PREFACE. (continued 11)

311Learned (The), Coloman, king of Hungary (*, 1095-1114).

Learned Blacksmith (The), Elihu Burritt, the linguist (1811-1879).

He studied Latin in the evening after working at the forge all day, and carried his Greek grammar in his hat, finding opportunity to place the book, now and then, against the forge-chimney and go through with tupto, tupteis, tuptei, unperceived by his fellow-apprentices. Unassisted and at night he, one winter, read twenty books of The Iliad. He also mastered, but with the aid of teachers, French, Spanish, German and Italian, and read, at the forge, works in these tongues. Hebrew he studied alone. By studying seven hours a day (never remitting his manual labor) he learned fifty languages and dialects, besides acquiring much and valuable scientific information.

Learned Painter (The), Charles Lebrun, noted for the accuracy of his costumes (1619-1690).

Learned Tailor (The), Henry Wild, of Norwich, who mastered, while he worked at his trade, Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Chaldaic, Syriac, Persian, and Arabic (1684-1734).

Learned Theban (A), a guesser of riddles or dark sayings; in allusion to Œdipos, king of Thebes, who solved the riddle of the Sphinx.

I’ll talk a word with this same learned Theban.

Shakespeare, King Lear, act iii. sc. 4 (1605).

Learoyd. The Yorkshireman who completes the trio of friends in Rudyard Kipling’s story Soldiers Three. He “was born on the wolds and bred in the dales. ... His chief virtue was an unmitigated patience which helped him to win fights.”—Soldiers Three.

Leather-Stockings, the nickname of Natty Bumppo, a half-savage and half-Christian chevalier of American wild-life. He appears in five of J. F. Cooper’s novels, hence called the Leather-stocking Tales.—See Bumppo.

Le Castre, the indulgent father of Mirable “the wild goose,” Beaumont and Fletcher, The Wild-goose Chase (1652).

L’Eclair (Philippe), orderly of Captain Florian. L’Eclair is a great boaster, who masks his brag under the guise of modesty. He pays his court to Rosabelle, the lady’s-maid of Lady Geraldine.—W. Dimond, The Foundling of the Forest.

Led Captain (A), an obsequious person, who styles himself “Captain;” and, out of cupboard love, dances attendance on the master and mistress of a house.

Mr. Wagg, the celebrated wit, and a led captain and trencherman of my Lord Steyne, was caused by the ladies to make the assault.—Thackeray, Vanity Fair, li. (1848).

Lee (Sir Henry), an officer in attendance at Greenwich Palace.—Sir W. Scott, Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

Lee (Sir Henry), an old royalist, and head-ranger of Woodstock Forest.

Alice Lee, daughter of the old knight. She married Markham Everard.

Colonel Albert Lee, her brother, the friend of Charles II.—Sir W. Scott, Woodstock (time, commonwealth).

Leek, worn on St. David’s Day. The general tale is that King Cadwallader, in 640, gained a complete victory over the Saxons by the special interposition of St. 312David, who ordered the Britons to wear leeks in their caps, that they might recognize each other. The Saxons, for want of some common cognizance, often mistook friends for foes. Drayton gives another version: He says the saint lived in the valley Ewias (2 syl.), situated between the Hatterill Hills, in Monmouthshire. It was here “that reverend British saint to contemplation lived,”

... and did so truly fast,

As he did only drink what crystal Hodney yields,

And fed upon the leeks he gathered in the fields,

In memory of whom, in each revolving year,

The Welshmen, on his day [March 1], that sacred herb do wear.

Polyolbion, iv. (1612).

Lefevre (Lieutenant), a poor officer dying from want and sickness. His pathetic story is told by Sterne, in a novel called The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy (1759).

“Mr. Fulmer, I have borrowed a book from your shop. ’Tis the sixth volume of my deceased friend, Tristram.... The divine story of Lefevre, which makes part of this book, ... does honor, not to its author only, but to human nature.”—Cumberland, The West Indian, ii. 1.

Legend (Sir Sampson), a foolish, testy, prejudiced, and obstinate old man, between 50 and 60. His favorite oath is “Odd!” He tries to disinherit his elder son, Valentine, for his favorite son Ben, a sailor; and he fancies Angelica is in love with him, when she only intends to fool him.

He says: “I know the length of the emperor of China’s foot, have kissed the Great Mogul’s slipper, and have rid a-hunting upon an elephant with the cham of Tartary.”—W. Congreve, Love for Love, ii. (1695).

“Sir Sampson Legend” is such another lying, over-bearing character, but he does not come up to “Sir Epicure Mammon” [in Ben Jonson’s play, The Alchemist].—C. Lamb.

Legend (The Golden), a semi-dramatic poem by Longfellow, taken from an old German tale by Hartmann von der Aue [Our], called Poor Henry (1851). Hartmann was one of the minnesingers, and lived in the twelfth century. (See Henry, Poor.)

Legend of Montrose, a novel by Sir W. Scott (1819). This brief, imperfect story contains one of Scott’s best characters, the redoubted Rittmaster, Dugald Dalgetty, a combination of soldado and pedantic student of Mareschal College, Aberdeen.

Legends (Golden), a collection of monkish legends, in Latin, by Jacob de Voragine or Varagine, born at Varaggio, in Grenoa. He wrote Legenda Sancta, which was so popular that it was called “Legenda Aurea” (1230-1298).

Legion of Honor, an order of merit, instituted by Napoleon I. when “first consul,” in 1802. The undress badges are, for:

Chevaliers, a bow of red ribbon in the buttonhole of their coat, to which a medal is attached.

Officers, a rosette of red ribbon, etc., with medal.

Commanders, a collar-ribbon.

Grand-officers, a broad ribbon under the waistcoat.

Grand-cross, a broad ribbon, with a star on the breast, and a jewel-cross pendant.

⁂ Napoleon III. instituted a lower degree than Chevalier, called Médaille Militaire, distinguished by a yellow ribbon.

Legree, a slave-dealer and hideous villain, brutalized by slave-dealing and slave-driving.—Harriet Beecher Stowe Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1853).

313Leicester (The earl of), in the court of Queen Elizabeth.

The countess of Leicester (born Amy Robsart), but previously betrothed to Edmund Tressilian.—Sir W. Scott, Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

Leigh (Aurora), the heroine and title of a poem by Mrs. Browning. The design of this poem is to show the noble aim of true art.

Leila, the young Turkish child rescued by Don Juan at the siege of Ismail (canto viii. 93-102). She went with him to St. Petersburg, and then he brought her to England. As Don Juan was never completed, the future history of Leila has no sequel.

... at his side

Sat little Leila, who survived the parries

He made ’gainst Cossack sabres, in the wide

Slaughter of Ismail.

Byron, Don Juan, x. 51 (1824).

Leila (2 syl.), the beautiful slave of the Caliph Hassan. She falls in love with “the Giaour” [djow´.er], flees from the seraglio, is overtaken, and cast into the sea.

Her eyes’ dark charm ’twere vain to tell;

But gaze on that of the gazelle—

It will assist thy fancy well.

Byron, The Giaour (1813).

Leilah, the Oriental type of female loveliness, chastity, and impassioned affection. Her love for Mejnôun, in Mohammedan romance, is held in much the same light as that of the bride for the bridegroom in Solomon’s song, or Cupid and Psychê among the Greeks.

When he sang the loves of Megnôun and Leileh [sic] ... tears insensibly overflowed the cheeks of his auditors.—W. Beckford, Vathek (1786).

L. E. L., pseudonym of Letitia Elizabeth Landon (afterwards Mrs. Maclean), poetess (1802-1838).

Lela Marien, the Virgin Mary.

In my childhood, my father kept a slave, who, in my own tongue [Arabic], instructed me in the Christian worship, and informed me of many things of Lela Marien.—Cervantes, Don Quixote, I. iv. 10 (1605).

Le´lia, a cunning, wanton widow, with whom Julio is in love.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Captain (1613).

Lélie (2 syl.) a young man engaged to Célie, daughter of Gorgibus; but Gorgibus insists that his daughter shall give up Lélie for Valère, a much richer man. Célie faints on hearing this, and drops the miniature of Lélie, which is picked up by Sganarelle’s wife. Sganarelle finds it, and, supposing it to be a lover of his wife, takes possession of it, and recognizes Lélie as the living original. Lélie asks how he came by it, is told he took it from his wife, and concludes that he means Célie. He accuses her of infidelity in the presence of Sganarelle, and the whole mystery is cleared up.—Molière, Sganarelle (1660).

Lélie, an inconsequential, light-headed, but gentlemanly coxcomb.—Molière, L’Etourdi (1653).

Lemnian Deed (A), one of unparalleled cruelty and barbarity. This Greek phrase owes its origin to the legend that the Lemnian women rose one night, and put to death every man and male child in the island.

On another occasion they slew all the men and all the children born of Athenian parents.

Lemuel Barker, young rustic, who, 314encouraged by Rev. Mr. Sewall’s praise of certain of his verses, comes to Boston in the hope of achieving literary fame. He is, in turn, fleeced by sharpers, almost starved, put into the positions of elevator boy, private reader, horse-car conductor, etc. Is entrapped into an engagement of marriage with a vulgar, but respectable girl, and wiser and soberer for each experience, takes his place as a worthy citizen.—W. D. Howells, The Minister’s Charge (1886).

Lenore, a name which Edgar Poe has introduced in two of his poems; one called The Raven, and the other called Lenore (1811-1849).

Lenore, the heroine of Bürger’s ballad of that name, in which a spectral lover appears to his mistress after death, and carries her on horseback, behind him, to the graveyard, where their marriage is celebrated amid a crew of howling goblins.

⁂ The Suffolk Miracle is an old English ballad of like character.

Lenormand (Mdlle.), a famous tireuse de cartes. She was a squat, fussy, little old woman, with a gnarled and knotted visage, and an imperturbable eye. She wore her hair cut short, and parted on one side, like that of a man; dressed in an odd-looking casaquin, embroidered and frogged like the jacket of an hussar; and snuffed continually. This was the little old woman whom Napoleon I. regularly consulted before setting out on a campaign. Mdlle. Lenormand foretold to Josephine her divorce; and when Murat, king of Naples, visited her in disguise, she gave him the cards to cut, and he cut four times in succession le grand pendu (king of diamonds); whereupon Mdlle. rose and said, “La séance est terminée; c’est dix louis pour les rois;” pocketed the fee, and left the room taking snuff.

(In cartomancy, le grand pendu signifies that the person to which it is dealt, or who cuts it, will die by the hands of the executioner.)executioner.)

Lent (Galeazzo’s), a form of torture devised by Galeazzo Visconti, calculated to prolong the victim’s life for forty days.

Len´ville (2 syl.), first tragedian at the Portsmouth Theatre. When Nicholas Nickleby joined the company Mr. Lenville was jealous, and attempted to pull his nose; but Nicholas pulled the nose of Mr. Lenville instead.—C. Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby (1888).

Leodegraunce or Leodegran, king of Camelyard, father of Guenever (King Arthur’s wife). Uther, the pendragon, gave him the famous Round Table, which would seat 150 knights (pt. i. 45); and when Arthur married Guenever, Leodegraunce gave him the table and 100 knights as a wedding gift (pt. i. 45). The table was made by Merlin, and each seat had on it the name of the knight to whom it belonged. One of the seats was called the “Siege Perilous,” because no one could sit on it without “peril of his life,” except Sir Galahad, the virtuous and chaste, who accomplished the quest of the Holy Graal.—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur (1470).

Leodogran, the king of Cameliard (sic),

Had one fair daughter and none other child;

And she was fairest of all flesh on earth,

Guinevere, and in her his one delight.

Tennyson, Coming of Arthur.

Le´oline (3 syl.) one of the male attendants of Dionys´ia, wife of Cleon, governor of Tarsus, and employed by his mistress to murder Mari´na, the orphan 315daughter of Prince Periclês, who had been committed to her charge to bring up. Leoline took Marina to the shore with this view, when some pirates seized her, and sold her at Metali´nê for a slave. Leoline told his mistress that the orphan was dead, and Dionysia raised a splendid sepulchre to her memory.—Shakespeare, Pericles, Prince of Tyre (1608).

Leon, son of Constantine, the Greek emperor. Amon and Beatrice, the parents of Bradamant, promise to him their daughter Bradamant in marriage; but the lady is in love with Roge´ro. When Leon discovers this attachment, he withdraws his suit, and Bradamant marries Rogero.—Ariosto, Orlando Furioso (1516).

Leon, the hero who rules Margaritta, his wife, wisely, and wins her esteem and wifely obedience. Margaritta is a wealthy Spanish heiress, who married in order to indulge in wanton intrigues more freely. She selected Leon because he was supposed to be a milksop whom she could bend to her will; but no sooner is she married than Leon acts with manly firmness and determination, but with great affection also. He wins the esteem of every one, and Margaritta becomes a loving, devoted, virtuous, and obedient wife.—Beaumont and Fletcher, Rule a Wife and Have a Wife (1640).

Edward Kynaston [1619-1687] executed the part of “Leon” with a determined manliness, well worth the best actor’s imitation. He had a piercing eye, and a quick, imperious vivacity of voice.—Colley Cibber.

Leonard, a real scholar, forced for daily bread to keep a common school.—Crabbe, Borough, xxiv. (1810).

Leonardo [Gonzaga], duke of Mantua, travelling in Switzerland, an avalanche fell on him, and he was nursed through a severe illness by Mariana, the daughter of a Swiss burgher and they fell in love with each other. On his return home he was entrapped by brigands, and kept prisoner for two years. Mariana, seeking him, went to Mantua, where Count Florio fell in love with her, and obtained her guardian’s consent to their union; but Mariana refused to comply. The case was referred to the duke (Ferrardo), who gave judgment in favor of the count. Leonardo happened to be present, and throwing off his disguise, assumed his rank as duke, and married Mariana; but being called away to the camp, left Ferrardo regent. Ferrardo laid a most villainous scheme to prove Mariana guilty of adultery with Julian St. Pierre; but Leonardo refused to credit her guilt. Julian turned out to be her brother, exposed the whole plot, and amply vindicated Mariana of the slightestslightest indiscretion.—S. Knowles, The Wife (1833).

Leona´to, governor of Messina, father of Hero and uncle of Beatrice.—Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing (1600).

Leonesse (3 syl.) Leonesse, Leonnais, Leones, Leonnoys, Lyonnoys, etc., a mythical country belonging to Cornwall, supposed to have been sunk under the sea since the time of King Arthur. It is very frequently mentioned in the Arthurian romances.

Leonidas of Modern Greece, Marco Bozzaris, a Greek patriot, who with 1200 men, put to rout 4000 Turco-Albanians, at Kerpenisi, but was killed in the attack (1823). He was buried at Mesolonghi.

Leonilla Lynmore. Artless girl brought up by her mother in ignorance 316of all sorts of superstitious fancies. At eighteen, she visits the Rookleys, an old Boston family, with whom belief in portents and apparitions is a part of religious belief. The result of signs and wonders, apparently accomplished is a brain fever. She recovers, shaken in nerve, but sane, and shows it by marrying Captain Seaforth. Eliza Leslie, Leonilla Lynmore (1840).

Le´onine (3 syl.), servant to Dionyza.—Shakespeare, Pericles, Prince of Tyre (1608).

Leonine Verse. So called from Leonius, a canon of the church of St. Victor in Paris, in the twelfth century, who first composed them. It is a verse with a rhyme in the middle as:

Pepper is black, though it hath a good smack.

Est avis in dextra melior quam quatuor extra.

Leonnoys or Leonesse (q.v.), a country once joining Cornwall, but now sunk in the sea full forty fathoms deep. Sir Tristram was born in Leonês or Leonnoys, and is always called a Cornish knight.

⁂ Tennyson calls the word “Lyonesse,” but Sir T. Malory “Leonês.”

Léonor, sister of Isabelle, an orphan; brought up by Ariste (2 syl.), according to his notions of training a girl to make him a good wife. He put her on her honor, tried to win her confidence and love, gave her all the liberty consistent with propriety and social etiquette, and found that she loved him, and made him a fond and faithful wife. (See(See Isabelle.)—Molière, L’école des Maris (1661).

Leono´ra, the usurping queen of Aragon, betrothed to Bertran, a prince of the blood-royal, but in love with Torrismond, general of the forces. It turns out that Torrismond is son and heir of Sancho the deposed king. Sancho is restored, and Torrismond marries Leonora.—Dryden, The Spanish Fryar (1680).

Leonora, betrothed to Don Carlos, but Don Carlos resigned her to Don Alonzo, to whom she proved a very tender and loving wife. Zanga the Moor, out of revenge, poisoned the mind of Alonzo against his wife by insinuating her criminal love for Don Carlos. Out of jealousy, Alonzo had his friend put to death, and Leonora, knowing herself suspected, put an end to her life.—Edward Young, The Revenge (1721).

Leonora, the daughter of poor parents, who struck the fancy of Don Diego. The Don made a compact with her parents to take her home with him and place her under a duenna for three months, to ascertain if her temper was as sweet as her face was pretty, and at the expiration of that time, either to return her spotless or to make her his wife. At the end of three months, Don Diego (a man of 60) goes to arrange for the marriage, locking his house and garden, as he supposes, securely; but Leander, a young student, smitten with Leonora, makes his way into the house, and is about to elope with her when the don returns. Like a man of sense, Don Diego at once sees the suitability of the match, consents to the union of the young people, and even settles a marriage portion on Leonora, his ward if not his wife.—I. Bickerstaff, The Padlock.

Leonora, betrothed to Ferdinand, a fiery young Spaniard (jealous of Donna Clara, who has assumed boy’s clothes for a time). Ferdinand despises the “amphibious coxcomb,” and calls his rival “a vile compound 317of fringe, lace, and powder.”—Jephson, Two Strings to your Bow (1792).

Leonora, the heroine of Miss Edgeworth’s novel of the same name. The object of the tale is to make the reader feel what is good, and desirous of being so (1806).

Leonora, wife of Fernando Florestan, a State prisoner in Seville. In order to effect her husband’s release, she assumed the attire of a man, and the name of Fidelio. In this disguise she entered the service of Rocco, the jailer, and Marcellina, the jailer’s daughter, fell in love with her. Pizzaro, the governor of the prison resolving to assassinate Fernando Florestan, sent Rocco and Fidelio to dig his grave in the prison-cell. When Pizarro descended to perpetrate the deed of blood, Fidelio drew a pistol on him; and the minister of State, arriving at this crisis, ordered the prisoner to be released. Leonora (Fidelio) was allowed to unlock her husband’s chains, and Pizarro’s revenge came to naught.—Beethoven, Fidelio (an opera, 1791).

Leonora, a princess, who falls in love with Manri´co, the supposed son of Azuce´na, a gypsy, but in reality the son of Garzia (brother of the Conte di Luna). The Conte di Luna entertains a base passion for the princess, and, getting Manrico into his power, is about to kill him, when Leonora intercedes, and promises to give herself to the count if he will spare his nephew’s life. The count consents; but while he goes to release Manrico, Leonora kills herself by sucking poison from a ring, and Manrico dies also.—Verdi, Il Trovato´rê (an opera, 1853).

Leonora (The History of), an episode in the novel of Joseph Andrews, by Fielding (1742).

Leonora [d’Este] (2 syl.), sister of Alfonso II., reigning duke of Ferrara. The poet Tasso conceived a violent passion for this princess, “but she knew it not nor viewed it with disdain.” Leonora never married, but lived with her eldest sister, Lauretta, duchess of Urbino, who was separated from her husband. The episode of Sophronia and Olindo (Jerusalem Delivered, ii.) is based on this love incident. The description of Sophronia is that of Leonora, and her ignorance of Olindo’s love points to the poet’s unregarded devotion.

But thou ... shalt have

One half the laurel which o’ershades my grave ...

Yes, Leonora, it shall be our fate

To be entwined forever—but too late.

Byron, The Lament of Tasso (1817).

Leonora de Guzman, the “favorite” of Alfonzo XI., of Castile. FernandoFernando, not knowing that she was the king’s mistress, fell in love with her; and Alfonzo, to reward Fernando’s services, gave her to him in marriage. No sooner was this done, than the bridegroom learned the character of his bride, rejected her with scorn, and became a monk. Leonora became a noviciate in the same convent, obtained her husband’s forgiveness, and died.—Donizetti, La Favorita (an opera, 1842).

Leon´tes (3 syl.), king of Sicily. He invited his old friend Polixenês, king of Bohemia, to come and stay with him, but became so jealous of him that he commanded Camillo to poison him. Instead of doing so, Camillo warned Polixenês of his danger, and fled with him to Bohemia. The rage of Leontês was now unbounded, and he cast his wife Hermionê into prison, 318where she gave birth to a daughter. The king ordered the infant to be cast out on a desert shore, and then brought his wife to a public trial. Hermionê fainted in court, the king had her removed, and Paulina soon came to announce that the queen was dead. Ultimately, the infant daughter was discovered under the name of Perdĭta, and was married to Florizel, the son of Polixenês. Hermionê was also discovered to the king in a tableau vivant, and the joy of Leontês was complete.—Shakespeare, The Winter’s Tale (1604).

Leon´tius, a brave but merry old soldier.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Humorous Lieutenant (1647).

Le´opold, a sea-captain, enamoured of Hippol´yta, a rich lady, wantonly in love with Arnoldo. Arnoldo, however, is contracted to the chaste Zeno´cia, who is basely pursued by the governor, Count Clodio.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Custom of the Country (1647).

Leopold, archduke of Austria, a crusader who arrested Richard I. on his way home from the Holy Land.—Sir W. Scott, The Talisman (time, Richard I.).

Leopold, nicknamed Peu-à-peu by George IV. Stein, speaking of Leopold’s vacillating conduct in reference to the Greek throne, says of him: “He has no color,” i.e., no fixed plan of his own, but only reflects the color of those around him; in other words, he is “blown about by every wind.”

Lepol´emo (The Exploits and Adventures of), part of the series called Le Roman des Romans, pertaining to “Amadis, of Gaul.” This part was added by Pedro de Lujan.

Leporello, in The Libertine, by Shadwell (1676).

The following advertisement from Liston appeared in June, 1817:—

“My benefit takes place this evening at Covent Garden Theatre, and I doubt not will be splendidly attended.... I shall perform ‘Fogrun,’ in The Slave, and ‘Leporello’ in The Libertine. In the delineation of these arduous characters I shall display much feeling and discrimination, together with great taste in my dresses, and elegance of manner. The audiences will be delighted, and will testify their approbation by rapturous applause. When, in addition to my professional merits, regard is had to the loveliness of my person and the fascination of my face, ... there can be no doubt that this announcement will receive the attention it deserves.”—J. Liston.

Leporello, the valet of Don Giovanni.—Mozart, Don Giovanni (an opera, 1787).

Lermites and Martafax, two rats that conspired against the White Cat.—Comtesse D’Aunoy, Fairy Tales (“The White Cat” 1682).

Lesbia, the poetic name given by the poet Catullus to his mistress, Clodia.

Lesbia’s Sparrow. One of the best known of the poems of Catullus is the one called Lesbia’s Sparrow, in which the girl so prettily laments the loss of her favorite bird. It has been often translated.

Lesbian Poets (The), Terpander, Alcæus, Ari´on, and the poetess Sappho.

Lesbian Rule, squaring the rule from the act, and not the act from the rule; like correcting a sun-dial by a clock, and not the clock by the sun-dial. A specious excuse for doing, or not doing, as inclination dictates.

319Lesley (Captain), a friend of Captain M’Intyre.—Sir W. Scott, The Antiquary (time, George III.).

Leslie (General), a parliamentary leader.—Sir W. Scott, Legend of Montrose (time, Charles I.).

Leslie (Hope). Heroine of a novel of colonial life, the scene of which is laid in Agawam (Springfield), Mass.—Catherine Maria Sedgwick, Hope Leslie (1827).

Leslie (Norman). Hero of a novel of New York life, early in the nineteenth century. He is wrongfully accused of a murder, and although the charge is not proved, rests under the ban with the public for years, until the real criminal is brought to light.—Theodore S. Fay, Norman Leslie (1835).

Lesly (Ludovic), surnamed Le Balafré, an old archer in the Scotch guard of Louis XI., of France. Uncle of Quentin Durward.—Sir W. Scott, Quentin Durward (time, Edward IV.).

Lesurques (Jerome), a solicitor, who, being in greatly reduced circumstances, holds the White Lion inn, unknown to his son (act i. 2).

Joseph Lesurques (2 syl.), son of the solicitor, and father of Julie. He is so like Dubosc, the highwayman, that he is accused of robbing the night-mail from Lyons, and murdering the courier.

Julie Lesurques, daughter of Joseph Lesurques, in love with Didier. When her father is imprisoned, she offers to release Didier from his engagement; but he remains loyal throughout.—Edward Stirling, The Courier of Lyons (1852).

Letters (Greek). Cadmus, the Phœnician, introduced sixteen; Simonidês and Epicharmos (the poets) introduced six or eight others; but there is the greatest diversity as to what letters, or how many, are to be attributed to them. Aristotle says Epicharmos introduced θ, χ; others ascribe to him ξ, η, ψ, ω. Dr. Smith, in his Classical Dictionary, tells us Simonidês introduced “the long vowels and double letters” (η, ω, θ, χ, φ, ψ). Lempriere, under “Cadmus,” ascribes to him θ, ζ, ψ, χ; and under “Simonides,” η, ω, ξ, ψ. Others maintain that the Simonidês letters are η, ω, ζ, ψ.

Letters (Father of), François I., of France, Père des Lettres (1494, 1515-1547). Lorenzo de Medici, “the Magnificent” (1448-1492).

Leuca´dia’s Rock, a promontory, the south extremity of the island Leucas or Leucadia, in the Ionian Sea. Sappho leapt from this rock when she found her love for Pha´on unrequited. At the annual festival of Apollo, a criminal was hurled from Leucadia’s Rock into the sea; but birds of various sorts were attached to him, in order to break his fall, and if he was not killed he was set free. The leap from this rock is called “The Lovers’ Leap.”

All those may leap who rather would be neuter

(Leucadia’s Rock still overlooks the wave).

Byron, Don Juan, ii. 205 (1819).

Leucip´pe (3 syl.), wife of Menippus; a bawd who caters for king Antig´onus, who, although an old man, indulges in the amorous follies of a youth.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Humorous Lieutenant (1647).

Leucoth´ea, once called “Ino.” Ath´amas, son of Æŏlus, had by her two sons, 320one of whom was named Melicer´tês. Athamas, being driven mad, Ino and Melicertês threw themselves into the sea; Ino became Leucothea, and Melicertês became Palæmon or Portumnus, the god of ports or strands. Leucothea means the “white goddess,” and is used for “Matuta” or the dawn, which precedes sunrise, i.e. Aurora.

By Leucothea’s lovely hands,

And her son that rules the strands.

Milton, Comus, 875 (1634).

To resalute the world with sacred light,

Leucothea waked, and with fresh dews embalmed

The earth.

Milton, Paradise Lost, xi. 135 (1665).

Leven (The earl of), a parliamentary leader.—Sir W. Scott, Legend of Montrose (time, Charles I.).

Leviathan of Literature (The), Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-1784).

Levites (The), in Dryden’s Absalom and Achitophel, means the nonconformist ministers expelled by the Act of Conformity (1681-2).

Levitt (Frank), a highwayman.—Sir W. Scott, Heart of Midlothian (time, George II.).

Lewis (Don), brother of Antonio, and uncle of Carlos, the bookworm, of whom he is dotingly fond. Don Lewis is no scholar himself, but he adores scholarship. He is headstrong and testy, simple-hearted and kind.

Lewis (Lord), father of Angeli´na.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Elder Brother (1637).

Lewis (Matthew Gregory), generally called “Monk Lewis,” from his romance, The Monk (1794). His best known verses are the ballads of Alonzo the Brave, and Bill Jones. He also wrote a drama entitled Timour, the Tartar (1775-1818).

Oh! wonder-working Lewis! Monk or bard,

Who fain would make Parnassus a churchyard!

Lo! wreaths of yew, not laurel, bind thy brow;

Thy Muse a sprite, Apollo’s sexton thou.

Byron, English Bards and Scotch Reviewers (1809).

Lewis Baboon. Louis XIV., of France, is so called by Dr. Arbuthnot in his History of John Bull. Baboon is a pun on the word Bourbon, specially appropriate to this royal “posture-master” (1712).

Lew´some (2 syl.), a young surgeon and general practitioner. He forms the acquaintance of Jonas Chuzzlewit, and supplies him with the poison which he employs.—C. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit (1844).

Lewson, a noble, honest character. He is in love with Charlotte Beverley, and marries her, although her brother has gambled away all her fortune.—Edward Moore, The Gamester (1753).

Leycippes and Clitophonta, a romance in Greek, by Achilles Tatius, in the fifth century; borrowed largely from the Theag´enês and Chariclēa of Heliodōrus, bishop of Trikka.

Liar (The), a farce by Samuel Foote (1761). John Wilding, a young gentleman fresh from Oxford, has an extraordinary propensity for romancing. He invents the most marvellous tales, utterly regardless of truth, and thereby involves both himself and others in endless perplexities. He pretends to fall in love with a Miss Grantam, whom he accidentally 321meets, and, wishing to know her name, is told it is Godfrey, and that she is an heiress. Now it so happens that his father wants him to marry the real Miss Grantam, and, in order to avoid so doing, he says he is already married to a Miss Sibthorpe. He afterwards tells his father he invented this tale because he really wished to marry Miss Godfrey. When Miss Godfrey is introduced, he does not know her, and while in this perplexity a woman enters, who declares she is his wife, and that her maiden name was Sibthorpe. Again he is dumbfounded, declares he never saw her in his life, and rushes out, exclaiming, “All the world is gone mad, and is in league against me!”

⁂ The plot of this farce is from the Spanish. It had been already taken by Corneille in Le Menteur (1642), and by Steele in his Lying Lover (1704).

Liar (The), Al Aswad; also called “The Impostor,” and “The Weathercock.” He set himself up as a prophet against Mahomet; but frequently changed his creed.

Mosëilma was also called “The Liar.” He wrote a letter to Mahomet, which began thus: “From Mosëilma, prophet of Allah, to Mahomet, prophet of Allah;” and received an answer beginning thus: “From Mahomet, the prophet of Allah, to Mosëilma, the Liar.”

Liars (The Prince of), Ferdinand Mendez Pinto, a Portuguese traveller, whose narratives deal so much in the marvellous that Cervantes dubbed him “The Prince of Liars.” He is alluded to in the Tatler as a man “of infinite adventure and unbounded imagination.”

Sir John Mandeville is called “The Lying Traveller” (1300-1372).

Liban´iel (4 syl.), the guardian angel of Philip, the apostle.—Klopstock, The Messiah, iii. (1748).

Liberator (The). Daniel O’Connell was so called because he was the leader of the Irish party, which sought to sever Ireland from England. Also called “The Irish Agitator” (1776-1847).

Simon Bolivar, who established the independence of Peru, is so called by the Peruvians (1785-1831).

Liberty (Goddess of). On December 20, 1793, the French installed the worship of reason for the worship of God, and M. Chaumette induced Mdlle. Malliard, an actress, to personify the “goddess of Liberty.”Liberty.” She was borne in a palanquin, dressed with buskins, a Phrygian cap, and a blue chlamys over a white tunic. Being brought to Notre Dame, she was placed on the high altar, and a huge candle was placed behind her. Mdlle. Malliard lighted the candle, to signify that liberty frees the mind from darkness, and is the “light of the world;” then M. Chaumette fell on his knees to her and offered incense as to a god.

Liberty (The goddess of). The statue so called, placed over the entrance of the Palais Royal, represented Mde. Tallien.

Liberty Hall. Squire Hardcastle says to young Harlow and Hastings, when they mistake his house for an “inn,” and give themselves airs, “This is Liberty Hall, gentlemen; you may do just as you please here.”—Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, i. 2 (1773).

Libiti´na, the goddess who presides over funerals, and hence in Latin an undertaker is called libitina´rius.

He brought two physicians to visit me, who, by their appearance, seemed zealous ministers of 322the goddess Libitina.—Lesage, Gil Blas, ix. 8 (1735).

Lichas, servant of Herculês, who brought to him from Dejani´ra the poisoned shirt of Nessus. He was thrown by Herculês from the top of Mount Etna into the sea. Seneca says (Hercules) that Lichas was tossed aloft into the air, and sprinkled the clouds with his blood. Ovid says: “He congealed, like hail, in mid-air, and turned to stone; then, falling into the Uuboic Sea, became a rock, which still bears his name and retains the human form” (Met. ix.).

Let me lodge Lichas on the horns of the moon.

Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra, act. iv. sc. 10 (1608).

Lickitup (The laird of), friend of Neil Blanc, the town piper.—Sir W. Scott, Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).

Lie. The four P’s—a Palmer, a Pardoner, a Poticary and a Pedler—disputed as to which could tell the greatest lie. The Palmer asserted that he never saw a woman out of patience; the other three P’s were so taken aback by this assertion that they instantly gave up the contest, saying that it was certainly the greatest falsehood they ever heard.—John Heywood, The Four P’s (1520).

Liebenstein and Sternfels, two ruined castles on the Rhine. Leoline, the orphan, was the sole surviving child of the lord of Liebenstein, and two brothers (Warbeck and Otto) were the only surviving children of the lord of Sternfels. Both these brothers fell in love with Leoline, but as the lady gave Otto the preference, Warbeck joined the crusades. Otto followed his brother to Palistine, but the war was over, and Otto brought back with him a Greek girl, whom he had made his bride. Warbeck now sent a challenge to his brother for this insult to Leoline, but Leoline interposed to stop the fight. Soon after this the Greek wife eloped, and Otto died childless. Leoline retired to the adjacent convent of Bornhofen, which was attacked by robbers, and Warbeck, in repelling them, received his death-wound, and died in the lap of Leoline.—Traditions of the Rhine.

Life (The Battle of), a Christmas story, by C. Dickens (1846). It is the story of Grace and Marion, the two daughters of Dr. Jeddler, both of whom loved Alfred Heathfield, their father’s ward. Alfred loved the younger daughter; but Marion, knowing of her sister’s love, left her home clandestinely, and all thought she had eloped with Michael Warden. Alfred then married Grace, and in due time Marion make it known to her sister that she had given up Alfred to her, and had gone to live with her Aunt Martha till they were married. It is said that Marion subsequently married Michael Warden, and found with him a happy home.

Ligéa, one of the three sirens. The other two were Parthen´ope and Leucothëa.Leucothëa. Milton gives the classic sirens, combs; borrowing a detail from the Scandinavian Lorelei. Ligēa or Largeia means “shrill,” or “sweet voiced.”

By fair Ligea’s golden comb,

Wherewith she sits on diamond rocks,

Sleeking her soft alluring locks.

Milton, Comus (1634).

Light of the Age, Maimon´idês or Rabbi Moses ben Maimon, of Cor´dova (1135-1204).

Light of the Haram [sic], the Sultana Nour´mahal´, afterwards called Nourjeham 323(“light of the world”). She was the bride of Selim, son of Acbar.—T. Moore, Lalla Rookh (1817).

Light o’ Heel (Janet), mother of Godfrey Bertram Hewit.—Sir W. Scott, Guy Mannering (time George II.).

Lightbody (Luckie), alias “Marian Loup-the-Dyke,” mother of Jean Girder, the cooper’s wife.—Sir W. Scott, Bride of Lammermoor (time, William III.).

Lightborn, the murderer who assassinated Edward II.—C. Marlowe, Edward II. (1592).

Lightfoot, one of the seven attendants of Fortunio. So swift was he of foot, that he was obliged to tie his legs when he went hunting, or else he always outran the game, and so lost it.—Comtesse D’Aunoy, Fairy Tales (“Fortunio,” 1682).

Lightning. Benjamin Franklin invented lightning conductors; hence Campbell says it is allotted to man, with Newton to mark the speed of light, with Herschel to discover planets, and

With Franklin grasp the lightning’s fiery wing.

Pleasures of Hope, i. (1799).

Lightning (Lovers killed by). (See under Lovers.)

Lightning Protectors. Jupiter chose the eagle as the most approved preservative against lightning, AugustusAugustus Cæsar the sea-calf, and Tiberius the laurel.—Collumella x.; Suetonius, In Vit. Aug., xc. Suetonius, In Vita Tib., lxix.

Lightwood (Mortimer), a solicitor, who conducts the “Harmon murder” case. He is the great friend of Eugene Wrayburn, barrister-at-law, and it is the great ambition of his heart to imitate the nonchalance of his friend. At one time Mortimer Lightwood admired Bella Wilfer.—C. Dickens, Our Mutual Friend (1864).

Ligurian Sage (The), Aulus Persius Flaccus, the satirist (34-62).

Lilburn (John), a contentious leveller in the Commonwealth, of whom it was said, If no one else were alive John would quarrel with Lilburn. The epigrammatic epitaph of John Lilburn is as follows:—

Is John departed, and is Lilburn gone?

Farewell to both, to Lilburn and to John!

Yet being gone take this advice from me:

Let them not both in one grave buried be.

Here lay ye John; lay Lilburn thereabout;

For if they both should meet, they would fall out.

Lili, immortalized by Goethe, was Anna Elizabeth Schönemann, daughter of a Frankfort banker. She was 16 when Goethe first knew her.

Lilian, “little wife” of Aldrich’s poem An Untimely Thought.

“What a hideous fancy to come

As I wait at the foot of the stair,

While Lilian gives the last touch

To her robe or the rose in her hair!

* * * * *

As the carriage rolls down the dark street

The little wife laughs and makes cheer—

But ... I wonder what day of the week,

I wonder what month of the year!”

Thomas Bailey Aldrich, Poems (1882.)

Lil´inau, a woman wooed by a phantom that lived in her father’s pines. At night-fall the phantom whispered love, and won the fair Lilinau, who followed his green waving plume through the forest, but never more was seen.—American-Indian Legend.

324Told she the tale of the fair Lilinau, who was wooed by a phantom

That through the pines o’er her father’s lodge, in the hush of the twilight,

Breathed like the evening wind, and whispered love to the maiden;

Till she followed his green and waving plume thro’ the forest,

And never more returned, nor was seen again by her people.

Longfellow, Evangeline, ii. 4 (1849).

Lilis or Lilith, Adam’s wife before Eve was created. Lilis refused to submit to Adam, and was turned out of paradise; but she still haunts the air, and is especially hostile to new-born children.

⁂ Goethe has introduced her in his Faust (1790).

Lil´lia-Bianca, the bright, airy daughter of Nantolet, beloved by Pinac, the fellow-traveller of Mirabel, “the wild goose.”—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Wild-goose Chase (1652).

Lilliput, the country of the Lilliputians, a race of pygmies of very diminutive size, to whom Gulliver appeared a monstrous giant.—Swift, Gulliver’s Travels (“Voyage to Lilliput,” 1726).

⁂ The voyage to LilliputLilliput is a satire on the manners and habits of George I.

Lilly, the wife of Andrew. Andrew is the servant of Charles Brisac, a scholar.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Elder Brother (1637).

Lilly (William), an English astrologer, who was employed during the Civil Wars by both parties; and even Charles I. consulted him about his projected escape from the Carisbrooke Castle (1602-1681).

He talks of Raymond Lully [q.v.] and the ghost of Lilly.—W. Congreve, Love for Love, iii. (1695).

Lillyvick, the collector of water-rates, and uncle to Mrs. Kenwigs. He considered himself far superior in a social point of view to Mr. Kenwigs, who was only an ivory turner; but he deigned to acknowledge the relation, and confessed him to be “an honest, well-behaved, respectable sort of a man.” Mr. Lillyvick looked on himself as one of the élite of society. “If ever an old gentleman made a point of appearing in public shaved close and clean, that old gentleman was Mr. Lillyvick. If ever a collector has borne himself like a collector, and assumed a solemn and portentous dignity, as if he had the whole world on his books, that collector was Mr. Lillyvick.” Mr. Kenwigs thought the collector, who was a bachelor, would leave each of the Kenwigses £100; but he “had the baseness” to marry Miss Petowker, of the Theatre Royal, and “swindle the Kenwigses of their golden expectations.”—C. Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby (1838).

Lily (The), the French king for the time being. So called from the lilies, which, from the time of Clovis, formed the royal device of France. Tasso (Jerusalem Delivered) calls them gigli d’ore (“golden lilies”); but Lord Lytton calls them “silver lilies:”

Lord of the silver lilies, canst thou tell

If the same fate await not thy descendant?

Lord E.L.B. Lytton, The Duchess de la Vallière (1836).

Lily Maid of Astolat, Elaine (q.v.). (See also Launcelot and Elaine).

Lily of Medicine (The), a treatise written by Bernard Gordon, called Lilium Medicinæ (1480). (See Gordonius).

Lily Floyd Curtis. A New York belle, whose mother sets out with the aim 325that Lily is to make a grand match, and keeps it steadily before her. By a series of dexterous manœuvres the admirable republican parent prevents a marriage between the girl and the man she loves, and makes her countess of Melrose.—Constance Gary Harrison, The Anglo-Maniacs (1890).

Lily Servosse, daughter of a Northern man, who settles in the South soon after the war, in the hopeful expectation of winning favor with his neighbors and helping them to create a new South. In the fruitless enterprise his daughter is his zealous and loving coadjutor.—Albion W. Tourgeé, A Fool’s Errand (1879).

Limberham, a tame, foolish keeper. Supposed to be meant for the duke of Lauderdale.—Dryden, Limberham or The Kind Keeper.

Limbo of the Moon. Ariosto, in his Orlando Furioso, xxxiv. 70, says, in the moon are treasured up the precious time misspent in play, all vain efforts, all vows never paid, all counsel thrown away, all desires that lead to nothing, the vanity of titles, flattery, great men’s promises, court services, and death-bed alms. Pope says:

There heroes’ wits are kept in ponderous vases,

And beaus’ in snuff-boxes and tweezer-cases;

There broken vows and death-bed alms are found,

And lovers’ hearts with ends of ribbon bound;

The courtier’s promises, and sick man’s prayers,

The smiles of harlots, and the tears of heirs;

Cages for gnats, and chains to yoke a flea,

Dried butterflies, and tomes of casuistry.

Rape of the Lock, v. (1712).

Limbo Fatuōrum or the “Fools’ Paradise,” for idiots, madmen, and others who are not responsible for their sins, but yet have done nothing worthy of salvation. Milton says, from the earth fly to the Paradise of Fools

All things transitory and vain ... the fruits

Of painful superstition and blind zeal ...

AIL the unaccomplished works of Nature’s hand,

Abortive, monstrous, or unkindly mixed ...

The builders here of Babel ...

Others come single. He who to be deemed

A god, leaped fondly into Etna’s flames,

Empedoclês; and he who to enjoy

Plato’s elysium, leaped into the sea ...

Embryos and idiots, eremites and friars.

Paradise Lost, iii. 448 (1665).

Limbo Patrum, that half-way house between purgatory and paradise, where patriarchs and prophets, saints, martyrs, and confessors, await the “second coming.” This, according to some, is the hadês or “hell” into which Christ descended when “He preached to the spirits in prison.” Dantê places Limbo on the confines of hell, but tells us those doomed to dwell there are “only so far afflicted as that they live without hope” (Inferno, iv.).

I have some of them in Limbo Patrum, and there they are like to dance these three days.—Shakespeare, Henry VIII. act v. sc. 3 (1601).

Limbo Puerōrum, or “Child’s Paradise,” for unbaptized infants too young to commit actual sin, but not eligible for heaven because they have not been baptized.

⁂ According to Dantê, Limbo is between hell and that border-land where dwell “the praiseless and blameless dead.” (See Inferno.)

Lincius. (See Lynceus.)

Lincoln (The bishop of), in the court of Queen Elizabeth. He was Thomas Cowper.—Sir W. Scott, Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

Lincolnshire Grazier (A). The Rev. 326Thomas Hartwell Horne published The Complete Grazier under this pseudonym (1805).

Linco´ya (3 syl.), husband of Co´atel, and a captive of the Az´tecas. “Once, when a chief was feasting Madoc, a captive served the food.” Madoc says, “I marked the youth, for he had features of a gentler race; and oftentimes his eye was fixed on me with looks of more than wonder.” This young man, “the flower of all his nation,” was to be immolated to the god Tezcalipo´ca; but on the eve of sacrifice he made his escape, and flew to Madoc for protection. The fugitive proved both useful and faithful, but when he heard of the death of Coatel, he was quite heart-broken. Ayaya´ca, to divert him, told him about the spirit-land; and Lincoya asked, “Is the way thither long?”

The old man replied, “A way of many moons.”

“I know a shorter path,” exclaimed the youth;

And up he sprang, and from the precipice

Darted. A moment; and Ayaya´ca heard

His body fall upon the rocks below.

Southey, Madoc, ii. 22 (1805).

Lindab´rides (4 syl.), a euphemism for a female of no repute, a courtezan. Lindabridês is the heroine of the romance entitled The Mirror of Knighthood, one of the books in Don Quixote’s library (pt. I. i. 6), and the name became a household word for a mistress. It occurs in two of Sir W. Scott’s novels, Kenilworth and Woodstock.

Linden (John Endicott), young man who comes to a New England village to teach school, institutes various reforms; falls in love with a pretty pupil, Faith Derrick, educates her, and when he has completed his theological studies, marries her, and settles as pastor of a Vermont mountain parish.—Susan Warner, Say and Seal (1860).

Lindesay, an archer in the Scotch guard of Louis XI. of France.—Sir W. Scott, Quentin Durward (time, Edward IV.).

Lindesay (Lord), one of the embassy to Queen Mary of Scotland.—Sir W. Scott, The Abbot (time, Elizabeth).

Lindor, a poetic swain or lover playing at shepherd.

Do not, for Heaven’s sake, bring down Corydon and Lindor upon us.—Sir W. Scott.

Lindsay (Margaret), the heroine of a novel by Professor John Wilson, entitled Trials of Margaret Lindsay, a very pathetic story (1785-1854).

Linet´, daughter of Sir Persaunt, and sister of Lionês, of Castle Perilous (ch. 131). Her sister was held captive by Sir Ironside, the Red Knight of the Red Lands. Linet went to King Arthur to entreat that one of his knights might be sent to liberate her; but as she refused to give up the name of her sister, the king said no knight of the Round Table could undertake the adventure. At this, a young man nicknamed “Beaumains” (Fair-hands), who had been serving in the kitchen for a year, entreated that he might be allowed the quest, which the king granted. Linet, however, treated him with the utmost contumely, calling him dish-washer, kitchen knave, and lout: but he overthrew all the knights opposed to him, delivered the lady Lionês, and married her. (See Lynette).—Sir. T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, i. 120-153 (1470).

⁂ Some men nicknamed her “The Savage” (ch. 151). Tennyson, in his Gareth and Lynette, changes the denouement, and makes Gareth marry Lynette.

Lingo, in O’Keefe’s comedy Agreeable Surprise (1798).

327Linkinwater (Tim), confidential clerk to the brothers Chreeryble. A kind-hearted old bachelor, fossilized in ideas, but most kind-hearted, and devoted to his masters almost to idolatry. He is much attached to a blind blackbird called “Dick,” which he keeps in a large cage. The bird has lost its voice from old age; but, in Tim’s opinion, there is no equal to it in the whole world. The old clerk marries Miss La Creevy, a miniature-painter.

Punctual as the counting-house dial, ... he performed the minutest actions, and arranged the minutest articles of his little room in a precise and regular order. Paper, pens, ink, ruler, sealing-wax, wafers, ... Tim’s hat, Tim’s scrupulously folded gloves, Tim’s other coat, ... all had their accustomed inches of space.... There was not a more accurate instrument in existence than Tim Linkinwater.—C. Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby, xxxvii. (1838).

Linklater (Laurie), yeoman of the king’s kitchen. A friend to Ritchie Moniplies.—Sir W. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel (time, James I.).

Linne (The Heir of), a great spendthrift, who sold his estates to John-o-the-Scales, his steward, reserving for himself only a “poor and lonesome lodge in a lonely glen.” Here he found a rope, with a running noose, and put it round his neck, with the intention of hanging himself. The weight of his body broke the rope, and he fell to the ground. He now found two chests of gold and one of silver, with this inscription: “Once more, my son, I set thee clear. Amend thy life or a rope must end it.” The heir of Linne now went to the steward for the loan of forty pence, which was denied him.—One of the guests said, “Why, John, you ought to lend it, for you had the estates cheap enough.” “Cheap! say you. Why, he shall have them back for a hundred marks less than the money I gave for them.” “Done!” said the heir of Linne; and counted out the money. Thus he recovered his estates, and made the kind guest his forester.—Percy, Reliques, II. ii. 5.

Lion (A), emblem of the tribe of Judah. In the old church at Totnes, is a stone pulpit divided into compartments containing shields, decorated with the several emblems of the Jewish tribes, of which this is one.

Judah is a lion’s whelp ... he crouched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?—Gen. xlix. 9.

Charlotte Elizabeth Tonna, an English writer, has a book under the title of The Lion of the Tribe of Judah (1830-185-).

Lion (The), symbol of ambition. When Dantê began the ascent of fame, he was met first by a panther (pleasure), and then by a lion (ambition) which tried to stop his further progress.

A lion came

With head erect, and hunger mad.

Dantê, Hell, i. (1300).

Lion (The) Henry, duke of Bavaria and Saxony, son of Henry “the Proud” (1129-1195).

Louis VIII., of France, born under the sign Leo (1187, 1223-1226).

William of Scotland, who chose a red lion rampant for his cognizance (*, 1165-1214).

Lion (The Golden), emblem of ancient Assyria. The bear was that of ancient Persia.

Where is th’ Assyrian lion’s golden hide,

That all the East once grasped in lordly paw?

Where that great Persian bear, whose swelling pride

The lion’s self tore out with rav’nous jaw!

Phin. Fletcher, The Purple Island, vii. (1633).

328Lion The (Valiant), Alep Arslan, son of Togrul Beg, the Perso-Turkish monarch (*, 1062-1072).

Lion Attending on Man.

Una was attended by a lion. Spenser says that Una was seeking St. George, and as she sat to rest herself, a lion rushed suddenly out of a thicket, with gaping mouth and lashing tail; but as it drew near, it was awe-struck, licked her feet and hands, and followed her like a dog. Sansloy slew the faithful beast.—Faëry Queen, I. iii. 42 (1590).

⁂ This is an allegory of the Reformation. The “lion” means England, and “Una” means truth or the reformed religion. England (the lion) waited on truth or the reformation. “Sansloy” means Queen Mary or false faith, which killed the lion, or separated England from truth (or the true faith). It might seem to some that Sansfoy should have been substituted for Sansloy; but this could not be, because Sansfoy had been slain already.

Sir Ewain de Gallis or Iwain de Galles was attended by a lion, which, in gratitude to the knight, who had delivered it from a serpent, ever after became his faithful servant, approaching the knight with tears, and rising on its hind feet.

Sir Geoffrey de Latour was aided by a lion against the Saracens; but the faithful brute was drowned in attempting to follow the vessel in which the knight had embarked on his departure from the Holy Land.

St. Jerome is represented as attended by a lion. (See Androclus).

Lion of God (The), Ali, son-in-law of Mahomet. He was called at birth “The Rugged Lion” (al Haïdara) (602, 655-661).

Hamza, called “The Lion of God and of His Prophet.” So Gabriel told Mahomet his uncle was registered in heaven.

Lion of Jonina, Ali Pasha, overthrown in 1822 by Ibrahim Pasha (1741, 1788-1822).

Lion of the North (The), Gustavus Adolphus (1594, 1611-1632).

Lion-Heart. The legend says that Richard I. was called Cœur de Lion because he plucked out a lion’s heart, to which beast he had been exposed by the duke of Austria, for having slain his son.

Lion King of Assyria, Arioch al Asser (B.C. 1927-1897).

Lion Rouge, (Le), Marshal Ney, who had red hair and red whiskers (1769-1815).

Lion-Tamer. One of the most remarkable was Ellen Bright, who exhibited in Wombwell’s menagerie. She was killed by a tiger in 1850.

Lions (White and Red). Prester John, in his letter to Manuel Comnēnus, emperor of Constantinople, says his land is the “home of white and red lions” (1165).

Lionel and Clarissa, an opera by Bickerstaff. Sir John Flowerdale has a daughter named Clarissa, whose tutor is Lionel, an Oxford graduate. Colonel Oldboy, his neighbor, has a son named Jessamy, a noodle and a fop; and a daughter, Diana. A proposal is made for Clarissa Flowerdale to marry Jessamy; but she despises the prig, and loves Lionel. After a little embroglio, Sir John gives his consent to this match. Now for Diana: Harmann, a guest of Oldboy’s, tells him he is in love, but that the father of the lady will not consent to his marriage. Oldboy advises him to elope, lends his carriage and horses, and writes a letter for Harman, 329which he is to send to the girl’s father. Harman follows this advice, and elopes with Diana; but Diana repents, returns home unmarried, and craves her father’s forgiveness. The old Colonel yields, the lovers are united, and Oldboy says he likes Harman the better for his pluck and manliness.

Lionell (Sir), brother of Sir Launcelot, son of Ban, king of Benwick (Brittany).

Liones (3 syl.), daughter of Sir Persaunt, of Castle Perilous, where she was held captive by Sir Ironside, the Red Knight of the Red Lands. Her sister, Linet´, went to the Court of King Arthur to request that some knight would undertake to deliver her from her oppressor; but as she refused to give up the name of the lady, the king said no Knight of the Round Table could undertake the quest. On this, a stranger, nicknamed “Beaumains,” from the size and beauty of his hands, and who had served in the kitchen for twelve months, begged to be sent, and his request was granted. He was very scornfully treated by Linet; but succeeded in overthrowing every knight who opposed him, and, after combatting from dawn to sunset with Sir Ironside, made him also do homage. The lady, being now free, married the “kitchen knight,” who was, in fact, Sir Gareth, son of Lot, king of Orkney, and Linet married his brother, Ga´heris. (See Lyonors, of Castle Perilous.)—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, i. 120-153 (1470).

Li´onesse (3 syl.), Lyonesse, or Lionés, a tract of land between Land’s End and the Scilly Isles, now submerged “full forty fathoms under water.” It formed a part of Cornwall. Thus Sir Tristram de Lionês is always called a Cornish knight. When asked his name, he tells Sir Kay that he is Sir Tristram de Lionês; to which the seneschal answers, “Yet heard I never in no place that any good knight came out of Cornwall.”—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, ii. 56 (1470). See Leonesse.

⁂ Respecting the knights of Cornwall, Sir Mark, the king of Cornwall, had thrown the whole district into bad odor. He was false, cowardly, mean, and most unknightly.

Lir. The Death of the Children of Lir. This is one of the three tragic stories of the ancient Irish. The other two are The Death of the Children of Touran, and The Death of the Children of Usnach. (See Fionnuala.)—O’Flanagan, Transactions of the Gaelic Society, i.

⁂ Lir (King) father of Fionnuala. On the death of Fingula (the mother of his daughter), he married the wicked Aoife, who, through spite, transformed the children of Lir into swans, doomed to float on the water for centuries, till they hear the first mass-bell ring. Tom Moore has versified this legend.

Silent, O Moyle, be the roar of thy water;

Break not, ye breezes, your chain of repose—

While murmuring mournfully Lir’s lonely daughter

Tells to the night-star her tale of woes.

Moore, Irish Melodies (“Song of Fionnuala,” 1814).

Liris, a proud but lovely daughter of the race of man, beloved by Rubi, first of the angel host. Her passion was the love of knowledge, and she was captivated by all her angel lover told her of heaven and the works of God. At last she requested Rubi to appear before her in all his glory, and, as she fell into his embrace, was burnt to ashes by the rays which issued from him.—T. Moore, Loves of the Angels, ii. (1822.)

330Lisa, an innkeeper’s daughter, who wishes to marry Elvi´no, a wealthy farmer; but Elvino is in love with Ami´na. Suspicious circumstances make Elvino renounce his true love and promise marriage to Lisa; but the suspicion is shown to be causeless, and Lisa is discovered to be the paramour of another. So Elvino returns to his first love, and Lisa is left to Alessio, with whom she had been living previously.—Bellini’s opera, La Sonnambula (1831).

Lisette. Les Infidélités de Lisette and Les Gueux are the two songs which, in 1813, gained for Béranger admission to the “Caveau,” a club of Paris, established in 1729 and broken up in 1749, but reestablished in 1806 and finally closed in 1817.

Les Infidélités supposes that Béranger loved Lisette, who bestowed her favors on sundry admirers; and Béranger, at each new proof of infidelity, “drowned his sorrow in the bowl.”

Lizette, ma Lizette

Tu m’as trompé toujours;

Mais vive la grisette!

Je veux, Lizette.

Boire à nos amours.

Les Infidélités de Lisette.

Lismaha´go (Captain), a superannuated officer on half-pay, who marries Miss Tabitha Bramble for the sake of her £4000. He is a hard-featured, forbidding Scotchman, singular in dress, eccentric in manners, self-conceited, pedantic, disputatious, and rude. Though most tenacious in argument, he can yield to Miss Tabitha, whom he wishes to conciliate. Lismahago reminds one of Don Quixote, but is sufficiently unlike to be original.—T. Smollett, The Expedition of Humphry Clinker (1771).

Lissardo, valet to Don Felix. He is a conceited high-life-below-stairs fop, who makes love to Inis and Flora.—Mrs. Centlivre, The Wonder (1713).

Lee Lewes [1740-1803] played “Lissardo” in the style of his great master [Woodward], and most divertingly.—Boaden, Life of Mrs. Siddons.

Lis´uarte (The Exploits and Adventures of), part of the series of Le Roman des Romans, or that pertaining to “Am´adis of Gaul.” This part was added by Juan Diaz.

Litchfield (David). Deaf, rich man, married to a wife young enough to be his child. He thinks and feels much, but says little. His dry humor, harmless cynicism, and benevolent schemes for the needy, make him a man of mark. His mother-in-law, a manœuverer of the first water, bends over his dying bed with strained solicitude, mentally reckoning up the amount he will leave her daughter.

“He looked up in her face; he was almost smiling.

‘A—watched—pot—never—boils!’ he said, slowly and with difficulty, and then once more closed his eyes.”

Ellen Olney Kirke, A Daughter of Eve (1889).

Literature (Father of Modern French), Claude de Seyssel (1450-1520).

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

Littimer, the painfully irreproachable valet of Steerforth; in whose presence David Copperfield feels always most uncomfortably small. Though as a valet he is propriety in Sunday best, he is nevertheless cunning and deceitful. Steerforth, tired of “Little Em’ly,” wishes to marry her to Littimer; but from this lot she is rescued, and migrates to Australia.—C. Dickens, David Copperfield (1849).

331Little (Thomas). Thomas Moore published, in 1808, a volume of amatory poems under this nom de plume. The preface is signed J.H.H.H.

’Tis Little—young Catullus of his day,

As sweet but as immoral as his lay.

Byron, English Bards and Scotch Reviewers (1809).

Little Corporal (The). General Bonaparte was so called after the battle of Lodi, in 1796, from his youthful age and low stature.

Little Dorrit, the heroine and title of a novel by C. Dickens (1857). Little Dorrit was born and brought up in the Marshalsea prison, Bermondsey, where her father was confined for debt; and when about 14 years of age she used to do needle work, to earn a subsistence for herself and her father. The child had a pale, transparent face; quick in expression, though not beautiful in feature. Her eyes were a soft hazel, and her figure slight. The little dove of the prison was idolized by the prisoners, and when she walked out, every man in Bermondsey who passed her, touched or took off his hat out of respect to her good works and active benevolence. Her father, coming into a property, was set free at length, and little Dorrit married Arthur Clennam, the marriage service being celebrated in the Marshalsea, by the prison chaplain.

Little-Endians and Big-Endians, two religious factions, which waged incessant war with each other on the right interpretation of the fifty-fourth chapter of the Blun´decral; “All true believers break their eggs at the convenient end.” The god-father of Calin Deffar Plune, the reigning emperor of Lilliput, happened to cut his finger while breaking his egg at the big end, and therefore commanded all faithful Lilliputians to break their eggs in future at the small end. The Blefuscudians called this decree rank heresy, and determined to exterminate the believers of such an abominable practice from the face of the earth. Hundreds of treatises were published on both sides, but each empire put all those books opposed to its own views into the Index Expurgatorius, and not a few of the more zealous sort died as martyrs for daring to follow their private judgement in the matter.—Swift, Gulliver’s Travels (“Voyage to Lilliput,” 1726).

Little French Lawyer (The), a comedy by Beaumont and Fletcher (1647). The person so called is La Writ, a wrangling French advocate.

Little Gentleman in Velvet (To the), a favorite Jacobite toast in the reign of Queen Anne. The reference is to the mole that raised the hill against which the horse of William III. stumbled while riding in the park of Hampton Court. By this accident the king broke his collar-bone, a severe illness ensued, and he died early in 1702.

Little (Henry), young inventor and mechanic, persecuted by the Trades Unions, driven to set up a forge in a disused church, and resort to other means to conceal the fact that he is doing honest work in an honest man’s way, carrying on a love affair at the same time. He is nearly murdered by the emissaries of the “Union,” spirited away, and comes to light again just in time to vindicate his loyalty to his fianceé, who has been duped into a form of marriage with another man.—Charles Reade, Put Yourself in His Place.

Little John, (whose surname was 332Nailor), the fidus Achatês of Robin Hood.Hood. He could shoot an arrow a measured mile and somewhat more. So could Robin Hood; but no other man ever lived who could perform the same feat. In one of the Robin Hood ballads we are told that the name of this free-shooter was John Little, and that Wiliam Stutely, in merry mood, reversed the names.

“O, here is my hand,” the stranger replyed;

“I’ll serve you with all my whole heart.

My name is John Little, a man of good mettle;

Ne’er doubt me, for I play my part.”

He was, I must tell you, full seven foot high,

And maybe an ell in the waste....

Brave Stutely said then....

“This infant was called John Little,” quoth he;

“Which name shall be changêd anon;

The words we’ll transpose, so wherever he goes

His name shall be called Little John.”

Ritson, Robin Hood Ballads, ii. 21 (before 1689).

Little John (Hugh). John Hugh Lockhart, grandson of Sir W. Scott, is so called by Sir Walter in his Tales of a Grandfather, written for his grandson.

Little Marlborough, Count von Schwerin, a Prussian field-marshal and a companion of the duke of Marlborough (1684-1757).

Little Nell, a child distinguished for her purity of character, though living in the midst of selfishness, impurity, and crime. She was brought up by her grandfather, who was in his dotage, and having lost his property, tried to eke out a narrow living by selling lumber or curiosities. At length, through terror of Quilp, the old man and his grandchild stole away, and led a vagrant life, the one idea of both being to get as far as possible from the reach of Quilp. They finally settled down in a cottage overlooking a country churchyard, where Nell died.—C. Dickens, The Old Curiosity Shop (1840).

Little Queen, Isabella of Valois, who was married at the age of eight years to Richard II. of England, and was a widow at 13 years of age (1387-1410).

Little Red Ridinghood. “We must call you ‘Little Red Ridinghood!’” said her mother, as she tied the pretty red hood under her little girl’s chin. “Now take this cake and this bottle of wine to your grandmother, and if you meet people on the way, wish them ‘good morning.’”

As Little Red Ridinghood went through the wood, she met Mr. Wolf, and wished him “good morning!” “Good morning, little maid,” said he; “and where are you going?” “I am going to my grandmother’s,” she said, “to take her this cake and this bottle of wine.” “You are a nice little girl,” said Mr. Wolf, “and I wish you good day!”

As Little Red Ridinghood went along, she said to herself: “I am sure it would please my grandmother if I were to bring her a bunch of flowers!” And in an open space, where the sun was shining, she found some nodding columbines and some blue violets, and made a pretty nosegay.

Mr. Wolf waited till he saw Little Red Ridinghood busy gathering flowers, and then he ran on ahead till he came to her grandmother’s house. He tapped on the door, and grandmother said, “Who is there?” Then Mr. Wolf made his voice as small as he could, and said: “I am Little Red Ridinghood, and I have brought you a cake, and a bottle of wine!”

“Welcome, dear child!” said the grandmother. “Pull the bobbin, and the latch will fly up.”

Then Mr. Wolf pulled the bobbin, and up flew the latch, and in he went; and there lay the grandmother in the bed, for she was too old and feeble to get up. 333Then Mr. Wolf ran to the bed, and seized the poor old grandmother, and ate her up as quick as a wink. And he put her night-cap on his head, and jumped into the bed, and pulled the clothes about his ears.

Very soon Little Red Ridinghood came to the door and tapped, and Mr. Wolf made his voice as small as he could, and said, “Who is there!” And Little Red Ridinghood said: “It is I, dear grandmother, and I have brought you a cake and a bottle of wine!”

“Welcome, dear child! ” squeaked Mr. Wolf. “Pull the bobbin, and the latch will fly up!”

Then Little Red Ridinghood pulled the bobbin and up flew the latch, and in she went, and thought she saw her grandmother lying on the bed. “Come here, my dear,” said Mr. Wolf, “and sit by me, for I am old and feeble, and cannot get up.” Then Little Red Ridinghood looked at her grandmother, and said: “Why, grandmother, what big ears you have!” “The better to hear you with,” said Mr. Wolf. “Why, grandmother, what big eyes you have!” “The better to see you with, my dear!” “Why, grandmother, what a big mouth you have!” “The better to eat you with, my dear!” said Mr. Wolf, and with that he seized poor Little Red Ridinghood, and ate her up in the twinkling of an eye.

Littlejohn (Bailie), a magistrate at Fairport.—Sir W. Scott, The Antiquary (time, George III.).

Little Sister, Caroline Gann, deserted wife of Brand Firmin.—W.M. Thackeray, Adventures of Philip (1860).

Little Sunshine, pet name bestowed upon Lily Davis, heroine of Bartley Campbell’s play of the same name.

Livy (The Russian), Nicholas Michaelovitch Karamzin (1765-1826).

Livy of France, Juan de Mariana (1537-1624).

Livy of Portugal, Joào de Barros (1496-1570).

Liz, “slender slip of a creature” in the Lancashire coal region, ignorant, emotional, weak, easily led, ready to err, unable to bear the consequences of error, not strong enough to be resolutely wicked, nor strong enough to be anything in particular, but that which her surroundings make her. Naturally she sins, and is sorry. Joan Lowrie’s strong hands lay hold of and hold her up. She relapses into vice, and returns to die at Joan’s door.—Francis Hodgson Burnett, That Lass o’ Lowrie’s (1877).

Lizzie Hexam, daughter of a disreputable waterman, Gaffer Hexam. Devoted sister, and pure, lovely woman, who supports and educates herself, and finally marries Eugene Wrayburn.—Charles Dickens, Our Mutual Friend (1861).

Lla´ian, the unwed mother of Prince Hoel. His father was Prince Hoel, the illegitimate son of King Owen, of North Wales. Hoel, the father, was slain in battle by his half-brother, David, successor to the throne; and Llaian, with her young son, also called Hoel, accompanied Prince Madoc to America.—Southey, Madoc (1805).

Llewel´lyn, son of Yorwerth, and grandson of Owen, king of North Wales. Yorwerth was the eldest son, but was set aside because he had a blemish in the face, and his half-brother, David, was king. David began his reign by killing or banishing 334all the family of his father who might disturb his succession. Amongst those he killed was Yorwerth, in consequence of which Llewellyn resolved to avenge his father’s death; and his hatred against his uncle was unbounded.—Southey, Madoc (1805).

Lloyd with an “L.”

One morning a Welsh coach-maker came with his bill to my lord [The earl of Brentford]. “You called, I think, Mr. Lloyd?” “At your lordship’s service, my lord.” “What! Lloyd with an ‘L?’” It was with an “L.” “In your part of the world I have heard that Lloyd and Flloyd are synonymous; is it so?” inquired his lordship. “Very often, indeed, my lord,” was the reply. “You say that you spell your name with an ‘L?’” “Always, my lord.” “That, Mr. Lloyd, is a little unlucky; for I am paying my debts alphabetically, and in four or five years you might have come in with the ‘F’s;’ but I am afraid I can give you no hopes for your ‘L.’ Good morning.”—S. Foote, The Lame Lover.

L.N.R., nom de plume of Mrs. Ranyard, authoress of The Book and its Story, The Missing Link, etc. Died 1879.

Loathly Lady (The), a hideous creature, whom Sir Gaw´ain marries, and who immediately becomes a beautiful woman.—The Marriage of Sir Gawain (a ballad).

The walls ... were clothed with grim old tapestry, representing the memorable story of Sir Gawain’s wedding ... with the Loathly Lady.—Sir W. Scott.

Loba´ba, one of the sorcerers in the caverns of Dom-Daniel, “under the roots of the ocean.” These spirits were destined to be destroyed by one of the race of Hodeirah, and therefore, they persecuted the whole of that race even to death. Thala´ba, however, escaped their malice, and became their destroyer. Okba tried to kill him, but failed. Abdaldar was next sent against him, and would have struck the lad in prayer, but was himself killed by a simoom. Lobāba was the third envoy sent to compass his death. He assumed the guise of an old merchant, and beguiled the young man into the wilderness, where he roused up a furious whirlwind; but Thalaba was saved, and Lobaba himself fell a victim to the storm which he had raised.—Southey, Thalaba, the Destroyer (1797).

Lochiel´ (2 syl.). Sir Evan Cameron, lord of Lochiel, surnamed “The Black” and “The Ulysses of the Highlands,” died 1719. His son, called “The Gentle Lochiel,” is the one referred to by Thomas Campbell in Lochiel’s Warning. He fought in the battle of Cullo´den for Prince Charles, the Young Pretender (1746).

Lochiel, Lochiel, beware of the day

When the Lowlands shall meet thee in battle array!

For a field of the dead rushes red on my sight,

And the clans of Cullo´den are scattered in fight.

Campbell, Lochiel’s Warning,

And Cameron, in the shock of steel,

Die like the offspring of Lochiel.

Sir W. Scott, Field of Waterloo.

Lochinvar´, a young Highlander, in love with a lady at Netherby Hall (condemned to marry a “laggard in love and a dastard in war”). Her young chevalier induced the too-willing lassie to be his partner in a dance; and while the guests were intent on their amusements, swung her into his saddle and made off with her before the bridegroom could recover from his amazement.—Sir W. Scott, Marmion (1808).

Lochleven (The Lady of), mother of the Regent Murray.—Sir W. Scott, The Abbot (time, Elizabeth).

Lockit, the jailer in Gay’s Beggar’s 335Opera. He was an inhuman brute, who refused to allow Captain Macheath any more candles in his cell, and threatened to clap on extra fetters, unless he supplied him with more “garnish” (jail fees). Lockit loaded his prisoners with fetters in inverse proportion to the fees which they paid, ranging “from one guinea to ten.” (See Lucy.)—J. Gay, The Beggar’s Opera (1727).

The quarrel between Peachum and Lockit was an allusion to a personal collision between Walpole and his colleague, Lord Townsend.—R. Chambers, English Literature, i. 571.

Locksley, alias “Robin Hood,” an archer at the tournament (ch. xiii.). Said to have been the name of the village where the outlaw was born.—Sir W. Scott, Ivanhoe (time, Richard I.).

Locksley Hall, a poem by Tennyson, in which the hero, the Lord of Locksley Hall, having been jilted by his Cousin Amy for a rich boor, pours forth his feelings in a flood of vehement scorn and indignation. In his old age Tennyson took up the theme again, and wrote Locksley Hall Sixty Years After.

Locrine (2 syl.), father of Sabri´na, and eldest son of the mythical Brutus, king of ancient Britain. On the death of his father, Locrine became king of Loe´gria (England).

Locusta, a by-word of infamy. She lived in the early part of the Roman Empire. Locusta poisoned Claudius and Britannicus, and attempted to destroy Nero, but, being found out, was put to death.

Loda or Cruth-Loda, a Scandinavian god, which dwelt “on the misty top of Uthorno ... the house of the spirits of men.” Fingal did not worship at the “stone of this power,” but looked on it as hostile to himself and friendly to his foes. Hence, when Loda appeared to him on one occasion, Fingal knew it was with no friendly intent, and with his sword he cleft the intrenched spirit in twain.twain. Whereupon it uttered a terrible shriek, which made the island tremble; and, “rolling itself up, rose upon the wings of the wind,” and departed. (See Mars Wounded).—Ossian, Carric-Thura.

(In Oina-Moral, “Loda” seems to be a place:

They stretch their hands to the shells in Loda).

Lodbrog, king of Denmark (eighth century), famous for his wars and victories. He was also an excellent scald or bard, like Ossian. Falling into the hands of his enemies, he was cast into jail and devoured by serpents.

Lodois´ka (4 syl.), a beautiful Polish princess, in love with Count Floreski. She is the daughter of Prince Lupauski, who places her under the protection of a friend (Baron Lovinski) during a war between the Poles and Tartars. Here her lover finds her a prisoner at large; but the baron seeks to poison him. At this crisis, the Tartars arrive and invade the castle. The baron is killed, the lady released, and all ends happily.—J. P. Kembel, Lodoiska (a melodrama).

Lodo´na, a nymph, fond of the chase. One day Pan saw her, and tried to catch her; but she fled, and implored Cynthia to save her. Her prayer was heard, and she was instantly converted into “a silver stream, which ever keeps its virgin coolness.” Lodona is an affluent of the Thames.—Pope, Windsor Forest (1713).

Lodovi´co, kinsman to Brabantio, the 336father of Desdemona.—Shakespeare, Othello (1611).

Lodovico and Piso, two cowardly gulls.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Captain (1613).

Lodowick, the name assumed by the duke of Vienna, when he retired for a while from State affairs, and dressed as a friar, to watch the carrying out of a law recently enforced against prostitution.—Shakespeare, Measure for Measure (1603).

Loe´gria (4 syl.), England, the kingdom of Logris or Locrine, eldest son of Brute, the mythical king of Britain.

Thus Cambria [Wales] to her right that would herself restore,

And rather than to lose Loëgria, looks for more.

M. Drayton, Polyolbion, iv. (1612).

Il est écrit qu’il est une heure

Où tout le royaume de Logres,

Qui jadis fut la terre ès ogres

Sera détruit par cette lance.

Chrétien de Troyes, Parzival (1170).

Lofty, a detestable prig, always boasting of his intimacy with people of quality.—Goldsmith, The Good-natured Man (1767).

Lofty (Sir Thomas), a caricature of Lord Melcombe. Sir Thomas is a man utterly destitute of all capacity, yet sets himself up for a Mecænas, and is well sponged by needy scribblers, who ply him with fulsome dedications.—Samuel Foote, The Patron.

Log (King), a roi fainéant. The frogs prayed to Jove to send them a king, and the god threw a log into the pool, the splash of which terribly alarmed them for a time; but they soon learnt to despise a monarch who allowed them to jump upon its back, and never resented their familiarities. The croakers complained to Jove for sending them so worthless a king, and prayed him to send one more active and imperious; so he sent them a stork, which devoured them.—Æsop’s Fables.

Logistil´la, a good fairy, sister of Alci´na, the sorceress. She taught Ruggie´ro (3 syl.) to manage the hippogriff, and gave Astolpho a magic book and horn. Logistilla is human reason personified.—Ariosto, Orlando Furioso (1516).

Logothete (The), or chancellor of the Grecian empire.—Sir W. Scott, Count Robert of Paris (time, Rufus).

Lohengrin, “Knight of the Swan,” son of Parsival. He came to Brabante in a ship drawn by a swan, and having liberated the Duchess Elsa, who was a captive, he married her, but declined to reveal his name. Not long after his marriage he went against the Huns and Saracens, performed marvels of bravery, and returned to Germany covered with glory. Elsa, being laughed at by her friends for not knowing the name of her husband, resolved to ask him of his family; but no sooner had she done so than the white swan re-appeared and carried him away.—Wolfram von Eschenbach (a minnesinger, thirteenth century).

L’Oiseleur (“the bird-catcher”), the person who plays the magic flute.—Mozart, Die Zauberflöte (1791).

Loki, the god of strife and spirit of all evil. His wife is Angerbode (4 syl.), i.e. “messenger of wrath,” and his three sons are Fenris, Midgard, and Hela. Loki gave the blind god Höder an arrow of mistletoe, and told him to try it; so the blind Höder discharged the arrow and slew Balder (the Scandinavian Apollo). This calamity was 337so grievous to the gods, that they unanimously agreed to restore him to life again.—Scandinavian Mythology.

Lolah, one of the three beauties of the harem, into which Don Juan in female disguise was admitted. She “was dusk as India and as warm.” The other two were Katin´ka and Dudù.—Byron, Don Juan, vi. 40, 41 (1824).

Lol´lius, an author often referred to by writers of the Middle Ages, but probably a “Mrs. Harris” of Kennotwhere.

Lollius, if a writer of that name existed at all, was a somewhat somewhere.—Coleridge.

London Antiquary (A). John Camden Hotten published his Dictionary of Modern Slang, etc., under this pseudonym.

London Bridge is Built on Woolpacks. In the reign of Henry II., Pious Peter, a chaplain of St. Mary Colechurch, in the Poultry, built a stone bridge in lieu of the wooden one which had been destroyed by fire. The king helped him by a tax on wool, and hence the saying referred to above.

Long (Tom), the hero of an old popular tale entitled The Merry Conceits of Tom Long, the Carrier, etc.

Long Peter, Peter Aartsen, the Flemish painter. He was so called from his extraordinary height (1507-1573).

Long-Sword (Richard), son of the “fair Rosamond” and Henry II. His brother was Geoffrey, archbishop of York.

Long-sword, the brave son of beauteous Rosamond.

Drayton, Polyolbion, xviii. (1613).

Long-Sword, William I., of Normandy, son of Rollo, assassinated by the count of Flanders (920-943).

Long Tom Coffin, a sailor of heroic character and most amiable disposition, introduced by Fenimore Cooper, in his novel called The Pilot. Fitzball has dramatized the story.

Longaville (3 syl.), a young lord attending on Ferdinand, king of Navarre. He promises to spend three years in study with the king, during which time no woman is to approach the court; but no sooner has he signed the compact than he falls in love with Maria. When he proposes to her, she defers his suit for twelve months, and she promises to change her “black gown for a faithful friend” if he then remains of the same mind.

A man of sovereign parts he is esteemed;

Well fitted in the arts, glorious in arms;

Nothing becomes him ill, that he would well.

The only soil of his fair virtue’s gloss ...

Is a sharp wit matched with too blunt a will;

Whose edge hath power to cut, whose will still wills

It should none spare that come within his power.

Shakespeare, Love’s Labor’s Lost, act ii. sc. 1.

Longchamp, bishop of Ely, high justiciary of England during the absence of King Richard Cœur de Lion.—Sir W. Scott, The Talisman (time, Richard I.).

Longevity. The following have exceeded a hundred years:—

Thomas Cam (207!!), according to the parish register of St. Leonard’s Church, Shoreditch, died January 22, 1588, aged 207 years. If so, he was born 1381, in 4th Richard II., and died 13th Elizabeth.

Thomas Parr (152), born 1483, died 1635.

Henry Jenkins (169), born 1591, died 1760.

338Catharine, countess of Desmond (140), fifteenth century.

Henry Hastings (102), forester to Charles I. (1537-1639).

Henry Evans (129), a Welshman (1642-1771).

Jane Scrimshaw (127), lived in the reigns of eight sovereigns (1584-1711).

Alice, of Philadelphia (116), born 1686, died 1802.

Thomas Laugher, of Markley, Worcesshire (107), born 1700, died 1807. His mother died at the age of 108.

Margaret Patten or Batten, of Glasgow (136). She was born in the reign of Elizabeth (1603), and died 1739. She was buried in St. Margaret’s, Westminster, and a portrait of her is in St. Margaret’s workhouse.

In Shiffnal (Salop), St. Andrew’s Church, are these tablets:

William Wakley (124), baptized at Idsall, otherwise Shiffnal, May 1, 1590; and was buried at Adbaston, November 28, 1714. He lived in the reign of eight sovereigns.

Mary Yates (127), wife of Joseph Yates, of Lizard Common, Shiffnal, was born 1649, and buried August 7, 1776. She walked to London just after the fire in 1666, was hearty and strong at 120 years, and married, at 92 years of age, her third husband.

Longius, the name of the Roman soldier who pierced the crucified Saviour with a spear. The spear came into the possession of Joseph of Arimathea.—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, i. 41 (1470).

Longomonta´nus (Christian), of Jutland, a Danish astronomer (1562-1647).

What did your Cardan [an Italian astronomer], and your Ptolemy, your Messahalah and your Longomontanus, your harmony of chiromancy with astrology?—W. Congreve, Love for Love, iv. (1695).

Loningtoe (Mr.). Principal of the school-ship Young America, whose first voyage is described in Outward Bound, by William T. Adams, (Oliver Optic).

Loose-Coat Field. The battle of Stamford (1470) was so called, because the men led by Lord Wells, being attacked by the Yorkists, threw off their coats, that they might flee the faster.

Cast off their country’s coats, to haste their speed away.

Which “Loose-Coat Field” is called e’en to this day.

Drayton, Polyolbion, xxii. (1622).

Lo´pe de Vega (Felix), a Spanish poet born at Madrid. He was one of those who came in the famous “Armada” to invade EnglandEngland. Lope (2 syl.) wrote altogether 1800 tragedies, comedies, dramas, or religious pieces called autos sacramentales (1562-1635).

Her memory was a mine. She knew by heart

All Calderon and greater part of Lopé.

Byron, Don Juan, i. 11 (1819).

Lopez, the “Spanish curate.”—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Spanish Curate, (1622).

Lopez (Don), a Portuguese nobleman, the father of Don Felix and Donna Isabella.—Mrs. Centlivre, The Wonder (1714).

Lord, a hunchback. (Greek, lordos, “crooked”).

Lord Peter. The pope is so called in Dr. Arbuthnot’s History of John Bull. Swift, in his Tale of a Tub, introduces the three brothers, Peter, John, and Martin, meaning the pope, Calvin, and Luther.

339Lord Strutt. Charles II., of Spain, is so called by Dr. Arbuthnot, in his History of John Bull (1712).

Every one must remember the paroxysm of rage into which poor Lord Strutt fell, on hearing that his runaway servant, Nic. Frog, his clothier, John Bull, and his old enemy, Lewis Baboon, had come with quadrants, poles, and ink-horns, to survey his estate, and to draw his will for him.—Macaulay.

Lord Thomas and Annet had a lovers’ quarrel; whereupon, Lord Thomas, in his temper, went and offered marriage to the nut-brown maid who had houses and lands. On the wedding day, Annet went to the church, and Lord Thomas gave her a rose, but the nut-brown maid killed her with a “bodkin from her head-gear.” Lord Thomas, seeing Annet fall, plunged his dagger into the heart of the murderess, and then stabbed himself. Over the graves of Lord Thomas and the lair Annet grew “a bonny briar, and by this ye may ken that they were lovers dear.” In some versions of this story Annet is called “Elinor.”—Percy, Reliques, etc., III. iii.

Lord of Crazy Castle, John Hall Stevenson, author of Crazy Tales (in verse). J. H. Stevenson lived at Skelton Castle, which was nicknamed “Crazy Castle” (1718-1780).

Lord of the Isles, Donald of Islay, who in 1346 reduced the Hebridês under his sway. The title of “lord of the Isles” had been borne by others for centuries before, was borne by Stevenson’s successors, and is now one of the titles of the prince of Wales.

Sir W. Scott has a metrical romance entitled The Lord of the Isles (1815).

Loredani (Giacomo), interpreter of King Richard I.—Sir W. Scott, The Talisman (time, Richard I.).

Loreda´no (James), a Venetian patrician, and one of the Council of Ten. Loredano was the personal enemy of the Fos´cari.—Byron, The Two Foscari (1820).

Lorelei. Syren, fabled to dwell in the Rhine, and sitting on the rocks, to lure by her song passers-by to destruction.

Loren´zo, a young man with whom Jes´sica, the daughter of the Jew, Shylock, elopes.—Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice (1698).

Lorenzo, an atheist and reprobate, whose remorse ends in despair.—Dr. Young, Night Thoughts (1742-6).

⁂ Some affirm that Lorenzo is meant for the poet’s own son.

Lorenzo (Colonel), a young libertine in Dryden’s drama, The Spanish Fryar (1680).

Lorimer, one of the guard at Ardenvohr Castle.—Sir W. Scott, Legend of Montrose (time, Charles I.).

Loriot, “the confidante and servante” of Louis XV. Loriot was the inventor of lifts, by which tables descended, and rose again covered with viands and vines.

The shifting sideboard plays its humble part,

Beyond the triumphs of a Loriot’s art.

S. Rogers, Epistle to a Friend (1798).

Lorma, wife of Erragon, king of Sora, in Scandinavia. She fell in love with Aldo, a Caledonian officer in the king’s army. The guilty pair escaped to Morven, which Erragon forthwith invaded. Erragon encountered Aldo in single combat, and slew him; was himself slain in battle by Gaul, 340son of Morni; and Lorma died of grief.—Ossian, The Battle of Lora.

Lorn (M’Dougal of), a Highland chief in the army of Montrose.—Sir W. Scott, Legend of Montrose (time, Charles I.).

Lorna Doone. Beautiful maiden brought up in the midst of the outlaw Doones, and afterwards married to John Ridd.—R. D. Blackmore, Lorna Doone.

Lorrequer (Harry), the hero and title of a military novel by Charles Lever.

Lor´rimite (3 syl.), a malignant witch, who abetted and aided Ar´valan in his persecutions of Kail´yal, the beautiful and holy daughter of Ladur´lad.—Southey, Curse of Kehama, xi. (1809).

Lorry (Jarvis), one of the firm in Tellson’s bank, Temple Bar, and a friend of Dr. Manette. Jarvis Lorry was orderly, precise and methodical, but tender-hearted and affectionate.

He had a good leg and was a little vain of it. ... and his little sleek, crisp, flaxen wig looked as if it was spun silk... His face, habitually suppressed and quiet, was lighted up by a pair of moist, bright eyes.—C. Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, i. 4 (1859).

Losberne (2 syl.), the medical man called in by Mrs. Maylie to attend Oliver Twist, after the attempted burglary by Bill Sikes and his associates.—C. Dickens, Oliver Twist (1837).

Lot, consul of Londonesia, and afterwards king of Norway. He was brother of Urian and Augusel, and married Anne (own sister of King Arthur), by whom he had two sons, Walgan and Modred.—Geoffrey, British History, viii. 21; ix. 9, 10 (1142).

⁂ This account differs so widely from that of Arthurian romance, that it is not possible to reconcile them. In the History of Prince Arthur, Lot, king of Orkney, marries Margawse, the “sister of King Arthur” (pt. i. 2). Tennyson, in his Gareth and Lynette, says that Lot’s wife was Bellicent. Again, the sons of Lot are called, in the History, Gaw´ain, Agravain, Ga´heris, and Gareth; Mordred is their half-brother, being the son of King Arthur and the same mother.—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, i. 2, 35, 36 (1470).

Lot, king of Orkney. According to the Morte d’Arthur, King Lot’s wife was Margawse or Morgawse, sister of King Arthur, and their sons were Sir Gaw´ain, Sir Ag´ravain, Sir Ga´heris, and Sir Gareth.—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, i. 36 (1470).

Once or twice Elain is called the wife of Lot, but this is a mistake. Elain was Arthur’s sister, by the same mother, and was the wife of Sir Nentres, of Carlot. Mordred was the son of Morgawse, by her brother Arthur, and consequently Gawain, Agravain, Gaheris, and Gareth were his half-brothers.

Lot, king of Orkney. According to Tennyson, King Lot’s wife was Bellicent, daughter of Gorloïs, lord of Tintag´il Castle, in Cornwall, and Lot was the father of Gaw´ain (2 syl.) and Modred. This account differs entirely from the History of Prince Arthur, by Sir T. Malory. There the wife of Lot is called Margawse or Morgawse (Arthur’s sister). Geoffrey of Monmouth, on the other hand, calls her Anne (Arthur’s sister). The sons of Lot, according to the History, were Gawain, Agravain, Gaheris, and Gareth; Modred or Mordred being the offspring of Morgawse 341and Arthur. This ignoble birth the History assigns as the reason of Mordred’s hatred to King Arthur, his adulterous father and uncle. Lot was subdued by King Arthur, fighting on behalf of Leodogran or Leodogrance, king of Cam´eliard.—See Tennyson, Coming of Arthur.

Lot’s Wife, Wâhela, who was confederate with the men of Sodom, and gave them notice when any stranger came to lodge in the house. Her sign was smoke by day and fire by night. Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt.—Jallâlo´ddin, Al Zamakh.

Lothair. Young English gentleman, the hero of the once-famous political novel of the same name, by Benjamin Disraeli (Lord Beaconsfield). The action of the story turns chiefly upon the vacillation of Lothair between the claims of the Roman Catholic and of the English Church. He decides to unite himself with the latter.

Lotha´rio, a noble cavalier of Florence, the friend of Anselmo. Anselmo induced him to put the fidelity of his wife, Camilla, to the test, that he might rejoice in her incorruptible virtue; but Camilla was not trial-proof, and eloped with Lothario. Anselmo then died of grief, Lothario was slain in battle, and Camilla died in a convent.—Cervantes, Don Quixote, I. iv. 5, 6 (“Fatal Curiosity,” 1605).

Lothario, a young Genoese nobleman, “haughty, gallant, gay, and perfidious.” He seduced Calista, daughter of Sciol´to (3 syl.), a Genoese nobleman, and was killed in a duel by Altamont, the husband. This is the “gay Lothario,” which has become a household word for a libertine and male coquette.—N. Rowe, The Fair Penitent (1703).

Is this the haughty, gallant, gay Lothario?

Rowe, The Fair Penitent.

⁂ The Fair Penitent is taken from Massinger’s Fatal Dowry, in which Lothario is called “Novall, Junior.”

Lothian (Scotland). So named from Llew, second son of Arthur; also called Lotus and Lothus. Arthur’s eldest son was Urian, and his youngest Arawn.

⁂ In some legends, Lothian is made the father of Modred or Medraut, leader of the rebellious army which fought at Camlan, A.D. 537, in which Arthur received his death-wound; but in Malory’s collection, called The History of Prince Arthur, Modred is called the son of Arthur by his own sister, the wife of King Lot.

Lotte (2 syl.), a young woman of strong affections and domestic winning ways, the wife of Albert, a young German farmer. Werther loved Lotte when she was only betrothed to Albert, and continued to love her after she became a young wife. His mewling and puling after this “forbidden fruit,” which terminates in suicide, make up the sum and substance of the tale, which is told in the form of letters addressed to divers persons.—Goethe, Sorrows of Werther (1774).

“Lotte” was Charlotte Buff, who married Kestner, Goethe’s friend, the “Albert” of the novel. Goethe was in love with Charlotte Buff, and her marriage with Kestner soured the temper of his over-sensitive mind.

Lotus-Eaters or Lotoph´agi, a people who ate of the lotus tree, the effect of which was to make them forget their friends and homes, and to lose all desire of returning to their native land. The lotus-eater only cares to live in ease, luxury, and idleness.—Homer, Odyssey, xi.