perilous,” a seat in the Round Table reserved for the knight destined to achieve the quest of the holy graal, and no other person could sit in it without peril of his life (pt. iii. 32). He also drew from the iron and marble rock the sword which no other knight could release (pt. iii. 33). His great achievement was that of the Holy Graal.

Then the bishop took a wafer, which was made in the likeness of bread, and at the lifting up [the elevation of the host] there came a figure in the likeness of a child, and the visage was as red and as bright as fire; and he smote himself into that bread; so they saw that the bread was formed of a fleshly man, and then he put it into the holy vessel again ... then he took the holy vessel and came to Sir Galahad as he kneeled down, and there he received his Saviour ... then went he and kissed Sir Bors ... and kneeled at the table and made his prayers; and suddenly his soul departed ... and a great multitude of angels bear his soul to heaven.—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, iii. 101-103 (1470).

⁂ Sir Galahalt, the son of Sir Brewnor, must not be confounded with Sir Galahad, the son of Sir Launcelot.

Galahalt (Sir), called “The Haut Prince,” son of Sir Brewnor. He was one of the knights of the Round Table.

Gal´antyse (3 syl.), the steed given to Graunde Armoure by King Melyzyus.

Ga´laor (Don), brother of Am´adis de Gaul. A desultor amoris, who, as Don Quixote says, “made love to every pretty girl he met.” His adventures form a strong contrast to those of his more serious brother.—Amadis de Gaul (fourteenth century).

A barber in the village insisted that none equalled “The Knight of the Sun” [i.e. Amadis], except Don Galaor his brother.—Cervantes, Don Quixote, I. 1 (1605).

Gal´apas, a giant of “marvellous 58height” in the army of Lucius, king of Rome. He was slain by King Arthur.

[King Arthur] slew a great giant named Galapas ... He shortened him by smiting off both his legs at the knees, saying, “Now art thou better of a size to deal with than thou wert.” And after, he smote off his head.—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, I. 115 (1470).

Gal´aphron or Gallaphrone (3 syl.), a king of Cathay, father of Angelica.—Bojardo, Orlando Innamorato (1495); Ariosto, Orlando Furioso (1516).

Galasp, or rather George Gillespie, mentioned by Milton in Sonnet, x., was a Scottish writer against the independents, and one of the “Assembly of Divines” (1583-1648). See Colkitto.

Galatea. Lovely statue, made by Pygmalion, and endued with life by Venus at the prayer of the sculptor-lover.

Galate´a, a sea-nymph, beloved by Polypheme (3 syl.) She herself had a heartache for Acis. The jealous giant crushed his rival under a huge rock, and Galatēa, inconsolable at the loss of her lover, was changed into a fountain. The word Galatea is used poetically for any rustic maiden.

⁂ Handel has an opera called Acis and Galatea (1710).

Galatea, a wise and modest lady attending on the princess in the drama of Philaster or Love Lies a-bleeding, by Beaumont and Fletcher (1608).

Gala´tine (3 syl.), the sword of Sir Gaw´ain, King Arthur’s nephew.—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, i. 93 (1470).

Galbraith (Miss Lucy), a young lady who finds herself en tête-a-tête with her çi-devant lover in a parlor-car. Conversation ensues and a quarrel. Upon attempting to leave the car, she discovers that it is uncoupled and solitary upon the track. In the fright of the alarm caused by what she assumes to be peril, she falls into her lover’s arms entreating forgiveness. The reconciliation is complete by the time they arrive safely at Schenectady.—W. D. Howells, The Parlor Car, A Farce (1876).

Galbraith (Major Duncan), of Garschattachin, a militia officer.—Sir W. Scott, Rob Roy (time, George I.).

Ga´len, an apothecary, a medical man (in disparagement). Galen was the most celebrated physician of ancient Greece, and had a greater influence on medical science than any other man before or since (A. D. 130-200).

Dr.Dr. William Cullen, of Hamilton, Lanarkshire, author of Nosology, (1712-1790).

Gal´enist, a herb doctor.

Galeotti Martivalle, (Martius), astrologerastrologer of Louis XI. Being asked by the superstitious king if he knew the day of his own death, the crafty astrologer replied that he could not name the exact day, but he had learnt thus much by his art—that it would occur just twenty-four 59hours before the decease of his majesty (ch. xxix.).—Sir W. Scott, Quentin Durward (time, Edward IV.).

⁂ Thrasullus the soothsayer made precisely the same answer to Tibe´rius, emperor of Rome.

Galera´na is called by Ariosto the wife of Charlemagne; but the nine wives of that emperor are usually given as Hamiltrude (3 syl.), Desidera´ta, Hil´degarde (3 syl.), Fastrade (2 syl.), Luitgarde, Maltegarde, Gersuinde, Regi´na, and Adalin´da.—Ariosto, Orlando Furioso, xxi. (1516).

Galère (2 syl.). Que diable allait-il faire dans cette galère? Scapin wants to get from Géronte (a miserly old hunks) £1500, to help Leandre, the old man’s son, out of a money difficulty. So Scapin vamps up a cock-and-bull story about Leandre being invited by a Turk on board his galley, where he was treated to a most sumptuous repast; but when the young man was about to quit the galley, the Turk told him he was a prisoner, and demanded £1500 for his ransom within two hours’ time. When GéronteGéronte hears this, he exclaims, “Que diable allait-il faire dans cette galère?” and he swears he will arrest the Turk for extortion. Being shown the impossibility of so doing, he again exclaims, “Que diable allait-il faire dans cette galère?” and it flashes into his mind that Scapin should give himself up as surety for the payment of the ransom. This of course Scapin objects to. The old man again exclaims, “Que diable allait-il faire dans cette galère?” and commands Scapin to go and tell the Turk that £1500 is not to be picked off a hedge. Scapin says the Turk does not care a straw about that, and insists on the ransom. “Mais, que diable allait-il faire dans cette galère?” cries the old hunks; and tells Scapin to go and pawn certain goods. Scapin replies there is no time, the two hours are nearly exhausted. “Que diable,” cries the old man again, “allait-il faire dans cette galère?” and when at last he gives the money, he repeats the same words, “Mais, que diable allait-il faire dans cette galère?”—Molière, Les Fourberies de Scapin. ii. 11 (1671).

Gal´gacus, chief of the Caledonians, who resisted Agricŏla with great valor. In A. D. 84 he was defeated, and died on the field. Tacĭtus puts into his mouth a noble speech, made to his army before the battle.

Galia´na, a Moorish princess, daughter of Gadalfe, king of Tolēdo. Her father built for her a palace on the Tagus, so splendid that “a palace of Galiana” has become a proverb in Spain.

Galien Restored, a mediæval romance of chivalry. Galien was the son of Jaqueline (daughter of Hugh, king of Constantinople). His father was Count Oliver of Vienne. Two fairies interested themselves in Jaqueline’s infant son; one, named Galienne, had the child named after her, Galien; and the other insisted that he should be called “Restored,” for that the boy would restore the chivalry of Charlemagne.—Author unknown.

Galile´o [Galilei], born at Pisa, but lived chiefly in Florence. In 1633 he published his work on the Copernican system, showing that “the earth moved and the sun stood still.” For this he was denounced by the Inquisition of Rome, and accused of contradicting the Bible. At the age of 70 he was obliged to abjure his system, in order to gain his liberty. After pronouncing his abjuration, he said, in a stage whisper, E pur si muove (“It does move, though”). This is said to be a romance (1564-1642).

Galinthia, daughter of Prœtus, king of Argos. She was changed by the Fates into a cat, and in that shape was made by Hecate her high priestess.—Antonius Liberalis, Metam, xxix.

Gallegher, audacious errand-boy in the office of a daily newspaper. He outwits police and sporting-men, and shows detective genius unequalled by a “professional,” becoming the means of arresting a noted murderer, and driving into town after midnight with the news of this event and of a big prize-fight, sinking exhausted on the office floor with the exclamation, “I beat the town!”—Richard Harding Davis, Gallegher (1890).

Gallegos [Gal´.le.goze], the people of Galacia (once a province of Spain).

Gallice´næ, priestesses of Gallic mythology, who had power over the winds and waves. There were nine of them, all virgins.

Galligan´tus, the giant who lived with Hocus-Pocus, the conjuror. When Jack the Giant-killer blew the magic horn, both the giant and conjuror were overthrown.—Jack the Giant-killer.

Gallo-ma´nia, a furor for everything French. Generally applied to that vile imitation of French literature and customs which prevailed in Germany in the time of Frederick II. of Prussia. It is very conspicuous in the writings of Wieland (1733-1813).

Galloping Dick, Richard Ferguson, the highwayman, executed in 1800.

Galloway (The Fair Maid of), Margaret, only daughter of Archibald, fifth earl of Douglas. She married her cousin William, to whom the earldom passed in 1443. After the death of her first husband, she married his brother James (the last earl of Douglas).

Gallowglasses, heavy-armed foot-soldiers of Ireland and the western isles; the light-armed troops were called kernes.

Gallura’s Bird, the cock, the emblem of Gallura in Sardinia, ruled by Nino di Gallura de’Visconti. Dante meets Nino in purgatory, who sends a message to his daughter, but reproaches the mother with her marriage after his death, to Galeazzo de’Visconti of Milan, whose emblem was a viper.

Gal´way Jury, an independent jury, neither to be brow-beaten nor led by the nose. In 1635, certain trials were held in Ireland, respecting the right of the Crown to the counties of Ireland. Leitrim, Roscommon, Sligo, and Mayo gave judgment for the Crown, but Galway stood out, whereupon each of the jury was fined £4000.

Ga´ma (Vasco da), the hero of Camoëns’s Lusiad. Sagacious, intrepid, tender-hearted, pious, and patriotic. He was the 60first European navigator who doubled the Cape of Good Hope (1497).

⁂ Gama is also the hero of Meyerbeer’s posthumous opera called L’Africaine (1865).

Gam´elyn (3 syl.), youngest of the three sons of Sir Johan di Boundys, who, on his death-bed, left “five plowes of land” to each of his two elder sons, and the residue of his property to the youngest. The eldest son took charge of Gamelyn, but treated him shamefully. On one occasion he said to him, “Stand still, gadelyng, and hold thy peace.” To which the proud boy retorted, “I am no gadelyng, but the lawful son of a lady and true knight.” On this, the elder brother sent his servants to chastise him, but he drove them off “with a pestel.” At a wrestling match young Gamelyn threw the champion, and carried off the prize ram; but on reaching home found the door closed against him. He at once kicked the door down, and threw the porter into a well. The elder brother now bound the young madcap to a tree, and left him two days without food; but Adam the spencer, unloosed him; and Gamelyn fell upon a party of ecclesiastics, who had come to dine with his brother, and “sprinkled holy water on them with a stout oaken cudgel.” The sheriff sent to apprehend the young spitfire, but he fled with Adam into the woods, and came upon a party of foresters sitting at meat. The captain gave him welcome, and Gamelyn in time became “king of the outlaws.” His brother being sheriff, would have put him to death, but Gamelyn hanged his brother on a forest tree. After this the king appointed him chief ranger, and he married.—The Coke’s Tale of Gamelyn, formerly attributed to Chaucer.

⁂ Lodge has made this tale the basis of his romance entitled Rosalynd or Eupheus’ Golden Legacye (1590); and from Lodge’s novel Shakespeare has borrowed the plot, with some of the character and dialogue, of As You Like It.

Gamelyn de Guar´dover (Sir), an ancestor of Sir Arthur Wardour.—Sir W. Scott, Antiquary (time, George III.).

Gamester (The), a tragedy by Ed. Moore (1753). The name of the gamester is Beverley, who in despair commits suicide; and the object of the play is to show the great evils of gambling.

Gamester (The), by Mrs. Centlivre (1705). The hero is Valere, to whom Angelica gives a picture, which she enjoins him not to lose on pain of forfeiting her hand. Valere loses it in play, and Angelica, in disguise, is the winner. After much tribulation, Valere is cured of his vice, the picture is restored, and the two are happily united in marriage.

Gammer Gurton’s Needle, by Mr. S., Master of Arts. It was in existence, says Warton, in 1551 (English Poetry, iv. 32). Sir Walter Scott says; “It was the supposed composition of John Still, M.A., afterwards bishop of Bath and Wells;” but in 1551 John Still was a boy not nine years old. The fun of this comedy turns on the loss and recovery of a needle, with which Gammer Gurton was repairing the breeches of her man Hodge. The comedy contains the famous drinking song, “I cannot eat but little Meat.”

Gamp (Sarah), a monthly nurse, residing 61in Kingsgate Street, High Holborn. Sarah was noted for her gouty umbrella, and for her perpetual reference to an hypothetical Mrs. Harris, whose opinions were a confirmation of her own. She was fond of strong tea and strong stimulants. “Don’t ask me,” she said, “whether I won’t take none, or whether I will, but leave the bottle on the chimley piece, and let me put my lips to it when I am so dispoged.” When Mrs. Prig “her pardner,” stretched out her hand to the teapot [filled with gin], Mrs. Gamp stopped the hand and said with great feeling, “No, Betsy! drink fair, wotever you do.” (See Harris.)—C. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, xlix. (1843).

⁂ A big, pawky umbrella is called a Mrs. Gamp, and in France, un Robinson, from Robinson Crusoe’s umbrella.

⁂ Mrs. Gamp and Mrs. Harris have Parisian sisters in Mde. Pochet and Mde. Gibou, creations of Henri Monnier.

Gan. (See Ganelon.)

Gan´dalin, earl of the Firm Island, and ’squire of Am´adis de Gaul.

Gandalin, though an earl, never spoke to his master but cap in hand, his head bowing all the time, and his body bent after the Turkish manner.—Cervantes, Don Quixote, I. iii. 6 (1605).

Gan´elon (2 syl.), count of Mayence, the “Judas” of Charlemagne’s paladins. His castle was built on the Blocksberg, the loftiest peak of the Hartz Mountains. Charlemagne was always trusting this base knight, and was as often betrayed by him. Although the very business of the paladins was the upholding of Christianity, Sir Ganelon was constantly intriguing for its overthrow. No doubt jealousy of Sir Roland made him a traitor, and he basely planned with Marsillus (the Moorish king), the attack of Roncesvallês. The character of Sir Ganelon was marked with spite, dissimulation, and intrigue, but he was patient, obstinate and enduring. He was six feet and a half in height, had large glaring eyes and fiery red hair. He loved solitude, was very taciturn, disbelieved in the existence of moral good, and has become a by-word for a false and faithless friend. Dantê has placed him in his “Inferno.” (Sometimes called Gan.)

The most faithless spy since the days of Ganelon.—Sir W. Scott, The Abbot, xxiv. (1820).

Ganem, “The Slave of Love.” The hero and title of one of the Arabian Nights tales. Ganem was the son of a rich merchant of Damascus, named Abou Aibou. On the death of his father he went to Bagdad, to dispose of the merchandise left, and accidentally saw three slaves secretly burying a chest in the earth. Curiosity induced him to disinter the chest, when lo! it contained a beautiful woman, sleeping from the effects of a narcotic drug. He took her to the lodgings, and discovered that the victim was Fetnab, the caliph’s favorite, who had been buried alive by order of the sultana, out of jealousy. When the caliph heard thereof, he was extremely jealous of the young merchant, and ordered him to be put to death, but he made good his escape in the guise of a waiter, and lay concealed till the angry fit of the caliph had subsided. When Haroun-al-Raschid (the caliph) came to himself, and heard the unvarnished facts of the case, he pardoned Ganem, gave to him Fetnab for a wife, and appointed him to a lucrative post about the court.

Gan´esa, goddess of wisdom, in Hindû mythology.

62Ganlesse (Richard), alias Simon Canter, alias Edward Christian, one of the conspirators.—Sir W. Scott, Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Ganna, the Celtic prophetess, who succeeded Velle´da. She went to Rome, and was received by Domitian with great honor.—Tacitus, Annals, 55.

Ganor, Gano´ra, Geneura, Ginevra, Genievre, Guinevere, Guenever, are different ways of spelling the name of Arthur’s wife; called by Geoffrey of Monmouth, Guanhuma´ra or Guan´humar; but Tennyson has made Guenevere the popular English form.

Gants Jaunes (Des), dandies, men of fashion.

Gan´ymede (3 syl.), a beautiful Phrygian boy, who was carried up to Olympos on the back of an eagle, to become cup-bearer to the gods instead of Hebê. At the time of his capture he was playing a flute while tending his father’s sheep.

(Jupiter compensated the boy’s father for the loss of his son, by a pair of horses.)

Tennyson, speaking of a great reverse of fortune from the highest glory to the lowest shame, says:

The Birds of Ganymede, eagles. Ganymede is represented as sitting on an eagle, or attended by that bird.

⁂ Ganymede is the constellation Aquarius.

Garagan´tua, a giant, who swallowed five pilgrims with their staves in a salad.—Rabelais, The History of Garagantua (1533).

“You must borrow me Garagantua’s mouth first: ’tis a word too great for any mouth of this age’s size.”—Shakespeare, As You Like It, act iii. sc. 2.

Gar´cias. The soul of Peter Garcias, money. Two scholars, journeying to Salamanca, came to a fountain, which bore this inscription; “Here is buried the soul of the licentiate Peter Garcias.” One scholar went away laughing at the notion of a buried soul, but the other, cutting with his knife, loosened a stone, and found a purse containing 100 ducats.—Lesage, Gil Blas (to the reader, 1715).

Garcilas´o, surnamed “the Inca,” descended on the mother’s side from the royal family of Peru (1530-1568). He was the son of Sebastian Garcilaso, a lieutenant of Alvarado and Pizarro. Author of Commentaries on the Origin of the Incas, their Laws and Government.

Garcilaso [de la Vega], called “The Petrarch of Spain”Spain”, born at Toledo (1503-1536). His poems are eclogues, odes, and elegies of great naïveté, grace, and harmony.

Garda (Thorne). Beautiful, untaught and utterly unreasonable girl, whom everybody pets and who always gets her own way. She fascinates men and outwits women, defies all authority, and never loses her temper. In a lazy way she falls in love with one man after another, and is most constant to the least worthy. The 63best and kindest woman among her friends suffers in reputation from her escapades, and Garda accepts the sacrifice as a matter of course. The incarnation of sensuous selfishness.—Constance Fennimore Woolson, East Angels (1886).

Gardening (Father of Landscape), Lenotre (1613-1700).

Gar´diner (Richard), porter to Miss Seraphine Arthuret and her sister Angelica.—Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George III.).

Gardiner (Colonel), colonel of Waverley’s Regiment.—Sir W. Scott, Waverley (time, George II.).

Gareth (Sir), according to Ancient romance, was the youngest son of Lot, king of Orkney and Morgawse, Arthur’s [half] sister. His mother, to deter him from entering Arthur’s court, said, jestingly, she would consent to his so doing if he concealed his name and went as a scullion for twelve months. To this he agreed, and Sir Kay, the king’s steward, nicknamed him “Beaumains,” because his hands were unusually large. At the end of the year he was knighted, and obtained the quest of Linet, who craved the aid of some knight to liberate her sister Lionês, who was held prisoner by Sir Ironside in Castle Perilous. Linet treated Sir Gareth with great contumely, calling him a washer of dishes and a kitchen knave; but he overthrew the five knights and liberated the lady, whom he married. The knights were—first, the Black Knight of the Black Lands or Sir Pere´ard (2 syl.), the Green Knight or Sir Pertolope, the Red Knight or Sir Perimo´nês, the Blue Knight or Sir Persaunt of India (four brothers), and lastly, the Red Knight of the Red Lands or Sir Ironside.—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, i. 120-153 (1470).

⁂ According to Tennyson, Sir Gareth was “the last and tallest son of Lot, king of Orkney, and of Bellicent his wife.” He served as kitchen knave in King Arthur’s hall a twelvemonth and a day, and was nicknamed “Fair-hands” (Beaumains). At the end of twelve months he was knighted, and obtained leave to accompany Lynette to the liberation of her sister Lyonors, who was held captive in Castle Perilous by a knight called Death or Mors. The passages to the castle were kept by four brothers, called by Tennyson, Morning Star or Phos´phorus, Noonday Sun or Meridies, Evening Star or Hespĕrus, and Night or Nox, all of whom he overthrew. At length Death leapt from the cleft skull of Night, and prayed the knight not to kill him, seeing that what he did his brothers had made him do. At starting, Lynette treated Gareth with great contumely, but softened to him more and more after each victory, and at last married him.

Gareth and Linet´ is in reality an allegory, a sort of Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, describing the warfare of a Christian from birth to his entrance into glory. The “Bride” lived in Castle Perilous, and was named Lionês; Linet´ represents the “carnal world,” which, like the inhabitants of the City of Destruction, jest and jeer at everything the Christian does. Sir Gareth fought with four knights, keepers of the roads “to Zion” or Castle Perilous, viz., Night, Dawn, Midday, and Evening, meaning the temptations of the four ages of 64man. Having conquered in all these, he had to encounter the last enemy, which is Death, and then the bride was won—the bride who lived in Castle Perilous or Mount Zion.

⁂ Tennyson, in his version of this beautiful allegory, has fallen into several grave errors, the worst of which is his making Gareth marry Linet instead of the true bride. This is like landing his Pilgrim in the City of Destruction, after having finished his journey and passed the flood. Gareth’s brother was wedded to the world (i.e. Linet), but Gareth himself was married to the “true Bride,” who dwelt in Castle Perilous. Another grave error is making Death crave of Gareth not to kill him, as what he did he was compelled to do by his elder brothers. I must confess that this to me is quite past understanding.—See Notes and Queries, January 19, February 16, March 16, 1878.

Gar´gamelle (3 syl.), wife of Grangousier and daughter of the Parpaillons. On the day that she gave birth to Gargantua, she ate 16 qrs. 2 bush. 3 pecks and a pipkin of dirt, the mere remains left in the tripe which she had for supper, although the tripe had been cleaned with the utmost care.—Rabelais, Gargantua, i. 4 (1533).

⁂ Gargamelle is an allegorical skit on the extravagance of queens, and the dirt is their pin-money.

Gargan´tua, son of Grangousier and Gargamelle. It needed 17,913 cows to supply the babe with milk. Like Garagantua (q.v.), he ate in his salad lettuces as big as walnut trees, in which were lurking six pilgrims from Sebastian. He founded and endowed the abbey of Theleme (2 syl.), in remembrance of his victory over Picrochole (3 syl.).—Rabelais, Gargantua, i. 7 (1533).

⁂ Of course, Gargantua is an allegorical skit on the allowance accorded to princes for their maintenance.

Gargantua’s Mare. This mare was as big as six elephants, and had feet with fingers. On one occasion, going to school, the “boy” hung the bells of Notre Dame de Paris on his mare’s neck, as jingles; but when the Parisians promised to feed his beast for nothing, he restored the peal. This mare had a terrible tail “every whit as big as the steeple of St. Mark’s,” and on one occasion being annoyed by wasps, she switched it about so vigorously that she knocked down all the trees in the vicinity. Gargantua roared with laughter, and cried, “Je trouve beau ce!” where upon the locality was called “Beauce.”—Rabelais, Gargantua, i. 16 (1533).

⁂ Of course this “mare” is an allegorical skit on the extravagance of court mistresses, and the “tail” is the suite in attendance on them.

Gargan´tuan Curriculum, a course of studies including all languages, all sciences, all the fine arts, with all athletic sports and calisthenic exercises.—Grangousier wrote to his son, saying:

“There should not be a river in the world, no matter how small, thou dost not know the name of, with the nature and habits of all fishes, all fowls of the air, all shrubs and trees, all metals, minerals, gems and precious stones. I would, furthermore, have thee study the Talmudists and Cabalists, and get a perfect knowledge of man, together with every language, ancient and modern, living or dead.”—Rabelais, Pantag´ruel´ ii. 8 (1533).

Gar´gery (Mrs. Joe), Pip’s sister. A virago, who kept her husband and Pip in constant awe.

Joe Gargery, a blacksmith, married to Pip’s sister. A noble-hearted simple-minded 65man who loved Pip sincerely. Though uncouth in manners and ungainly in appearance, Joe Gargery was one of nature’s gentlemen.—C. Dickens, Great Expectations (1860).

Gargouille (2 syl.), the great dragon that lived in the Seine, ravaged Rouen, and was slain by St. Roma´nus in the seventh century.

Garlic. The purveyor of the sultan of Casgar says he knew a man who lost his thumbs and great toes from eating garlic. The facts were these: A young man was married to the favorite of Zobeidê, and partook of a dish containing garlic; when he went to his bride, she ordered him to be bound, and cut off his two thumbs and two great toes, for presuming to appear before her without having purified his fingers. Ever after this he always washed his hands 120 times with alkali and soap after partaking of garlic in a ragout.—Arabian Nights (“The Purveyor’s Story”).

Gar´rat (The mayor of). Garrat is a village between Wandsworth and Tooling. In 1780 the inhabitants associated themselves together to resist any further encroachments on their common, and the chairman was called the Mayor. The first “mayor” happened to be chosen on a general election, and so it was decreed that a new mayor should be appointed at each general election. This made excellent capital for electioneering squibs, and some of the greatest wits of the day have ventilated political grievances, gibbeted political characters, and sprinkled holy water with good stout oaken cudgels under the mask of “addresses by the mayors of Garrat.”

The Mayor of Garrat, a farce by S. Foote (1762).

Garrick. Cool-headed, cool-hearted Federal agent who runs all sorts of dangers to bear into camp dispatches found upon a dead comrade, and marries a woman many degrees too noble for one whose ideals of morality are lower than becomes a man so brave in other matters.—Rebecca Harding Davis, Waiting for the Verdict (1866).

Garter. According to legend, Joan, countess of Salisbury, accidentally dropped her garter at a court ball. It was picked up by her royal partner, Edward III., who gallantly diverted the attention of the guests from the lady by binding the blue band round his own knee, saying, as he did so,“Honi soit qui mal y pense.”

Gartha, sister of Prince Oswald of Vero´na. When Oswald was slain in single combat by Gondibert (a combat provoked by his own treachery), Gartha used all her efforts to stir up civil war; but Hermegild, a man of great prudence, who loved her, was the author of wiser counsel, and diverted the anger of the camp by a funeral pageant of unusual splendor. As the tale is not finished, the ultimate lot of Gartha is unknown.—Sir William Davenant, Gondibert (died 1668).

Garth (Sip), woman of the people, who “puts” everything “honest” to people. Shrewd, deep of heart and almost fierce of will, girding at her limitations, yet profoundly in sympathy with her fellow-sufferers, she becomes a valuable ally to her high-bred friend, Perley Kelso, in her efforts to bring comfort and beauty into the dwellings of the poor.—Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, The Silent Partner (1871).

66Garth (Caleb), surveyor and land-agent. Excellent man, but better at lending than keeping money.

Mary Garth, his daughter; sensible and true woman, with few graces of person and no affectations.—George Eliot, Middlemarch.

Gas´abal, the ’squire of Don Galaor.

Gasabal was a man of such silence that the author names him only once in the course of his voluminous history.—Don Quixote, I. iii. 6 (1605).

Gascoigne (Sir William). Shakespeare says that Prince Henry “struck the chief justice in the open court;” but it does not appear from history that any blow was given. The fact is this:

One of the gay companions of the prince being committed for felony, the prince demanded his release, but Sir William told him the only way of obtaining a release would be to get from the king a free pardon. Prince Henry now tried to rescue the prisoner by force, when the judge ordered him out of court. In a towering fury, the prince flew to the judgment seat, and all thought he was about to slay the judge; but Sir William said very firmly and quietly. “Syr, remember yourselfe. I kepe here the place of the kynge, your sovereigne lorde and father, to whom you owe double obedience; wherefore I charge you in his name to desyste of your wylfulnes.... And nowe for your contempte goo you to the pryson of the Kynges Benche, whereunto I commytte you, and remayne ye there prisoner untyll the pleasure of the kynge be further known.” With which words the prince being abashed, the noble prisoner departed and went to the King’s Bench.—Sir Thomas Elyot, The Governour (1531).

Gashford, secretary to Lord George Gordon. A detestable, cruel sneak, who dupes his half-mad master, and leads him to imagine he is upholding a noble cause in plotting against the English Catholics. To wreak vengeance on Geoffrey Haredale, he incites the rioters to burn “The Warren,” where Haredale resided. Gashford commits suicide.—C. Dickens, Barnaby Rudge (1841).

Gaspar or Casper (“the white one”), one of the three Magi or kings of Cologne. His offering to the infant Jesus was frankincense, in token of divinity.

⁂ The other two were Melchior (“king of light”), who offered gold, symbolical of royalty; and Balthazar (“lord of treasures”), who offered myrrh, to denote that Christ would die. Klopstock, in his Messiah, makes the number of the Magi six, not one of which names agrees with those of Cologne Cathedral.

Gaspard, the steward of Count De Valmont, in whose service he had been for twenty years, and to whom he was most devotedly attached.—W. Dimond, The Foundling of the Forest.

Gas´pero, secretary of state, in the drama called The Laws of Candy, by Beaumont and Fletcher (1647).

Gathe´ral (Old), steward to the duke of Buckingham.—Sir W. Scott, Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Gath´erill (Old), bailiff to Sir Geoffrey Peveril of the Peak.—Sir W. Scott, Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Gauden´tio di Lucca, the hero and title of a romance by Simon Berington. He makes a journey to Mezzoramia, an imaginary country in the interior of Africa.

Gau´difer, a champion in the romance of Alexander.

Gaudio´sa (Lady), wife of Pelayo; a 67wise and faithful counsellor, high-minded, brave in danger, and a real helpmate.—Southey, Roderick, Last of the Goths (1814).

Gaudissart, the droll French bagman.

Gaul, son of Morni of Strumon. He was betrothed to Oith´ona, daughter of Nuäth, but before the day of marriage he was called away by Fingal to attend him on an expedition against the Britons. At the same time Nuäth was at war, and sent for his son Lathmon; so Oithona was left unprotected in her home. Donrommath, lord of Uthal (or Cuthal) seized this opportunity to carry her off, and concealed her in a cave in the desert island of Trom´athon. When Gaul returned to claim his betrothed, he found she was gone, and was told by a vision in the night where she was hidden. Next day, with three followers, Gaul went to Tromathon, and the ravisher coming up, he slew him and cut off his head. Oithona, armed as a combatant, mingled with the fighters and was wounded. Gaul saw what he thought a youth dying, and went to offer assistance, but found it was Oithona, who forthwith expired. Disconsolate, he returns to Dunlathmon, and thence to Morven. Ossian, Oithona.

Gaunt´grim, the wolf, in Lord Lytton’s Pilgrims of the Rhine (1834).

Bruin is always in the sulks, and Gauntgrim always in a passion.—Ch. xii.

Gavar´ni, the pseudonym of Sulpice Paul Chevalier, the great caricaturist of the French Charivari (1803-1896).

Gavroche (2 syl.), type of the Parisian street arab.—Victor Hugo, Les Misèrables (1862).

Gawain [Gaw´’n], son of King Lot and Morguase (Arthur’s sister). His brothers were Agravain, Ga´heris, and Ga´reth. The traitor Mordred was his half-brother, being the adulterous offspring of Morgause and Prince Arthur. Lot was king of Orkney. Gawain was the second of the fifty knights created by King Arthur; Tor was the first, and was dubbed the same day (pt. i. 48). When the adulterous passion of Sir Launcelot for Queen Guenever came to the knowledge of the king, Sir Gawain insisted that the king’s honor should be upheld. Accordingly, King Arthur went in battle array to Benwicke (Brittany), the “realm of Sir Launcelot,” and proclaimed war. Here Sir Gawain fell, according to the prophecy of Merlin, “With this sword shall Launcelot slay the man that in this world he loved the best” (pt. i. 44). In this same battle the king was told that his bastard son Mordred had usurped his throne, so he hastened back with all speed, and in the great battle of the West received his mortal wound (pt. iii. 160-167).—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur (1470).

Of Arthurian knights, Gawain is called the “Courteous,” Sir Kay the “Rude and Boastful,” Mordred the “Treacherous,” Launcelot the “Chivalrous,” Galahad the “Chaste,” Mark the “Dastard,” Sir Palomides (3 syl.) the “Saracen,” i.e. unbaptized, etc.

Gawky (Lord), Richard Grenville (1711-1770).

Gaw´rey, a flying woman, whose wings served the double purpose of flying and dress.—R. Pultock, Peter Wilkins (1750).

Gay (Walter), in the firm of Dombey and Son; an honest, frank, and ingenuous 68youth, who loved Florence Dombey, and comforted her in her early troubles. Walter Gay was sent in the merchantman called The Son and Heir, as junior partner, to Barbadoes, and survived a shipwreck. After his return from Barbadoes, he married Florence.—C. Dickens, Dombey and Son (1846).

Gayless (Charles), the penniless suitor of Melissa. His valet is Sharp.—Garrick, The Lying Valet (1741).

Gaylords (The). Village family in good circumstances.

Squire Gaylord, shrewd lawyer, with one tender place in his heart—his love for his only child.

Mrs. Gaylord, a calvinistic invalid, in awe of her imperious lord.

Marcia Gaylord, headstrong village beauty, who elopes with Bartley Hubbard, a newspaper man; goes with him to Boston; shares his capricious fortunes; adores and is madly jealous of him and goes home to nurse her sick mother, without her husband’s consent. He sues for a divorce, prevented by her father’s arrival prepared to give the other side of the question.—W. D. Howells, A Modern Instance.

Gay´ville (Lord), the affianced husband of Miss Alscrip “the heiress,” whom he detests; but he ardently loves Miss Alton, her companion. The former is conceited, overbearing, and vulgar, but very rich; the latter is modest, retiring, and lady-like, but very poor. It turns out that £2000 a year of “the heiress’s” property was entailed on Sir William Charleton’s heirs, and therefore descended to Mr. Clifford in right of his mother. This money Mr. Clifford settles on his sister, Miss Alton (whose real name is Clifford). Sir Clement Flint tears the conveyance, whereby Clifford retains the £2000 a year, and Sir Clement settles the same amount on Lord Gayville, who marries Miss Alton, alias Miss Clifford.

Lady Emily Gayville, sister of Lord Gayville. A bright, vivacious, and witty lady, who loves Mr. Clifford. Clifford also greatly loves Lady Emily, but is deterred from proposing to her because he is poor and unequal to her in a social position. It turns out that he comes into £2000 a year in right of his mother, Lady Charlton; and is thus enabled to offer himself to the lady, by whom he is accepted.—General Burgoyne, The Heiress (1781).

Gayworthys’ (The), New England household.

Dr. Gayworthy. Excellent man and physician. His heart is bound up in his step-grandson in whose favor he makes a will.

Johanna and Rebecca Gayworthy; one round, laughing and fair; the other, slight, brown, delicate, serious-eyed. Each has a lover and each her disappointment and victory.

Mrs. Vorse or “Sister Prue,” step-daughter, a widow with one son—Gershom, who is wild for sea-life, and gets it.

Mrs. Gair, née Gayworthy; the town-sister, diplomatic and suave. She secretes the doctor’s will and manœuvres Gershom off to sea.

Sadie, or Say Gair; upright little girl, who grows into a sound-hearted woman, and brings crooked things straight after many days and much striving, by marrying Gershom.—A.D.T. Whitney, The Gayworthys (1865).

Gaz´ban, the black slave of the old fire-worshipper, employed to sacrifice the 69Mussulmans to be offered on the “mountain of fire.”—Arabian Nights (“Amgiad and Assad”).

Gazette (Sir Gregory), a man who delights in news, without having the slightest comprehension of politics.—Samuel Foote, The Knights.

Ge´ber, an Arabian alchemist, born at Thous, in Persia (eighth century). He wrote several treatises on the “art of making gold,” in the usual mystical jargon of the period; and hence our word gibberish (“senseless jargon”).

Geddes (Joshua), the quaker.

Rachael Geddes, sister of Joshua.

Philip Geddes, grandfather of Joshua and Rachael Geddes.—Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George III.).

Geierstein [Gi´.er.stine], Arnold, count of.

Count Albert of Geierstein, brother of Arnold Biederman, disguised (1) as the black priest of St. Paul’s; (2) as president of the secret tribunal; (3) as monk at Mont St. Victoire.

Anne of Geierstein, called “The Maiden of the Mist,” daughter of Count Albert, and baroness of Arnheim.

Count Heinrich of Geierstein, grandfather of Count Arnold.

Count Williewald of Geierstein, father of Count Arnold.—Sir W. Scott, Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).

Geislaer (Peterkin), one of the insurgents at Liège [Le.aje].—Sir W. Scott, Quentin Durward (time, Edward IV.).

Geith (George), a model of untiring industry, perseverance, and moral courage. Undaunted by difficulties, he pursued his onward way, and worked as long as breath was left him.—Mrs. Trafford [Riddell], George Geith.

Gelert, Llewellyn’s favorite hound. One day, Llewellyn returned from hunting, when Gêlert met him smeared with gore. The chieftain felt alarmed, and instantly went to look for his baby son. He found the cradle overturned, and all around was sprinkled with gore and blood. He called his child, but no voice replied, and thinking the hound had eaten it, he stabbed the animal to the heart. The tumult awoke the baby boy, and on searching more carefully, a huge wolf was found under the bed, quite dead. Gêlert had slain the wolf and saved the child.

⁂ This tale, with a slight difference, is common to all parts of the world. It is told in the Gesta Romanorum of Follicŭlus, a knight, but the wolf is a “serpent,” and Folliculus, in repentance, makes a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. In the sanskrit version, given in the Pantschatantra (A.D. 540), the tale is told of the brahmin Devasaman, an “ichneumon” and “black snake” taking the places of the dog and the wolf. In the Arabic version by Nasr-Allah (twelfth century), a “weasel” is substituted for the dog; in the Mongolian Uligerun a “polecat;” in the Persian Sindibadnâmeh, a “cat;” and in the Hitopadesa (iv. 3), an “otter.” In the Chinese Forest of Pearls from the Garden of the Law, the dog is an “ichneumon,” as in the Indian version (A.D. 668). In Sandabar, 70and also in the Hebrew version, the tale is told of a dog. A similar tale is told of Czar Piras of Russia; and another occurs in the Seven Wise Masters.

Gel´latly (Davie) idiot servant of the baron of Bradwardine (3 syl.).

Old Janet Gellatly, the idiot’s mother.—Sir W. Scott, Waverley (time, George II.).

⁂ In some editions the word is spelt “Gellatley.”

Geloi´os. Silly laughter personified. Geloios is slain by Encra´tês (temperance) in the battle of Mansoul. (Greek, gĕloios, “facetious”).

Gem of Normandy, Emma, daughter of Richard “the Fearless,” duke of Normandy. She first married Ethelred II. of England, and then Canute, but survived both, and died in 1052.

Gems emblems of the Twelve Apostles.

Andrew, the bright blue sapphire, emblematic of his heavenly faith.

Bartholomew, the red carnelian, emblematic of his martyrdom.

James, the white chalcedony, emblematic of his purity.

James the Less, the topaz, emblematic of delicacy.

John, the emerald, emblematic of his youth and gentleness.

Matthew, the amethyst, emblematic of sobriety. Matthew was once a “publican,” but was “sobered” by the leaven of Christianity.

Matthias, the chrysolite, pure as sunshine.

Peter, the jasper, hard and solid as the rock of the Church.

Philip, the friendly sardonyx.

Simeon of Cana, the pink hyacinth, emblematic of sweet temper.

Thaddeus, the chrysoprase, emblematic of serenity and trustfulness.

Thomas, the beryl, indefinite in lustre, emblematic of his doubting faith.

Gems symbolic of the Months.

January, the jacinth or hyacinth, symbolizing constancy and fidelity.

February, the amethyst, symbolizing peace of mind and sobriety.

March, the blood-stone or jasper, symbolizing courage and success in dangerous enterprise.

April, the sapphire and diamond, symbolizing repentance and innocence.

May, the emerald, symbolizing success in love.

June, the agate, symbolizing long life and health.

July, the carnelian, symbolizing cure of evils resulting from forgetfulness.

August, the sardonyx or onyx, symbolizing conjugal felicity.

September, the chrysolite, symbolizing preservation from folly, or its cure.

October, the aqua-marine, opal, or beryl, symbolizing hope.

November, the topaz, symbolizing fidelity and friendship.

December, the turquoise or ruby, symbolizing brilliant success.

⁂ Some doubt exists between May and June, July and August. Thus some give the agate to May, and the emerald to June; the carnelian to August, and the onyx to July.

Gem´ini (“the twins”). Castor and Pollux are the two principal stars of this constellation; the former has a bluish tinge, and the latter a damask red.

71Gemini. Mrs. Browning makes Eve view in the constellation Gemini a symbol of the increase of the human race, and she loved to gaze on it.—E. B. Browning, A Drama of Exile (1850).

Geneu´ra. (See Gineura).

⁂ Queen Guinever or Guenever is sometimes called “Geneura,” or “Genevra.”

Gene´va Bull (The), Stephen Marshall, a Calvinistic preacher.

Geneviève (St.) the patron saint of Paris, born at Nanterre. She was a shepherdess, but went to Paris when her parents died, and was there during Attila’s invasion (A.D. 451). She told the citizens that God would spare the city, and “her prediction came true.” At another time, she procured food for the Parisians suffering from famine. At her request, Clovis built the church of St. Pierre et St. Paul, afterwards called Ste. Geneviève. Her day is January 3. Her relics are deposited in the Panthèon now called by her name (419-512).

Genii or Ginu, an intermediate race between angels and men. They ruled on earth before the creation of Adam—D’Herbelot, Bibliothèque Orientale, 357 (1697). Also spelt Djinn and Jinn.

⁂ Solomon is supposed to preside over the whole race of genii. This seems to have arisen from a mere confusion of words of somewhat similar sound. The chief of the genii was called a suleyman, which got corrupted into a proper name.

Genius and Common Sense, T. Moore says that Common Sense and Genius once went out together on a ramble by moonlight. Common Sense went prosing on his way, arrived home in good time, and went to bed; but Genius, while gazing at the stars, stumbled into a river, and died.

⁂ This story is told of Thalês, the philosopher, by Plato. Chaucer has also an allusion thereto in his Miller’s Tales.

Genna´ro the natural son of Lucrezia di Borgia (daughter of Pope Alexander VI.) before her marriage with Alfonso, duke of Ferra´ra. He was brought up by a Neapolitan fisherman. In early manhood he went to Venice, heard of the scandalous cruelty of Lucrezia, and with the heedless petulance of youth, mutilated the duke’s escutcheon by striking out the B, thus converting Borgia into Orgia (orgies). Lucrezia demanded vengeance, and Gennaro was condemned to death by poison. When Lucrezia discovered that the offender was her own son, she gave him an antidote to the poison, and set him free. Not long after this, at a banquet given by Negro´ni Lucrezia revealed herself to Gennaro as his mother, and both expired of poison in the banquet hall.—Donizetti, Lucrezia di Borgia (1834).

Gennil (Ralph), a veteran in the troop of Sir Hugo de Lacy.—Sir W. Scott, The Betrothed (time, Henry II.).

Genove´va, wife of Siegfried, count palatine of Brabant. Being suspected of infidelity, she was driven into the forest of Ardennes, where she gave birth to a son, who was suckled by a white doe. After a time Siegfried discovered his error, and both mother and child were restored to 72their proper home.—German Popular Stories.

Tieck and Müller have popularized the tradition, and Raupach has made it the subject of a drama.

Gentle Shepherd (The), George Grenville. In one of his speeches he exclaimed in the House, “Tell me where!” when Pitt hummed the line of a popular song, “Gentle Shepherd, tell me where!” and the House was convulsed with laughter (1712-1770).

Gentle Shepherd (The), the title and chief character of Allan Ramsay’s pastoral (1725).

Gentleman of Europe (The First), George IV. (1762, 1820-1830).

It was the “first gentleman in Europe” in whose high presence Mrs. Rawdon passed her examination, and took her degree in reputation; so it must be flat disloyalty to doubt her virtue. What a noble appreciation of character must there not have been in Vanity Fair when that august sovereign was invested with the title of Premier Gentilhomme of all Europe!—Thackeray, Vanity Fair (1843).

Gentleman of Europe (First), Louis d’Artois.

Gentleman Smith, William Smith, actor, noted for his gentlemanly deportment on the stage (1730-1790).

Geoffrey, archbishop of York.—Sir W. Scott, The Talisman (time, Richard I.).

Geoffrey, the old ostler of John Mengs (inn-keeper at Kirchhoff).—Sir W. Scott, Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).

Geoffrey Crayon, the hypothetical name of the author of the Sketch-Book by Washington Irving (1818-1820).

George (Honest). General Monk, George, duke of Albemarle, was so called by the votaries of Cromwell (1608-1670).

George (Mr.), a stalwart, handsome, simple-hearted fellow, son of Mrs. Rouncewell, the housekeeper at Chesney Wold. He was very wild as a lad, and ran away from his mother to enlist as a soldier; but on his return to England he opened a shooting-gallery in Leicester Square, London. When Sir Leicester Dedlock, in his old age, fell into trouble, George became his faithful attendant.—C. Dickens, Bleak House (1853).

George (St.), the patron saint of England. He was born at Lydda, but brought up in Cappadocia, and suffered martyrdom in the reign of Diocletian, April, 23, A.D. 303. Mr. Hogg tells us of a Greek inscription at Ezra, in Syria, dated 346, in which the martyrdom of St. George is referred to. At this date was living George, bishop of Alexandria, with whom Gibbon, in his Decline and Fall, has confounded the patron saint of England; but the bishop died in 362, or fifty-nine years after the prince of Cappadocia. (See Red Cross Knight.)

⁂ Mussulmans revere St. George under the name of “Gherghis.”

St. George’s Bones were taken to the church in the City of Constantine.

St. George’s Head. One of his heads was preserved at Rome. Long forgotten, it was rediscovered in 751, and was given in 1600 to the church of Ferrara. Another of his heads was preserved in the church of Mares-Moutier, in Picardy.

St. George’s Limbs. One of his arms fell from heaven upon the altar of Pantaleon, at Cologne. Another was preserved in a religious house of Barala, and was transferred thence in the ninth century 73to Cambray. Part of an arm was presented by Robert of Flanders to the City of Toulouse; another part was given to the abbey of Auchin, and another to the Countess Matilda.

George and the Dragon (St.). St. George, son of Lord Albert of Coventry, was stolen in infancy by “the weird lady of the woods,” who brought the lad up to deeds of arms. His body had three marks; a dragon on the breast, a garter round one of the legs, and a blood-red cross on the right arm. When he grew to manhood, he fought against the Saracens. In Libya he heard of a huge dragon, to which a damsel was daily given for food, and it so happened that when he arrived the victim was Sabra, the king’s daughter. She was already tied to the stake when St. George came up. On came the dragon; but the knight, thrusting his lance into the monster’s mouth, killed it on the spot. Sabra, being brought to England, became the wife of her deliverer, and they lived happily in Coventry till death.—Percy, Reliques III. iii. 2.

St. George and the Dragon, on old guinea-pieces, was the design of Pistrucci. It was an adaptation of a didrachm of Tarentum, B.C. 250.

⁂ The encounter between George and the dragon took place at Berytus (Beyrut).

The tale of St. George and the dragon is told in the Golden Legends of Jacques de Voragine.—See S. Baring-Gould, Curious Myths of The Middle Ages.

George I. and the duchess of Kendal (1719). The duchess was a German, whose name was Erangard Melrose de Schulemberg. She was created duchess of Munster, in Ireland, baroness Glastonbury, Countess of Feversham, and duchess of Kendal (died 1743).

George II. His favorite was Mary Howard, duchess of Suffolk.

George II., when angry, vented his displeasure by kicking his hat about the room. We are told that Xerxes vented his displeasure at the loss of his bridges by ordering the Hellespont to be fettered, lashed with 300 stripes, and insulted.

George III., and the Fair Quakeress. When George III. was about 20 years of age he fell in love with Hannah Lightfoot, daughter of a linen-draper in Market Street, St. James’s. He married her in Kew Church, 1759, but of course the marriage was not recognized. (See Lovers.)

⁂ The following year (September, 1760), he married the Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Hannah Lightfoot married a Mr. Axford, and passed out of public notice.

George IV. and Mrs. Mary Robinson, generally called Perdita. Mary Darby, at the age of 15, married Mr. Robinson, who lived a few months on credit, and was then imprisoned for debt. Mrs. Robinson sought a livelihood on the stage, and George IV., then Prince of Wales and a mere lad, saw her as “Perdita,” fell in love with her, corresponded with her under the assumed name of “Florizel,” and gave her a bond for £20,000, subsequently cancelled for an annuity of £500 (1758-1800).

⁂ George IV. was born 1762, and was only 16 in 1778, when he fell in love with Mrs. Robinson. The young prince suddenly abandoned her, and after two other love affairs, privately married, at Carleton House (in 1785), Mrs. Fitzherbert, a lady of good family, and a widow, seven years his senior. The marriage being contrary to the law, he married the Princess Caroline 74of Brunswick, in 1795; but still retained his connection with Mrs. Fitzherbert, and added a new favorite, the Countess of Jersey.

George [de Laval], a friend of Horace de Brienne (2 syl.). Having committed forgery, Carlos (alias Marquis d’Antas), being cognizant of it, had him in his power; but Ogarita (alias Martha) obtained the document, and returned it to George.—E. Stirling, Orphan of the Frozen Sea (1856).

George-a-Green, the pinner or pound-keeper of Wakefield, one of the chosen favorites of Robin Hood.

⁂ Robert Green has a drama entitled George-a-Green, the Pinner of Wakefield (1589).

Georgian Women (The) Allah, wishing to stock his celestial harem, commissioned an imaum to select for him forty of the loveliest women he could find. The imaum journeyed into Frankistan, and from the country of the Ingliz carried off the king’s daughter. From Germany he selected other maidens; but when he arrived at Gori (north-west of Tiflis) he fell in love with one of the beauties, and tarried there. Allah punished him by death, but the maidens remained in Gori, and became the mothers of the most beautiful race of mortals in the whole earth.—A Legend.

Georgina [Vesey], daughter of Sir John Vesey. Pretty, but vain and frivolous. She loved, as much as her heart was susceptible of such a passion, Sir Frederick Blount, but wavered between her liking and the policy of marrying Alfred Evelyn, a man of great wealth. When she thought the property of Evelyn was insecure, she at once gave her hand to Sir Frederick.—Lord E. Bulwer Lytton, Money (1840).(1840).

Geraint´ (Sir) of Devon, one of the knights of the Round Table. He was married to E´nid, only child of Yn´iol. Fearing lest Enid should be tainted by the queen, Sir Geraint left the court, and retired to Devon. Half sleeping and half waking, he overheard part of Enid’s words, and fancying her to be unfaithful to him, treated her for a time with great harshness; but Enid nursed him when he was wounded with such wifely tenderness that he could no longer doubt her fealty, and a complete understanding being established, “they crowned a happy life with a fair death.”—Tennyson, Idylls of the King (“Geraint and Enid”).

Ger´aldin (Lord), son of the earl of Glenallen. He appears first as William Lovell, and afterwards as Major Neville. He marries Isabella Wardour (daughter of Sir Arthur Wardour).

Sir Aymer de Geraldin, an ancestor of Lord Geraldin.—Sir W. Scott, the Antiquary (time, George III.)

Ger´aldine (3 syl.), a young man who comes home from his travels to find his playfellow (who should have been his wife) married to old Wincott, who receives him hospitably as a friend of his father’s, 75takes delight in hearing tales of his travels, and treats him most kindly. Geraldine and the wife mutually agree not in any wise to wrong so noble and confiding an old gentleman.—John Heywood, The English Traveller (1576-1645).

Geraldine (Lady), an orphan, the ward of her uncle Count de Valmont, and the betrothed of Florian (“the foundling of the forest,” and the adopted son of the count). This foundling turns out to be his real son, who had been rescued by his mother and carried into the forest to save him from the hands of Longueville, a desperate villain.—W. Dimond, The Foundling of the Forest.

Geraldine (The Fair), the lady whose praises are sung by Henry Howard, earl of Surrey. Supposed to be Elizabeth Fitzgerald, daughter of Gerald FitzgeraldFitzgerald, ninth earl of Kildare. She married the earl of Lincoln.

Gerard (John), an English botanist (1545-1607), who compiled the Catalogus Arborum, Fruticum, et Plantorum, tam Indigenarum quam Exoticarum, in Horto Johanis Gerardi. Also author of the Herbal or General History of Plants (1597).

Gerard, attendant of Sir Patrick Charteris (provost of Perth).—Sir W. Scott, Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.).

Gerhard the Good, a merchant of Cologne, who exchanges his rich freight for a cargo of Christian slaves, that he may give them their liberty. He retains only one, who is the wife of William, king of England. She is about to marry the merchant’s son, when the king suddenly appears, disguised as a pilgrim. Gerhard restores the wife, ships both off to England, refuses all recompense, and remains a merchant as before.—Rudolf of Ems (a minnesinger), Gerhard the Good (thirteenth century).

Ger´ion. So William Browne, in his Britannia’s Pastorals (fifth song), calls Philip of Spain. The allusion is to Geryon of Gadês (Cadiz), a monster with three bodies (or, in other words, a king over three kingdoms) slain by Herculês.

⁂ The three kingdoms over which Philip reigned were Spain, Germany and the Netherlands.

Gerlinda or Girlint, the mother of Hartmuth, king of Norway. When Hartmuth carried off Gudrun the daughter of Hettel (Attila), who refused to marry him, Gerlinda put her to the most menial work, such as washing the dirty linen. But her lover, Herwig, king of Heligoland, invaded Norway, and having gained a complete victory, put Gerlinda to death.—An Anglo-Saxon Poem (thirteenth century).

German Literature (Father of), Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729-1781).

Germany, formerly called Tongres. The name was changed (according to fable) in compliment to Ger´mana, sister of Julius Cæsar, and wife of Salvius Brabon, duke of Brabant.—Jehan de Maire, Illustrations de Gaule, iii. 20-23.

Geoffrey of Monmouth says that Ebraucus, one of the descendants of Brute, king of Britain, had twenty sons, all of whom, except the eldest, settled in Tongres which was then called Germany, because it was the land of the germans or brothers.

Geron´imo, the friend of Sganarelle (3 syl.). SganarelleSganarelle asks him if he would advise his marrying. “How old are you?” asks Geronimo; and being told that he is 63, and the girl under 20, says, “No.” Sganarelle, greatly displeased at his advice, declares he is hale and strong, that he loves the girl, and has promised to marry her. “Then do as you like,” says Geronimo.—Molière, Le Mariage Force (1664).

⁂ This joke is borrowed from Rabelais. Panurge asks Pantagruel whether he advises him to marry. “Yes,” says the prince; whereupon Panurge states several objections. “Then don’t,” says the prince. “But I wish to marry,” says Panurge. “Then do it by all means,” says the prince. Every time the prince advises him to marry, Panurge objects; and every time the prince advises the contrary, the advice is equally unacceptable.—Pantagruel, iii. 9 (1545).

Géronte´ (2 syl.), father of Léandre and Hyacinthe; a miserly old hunks. He has to pay Scapin £1500 for the “ransom” of Léandre, and after having exhausted every evasion, draws out his purse to pay the money, saying, “The Turk is a villain!” “Yes,” says Scapin. “A rascal!” “Yes,” says Scapin. “A thief!” “Yes,” says Scapin. “He would wring from me £1500! would he?” “Yes,” says Scapin. “Oh, if I catch him, won’t I pay him out?” “Yes,” says Scapin. Then putting his purse back into his pocket, Géronte´ walks off, saying, “Pay the ransom, and bring back the boy.” “But the money; where’s the money?” says Scapin. “Oh, didn’t I give it you?” “No,” says Scapin. “I forgot,” says Géronte, and he pays the money (act ii. 11).—Molière, Les Fourberies de Scapin (1671).

In the English, version called The Cheats of Scapin, by Otway, Géronte is called “Gripe” Hyacinthe is called “Clara,” Léandre is Anglicized into “Leander,” and the sum of money borrowed is £200.

Geronte (2 syl.), the father of Lucinde (2 syl.). He wanted his daughter to marry Horace, but as she loved Léandre, in order to avoid a marriage she detested she pretended to have lost the power of articulate speech, and only answered, “Han, hi, hon!” “Han, hi, hon, han!” Sganarelle, “le médecin malgré lui,” seeing that this jargon was put on, and ascertaining that Léandre was her lover, introduced him as an apothecary, and the young man soon effected a perfect cure with “pills matrimoniac.”—Molière, Le Médecin Malgré Lui (1666).

Ger´rard, king of the beggars, disguised under the name of Clause. He is the father of Florez, the rich merchant of Bruges.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Beggars’ Bush (1622).

Ger´trude (2 syl.), Hamlet’s mother. On the death of her husband, who was king of Denmark, she married Claudius, the late king’s brother. Gertrude was accessory to the murder of her first husband, and Claudius was principal. Claudius prepared poisoned wine, which he intended for Hamlet; but the queen not knowing it was poisoned drank it and died; Hamlet, seeing his mother fall dead, rushed on the king and killed him.—Shakespeare, Hamlet (1596).

⁂ In the Historie of Hamblett, Gertrude is called “Geruth.”

Gertrude, daughter of Albert, patriarch 77of Wy´oming. One day an Indian brought to Albert a lad (nine years old) named Henry Waldegrave (2 syl.), and told the patriarch he had promised the boy’s mother, at her death, to place her son under his care. The lad remained at Wyoming for three years, and was then sent to his friends. When grown to manhood, Henry Waldegrave returned to Wyoming, and married Gertrude; but three months afterwards Brandt, at the head of a mixed army of British and Indians attacked the settlement, and both Albert and Gertrude were shot. Henry Waldegrave then joined the army of Washington, which was fighting for American independence.—Campbell, Gertrude of Wyoming (1809).

Gertrude. Brave heroine of Maria S. Cummins’s Lamplighter. She raises herself by sheer force of energy and talent from the lowly station in which she was born to a position of highest respectability and influence (1853).

Gerun´dio (Fray), i.e. Friar Gerund, the hero and title of a Spanish romance, by the Jesuit De l’Isla. It is a satire on the absurdities and bad taste of the popular preachers of the time (1758).

Ge´ryon’s Sons, the Spaniards; so called from Geryon, an ancient king of Spain, whose oxen were driven off by Her´culês. This task was one of the hero’s “twelve labors.” Milton uses the expression in Paradise Lost, xi. 410 (1665).

Geryon´eo, a human monster with three bodies. He was of the race of giants, being the son of Geryon, the tyrant who gave all strangers “as food to his kine, the fairest and the fiercest kine alive.” Geryoneo promised to take the young widow Belgê (2 syl.) under his protection; but it was like the wolf protecting the lamb, for “he gave her children to a dreadful monster to devour.” In her despair she applied to King Arthur for help, and the British king, espousing her cause, soon sent Geryoneo “down to the house of dole.”—Spenser, Faëry Queen, v. 10, 11 (1596).

⁂ “Geryoneo” is the house of Austria, and Philip of Spain in particular. “King Arthur” is England, and the earl of Leicester in particular. The “Widow Belgê” is the Netherlands; and the monster that devoured her children the inquisition, introduced by the duke of Alva. “Geryoneo” had three bodies, for Philip ruled over three kingdoms—Spain, Germany and the Netherlands. The earl of Leicester, sent in 1585 to the aid of the Netherlands, broke off the yoke of Philip.

Ges´mas, the impenitent thief crucified with our Lord. In the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus, he is called Gestas. The penitent thief was Dismas, Dysmas, Demas, or Dumacus.

Gessler (Albrecht), the brutal and tyrannical governor of Switzerland, appointed by Austria over the three forest cantons. When the people rose in rebellion, Gessler insulted them by hoisting his cap on a pole, and threatening death to any one who refused to bow down to it in reverence. William Tell refused to do so, and was compelled to shoot at an apple placed on the head of his own son. Having dropped an arrow by accident, Gessler demanded why he had brought a second. “To shoot you,” said the intrepid mountaineer, 78“if I fail in my task.” Gessler then ordered him to be cast into Kusnacht Castle, “a prey to the reptiles that lodged there.” Gessler went in the boat to see the order executed, and as the boat neared land, Tell leapt on shore, pushed back the boat, shot Gessler, and freed his country from Austrian domination.—Rossini, Guglielmo Tell (1829).

Geta, according to Sir Walter Scott, the representative of a stock slave and rogue in the new comedy of Greece and Rome (? Getês).

The principal character, upon whose devices and ingenuity the whole plot usually turns, is the Geta of the piece—a witty, roguish, insinuating, and malignant slave, the confidant of a wild and extravagant son, whom he aids in his pious endeavors to cheat a suspicious, severe, and griping father.—Sir Walter Scott, The Drama.

Ghengis Khan, a title assumed by Tamerlane or Timour the Tartar (1336-1405).

Giaffir [Djaf.fir], pacha of Aby´dos, and father of Zuleika [Zu.lee´.kah]. He tells his daughter he intends her to marry the governor of Magne´sia, but Zuleika has given her plight to her cousin Selim. The lovers take to flight; Giaffir pursues and shoots Selim; Zuleika dies of grief; and the father lives on, a broken-hearted old man, calling to the winds, “Where is my daughter?” and echo answers, “Where?”—Byron, Bride of Abydos (1813).

Giam´schid [Jam.shid], suleyman of the Peris. Having reigned seven hundred years, he thought himself immortal; but God, in punishment, gave him a human form, and sent him to live on earth, where he became a great conqueror, and ruled over both the East and West. The bulwark of the Peris’ abode was composed of green chrysolite, the reflection of which gives to the sky its deep blue-green hue.

She only wished the amorous monarch had shown more ardor for the carbuncle of Giamschid.—W. Beckford, Vathek (1786).

Giants of Mythology and Fable. Strabo makes mention of the skeleton of a giant 60 cubits in height. Pliny tells us of another 46 cubits. Boccaccio describes the body of a giant from bones discovered in a cave near Trapani, in Sicily, 200 cubits in length. One tooth of this “giant” weighed 200 ounces; but Kircher says the tooth and bones were those of a mastodon.

Ac´amas, one of the Cyclops.—Greek Fable.

Adamastor, the giant Spirit of the Cape. His lips were black, teeth blue, eyes shot with livid fire, and voice louder than thunder.—Camoëns, Lusiad, v.

Ægæon, the hundred-handed giant. One of the Titans.—Greek Fable.

Ag´rois, one of the giants called Titans. He was killed by the Parcæ.—Greek Fable.

Alcyoneus [Al´.sĭ.ŏ.nuce] or Al´cion, brother of Porphyrĭon. He stole some of the Sun’s oxen, and Jupiter sent Herculês against him, but he was unable to prevail, for immediately the giant touched the earth he received fresh vigor. Pallas, seizing him, carried him beyond the moon, and he died. His seven daughters were turned into halcyonshalcyons, or kingfishers.—Apollonios of Rhodes, Argonautic Expedition, i. 6.

Al´gebar´. The giant Orīon is so called by the Arabs.

79Alifanfaron or Alipharnon, emperor of Trapoban.—Don Quixote.

Aloe´os, (4 syl.), son of Titan and Terra.—Greek Fable.

Aloi´des (4 syl.), sons of Alēĕus (4 syl.), named Otos and Ephialtês (q.v.).

Am´erant, a cruel giant slain by Guy of Warwick.—Percy, Reliques.

Angoulaffre, the Saracen giant. He was 12 cubits high, his face measured 3 feet in breadth, his nose was 9 inches long, his arms and legs 6 feet. He had the strength of thirty men, and his mace was the solid trunk of an oak tree, 300 years old. The tower of Pisa lost its perpendicularity by the weight of this giant leaning against it to rest himself. He was slain in single combat by Roland, at Fronsac.—L’Epine, Croquemitaine.

Antæos, 60 cubits (85 feet) in height.—Plutarch.

Arges (2 syl.), one of the Cyclops.—Greek Fable.

Aschapart, a giant 30 feet high, and with 12 inches between his eyes. Slain by Sir Bevis of Southampton.—British Fable.

Atlas, the giant of the Atlas Mountains, who carries the world on his back. A book of maps is called an “atlas” from this giant.—Greek Fable.

Balan, “bravest and strongest of the giant race.”—Amădis of Gaul.

Belle, famous for his three leaps, which gave names to the places called Wanlip, Burstall, and Bellegrave.—British Fable.

Belle´rus, the giant from whom Cornwall derived its name “Bellerium.”—British Fable. Milton: Lycidas.

Blunderbore (3 syl.), the giant who was drowned because Jack scuttled his boat.—Jack the Giant-killer.

Briare´os (4 syl.), a giant with a hundred hands. One of the Titans.—Greek Fable.

Brobdingnag, a country of giants, to whom an ordinary-sized man was “not half so big as a round little worm pricked from the lazy finger of a maid.”—Swift, Gulliver’s Travels.

Brontes (2 syl.), one of the Cyclops.—Greek Fable.

Burlong, a giant mentioned in the romance of Sir Tryamour.

Cacus, of Mount Aventine, who dragged the oxen of Hereculês into his cave tail foremost.—Greek Fable.

Calig´orant, the Egyptian giant, who entrapped travellers with an invisible net.—Ariosto.

Caraculiambo, the giant that Don Quixote intended should kneel at the foot of Dulcin´ea.—Cervantes, Don Quixote.

Ceus or Cœus, son of Heaven and Earth. He married Phœbê, and was the father of Latōna.—Greek Fable.

Chalbroth, the stem of all the giant race.—Rabelais, Pantagruel.

Christopherus, or St. Christopher, the giant who carried Christ across a ford, and was well-nigh borne down with the “child’s” ever-increasing weight.—Christian Legend.

Clytious, one of the giants who made war upon the gods. Vulcan killed him with a red-hot iron mace.—Greek Fable.

Colbrand, the Danish giant slain by Guy of Warwick.—British Fable.

Corflambo, a giant who was always attended by a dwarf.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, iv. 8.

Cormoran´, the Cornish giant who fell into a pit twenty feet deep, dug by Jack and filmed over with a thin layer of grass and gravel.—Jack the Giant-killer.

Cormorant, a giant discomfited by Sir Brian.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, vi. 4.

80Coulin, the British giant pursued by Debon, and killed by falling into a deep chasm.—British Fable.

Cyclops, giants with only one eye, and that in the middle of the forhead. They lived in Sicily, and were blacksmiths.—Greek Fable.

Despair, of Doubting Castle, who found Christian and Hopeful asleep on his grounds, and thrust them into a dungeon. He evilly entreated them, but they made their escape by the key “Promise.”—Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress, i.

Dondasch, a giant contemporary with Seth. “There were giants in the earth in those days.”—Oriental Fable.

Encel´ados, “most powerful of the giant race.” Overwhelmed under Mount Etna.—Greek Fable.

Ephialtes (4 syl.), a giant who grew nine inches every month.—Greek Fable.

Erix, son of Goliah [si.] and grandson of Atlas. He invented legerdemain.—Duchat, [Oe]uvres de Rabelais (1711).

Eu´rytos, one of the giants that made war with the gods. Bacchus killed him with his thyrsus.—Greek Fable.

Ferracute, a giant 36 feet in height, with the strength of forty men.—Turpin’s Chronicle.

Ferragus, a Portuguese giant.—Valentine and Orson.

Fierabras, of Alexandria, “the greatest giant that ever walked the earth.”—Mediæval Romance.

Fion, son of Comnal, an enormous giant, who could place his feet on two mountains, and then stoop and drink from a stream in the valley between.—Gaelic Legend.

Fiorgwyn, the gigantic father of Frigga.—Scandinavian Mythology.

Fracassus, father of Ferrăgus, and son of Morgantê.

Gabbara, the father of Goliah [sic] of Secondille, and inventor of the custom of drinking healths.—Duchat, [Oe]uvres de Rabelais (1711).

Galapas, the giant slain by King Arthur.—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur.

Galligantus, the giant who lived with Hocus-Pocus the conjuror.—Jack the Giant-killer.

Garagantua, same as Gargantua (q.v.).

Gargantua, a giant so large that it required 900 ells of linen for the body of his shirt, and 200 more for the gussets; 406 ells of velvet for his shoes, and 1100 cow-hides for their soles. His toothpick was an elephant’s tusk, and 17,913 cows were required to give him milk. This was the giant who swallowed five pilgrims, with their staves, in a salad.—Rabelais, Gargantua.

Gemmagog, son of the giant Oromedon, and inventor of Poulan shoes, i.e. shoes with a spur behind, and turned-up toes fastened to the knees. These shoes were forbidden by Charles V. of France, in 1365, but the fashion revived again.—Duchat, [Oe]uvres de Rabelais (1711).

Geryon´eo, a giant with three bodies [Philip II. of Spain].—Spenser, Faëry Queen, v. 11.

Giralda, the giantess. A statue of victory on the top of an old Moorish tower in Seville.

Godmer, son of Albion, a British giant slain by Canu´tus, one of the companions of Brute.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, ii. 10.

Goem´agot, the Cornish giant who wrestled with Cori´neus (3 syl.), and was hurled over a rock into the sea. The place where he fell was called “Lam Goëmagot.”—Geoffrey, British History.

81Gogmagog, king of the giant race of Albion when Brute colonized the island. He was slain by Cori´neus. The two statues of Guildhall represent Gogmagog and Corineus. The giant carries a pole-axe and spiked balls. This is the same as Goëmagot.

Grangousia, the giant king of Utopia.—Rabelais, Pantagruel.

Grantorto, the giant who withheld the inheritance of Ire´na.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, v.

Grim, the giant slain by Greatheart, because he tried to stop pilgrims on their way to the Celestial City.—Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress, ii.

Grum´bo, the giant up whose sleeve Tom Thumb crept. The giant, thinking some insect had crawled up his sleeve, gave it a shake, and Tom fell into the sea, when a fish swallowed him.—Tom Thumb.

Gyges, who had fifty heads and a hundred hands. He was one of the Titans.—Greek Fable.

Hapmouche, the giant “fly-catcher.” He invented the drying and smoking of neats’ tongues.—Duchat, Œuvres de Rabelais (1711).

Hippol´ytos, one of the giants who made war with the gods. He was killed by Hermês.—Greek Fable.

Hrasvelg, the giant who keeps watch over the Tree of Life, and devours the dead.—Scandinavian Mythology.

Hurtali, a giant in the time of the Flood. He was too large of stature to get into the ark, and therefore rode straddle-legs on the roof. He perpetuated the giant race. Atlas was his grandson.

Indracittran, a famous giant of Indian mythology.

Jotun, the giant of Jötunheim or Giant-land, in Scandinavian story.

Juliance, a giant of Arthurian romance.

Kifri, the giant of atheism and infidelity.

Kottos, a giant with a hundred hands. One of the Titans.—Greek Fable.

Malambru´no, the giant who shut up Antonoma´sia and her husband in the tomb of the deceased queen of Candaya.—Cervantes, Don Quixote, II. iii. 45.

Margutte (3 syl.), a giant 10 feet high, who died of laughter when he saw a monkey pulling on his boots.—Pulci, Morgante Maggiore.

Maugys, the giant warder with whom Sir Lybius does battle.—Libeaux.

Maul, the giant of sophistry, killed by Greatheart, who pierced him under the fifth rib.—Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress, ii.

Mont-Rognon, one of Charlemagne’s paladins.

Morgante (3 syl.), a ferocious giant, who died by the bite of a crab.—Pulci, Morgante Maggiore.

Mugillo, a giant famous for his mace with six balls.

Offerus, the pagan name of St. Christopher, whose body was 12 ells in height.—Christian Legend.

Ogias, an antediluvain giant, mentioned in the apocrypha condemned by Pope Gelasius I. (492-496).

Orgoglio, a giant thrice the height of an ordinary man. He takes captive the Red Cross Knight, but is slain by King Arthur.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, i.

Ori´on, a giant hunter, noted for his beauty. He was slain by Diana, and made a constellation.—Greek Fable.

Otos, a giant, brother of Ephialtês. They both grew nine inches every month. According to Pliny, he was 46 cubits (66 feet) in height.—Greek Fable.

Pallas, one of the giants called Titans. Minerva flayed him, and used his skin for armor; hence she was called Pallas Minerva.—Greek Fable.

82Pantag´ruel, son of Gargantua, and last of the race of giants.

Polybo´tes (4 syl.), one of the giants who fought against the gods. The sea-god pursued him to the island of Cos, and, tearing away a part of the island, threw it on him and buried him beneath the mass.—Greek Fable.

Polyphe´mos, king of the Cyclops. His skeleton was found at Trapa´ni, in Sicily, in the fourteenth century, by which it is calculated that his height was 300 feet.—Greek Fable.

Porphyr´ion, one of the giants who made war with the gods. He hurled the island of Delos against Zeus; but Zeus, with the aid of Herculês, overcame him.—Greek Fable.

Pyrac´mon, one of the Cyclops.—Greek Fable.

Ritho, the giant who commanded King Arthur to send his beard to complete the lining of a robe.—Arthurian Romance.

Slay-good, a giant slain by Greatheart. Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress, ii.

Ster´opes (3 syl.), one of the Cyclops.—Greek Fable.

Tartaro, the Cyclops of Basque legendary lore.

Teutoboch´us, a king, whose remains were discovered in 1613, near the river Rhone. His tomb was 30 feet long.—Mazurier, Histoire Véritable du Géant Teutobochus (1618).

Thaon, one of the giants who made war with the gods. He was killed by the Parcæ.—Hesiod, Theogony.

Titans, a race of giants.—Greek Fable.

Tit´yos, a giant whose body covered nine acres of land. He tried to defile Latōna, but Apollo cast him into Tartarus, where a vulture fed on his liver, which grew again as fast as it was devoured.—Greek Fable.

Typhœus, a giant with a hundred heads, fearful eyes, and most terrible voice. He was the father of the Harpies. Zeus [Jupiter] killed him with a thunderbolt, and he lies buried under Mount Etna.—Hesiod, Theogony.

Typhon, son of Typhœus, a giant with a hundred heads. He was so tall that he touched heaven with his head. His offspring were Gorgon, Geryon, Cerberos, and the hydra of Lernê. He lies buried under Mount Etna.—Homer, Hymns.

Widenostrils, a huge giant, who lived on windmills, andand died from eating a lump of fresh butter.—Rabelais, Pantagruel iv. 17.

Yohak, the giant guardian of the caves of Babylon.—Southey, Talaba, v.

⁂ Those who wish to pursue this subject further, should consult the notes of Duchat, bk. ii. 1 of his Œuvres de Rabelais.

Giants in Real Life.

Anak, father of the Anakim. The Hebrew spies said they themselves were mere grasshoppers in comparison to these giants.—Josh. xv. 14; Judges i. 20; Numb. xiii. 33.

Anak, 7 feet 8 inches at the age of 26. Exhibited in London, 1862-5. Born at Ramonchamp, in the Vosges (1 syl.), 1840. His real name was Joseph Brice.

Andron´icus II., 10 feet. Grandson of Alexius Comnēnus. Nicetas asserts that he had seen him.

Bamford (Edward), 7 feet 4 inches. Died in 1768, and was buried in St. Dunstan’s Churchyard.

Bates (Captain), 7 feet 11 inches; of Kentucky. Exhibited in London, 1871.

Blacker (Henry), 7 feet 4 inches, and most symmetrical. Born at Cuckfield, Sussex, in 1724. Generally called “The British Giant.”

Bradley, 7 feet 8 inches at death. 83Born at Market Weighton, in Yorkshire. His right hand is preserved in the museum of the College of Surgeons (1798-1820).

Brice (Joseph), 7 feet 8 inches. His hand could span 15½ inches.

Busby (John), 7 feet 9 inches; of Darfield. His brother was about the same height.

Chang-Woo-Goo, 7 feet 6 inches; of Fychou. The Chinese giant. Exhibited in London, 1865-6.

Charlemagne, 8 feet nearly. He could squeeze together three horse-shoes at once with his hands.

Cotter (Patrick), 8 feet 7½ inches. The Irish giant. A cast of his hand is preserved in the museum of the College of Surgeons (died 1802).

Elea´zer, 7 cubits (10 feet 6 inches). The Jewish giant mentioned by Josephus. He lived in the reign of Vitellius.

Eleizegue (Joachim), 7 feet 10 inches. The Spanish giant. Exhibited in London.

Evans (William), 8 feet at death. Porter to Charles I. (died 1632).

Frank (Big), 7 feet 8 inches; weight 22 stone; girth round the chest, 58 inches. He was an Irishman, whose name was Francis Sheridan (died 1870).

Frenz (Louis), 7 feet 4 inches. The French giant.

Gabara, 9 feet 9 inches. An Arabian giant. Pliny says he was the tallest man seen in the days of Claudius.

Gilly, 8 feet. A Swede; exhibited as a show in the early part of the nineteenth century.

Goli´ath, 6 cubits and a span (? 9 feet 4 inches).—1 Sam. xvii. 4, etc. His “brother” was also a giant.—2 Sam. xxi. 19; 1 Chron. xx. 5.

Gordon (Alice), 7 feet. An Essex giantess (died 1737).

Hale (Robert), 7 feet 6 inches; born at Somerton. Generally called “The Norfolk Giant” (1820-1862).

Har´drada (Harold), “5 ells of Norway in height” (nearly 8 feet). The Norway giant.

La Pierre, 7 feet 1 inch; of Stratgard, in Denmark.

Louis, 7 feet 4 inches. The French giant. His left hand is preserved in the museum of the College of Surgeons.

Loushkin, 8 feet 5 inches. The Russian giant, and drum-major of the Imperial Guards.

M’Donald (James), 7 feet 6 inches; of Cork (died 1760).

M’Donald (Samuel), 6 feet 10 inches. A Scotchman; usually called “Big Sam” (died 1802).

Magrath (Cornelius), 7 feet 8 inches. He was an orphan, reared by Bishop Berkley, and died at the age of 20 (1740-1760).

Maximi´nus, 8 feet 6 inches. The Roman emperor (235-238).

Mellon (Edmund), 7 feet 6 inches. Born at Port Leicester, Ireland (1665-1684).

Middleton (John), 9 feet 3 inches. “His hand was 17 inches long, and 8½ inches broad.” He was born at Hale, in Lancashire, in the reign of James I.—Dr. Plott, History of Staffordshire.

Miller (Maximilian Christopher), 8 feet. His hand measured 12 inches, and his fore-finger 9 inches long. The Saxon giant. Died in London (1674-1734).

Murphy, 8 feet 10 inches. An Irish giant, contemporary with O’Brien. Died at Marseilles.

O’Brien or Charles Byrne, 8 feet 4 inches. The Irish giant. His skeleton is preserved in the museum of the College of Surgeons (1761-1783).

84Og, king of Bashan. “His bed was 9 cubits by 4 cubits” (? 13½ feet by 6 feet).—Deut. iii. 11.

⁂ The Great Bed of Ware is 12 feet by 12 feet.

Osen (Heinrich), 7 feet 6 inches; weight, 300 lbs. or 37-1/4 stone. Born in Norway.

Porus, an Indian king who fought against Alexander near the river Hydaspês (B.C. 327). He was a giant “5 cubits in height” [7½ feet], with strength in proportion.—Quintus Curtius, De rebus gestis Alexandri Magni.

Riechart (J. H.), 8 feet 3 inches, of Friedberg. His father and mother were both giants.

Salmeron (Martin), 7 feet 4 inches. A Mexican.

Sam (Big), 6 feet 10 inches. (See “M’Donald.”)

Sheridan (Francis), 7 feet 8 inches. (See “Frank.”)

Swan (Miss Anne Hanen), 7 feet 11 inches; of Nova Scotia.

⁂ In 1682, a giant 7 feet 7 inches was exhibited in Dublin. A Swede 8 feet 6 inches was in the body-guard of a king of Prussia. A human skeleton 8 feet 6 inches is preserved in the museum of Trinity College, Dublin.

Becanus says he had seen a man nearly 10 feet high, and a woman fully 10 feet. Gasper Bauhin speaks of a Swiss 8 feet in height. Del Rio says he saw a Piedmontes in 1572 more than 9 feet in stature. C.S.F. Warren, M.A., says (in Notes and Queries, August 14, 1875) that his father knew a lady 9 feet high; “her head touched the ceiling of a good-sized room.” Vanderbrook says he saw a black man, at Congo, 9 feet high.

Giant of Literature, Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-1783).

Giant’s Leap (Lam Goëmagot) or “Goëmagot’s Leap.” Now called Haw, near Plymouth. The legend is that Cori´neus (3 syl.) wrestled with Goëmagot, king of the Albion giants, heaved the monster on his shoulder, carried him to the top of a high rock, and cast him into the sea.

At the beginning of the encounter, Corineus and the giant, standing front to front, held each other strongly in their arms, and panted aloud for breath; but Goëmagot presently grasping CroineusCroineus with all his might, broke three of his ribs, two on the right side and one on his left. Corineus, highly enraged, roused up his whole strength, snatched up the giant, ran with him on his shoulders to the neighboring cliff, and heaved him into the sea.... The place where he fell is called Lam Goëmagot to this day.—Geoffrey, British History, i. 16 (1142).

Giaour [djow´.er]. Byron’s tale called The Giaour is supposed to be told by a Turkish fisherman who had been employed all the day in the gulf of Ægi´na, and landed his boat at night-fall on the Piræ´us, now called the harbor of Port Leonê. He was eye-witness of all the incidents, and in one of them a principal agent (see line 352: “I hear the sound of coming feet....”). The tale is this: Leilah, the beautiful concubine of the Caliph Hasson, falls in love with a giaour, flees from the seraglio, is overtaken by an emir, put to death, and cast into the sea. The giaour cleaves Hassan’s skull, flees for his life, and becomes a monk. Six years afterwards he tells his history to his father confessor on his death-bed, and prays him to “lay his body with the humblest dead, and not even to inscribe his name on his tomb.” Accordingly, he is called “the Giaour,” and is known by no other name (1813).

Giauha´re (4 syl.), daughter of the king of Saman´dal, the mightiest of the undersea empires. When her father was made 85captive by king Saleh, she emerged for safety to a desert island, where she met Bed´er, the young king of Persia, who proposed to make her his wife; but Griauharê “spat on him,” and changed him “into a white bird with red beak and red legs.” The bird was sold to a certain king, and, being disenchanted, resumed the human form. After several marvellous adventures, Beder again met the under-sea princess, proposed to her again, and she became his wife and queen of Persia.—Arabian Nights (“Beder and Griauharê”).

Gibbet, a foot-pad and a convict, who “left his country for his country’s good.” He piqued himself on being “the best-behaved man on the road.”

’Twas for the good of my country I should be abroad.—George Farquhar, The Beaux’ Stratagem, iii. 3 (1707).

I thought it rather odd ... and said to myself, as Gibbet said when he heard that Aimwell had gone to church, “That looks suspicious.”—James Smith.

Gibbet (Master), secretary to Martin Joshua Bletson (parliamentary commissioner).—Sir W. Scott, Woodstock (time, Commonwealth).

Gib´bie (Guse), a half-witted lad in the service of Lady Bellenden.—Sir W. Scott, Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).

Like Goose Gibbie of famous memory, he first kept the turkeys, and then, as his years advanced, was promoted to the more important office of minding the cows.—Keightley.

Gibby, a Scotch Highlander in attendance on Colonel Briton. He marries Inis, the waiting-woman of Isabella.—Mrs. Centlivre, The Wonder (1714).

Gibou, (Madame), a type of feminine vulgarity. A hard-headed, keen-witted, coarsely clever, and pragmatical maîtresse femme, who believes in nothing but a good digestion and money in the Funds.—Henri Monnier, Scènes Populaires (1852.)

Mde. Pochet and Mde. Gibou are the French “Mrs. Gamp and Mrs. Harris.”

Gibson (Janet), a young dependent on Mrs. Margaret Bertram of Singleside.—Sir W. Scott, Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

Gifford (John). This pseudonym has been adopted by three authors: (1) John Richards Green, Blackstone’s Commentaries Abridged, 1823; (2) Edward Foss, An Abridgment of Blackstone’s Commentaries (1821); (3) Alexander Whellier, The English Lawyer.

Gifford (William), author of The Baviad, a poetical satire, which annihilated the Delia Crusca school of poets (1794). In 1796, Gifford published The Mœviad, to expose the low state of dramatic authorship.

He was a man with whom I had no literary sympathies.... He had, however, a heart full of kindness for all living creatures except authors: them he regarded as a fishmonger regards eels, or as Izaak Walton did worms.—Southey.

Giggleswick Fountain ebbs and flows eight times a day. The tale is that Giggleswick was once a nymph living with the Oreads on Mount Craven. A satyr chanced to see her, and resolved to win her; but Giggleswick fled to escape her pursuer, and praying to the “topic gods” (the local genii), was converted into a fountain, which still pants with fear. The tale is told by Drayton, in his Polyolbion, xxviii. (1622).

Gilbert, butler to Sir Patrick Charteris, provost of Perth.—Sir W. Scott, Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.).

86Gilbert (Miss), an ambitious girl with a taste for literary celebrity. She writes one book which is a slight success, another which “takes.” Petted from her childhood, and spoiled by the tolerable measure of adulation she receives subsequently, she needs the discipline of mortification and schooling to tone her down to what an originally fine nature was designed to become. She becomes the happy wife of a self-made man who has done his work well.—Josiah Gilbert Holland, Miss Gilbert’s Career (1859).

Gilbert (Sir), noted for the sanative virtue of his sword and cere-cloth. Sir Launcelot touched the wounds of Sir Meliot with Sir Gilbert’s sword and wiped them with a cere-cloth, and “anon a wholer man was he never in all his life”—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, i. 116 (1470).

Gilbert with the White Hand, one of the companions of Robin Hood, mentioned often in The Lyttell Geste of Robyn Hode (fytte v. and vii.).

Gil´bertscleugh, cousin to Lady Margaret Bellenden.—Sir W. Scott, Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).

Gil Blas, son of Blas of Santilla´ne, ’squire or “escudero” to a lady, and brought up by his uncle, Canon Gil Perês. Gil Blas went to Dr. Godinez’s school, of Oviedo [O.ve.á.do.] and obtained the reputation of being a great scholar. He had fair abilities, a kind heart, and good inclinations, but was easily led astray by his vanity. Full of wit and humor, but lax in his morals. Duped by others at first, he afterwards played the same devices on those less experienced. As he grew in years, however, his conduct improved, and when his fortune was made he became an honest, steady man.—Lesage, Gil Blas (1715).

(Lesage has borrowed largely from the romance of Espinel, called Vida del Escudero Marcos de Obregon (1618), from which he has taken his prologue, the adventure of the parasite (bk. i. 2), the dispersion of the company of Cacabelos by the muleteer (bk. i. 3),the incident of the robber’s cave (bk. i. 4, 5), the surprise by the corsairs, the contributions levied by Don Raphael and Ambrose (bk. i. 15, 16), the service with the duke of Lerma, the character of Sangrado (called by Espinel Sagredo), and even the reply of Don Matthias de Silva when asked to fight a duel early in the morning, “As I never rise before one, even for a party of pleasure, it is unreasonable to expect that I should rise at six to have my throat cut,” bk. iii. 8.)

Gilda, beautiful daughter of the jester, Rigoletto. She is beloved by his master, the duke, who abducts her, Rigoletto conniving at the deed under the impression that the wife of his enemy occupies the chamber given without his knowledge to Gilda.—Verdi, Rigoletto.

Gildas de Ruys (St.) near Vannes, in France. This monastery was founded in the sixth century, by St. Gildas, “The Wise” (516-565).

Gil´deroy, a famous robber. There were two of the name, both handsome 87Scotchmen, both robbers and both were hanged. One lived in the seventeenth century and “had the honor” of robbing Cardinal Richelieu and Oliver Cromwell. The other was born in Roslin, in the eighteenth century, and was executed in Edinburgh for “stealing sheep, horses and oxen.” In the Percy Reliques, I. iii. 12, is the lament of Gilderoy’s widow at the execution of her “handsome” and “winsome” Gilderoy; and Campbell has a ballad on the same subject. Both are entitled “Gilderoy,” and refer to the latter robber; but in Thomson’s Orpheus Caledonius, ii, is a copy of the older ballad.

⁂ Thomson’s ballad places Gilderoy in the reign of Mary, “queen of Scots,” but this is not consistent with the tradition of his robbing Richelieu and Cromwell. We want a third Gilderoy for the reign of Queen Mary—one living in the sixteenth century.

Gilding a Boy. A naked boy was gilded all over, to adorn a pageant when Leo X. was made Pope, and died of suffocation.—Vasari, Life of Puntormo.

Gildip´pe (3 syl.) wife of Edward, an English baron, who accompanied her husband to Jerusalem, and performed prodigies of valor in the war (bk. ix.). Both she and her husband were slain by Solyman (bk. xx.).—Tasso, Jerusalem Delivered (1575).

Giles, a farmer in love with Patty, “the maid of the mill” and promised to him by her father; but Patty refuses to marry him. Ultimately, “the maid of the mill” marries Lord Aimworth. Giles is a blunt, well-meaning, working farmer, with no education, no refinement, no notion of the amenities of social life.—Bickerstaff, The Maid of the Mill.

Giles (1 syl.), serving-boy to Claud Halcro.—Sir W. Scott, The Pirate (time William III.).

Giles (1 syl.), warder of the Tower.—Sir W. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel (time, James I.).

Giles (1 syl.), jailer of Sir Reginald Front de Bœuf.—Sir W. Scott, Ivanhoe (time, Richard I.).

Giles (Will), apprentice of Gibbie Girder, the cooper at Wolf’s Hope village.—Sir W. Scott, Bride of Lammermoor (time,f William III.).

Giles, the “farmer’s boy,” “meek, fatherless, and poor,” the hero of Robert Bloomfield’s principal poem, which is divided into “Spring,” “Summer,” “Autumn,” and “Winter”“Winter” (1798).

Giles of Antwerp, Giles Coignet, the painter (1530-1600).

Gillfillan (Habakkuk), called “Gifted Gilfillan,” a Camero´nian officer and enthusiast.—Sir W. Scott, Waverley (time, George II.).

Gill (Harry), a farmer, who forbade old Goody Blake to carry home a few sticks, which she had picked up from his land, to light a wee-bit fire to warm herself by. Old Goody Blake cursed him for his meanness, saying he should never from that moment cease from shivering with cold; and, sure enough, from that hour, a-bed or up, summer or winter, at home or abroad, his teeth went “chatter, chatter, chatter still.” Clothing was of no use, fires of no avail, for, spite of all, he muttered, “Poor Harry Gill is very cold.”—Wordsworth, Goody Blake and Harry Gill (1798).

88Gill (Mrs. Peter). Bustling matron with a genius for innovation. She conducts her household affairs according to sanitary and sanatory principles; discovers that condiments are pernicious and that beans are excellent for the complexion; is bent upon a water-cure, and finds out and invents so many “must bes” and “don’ts” as to ruin the comfort of husband and children.—Robert B. Roosevelt, Progressive Petticoats (1874).

Gil´lamore (3 syl.) or Guillamur, king of Ireland, being slain in battle by Arthur, Ireland was added by the conqueror to his own dominions.

Gil´lian, landlady of Don John and Don Frederic.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Chances (1620).

Gillian (Dame), tirewoman to Lady Eveline, and wife of Raoul the huntsman.—Sir W. Scott, The Betrothed (time, Henry II.).

Gilliflowers. A nosegay of these flowers was given by the fairy Amazo´na to Carpil´lona in her flight. The virtue of this nosegay was, that so long as the princess had it about her person, those who knew her before would not recognize her.—Comtesse D’Aunoy, Fairy Tales (“Princess Carpillona,” 1682).

Gills (Solomon), ship’s instrument maker. A slow, thoughtful old man, uncle of Walter Gay, who was in the house of Mr. Dombey, merchant. Gills was very proud of his stock-in-trade, but never seemed to sell anything.—C. Dickens, Dombey and Son (1846).

Gilpin (John), a linen-draper and train-band captain, living in London. His wife said to him, “Though we have been married twenty years, we have taken no holiday;” and at her advice the well-to-do linen-draper agreed to make a family party, and dine at the Bell, at Edmonton. Mrs. Gilpin, her sister, and four children went in the chaise, and Gilpin promised to follow on horseback. As madam had left the wine behind, Gilpin girded it in two stone bottles to his belt, and started on his way. The horse, being fresh, began to trot, and then to gallop; and John, being a bad rider, grasped the mane with both his hands. On went the horse, off flew John Gilpin’s cloak, together with his hat and wig. The dogs barked, the children screamed, the turnpike men (thinking he was riding for a wager) flung open their gates. He flew through Edmonton, and never stopped till he reached Ware, when his friend the calender gave him welcome, and asked him to dismount. Gilpin, however, declined, saying his wife would be expecting him. So the calender furnished him with another hat and wig, and Gilpin harked back again, when similar disasters occurred, till the horse stopped at his house in London.—W. Cowper, John Gilpin (1786).

⁂ John Gilpin was a Mr. Beyer, of Paternoster Row, who died in 1791, and it was Lady Austin who told the anecdote to the poet. The marriage adventure of Commodore Trunnion in Peregrine Pickle is a similar adventure.

Gines de Passamonte, one of the galley-slaves set free by Don Quixote. Gines had written a history of his life and adventures. After being liberated, the slaves set upon the knight; they assaulted him with stones, robbed him and Sancho of everything they valued, broke to pieces “Mambrino’s helmethelmet,” and then made off 89with all possible speed, taking Sancho’s ass with them. After a time the ass was recovered (pt. I. iv. 3).

“Hark ye, friend,” said the galley-slave, “Gines is my name, and Passamonte the title of my family.”—Cervantes, Don Quixote, I. iii. 8 (1605).

⁂ This Gines re-appears in pt. II. ii. 7 as “Peter the showman,” who exhibits the story of “Melisendra and Don Gayferos.” The helmet also is presented whole and sound at the inn, where it becomes a matter of dispute whether it is a basin or a helmet.

Gineura, the troth-plight bride of Ariodantês, falsely accused of infidelity, and doomed to die unless she found within a month a champion to do battle for her honor. The duke who accused her felt confident that no champion would appear, but on the day appointed Ariodantês himself entered the lists. The duke was slain, the lady vindicated, and the champion became Gineura’s husband.—Arisoto, Orlando Furioso (1516).

Shakespeare, in Much Ado about Nothing, makes Hero falsely accused of infidelity, through the malice of Don John, who induces Margaret (the lady’s attendant) to give Borachio a rendezvous at the lady’s chamber window. While this was going on, Claudio, the betrothed lover of Hero, was brought to a spot where he might witness the scene, and, believing Margaret to be Hero, was so indignant, that next day at the altar he denounced Hero as unworthy of his love. Benedict challenged Claudio for slander, but the combat was prevented by the arrest and confession of Borachio. Don John, finding his villainy exposed, fled to Messina.

Spencer has introduced a similar story in his Faëry Queen, v. 11 (the tale of “Irena,” q.v.).

Gin´evra, the young Italian bride who, playing hide-and-seek, hid herself in a large trunk. The lid accidentally fell down, and was held fast by a spring-lock. Many years afterwards the trunk was sold and the skeleton discovered.—Rogers, Italy (1792).

T. Haynes Bayley wrote a ballad called The Mistletoe Bough, on the same tradition. He calls the bridegroombridegroom “young Lovell.”

A similar narrative is given by Collet, in his Causes Célèbres.

Marwell Old Hall, once the residence of the Seymours, and subsequently of the Dacre family, has a similar tradition attached to it, and “the very chest is now the property of the Rev. J. Haygarth, rector of Upham.”—Post-Office Directory.

Bramshall, Hampshire, has a similar tale and chest.

The same tale is also told of the great house at Malsanger, near Basingstoke.

Gingerbread (Giles), the hero of an English nursery tale.

Jack the Giant-killer, Giles Gingerbread, and Tom Thumb will flourish in wide-spreading and never-ceasing popularity.—Washington Irving.

Ginn or Jân (singular masculine Jinnee, feminine Jinniyeh), a species of beings created long before Adam. They were formed of “smokeless fire” or fire of the simoom, and were governed by monarchs named suleyman, the last of whom was Jân-ibn-Jân or Gian-ben-Gian, who “built the pyramids of Egypt.” Prophets were sent to convert them, but on their persistent disobedience, an army of angels drove them from the earth. Among the Ginn was one named Aza´zel. When Adam was created, and God commanded the angels to worship him, Azazel refused, saying, “Why should the spirits 90of fire worship a creature made of earth?” Whereupon God changed him into a devil, and called him Iblis or Eblis (“despair”). Spelt also Djinn.

Gi´ona, a leader of the anabaptists, once a servant of Comte d’Oberthal, but discharged from his service for theft. He joined the rebellion of the anabaptists, but, with the rest of the conspirators, betrayed the “prophet-king,” John of Leyden, when the emperor arrived with his army.—Meyerbeer, Le Prophète (1849).

Giovan´ni (Don), a Spanish libertine of the aristocratic class. His valet, Leporello, says, “He had 700 mistresses in Italy, 800 in Germany, 91 in France and Turkey, and 1003 in Spain.” When the measure of his iniquity was full, a legion of foul fiends carried him off to the devouring gulf.—Mozart’s opera, Don Giovanni (1787).

(The libretto of this opera is by Lorenzo da Ponte).

⁂ The origin of this character was Don Juan Teno´rio, of Seville, who lived in the fourteenth century. The traditions concerning him were dramatized by Tirso de Mo´lina; thence passed into Italy and France. Glück has a musical ballad called Don Juan (1765); Molière, a comedy on the same subject (1665); and Thomas Corneille (brother of the Grand Corneille) brought out, in 1673, a comedy on the same subject, called Le Festin de Pierre, which is the second title of Molière’s Don Juan. Goldoni, called “The Italian Molière,” has also a comedy on the same favorite hero.

Gipsey, the favorite greyhound of Charles I.

One evening his [Charles I.] dog scraping at the door, he commanded me [Sir Philip Warwick] to let in Gipsey.—Memoirs, 329.

Gypsey Ring, a flat gold ring, with stones let into it, at given distances. So called because the stones were originally Egyptian pebbles—that is, agate and jasper.

⁂ The tale is, that the gypsies are wanderers because they refused to shelter the Virgin and Child in their flight into Egypt.—Aventinus, Annales Boiorum, viii.

Giralda of Seville, called by the Knight of the Mirrors a giantess, whose body was of brass, and who, without ever shifting her place, was the most unsteady and changeable female in the world. In fact, this Giralda was no other than the brazen statue on a steeple in Seville, serving for a weathercock.

“I fixed the changeable Giralda ... I obliged her to stand still; for during the space of a whole week no wind blew but from the north.”—Cervantes, Don Quixote, II. i. 14 (1615).

Girder (Gibbie, i.e. Gilbert), the cooper at Wolf’s Hope village.

Jean Girder, wife of the cooper.—Sir W. Scott, Bride of Lammermoor (time, William III.).

Girdle (Armi´da’s), a cestus worn by Armi´da, which, like that of Venus, possessed the magical charm of provoking irresistible love.—Tasso, Jerusalem Delivered (1575).

Girdle (Flor´imel’s), the prize of a grand tournament, in which Sir Sat´yrane (3 syl.), Sir Brianor, Sir Sanglier, Sir Artĕgal, Sir Cambel, Sir Tri´amond, Brit´omart, and others took part. It was accidentally dropped by Florimel in her flight (bk. iii. 7, 31), picked up by Sir Satyrane, and employed by him for binding the monster which frightened Florimel to flight, but 91afterwards came again into Sir Satyrane’s possession, when he placed it for safety in a golden coffer. It was a gorgeous girdle, made by Vulcan for Venus, and embossed with pearls and precious stones; but its chief merit was

Girdle (Venus’s), a girdle on which was embroidered the passions, desires, joys, and pains of love. It was usually called a cestus, which means “embroidered,” and was worn lower down than the cin´gulum or matron’s girdle, but higher up than the zone or maiden’s girdle. It was said to possess the magical power of exciting love. Homer describes it thus:

Girdle of Opakka, foresight and prudence.

“The girdle of Opakka, with which Kifri the enchanter is endued, what is it,” said Shemshelnar, “but foresight and prudence—the best ‘girdle’ for the sultans of the earth?”—Sir G. Morell [i.e. J. Ridley], Tales of the Genii (“History of Mahoud,” tale vii., 1751).

Girdles, impressed with mystical characters, were bound with certain ceremonies round women in gestation, to accelerate the birth and alleviate the pains of labor. It was a Druid custom, observed by the Gaels, and continued in practice till quite modern times.

Aldo offered to give Erragon “a hundred steeds, children of the rein; a hundred hawks with fluttering wing, ... and a hundred girdles to bind high-bosomed maids, friends of the births of heroes.”—Ossian, The Battle of Lora.

Girnington (The laird of), previously Frank Hayston, laird of Bucklaw, the bridegroom of Lucy Ashton. He is found wounded by his bride on the wedding night, recovers and leaves the country; but the bride goes mad and dies.—Sir W. Scott, Bride of Lammermoor (time, William III.).

Giulia (Donna), suspected wife of Don Alonzo in Richard Mansfield’s play Don Juan. She becomes the fast friend of the youthful lovers, although forced by her husband’s brutality to decoy Juan into the trap set for him by Alonzo (1891).

Gjallar, Heimdall’s horn, which he blows to give the gods notice when any one approaches the bridge Bifröst.—Scandinavian Mythology.

Gladiator (The Dying). This famous statue, found at Nettuno (the ancient Antium), was the work of Agasĭas, a sculptor of Ephesus.

Glads´moor (Mr.), almoner of the earl of Glenallan, at Glenallan House.—Sir W.W. Scott, The Antiquary (time, George III.).

Glamorgan, according to British fable, is gla or glyn Morgan (valley or glen of Morgan). Cundah´ and Morgan (says Spenser) were sons of Goneril and Regan, the two elder daughters of King Leyr. Cundah chased Morgan into Wales, and slew him in the glen which perpetuates his name.

This is not quite in accordance with Geoffrey’s account:

Some restless spirits ... inspired Margan with vain conceits, ... who marched with an army through Cunedagius’s country, and began to burn all before him; but he was met by Cunedagius, with all his forces, who attacked Margan ... and, putting him to flight, ... killed him in a town of Kambria, which since his death has been called Margan to this day.—British History, ii. 15 (1142).

Glasgow (The Bishop of).—Sir W. Scott, Castle Dangerous, xix. (time, Henry I.).

Glasgow Arms, an oak tree with a bird above it, and a bell hanging from one of the branches; at the foot of the tree a salmon with a ring in its mouth. The legend is that St. Kentigern built the city and hung a bell in an oak tree to summon the men to work. This accounts for the “oak and bell.” Now for the rest: A Scottish queen, having formed an illicit attachment to a soldier, presented her paramour with a ring, the gift of her royal husband. This coming to the knowledge of the king, he contrived to abstract it from the soldier while he was asleep, threw it into the Clyde, and then asked his queen to show it him. The queen, in great alarm, ran to St. Kentigern, and confessed her crime. The father confessor went to the Clyde, drew out a salmon with the ring in its mouth, handed it to the queen, and by this means both prevented a scandal and reformed the repentant lady.

A similar legend is told of Dame Rebecca Berry, wife of Thomas Elton of Stratford Bow, and relict of Sir John Berry, 1696. She is the heroine of the ballad called The Cruel Knight. The story runs thus: A knight, passing by a cottage, heard the cries of a woman in labor. By his knowledge of the occult sciences, he knew that the infant was doomed to be his future wife; but he determined to elude his destiny. When the child was of a marriageable age, he took her to the seaside, intending to drown her, but relented, and, throwing a ring into the sea, commanded her never to see his face again, upon pain of death, till she brought back that ring with her. The damsel now went as cook to a noble family, and one day, as she was preparing a cod-fish for dinner, she found the ring in the fish, took it to the knight, and thus became the bride of Sir John Berry. The Berry arms show a fish, and in the dexter chief a ring.

Glass (Mrs.), a tobacconist, in London, who befriended Jeanie Deans while she sojourned in town, whither she had come to crave pardon from the queen for Effie Deans, her half-sister, lying under sentence of death for the murder of her infant born before wedlock.—Sir W. Scott, Heart of Midlothian (time, George II.).

Glass Armor. When Cherry went to encounter the dragon that guarded the singing apple, he arrayed himself in glass armor, which reflected objects like a mirror. Consequently, when the monster came against him, seeing its reflection in every part of the armor, it fancied hundreds of dragons were coming against it, and ran away in alarm into a cave, which Cherry instantly closed up, and thus became master of the situation.—Comtesse D’Aunoy, Fairy Tales (“Princess Fairstar,” 1682).

Glasse (Mrs.), author of a cookery-book 93immortalized by the saying, “First catch [skin] your hair, then cook it.” Mrs. Glasse is the nom de plume of Dr. John Hill (1716-1775).

Glas´tonbury, in Arthurian romance, was the burial place of King Arthur. Selden, in his Illustrations of Drayton, gives an account of Arthur’s tomb “betwixt two pillars,” and says that “Henry II. gave command to Henry de Bois (then abbot of Glastonbury) to make great search for the body of the British king, which was found in a wooden coffin some 16 foote deepe, and afterwards they found a stone on whose lower side was fixed a leaden cross with the name inscribed.”

Glastonbury Thorn. The legend is that Joseph of Arimatheēa stuck his staff into the ground in “the sacred isle of Glastonbury,” and that this thorn blossoms “on Christmas Day” every year. St. Joseph was buried at Glastonbury.

Glatisant, the questing beast. It had the head of a serpent, the body of a libbard, buttocks of a lion, foot of a hart, and in its body “there was a noise like that of thirty couple of hounds questing” (i.e. in full cry). Sir Palomi´dês the Saracen was forever following this beast.—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, ii. 52, 53, 149 (1470).

Glau´ce (2 syl.), nurse of the Princess Brit´omart. She tried by charms to “undo” her lady’s love for Sir Artegal, “but love that is in gentle heart begun, no idle charm can remove.” Finding her sorcery useless, she took the princess to consult Merlin, and Merlin told her that by marrying Artegal she would found a race of kings from which would arise “a royal virgin that shall shake the power of Spain.” The two now started in quest of the knight, but in time got separated. Glaucê became “the squire” of Sir Scu´damore, but re-appears (bk. iii. 12) after the combat between Britomart and Artegal, reconciles the combatants, and the princess consents “to be the love of Artegal, and to take him for her lord” (bk. iv. 5, 6).—Spenser, Faëry Queen (1590, 1596).

Glaucus, accomplished young Athenian, whose house in Pompeii is a marvel of beauty and taste. He loves Ione, and is beloved by Nydia, the blind flower-girl. He is rescued from a terrible fate in the ampitheatre by the eruption of Vesuvius, escapes from the city, guided by Nydia, and weds Ione.—E. L. Bulwer, Last Days of Pompeii (1834).

Glaucus, a fisherman of Boæ´tia. He observed that all the fish which he laid on the grass received fresh vigor, and immediately leaped into the sea. This grass had been planted by Kronos, and when Glaucus tasted it, he also leaped into the sea, and became a prophetic marine deity. Once a year he visited all the coasts of Greece, to utter his predictions. Glaucus is the sailors’ patron deity.

Glaucus, son of Hippolytus. Being smothered in a tub of honey, he was restored to life by [a] dragon given him by Escula´pios (probably a medicine so called.)—Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, 23.

94Glaucus, of Chios, inventor of the art of soldering metal. Pausanias, Itinerary of Greece.

A second Glaucus, one who ruins himself by horses. This refers to Glaucus, son of Sis´yphos, who was killed by his horses. Some say he was trampled to death by them, and some that he was eaten by them.

Glauci et Diomēdis permutatio, a very foolish exchange. Homer (Iliad, vi.) tells us that Glaucus changed his golden armor for the iron one of Diomēdês. The French say, C’est le troc de Glaucus et de Diomede. This Glaucus was the grandson of Bellerophon. (In Greek, “Glaukos.”)

Glegg (Mrs.),one of the Dodson sisters in George Eliot’s Mill on the Floss, and the least amiable. When displeased or thwarted she takes to her bed, reads Baxter’s Saints’ Rest, and lives on water-gruel.

Glenallan (Joscelind, dowager countess of), whose funeral takes place by torchlight in the Catholic chapel.

The earl of Glenallan, son of the dowager countess.—Sir W. Scott, The Antiquary (time, George III.).

Glenalvon, heir of Lord Randolph. When young Norval, the son of Lady Randolph, makes his unexpected appearance, Glenalvon sees in him a rival, whom he hates. He pretends to Lord Randolph that the young man is a suitor of Lady Randolph’s, and, having excited the passion of jealousy, contrives to bring his lordship to a place where he witnesses their endearments. A fight ensues, in which Norval slays Glenalvon, but is himself slain by Lord Randolph, who then discovers too late that the supposed suitor was his wife’s son.—Home, Douglas (1757).

Glencoe (2 syl.), the scene of the massacre of M’Ian and thirty-eight of his glenmen, in 1692. All Jacobites were commanded to submit to William III. by the end of December, 1691. M’Ian was detained by a heavy fall of snow, and Sir John Dalrymple, the master of Stair, sent Captain Campbell to make an example of “the rebel.”

⁂ Talfourd has a drama entitled Glencoe, or the Fall of the M’Donalds.

Glendale (Sir Richard), a papist conspirator with Redgauntlet.—Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George III.).

Glendin´ning (Elspeth) or Elspeth Brydone (2 syl.), widow of Simon Glendinning, of the Tower of Glendearg.

Halbert and Edward Glendinning, sons of Elspeth Glendinning.—Sir W. Scott, The Monastery (time, Elizabeth).

Glendinning (Sir Halbert), the knight of Avenel, husband of Lady Mary of Avenel (2 syl.).—Sir W. Scott, The Abbot (time, Elizabeth).

Glendoveer´, plu. Glendoveers, the most beautiful of the good spirits of Hindû mythology.

Glendow´er (Owen), a Welsh nobleman, descended from Llewellyn (last of the Welsh kings). Sir Edmund Mortimer married one of his daughters. Shakespeare makes him a wizard, but very highly accomplished.—Shakespeare, 1 Henry IV. (1597).

Glengar´ry. So M’Donald of Glengarry (who gave in his adhesion to William III.) is generally called.

95Glenpro´sing (The old lady), a neighbor of old Jasper Yellowley.—Sir W. Scott, The Pirate (time, William III.).

Glenthorn (Lord), the hero of Miss Edgeworth’s novel called Ennui. Spoiled by indolence and bad education, he succeeds, by a course of self-discipline, in curing his mental and moral faults, and in becoming a useful member of society (1809).

The history of Lord Glenthorn affords a striking picture of ennui, and contains some excellent delineations of character.—Chambers, English Literature, ii. 569.

Glenvar´loch (Lord), or Nigel Olifaunt, the hero of Scott’s novel called The Fortunes of Nigel (time, James I.).

Glinter, the palace of Foresti “the peace-maker,” son of Balder. It was raised on pillars of gold, and had a silver roof.

Gloria´na, “the greatest glorious queen of Faëry-land.”

By Gloriana I mean [true] Glory in my general intention, but in my particular I conceive the most excellent and glorious person of our sovereign the queen [Elizabeth], and her kingdom is Faerye-land.—Spenser, Introduction to The Faëry Queen (1590).

Glorious John, John Dryden (1631-1701).

Glorious Preacher (The), St. John Chrysostom (i.e. John Goldenmouth, 354-407).

Glory (Old), Sir Francis Burdett (1770-1844).

Glory (Mc Whirk). Irish girl rescued from wretched dependence by a benevolent woman, and made at home in a comfortable dwelling. She has a big, warm heart that yearns over everything helpless and hurt, and, whereas, in her childhood, she mourned over “the good times” she was “not in,” she comes to rejoice constantly in the blessed truth that she is “in” them all.—A.D.T. Whitney, Faith Gartney’s Girlhood (1863).

Glossin (Mr. Gilbert), a lawyer, who purchases the Ellangowan estate, and is convicted by Counsellor Pleydell of kidnapping Henry Bertram, the heir. Both Glossin and Dirk Hatteraick, his accomplice, are sent to prison, and in the night Hatteraick first strangles the lawyer and then hangs himself.—Sir W. Scott, Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

Gloucester (The duke of), brother of Charles II.—Sir W. Scott, Woodstock (time, Commonwealth).

Gloucester (Richard, duke of), in the court of King Edward IV.—Sir W. Scott, Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.)

Gloucester, (The earl of), in the court of King Henry II.—Sir W. Scott, The Betrothed (time, Henry II.).

Glover (Simon), the old glover of Perth, and father of the “fair maid.”

Catharine Glover, “the fair maid of Perth,” daughter of Simon the glover, and subsequently bride of Henry Smith the armorer.—Sir W. Scott, Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.).

Glover (Heins), the betrothed of Trudchen [i.e. Gertrude] Pavillon, daughter of the syndic’s wife.—Sir W. Scott, Quentin Durward (time, Edward IV.).

Glowrowrum (The old lady), a friend of Magnus Troil.—Sir W. Scott, The Pirate (time, William III.).

96Glück, a German musical composer, greatly patronized by Marie Antoinette. Young France set up against him the Italian Piccini. Between 1774 and 1780 every street, coffee-house, school and drawing-room in Paris canvassed the merits of these two composers, not on the score of their respective talents, but as the representatives of the German and Italian schools of music. The partisans of the German school were called Glückists, and those of the Italian school Piccinists.

⁂ A similar contest raged in England between the Bononcinists and Handelists.Handelists. The prince of Wales was the leader of the Handel or German party, and the duke of Marlborough of the Bononcini or Italian school. (See Tweedledum.)

Glumdalca, queen of the giants, captive in the court of King Arthur. The king cast love-glances at her, and made Queen Dollallolla jealous; but the giantess loved Lord Grizzle, and Lord Grizzle loved the Princess Huncamunca, and Huncamunca loved the valiant Tom Thumb.—Tom Thumb, by Fielding the novelist (1730), altered by O’Hara, author of Midas (1778).

Glum-dal´clitch, a girl nine years old “and only forty feet high.” Being such a “little thing,” the charge of Gulliver was committed to her during his sojourn in Brobdingnag.—Swift, Gulliver’s Travels.

Glumms, the male population of the imaginary country Nosmnbdsgrsutt, visited by Peter Wilkins. The Glumms, like the females, called gawreys (q.v.), had wings, which served both for flying and dress—R. Pultock, Peter Wilkins (1750).

Glutton (The), Vitellius, the Roman emperor (born a.d. 15, reigned 69, died 69). Visiting the field after the battle of Bedriac, in Gaul, he exclaimed, “The body of a dead enemy is a delightful perfume.”

⁂ Charles IX. of France, when he went in grand procession to visit the gibbet on which Admiral Coligny was hanging, had the wretched heartlessness to exclaim, in doggerel verse;

Glutton (The), Gabius Apicius, who lived during the reign of Tiberius. He spent £800,000 on the luxuries of the table, and when only £80,000 of his large fortune remained, he hanged himself, thinking death preferable to “starvation on such a miserable pittance.”

Glynn (The Marshes of). Title of a poem by Sidney Lanier, descriptive of a marsh on the Southern coast.

Gna, the messenger of Frigga.—Scandinavian Mythology.

97Goats. The Pleiades are called in Spain The Seven Little Goats.

So it happened that we passed close to the Seven Little Goats.—Cervantes, Don Quixote, II. iii. 5 (1615).

⁂ Sancho Panza affirmed that two of the goats were of a green color, two carnation, two blue, and one motley; “but,” he adds, “no he-goat or cuckold ever passes beyond the horns of the moon.”

Goatsnose, a prophet, born deaf and dumb, who uttered his predictions by signs.—Rabelais, Pantag´ruel, iii. 20 (1545).

Gobbo (Old), the father of Launcelot. He was stone blind.

Launcelot Gobbo, son of Old Gobbo. He left the service of Shylock the Jew for that of Bassa´nio, a Christian. Launcelot Gobbo is one of the famous clowns of Shakespeare.—Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice (1698).

Gob´ilyve (Godfrey), the assumed name of False Report. He is described as a dwarf, with great head, large brows, hollow eyes, crooked nose, hairy cheeks, a pied beard, hanging lips, and black teeth. His neck was short, his shoulders awry, his breast fat, his arms long, his legs “kewed,” and he rode “brigge-a-bragge on a little nag.” He told Sir Graunde Amoure he was wandering over the world to find a virtuous wife, but hitherto without success. Lady Correction met the party, and commanded Gobilyve (3 syl.) to be severely beaten for a lying varlet.—Stephen Hawes, The Passe-tyme of Plesure, xxix., xxxi., xxxii. (1515).

Gobseck, a grasping money-lender, the hero and title of one of Balzac’s novels.

God.

Full of the god, full of wine, partly intoxicated.

God made the country, and man made the town.—Cowper’s Task (“The Sofa”). Varro, in his De Re Rustica, has: “Divina“Divina Natura agros dedit, ars humana ædificavit urbes.”

God sides with the strongest. Napoleon I. said, “Le bon Dieu est toujours du coté des gros bataillons.” Julius Cæsar made the same remark.

Godam, a nickname applied by the French to the English, in allusion to a once popular oath.

Godfrey (de Bouillon), the chosen chief of the allied crusaders, who went to wrest Jerusalem from the hands of the Saracens. He was calm, circumspect, prudent, and brave. Godfrey despised “worldly empire, wealth, and fame.”—Tasso, Jerusalem Delivered (1575).

Godfrey (Sir Edmondbury), a magistrate killed by the papists. He was very active in laying bare their nefarious schemes, and his body was found pierced with his own sword, in 1678.—Sir W. Scott, Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

⁂ Dryden calls Sir Edmondbury “Agag,” and Dr. Titus Otes he calls “Corah.”

Godfrey (Miss), an heiress, daughter of an Indian governor.—Sam. Foote, The Liar (1761).

God´inez (Doctor), a schoolmaster, “the most expert flogger in Oviedo” [Ov.e.a.´do]. 98He taught Gil Blas, and “in six years his worthy pupil understood a little Greek, and was a tolerable Latin scholar.”—Lesage, Gil Blas, i. (1716).

Godi´va or Godgifu, wife of Earl Leofric. The tale is that she begged her husband to remit a certain tax which oppressed the people of Coventry. Leofric said he would do so only on one condition—that she would ride naked through the city at midday. So the lady gave orders that all people should shut up their windows and doors; and she rode naked through the town, and delivered the people from the tax. The tale further says that all the people did as the lady bade them except Peeping Tom, who looked out, and was struck blind.

⁂ This legend is told at length by Drayton in his Polyolbion, xiii. (1613).

Godless Florins, English two-shilling pieces issued by Shiel when master of the mint. He was a Roman Catholic, and left out F.D. (defender of the faith) from the legend. They were issued and called in the same year (1849).

Godmanchester Hogs and Huntingdon Sturgeon.

During a very high flood in the meadows between Huntingdon and Godmanchester, something was seen floating, which the Godmanchester people thought was a black hog, and the Huntingdon folk declared was a sturgeon. When rescued from the waters, it proved to be a young donkey.—Lord Braybrooke (Pepys, Diary, May 22, 1667).

Godmer, a British giant, son of Albion, slain by Canu´tus, one of the companions of Brute.

Goëmot or Goëmagot, a British giant, twelve cubits high, and of such prodigious strength that he could pull up a full-grown oak at one tug. Same as Gogmagog (q.v.).

On a certain day, when Brutus was holding a solemn festival to the gods ... this giant, with twenty more of his companions, came in upon the Britons, among whom he made a dreadful slaughter; but the Britons at last ... killed them every one but Goëmagot ... him Brutus preserved alive, out of a desire to see a combat between the giant and Corineus, who took delight in such encounters.... Corineus carried him to the top of a high rock, and tossed him into the sea.—Geoffrey, British History, i. 16 (1142).

Goëmagot’s Leap, or “Lam Goemagot,” now called Haw, near Plymouth; the place where the giant fell when Corin’eus (3 syl.) tossed him down the craggy rocks, by which he was mangled to pieces.—Geoffrey, British History, i. 16 (1142).

⁂ Southey calls the word Lan-gœ-mā-gog. (See Gogmagog).

Goer´vyl, sister of Prince Madoc, and daughter of Owen, late king of North Wales. She accompanied her brother to America, and formed one of the colony of Caer-madoc, south of the Missouri (twelfth century).—Southey, Madoc (1805).

Goetz von Berlichingen, or Gottfried of the Iron Hand, a famous German burgrave, who lost his right hand at the siege of Landshut. The iron hand which replaced the one he had lost is still shown at Jaxthausen, the place of his birth. Gottfried took a prominent part in the wars of independence against the electors of Brandenberg and Bavaria, in the sixteenth century (1480-1562).

⁂ Goethe has made this the title and subject of an historical drama.

99Goffe (Captain), captain of the pirate vessel.—Sir W. Scott, The Pirate (time, William III.).

Gog, according to Ezek. xxxviii., xxxix., was “prince of Magog”Magog”, (a country or people). Calmet says Camby´sês, king of Persia, is meant; but others think Antiochus Epiph´anês is alluded to.

Gog, in Rev. xx. 7-9, means Antichrist. Gog and Magog, in conjunction, mean all princes of the earth who are enemies of the Christian Church.

⁂ Sale says Gog is a Turkish tribe.—Al Korân, xviii. note.

Gog and Magog. Prester John in his letter to Manuel Comnēnus, emperor of Constantinople, speaks of Gog and Magog as two separate nations tributary to him. These, with thirteen others, he says, are now shut up behind inaccessible mountains, but at the end of the world they will be let loose, and overrun the whole earth.—Albericus Trium Fontium, Chronicles (1242).

Sale tells us that Gog and Magog are called by the Arabs “Yajui” and “Ma-jûj,” which are two nations or tribes descended from Japhet, son of Noah. Gog, according to some authorities, is a Turkish tribe; and Magog is the tribe called “Gilân” by Ptolemy, and “Geli” or “Gelæ” by Strabo.—Al Korân, xviii. note.

Respecting the re-appearance of Gog and Magog, the Korân says: “They [the dead] shall not return ... till Gog and Magog have a passage opened for them, and they [the dead] shall hasten from every high hill,” i.e. the resurrection (ch. xxi.).

Gog and Magog. The two statues of Guildhall so called are in reality the statues of Gogmagog or Goëmagot and Corineus, referred to in the next article. (See also Corineus.) The Albion giant is known by his pole-axe and spiked ball. Two statues so called stood on the same spot in the reign of Henry V.; but those now seen were made by Richard Saunders, in 1708, and are fourteen feet in height.

In Hone’s time, children and country visitors were told that every day, when the giants heard the clock strike twelve, they came down to dinner.—Old and New London, i. 387.

Another tale was that they then fell foul of each other in angry combat.

Gog´magog, king of the Albion giants, eighteen feet in height, killed by Corin in a wrestling match, and flung by him over the Hoe or Haw of Plymouth. For this achievement, Brute gave his follower all that horn of land now called Cornwall, Cor´n[w]all, a contraction of Corinall. The contest is described by Drayton in his Polyolbion, i. (1612).

Cornwall means Cornu Galliæ or Walliæ—the horn of Gallia or Wallia (g and w being convertible letters,)letters,) and Gaul and Wales different forms of the same word.

Gog´magog Hill, the higher of the two hills some three miles south-east of Cambridge. It once belonged to the Balsham Hills, but, “being rude and bearish, regarding neither God nor man,” it was named in reproach Gogmagog. The legend 100is that this Gogmagog Hill was once a huge giant, who fell in love with the nymph Granta, and, meeting her alone, told her all his heart, saying:

but the saucy nymph only mocked the giant, and told his love story to the Muses, and all made him their jest and sport and laughter.—Drayton, Polyolbion, xxi. (1622).

Gold of Tolo´sa (The), ill gains, which never prosper. The reference is to Cæpio, the Roman consul, who, on his march to Gallia Narbonensis, stole from Tolosa (Toulouse) the gold and silver consecrated by the Cimbrian Druids to their gods. He was utterly defeated by the Cimbrians, and some 112,000 Romans were left dead on the field of battle (B.C. 106).

Gold Poured down the Throat. Marcus Licin´ius Crassus, surnamed “The Rich,” one of the first Roman triumvirate, tried to make himself master of Parthia, but being defeated and brought captive to Oro´dês, king of Parthia, he was put to death by having molten gold poured down his throat. “Sate thy greed with this,” said Orodês.

Manlius Nepos Aquilius tried to restore the kings of Bithynia and Cappado´cia, dethroned by Mithridātês, but being unsuccessful and made prisoner, he was put to death by Mithridātês by molten gold poured down his throat.

In hell, the avaricious are punished in the same way, according to the Shephearde’s Calendar.

Gol´demar (King), a house-spirit, sometimes called King Vollmar. He lived three years with Neveling von Hardenberg, on the Hardenstein at the Ruhr, and the chamber in which he lived is still called Vollmar’s chamber. This house-spirit, though sensible to the touch, was invisible. It played beautifully on the harp, talked freely, revealed secrets, and played dice. One day, a person determined to discover its whereabouts, but Goldemar cut him to pieces and cooked the different parts. Never after this was there any trace of the spirit. The roasted fragments disappeared in the Lorrain war in 1651, but the pot in which the man’s head was boiled was built into the kitchen wall of Neveling von Hardenberg, where it remains to this day.—Von Steinen, German Mythology, 477.

Golden Ass (The), a romance in Latin, by Apule´ius (4 syl.). It is the adventures of Lucian, a young man who had been transformed into an ass, but still retained his human consciousness. It tells us the miseries which he suffered at the hands of robbers, eunuchs, magistrates, and so on, till the time came for him to resume his proper form. It is full of wit, racy humor, and rich fancy, and contains the exquisite episode of Cupid and Psy´chê (bks. iv., v., vi.).

101Golden Dragon of Bruges (The), The golden dragon was taken in one of the crusades from the church of St. Sophia, at Constantinople, and placed on the belfry of Bruges, but Philip van Artevelde (2 syl.) transported it to Ghent, where it still adorns the belfry.

Golden Fleece (The), the fleece of the ram which transported Phryxos to Colchis. When Phryxos arrived there, he sacrificed the ram and gave the fleece to King Æētês, who hung it on a sacred oak. It was stolen by Jason, in his “Argonautic expedition.”

The Golden Fleece of the North. Fur and peltry of Siberia is so called.

Golden Gate. The gate of mercy before which one of the ten foolish virgins waits when her companions have returned to their evil courses.

Golden Legend (The), a collection of hagiology, made in the thirteenth century, by James de Voragine, a Dominican. The Legend consists of 177 sections, each of which is devoted to a particular saint or festival, arranged in the order of the calendar.

Golden Mouth, St. Chrysostom (347-407). The name is the Greek chrusos stŏma, “gold mouth.”

Golden Stream (The), Joannes Damascēnus (died 756).

Golden-tongued (The), St. Peter, of Ravenna (433-450). Our equivalent is a free translation of the Greek chrysol´ogos (chrusos logos, “gold discourse”).

Goldfinch (Charles), a vulgar, horse fellow, impudent and insolent in manner, who flirts with Widow Warren, and conspires with her and the Jew Silky to destroy Mr. Warren’s will. By this will the widow was left £600 a year, but the bulk of the property went to Jack Milford, his natural son, and Sophia Freelove, the daughter of Widow Warren by a former marriage. (See Beagle.)

Father was a sugar-baker, grandfather a slop-seller, I’m a gentleman.—Holcroft, The Road to Ruin, ii. 1 (1792).

Goldiebirds (Messrs.), creditors of Sir Arthur Wardour.—Sir W. Scott, The Antiquary (time, George III.).

Gold-mine (The) or Miller of GrenobleGrenoble, a drama by E. Stirling (1854). (For the plot, see Simon.)

Gold-mines (King of the), a powerful, handsome prince, who was just about to marry the Princess All-Fair, when Yellow Dwarf claimed her as his betrothed, and carried her to Steel Castle on a Spanish cat. A good siren gave the betrothed king a diamond sword to secure All-Fair’s deliverance; but after overcoming every obstacle, he was so delighted at seeing her that he dropped his sword. In a moment Yellow Dwarf snatched it up, and stabbed his rival to the heart. The king of the Gold-mines and All-Fair were both changed into two palm trees.—Comtesse D’Aunoy, Fairy Tales (“The Yellow Dwarf,” 1682).

Goldsmith (Oliver).

102Goldsmith (Rev. J.), one of the many pseudonyms adopted by Sir Richard Phillips, in a series of school books. Some other of his false names were the Rev. David Blair, James Adair, Rev. C. Clarke, etc., with noted French names for educational French books.

Gol´thred (Lawrence), mercer, near Cumnor Place.—Sir W. Scott, Kenilworth (time Elizabeth).

Gold´y. Oliver Goldsmith was so-called by Dr. Johnson (1728-1774).

Gol´gotha (“the place of a skull”), a small elevated spot north-west of Jerusalem, where criminals were executed. Used in poetry to signify a battle-field or place of great slaughter.

⁂ In the University of Cambridge, the dons’ gallery in Great St. Mary’s is called “Golgotha” because the heads of the colleges sit there.

Golgotha (The City), Temple Bar, London; so called because the heads of traitors, etc., used at one time to be exposed there after decapitation. This was not done from any notion of punishment, but simply to advertise the fact as a warning to evil-doers. Temple Bar was taken away from the Strand in 1878.

Golightly (Mr.), the fellow who wants to borrow 5s. in Lend me Five Shillings, a farce by J.M. Morton.

Goltho, the friend of Ul´finore (3 syl.). He was in love with Birtha, daughter of Lord As´tragon, the sage; but Birtha loved the Duke Gondibert. The tale being unfinished, the sequel of Goltho is not known.—Sir William Davenant, Gondibert (died 1668).

Gomer or Godmer, a British giant, slain by Canu´tus, one of the companions of Brute. (See Goemot.)

Gomez, a rich banker, 60 years of age, married to Elvi´ra, a young wife. He is mean, covetous, and jealous. Elvira has a liaison with Colonel Lorenzo, which Dominick, her father confessor, aids and abets; but the amour is constantly thwarted, and it turns out that Lorenzo and Elvira are brother and sister.—Dryden, The Spanish Fryar (1680).

Gond´ibert (Duke), of the royal line of Lombardy. Prince Oswald of Verona, out of jealousy, stirs up a faction fight against him, which is limited by agreement to four combatants on each side. Oswald is slain by Gondibert, and Gondibert is cured of his wounds by Lord As´tragon, a philosopher and sage. Rhodalind, the only child of Aribert, king of Lombardy, is in love with Gondibert, and Aribert hopes that he will become his son-in-law and heir, but Gondibert is betrothed to Birtha. One day while walking with his affianced Birtha, a messenger from the king comes post haste to tell him that Aribert had publicly proclaimed him his heir, and that Rhodalind was to be his bride. Gondibert still told Birtha he would remain true to her, and gave her an emerald ring, which would turn pale if his love declined. As the tale was never finished, the sequel cannot be given.—Sir W. Davenant, Gondibert (died 1668).

Gon´eril, eldest daughter of King Lear, 103and wife of the duke of Albany. She treated her aged father with such scant courtesy, that he could not live under her roof; and she induced her sister Regan to follow her example. Subsequently both the sisters fell in love with Edmund, natural son of the earl of Gloucester, whom Regan designed to marry when she became a widow. Goneril, out of jealousy, now poisoned her sister, and “after slew herself.” Her name is proverbial for “filial ingratitude.”—Shakespeare, King Lear (1605).

Gonin, a buffoon of the sixteenth century, who acquired great renown for his clever tricks, and gave rise to the French phrase, Un tour de maître Gonin (“a trick of Master Gonin’s”).

Gonnella, domestic jester to the Margrave Nicolo d’Este, and to his son Borso, duke of Ferrara. The horse he rode on was ossa atque pellis totus, and like Rosinantê, has become proverbial. Gonnella’s jests were printed in 1506.

Gonsalez [Gon.zalley], Fernan Gonsalez or Gonsalvo, a Spanish hero of the tenth century, whose life was twice saved by his wife Sancha. His adventures have given birth to a host of ballads.

(There was a Hernandez Gonsalvo of Cordŏva, called “The great Captain” (1443-1515), to whom some of the ballads refer, and this is the hero of Florian’s historical novel entitled Gonzalve de Cordoue (1791), borrowed from the Spanish romance called The Civil Wars of Granada, by Gines Perez de la Hita).

Gonza´lo, an honest old counsellor of Alonso, King of Naples.—Shakespeare, The Tempest (1609).

Gonzalo, an ambitious but politic lord of Venice.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Laws of Candy (1647.)

Good Earl (The), Archibald, eighth earl of Angus, who died in 1588.

Good Regent (The), James Stuart, earl of Murray, regent of Scotland after the imprisonment of Queen Mary, his half-sister. (Born 1533, regent 1567, assassinated 1570).

Goodfellow (Robin), son of King Oberon. When six years old, he was so mischievous that his mother threatened to whip him, and he ran away; but falling asleep, his father told him he should have anything he wished for, with power to turn himself into any shape, so long as he did harm to none but knaves and queens.

His first exploit was to turn himself into a horse, to punish a churl, whom he conveyed into a great plash of water and left there, laughing, as he flew off “Ho, ho, ho!” He afterwards went to a farm-house, and taking a fancy to a maid, does her work during the night. The maid, watching him, and observing him rather bare of clothes, provides him with garments, which he puts out, laughing “Ho, ho, ho!” He next changes himself into a Will-o-the-wisp, to mislead a party of merry-makers, and having misled them all night, he left them at daybreak, with a “Ho, ho, ho!” At another time, seeing a fellow ill-using a maiden, he changed himself into a hare, ran between his legs, and then growing into a horse, tossed him into a hedge, laughing, “Ho, ho, ho!”—The Mad Pranks and Merry Jests of Robin Goodfellow (1580). (Percy Society, 1841).

Goodfellow (Robin), a general name for any domestic spirit, as imp, urchin, elf, hag, fay, Kit-wi’-the-can´stick, spoorn, man-i’-the-oak, Puck, hobgoblin, Tom-tumbler, bug, bogie, Jack-o’-lantern, Friar’s lantern, Will-o’-the-wisp, Ariel, nixie, kelpie, etc., etc.

104A bigger kind than these German kobolds is that called with us Robin Goodfellows, that would in those superstitioussuperstitious times grind corn for a mess of milk, cut wood, or do any manner of drudgery work.... These have several names ... but we commonly call them Pucks.—Burton, Anatomy of Melancholy, 47.

⁂ The Goodfellows, being very numerous, can hardly be the same as Robin, son of Oberon, but seem to obtain the name because their character was similar, and, indeed, Oberon’s son must be included in the generic name.

Goodman of Ballengeich, the assumed name of James V. of Scotland when he made his disguised visits through the districts round Edinburgh and Stirling.

⁂ Haroun-al-Raschid, Louis XI., Peter “The Great,” etc., made similar visits in disguise, for the sake of obtaining information by personal inspection.

Good´man Grist, the miller, a friend of the smugglers.—Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George III.).

Goodricke (Mr.), a Catholic priest at Middlemas.—Sir W. Scott, The Surgeon’s Daughter (time, George II.).

Goodsire (Johnnie), a weaver, near Charles’s Hope farm.—Sir W. Scott, Guy Mannering (time George II.).

Goodwill, a man who had acquired £10,000 by trade, and wished to give his daughter Lucy in marriage to one of his relations, in order to keep the money in the family: but Lucy would not have any one of the boobies, and made choice instead of a strapping footman. Goodwill had the good sense to approve of the choice.—Fielding, The Virgin Unmasked.

Goody Blake, a poor old woman detected by Harry Gill picking up sticks from his farm-land. The farmer compelled her to leave them, and threatened to punish her for trespass. Goody Blake turned on the lusty yeoman, and said never from the moment should he know the blessing of warmth; and sure enough, neither clothing, fire, nor summer sun ever did make him warm again.

Goody Palsgrave, a name of contempt given to Frederick V., elector palatine. He is also called the “Snow King” and the “Winter King,” because the Protestants made him king of Bohemia in the autumn of 1619, and he was set aside in the autumn of 1620.

Goody Two-shoes, a nursery tale supposed to be by Oliver Goldsmith, written in 1765 for Newbery, the bookseller of St. Paul’s Churchyard.

Goose Gibbie, a half-witted lad, first entrusted to “keep the turkeys,” but afterwards “advanced to the more important office of minding the cows.”—Sir W. Scott, Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).

Goosey Goderich, Frederick Robinson, created viscount Goderich in 1827. So called by Cobbett, for his incapacity as a statesman (premier 1827-1828).

Gor´boduc, Gorbodug, or Gorbogud, a mythical British king, who had two sons (Ferrex and Porrex). Ferrex was driven by his brother out of the kingdom, and on attempting to return with a large 105army, was defeated by him and slain. Soon afterwards, Porrex himself was murdered in his bed by his own mother, Widen, who loved Ferrex the better.—Geoffrey, British History, ii. 16 (1142).

Gorboduc, the first historical play in the language. The first three acts by Thomas Norton, and the last two by Thomas Sackville, afterwards Lord Buckhurst (1562). It is further remarkable as being the father of Iambic ten-syllable blank verse.

Gor´brias, lord-protector of Ibe´ria, and father of King Arba´ces (3 syl.).—Beaumont and Fletcher, A King or No King (1611).

Gor´dius, a Phrygian peasant, chosen by the Phrygians for their king. He consecrated to Jupiter his wagon, and tied the yoke to the draught-tree so artfully that the ends of the cord could not be discovered. A rumor spread abroad that he who untied this knot would be king of Asia, and when Alexander the Great was shown it, he cut it with his sword, saying, “It is thus we loose our knots.”

Gordon (The Rev. Mr.), chaplain in Cromwell’s troop.—Sir W. Scott, Woodstock (time, Commonwealth).

Gordon (Lord George), leader of the “No Popery riots” of 1779. Half mad, but really well-intentioned, he countenanced the most revolting deeds, urged on by his secretary, Gashford. Lord George Gordon died in jail, 1793.—C. Dickens, Barnaby Rudge (1841).

Gordo´nius or Gordon (Bernard), a noted physician of the thirteenth century in the Rouergue (France), author of Lilium Medicinœ, de Morborum prope Omnium Curatione, septem Particulis Distributum (Naples, 1480).

Gor´gibus, an honest, simple-minded citizen of middle life, father of Madelon and uncle of Cathos. The two girls have their heads turned by novels, but are taught by a harmless trick to discern between the easy manners of a gentleman and the vulgar pretentions of a lackey.—Molière, Les Précieuses Ridicules (1659).

Gorgibus, father of Célie. He is a headstrong, unreasonable old man, who tells his daughter that she is forever reading novels, and filling her mind with ridiculous notions about love. “Vous parlez de Dieu bien moins que de Lélie,” he says, and insists on her giving up Lélie for Valère, saying, “S’il ne l’est amant, il le sera mari,” and adds, “L’amour est souvent un fruit du mariage.”

Gor´loïs (3 syl.), said by some to be the father of King Arthur. He was lord of Tintag´il Castle, in Cornwall; his wife was Igrayne (3 syl.) or Igerna, and one of his daughters (Bellicent) was, according to 106some authorities, the wife of Lot, king of Orkney.

⁂ Gorloïs was not the father of Arthur, although his wife (Igrayne or Igerna) was his mother.

Then all the kings asked Merlin, “For what cause is that beardless boy Arthur made king?” “Sirs,” said Merlin, “because he is King Uther’s son, born in wedlock ... More than three hours after the death of Gorlois, did the king wed the fair Igrayne.”—Malory, History of Prince Arthur, i. 2, 6 (1470).

[Uther] was sorry for the death of Gorlois, but rejoiced that Igerna was now at liberty to marry again ... they continued to live together with much affection, and had a son and daughter, whose names were Arthur and Anne.—Geoffrey, British History, iii. 20 (1142).

⁂ It is quite impossible to reconcile the contradictory accounts of Arthur’s sister and Lot’s wife. Tennyson says Bellicent, but the tales compiled by Sir T. Malory all give Margawse. Thus in La Mort d’Arthur, i. 2, we read: “King Lot of Lothan and of Orkeney wedded Margawse [Arthur’s sister]” (pt. i. 36), “whose sons were Gawaine, Agravaine, Gaheris, and Gareth;” but Tennyson says Gareth was “the last tall son of Lot and Bellicent.”

Gosh, the Right Hon. Charles Arbuthnot, the most confidential friend of the duke of Wellington, with whom he lived.

Gosling (Giles), landlord of the Black Bear inn, near Cumnor place.

Cicely Gosling, daughter of Giles.—Sir W. Scott, Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

Gospel Doctor (The), John Wycliffe (1324-1384).

Gospeller (The Hot), Dr. R. Barnes, burnt at Smithfield, 1540.

Gossips (Prince of), Samuel Pepys, noted for his gossiping Diary, commencing January 1, 1659, and continued for nine years (1632-1703).

Goswin, a rich merchant of Bruges, who is in reality Florez, son of Gerrard, king of the beggars. His mistress, Bertha, the supposed daughter of Vandunke, the burgomaster of Bruges, is in reality the daughter of the duke of Brabant.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Beggar’s Bush (1622).

Goths (The last of the), Roderick, the thirty-fourth of the Visigothic line of kings in Spain. He was the son of Cor´dova, who had his eyes put out by Viti´za, the king of the Visigoths, whereupon Roderick rose against Vitiza and dethroned him; but the sons and adherents of Vitiza applied to the Moors, who sent over Tarik with 90,000 men, and Roderick was slain at the battle of Xerres, A.D. 711.

⁂ Southey has an epic poem called Roderick, the Last of the Goths. He makes “Rusilla” to be the mother of Roderick.

Gothland or Gottland, an island called “The eye of the Baltic.” Geoffrey of Monmouth says that when King Arthur had added Ireland to his dominions, he sailed to Iceland, which he subdued, and then both “Doldavius, king of Gothland, and Gunfasius, king of the Orkneys, voluntarily became his tributaries.”—British History, ix. 10 (1142).

Gottlieb [Got.leeb], a cottage farmer, 107with whom Prince Henry of Hoheneck went to live after he was struck with leprosy. The cottager’s daughter Elsie volunteered to sacrifice her life for the cure of the prince, and was ultimately married to him.—Hartmann von der Aue, Poor Henry (twelfth century); Longfellow, Golden Legend.

Gour´lay (Ailsie), a privileged fool or jester.—Sir W. Scott, The Antiquary (time, George III.).

Gourlay (Ailsie), an old sibyl at the death of Alice Gray.—Sir W. Scott, Bride of Lammermoor (time, William III.).

Gourmaz (Don), a national portrait of the Spanish nobility.—Pierre Corneille, The Cid (1636).

The character of Don Gourmaz, for its very excellence, drew down the censure of the French Academy.—Sir W. Scott, The Drama.

Go´vernale (3 syl.), first the tutor and then the attendant of Sir Tristram de Lionês.

Gow (Old Niell), the fiddler.

Nathaniel Grow, son of the fiddler.—Sir W. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well (time, George III.).

Gow (Henry) or Henry Smith, also called “Gow Chrom” and “Hal of the Wynd,” the armorer. Suitor of Catharine Glover “the fair maid of Perth,” whom he marries.—Sir W. Scott, Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.).

Gowk-thrapple (Maister), a covenanting preacher.—Sir W. Scott, Waverley (time, George II.).

A man of coarse, mechanical, perhaps rather intrinsically feeble intellect, with the vehemence of some pulpit-drumming Gowk-thrapple.—Carlyle.

Graaf (Count), was a great speculator in corn. One year a sad famine prevailed, and he expected, like Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to make an enormous fortune by his speculation, but an army of rats, pressed by hunger, invaded his barns, and then swarming into the castle, fell on the old baron, worried him to death, and then devoured him. (See Hatto).

Graal (Saint) or St. Greal, is generally said to be the vessel or platter used by Christ at the last supper, in which Joseph of Arimathea caught the blood of the crucified Christ. In all descriptions of it in the Arthurian romances, it is simply the visible “presence” of Christ, or realization of the Catholic idea that the wafer, after consecration, is changed into the very body of the Saviour, and when Sir Galahad “achieved the quest of the Holy Graal,” all that is meant is that he saw with his bodily eyes the visible Saviour into which the holy wafer had been transmuted.

Then the bishop took a wafer, which was made in the likeness of bread, and at the lifting up [the elevation of the host] there came a figure in the likeness of a child, and the visage was as red and as bright as fire, and he smote himself into that bread: so they saw that the bread was formed of a fleshly man, and then he put it into the holy vessel again ... then [the bishop] took the holy vessel and came to Sir Galahad as he kneeled down, and there he received his Saviour.—Pt. iii. 101, 102.

King Pelles and Sir Launcelot caught a sight of the St. Graal; but did not “achieve it,” like Galahad.

When they went into the castle to take their repast ... there came a dove to the window, and in his bill was a little censer of gold, and there withall was such a savor as if all the spicery of the world had been there ... and a damsel, passing fair, bare a vessel of gold between her hands, and thereto the king kneeled devoutly and said his prayers ... “Oh mercy!” 108said Sir Launcelot, “what may this mean?”... “This,” said the king, “is the holy Sancgreall which ye have seen.”—Pt. iii. 2.

When Sir Bors de Ganis went to Corbin, and saw Galahad, the son of Sir Launcelot, he prayed that the boy might prove as good a knight as his father, and instantly the white dove came with the golden censer, and the damsel bearing the Sancgraal, and told Sir Bors that Galahad would prove a better knight than his father, and would “achieve the Sancgreall;” then both dove and damsel vanished.—Pt. iii. 4.

Sir Percival, the son of Sir Pellinore, king of Wales, after his combat with Sir Ector de Maris (brother of Sir Launcelot), caught a sight of the Holy Graal, and both were cured of their wounds thereby. Like Sir Bors, he was with Sir Galahad when the quest was achieved (pt. iii. 14). Sir Launcelot was also miraculously cured in the same way (pt. iii. 18).

King Arthur, the queen, and all the 150 knights saw the Holy Graal as they sat at supper when Galahad was received into the fellowship of the Round Table:

First they heard a crackling and crying of thunder ... and in the midst of the blast entered a sun-beam more clear by seven times than ever they saw day, and all were lighted of the grace of the Holy Ghost ... then there entered the hall the Holy Greal [consecrated bread] covered with white samite; but none might see it, nor who bare it ... and when the Holy Greal had been borne thro’ the hall, the vessel suddenly departed.—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, iii. 35 (1470).

⁂ The chief romances of the St. Graal are: Parceval le Gallois, by Chrétien de Troyes, in verse, and Roman des Diverses Quêtes de St. Graal, by Walter Mapes, in prose, both written in the latter part of the twelfth century; Titurel, or the Guardian of the Holy Graal, by Wolfram von Eschenbach; the Romance of Parzival, by the same—partly founded upon the poem of Chrétien—and the Life of Joseph of Arimathēa, by Robert de Borron, all belonging to the early part of the thirteenth century; The Holy Grail, by Tennyson.

Gracchi (The). Caius and Tiberius Gracchus, sons of the Roman matron, Cornelia, and leaders of the populace in several revolutions.

Grace (Lady), a sister of Lady Townly, and the engaged wife of Mr. Manly. The very opposite of a lady of fashion. She says:

“In summer I could pass my leisure hours in reading, walking, ... or sitting under a green tree: in dressing, dining, chatting with an agreeable friend; perhaps hearing a little music, taking a dish of tea, or a game at cards; managing my family, looking into its accounts, playing with my children ... or in a thousand other innocent amusements.”—Vanbrugh and Cibber, The Provoked Husband, iii. (1728).

“No person,” says George Colman, “has ever more successfully performed the elegant levities of ‘Lady Townly’ upon the stage, or more happily practiced the amiable virtues of ‘Lady Grace’ in the circles of society, than Miss Farren (the countess of Dirby, 1759-1829).”

Grace-be-here Humgudgeon, a corporal in Cromwell’s troop.—Sir W. Scott, Woodstock (time, Commonwealth).

Grace (Rev. Paul), mild, nervous little Oxonian curate who yet does good parish-work among colliers and peasants.—Frances Hodgson Burnett, That Lass o’ Lowrie’s, (1877).

Grace Pelham, accomplished and good daughter of the Colonel who plays a prominent part in the army novels of Captain Charles King.—Charles King, U.S.A., The Colonel’s Daughter.

109Gracio´sa, a lovely princess, who is the object of a step-mother’s most implacable hatred. The step-mother’s name is Grognon, and the tale shows how all her malicious plots are thwarted by Percinet, a fairy prince, in love with Graciosa.

Gracio´so, the licensed fool of Spanish drama. He has his coxcomb and truncheon, and mingles with the actors without aiding or abetting the plot. Sometimes he transfers his gibes from the actors to the audience, like our circus clowns.

Gradas´so, king of Serica´na, “bravest of the pagan knights.” He went against Charlemagne with 100,000 vassals in his train, “all discrowned kings,” who never addressed him but on their knees.—Bojardo, Orlando Innamorato (1495); Ariosto, Orlando Furioso (1516).

Grad´grind (Thomas), a man of facts and realities. Everything about him is square; his forehead is square, and so is his fore-finger, with which he emphasizes all he says. Formerly he was in the wholesale hardware line. In his greatness he becomes M.P. for Coketown, and he lives at Stone Lodge, a mile or so from town. He prides himself on being eminently practical; and though not a bad man at heart, he blights his children by his hard, practical way of bringing them up.

Mrs. Gradgrind, wife of Thomas Gradgrind. A little thin woman, always taking physic, without receiving from it any benefit. She looks like an indifferently executed transparency without light enough behind the figure. She is always complaining, always peevish, and dies soon after the marriage of her daughter Louisa.

Tom Gradgrind, son of the above, a sullen young man, much loved by his sister, and holding an office in the bank of his brother-in-law, Josiah Bounderby. Tom robs the bank, and throws suspicion on Stephen Blackpool, one of the hands in Bounderby’s factory. When found out, Tom takes refuge in the circus of the town, disguised as a black servant, till he effects his escape from England.

Louisa Gradgrind, eldest daughter of Thomas Gradgrind, M.P. She marries Josiah Bounderby, banker and mill-owner. Louisa has been so hardened by her bringing up, that she appears cold and indifferent to everything, but she dearly loves her brother Tom.—C. Dickens, Hard Times, (1854).

Græme (Roland), heir of Avenel (2 syl.). He first appears as page to the lady of Avenel, then as page to Mary Queen of Scots.

Magdalen Græme, dame of Heathergill, grandmother of Roland Græme. She appears to Roland disguised as Mother Nicneven, an old witch at Kinross.—Sir W. Scott, The Abbott (time Elizabeth).

Græme (William), the red riever [free-booter] at Westburnflat.—Sir W. Scott, The Black Dwarf (time, Anne).

Grævius or J.G. Græfe of Saxony, editor of several of the Latin classics (1632-1703).

Believe me, lady, I have more satisfaction in beholding you than I should have in conversing with Grævius and Gronovius.—Mrs. Cowley, Who’s the Dupe? i. 3.

(Abraham Gronovius was a famous philologist, 1694-1775.)

Gra´hame (Colonel John), of Claverhouse, in the royal army under the duke 110of Monmouth. Afterwards viscount of Dundee.

Cornet Richard Grahame, the colonel’s nephew, in the same army.—Sir W. Scott, Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).

Grahams, nicknamed “Of the Hen.” The reference is this: The Grahams, having provided for a great marriage feast, found that a raid had been made upon their poultry by Donald of the Hammer (q.v.). They went in pursuit, and a combat took place; but as the fight was for “cocks and hens,” it obtained for the Grahams the nickname of Gramoch an Garrigh.

Gram, Siegfried’s sword.

Grammarians (Prince of), Apollonios, of Alexandria. Priscian called him Grammaticorum Princeps (second century B.C.)

Grammont (The Count of). He promised marriage to la belle Hamilton, but left England without performing the promise; whereupon the brothers followed him and asked him if he had not forgotten something. “True, true,” said the count, “excuse my short memory;” and returning with the brothers, he made the young lady countess of Grammont.

Grand Jument, meant for Diana, of Poitiers.—Rabelais, Gargantua and Pantagruel.

Grand Monarque [mo.nark´], Louis XIV. (1638, 1643-1715).

Grandison, (Sir Charles), the hero of a novel by S. Richardson, entitled The History of Sir Charles Grandison. Sir Charles is the beau ideal of a perfect hero, the union of a good Christian and perfect English gentleman; but such a “faultless monster the world ne’er saw.” Richardson’s ideal of this character was Robert Nelson, reputed author of the Whole Duty of Man (1753).

Like the old lady mentioned by Sir Walter Scott, who chose Sir Charles Grandison because she could go to sleep for half an hour at any time during its reading, and still find the personages just where she left them, conversing in the cedar parlor.—Encyc. Brit., Art. “Romance.”

Grandison is the English Emile, but an Emile completely instructed. His discourses are continual precepts, and his actions are examples. Miss Byron is the object of his affection.—Editor of Arabian Nights Continued, iv. 72.

Grandmother. Lord Byron calls the British Review “My Grandmother’s Review,” and jestingly says he purchased its favorable criticism of Don Juan.

Grane (2 syl.), Siegfried’s horse, whose speed outstripped the wind.

Grane´angowl (Rev. Mr.), chaplain to Sir Duncan Campbell, at Ardenvohr Castle.—Sir W. Scott, Legend of Montrose (time Charles I.).

Granger (Captain), in love with Elizabeth Doiley, daughter of a retired slop-seller. The old father resolves to give her to the best scholar, himself being judge. Gradus, an Oxford pedant, quotes two lines of Greek, in which the word panta occurs four times. “Pantry!” cries old Doiley; “no, no; you can’t persuade me that’s Greek.” The captain talks of “refulgent 111scintillations in the ambient void opake; crysalic spheroids, and astifarous constellations;” and when Gradus says, “It is a rant in English,” the old man boils with indignation. “Zounds!” says he; “d’ye take me for a fool? D’ye think I don’t know my own mother tongue? ’Twas no more like English than I am like Whittington’s cat!” and he drives off Gradus as a vile impostor.—Mrs. Cowley, Who’s the Dupe?

Granger. (See Edith.)

Grangousier, father of Gargantua, “a good sort of a fellow in his younger days, and a notable jester. He loved to drink neat, and would eat salt meat” (bk. i. 3). He married Gargamelle (3 syl.) daughter of the king of the Parpaillons, and had a son named Gargantua.—Rabelais, Gargantua, i. 3 (1533).

⁂ “Grangousier” is meant for John d’Albret, king of Navarre; “Gargamelle” for Catherine de Foix, queen of Navarre; and “Gargantua” for Henri d’Albert, king of Navarre. Some fancy that “Grangousier” is meant for Louis XII., but this cannot be, inasmuch as he is distinctly called a “heretic for declaiming against the saints” (ch. xlv.).

Grantam (Miss), a friend of Miss Godfrey, engaged to Sir James Elliot.—Sam. Foote, The Liar (1761).

Grant´mesnil (Sir Hugh de), one of the knights challengers at the tournament.—Sir W. Scott, Ivanhoe (time, Richard I.).

Grantorto, the personification of rebellion in general, and of the evil genius of the Irish rebellion of 1580 in particular. Grantorto is represented as a huge giant, who withheld from Irēna [i.e. Iernê or Ireland] her inheritance. Sir Artĕgal [Arthur, Lord Grey of Wilton], being sent to destroy him, challenged him to single combat, and having felled him to the earth with his sword Chrysa´or, “reft off his head to ease him of his pain.”—Spenser, Faëry Queen, v. 12 (1596).

Grass (Cronos), a grass which gives those who taste it an irresistible desire for the sea. Glaucus, the Bœo´tian fisherman, observed that all the fishes which he laid on the grass instantly leaped back into the water, whereupon he also tasted the grass, and was seized with the same irresistible desire. Leaping into the sea, he became a minor sea-god, with the gift of prophecy.

Gra´tian (Father), the begging friar at John Mengs’s inn at Kirchhoff.—Sir W. Scott, Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).

Gratia´no, one of Antonio’s friends. He “talked an infinite deal of nothing, more than any man in all Venice.” Gratiano married Nerissa, the waiting-gentlewoman of Portia.—Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice (1598).

Gratiano, brother of Brabantio, and uncle of Desdemona.—Shakespeare, Othello (1611).

Graunde Amoure (Sir), walking in a meadow, was told by Fame of a beautiful lady named La belle Pucell, who resided in the Tower of Musyke. He was then conducted by Gouvernance and Grace to the Tower of Doctrine, where he received instruction from the seven Sciences:—Gramer, Logyke, Rethorike, Arismetricke, Musyke, Geometry, and Astronomy. In the Tower of Musyke he met La belle 112Pucell, with whom he fell in love, but they parted for a time. Graunde Amoure went to the Tower of Chivalry to perfect himself in the arts of knighthood, and there he received his degree from King Melyz´yus. He then started on his adventures, and soon encountered False Report, who joined him and told him many a lying tale; but Lady Correction, coming up, had False Report soundly beaten, and the knight was entertained at her castle. Next day he left, and came to a wall where hung a shield and horn. On blowing the horn, a three-headed monster came forth, with whom he fought, and cut off the three heads, called, Falsehood, Imagination, and Perjury. He passed the night in the house of Lady Comfort, who attended to his wounds; and next day he slew a giant fifteen feet high and with seven heads. Lastly, he slew the monster Malyce, made by enchantment of seven metals. His achievements over, he married La belle Pucell, and lived happily till he was arrested by Age, having for companions Policye and Avarice. Death came at last to carry him off, and Remembrance wrote his epitaph.—Stephen Hawes, The Passe-tyme of Plesure (1515).

Graunde Amoure’s Steed, Galantyse, the gift of King Melyz´yus when he conferred on him the degree of knighthood.

Graunde Armoure’s sword, Clare Prudence.

Grave´airs (Lady), a lady of very dubious virtue, in The Careless Husband, by Colley Cibber (1704).

Mrs. Hamilton [1730-1788], upon her entrance, was saluted with a storm of hisses, and advancing to the footlights said, “Gemmen and ladies, I s’pose as how you hiss me because I wouldn’t play ‘Lady Graveairs’ last night at Mrs. Bellamy’s benefit. I would have done so, but she said as how my audience stunk, and were all tripe people.” The pit roared with laughter, and the whole house shouted “Mrs. Tripe!” a title which the fair speechifier retained ever after.—Memoir of Mrs. Hamilton (1803.)

Gray, (Old Alice), a former tenant of the Ravenswood family.—Sir W. Scott, Bride of Lammermoor (time, William III.).

Gray (Dr. Gideon), the surgeon at Middlemas.

Mrs. Gray, the surgeon’s wife.

Menie Gray, the “surgeon’s daughter,” taken to India and given to Tippoo Saib as an addition to his harem, but, being rescued by Hyder Ali, was restored to Hartley; after which she returned to her country.—Sir W. Scott, The Surgeon’s Daughter (time, George II.).

Gray (Daniel). A Christian of the olden type; Puritan by ancestry, rigid in creed, austere in manner. Supposed to be a portrait of the author’s father.

Yet so true of heart and faithful in duty to God and man that—

Gray (Duncan) wooed a young lass called Maggie, but as Duncan looked asklent, Maggie “coost her head” and bade 113Duncan behave himself. “Duncan fleeched, and Duncan prayed,” but Meg was deaf to his pleadings; so Duncan took himself off in dudgeon. This was more than Maggie meant, so she fell sick and like to die. As Duncan “could na be her death,” he came forward manfully again, and then “they were crouse [merry] and canty bath. Ha, ha! the wooing o’t.”—R. Burns, Duncan Gray (1792).

Gray (Mary), daughter of a country gentleman of Perth. When the plague broke out in 1668, Mary Gray and her friend Bessy Bell retired to an unfrequented spot called Burn Braes, where they lived in a secluded cottage and saw no one. A young gentleman brought them food, but he caught the plague, communicated it to the two ladies, and all three died.—Allan Ramsay, Bessy Bell and Mary Gray.

Gray (Auld Robin). Jennie, a Scotch lass, was loved by young Jamie; “but saving a crown, he had naething else besides.” To make that crown a pound, young Jamie went to sea, and both were to be for Jennie. He had not been gone many days when Jennie’s mother fell sick, her father broke his arm, and their cow was stolen; then auld Robin came forward and maintained them both. Auld Robin loved the lass, and “wi’ tears in his ’ee,” said, “Jennie, for their sakes, oh, marry me!” Jennie’s heart said “nay,” for she looked for Jamie back; but her father urged her, and the mother pleaded with her eye, and so she consented. They had not been married above a month when Jamie returned. They met; she gave him one kiss, and though she “gang like a ghaist,” she made up her mind, like a brave good lassie, to be a gude wife, for auld Robin was very kind to her (1772).

This ballad was composed by Lady Anne Lindsay, daughter of the earl of Balcarres (afterwards Lady Barnard). It was written to an old Scotch tune called The Bridegroom Grat when the Sun went down. Auld Robin Gray was her father’s herdsman. When Lady Anne was writing the ballad, and was piling distress on Jennie, she told her sister that she had sent Jamie to sea, made the mother sick, and broken the father’s arm, but wanted a fourth calamity. “Steal the cow, sister Anne,” said the little Elizabeth; and so “the cow was stolen awa’,” and the song completed.

Grayson (Mrs.). Brave wife who, weaponless and alone, when an Indian tries to enter the block-house by an upper window, clamps his wrist to the window sill in such a way that, as his foot slips, he is suspended by it. He hangs thus for a moment, and the wrist breaks. She lets him go, and he falls to ground without.—William Gilmore Simms, The Yemassee (1835).

Graysteel, the sword of Kol, fatal to its owner. It passed into several hands, and always brought ill-luck with it.—Icelandic Edda.

Gray Swan. Ship in which a sailor-boy sails away, not to return for twenty years, when he comes back to his mother and incites her to defence of the missing son by feigning to blame him for his twenty years’ silence. Her spirited vindication of her darling causes him to discover himself to her.—Alice Cary, Poems (1876).

Great Captain (The), Gonsalvo de Cor´dova, el Gran Capitan (1453-1515).

Manuel I. [Comnēnus], emperor of Trebizond, is so called also (1120, 1143-1180).

114Great Cham of Literature, Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-1784).

Great Commoner (The), William Pitt (1759-1806).

Great Dauphin (The), Louis, the son of Louis XIV. (1661-1711).

⁂ The “Little Dauphin” was the duke of Bourgoyne, son of the Great or Grand Dauphin. Both died before Louis XIV.

Great Duke (The), the duke of Wellington (1769-1852).

Great-Head or Canmore, Malcolm III. of Scotland (* 1057-1093).

Great Heart. The valiant guide reappears in George Wood’s satire. Modern Pilgrims, published in 1855.

Great-heart (Mr.), the guide of Christiana and her family to the Celestial City. Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress, ii. (1685).

Great Magician (The) or The Great Magician of the North, Sir Walter Scott. So called by Professor John Wilson (1771-1832).

Great Marquis (The), James Graham, marquis of Montrose (1612-1650).

Great Marquis (The), Dom Sebastiano Jose de Carvalho, Marquis de Pombal, greatest of all the Portuguese statesmenstatesmen (1699-1782).

Great Moralist (The), Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-1784).

Great Unknown (The), Sir Walter Scott, who published his Waverley Novels anonymously (1771-1832).

Great Unwashed (The). The artisan class were first so called by Sir W. Scott.

Greaves (Sir LauncelotLauncelot), a well-bred young English squire of the George II. period; handsome, virtuous, and enlightened, but crack-brained. He sets out, attended by an old sea-captain, to detect fraud and treason, abase insolence, mortify pride, discourage slander, disgrace immodesty, and punish ingratitude. Sir Launcelot, in fact, is a modern Don Quixote, and Captain Crow is his Sancho Panza. T. Smollet, The Adventures of Sir Launcelot Greaves (1760).

Smollett became editor of the Critical Review, and an attack in that journal on Admiral Knowles led to a trial for libel. The author was sentenced to pay a fine of £100, and suffer three months imprisonment. He consoled himself in prison by writing his novel of Launcelot Greaves.—Chambers, English Literature, ii. 65.

Grecian Daughter (The), Euphrasia, daughter of Evander, a Greek who dethroned Dionysius the Elder, and became king of Syracuse. In his old age he was himself dethroned by Dionysius the Younger, and confined in a dungeon in a rock, where he was saved from starvation by his daughter, who fed him with “the milk designed for her own babe.” Timoleon having made himself master of Syracuse, Dionysius accidentally encountered Evander, his prisoner, and was about to 115kill him, when Euphrasia rushed forward and stabbed the tyranttyrant to the heart.—A. Murphy, The Grecian Daughter (1772).

⁂ As an historical drama, this plot is much the same as if the writer had said that James I. (of England) abdicated and retired to St. Germain, and when his son James II. succeeded to the crown, he was beheaded at White hall; for Murphy makes Dionysius the Elder to have been dethroned, and going to Corinth to live (act i.), and Dionysius the Younger to have been slain by the dagger of Euphrasia; whereas Dionysius the Elder never was dethroned, but died in Syracuse at the age of 63; and Dionysius the Younger was not slain in Syracuse, but being dethroned, went to Corinth, where he lived and died in exile.

Greedy (Justice), thin as a thread paper, always eating and always hungry. He says to Sir Giles Overreach (act iii. 1), “Oh, I do much honor a chine of beef! Oh, I do reverence a loin of veal!” As a justice, he is most venial—the promise of a turkey will buy him, but the promise of a haunch of venisonvenison will out-buy him.—Massinger, A New Way to Pay Old Debts (1628).

Greek Church (Fathers of the): Eusebius, Athana´sius, Basil “the great,” Gregory Nazianze´nus, Gregory of Nyssa, Cyril of Jerusalem, Chrys´ostom, Epipha´nius, Cyril of Alexandria, and Ephraim, deacon of Edessa.

Greeks (Last of the) Philopœ´men of Megalop´olis, whose great object was to infuse into the Achæans a military spirit, and establish their independence (B.C. 252-183).

Greeks joined Greeks. Clytus said to Alexander that Philip was the greater warrior:

⁂ Slightly altered into When Greek meets Greek, then comes the tug of war. This line of Nathaniel Lee has become a household phrase.

To play the Greek, to act like a harlot. When Cressid says of Helen, “Then she’s a merry Greek indeed,” she means that Helen is no better than a fille publique. Probably Shakespeare had his eye upon “fair Hiren,” in Peel’s play called The Turkish Mahomet and Hyren the Fair Greek. “A fair Greek” was at one time a euphemism for a courtezan.

Green (Mr. Paddington), clerk at Somerset House.

Mrs. Paddington Green, his wife.—T.M. Morton, If I had a Thousand a Year.

Green (Verdant), a young man of infinite simplicity, who goes to college, and is played upon by all the practical jokers of alma mater. After he has bought his knowledge by experience, the butt becomes the “butter” of juveniles greener than himself. Verdant Green wore spectacles, which won for him the nickname of “Gig-lamps.”—Cuthbert Bede [Rev. Edw. Bradley], Verdant Green (1860).

Green (Widow), a rich, buxom dame of 40, who married first for money, and intended to choose her second husband “to please her vanity.” She fancied Waller loved her, and meant to make her his wife, but Sir William Fondlove 116was her adorer. When the politic widow discovered that Waller had fixed his love on another, she gave her hand to the old beau, Sir William; for if the news got wind of her love for Waller, she would become the laughing-stock of all her friends.—S. Knowles, The Love-Chase (1837).

Green Bird (The), a bird that told one everything it was asked. An oracular bird, obtained by Fairstar after the failure of Cherry and her two brothers. It was this bird who revealed to the king that Fairstar was his daughter and Cherry his nephew. Comtesse D’Aunoy, Fairy Tales (“Fairstar and Prince Cherry,” 1682).

Green Horse (The), the 5th Dragoon Guards (not the 5th Dragoons). So called from their green velvet facings.

Green Howard, (The), the 19th Foot. So called from the Hon. Charles Howard, their colonel from 1738 to 1748.

Green Knight (The), Sir Pertolope (3 syl.), called by Tennyson “Evening Star” or “Hesperus.” He was one of the four brothers who kept the passages of Castle Perilous, and was overthrown by Sir Gareth.—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, i. 127 (1470); Tennyson, Idylls (“Gareth and Lynette”).

⁂ Tennyson in his “Gareth and Lynette” chooses to call the Green Knight “Evening Star,” and the Blue Knight “Morning Star.” In the old romance the combat with the “Green Knight” was at dawn, and with the “Blue Knight” at sunset.—See Notes and Queries (February 16, 1878).

Green Knight (The), a pagan knight, who demanded Fezon in marriage, but being overcome by Orson, was obliged to resign his claim.—Valentine and Orson (fifteenth century).

Green Linnets, the 39th Foot. Their facings are green.

Green Man (The). The man who used to let off fireworks was so called in the reign of James I.

Have you any squibs, any green man in your shows?—John Kirke [R. Johnson], The Seven Champions of Christendom (1617).

Green Man (The), a gentleman’s gamekeeper, at one time clad in green.

Greenhalgh, messenger of the earl of Derby.—Sir W. Scott, Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Greenhorn (Mr. Gilbert), an attorney, in partnership with Mr. Gabriel Grinderson.

Mr. Gernigo Greenhorn, father of Mr. Gilbert.—Sir W. Scott, The Antiquary (time, George III.).

Greenleaf (Gilbert), the old archer at Douglas Castle.—Sir W. Scott, Castle Dangerous (time, Henry I.).

Gregory, a faggot-maker of good education, first at a charity school, then as waiter on an Oxford student, and then as the fag of a travelling physician. When compelled to act the doctor, he says the disease of his patient arises from “propria quæ maribus tribuuntur mascula dicas, ut sunt divorum, Mars, Bacchus, Apollo, virorum.” And when Sir Jasper says, “I always thought till now that the heart is on the left side and the liver on the 117right,” he replies, “Ay, sir, so they were formerly, but we have changed all that.” In Molière’s comedy, Le Médecin Malgré Lui, Gregory is called “Sganarelle,” and all these jokes are in act ii. 6.—Henry Fielding, The Mock Doctor.

Gregory, father and son, hangmen in the seventeenth century. In the time of the Gregorys, hangmen were termed “esquires.” In France, executioners were termed “monsieur,” even to the breaking out of the Revolution.

Gregson (Widow), Darsie Latimer’s landlady at Shepherd’s Bush.—Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George III.).

Gregson (Gilbert), the messenger of Father Buonaventura.—Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George III.).

Gre´mio, an old man who wishes to marry Bianca, but the lady prefers Lucentio, a young man.—Shakespeare, Taming of the Shrew (1594).

Grendel, the monster from which Beowulf delivered Hrothgar, king of Denmark. It was half monster, half man, whose haunt was the marshes among “a monster race.” Night after night it crept stealthily into the palace called Heorot, and slew sometimes as many as thirty of the inmates. At length Beowulf, at the head of a mixed band of warriors, went against it and slew it.—Beowulf, an Anglo-Saxon epic (sixth century).

Grenville (Sir Richard), the commander of The Revenge, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Out of his crew, ninety were sick on shore, and only a hundred able-bodied men remained on board. The Revenge was one of the six ships under the command of Lord Thomas Howard. While cruising near the Azores, a Spanish fleet of fifty-three ships made towards the English, and Lord Howard sheered off, saying, “My ships are out of gear, and how can six ships-of-the-line fight with fifty-three?” Sir Richard Grenville, however, resolved to stay and encounter the foe, and “ship after ship the whole night long drew back with her dead; some were sunk, more were shattered;” and the brave hundred still fought on. Sir Richard was wounded and his ship riddled, but his cry was still “Fight on!” When resistance was no longer possible, he cried, “Sink the ship, master gunner! sink her! Split her in twain, nor let her fall into the hands of the foe!” But the Spaniards boarded her and praised Sir Richard for his heroic daring. “I have done my duty for my queen and faith,” he said, and died. The Spaniards sent the prize home, but a tempest came on, and The Revenge, shot-shattered, “went down, to be lost evermore in the main.”—Tennyson, The Revenge, a ballad of the fleet (1878).

Froude has an essay on the subject. Canon Kingsley, in Westward Ho! has drawn Sir Richard Grenville, and alludes to the fight. Arber published three small volumes on Sir Richard’s noble exploit. Gervase Markham has a long poem on the subject. Sir Walter Raleigh says: “If Lord Howard had stood to his guns, the Spanish fleet would have been annihilated.” Probably Browning’s Hervé Riel was present to the mind of Tennyson when he wrote the ballad of The Revenge.

Gresham and the Pearl. When Queen Elizabeth visited the Exchange, Sir Thomas Gresham pledged her health in a cup of wine containing a precious stone crushed to atoms, and worth £15,000.

⁂ It is devoutly to be hoped that Sir Thomas was above such absurd vanity. Very well for Queen Cleopatra, but more than ridiculous in such an imitation.

Gresham and the Grasshopper. There is a vulgar tradition that Sir Thomas Gresham was a foundling, and that the old beldame who brought him up was attracted to the spot where she found him, by the loud chirping of a grasshopper.

⁂ This tale arose from the grasshopper, which forms the crest of Sir Thomas.

To Sup with Sir Thomas Gresham, to have no supper. Similarly, “to dine with Duke Humphrey,” is to have nowhere to dine. The Royal Exchange was at one time a common lounging-place for idlers.

Gretchen. Viragoish wife of Rip Van Winkle, in Washington Irving’s story of that name.

Gretchen, a German diminutive of Margaret; the heroine of Goethe’s Faust. Faust meets her on her return from church, falls in love with her, and at last seduces her. Overcome with shame, Gretchen destroys the infant to which she gives birth, and is condemned to death. Faust attempts to save her; and, gaining admission to the dungeon, finds her huddled on a bed of straw, singing wild snatches of ballads, quite insane. He tries to induce her to flee with him, but in vain. At daybreak Gretchen dies, and Faust is taken away.

Gretchen is a perfect union of homeliness and simplicity, though her love is strong as death; yet is she a human woman throughout, and never a mere abstraction. No other character ever drawn takes so strong a hold on the heart.

Greth´el (Gammer), the hypothetical narrator of the tales edited by the brothers Grimm.

⁂ Said to be Frau Viehmänin, wife of a peasant in the suburbs of Hessê Cassel, from whose mouth the brothers transcribed the tales.

Grey (Lady Jane), a tragedy by N. Rowe, (1715).

In French, Laplace (1745), Mde. de Staël (1800), Ch. Brifaut (1812), and Alexandre Soumet (1844), produced tragedies on the same subject. Paul Delaroche has a fine picture called “Le Supplice de Jane Grey” (1835).

Gribouille, the wiseacre who threw himself into a river that his clothes might not get wetted by the rain.—A French Proverbial Saying.

Gride (Arthur), a mean old usurer, who wished to marry Madeline Bray, but Madeline loved Nicholas Nickleby, and married him. Gride was murdered.—C. Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby (1838).

Grier (Mrs.), straight-laced pietist, who says “if she didn’t think the heathen would be lost she wouldn’t see the use of the plan of salvation.”—Margaret Deland, John Ward, Preacher.

Grieux (le chevalier de), the hero of a 119French novel by the Abbé Antoine François Prévost (1697-1763). The passionate love of the hero, the Chevalier de Grieux, for Manon, leads him into a hundred dangers, the consequences of her frivolity and inconstancy. But he dares and suffers all for her sake, and at last, when she is sent into shameful exile by the authorities, he follows her, shares her privations, and remains with her till she dies.

Grieve (Jackie), landlord of an ale-house near Charlie’s Hope.—Sir W. Scott, Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

Griffin (Allan), landlord of the Griffin inn, at Perth.—Sir W. Scott, Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.).

Griffin-feet, the mark by which the Desert Fairy was known in all her metamorphoses.—Comtesse D’Aunoy, Fairy Tales (“The Yellow Dwarf,” 1682).

Griffiths (Old), steward of the earl of Derby.—Sir W. Scott, Peveril of the Peak (time Charles II.).

Griffiths (Samuel), London agent of Sir Arthur Darsie Redgauntlet.—Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time George III.).

Griflet (Sir), knighted by King Arthur at the request of Merlin, who told the king that Sir Griflet would prove “one of the best knights of the world, and the strongest man of arms.”arms.”—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, i. 20 (1470).

Griggsby’s Station. Old home of a newly-made rich family, for which they pine,—

Grildrig, a mannikin.

She gave me the name “Grildrig,” which the family took up, and afterwards the whole kingdom. The word imports what the Latin calls manunculus the Italian homunceletion, and the English mannikin.—Dean Swift, Gulliver’s Travels (“Voyage to Brobdingnag,” 1726).

Grim, a fisherman who rescued, from a boat turned adrift, an infant named Habloc, whom he adopted and brought up. This infant was the son of the king of Denmark, and when restored to his royal father, the fisherman, laden with rich presents, built the village, which he called after his own name, Grims-by or “Grim’s town.”

⁂ The ancient seal of the town contained the names of “Gryme” and “Habloc.”

Grim (Giant,) a huge giant, who tried to stop pilgrimspilgrims on their way to the Celestial City. He was slain by Mr. Greatheart.—Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress, ii. (1684).

Grimalkin, a cat, the spirit of a witch. Any witch was permitted to assume the body of a cat nine times. When the “first Witch” (in Macbeth) hears a cat mew, she says, “I come, Grimalkin” (act i. sc. 1).

Grime, the partner of Item the usurer. It is to Grime that Item appeals when he wants to fudge his clients. “Can we do so, Mr. Grime?” brings the stock answer, “Quite impossible, Mr. Item.”—Holcroft, The Deserted Daughter (1784), altered into The Steward.

120Grimes (Peter) the drunken thievish son of a steady fisherman. He had a boy, whom he killed by ill-usage, and two others he made away with; but escaped conviction through defect of evidence. As no one would live with him, he turned mad, was lodged in the parish poor-house, confessed his crimes in delirium, and died.—Crabbe, Borough, xxii, (1810).

Grimes´by (Gaffer), an old farmer at Marlborough.—Sir. W. Scott, Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

Grimwig, an irascible old gentleman, who hid a very kind heart under a rough exterior. He was Mr. Brownlow’s great friend, and was always declaring himself ready to “eat his head” if he was mistaken on any point on which he passed an opinion.—C. Dickens, Oliver Twist (1837).

Grinderson (Mr. Gabriel), partner of Mr. Greenhorn. They are the attorneys who press Sir Arthur Wardour for the payment of debts. Sir. W. Scott, The Antiquary (time, George III.).

Grip, the clever raven of Barnaby Rudge. During the Gordon riots it learnt the cry of “No Popery!” Other of its phrases were: “I’m a devil!” “Never say die!” “Polly, put the kettle on!” etc.—C. Dickens, Barnaby Rudge (1841).

Gripe (1 syl.), a scrivener, husband of Clarissa, but with a tendre for Araminta, the wife of his friend Moneytrap. He is a miserly, money-loving, pig-headed hunks, but is duped out of £250 by his foolish liking for his neighbors wife.—Sir John Vanbrugh, The Confederacy (1695).

Gripe (1 syl.), the English name of Géronte, in Otway’s version of Molière’s comedy of Les Fourberies de Scapin. His daughter, called in French, Hyacinthe, is called “Clara,” and his son Leandre is Anglicized into “Leander.”—Th. Otway, The Cheats of Scapin.

Gripe (Sir Francis), a man of 64, guardian of Miranda, an heiress, and father of Charles. He wants to marry his ward for the sake of her money, and as she cannot obtain her property without his consent to her marriage, she pretends to be in love with him, and even fixes the day of espousals. “Grady,” quite secure that he is the man of her choice, gives his consent to her marriage, and she marries Sir George Airy, a man of 24. The old man laughs at Sir George, whom he fancies he is duping, but he is himself the dupe all through.—Mrs. Centlivre, The Busy Body (1709).

December 2, 1790, Munden made his bow to the Covent Garden audience as SirSir Francis Gripe.”—Memoir of J.S. Munden (1832).

Gripus, a stupid, venal judge, uncle of Alcmēna, and the betrothed of Phædra (Alcmena’s waiting-maid), in Dryden’s comedy of Amphitryon. Neither Gripus nor Phædra is among the Dramatis personæ of Molière’s comedy of Amphitryon.

Grisilda or Griselda, the model of patience and submission, meant to allegorize the submission of a holy mind to the will of God. Grisilda was the daughter of a charcoal-burner, but became the wife of Walter, marquis of Saluzzo. Her husband tried her, as God tried Job, and with the same result: (1) He took away her infant daughter, and secretly conveyed it to the queen of Pa´via to be brought up, while the mother was made to believe that it was murdered. (2) Four years later she had a son, which was also taken from her, and was sent to be brought up with his sister. (3) Eight years later, Grisilda was divorced, and sent back to 121her native cottage, because her husband, as she was told, intended to marry another. When, however, Lord Walter saw no indication of murmuring or jealousy, he told Grisilda that the supposed rival was her own daughter, and her patience and submission met with their full reward.—Chaucer, Canterbury Tales (“The Clerk’s Tale,” 1388).

Griskinis´sa, wife of Artaxaminous, king of Utopia. The king felt in doubt, and asked his minister of state this knotty question:

The minister reminds the king that Distaffina is betrothed to his general.

Grissel or Grizel. Octavia, the wife of Mark Antony, and sister of Augustus, is called the “patient Grizel of Roman story.” Forms of the name Griselda.

Griz´el Dal´mahoy (Miss), the seamstress.—Sir W. Scott, Heart of Midlothian (time, George II.).

Griz´zie, maid-servant to Mrs. Saddletree.—Sir W. Scott, Heart of Midlothian (time, George II.).

Grizzie, one the servants of the Rev. Josiah Gargill.—Sir W. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well (time, George III.).

Griz´zle, chambermaid at the Golden Arms inn, at Kippletringan.—Sir W. Scott, Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

Grizzle (Lord), the first peer of the realm in the court of King Arthur. He is in love with the Princess Huncamunca, and as the lady is promised in marriage to the valiant Tom Thumb, he turns traitor, and “leads his rebel rout to the palace gate.” Here Tom Thumb encounters the rebels, and Glumdalca, the giantess, thrusts at the traitor, but misses him. Then the “pigmy giant-killer” runs him through the body. The black cart comes up to drag him off, but the dead man tells the carter he need not trouble himself, as he intends “to bear himself off,” and so he does.—Tom Thumb, by Fielding the novelist (1730), altered by Kane O’Hara, author of Midas (1778).

Groat´settar (Miss Clara), niece of the old lady Glowrowrum, and one of the guests at Burgh Westra.

Miss Maddie Groatsettar, niece of the old lady Glowrowrum, and one of the guests at Burgh Westra.—Sir W. Scott, The Pirate (time, William III.).

Groffar´ius, king of Aquitania, who resisted Brute, the mythical great-grandson of Æneas, who landed there on his way to Britain.—M. Drayton, Polyolbion, i. (1612).

Gronovius, father and son, critics and humanists (father, 1611-1671; son, 1645-1716).

I have more satisfaction in beholding you than I should have in conversing with Grævius and Gronovius. I had rather possess your approbation than that of the elder Scaliger.—Mrs. Cowley, Who’s the Dupe? i. 3.

(Scaliger, father (1484-1558), son (1540-1609), critics and humanists).

Groom (Squire), “a downright, English, Newmarket, stable-bred gentleman-jockey, who, having ruined his finances by dogs, 122grooms, cocks, and horses ... thinks to retrieve his affairs by a matrimonial alliance with a City fortune.” (canto i. 1). He is one of the suitors of Charlotte Goodchild; but, supposing the report to be true that she has lost her money, he says to her guardian:

“Hark ye! Sir Theodore; I always make my match according to the weight my thing can carry. When I offered to take her into my stable, she was sound and in good case; but I hear her wind is touched. If so, I would not back her for a shilling. Matrimony is a long course, ... and it won’t do.”do.”—C. Macklin, Love â la Mode ii. 1 (1779).

This was Lee Lewes’s great part [1740-1803]. One morning at rehearsal, Lewes said something not in the play. “Hoy, hoy!” cried Macklin; “what’s that? what’s that?” “Oh,” replied Lewes, “’tis only a bit of my nonsense.” “But,” said Macklin, gravely, “I like my nonsense, Mr. Lewes, better than yours.”—J. O’Keefe.

Grotto of Eph´esus. Near Ephesus was a grotto containing a statue of Diana, to which was attached a pipe of reeds. If a young woman, charged with dishonor, entered this grotto, and the reed gave forth musical sounds, she was declared to be a pure virgin; but if it gave forth hideous noises, she was denounced and never seen more. Corinna put the grotto to the test, at the desire of Glaucon of Lesbos, and was never seen again by the eye of man.—E. Bulwer Lytton, Tales of Milētus, iii. (See Chastity, for other tests.)

Groveby (Old), of Gloomstock Hall, aged 65. He is the uncle of Sir Harry Groveby. Brusque, hasty, self-willed, but kind-hearted.

Sir Harry Groveby, nephew of old Groveby, engaged to Maria “the maid of the Oaks.”—J. Burgoyne, The Maid of the Oaks.

Groves (Jem), landlord of the Valiant Soldier, to which was attached “a good dry skittle-ground.”—C. Dickens, The Old Curiosity Shop, xxix. (1840).

Grub (Jonathan), a stock broker, weighted with the three plagues of life—a wife, a handsome marriageable daughter, and £100,000 in the Funds, “any one of which is enough to drive a man mad; but all three to be attended to at once is too much.”

Mrs. Grub, a wealthy city woman, who has moved from the east to the fashionable west quarter of London, and has abandoned merchants and tradespeople for the gentry.

Emily Grub, called Milly, the handsome daughter of Jonathan. She marries Captain Bevil of the Guards.—O’Brien, Cross Purposes.

Grub´binol, a shepherd who sings with Bumkinet a dirge on the death of Blouzelinda.

(An imitation of Virgil’s Ecl., v. “Daphnis.”)

Gru´dar and Bras´solis. Cairbar and Grudar both strove for a spotted bull “that lowed on Golbun Heath,” in Ulster. Each claimed it as his own, and at length fought, when Grudar fell. Cairbar took the shield of Grudar to Brassolis, and said to her, “Fix it on high within my hall; ’tis the armor of my foe;” but the maiden, “distracted, flew to the spot, where she found the youth in his blood,” and died.

123Fair was Brassolis on the plain. Stately was Grudar on the hill.—Ossian, Fingal, I.

Grueby (John), servant to Lord George Gordon. An honest fellow, who remained faithful to his master to the bitter end. He twice saved Haredale’s life; and, although living under Lord Gordon and loving him, detested the crimes into which his master was betrayed by bad advice and false zeal.—C. Dickens, Barnaby Rudge (1841).

Grugeon, one of Fortunio’s seven attendants. His gift was that he could eat any amount of food without satiety. When Fortunio first saw him, he was eating 60,000 loaves for his breakfast.—Comtesse D’Aunoy, Fairy Tales (“Fortunio,” 1682).

Grum´ball (The Rev. Dr.), from Oxford, a papist conspirator with Redgauntlet.—Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George III.)

Grumbo, a giant in the tale of Tom Thumb. A raven having picked up Tom Thumb, dropped him on the flat roof of the giant’s castle. When old Grumbo went there to sniff the air, Tom crept up his sleeve; the giant, feeling tickled, shook his sleeve, and Tom fell into the sea below. Here he was swallowed by a fish, and the fish, being caught, was sold for King Arthur’s table. It was thus that Tom got introduced to the great king, by whom he was knighted.

Grumio, one of the servants of Petruchio.—Shakespeare, Taming of the Shrew (1594).

Grundy (Mrs.). Dame Ashfield, a farmer’s wife, is jealous of a neighboring farmer named Grundy. She tells her husband that Farmer Grundy got five shillings a quarter more for his wheat than they did; that the sun seemed to shine on purpose for Farmer Grundy; that Dame Grundy’s butter was the crack butter of the market. She then goes into her day-dreams, and says, “If our Nelly were to marry a great baronet, I wonder what Mrs. Grundy would say?” Her husband makes answer:

“Why dan’t thee letten Mrs. Grundy alone? I do verily think when thee goest to t’other world, the vurst question thee’ll ax ’ill be, if Mrs. Grundy’s there?”—Th. Morton, Speed the Plough, i. 1 (1798).

Gryll, one of those changed by Acras´ia into a hog. He abused Sir Guyon for disenchanting him; whereupon the palmer said to the knight, “Let Gryll be Gryll, and have his hoggish mind.”—Spenser, Faëry Queen, ii. 12 (1590).

Gryphon, a fabulous monster, having the upper part like a vulture or eagle, and the lower part like a lion. Gryphons were the supposed guardians of goldmines, and were in perpetual strife with the Arimas´pians, a people of Scythia, who rifled the mines for the adornment of their hair.

The Gryphon, symbolic of the divine and human union of Jesus Christ. The fore part of the gryphon is an eagle, and the hinder part a lion. Thus Dantê saw in purgatory the car of the Church drawn by 124a gryphon.—Dantê, Purgatory, xxix. (1308).

Guadia´na, the ’squire of Durandartê, changed into a river of the same name. He was so grieved at leaving his master that he plunged instantaneously under ground, and when obliged to appear “where he might be seen, he glided in sullen state to Portugal.”—Cervantes, Don Quixote, II. ii. 6 (1615).

Gualber´to (St.), heir of Valdespe´sa, and brought up with the feudal notion that he was to be the avenger of blood. Anselmo was the murderer he was to lie in wait for, and he was to make it the duty of his life to have blood for blood. One day, as he was lying in ambush for Anselmo, the vesper bell rang, and Gualberto (3 syl.) fell in prayer, but somehow could not pray. The thought struck him that if Christ died to forgive sin, it could not be right in man to hold it beyond forgiveness. At this moment Anselmo came up, was attacked, and cried for mercy. Gualberto cast away his dagger, ran to the neighboring convent, thanked God he had been saved from blood-guiltiness, and became a hermit noted for his holiness of life.—Southey, St. Gualberto.

Gua´rini (Philip), the ’squire of Sir Hugo de Lacy.—Sir W. Scott, The Betrothed (time, Henry II.).

Guari´nos (Admiral), one of Charlemagne’s paladins, taken captive at Roncesvallês. He fell to the lot of Marlo´tês, a Moslem, who offered him his daughter in marriage, if he would become a disciple of the Arabian prophet. Guarinos refused, and was kept in a dungeon for seven years, when he was liberated, that he might take part in a joust. The admiral then stabbed the Moor to his heart, and, vaulting on his gray horse, Treb´ozond, escaped to France.

Gu´drun, a lady married to Sigurd by the magical arts of her mother; and on the death of Sigurd to Atli, (Attila), whom she hated for his fierce cruelty, and murdered. She then cast herself into the sea, and the waves bore her to the castle of King Jonakun, who became her third husband.—Edda of Sämund Sigfusson (1130).

Gudrun, a model of heroic fortitude and pious resignation. She was the daughter of King Hettel (Attila), and the betrothed of Herwig, king of Heligoland, but was carried off by Harmuth, king of Norway, who killed Hettel. As she refused to marry Harmuth, he put her to all sorts of menial work. One day, Herwig appeared with an army, and having gained a decisive victory, married Gudrun, and at her intercession pardoned Harmuth the cause of her great misery.—A North-Saxon Poem (thirteenth century).

Gud´yill (Old John), butler to Lady Bellenden.—Sir W. Scott, Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).

Guelph´o (3 syl.), son of Actius IV. Marquis d’Este and of Cunigunda (a German). Guelpho was the uncle of Rinaldo, and next in command to Godfrey. He led an army of 5000 men from Carynthia, in Germany, to the siege of Jerusalem, but most of them were cut off by the Persians. Guelpho was noted for his broad shoulders and ample chest.—Tasso, Jerusalem Delivered, iii. (1575).

Guen´dolen (3 syl.), a fairy whose mother was a human being. King Arthur 125fell in love with her, and she became the mother of Gyneth. When Arthur deserted the frail fair one, she offered him a parting cup; but as he took it in his hands, a drop of the liquor fell on his horse and burnt it so severely that it “lept twenty feet high,” ran mad, and died. Arthur dashed the cup on the ground, whereupon it set fire to the grass and consumed the fairy palace. As for Guendolen, she was never seen afterwards.—Sir W. Scott, The Bridal of Triermain, i. 2 (“Lyulph’s Tales,” 1813).

Guendolœ´na, wife of Locrin (eldest son of Brute, whom he succeeded), and daughter of Cori´neus (3 syl.). Being divorced, she retired to Cornwall, and collected an army, which marched against Locrin, who “was killed by the shot of an arrow.” Guendolœna now assumed the reins of government, and her first act was to throw Estrildis (her rival) and her daughter Sabre, into the Severn, which was called Sabri´na or Sabren from that day.—Geoffrey, British History, ii. 4, 5 (1142.)

Guenever or Guinever, a corrupt form of Guanhuma´ra (4 syl.), daughter of King Leodegrance, of the land of Camelyard. She was the most beautiful of women, was the wife of King Arthur, but entertained a criminal attachment for Sir Launcelot du Lac. Respecting the latter part of the queen’s history, the greatest diversity occurs. Thus Geoffrey says:

King Arthur was on his way to Rome ... when news was brought him that his nephew Mordred, to whose care he had entrusted Britain had ... set the crown upon his own head; and that the queen Guanhumara had wickedly married him.... When King Arthur returned and put Mordred and his army to flight ... the queen fled from York to the City of Legions [Newport in South Wales], where she resolved to lead a chaste life among the nuns of Julius the martyr.—British History, xi. 1 (1142).

Another version is, that Arthur, being informed of the adulterous conduct of Launcelot, went with an army to Bentwick (Brittany), to punish him. That Mordred (his son by his own sister), left as regent, usurped the crown, proclaimed that Arthur was dead, and tried to marry Guenever, the queen; but she shut herself up in the Tower of London, resolved to die rather than marry the usurper. When she heard of the death of Arthur, she “stole away” to Almesbury, “and there she let make herself a nun, and wore white cloaths and black.” And there lived she “in fasting, prayers and almsdeeds, that all marvelled at her virtuous life.”—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, iii, 161-170 (1470).

⁂ For Tennyson’s version, see Guinevere.

Guene´vra (3 syl.), wife of Necetaba´nus, the dwarf, at the cell of the hermit of Engaddi.—Sir W. Scott, The Talisman (time, Richard I.).

Guenn. Beautiful Breton peasant, haughty and gay, who refuses to sit as a model to the artists who haunt the region, until Hamor prevails over her scruples. Up to now, her love for her deformed brother has been the strongest passion of her strong nature. The love she learns to feel for Hamor masters all else, and when convinced that it is hopeless she grows desperate. She is “found drowned.”—Blanche Willis Howard, Guenn.

Guer´in or Gueri´no, son of Millon, king of Alba´nia. On the day of his birth his father was dethroned, but the child was rescued by a Greek slave, who brought it up and surnamed it Meschi´no or “the Wretched.” When grown to man’s estate 126Guerin fell in love with the princess Elizena, sister of the Greek emperor, who held his court at Constantinople.—An Italian Romance.

Guesclin’s Dust a Talisman. Guesclin, or rather Du Guesclin, constable of France, laid siege to ChâteauneufChâteauneuf-de-Randan, in Auvergne. After several assaults the town promised to surrender if not relieved within fifteen days. Du Guesclin died in this interval, but the governor of the town came and laid the keys of the city on the dead man’s body, saying he resigned the place to the hero’s ashes (1380).

Gugner, Odin’s spear, which never failed to hit. It was made by the dwarf Eitri.—The Eddas.

Guide´rius, eldest son of Cym´beline, (3 syl.), king of Britain, and brother of Arvir´agus. They were kidnapped in infancy by Belarius, out of revenge for being unjustly banished, and were brought up by him in a cave. When grown to manhood, Belarius introduced them to the king and told their story; whereupon Cymbeline received them as his sons, and Guiderius succeeded him on the throne.—Shakespeare, Cymbeline (1605).

Geoffrey calls Cymbeline “Kymbelinus, son of Tenuantius;” says that he was brought up by Augustus Cæsar, and adds, “In his days was born our Lord Jesus Christ.” Kymbeline reigned ten years, when he was succeeded by Guiderius. The historian says that Kymbeline paid the tribute to the Romans, and that it was Guiderius who refused to do so, “for which reason Claudius the emperor marched against him, and he was killed by Hamo.”—British History, iv. 11, 12, 13 (1142).

Guido, “the Savage,” son of Amon and Constantia. He was the younger brother of Rinaldo. Being wrecked on the coast of the Am´azons, he was compelled to fight their ten male champions, and having slain them all, to marry ten of the Amazons. From this thraldom Guido made his escape, and joined the army of Charlemagne.—Ariosto, Orlando Furioso (1516).

Guido [Franceschini], a reduced nobleman, who tried to repair his fortune by marrying Pompilia, the putative child of Pietro and Violantê. When the marriage was accomplished, and the money secure, Guido ill-treated the putative parents; and Violantê, in revenge, declared that Pompilia was not their child at all, but the offspring of a Roman wanton. Having made this declaration, she next applied to the law-courts for the recovery of the money. When Guido heard this tale, he was furious, and so ill-treated his child-wife that she ran away, under the protection of a young canon. Guido pursued the fugitives, overtook them, and had them arrested; whereupon the canon was suspended for three years, and Pompilia sent to a convent. Here her health gave way, and as the birth of a child was expected, she was permitted to leave the convent and live with her putative parents. Guido, having gained admission, murdered all three, and was himself executed for the crime.—R. Browning, The Ring and the Book.

Guild (Engineer), who, in passing through Providence at night, was wont to give a signal to his wife which meant—

127One night the whistle was not heard.

“Guild lay under his engine dead.”—Francis Bret Harte, Guild’s Signal.

Guil´denstern, one of Hamlet’s companions, employed by the king and queen to divert him, if possible, from his strange and wayward ways.—Shakespeare, Hamlet (1596).

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are favorable examples of the thorough-paced time-serving court knave ... ticketed and to be hired for any hard or dirty work.—Cowden Clarke.

Guillotine (3 syl.). So named from Joseph Ignace Guillotin, a French physician, who proposed its adoption, to prevent unnecessary pain. Dr. Guillotin did not invent the guillotine, but he improved the Italian machine (1791). In 1792 Antoine Louis introduced further improvements, and hence the instrument is sometimes called Louisette, or Louison. The original Italian machine was called mannaja; it was a clumsy affair, first employed to decapitate Beatrice Cenci, in Rome, A.D. 1600.

It was the popular theme for jests. It was [called La mère Guillotine], the “sharp female,” the “best cure for headache.” It “infallibly prevented the hair from turning grey.” It “imparted a peculiar delicacy to the complexion.” It was the “national razor,” which shaved close. Those “who kissed the guillotine, looked through the little window and sneezed into the sack.” It was the sign of “the regeneration of the human race.” It “superseded the cross.” Models were worn[as ornaments].—C. Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, iii. 4 (1859).

Guinart (Roque), whose true name was Pedro Rocha Guinarda, chief of a band of robbers who levied black mail in the mountainous districts of Catalonia. He is introduced by Cervantes in his tale of Don Quixote.

Guinea (Adventures of a), a novel by Charles Johnstone (1761). A guinea, as it passes into different hands, is the historian of the follies and vices of its master for the time being; and thus a series of scenes and personages is made to pass before the reader, somewhat in the same manner as in The Devil upon Two Sticks and in The Chinese Tales.

Guin´evere (3 syl.). So Tennyson spells the name of Arthur’s queen in his Idylls. He tells us of the liaison between her and “Sir Lancelot,” and says that Mordred, having discovered this familiarity, “brought his creatures to the basement of the tower for testimony.” Sir Lancelot flung the fellow to the ground, and instantly took to horse; while Guinevere fled to the nunnery at Almesbury. Here the king took leave of her; and when the abbess died, the queen was appointed her successor, and remained head of the establishment for three years, when she also died.

⁂ It will be seen that Tennyson departs from the British History, by Geoffrey, and the History of Prince Arthur as edited by Sir T. Malory. (See Guenever.)

Guiomar, mother of the vain-glorious Duar´te.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Custom of the Country (1647).

Guiscardo, the ’squire, but previously the page, of Tancred, king of Salerno. Sigismunda, the king’s daughter, loved him, and clandestinely married him. When Tancred discovered it, he ordered the young man to be waylaid and strangled. He then went to his daughter’s chamber, and reproved her for loving a base-born “slave.” Sigismunda boldlyboldly defended her choice, but next day received a human heart in a golden casket. It needed no 128prophet to tell her what had happened, and she drank a draught of poison. Her father entered just in time to hear her dying request that she and Guiscardo might be buried in the same tomb. The royal father

Guise (Henri de Lorraine, duc de) commenced the Massacre of St. Bartholomew by the assassination of Admiral Coligny [Co.leen´.ye]. Being forbidden to enter Paris, by order of Henri III., he disobeyed the injunction, and was murdered (1550-1588).

⁂ Henri de Guise has furnished the subject of several tragedies. In English we have Guise, or the Massacre of France, by John Webster (1620); The Duke of Guise, by Dryden and Lee. In French we have Etats de Blois (the Death of Guise), by François Raynouard (1814).

Guis´la (2 syl.). sister of Pelayo, in love with Numac´ian, a renegade. “She inherited her mother’s leprous taint.” Brought back to her brother’s house by Adosinda, she returned to the Moor, “cursing the meddling spirit that interfered with her most shameless love.”—Southey, Roderick, Last of the Goths (1814).

Gui´zor (2 syl.), groom of the Saracen Pollentê. His “scalp was bare, betraying his state of bondage.” His office was to keep the bridge on Pollentê’s territory, and to allow no one to pass without paying “the passage penny.” This bridge was full of trap-doors, through which travellers were apt to fall into the river below. When Guizor demanded toll of Sir Artĕgal, the knight gave him a “stunning blow, saying, ‘Lo! there’s my hire;’” and the villain dropped down dead.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, v. 2 (1596).

⁂ Upton conjectures that “Guizor” is intended for the Duc de Guise, and his master “Pollentê” for Charles IX. of France, both notorious for the St. Bartholomew Massacre.

Gulbey´az, the sultana. Having seen Juan amongst Lambro’s captives, “passing on his way to sale,” she caused him to be purchased, and introduced into the harem in female attire. On discovering that he preferred Dudù, one of the attendant beauties, to herself, she commanded both to be sewed up in a sack, and cast into the Bosphorus. They contrived, however, to make their escape.—Byron, Don Juan, vi. (1824).

Gul´chenraz, surnamed “Gundogdi” (“morning”), daughter of Malek-al-salem, king of Georgia, to whom Fum-Hoam, the mandarin, relates his numerous and extraordinary transformations, or rather metempsychoses.—T. S. Gueulette, Chinese Tales, (1723).

Gul´chenrouz, son of Ali Hassan (brother of the Emir´ Fakreddin); the “most delicate and lovely youth in the whole world.” He could “write with precision, paint on vellum, sing to the lute, write poetry, and dance to perfection; but could neither hurl the lance nor curb the steed.” Gulchenrouz was betrothed to his cousin Nouron´ihar, who loved “even his faults;” but they never married, for Nouronihar became the wife of the Caliph Vathek.—W. Beckford, Vathek (1784).

129Even beggars, in soliciting alms, will give utterance to some appropriate passage from the Gulistan.—J. J. Grandville.

Gul´liver (Lemuel), first a surgeon, then a sea-captain of several ships. He gets wrecked on the coast of Lilliput, a country of pygmies. Subsequently he is thrown among the people of Brobdingnag, giants of tremendous size. In his next voyage he is driven to Lapu´ta, an empire of quack pretenders to science and knavish projectors. And in his fourth voyage he visits the Houyhnhnms [Whin´.nms], where horses are the dominant powers.—Dean Swift, Travels in Several Remote Nations ... by Lemuel Gulliver (1726).

Gulna´rê (3 syl.), daughter of Faras´chê (3 syl.), whose husband was king of an under-sea empire. A usurper drove the king, her father, from his throne, and Gulnarê sought safety in the Island of the Moon. Here she was captured, made a slave, sold to the king of Persia, and became his favorite, but preserved a most obstinate and speechless silence for twelve months. Then the king made her his wife, and she told him her history. In due time a son was born, whom they called Beder (“the full moon”).

Gulnarê says that the under-sea folk are never wetted by the water, that they can see as well as we can, that they speak the language “of Solomon’s seal,” and can transport themselves instantaneously from place to place.—ArabianArabian Nights (“Beder and Giauharê”).

Gulnare (2 syl.), queen of the harem, and the most beautiful of all the slaves of Seyd [Seed]. She was rescued by Conrad the corsair from the flames of the palace; and, when Conrad was imprisoned, she went to his dungeon, confessed her love, and proposed that he should murder the sultan and flee. As Conrad refused to assassinate Seyd, she herself did it, and then fled with Conrad to the “Pirate’s Isle.” The rest of the tale is continued in Lara, in which Gulnare assumes the name of Kaled, and appears as a page.—Byron, The Corsair (1814).

Gulvi´gar (“weigher of gold”), the Plutus of Scandinavian mythology. He introduced among men the love of gain.

Gum´midge (Mrs.), the widow of Dan’el Peggotty’s partner. She kept house for Dan’el, who was a bachelor. Old Mrs. Gummidge had a craze that she was neglected and uncared for, a waif in the wide world, of no use to any one. She was always talking of herself as the “lone lorn cre’tur’.” When about to sail for Australia, one of the sailors asked her to marry him, when “she ups with a pail of water and flings it at his head.”—C. Dickens, David Copperfield (1849.)

Gundof´orus, an Indian king for whom the Apostle Thomas built a palace of sethym wood, the roof of which was ebony. He made the gates of the horn of the “horned snake,” that no one with poison might be able to pass through.

Gungnir, Odin’s spear.—Scandinavian Mythology.

Günther, king of Burgundy, and brother of Kriemhild (2 syl.). He resolved to wed Brunhild, the martial queen of Issland, and won her by the aid of Siegfried; but the bride behaved so obstreperously that the bridegroom had again to apply to his friend for assistance. Siegfried contrived to get possession of her ring and girdle, after which she became 130a submissive wife. Günther, with base ingratitude, was privy to the murder of his friend, and was himself slain in the dungeon of Etzel by his sister Kriemhield.—The Nibelungen Lied.

⁂ In history, Günther is called “Güntacher,” and Etzel “Attila.”

Gup´py (Mr.), clerk in the office of Kenge and Carboy. A weak, commonplace youth, who has the conceit to propose to Esther Summerson, the ward in Chancery.—C. Dickens, Bleak House (1853).

Gurgus´tus, according to Drayton, son of Belīnus. This is a mistake, as Gurgustus, or rather Gurgustius, was son of Rivallo; and the son of Belīnus was Gurgiunt Brabtruc. The names given by Geoffrey, in his British History, run thus; Leir (Lear), Cunedag, his grandson, Rivallo, his son, Gurgustius, his son, Sisillius, his son, Jago, nephew of Gurguitius, Kinmarc, son of Sisillius, then Gorbogud. Here the line is broken, and the new dynasty begins with Molmutius of Cornwall, then his son Belinus, who was succeeded by his son Gurgiunt Brabtruc, whose son and successor was Guithelin, called by Drayton “Guynteline.”—Geoffrey, British History, ii., iii. (1142).

Gurney (Gilbert), the hero and title of a novel by Theodore Hook. This novel is a spiced autobiography of the author himself (1835).

Gurney (Thomas), shorthand writer, and author of a work on the subject called Brachygraphy (1705-1770).

Gurney. City visitor to Cedarswamp, making fishing and flirting his business while there. Deserts a country girl, “Lett,” to make love to the new teacher, Miss Hungerford.—Sally Pratt McLean, Cape Cod Folks (1881).

Gurth, the swine-herd and thrall of Cedric of Rotherwood.—Sir W. Scott, Ivanhoe (time, Richard I.).

Gurton (Gammer), the heroine of an old English comedy. The plot turns upon the loss of a needle by Gammer Gurton, and its subsequent discovery sticking in the breeches of her man Hodge.—Mr. J. S., Master of Arts (1561).

Guse Gibbie, a half-witted lad in the service of Lady Bellenden.—Sir W. Scott, Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).

Gushington (Angelina), the nom de plume of Lady Dufferin.

Gusta´vus Vasa (1496-1560), having made his escape from Denmark, where he had been treacherously carried captive, worked as a common laborer for a time in the copper-mines of Dalecarlia [Da´.le.karl´.ya]; but the tyranny of Christian II. of Denmark induced the Dalecarlians to revolt, and Gustavus was chosen their leader. The rebels made themselves masters of Stockholm; Christian abdicated, and Sweden henceforth became an independent kingdom.—H. Brooke, Gustavus Vasa (1730).

Gus´ter, the Snagsbys’ maid-of-all-work. A poor, overworked drudge, subject to fits.—C. Dickens, Bleak House (1853).

131Gusto Picaresco (“taste for roguery”). In romance of this school the Spaniards especially excel, as Don Diego de Mondo´za’s Lazarillo de Tormes (1553); Mateo Aleman’s Guzman d’Alfarache (1599); Guevedo’s Gran Tacano, etc.

Guthrie (John), one of the archers of the Scottish guard in the employ of Louis XI—Sir W. Scott, Quentin Durward (time, Edward IV.)

Gutter Lyrist (The), Robert Williams Buchanan; so called from his poems on the loves of costermongers and their wenches (1841- ).

Guy Carleton. Wealthy young Englishman who is converted from skepticism by the gentle leadings of the child Fleda, and never forgets her. He meets her eight or nine years afterward and marries her.—Susan Warner, Queechy (1852).

Guy Morville. High-spirited, generous youth, whose religious faith helps him to overcome a fiery temper. He dies, while on his bridal tour of fever contracted in nursing his cousin Philip, his rival and enemy.—C. M. Yonge, The Heir of Redclyffe.

Guy (Thomas), the miser and philanthropist. He amassed an immense fortune in 1720 by speculations in South Sea stock, and gave £238,292 to found and endow Guy’s hospital (1644-1724).

Guy, earl of Warwick, an English knight. He proposed marriage to Phelis or Phillis, who refused to listen to his suit till he had distinguished himself by knightly deeds. He first rescued Blanch, daughter of the emperor of Germany, then fought against the Saracens, and slew the doughty Coldran, Elmage, king of Tyre, and the Soldan himself. Then, returning to England, he was accepted by Phelis and married her. In forty days he returned to the Holy Land, when he redeemed Earl Jonas out of prison, slew the giant Am´erant, and performed many other noble exploits. Again he returned to England, just in time to encounter the Danish giant Colebrond (2 syl.) or Colbrand, which combat is minutely described by Drayton, in his Polyolbion, xii. At Windsor he slew a boar “of passing might.” On Dunsmore Heath he slew the dun cow of Dunsmore, a wild and cruel monster. In Northumberland he slew a winged dragon, “black as any cole,” with the paws of a lion, and a hide which no sword could pierce (Polyolbion, xiii.). After this he turned hermit, and went daily to crave bread of his wife Phelis, who knew him not. On his death-bed he sent her a ring, and she closed his dying eyes (890-958).

Guy Fawkes, the conspirator, went under the name of John Johnstone, and pretended to be the servant of Mr. Percy (1577-1606).

Guy Mannering, the second of Scott’s historical novels, published in 1815, just seven months after Waverley. The interest of the tale is well sustained; but the love scenes, female characters, and Guy Mannering himself, are quite worthless. Not so the character of Dandy Dinmont, the shrewd and witty counsellor Pleydell, the desperate sea-beaten villainy of Hatteraick, the uncouth devotion of that gentlest of all pedants, poor Domine Sampson, and half-crazed, but noble-hearted, Meg Merrilies, the true heroine of the novel.

Guy Mannering was the work of six weeks about Christmas time, and marks of haste are visible both in the plot and in its development.—Chambers, English Literature, ii. 586.

132Guyon Guerndale. Sensitive, imaginative young man, “forever looking for this year’s birds in the nests of the last.” He carries in a locket with him an heirloom diamond said to have been wrested from the rightful owner by a wicked ancestor. Guerndale loves a woman who marries his friend; he seeks glory and is wounded at Plevna. He “had started by believing in three things, truth, love, and friendship,” and he never recants. While in the hospital, news comes of “Annie’s” death. He determines to cast away the diamond he had once meant for her. It is an evil stone. He wrenches open the locket, reopens his wound, and bleeds to death. His friend, finding him dead, picks up the historic stone.

“The diamond was only a crystal after all.” Frederic Jesup Stimson, Guerndale (1881).

Guyn´teline or Guithtlin, according to Geoffrey, son of Gurgiun´e Brabtrue (British History, iii. 11, 12, 13); but, according to Drayton, son of Gurgustus, an early British king. (See Gurgustus). His queen was Martia, who codified what are called the Martian Laws, translated into Anglo-Saxon by King Alfred. (See Martian Laws.)

Guyon, (Sir), the personification of “temperance.” The victory of temperance over intemperance is the subject of bk. ii. of the Faëry Queen. Sir Guyon first lights on Amavia (intemperance of grief), a woman who kills herself out of grief for her husband; and he takes her infant boy and commits it to the care of Medi´na. He next meets Braggadoccio (intemperance of the tongue), who is stripped bare of everything. He then encounters Furor (intemperance of anger), and delivers Phaon from his hands. Intemperance of desire is discomfited in the persons of Pyr´oclês and Cym´oclês; then intemperance of pleasure, or wantonness, in the person of Phædria. After his victory over wantonness, he sees Mammon (intemperance of worldly wealth and honor); but he rejects all his offers, and Mammon is foiled. His last and great achievement is the destruction of the “Bower of Bliss,” and the binding in chains of adamant the enchantress Acrasia (or intemperance generally). This enchantress was fearless against Force, but Wisdom and Temperance prevail against her.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, ii. 12 (1500).

Guyot (Bertrand), one of the archers in the Scottish guard attached to Louis XI.—Sir W. Scott, Quentin Durward (time, Edward IV.).

Guzman d’Alfara´che (4 syl.), hero of a Spanish romance of roguery. He begins by being a dupe, but soon becomes a knave in the character of stable-boy, beggar, swindler, pander, student, merchant, and so on.—Mateo Aleman (1599).

Guzman. The priest who brings up Don Juan in Mansfield’s play of that name. He tries to train the boy aright; failing in this, he screens him and palliates his offences; makes a desperate effort to save his life when he is menaced by Don Alonzo, frustrated by the youth’s chivalric self-devotion, and is with the hapless prisoner at the moment of his death.—Richard Mansfield, Don Juan (1891).

Gwenhid´wy, a mermaid. The white foamy waves are called her sheep, and the ninth wave her ram.

133Take shelter when you see Gwenhidwy drivingdriving her flock ashore.—Welsh Proverb.

Gwilt (Miss), plotter and betrayer, in Wilkie Collins’s novel, Armadale.

Gwynne (Nell), one of the favorites of Charles II. She was an actress, but in her palmy days was noted for her many works of benevolence and kindness of heart. The last words of King Charles were, “Don’t let poor Nellie starve!”—Sir W. Scott, Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Gyas and Cloan´thus, two companions of Æne´as, generally mentioned together as “fortis Gyas fortisque Cloanthus.” The phrase has become proverbial for two very similar characters.—Virgil, Æneid.

The “strong Gyas” and the “strong Cloanthus” are less distinguished by the poet than the strong Percival and the strong Osbaldistones were by outward appearance.—Sir W. Scott.

Gyges (2 syl.), one of the Titans. He had fifty heads and a hundred hands.

Gyges, a king of Lydia, of whom Apollo said he deemed the poor Arcadian Ag´laos more happy than the King Gyges, who was proverbial for his wealth.

Gyges (2 syl.), who dethroned Candaulês (3 syl.), king of Lydia, and married Nyssia, the young widow. Herodotos says that Candaulês showed Gyges the queen naked, and the queen, indignant at this impropriety, induced Gyges to kill the king and marry her (bk. i. 8). He reigned B.C. 716-678.

Gyges’s Ring rendered the wearer invisible. Plato says that Gyges found the ring in the flanks of a brazen horse, and was enabled by this talisman to enter the king’s chamber unseen, and murder him.

Gyneth, natural daughter of Guendŏlen and King Arthur. The king promised to give her in marriage to the bravest knight in a tournament in which the warder was given to her to drop when she pleased. The haughty beauty saw twenty knights fall, among whom was Vanoc, son of Merlin. Immediately Vanoc fell, Merlin rose, put an end to the jousts, and caused Gyneth to fall into a trance, from which she was never to wake till her hand was claimed in marriage by some knight as brave as those who had fallen in the tournament. After the lapse of 500 years, De Vaux undertook to break the spell, and had to overcome four temptations, viz., fear, avarice, pleasure, and ambition. Having succeeded in these encounters, Gyneth awoke and became his bride.—Sir W. Scott, Bridal of Triermain (1813).

Gyp, the college servant of Blushington, who stole his tea and sugar, candles, and so on. After Blushington came into his fortune he made Gyp his chief domestic and private secretary.—W.T. Moncrieff, The Bashful Man.

Gyptian (Saint), a vagrant.

H. B., the initials adopted by Mr. Doyle, father of Richard Doyle, in his Reform Caricatures (1830).

H. H., Pen-name of Helen Hunt Jackson, authoress of Ramona, A Century of Dishonor, etc.

Hackburn (Simon of), a friend of Hobbie Elliott, farmer at the Heugh-foot.—Sir W. Scott, The Black Dwarf (time, Anne).

Hackum (Captain), a thick-headed bully of Alsatia, once a sergeant in Flanders. He deserted his colors, fled to England, took refuge in Alsatia, and assumed the title of captain.—Shadwell, Squire of Alsatia (1688).

Hadad, one of the six Wise Men of the East led by the guiding star to Jesus. He left his beloved consort, fairest of the daughters of Bethu´rim. At his decease she shed no tear, yet was her love exceeding that of mortals.—Klopstock, The Messiah, v. (1771).

Had´away (Jack), a former neighbor of Nanty Ewart, the smuggler-captain.—Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George III.).

Ha´des (2 syl.), the god of the unseen world; also applied to the grave, or the abode of departed spirits.

⁂ In the Apostles’ Creed, the phrase “descended into hell” is equivalent to “descended into hadês.”

Hadgi (Abdallah el), the soldan’s envoy.—Sir W. Scott, The Talisman (time, Richard I.).

Hadoway (Mrs.), Lovel’s landlady at Fairport.—Sir W. Scott, The Antiquary (time, George III.).

Hafed, a gheber or fire-worshipper, in love with Hinda, the emir’s daughter. He was the leader of a band sworn to free their country or die in the attempt. His rendezvous was betrayed, but when the Moslem came to arrest him, he threw himself into the sacred fire, and was burnt to death.—T. Moore, Lalla Rookh (“The Fire-Worshippers,” 1817).

Haf´edal, the protector of travellers, one of the four gods of the Adites (2 syl.).

Hafiz, the nom de plume of Mr. Stott in the Morning Press. Byron calls him “grovelling Stott,” and adds, “What would be the sentiment of the Persian Anacreon ... if he could behold his name assumed by one Stott of Dromore, the most impudent and execrable of literary poachers?”—English Bards and Scotch Reviewers (1809).

Hafod. As big a fool as Jack Hafod. Jack Hafod was a retainer of Mr. Bartlett, of Castlemore, Worcestershire, and the ultimus scurrarum of Great Britain. He died at the close of the eighteenth century.

Hagan, son of a mortal and a sea-goblin, the Achillês of German romance. He stabbed Siegfried while drinking from a brook, and laid the body at the door of Kriemhild, that she might suppose he had been killed by assassins. Hagan, having killed Siegfried, then seizedseized the “Nibelung hoard,” and buried it in the Rhine, intending to appropriate it. Kriemhild, after her marriage with Etzel, king of the Huns, invited him to the court of her husband, and cut off his head. He is described as “well grown, strongly built, with long sinewy legs, deep broad chest, hair slightly gray, of terrible visage, and of lordly gait” (stanza 1789).—The Nibelungen Lied (1210).

135Ha´garenes (3 syl.), the descendants of Hagar. The Arabs and the Spanish Moors are so called.

Often he [St. James] hath been seen conquering and destroying the Hagarenes.—Cervantes, Don Quixote, II. iv. 6 (1615).

Hagenbach (Sir Archibald von), governor of La Frette.—Sir W. Scott, Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).

Hahlreiner (Fraulein). The Münich landlady who accompanies H.H. as maid in her travels through Germany. During the jaunt she learns so much of other landlord’s ways and manners that “I fear me from this time henceforth, the lodgers in my dear Fraulein’s house will not find it such a marvel of cheap comfort as we did.”—Helen Hunt Jackson, Bits of Travel (1872).

Haiatal´nefous (5 syl.), daughter and only child of Ar´manys, king of the “Isle of Ebony.” She and Badoura were the two wives of Prince Camaral´zaman, and gave birth at the same time to two princes. Badoura called her son Amgiad (“the most glorious”), and Haiatalnefous called her’s Assad (“the most happy”).—Arabian Nights (“Camaralzaman and Badoura”).

Haidée, “the beauty of the Cycladês,” was the daughter of Lambro, a Greek pirate, living in one of the Cycladês. Her mother was a Moorish maiden of Fez, who died when Haidee was a mere child. Being brought up in utter loneliness, she was wholly Nature’s child. One day, Don Juan was cast on the shore, the only one saved from a shipwrecked crew, tossed about for many days in the long-boat. Haidée lighted on the lad, and, having nursed him in a cave, fell in love with him. A report being heard that Lambro was dead, Don Juan gave a banquet, but in the midst of the revelry, the old pirate returned, and ordered Don Juan to be seized and sold as a slave. Haidée broke a blood-vessel from grief and fright, and, refusing to take any nourishment, died.—Byron, Don Juan, ii. 118; iii., iv. (1819, 1821).

Haimon (The Four Sons of), the title of a minnesong in the degeneracy of that poetic school, which rose in Germany with the house of Hohenstaufen, and went out in the middle of the thirteenth century.

Hair. Every three days, when Cor´sina combed the hair of Fairstar and her two brothers, “a great many valuable jewels were combed out, which she sold at the nearest town.”—Comtesse D’Aunoy, Fairy Tales (“Princess Fairstar,” 1682).

“I suspected,” said Corsina, “that Cherry is not the brother of Fairstar, for he has neither a star nor collar of gold as Fairstar and her brothers have.” “That’s true,” rejoined her husband; “but jewels fall out of his hair, as well as out of the others.”—Princess Fairstar.

Hair. Mrs. Astley, an actress of the last century, wife of “Old Astley,” could stand up and cover her feet with her flaxen hair.

She had such luxuriant hair that she could stand upright and it covered her to her feet like a veil. She was very proud of these flaxen locks; and a slight accident by fire having befallen them, she resolved ever after to play in a wig. She used, therefore, to wind this immense quantity of hair round her head, and put over it a capacious caxon, the consequence of which was that her head bore about the same proportion to the rest of her figure that a whale’s skull does to its body.—Philip Astley (1742-1814).

Hair. Mdlle. Bois de Chêne, exhibited in London in 1852-3, had a most profuse head of hair, and also a strong black beard, large whiskers, and thick hair on her arms and legs.

136Charles XII. had in his army a woman whose beard was a yard and a half long. She was taken prisoner at the battle of Pultowa, and presented to the Czar in 1724.

Johann Mayo, the German painter, had a beard which touched the ground when he stood up.

Master George Killingworthe, in the court of Ivan “the Terrible” of Russia, had a beard five feet two inches long. It was thick, broad, and of a yellowish hue.—Hakluyt (1589).

Hair Cut Off. It was said by the Greeks and Romans that life would not quit the body of a devoted victim till a lock of hair had first been cut from the head of the victim and given to Proserpine. Thus, when Alcestis was about to die as a voluntary sacrifice for the life of her husband, Than´atos first cut off a lock of her hair for the queen of the infernals. When Dido immolated herself, she could not die till Iris had cut off one of her yellow locks for the same purpose.—Virgil, Æneid, iv. 693-705.

Iris cut the yellow hair of unhappy Dido, and broke the charm.—O. W. Holmes, Autocrat of the Breakfast Table.

Hair, Sign of Rank.

The Parthians and ancient Persians of high rank wore long flowing hair.

Homer speaks of “the long-haired Greeks” by way of honorable distinction. Subsequently the Athenian cavalry wore long hair, and all Lacedæmonian soldiers did the same.

The Gauls considered long hair a notable honor, for which reason Julius Cæsar obliged them to cut off their hair in token of submission.

The Franks and ancient Germans considered long hair a mark of noble birth. Hence Clodion, the Frank, was called “The Long-Haired,” and his successors are spoken of as les rois chevelures.

The Goths looked on long hair as a mark of honor, and short hair as a mark of thraldom.

For many centuries long hair was in France the distinctive mark of kings and nobles.

Haïz´um (3 syl.), the horse on which the archangel Gabriel rode when he led a squadron of 3000 angels against the Koreishites (3 syl.) in the famous battle of Bedr.

Hakem´ or Hakeem, chief of the Druses, who resides at Deir-el-Kamar. The first hakem was the third Fatimite caliph, called B’amr-ellah, who professed to be incarnate deity, and the last prophet who had personal communication between God and man. He was slain on Mount Mokattam, near Cairo (Egypt).

Hakim (Adonbec el), Saladin in the disguise of a physicianphysician. He visited Richard Cœur de Lion in sickness; gave him a medicine in which the “talisman” had been dipped, and the sick king recovered from his fever.—Sir W. Scott, The Talisman (time, Richard I.).

Halcro (Claud), the old bard of Magnus Troil, the udaller of Zetland.—Sir W. Scott, The Pirate (time, William III.).

⁂ A udallar is one who holds his land by allodial tenure.

Halden or Halfdene (2 syl.), a Danish king, who with Basrig or Bagsecg, another 137Scandinavian king, made (in 871) a descent upon Wessex, and in that one year nine pitched battles were fought with the islanders. The first was Englefield, in Berkshire, in which the Danes were beaten; the second was Reading, in which the Danes were victorious; the third was the famous battle of Æscesdun or Ashdune, in which the Danes were defeated with great loss, and King Bagsecg was slain. In 909, Halfdene was slain in the battle of Wodnesfield (Staffordshire).

Hal´dimund (Sir Ewes), a friend of Lord Dalgarno.—Sir W. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel (time, James I.).

Hales (John), called “The Ever-Memorable” (1584-1656).

The works of John Hales were published after his death, in 1659, under the title of The Golden Remains of the Ever-Memorable Mr. John Hales of Eton College (three vols.).

Halifax (John), noble character, rising from poverty to affluence and honor by his own exertions, and winning for himself the name written by his mother in his Bible, “John Halifax, Gentleman.”—Dinah Maria Muloch, Mrs. Craik.

Halkit (Mr.), a young lawyer in the introduction of Sir W. Scott’s Heart of Midlothian (1818).

Hall (Sir Christopher), an officer in the army of Montrose.—Sir W. Scott, Legend of Montrose (time, Charles I.).

Hall (Ruth), vivacious woman, who is happily married, then widowed, reduced to poverty, and wins fortune and fame by her pen. Supposed to be the author’s own life under a thin veil of fiction.—Sarah Payson Willis (Fanny Fern), Ruth Hall (184-).

Haller (Mrs.). At the age of 16, Adelaid [Mrs. Haller] married the Count Waldbourg, from whom she eloped. The count then led a roving life, and was known as “the stranger.” The countess, repenting of her folly, assumed (for three years) the name of Mrs. Haller, and took service under the countess of Wintersen, whose affection she won by her amiability and sweetness of temper. Baron Steinfort fell in love with her, but hearing her tale, interested himself in bringing about a reconciliationreconciliation between Mrs. Haller and “the stranger,” who happened, at the time, to be living in the same neighborhood. They met and bade adieu, but when their children were brought forth, they relented, and rushed into each other’s arms.—Benj. Thompson, The Stranger (1797). Adapted from Kotzebue.

Halliday (Tom), a private in the royal army.—Sir W. Scott, Old Mortality (time Charles II.).

Hamarti´a, Sin personified, offspring of the red dragon and Eve. “A foul deformed” monster, “more foul deformed the sun yet never saw.” “A woman seemed she in the upper part,” but “the rest was in serpent form,” though out of sight. Fully described in canto xii. of The Purple Island (1633), by Phineas Fletcher. (Greek hamartia, “sin.”)

Hamet, son of Mandānê and Zamti (a Chinese mandarin). When the infant prince, Zaphimri, called “the orphan of China,” was committed to the care of 138Zamti, Hamet was sent to Corea, and placed under the charge of Morat; but when grown to manhood, he led a band of insurgents against Ti´murkan´ the Tartar, who had usurped the throne of China. He was seized and condemned to death, under the conviction that he was Zaphimri, the prince. Etan (who was the real Zaphimri) now came forward to acknowledge his rank, and Timurkan, unable to ascertain which was the true prince, ordered them both to execution. At this juncture a party of insurgents arrived, Hamet and Zaphimri were set at liberty, Timurkan was slain, and ZaphimriZaphimri was raised to the throne of his forefathers.—Murphy, The Orphan of China.

Hamet, one of the black slaves of Sir Brian de Bois Guilbert, preceptor of the Knights Templars.—Sir W. Scott, Ivanhoe (time, Richard I.).

Hamet, (the Cid) or The Cid Hamet Benengel´i, the hypothetical Moorish chronicler who is fabled by Cervantês to have written the adventures of “Don Quixote.”

The shrewd Cid Hamet, addressing himself to his pen, says, “And now my slender quill, whether skillfully cut or otherwise, here from this rack, suspended by a wire, shalt thou peacefully live to distant times, unless the hand of some rash historian disturb thy repose by taking thee down and profaning thee.”—Cervantes, Don Quixote (last chap., 1615).

Hamilton (Lady Emily), sister of Lord Evandale.—Sir W. Scott, Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).

Hamilton (Mrs.), model Christian mother, whose character and modes of government are delineated in Home Influence and The Mother’s Recompense.—Grace Aquilar (185-).

Hamiltrude (3 syl.), a poor Frenchwoman, the first of Charlemagne’s nine wives. She bore him several children.

Her neck was tinged with a delicate rose.... Her locks were bound about her temples with gold and purple bands. Her dress was looped up with ruby clasps. Her coronet and her purple robes gave her an air of surpassing majesty.—L’Epine, Croquemitaine, iii.

Hamlet, prince of Denmark, a man of mind, but not of action; nephew of Claudius, the reigning king, who had married the widowed queen. Hamlet loved Ophelia, daughter of Polo´nius, the lord chamberlain; but feeling it to be his duty to revenge his father’s murder, he abandoned the idea of marriage and treated Ophelia so strangely that she went mad, and, gathering flowers from a brook, fell into the water and was drowned. While wasting his energy in speculation, Hamlet accepted a challenge from Laertês of a friendly contest with foils; but Laertês used a poisoned rapier, with which he stabbed the young prince. A scuffle ensued, in which the combatants changed weapons, and Laertês being stabbed, both died.—Shakespeare, Hamlet (1596).

“The whole play,” says Schlegel, “is intended to show that calculating consideration which exhausts ... the power of action.” Goethe is of the same opinion, and says that “Hamlet is a noble nature, without the strength of nerve which forms a hero. He sinks beneath a burden which he cannot bear, and cannot [make up his mind to] cast aside.”

⁂ In the History of Hamblet, Hamlet’s father is called “Horvendille.”

139Hammer (The ),Judas Asamonæus, surnamed Maccabæus, “the hammer” (B.C. 166-136).

Charles Martel (689-741).(689-741).

On prétend qu’on lui donna le surnom de Martel parcequ’il avait écrasé comme avec un marteau les Sarrasins qui, sous la conduite d’Abdérame, avaient envahi la France.—Bouillet.

Hammer and Scourge of England, Sir William Wallace (1270-1305).

Hammer of Heretics.

1. Pierre D’Ailly, president of the council which condemned John Huss (1350-1425).

2. St. Augustine, “the pillar of truth and hammer of heresies” (395-430).—Hakewell.

3. John Faber. So called from the title of one of his works, Malleus Hereticorum (1470-1541).

Hammer of Scotland, Edward I. His son inscribed on his tomb: “Edwardus Longus Scotorum Malleus hic est” (1239, 1272-1307).

Hammerlein (Claus), the smith, one of the insurgents at Liège.—Sir W. Scott, Quentin Durward (time, Edward IV.).

Hamond, captain of the guard of Rollo (“the bloody brother” of Otto, and duke of Normandy). He stabs the duke, and Rollo stabs the captain; so that they kill each other.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Bloody Brother (1639).

Hamor (Everett), artist to whom Gwenn consents to sit as a model, and who reciprocates the favor by stealing her heart, his own fancy being enthralled, while he knows that he cannot marry her.

While she dances—a breathing poem, her clear eyes seeking Hamor’s with a kind of proud pleading—“Your smile, too, O my master,” they pleaded; “your smile to crown my joy,”—he is talking of art to a young Danish woman, also an artist, and not seeing Gwenn.—Blanche Willis Howard, Gwenn (1883).

Hampden (John), was born in London, but after his marriage lived as a country squire. He was imprisoned in the gatehouse for refusing to pay a tax called ship-money, imposed without the authority of parliament. The case was tried in the Exchequer Chamber, in 1638, and given against him. He threw himself heart and soul into the business of the Long Parliament, and commanded a troop in the parliamentary army. In 1643 he fell in an encounter with Prince Rupert; but he has ever been honored as a patriot, and the defender of the rights of the people (1597-1643).

Hamzu-ben-Ahmud, who, on the death of Hakeem. B’amr-ellah (called the incarnate deity and last prophet), was the most zealous propagator of the new faith, out of which the semi-Mohammedan sect, called Druses, subsequently arose.

N.B.—They were not called “Druses” till the eleventh century, when one of their “apostles,” called Durzi, led them from Egypt to Syria, and the sect was called by his name.

Handel’s Monument, in Westminster Abbey, is by Roubillac. It was the last work executed by this sculptor.

140Han (Sons of), the Chinese, so called from Hân, the village in which Lieou-pang was chief. Lieou-pang conquered all who opposed him, seized the supreme power, assumed the name of Kao-hoâng-tee and the dynasty, which lasted 422 years, was “the fifth imperial dynasty, or that of Hân.” It gave thirty emperors, and the seat of government was Yn. With this dynasty the modern history of China begins (B.C. 202 to A.D. 220).

Handsome Englishman (The). The French used to call John Churchill, duke of Marlborough, Le Bel Anglais (1650-1722).

Handsome Swordsman (The). Joachim Murat was popularly called Le Beau Sabreur (1767-1815).

Handy Andy, (See Andy).

Handy (Sir Abel), a great contriver of inventions which would not work, and of retrograde improvements. Thus “his infallible axletree” gave way when it was used, and the carriage was “smashed to pieces.” His substitute for gunpowder exploded, endangered his life, and set fire to the castle. His “extinguishing powder” might have reduced the flames, but it was not mixed, nor were his patent fire-engines in workable order. He said to Farmer Ashfield:

“I have obtained patents for tweezers, toothpicks, and tinder-boxes ... and have now on hand two inventions, ... one for converting saw-dust into deal boards, and the other for cleaning rooms by steam-engines.”

Lady Nelly Handy (his wife), formerly a servant in the house of Farmer Ashfield. She was full of affectations, overbearing, and dogmatical. Lady Nelly tried to “forget the dunghill whence she grew, and thought herself the Lord knows who.” Her extravagance was so great that Sir Abel said his “best coal-pit would not find her in white muslin, nor his India bonds in shawls and otto of roses.” It turned out that her first husband, Gerald, who had been absent twenty years, reappeared and claimed her. Sir Abel willingly resigned his claim, and gave Gerald £5000 to take her off his hands.

Robert Handy (always called Bob), son of Sir Abel by his first wife. He fancied he could do everything better than any one else. He taught the post boy to drive, but broke the horse’s knees. He taught Farmer Ashfield how to box, but got knocked down by him at the first blow. He told Dame Ashfield he had learned lace-making at Mechlin, and that she did not make it in the right way; but he spoilt her cushion in showing her how to do it. He told Lady Handy (his father’s bride) she did not know how to use the fan, and showed her; he told her she did not know how to curtsey, and showed her. Being pestered by this popinjay beyond endurance, she implored her husband to protect her from further insults. Though light-hearted, Bob was “warm, steady, and sincere.” He married Susan, the daughter of Farmer Ashfield.—Th. Morton, Speed the Plough (1798).

Hanging Judge (The), Sir Francis Page (1718-1741).

The earl of Norbury, who was chief justice of the Common Pleas in Ireland from 1820 to 1827, was also stigmatized with the same unenviable title.

Hannah. The friend of the Quaker widow in the garden after her husband’s funeral—“the single heart that comes at need.”—Bayard Taylor, The Quaker Widow.

141Hannah, housekeeper to Mr. Fairford, the lawyer.—Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George III.).

Hannah Thurston. A country girl, a Quaker by birth and breeding, whose Madonna face and nobility of character win the regard of a wealthy citizen of the world, a travelled man who yet does not sympathize with Hannah’s “progressive” ideas on the subject of woman’s suffrage, etc. He marries her and converts her.—Bayard Taylor, Hannah Thurston, (1868.)

Hans, a simple-minded boy of five and twenty, in love with Esther, but too shy to ask her in marriage. He is a “Modus” in a lower social grade; and Esther is a “cousin Helen,” who laughs at him, loves him, and teaches him how to make love to her and win her.—S. Knowles, The Maid of Mariendorpt (1838).

Hans, the pious ferryman on the banks of the Rhine.—Sir W. Scott, Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).

Hans (Adrian), a Dutch merchant killed at Boston.—Sir W. Scott, Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Hans of Iceland, a novel by Victor Hugo (1824). Hans is a stern, savage, Northern monster, ghastly and fascinating.

Hans von Rippach [Rip.pak], i.e. Jack of Rippach. Rippach is a village near Leipsic. This Hans von Rippach is is a “Mons. Nong-tong-pas,” that is, a person asked for, who does not exist. The “joke” is to ring a house up at some unseasonable hour, and ask for Herr Hans von Rippach or Mons. Nongtongpas.

Hanson (Neil), a soldier in the castle of Garde Doloureuse.—Sir W. Scott, The Betrothed (time, Henry II.).

Hanswurst, the “Jack Pudding” of old German comedy, but almost annihilated by Gottsched, in the middle of the eighteenth century. He was clumsy, huge in person, an immense gourmand, and fond of vulgar practical jokes.

⁂ The French “Jean Potage,” the Italian “Macaroni,” and the Dutch “Pickel Herringe,” were similar characters.

Hapmouche (2 syl.), i.e. “fly-catcher,” the giant who first hit upon the plan of smoking pork and neats’ tongues.—Rabelais, Pantagruel, ii. 1.

Happer or Hob. the miller who supplies St. Mary’s Convent.

Mysie Happer, the miller’s daughter. Afterwards, in disguise, she acts as the page of Sir Piercie Shafton, whom she marries.—Sir W. Scott, The Monastery (time, Elizabeth).

Happuck, a magician, brother of Ulin, the enchantress. He was the instigator of rebellion, and intended to kill the Sultan Misnar at a review, but Misnar had given orders to a body of archers to shoot the man who was left standing when the rest of the soldiers fell prostrate in adoration. Misnar went to the review, and commanded the army to give thanks to Allah for their victory, when all fell prostrate except Happuck, who was thus detected, and instantly despatched.—Sir C. Morell [James Ridley], Tales of the Genii (“The Enchanter’s Tale,” vi., 1751).

Have we prevailed against Ulin and Happuck, Ollomand and Tasnar, Ahaback and Desra; and shall we fear the contrivance of a poor vizier?—Tales of the Genii, vii. (1751).

142Har´apha, a descendant of Anak, the giant of Gath. He went to mock Samson in prison, but durst not venture within his reach.—Milton, Samson Agonistes (1632).

Harbor (In).

Har´bothel (Master Fabian), the squire of Sir Aymer de Valence.—Sir W. Scott, Castle Dangerous (time, Henry I.).

Hard Times, a novel by C. Dickens (1854), dramatized in 1867 under the titlef of Under the Earth or The Sons of Toil. Bounderby, a street Arab, raised himself to banker and cotton prince. When 55 years of age, he proposed marriage to Louisa, daughter of Thomas Gradgrind, Esq., J.P., and was accepted. One night the bank was robbed of £150, and Bounderby believed Stephen Blackpool to be the thief, because he had dismissed him, being obnoxious to the mill hands; but the culprit was Tom Gradgrind, the banker’s brother-in-law, who lay perdu for a while, and then escaped out of the country. In the dramatized version, the bank was not robbed at all, but Tom merely removed the money to another drawer for safe custody.

Hardcastle (Squire), a jovial, prosy, but hospitable country gentleman of the old school. He loves to tell his long-winded stories about Prince Eugene and the duke of Marlborough. He says, “I love everything that’s old—old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wine,” and he might have added, “old stories.”

Mrs. Hardcastle, a very “genteel” lady indeed. Mr. Hardcastle is her second husband, and Tony Lumpkin her son by her former husband. She is fond of “genteel” society, and the last fashions. Mrs. Hardcastle says, “There’s nothing in the world I love to talk of so much as London and the fashions, though I was never there myself.” She, foolishly mistaking her husband for a highwayman, and imploring him on her knees to take their watches, money, all they have got, but to spare their lives: “Here, good gentleman, whet your rage upon me, take my money, my life, but spare my child!” is infinitely comic.

The princess, like Mrs. Hardcastle, was jolted to a jelly.—Lord W.P. Lennox, Celebrities, i. 1.

Miss Hardcastle, the pretty, bright-eyed, lively daughter of Squire Hardcastle. She is in love with young Marlow, and “stoops” to a pardonable deceit “to conquer” his bashfulness and win him.—Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer (1773).

Hardie (Mr.), a young lawyer, in the introduction of Sir W. Scott’s Heart of Midlothian (1818).

Hardie (Alfred), lover of Julia Dodd, in Charles Reade’s Very Hard Cash. His father, Richard Hardie, wealthy and fraudulent banker, cheats David Dodd, Julia’s father, of £14,000, and hinders his son’s marriage to the daughter of his victim by every means in his power, going so far as to shut him up in an insane asylum on what was to have been his wedding-day.—Charles Reade, Very Hard Cash.

143Hardouin (2 syl.). Jean Hardouin, the jesuit, was librarian to Louis XIV. He doubted the truth of all received history; denied that the Æne´id was the work of Virgil, or the Odes of Horace the production of that poet; placed no credence in medals and coins; regarded all councils before that of Trent as chimerical; and looked on all Jansenists as infidels (1646-1729).

Hardy (Mr.), father of Letitia. A worthy little fellow enough, but with the unfortunate gift of “foreseeing” everything (act v. 4).

Letitia Hardy, his daughter, the fiancée of Dor´icourt. A girl of great spirit and ingenuity, beautiful and clever. Doricourt dislikes her without knowing her, simply because he has been betrothed to her by his parents; but she wins him by stratagem. She first assumes the airs and manners of a raw country hoyden, and disgusts the fastidious man of fashion. She then appears at a masquerade, and wins him by her many attractions. The marriage is performed at midnight, and, till the ceremony is over, Doricourt has no suspicion that the fair masquerader is his affianced, Miss Hardy.—Mrs. Cowley, The Belle’s Stratagem (1780).

Harding (Mr.), gentle warden of Barchester almshouse; precentor and rector of St. Cuthbert’s. Harried nearly out of his sober wits by newspaper persecution.—Anthony Trollope, The Warden and Barchester Towers.

Haredale (Geoffrey), brother of Reuben, the uncle of Emma Haredale. He was a papist, and incurred the malignant hatred of Gashford (Lord George Gordon’s secretary) by exposing him in Westminster Hall. Geoffrey Haredale killed Sir John Chester in a duel, but made good his escape, and ended his days in a monastery.

Reuben Haredale, (2 syl.), brother of Geoffrey, and father of Emma Haredale. He was murdered.

Emma Haredale, daughter of Reuben, and niece of Geoffrey, with whom she lived at “The Warren.” Edward Chester entertained a tendresse for Emma Haredale.—C. Dickens, Barnaby Rudge (1841).

Harefoot (Harold). So Harold I. was called because he was swift of foot as a hare (1035-1040).

Hargrave, a man of fashion. The hero and title of a novel by Mrs. Trollope (1843).

Harley, “the man of feeling.” A man of the finest sensibilities and unbounded benevolence, but bashful as a maiden.—Mackenzie, The Man of Feeling (1771).

The principal object of Mackenzie is ... to reach and sustain a tone of moral pathos by representing the effect of incidents ... upon the human mind, ... especially those which are just, honorable, and intelligent.—Sir W. Scott.

Harlot (The Infamous Northern), Elizabeth Petrowna, empress of Russia (1709-1761).

Har´lowe (Clarissa), a young lady, who, to avoid a marriage to which her heart cannot consent, but to which she is urged by her parents, casts herself on the protection of a lover, who most scandalously abuses the confidence reposed in him. He afterwards proposes marriage; but she rejects his proposal, and retires to a solitary dwelling, where she pines to death with grief and shame.—S. Richardson, The History of Clarissa Harlowe (1749).

The dignity of Clarissa under her disgrace ... reminds us of the saying of the ancient poet, 144that a good man struggling with the tide of adversity, and surmounting it, is a sight upon which the immortal gods might look down with pleasure.—Sir W. Scott.

The moral elevation of this heroine, the saintly purity which she preserves amidst scenes of the deepest depravity and the most seductive gaiety, and the never-failing sweetness and benevolence of her temper, render Clarissa one of the brightest triumphs of the whole range of imaginative literature.—Chambers, English Literature, ii. 161.

Harmon (John), alias John Rokesmith, Mr. Boffin’s secretary. He lodged with the Wilfers, and ultimately married Bella Wilfer. He is described as “a dark gentleman, 30 at the utmost, with an expressive, one might say, a handsome face.”—C. Dickens, Our Mutual Friend (1864).

⁂ For explanation of the mystery see vol. I. ii. 13.

Harmo´nia’s Necklace, an unlucky possession, something which brings evil to its possessor. Harmonia was the daughter of Mars and Venus. On the day of her marriage with King Cadmus, she received a necklace made by Vulcan for Venus. This unlucky ornament afterwards passed to Sem´elê, then to Jocasta, then Eriphy´lê, but it was equally fatal in every case. (See Luck.)—Ovid, Metaph., iv. 5; Statius, Thebaid, ii.

Harmonious Blacksmith. It is said that the sound of hammers on an anvil suggested to Handel the “theme” of the musical composition to which he has given this name.—See Schoelcher, Life of Handel, 65.

A similar tale is told of Pythagoras.

Harmony (Mr.), a general peace-maker. When he found persons at variance, he went to them separately, and told them how highly the other spoke and thought of him or her. If it were man and wife, he would tell the wife how highly her husband esteemed her, and would apply the “oiled feather” in a similar way to the husband. “We all have our faults,” he would say, “and So-and-so-knows it, and grieves at his infirmity of temper; but though he contends with you, he praised you to me this morning in the highest terms.” By this means he succeeded in smoothing many a ruffled mind.—Inchbald, Every One has His Fault (1794).

Harold “the Dauntless,” son of Witikind, the Dane. “He was rocked on a buckler, and fed from a blade.” Harold married Eivir, a Danish maid, who had waited on him as a page.—Sir W. Scott, Harold the Dauntless (1817).

Harold (Childe), a man of good birth, lofty bearing, and peerless intellect, who has exhausted by dissipation the pleasures of youth, and travels. Sir Walter Scott calls him “Lord Byron in a fancy dress.” In canto i. the childe visits Portugal and Spain (1809); in canto ii., Turkey in Europe (1810); in canto iii., BelgiumBelgium and Switzerland (1816); in canto iv., Venice, Rome, and Florence (1817).