LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. (continued 4)

Thales´tris, queen of the Amazons. Any bold, heroic woman.

As stout Armi´da [q.v.], bold Thalestris,

And she [Rhodalind q.v.] that would have been the mistress

Of Gondibert.

S. Butler, Hudibras, i. 2 (1663).

Tha´lia, the Muse of pastoral song. 94She is often represented with a crook in her hand.

Turn to the gentler melodies which suit

Thalia’s harp, or Pan’s Arcadian lute.

Campbell, Pleasures of Hope, ii. (1790).

Thaliard, a lord of Antioch.--Shakespeare, Pericles, Prince of Tyre (1608).

Tham´muz, God of the Syrians, and fifth in order of the hierarchy of hell: (1) Satan, (2) Beëlzebub, (3) Moloch, (4) Chemos, (5) Thammuz (the same as Ado´nis). Thammuz was slain by a wild boar in Mount Lebanon, from whence the river Adonis descends, the water of which, at a certain season of the year, becomes reddened. Addison saw it, and ascribes the redness to a minium washed into the river by the violence of the rain.

Thammuz came next behind,

Whose annual wound in Lebanon allured

The Syrian damsels to lament his fate

In amorous ditties all a summer’s day;

While smooth Adonis from his native rock

Ran purple to the sea, supposed with blood

Of Thammuz yearly wounded.

Milton, Paradise Lost, i. 446, etc. (1665).

Thamu´dites (3 syl.), people of the tribe of Thamûd. They refused to believe in Mahomet without seeing a miracle. On a grand festival, Jonda, prince of the Thamûdites, told Sâleh, the prophet, that the god which answered by miracle should be acknowledged God by both. Jonda and the Thamûdites first called upon their idols, but received no answer. “Now,” said the prince to Sâleh, “if God will bring a camel big with young from that rock, we will believe.” Scarcely had he spoken, when the rock groaned and shook and opened; and forthwith there came a camel, which there and then cast its young one. Jonda became at once a convert, but the Thamûdites held back. To add to the miracle, the camel went up and down among the people crying, “Ho! every one that thirsteth, let him come, and I will give him milk!” (compare Isaiah lv. 1.).

Unto the tribe of Thamûd we sent their brother, Sâleh. He said, “O, my people, worship God; ye have no god besides him. Now hath a manifest proof come unto you from the Lord. This she-camel of God is a sign unto you; therefore dismiss her freely ... and do her no hurt, lest a painful punishment seize upon you.”--Al Korân, vii.

⁂ There is a slight resemblance between this story and that of the contest between Elijah and the priests of Baal, so graphically described in 1 Kings xviii.

Tham´yris (Blind), a Thracian poet, who challenged the Muses to a contest of song, and was deprived of sight, voice, and musical skill for his presumption (Pliny, Natural History, iii. 33, and vii. 57). Plutarch says he had the finest voice of any one, and that he wrote a poem on the War of the Titans with the Gods. Suidas tells us that he composed a poem on creation. And Plato, in his Republic (last book), feigns that the spirit of the blind old bard passed into a nightingale at death. Milton speaks of:

Blind Thamyris and blind Mæon´idês [Homer].

Paradise Lost, iii. 35 (1665).

Thanatopsis. “View of, or meditation upon death.”

W. C. Bryant’s poem bearing this name was written when he was but nineteen years old (1818). It is the best of his poems.

Thancmar, châtelain of Bourbourg, the great enemy of Bertulphe, the provost of Bruges. Charles “the Good,” earl of Flanders, made a law in 1127, that a serf was always a serf till manumitted, and whoever married a serf became a serf. 95By these absurd laws, the provost of Bruges became a serf, because his father was Thancmar’s serf. By the same laws, Bouchard, though a knight of long descent became Thancmar’s serf, because he married Constance, the provost’s daughter. The result of these laws was that Bertulphe slew the earl and then himself, Constance went mad and died, Bouchard and Thancmar slew each other in fight, and all Bruges was thrown into confusion.--S. Knowles, The Provost of Bruges (1836).

Thaumast, an English pundit, who went to Paris, attracted by the rumor of the great wisdom of Pantag´ruel. He arranged a disputation with that prince, to be carried on solely by pantomime, without the utterance of a single word. Panurge undertook the disputation for the prince, and Pantagruel was appointed arbiter. Many a knotty point in magic, alchemy, the cabala, geomancy, astrology, and philosophy were argued out by signs alone, and the Englishman freely confessed himself fully satisfied, for “Panurge had told him even more than he had asked.”--Rabelais, Pantagruel, ii. 19, 20 (1533).

Thaumaturga. Filumēna is called La Thaumaturge du Dixneuvième Siecle. In 1802, a grave was discovered with this inscription: Lumena Paxte Cvmfi, which has no meaning, but being re-arranged makes Pax Te-cum, Fi-lumena. So Filumena was at once accepted as a proper name and canonized. And because as many miracles were performed at her tomb as at that of the famous Abbé de Paris, mentioned in Paley’s Evidences, she was called “The Nineteenth-Century Miracle-Worker.” But who Filumena was, or if indeed she ever existed, is one of those secrets which no one, perhaps, will ever know. (See St. Filomena.)

Thaumatur´gus. Gregory, bishop of Neo-Cæsarēa, in Cappadocia, was so called on account of his numerous miracles (212-270).

Alexander of Hohenlohe, was a worker of miracles.

Apollonius of Tya´na, “raised the dead, healed the sick, cast out devils, freed a young man from a lamia or vampire of which he was enamored, uttered prophecies, saw at Ephesus the assassination of Domitian at Rome, and filled the world with the fame of his sanctity” (A.D. 3-98).--Philostrătos, Life of Apollonius of Tyana, in eight books.

Francis d’Assisi (St.), founder of the Franciscan order (1182-1226).

J. J. Gassner, of Bratz, in the Tyrol, exorcised the sick and cured their diseases “miraculously” (1727-1779).

Isidore (St.) of Alexandria (370-440).--Damascius, Life of St. Isidore (sixth century).

Jamblichus, when he prayed, was raised ten cubits from the ground, and his body and dress assumed the appearance of gold. At Gadăra he drew from two fountains the guardian spirits, and showed them to his disciples.--Eunapius, Jamblichus (fourth century).

Mahomet, “the prophet.” (1) When he ascended to heaven on Al Borak, the stone on which he stepped to mount rose in the air as the prophet rose, but Mahomet forbade it to follow any further, and it remained suspended in mid-air. (2) He took a scroll of the Korân out of a bull’s horn. (3) He brought the moon from heaven, made it pass through one sleeve and out of the other, and then allowed it to return to its place in heaven.

Pascal (Blaise) was a miracle-worker (1623-1662).

Ploti´nus, the Neo-platonic philosopher 96(205-270).--Porphyrius, Vita Plotini (A.D. 301).

PROCLUS, a Neo-platonic philosopher (410-485).--Marinus, Vita Procli (fifth century).

SOSPITRA possessed the power of seeing all that was done in every part of the whole world.--Eunapius, Œdeseus (fourth century).

VESPASIAN, the Roman emperor, cured a blind man and a cripple by his touch during his stay at Alexandria.

VINCENT DE PAUL, founder of the “Sisters of Charity” (1576-1660).

Thaumaturgus Physicus, a treatise on natural magic, by Gaspar Schott (1657-9).

Thaumaturgus of the West, St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153).

Theag´enes and Chariclei´a (The Loves of), a love story, in Greek, by Heliodorus, bishop of Trikka (fourth century). A charming fiction, largely borrowed from by subsequent novelists, and especially by Mdlle. de Scudéri, Tasso, Guarini and D’Urfé. The tale is this: Some Egyptian brigands met one morning on a hill near the mouth of the Nile, and saw a vessel, laden with stores, lying at anchor. They also observed that the banks of the Nile were strewn with dead bodies and the fragments of food. On further examination they beheld Charicleia sitting on a rock, tending Theagĕnês, who lay beside her severely wounded. Some pirates had done it, and to them the vessel belonged. We are then carried to the house of Nausĭclês, and there Calasīris tells the early history of Charicleia, her love for Theagenês, and their capture by the pirates.

Thea´na (3 syl.) is Anne, countess of Warwick.

No less praiseworthy I Theana read ...

She is the well of bounty and brave mind,

Excelling most in glory and great light,

The ornament is she of womankind,

And court’s chief garland with all virtues dight.

Spenser, Colin Clout’s Come Home Again (1595).

Thebaid (The), a Latin epic poem in twelve books, by Statius (about a century after Virgil). Laïos, king of Thebes, was told by an oracle that he would have a son, but that his son would be his murderer. To prevent this, when the son was born he was hung on a tree by his feet, to be devoured by wild beasts. The child, however, was rescued by some of the royal servants, who brought him up, and called his name Œdĭpos or Club-foot, because his feet and ankles were swollen by the thongs. One day, going to Thebes, the chariot of Laïos nearly drove over the young Œdipos; a quarrel ensued, and Laïos was killed. Œdipos, not knowing whom he had slain, went on to Thebes, and ere long married the widowed queen, Jocasta, not knowing that she was his mother, and by her he had two sons and two daughters. The names of the sons were Et´eoclês and Polynīcês. These sons in time dethroned their father, and agreed to reign alternate years. Etĕŏclês reigned first, but at the close of the year refused to resign the crown to his brother, and Polynicês made war upon him. This war, which occurred some forty-two years before the siege of Troy, and about the time that Debŏrah was fighting with Sisĕra (Judges iv.), is the subject of the Thebaid.

The first book recapitulates the history given above, and then goes on to say that Polynicês went straight to Argos, and laid his grievance before King Adrastos (bk. i.). While at Argos he married one of the king’s daughters, and Tydeus the other. The festivities being over, Tydeus was sent to Thebes to claim the throne for his 97brother-in-law, and, being insolently dismissed, denounced war against Eteoclês. The villainous usurper sent fifty ruffians to fall on the ambassador on his way to Argos, but they were all slain, except one, who was left to carry back the news (bk. ii). When Tydeus reached Argos he wanted his father-in-law to march at once against Thebes, but Adrastos, less impetuous, made answer that a great war required time for its organization. How ever, Kapăneus (3 syl.), siding with Tydeus [Ti´.duce], roused the mob (bk. iii.), and Adrastos at once set about preparations for war. He placed his army under six chieftains, viz., Polynicês, Tydeus, Amphiarāos, Kapaneus, Parthenopæos and Hippomĕdon, he himself acting as commander-in-chief (bk. iv.). Bks. v., vi. describe the march from Argos to Thebes. On the arrival of the allied army before Thebes, Jocasta tried to reconcile her two sons, but, not succeeding in this, hostilities commenced, and one of the chiefs, named Amphiaraos, was swallowed up by an earthquake (bk. vii.). Next day Tydeus greatly distinguished himself, but fell (bk. viii.). Hippomedon and Parthenopæos were both slain the day following (bk. ix.). Then came the turn of Kapaneus, bold as a tiger, strong as a giant, and a regular dare-devil in war. He actually scaled the wall, he thought himself sure of victory, he defied even Jove to stop him, and was instantly killed by a flash of lightning (bk. x.). Polynicês was now the only one of the six remaining, and he sent to Eteoclês to meet him in single combat. The two brothers met, they fought like lions, they gave no quarter, they took no rest. At length Eteoclês fell, and Polynicês, running up to strip him of his arms, was thrust through the bowels, and fell dead on the dead body of his brother. Adrastos now decamped, and returned to Argos (bk. xi.). Creon, having usurped the Theban crown, forbade any one, on pain of death, to bury the dead; but when Theseus, king of Athens, heard of this profanity, he marched at once to Thebes, Creon died, and the crown was given to Theseus (bk. xii.).

Theban Bard (The), Theban Eagle or Theban Lyre, Pindar, born at Thebes (B.C. 522-442).

Ye that in fancied vision can admire

The sword of Brutus and the Theban lyre.

Campbell, Pleasures of Hope, i. (1799).

Thecla (St.) said to be of noble family, in Ico´nium, and to have been converted by the Apostle Paul. She is styled in Greek martyrologies the protomartyress, but the book called The Acts of Paul and Thecla is considered to be apocryphal.

On the selfsame shelf

With the writings of St. Thecla herself.

Longfellow, The Golden Legend (1851).

Thekla, daughter of Wallenstein.--Schiller, Wallenstein (1799).

Thélème (Abbey of) the abbey given by Grangousier to Friar John for the aid he rendered in the battle against Picrochole, king of Lerné. The abbey was stored with everything that could contribute to sensual indulgence and enjoyment. It was the very reverse of a convent or monastery. No religious hypocrites, no pettifogging attorneys, no usurers were admitted within it, but it was filled with gallant ladies and gentlemen, faithful expounders of the Scriptures, and every one who could contribute to its elegant recreations and general festivity. The motto over the door was: “Fay ce que Vouldras.”--Rabelais, Gargantua, i. 52-7 (1533).

98Thélème, the Will personified. Voltaire, Thélème and Macare.

The´lu, the female or woman.

And divers colored trees and fresh array [hair]

Much grace the town [head], but most the Thelu gay;

But all in winter [old age] turn to snow and soon decay.

Phineas Fletcher, The Purple Island, v. (1633).

Thenot, an old shepherd bent with age, who tells Cuddy, the herdsman’s boy, the fable of the oak and the briar. An aged oak, once a most royal tree, was wasted by age of its foliage, and stood with bare head and sear branches. A pert bramble grew hard by, and snubbed the oak, calling it a cumberer of the ground. It even complained to the lord of the field, and prayed him to cut it down. The request was obeyed, and the oak was felled; but now the bramble suffered from the storm and cold, for it had no shelter, and the snow bent it to the ground, where it was draggled and defiled. The application is very personal. Cuddy is the pert, flippant bramble, and Thenot the hoary oak; but Cuddy told the old man his tale was long and trashy, and bad him hie home, for the sun was set.--Spenser, Shepheardes Calendar, ii. (1579).

(Thenot is introduced also in ecl. iv., and again in ecl. xi., where he begs Colin to sing something, but Colin declines because his mind is sorrowing for the death of the shepherdess Dido.)

Thenot, a shepherd who loved Clorin chiefly for her “fidelity” to her deceased lover. When the “faithful shepherdess” knew this, in order to cure him of his passion, she pretended to return his love. Thenot was so shocked to see his charm broken that he lost even his respect for Clorin, and forsook her.--John Fletcher, The Faithful Shepherdess (1610).

Theocritus, of Syracuse, in Sicily (fl. B.C. 280), celebrated for his idylls in Doric Greek. Meli is the person referred to below.

Behold once more,

The pitying gods to earth restore

Theocritus of Syracuse.

Longfellow, The Wayside Inn (prelude 1863).

Theocritus (The Scotch), Allan Ramsay, author of The Gentle Shepherd (1685-1758).

Theocritus (The Sicilian), Giovanni Meli, of Palermo, immortalized by his eclogues and idylls (1740-1815).

Theod´ofred, heir to the Spanish throne, but incapacitated from reigning, because he had been blinded by Witiza. Theodofred was the son of Chindasuintho, and father of King Roderick. As Witiza, the usurper, had blinded Theodofred, so Roderick dethroned and blinded Witiza.--Southey, Roderick, etc. (1814).

⁂ In mediæval times no one with any personal defect was allowed to reign and one of the most ordinary means of disqualifying a prince for succeeding to a throne was to put out his eyes. Of course, the reader will call to mind the case of Prince Arthur, the nephew of King John; and scores of other instances in Italian, French, Spanish, German, Russian, and Scandinavian history.

Theod´omas, a famous trumpeter at the siege of Thebes.

At every court ther cam loud menstralcye

That never trompêd Joab for to heere,

Ne he Theodomas yit half so cleere

At Thebês, when the citê was in doute.

Chaucer, Canterbury Tales, 9592, etc. (1338).

99Theodo´ra, sister of Constantine, the Greek emperor. She entertained most bitter hatred against Rogēro for slaying her son, and vowed vengeance. Rogero, being entrapped in sleep, was confined by her in a dungeon, and fed on the bread and water of affliction, but was ultimately released by Prince Leon.--Ariosto, Orlando Furioso (1516).

The´odore (3 syl.), son of General Archas, “the loyal subject” of the great-duke of Muscovia. A colonel, valorous, but impatient.--Beaumont and Fletcher, The Loyal Subject (1618).

Theodore (3 syl.), of Ravenna, brave, rich, honored, and chivalrous. He loved Honōria “to madness,” but “found small favor in the lady’s eyes.” At length, however, the lady relented and married him. (See Honoria.)--Dryden, Theodore and Honoria (from Boccaccio).

Theodore, son of the lord of Clarinsal, and grandson of Alphonso. His father thought him dead, renounced the world, and became a monk of St. Nicholas, assuming the name of Austin. By chance Theodore was sent home in a Spanish bark, and found his way into some secret passage of the count’s castle, where he was seized and taken before the count. Here he met the monk, Austin, and was made known to him. He informed his father of his love for Adelaide, the count’s daughter, and was then told that if he married her, he must renounce his estates and title. The case stood thus: If he claimed his estates, he must challenge the count to mortal combat, and renounce the daughter; but if he married Adelaide, he must forego his rights, for he could not marry the daughter and slay his father-in-law. The perplexity is solved by the death of Adelaide, killed by her father by mistake, and the death of the count by his own hand.--Robert Jephson, Count of Narbonne (1782).

Theod´orick, king of the Goths, called by the German minnesingers, Diderick of Bern (Verōna).

Theodorick, or “Alberick of Mortemar,” an exiled nobleman, hermit of Engaddi, and an enthusiast.--Sir W. Scott, The Talisman (time, Richard I.).

Theodorus (Master), a learned physician, employed by Ponocratês to cure Gargantua of his vicious habits. The doctor accordingly “purged him canonically with Anticyrian hellebore, cleansed from his brain all perverse habits, and made him forget everything he had learned of his other preceptors.”--Rabelais, Gargantua, i. 23.

Hellebore was made use of to purge the brain, in order to fit it the better for serious study.--Pliny, Natural History, xxv. 25; Aulus Gellius, Attic Nights, xvii. 15.

Theodo´sius, the hermit of Cappadocia. He wrote the four gospels in letters of gold (423-529).

Theodosius, who of old.

Wrote the gospels in letters of gold.

Longfellow, The Golden Legend (1851).

Theophilus (St.), of Adana, in Cilicia (sixth century). He was driven by slander to sell his soul to the devil, on condition that his character was cleared. The slander was removed, and no tongue wagged against the thin-skinned saint. Theophilus now repented of his bargain, and after a fast of forty days and forty nights, was visited by the Virgin, who bade him confess to the bishop. This he 100did, received absolution, and died within three days of brain fever.--Jacques de Voragine, The Golden Legends (thirteenth century).

This is a very stale trick, told of many a saint. Southey has poetized one of them in his ballad of St. Basil, or The Sinner Saved (1829). Elĕēmon sold his soul to the devil on condition of his procuring him Cyra for wife. The devil performed his part of the bargain, but Eleemon called off, and St. Basil gave him absolution. (See Sinner Saved.)

Theophras´tus of France (The), Jean de la Bruyère, author of Caractères (1646-1696).

Theresa, the miller’s wife, who adopted and brought up Amīna, the orphan, called “the somnambulist.”--Bellini, La Sonnambula (libretto by Scribe, 1831).

Therēsa, wife of the count palatine of Padōlia, beloved by Mazeppa. Her father, indignant that a mere page should presume to his daughter’s hand, had Mazeppa bound to a wild horse, and set adrift. The future history of Theresa is not related.--Byron, Mazeppa (1819).

Medora [wife of the Corsair], Neuha [in The Island], Leila [in The Giaour], Francesca [in The Siege of Corinth], and Theresa, it has been alleged, are but children of one family, with differences resulting only from climate and circumstances.--Finden, Byron Beauties.

Theresa (Sister), with Flora M’Ivor at Carlisle.--Sir W. Scott, Waverley (time, George II.).

Theringe (Mde. de), the mother of Louise de Lascours, and grandmother of Diana de Lascours and Martha, alias Orgari´ta, “the orphan of the Frozen Sea.”--E. Stirling, The Orphan of the Frozen Sea (1856).

Thermopylæ. When Xerxes invaded Greece, Leonĭdas was sent with 300 Spartans, as a forlorn hope, to defend the pass leading from Thessaly into Locris, by which it was thought the Persian host would penetrate into Southern Greece. The Persians, however, having discovered a path over the mountains, fell on Leonidas in the rear, and the “brave defenders of the hot-gates” were cut to pieces.

Theron, the favorite dog of Roderick, the last Gothic king of Spain. When the discrowned king, dressed as a monk, assumed the name of “Father Maccabee,” although his tutor, mother, and even Florinda failed to recognize him, Theron knew him at once, fawned on him with fondest love, and would never again leave him till the faithful creature died. When Roderick saw his favorite,

He threw his arms around the dog, and cried,

While tears streamed down, “Thou, Theron, thou hast known

Thy poor lost master; Theron, none but thou!”

Southey, Roderick, etc., xv. (1814).

Thersi´tes (3 syl.), a scurrilous Grecian chief, “loquacious, loud, and coarse.” His chief delight was to inveigh against the kings of Greece. He squinted, halted, was gibbous behind and pinched before, and on his tapering head grew a few white patches of starveling down (Iliad, ii.).

His brag, as Thersītês, with elbows abroad.

T. Tusser, Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry, liv. (1557).

The´seus (2 syl.), the Attic hero. He induced the several towns of Attica to give up their separate governments and submit to a common jurisdiction, whereby 101the several petty chiefdoms were consolidated into one state, of which Athens was the capital.

⁂ Similarly, the several kingdoms of the Saxon heptarchy were consolidated into one kingdom by Egbert; but in this latter case, the might of arms, and not the power of conviction, was the instrument employed.

Theseus (Duke) of Athens. On his return home, after marrying Hypolĭta, a crowd of female suppliants complained to him of Creon, king of Thebes. The duke therefore set out for Thebes, slew Creon, and took the city by assault. Among the captives taken in this siege were two knights, named Palămon and Arcite, who saw the duke’s sister from their dungeon window, and fell in love with her. When set at liberty, they told their loves to the duke, and Theseus (2 syl.) promised to give the lady to the best man in a single combat. Arcite overthrew Palamon, but as he was about to claim the lady his horse threw him, and he died; so Palamon lost the contest, but won the bride.--Chaucer, Canterbury Tales (“The Knight’s Tale,” 1388).

⁂ In classic story, Theseus is called “king;” but Chaucer styles him “duke,” that is, dux, “leader or emperor” (imperātor).

Thespian Maids (The), the nine Muses. So called from Thespia, in Bœotia, near Mount Helĭcon, often called Thespia Rupes.

Those modest Thespian maids thus to their Isis sung.

Drayton, Polyolbion, xv. (1613).

Thespi´o, a Muse. The Muses were called Thespi´adês, from Thespīa, in Bœo´tia, at the foot of mount Helĭcon.

Tell me, oh, tell me then, thou holy Muse,

Sacred Thespīo.

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

Thespis, the father of the Greek drama.

Thespis, the first professor of our art,

At country wakes sang ballads from a cart.

Dryden, Prologue to Sophonisba (1729).

Thes´tylis, a female slave; any rustic maiden.--Theocritos, Idylls.

With Thestylis to bind the sheaves.

Milton, L’Allegro (1638).

Thet´is, mother of Achillês. She was a sea-nymph, daughter of Nereus, the sea-god.--Grecian Story.

Theuerdank, a sobriquet of Kaiser Maximilian I. of Germany (1459, 1493-1519).

Thiebalt, a Provençal, one of Arthur’s escorts to Aix.--Sir W. Scott, Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).

Thieves (The Two). The penitent thief crucified with Jesus, has been called by sundry names, as Demas, Dismas, Titus, Matha, and Vicimus.

The impenitent thief, has been called Gestas, Dumachas, Joca, and Justīnus.

In the Aprocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus, the former is called Dysmas and the latter Gestas. In the Story of Joseph of Arimathea, the former is called Demas and the latter Gestas. Longfellow’s Golden Legend, calls them Titus and Dumachus. A legend says that they attacked Joseph in his flight into Egypt. Titus said, “Let the good people go;” but Dumachus refused to do so till he “paid a ransom for himself and family.” Upon this, Titus gave his fellow forty groats; and the infant Jesus said, “In thirty years I shall die, and you two with Me. We shall be 102crucified together; but in that day, Titus, this deed shall be remembered.”

Thieves (His ancestors proved). It is Sir Walter Scott who wrote and proved his “ancestors were thieves,” in the Lay of the Last Minstrel, iv. 9.

A modern author spends a hundred leaves

To prove his ancestors notorious thieves.

The Town Ecolgue.

Thieves Screened. It is said of Edward the Confessor, that one day, while lying on his bed for his afternoon’s nap, a courtier stole into his chamber and seeing the king’s casket, helped himself freely from it. He returned a second time, and on his third entrance, Edward said, “Be quick, or Hugoline (the chamberlain) will see you.” The courtier was scarcely gone, when the chamberlain entered and instantly detected the theft. The king said, “Never mind, Hugoline; the fellow who has taken it no doubt has greater need of it than either you or I.” (Reigned 1042-1066).

Several similar anecdotes are told of Robert the Pious, of France. One time he saw a man steal a silver candle-stick off the altar, and said, “Friend Ogger, run for your life, or you will be found out.” At another time, one of the twelve poor men in his train cut off a rich gold pendant from the royal robe, and Robert, turning to the man, said to him, “Hide it quickly, friend, before any one sees it.” (Reigned 996-1031.)

The following is told of two or three kings, amongst others of Ludwig the Pious, who had a very overbearing wife. A beggar under the table, picking up the crumbs which the king let down, cut off the gold fringe of the royal robe, and the king whispered to him, “Take care the queen doesn’t see you.”

Thieves of Historic Note.

Autol´ycos, son of Hermês; a very prince of thieves. He had the power of changing the color and shape of stolen goods so as to prevent their being recognized.--Greek Fable.

Barlow (Jimmy), immortalized by the ballad-song:

My name it is Jimmy Barlow;

I was born in the town of Carlow;

And here I lie in Maryboro’ jail,

All for the robbing of the Dublin mail.

Cartouche, the Dick Turpin of France (eighteenth century).

Cottington (John), in the time of the Commonwealth, who emptied the pockets of Oliver Cromwell, when lord protector, stripped Charles II. of £1500, and stole a watch and chain from Lady Fairfax.

Duval (Claude), a French highwayman, noted for his gallantry and daring (*-1670). (See “James Whitney,” who was a very similar character.)

⁂ Alexander Dumas has a novel entitled Claude Duval, and Miss Robinson introduces him in White Friars.

Frith (Mary), usually called “Moll Cutpurse.” She had the honor of robbing General Fairfax, on Hounslow Heath. Mary Frith lived in the reign of Charles I., and died at the age of 75 years.

⁂ Nathaniel Field has introduced Mary Frith, and made merry with some of her pranks, in his comedy, Amends for Ladies (1618).

Galloping Dick, executed in Aylesbury, in 1800.

Grant (Captain), the Irish highwayman, executed at Maryborough in 1816.

Greenwood (Samuel), executed at Old Bailey in 1822.

Hassan, the “Old Man of the Mountain,” once the terror of Europe. He was chief of the Assassins (1056-1124).

Hood (Robin) and his “merry men all,” 103of Sherwood Forest. Famed in song, drama and romance. Probably he lived in the reign of Richard Cœur de Lion.

⁂ Sir W. Scott has introduced him both in The Talisman and in Ivanhoe. Stow has recorded the chief incidents of his life (see under the year 1213). Ritson has compiled a volume of ballads respecting him. Drayton has given a sketch of him in the Polyolbion, xxvi. The following are dramas on the same outlaw, viz.:--The Playe of Robyn Hode, very proper to be played in Maye games (fifteenth century); Skelton, at the command of Henry VIII., wrote a drama called The Downfall of Robert, Earl of Huntington (about 1520); The Downfall of Robert, Earl of Huntington, by Munday (1597); The Death of Robert, Earle of Huntington, otherwise called Robin Hood of Merrie Sherwodde, by H. Chettle (1598). Chettle’s drama is in reality a continuation of Munday’s, like the two parts of Shakespeare’s plays, Henry IV. and Henry V. Robin Hood’s Penn´orths, a play by William Haughton (1600); Robin Hood and His Pastoral May Games (1624), Robin Hood and His Crew of Soldiers (1627), both anonymous; The Sad Shepherd, or a Tale of Robin Hood (unfinished), B. Jonson (1637); Robin Hood, an opera (1730); Robin Hood, an opera by Dr. Arne and Burney (1741); Robin Hood, a musical farce (1751); Robin Hood, a comic opera (1784); Robin Hood, an opera by O’Keefe, music by Shield (1787); Robin Hood, by Macnally (before 1820). Sheridan began a drama on the same subject, which he called The Foresters; The Foresters, Tennyson (1892).

Periphe´tes (4 syl.) of Argŏlis, surnamed “The Club-Bearer,” because he used to kill his victims with an iron club.--Grecian Story.

Procrustes (3 syl.), a famous robber of Attica. His real name was Polypēmon or Damastês, but he received the sobriquet of Procrustês, or “The Stretcher,” from his practice of placing all victims that fell into his hands on a certain bedstead. If the victim was too short to fit it he stretched the limbs to the right length; if too long he lopped off the redundant part.--Grecian Story.

Rea (William), executed at Old Bailey in 1828.

Sheppard (Jack), an ardent, reckless, generous youth, wholly unrivalled as a thief and burglar. His father was a carpenter in Spitalfields. Sentence of death was passed on him in August, 1724; but when the warders came to take him to execution, they found he had escaped. He was apprehended in the following October, and again made his escape. A third time he was caught, and in November suffered death. Certainly the most popular burglar that ever lived (1701-1724).

⁂ Daniel Defoe made Jack Sheppard the hero of a romance in 1724, and H. Ainsworth in 1839.

Sinis, a Corinthian highwayman, surnamed “The Pine-Bender,” from his custom of attaching the limbs of his victims to two opposite pines forcibly bent down. Immediately the trees were released they bounded back, tearing the victim limb from limb.--Grecian Story.

Ter´meros, a robber of Peloponnesos, who killed his victims by cracking their skulls against his own.

Turpin (Dick), a noted highwayman (1711-1739). His ride to York is described by H. Ainsworth in his Rookwood (1834).

Whitney (James), the last of the “gentlemanly” highwaymen. He prided himself on being “the glass of fashion and the mould of form.” Executed at Porter’s Block, near Smithfield (1660-1694).

Wild (Jonathan), a cool, calculating, heartless villain, with the voice of a Stentor. 104He was born at Wolverhampton, in Staffordshire, and, like Sheppard, was the son of a carpenter. Unlike Sheppard, this cold-blooded villain was universally execrated. He was hanged at Tyburn (1682-1725).

⁂ Defoe made Jonathan Wild the hero of a romance in 1725; Fielding in 1744.

Thirlmore (Rev. and Col.), ambitious, able man, first a popular, sensational preacher, then, as the bubble breaks, a farmer and stock-raiser, lastly an officer in the U. S. Army, during the Civil War. In the varied experiences of the latter career, the selfishness which has marred his character sloughs off, and the man appears.--William M. Baker, His Majesty, Myself (1879) and The Making of a Man (1881).

Third Founder of Rome (The), Caius Marius. He was so called, because he overthrew the multitudinous hordes of Cambrians and Teutons, who came to lick up the Romans as the oxen of the field lick up grass (B.C. 102).

⁂ The first founder was Romulus, and the second Camillus.

Thirsil and Thelgon, two gentle swains who were kinsmen. Thelgon exhorts Thirsil to wake his “too long sleeping Muse;” and Thirsil, having collected the nymphs and shepherds around him, sang to them the song of The Purple Island.--Phineas Fletcher, The Purple Island, i., ii. (1633).

Thirsty (The), Colman Itadach, surnamed “The Thirsty,” was a monk of the rule of St. Patrick. Itadach, in strict observance of the Patrician rule, refused to quench his thirst even in the harvest-field, and died in consequence.

Thirteen Precious Things of Britain.

1. Dyrnwyn (the sword of Rhydderch Hael). If any man except Hael drew this blade, it burst into a flame from point to hilt.

2. The Basket of Gwyddno Garanhir. If food for one man were put therein, it multiplied till it sufficed for a hundred.

3. The Horn of Bran Galed, in which was always found the very beverage that each drinker most desired.

4. The Platter of Rhegynydd Ysgolhaig, which always contained the very food that the eater most liked.

5. The Chariot of Morgan Mwynvawr. Whoever sat therein was transported instantaneously to the place he wished to go to.

9. The Halter of Clydno Eiddyn. Whatever horse he wished for was always found therein. It hung on a staple at the foot of his bed.

7. The Knife of Llawfrodded Farchawg, which would serve twenty-four men simultaneously at any meal.

8. The Caldron of Tyrnog. If meat were put in for a brave man, it was cooked instantaneously, but meat for a coward would never get boiled therein.

9. The Whetstone of Tudwal Tudclud. If the sword of a brave man were sharpened thereon, its cut was certain death; but if of a coward, the cut was harmless.

10. The Robe of Padarn Beisrudd, which fitted every one of gentle birth, but no churl could wear it.

11. The Mantle of Tegau Eurvron, which only fitted ladies whose conduct was irreproachable.

12. The Mantle of King Arthur, which could be worn or used as a carpet, and whoever wore it or stood on it was invisible. This mantle or carpet was called Gwenn.

105⁂ The ring of Luned rendered the wearer invisible so long as the stone of it was concealed.

13. The Chessboard of Gwenddolen. When the men were placed upon it, they played of themselves. The board was of gold, and the men silver.--Welsh Romance.

Thirteen Unlucky. It is said that it is unlucky for thirteen persons to sit down to dinner at the same table, because one of the number will die before the year is out. This silly superstition is based on the “Last Supper,” when Christ and His twelve disciples sat at meat together. Jesus was crucified; and Judas Iscariot hanged himself.

Thirty (The). So the Spartan senate established by Lycurgos was called.

Similarly, the Venetian senate was called “The Forty.”

Thirty Tyrants (The). So the governors, appointed by Lysander, the Spartan, over Athens, were called (B.C. 404). They continued in power only eight months, when Thrasybūlos deposed them and restored the republic.

“The Thirty” put more people to death in eight months of peace, than the enemy had done in a war of thirty years.--Xenophon.

Thirty Tyrants of Rome (The), a fanciful name, applied by Trebellius Pollio, to a set of adventurers who tried to make themselves masters of Rome at sundry times between A.D. 260 and 267.

The number was not thirty, and the analogy between them and “The Thirty Tyrants of Athens” is scarcely perceptible.

Thirty Years’ War (The), a series of wars between the Protestants and Catholics of Germany, terminated by the “Peace of Westphalia.” The war arose thus: The emperor of Austria interfered in the struggle between the Protestants and Catholics, by depriving the Protestants of Bohemia of their religious privileges; in consequence of which the Protestants flew to arms. After the contest had been going on for some years, Richelieu joined the Protestants (1635), not from any love of their cause, but solely to humiliate Austria and Spain (1618-1648).

The Peloponnesian war between Athens and Sparta is called “The Thirty Years’ War”.War”.

Thisbe (2 syl.), a beautiful Babylonian maid, beloved by Pyrămus, her next-door neighbor. As their parents forbade their marriage, they contrived to hold intercourse with each other through a chink in the garden wall. Once they agreed to meet at the tomb of Ninus. Thisbê was first at the trysting-place, but, being scared by a lion, took to flight, and accidentally dropped her robe, which the lion tore and stained with blood. Pyramus, seeing the blood-stained robe, thought that the lion had eaten Thisbê, and so killed himself. When Thisbê returned and saw her lover dead, she killed herself also. Shakespeare has burlesqued this pretty tale in his Midsummer Night’s Dream (1592).

Thom´alin, a shepherd who laughed to scorn the notion of love, but was ultimately entangled in its wiles. He tells Willy that one day, hearing a rustling in a bush, he discharged an arrow, when up flew Cupid into a tree. A battle ensued between them, and when the shepherd, having spent all his arrows, ran away, Cupid shot him in the heel. Thomalin did not much heed the wound at first, but 106soon it festered inwardly and rankled daily more and more.--Spenser, Shepheardes Calendar, iii. (1579).

Thomalin is again introduced in Ecl. vii., when he inveighs against the Catholic priests in general, and the shepherd Palinode (3 syl.) in particular. This eclogue could not have been written before 1578, as it refers to the sequestration of Grindal, archbishop of Canterbury in that year.

Thomas (Monsieur), the fellow-traveller of Val´entine. Valentine’s niece, Mary, is in love with him.--Beaumont and Fletcher, Mons. Thomas (1619).

Thomas (Sir), a dogmatical, prating, self-sufficient squire, whose judgments are but “justices’ justice.”--Crabbe, Borough, x. (1810).

Thomas à Kempis, the pseudonym of Jean Charlier de Gerson (1363-1429). Some say, of Thomas Hämmerlein Maleŏlus (1380-1471).

Thomas the Rhymer or “Thomas of Erceldoun,” an ancient Scottish bard. His name was Thomas Learmont, and he lived in the days of Wallace (thirteenth century).

⁂ Thomas the Rhymer, and Thomas Rymer were totally different persons. The latter was an historiographer, who compiled The Fœdera (1638-1713).

Thomas (Winifred), beautiful coquette, who wins Henry Vane’s heart only to trifle with it, in Frederic Jesup Stimson’s novel, The Crime of Henry Vane (1884).

Thopas (Sir), a native of Poperyng, in Flanders; a capital sportsman, archer, wrestler, and runner. Sir Thopas resolved to marry no one but an “elf queen,” and accordingly started for Faëryland. On his way he met the three-headed giant, Olifaunt, who challenged him to single combat. Sir Thopas asked permission to go for his armor, and promised to meet the giant next day. Here mine host broke in with the exclamation, “Intolerable stuff!” and the story was left unfinished.--Chaucer, Canterbury Tales (“The Rime of Sir Thopas,” 1388).

Thor, eldest son of Odin and Frigga; strongest and bravest of the gods. He launched the thunder, presided over the air and the seasons, and protected man from lightning and evil spirits.

His wife was Sif (“love”).

His chariot was drawn by two he-goats.

His mace or hammer was called Mjolner.

His belt was Megingjard. Whenever he put it on his strength was doubled.

His palace was Thrudvangr. It contained 540 halls.

Thursday is Thor’s day.--Scandinavian Mythology.

The word means “Refuge from terror.”

Thoresby (Broad), one of the troopers under Fitzurse.--Sir W. Scott, Ivanhoe (time, Richard I.).

Thorn´berry (Job), a brazier in Penzance. He was a blunt but kind man, strictly honest, most charitable, and doting on his daughter, Mary. Job Thornberry is called “John Bull,” and is meant to be a type of a genuine English tradesman, unsophisticated by cant and foreign manners. He failed in business “through the treachery of a friend;” but Peregrine, to whom he had lent ten guineas, returning from Calcutta after the absence of 107thirty years, gave him £10,000, which he said his loan had grown to by honest trade.

Mary Thornberry, his daughter, in love with Frank Rochdale, son and heir of Sir Simon Rochdale, whom ultimately she married.--G. Colman, Jr., John Bull (1805).

Thorne (Esmerald), physician who is killed instantly by a runaway horse, and, without suspecting that his spirit has left his body, seeks first one friend, then another, remaining viewless to all. Condemned to work his way from a lower to a higher plane, he rebels against the natural law of sowing and reaping, until led by the spirit of his own little child to repentance and sanctification.

Thorne (Helen), patient wife and sorrowing widow of Esmerald.--Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward, The Gates Between (1887).

Thornhaugh (Colonel), an officer in Cromwell’s army.--Sir W. Scott, Woodstock (time, Commonwealth).

Thornhill (Sir William), alias Mr. Burchell, about 30 years of age. Most generous and most whimsical, most benevolent and most sensitive. Sir William was the landlord of Dr. Primrose, the vicar of Wakefield. After travelling through Europe on foot, he had returned and lived incognito. In the garb and aspect of a pauper, Mr. Burchell is introduced to the vicar of Wakefield. Twice he rescued his daughter, Sophia--once when she was thrown from her horse into a deep stream, and once when she was abducted by Squire Thornhill. Ultimately he married her.--Goldsmith, The Vicar of Wakefield (1766).

Thornhill (Squire), nephew of Sir William Thornhill. He enjoyed a large fortune, but was entirely dependent on his uncle. He was a sad libertine, who abducted both the daughters of Dr. Primrose, and cast the old vicar into jail for rent after the entire loss of his house, money, furniture, and books by fire. Squire Thornhill tried to impose upon Olivia Primrose by a false marriage, but was caught in his own trap, for the marriage proved to be legal in every respect.--Goldsmith, The Vicar of Wakefield (1766).

This worthy citizen abused the aristocracy much on the same principle as the fair Olivia depreciated Squire Thornhill:--he had a sneaking affection for what he abused.--Lord Lytton.

Thornton (Captain), an English officer.--Sir W. Scott, Rob Roy (time George I.).

Thornton (Cyril), the hero and title of a novel of military adventure, by Captain Thomas Hamilton (1827).

Thorough Doctor (The). William Varro was called Doctor Fundātus (thirteenth century).

Thoughtful (Father), Nicholas Cat´inet, a marshal of France. So called by his soldiers for his cautious and thoughtful policy (1637-1712).

Thoughtless (Miss Betty), a virtuous, sensible, and amiable young lady, utterly regardless of the conventionalities of society, and wholly ignorant of etiquette. She is consequently forever involved in petty scrapes most mortifying to her sensitive mind. Even her lover is alarmed at her gaucherie, and deliberates whether such a partner for life is desirable.--Mrs. Heywood, Miss Betty Thoughtless (1687-1758).

108(Mrs. Heywood’s novel evidently suggested the Evelina of Miss Burney, 1778.)

Thoulouse (Raymond, count of), one of the crusading princes.--Sir W. Scott Count Robert of Paris (time, Rufus).

Thrame (Janet), fiend-possessed serving maid, who, when she went abroad led by her possessor and master, left her body hung upon a nail in her room.--R. L. Stevenson, Thrame Janet.

Thraso, a bragging, swaggering captain, the Roman Bobadil (q.v.).--Terence, The Eunuch.

Thraso, duke of Mar, one of the allies of Charlemagne.--Ariosto, Orlando Furioso (1516).

Three a Divine Number. Pythagoras calls three the perfect number, expressive of “beginning, middle, and end,” and he makes it a symbol of deity.

American Indians: Otkon (creator), Messou (providence) Atahuata (the Logos).

(Called Otkon by the Iroquois, and Otkee by the Virginians).

Armorica. The korrigans or fays of Armorica are three times three.

Brahmins: Brahma, Vishnu, Siva.

Buddhists: Buddha, Annan Sonsja, Rosia Sonsja.

(These are the three idols seen in Buddhist temples; Buddha stands in the middle.)

Christians: The Father, the Son (the Logos), the Holy Ghost.

When, in creation, the earth was without form and void, “the Spirit moved over the face,” and put it into order.

Egyptians (Ancient). Almost every district had its own triad, but the most general were Osiris, Isis, Horus; Eicton, Cneph (creator), Phtha.

Etruscans. Their college consisted of three times three gods.

Lars Porsĕna of Clusium,

By the nine gods he swore

That the great house of Tarquin

Should suffer wrong no more.

Lord Macaulay, Lays of Ancient Rome (“Horatius,” 1842).

Kamtschadales: Koutkhou (creator of heaven), Kouhttigith, his sister (creator of earth), Outleigin (creator of ocean).

Parsees: Ahura (the creator), Vohu Mano (“entity”), Akem Mano (“nonentity”).

Persians: Oromasdês or Oromāzês (the good principle), Arimanês (the evil principle), Mithras (fecundity).

Others give Zervanê (god the father), and omit Mithras from the trinity.

Peruvians (Ancient): Pachama (goddess mother), Virakotcha (= Jupiter), Mamakotcha (=Neptune). They called their Trinity “Tangatanga” (i.e., “three in one”).

Phœnicians: Kolpia (the Logos), Baaut (“darkness”), Mot (“matter”).

Romans (Ancient): Jupiter (god of heaven), Neptune (god of earth and sea), Pluto (god of Hades, the under-world).

(Their whole college of gods consisted of four times three deities.)

Scandinavians: Odin (“life”), Hænir (“motion”), Loda (“matter”).

Tahitians: Taroataihetoomoo (chief deity), Tepapa (the fecund principle), Tettoomatataya (their offspring).

Lao-Tseu, the Chinese philosopher, says the divine trinity is: Ki, Hi, Ouei.

Orpheus says it is: Phanês (light), Urănos (heaven), Kronos (time).

Plato says it is: Tô Agăthon (goodness), Nous (intelligence), Psuchê (the mundane soul).

Pythagoras says it is: Monad (the unit or oneness), Nous, Psuchê.

Vossius says it is: Jupiter (divine 109power), Minerva (the Logos), Juno (divine progenitiveness).

Subordinate. The orders of Angels are three times three, viz.: (1) Seraphim, (2) Cherubim, (3) Thrones, (4) Dominions, (5) Virtues, (6) Powers, (7) Principalities, (8) Archangels, (9) Angels.--Dionysius, the Areopăgite.

In heaven above

The effulgent bands in triple circles move.

Tasso, Jerusalem Delivered, xi. 13 (1575).

The Cities of Refuge were three on each side the Jordan.

The Fates are three: Clotho (with her distaff, presides at birth), Lachĕsis (spins the thread of life), Atrŏpos (cuts the thread).

The Furies are three: Tisiponê, Alecto, Megæra.

The Graces are three: Euphros´ynê (cheerfulness of mind), Aglaia (mirth), Thalīa (good-tempered jest).

The Judges of Hades are three: Minos (the chief baron), Æacus (the judge of Europeans), Rhadamanthus (the judge of Asiatics and Africans).

The Muses are three times three.

Jupiter’s thunder is three-forked (trifĭdun); Neptune’s trident has three prongs; Pluto’s dog, Cerbĕrus, has three heads. The rivers of hell are three times three, and Styx flows round it thrice three times.

In Scandinavian mythology there are three times three earths; three times three worlds in Niflheim; three times three regions under the dominion of Hel.

According to a mediæval tradition, the heavens are three times three., viz., the Moon, Venus, Mercury, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the fixed stars and the primum mobĭlê.

Symbolic. (1) In the tabernacle and Jewish Temple.

The Temple consisted of three parts: the porch, the Temple proper and the holy of holies. It had three courts: the court of the priests, the court of the people and the court of foreigners. The innermost court had three rows, and three windows in each row (1 Kings vi. 36; vii. 4).

Similarly, Ezekiel’s city had three gates on each side (Ezek. xlviii. 31). Cyrus left direction for the rebuilding of the Temple; it was to be three score cubits in height, and three score cubits wide, and three rows of great stones were to be set up (Ezra vi. 3, 4). In like manner, the “New Jerusalem” is to have four times three foundations: (1) jasper, (2) sapphire, (3) chalcedony, (4) emerald, (5) sardonyx, (6) sardius, (7) chrysolyte, (8) beryl, (9) topaz, (10) chrysoprase, (11) jacinth, (12) amethyst. It is to have three gates fronting each cardinal quarter (Rev. xxi. 13-20).

(2) In the Temple Furniture: The golden candlestick had three branches on each side (Exod. xxv. 32); there were three bowls (ver. 33); the height of the altar was three cubits (Exod. xxvii. 1); there were three pillars for the hangings (ver. 14); Solomon’s molten sea was supported on oxen, three facing each cardinal point (1 Kings vii. 25).

(3) Sacrifices and Offerings: A meat offering consisted of three-tenth deals of fine flour (Lev. xiv. 10); Hannah offered up three bullocks when Samuel was devoted to the temple (1 Sam. i. 24); three sorts of beasts--bullocks, rams, and lambs--were appointed for offerings (Numb. xxix.); the Jews were commanded to keep three national feasts yearly (Exod.. xxiii. 14-17); in all criminal charges three witnesses were required (Deut. xvii. 6).

Miscellaneous Threes. Joshua sent three men from each tribe to survey the land of Canaan (Josh. xvii. 4). Moses had done the same at the express command of God (Numb. xiii.). Job had three friends (Job ii. 11). Abraham was accosted by 110three men (angels), with whom he pleaded to spare the cities of the plain (Gen. xviii. 2). Nebuchadnezzar cast three men into the fiery furnace (Dan. iii. 24). David had three mighty men of valor, and one of them slew 300 of the Philistines with his spear (2 Sam. xxiii. 9, 18). Nebuchadnezzar’s image was three score cubits high (Dan. iii. 1). Moses was hidden three months from the Egyptian police (Exod. ii. 2). The ark of the covenant was three months in the house of Obededom (2 Sam. vi. 11). Balaam smote his ass three times before the beast upbraided him (Numb. xxii. 28). Samson mocked Delilah three times (Judges xvi. 15). Elijah stretched himself three times on the child which he restored to life (1 Kings xvii. 21). The little horn plucked up three horns by the roots (Dan. vii. 8). The bear seen by Daniel in his vision, had three ribs in its mouth (ver. 5). Joab slew Absalom with three darts (2 Sam. xviii. 14). God gave David the choice of three chastisements (2 Sam. xxiv. 12). The great famine in David’s reign lasted three years (2 Sam. xxi. 1); so did the great drought in Ahab’s reign (Luke iv. 25). There were three men transfigured on the mount, and three spectators (Matt. xvii. 1-4). The sheet was let down to Peter three times (Acts x. 16). There are three Christian graces: Faith, hope, and charity (1 Cor. xiii. 13). There are three that bear record in heaven, and three that bear witness on earth (1 John v. 7, 8). There were three unclean spirits that came out of the mouth of the dragon (Rev. xvi. 13).

So again. Every ninth wave is said to be the largest.

[They] watched the great sea fall,

Wave after wave, each mightier than the last;

Till last, a ninth one, gathering half the deep

And full of voices, slowly rose and plunged,

Roaring, and all the wave was in a flame.

Tennyson, The Holy Grail (1858-59).

A wonder is said to last three times three days. The scourge used for criminals is a “cat o’ nine tails.” Possession is nine points of the law, being equal to (1) money to make good a claim, (2) patience to carry a suit through, (3) a good cause, (4) a good lawyer, (5) a good counsel, (6) good witnesses, (7) a good jury, (8) a good judge, (9) good luck. Leases used to be granted for 999 years. Ordeals by fire consisted of three times three red-hot ploughshares.

There are three times three crowns recognized in heraldry, and three times three marks of cadency.

We show honor by a three times three in drinking a health.

The worthies are three Jews, three pagans, and three Christians: viz., Joshua, David, and Judas Maccabæus; Hector, Alexander, and Julius Cæsar; Arthur, Charlemagne, and Godfrey of Bouillon. The worthies of London are three times three also: (1) Sir William Walworth, (2) Sir Henry Pritchard, (3) Sir William Sevenoke, (4) Sir Thomas White, (5) Sir John Bonham, (6) Christopher Croker, (7) Sir John Hawkwood, (8) Sir Hugh Caverley, (9) Sir Henry Maleverer (Richard Johnson, The Nine Worthies of London).

⁂ Those who take any interest in this subject can easily multiply the examples here set down to a much greater number. (See below, the Welsh Triads.)

Three Ardent Lovers of Britain (The): (1) Caswallawn, son of Beli, the ardent lover of Flur, daughter of Mugnach Gorr; (2) Tristan or Tristram, son of Talluch, the ardent lover of Yseult, wife of March Meirchawn, his uncle, generally called King Mark of Cornwall; (3) Kynon, son of Clydno Eiddin, the ardent lover of Morvyth, daughter of Urien of Rheged.--Welsh Triads.

111Three Battle Knights (The), in the court of King Arthur: (1) Cadwr, earl of Cornwall; (2) Launcelot du Lac; (3) Owain, son of Urien, prince of Rheged, i.e., Cumberland and some of the adjacent lands. These three would never retreat from battle, neither for spear, nor sword, nor arrow; and Arthur knew no shame in fight when they were present.--Welsh Triads.

Three Beautiful Women (The), of the court of King Arthur: (1) Gwenhwyvar or Guenever, wife of King Arthur; (2) Enid, who dressed in “azure robes,” wife of Geraint; (3) Tegau or Tegau Euron.--Welsh Triads.

Three Blessed Rulers (The) of the island of Britain: (1) Bran or Vran, son of Llyr, and father of Caradawc (Caractacus). He was called “The Blessed,” because he introduced Christianity into the nation of the Cymry from Rome; he learnt it during his seven years’ detention in that city with his son. (2) Lleurig ab Coel ab Cyllyn Sant, surnamed “The Great Light.” He built the cathedral of Llandaff, the first sanctuary in Britain. (3) Cadwaladyr, who gave refuge to all believers driven out by the Saxons from England.--Welsh Triads, xxxv.

Three Calenders (The), three sons of three kings, who assumed the disguise of begging dervises. They had each lost one eye. The three met in the house of Zobeidê, and told their respective tales in the presence of Haroun-al-Raschid, also in disguise. (See Calenders.)--Arabian Nights (“The Three Calenders”).

Three Chief Ladies (The) of the island of Britain: (1) Branwen, daughter of King Llyr, “the fairest damsel in the world;” (2) Gwenhwyvar or Guenever, wife of King Arthur; (3) Æthelflæd, the wife of Ethelred.

Three Closures (The) of the island of Britain: (1) The head of Vran, son of Llyr, surnamed “The Blessed,” which was buried under the White Tower of London, and so long as it remained there, no invader would enter the island. (2) The bones of Vortimer, surnamed “The Blessed,” buried in the chief harbor of the island; so long as they remained there, no hostile ship would approach the coast. (3) The dragons buried by Lludd, son of Beli, in the city of Pharaon, in the Snowdon rocks. (See Three Fatal Disclosures.)--Welsh Triads, liii.

Three Counselling Knights (The) of the court of King Arthur: (1) Kynon or Cynon, son of Clydno Eiddin; (2) Aron, son of Kynfarch ab Meirchion Gul; (3) Llywarch Hên, son of Elidir Lydanwyn. So long as Arthur followed the advice of these three, his success was invariable, but when he neglected to follow their counsel, his defeat was sure.--Welsh Triads.

Three Diademed Chiefs (The) of the island of Britain: (1) Kai, son of Kyner, the steward of King Arthur. He could transform himself into any shape he pleased. Always ready to fight, and always worsted. Half knight and half buffoon. (2) Trystan mab Tallwch, one of Arthur’s three heralds, and one whom nothing could divert from his purpose; he is generally called Sir Tristram. (3) Gwevyl mab Gwestad, the melancholy. “When sad, he would let one of his lips drop below his waist, while the other turned up like a cap upon his head.”--The Mabinogion, 227.

112Three Disloyal Tribes (The) of the island of Britain: (1) The tribe of Goronwy Pebyr, which refused to stand substitute for their lord, Llew Llaw Gyffes, when a poisoned dart was shot at him by Llech Goronwy; (2) the tribe of Gwrgi, which deserted their lord in Caer Greu, when he met Eda Glinmawr in battle (both were slain); (3) the tribe of Alan Vyrgan, which slunk away from their lord on his journey to Camlan, where he was slain.--Welsh Triads, xxxv.

Three Estates of the Realm: the nobility, the clergy, and the commonalty.

N.B.--The sovereign is not one of the three estates.

Three Fatal Disclosures (The) of the island of Britain: (1) That of the buried head of Vran “The Blessed,” by King Arthur, because he refused to hold the sovereignty of the land except by his own strength; (2) that of the bones of Vortimer by Vortigern, out of love for Ronwen (Rowena), daughter of Hengist, the Saxon; (3) that of the dragons in Snowdon by Vortigern, in revenge of the Cymryan displeasure against him; having this done, he invited over the Saxons in his defence. (See Three Closures.)--Welsh Triads, liii.

Three-Fingered Jack, the nickname of a famous negro robber, who was the terror of Jamaica in 1780. He was at length hunted down and killed in 1781.

Three Golden-Tongued Knights (The) in the court of King Arthur; (1) Gwalchmai, called in French Gawain, son of Gwyar; (2) Drudwas, son of Tryffin; (3) Eliwlod, son of Madog ab Uthur. They never made a request which was not at once granted.--Welsh Triads.

Three Great Astronomers (The), of the island of Britain: (1) Grwydion, son of Don. From him the Milky Way is called “Caer Gwydion.” He called the constellation Cassiopeia “The Court of Don,” or Llys Don, after his father; and the Corona Borealis, he called “Caer Arianrod,” after his daughter. (2) Gwynn, son of Nudd. (3) Idris.--Welsh Triads, ii. 325.

Three Holy Tribes (The), of the island of Britain: (1) That of Bran or Vran, who introduced Christianity into Wales; (2) that of Cunedda Wledig; and (3) that of Brychan Brycheiniog.--Welsh Triads, xxxv.

Three Guardsmen, trio of French gentlemen, who enter the army of Louis XIII., assuming the pseudonyms of Athos, Porthos and Aramis. Their adventures are traced through three books of Dumas, Les Trois Mousquetaires, Vingt Ans Après and Le Vicomte de Bragelonne.

Three Kings’ Day, Twelfth Day or Epiphany, designed to commemorate the visit of the “three kings,” or “Wise Men of the East,” to the infant Jesus.

Three Kings of Cologne (The), the three “Wise Men” who followed the guiding star “from the East” to Jerusalem, and offered gifts to the babe Jesus. Their names were Jaspar or Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar; or Apellius, Ameĕrus, and Damascus; or Magalath, Galgalath, and Sarasin; or Ator, Sator and Peratŏras. Klopstock, in his Messiah, says the Wise Men were six in number, and gives their names as Hadad, Selĭma, Zimri, Mirja, Beled, and Sunith.

⁂ The toys shown in Cologne Cathedral as the “three kings” are called Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar.

113Three Learned Knights (The), of the island of Britain: (1) Gwalchmai ab Gwyar, called in French romances Gawain; (2) Llecheu ab Arthur; (3) Rhiwallon with the broom-bush hair. There was nothing that man knew they did not know.--Welsh Triads.

Three-Leg Alley (London), now called Pemberton Row, Fetter Lane.

Three Letters (A Man of), a thief. A Roman phrase, from fur, “a thief.”

Tun’ trium literarum homo

Me vituperas? Fur!

Plautus, Aulularia, ii. 4.

Three Makers of Golden Shoes (The), of the island of Britain; (1) Caswallawn, son of Beli, when he went to Gascony to obtain Flur. She had been abducted for Julius Cæsar, but was brought back by the prince. (2) Manawyddan, son of Llyr, when he sojourned in Lloegyr (England). (3) Llew Llaw Gyffes, when seeking arms from his mother.--Welsh Triads, cxxiv.

“What craft shall we take?” said Manawyddan.... “Let us take to making shoes.”... So he bought the best cordwal ... and got the best goldsmith to make clasps ... and he was called one of the three makers of gold shoes.--The Mabinogion (“Manawyddan,” twelfth century).

Three Robbers (The). The three stars in Orion’s belt are said to be “three robbers climbing up to rob the Ranee’s silver bedstead.”--Miss Frere, Old Deccan Days, 28.

Three Stayers of Slaughter (The): (1) Gwgawn Gleddyvrud; the name of his horse was Buchestom. (2) Morvran eil Tegid. (3) Gilbert mab Cadgyffro.--Welsh Triads, xxix.

Three Tailors of Tooley Street (The), three worthies who held a meeting in Tooley Street, for the redress of popular grievances, and addressed a petition to the House of Commons, while Canning was prime minister, beginning, “We, the people of England.”

Three Tribe Herdsmen of Britain (The): (1) Llawnrodded Varvawe, who tended the milch cows of Nudd Hael, son of Senyllt; (2) Bennren, who kept the herd of Caradawc, son of Brân, Glamorganshire; (3) Grwdion, son of Don, the enchanter, who kept the kine of Gwynedd, above the Conway. All these herds consisted of 21,000 milch cows.--Welsh Triads, lxxxv.

Three Tyrants of Athens (The); Pisistrătos (B.C. 560-490), Hippias and Hipparchos (B.C. 527-490).

(The two brothers reigned conjointly from 527-514, when the latter was murdered.)

Three Unprofessional Bards (The), of the island of Britain: (1) Rhyawd, son of Morgant; (2) King Arthur; (3) Cadwallawn, son of Cadvan.--Welsh Triads, lxxxix, 113.

Three Weeks after Marriage, a comedy by A. Murphy (1776). Sir Charles Racket has married the daughter of a rich London tradesman, and, three weeks of the honeymoon having expired, he comes on a visit to the lady’s father, Mr. Drugget. Old Drugget plumes himself on his aristocratic son-in-law, so far removed from the vulgar brawls of meaner folk. On the night of their arrival the bride and bridegroom quarrel about a game of whist; the lady maintained that Sir Charles ought to have played a diamond instead of a club. 114So angry is Sir Charles that he resolves to have a divorce; and, although the quarrel is patched up, Mr. Drugget has seen enough of the beau monde to decline the alliance of Lovelace for his second daughter, whom he gives to a Mr. Woodley.

Three Writers (The). The Scriptores Tres are Richardus Corinensis, Gildas Badonĭcus and Nennius Banchorensis; three who wrote on The Ancient History of the British Nation, edited, etc., by Julius Bertram (1757).

⁂ The Five Writers, or Scriptores Quinque, are five English chronicles on the early history of England, edited by Thomas Gale (1691). The names of these chroniclers are: William of Malmesbury, Henry of Huntingdon, Roger Hoveden, Ethelwerd, and Ingulphus of Croyland.

The Ten Writers, or Scriptores Decem, are the authors of ten ancient chronicles on English history, compiled and edited by Roger Twysden and John Selden (1652). The collection contains the chronicles of Simeon of Durham, John of Hexham, Richard of Hexham, Ailred of Rieval, Ralph de Diceto, John Brompton, Gervase of Canterbury, Thomas Stubbs, William Thorn and Henry Knighton. (See Six Chronicles.)

Thresher (Captain), the feigned leader of a body of lawless Irishmen, who attacked, in 1806, the collectors of tithes and their subordinates.

Captain Right was a leader of the rebellious peasantry in the south of Ireland in the eighteenth century.

Captain Rock was the assumed name of a leader of Irish insurgents in 1822.

Thrummy-Cap, a sprite which figures in the fairy tales of Northumberland. He was a “queer-looking little auld man,” whose scene of exploits generally lay in the vaults and cellars of old castles. John Skelton, in his Colyn Clout, calls him Tom-a-Thrum, and says that the clergy could neither write nor read, and were no wiser than this cellar sprite.

Thrush (Song of the). Marvellous, rippling music, like the sweet babble of a brook over stones; like the gentle sighing of the wind in pine trees ... a rhapsody impossible to describe, but constantly reminding one of running streams and gentle waterfalls, and coming nearer to “put my woods in song” than any other bird-notes whatever.--Olive Thorne Miller, In Nesting Time (1888).

Thrush (Golden-crowned). Commencing in a very low key ... he grows louder and louder, till his body quakes, and his chant runs into a shriek, ringing in my ear with a peculiar sharpness. This lay may be represented thus: “Teacher! teacher! Teacher! Teacher! TEACHER!” the accent on the first syllable, and each word uttered with increasing force and shrillness.--John Burroughs, Wake Robin (1871).

Thu´le (2 syl.), the most remote northern portion of the world known to the ancient Greeks and Romans; but whether an island or part of a continent nobody knows. It is first mentioned by Pythĕas, the Greek navigator, who says it is “six days’ sail from Britain,” and that its climate is a “mixture of earth, air and sea.” Ptolemy, with more exactitude, tells us that the 63° of north latitude runs through the middle of Thulê, and adds that “the days there are at the equinoxes [sic] twenty-four hours long.” This, of course, is a blunder, but the latitude would do roughly for Iceland.

115(No place has a day of twenty-four hours long at either equinox; but anywhere beyond either polar circle the day is twenty-four hours long at one of the solstices.)

Thule (2 syl.). Antonius Diogenês, a Greek, wrote a romance on “The Incredible Things beyond Thulê” (Ta huper Thoulen Apista), which has furnished the basis of many subsequent tales. The work is not extant, but Photius gives an outline of its contents in his Bibliotheca.

Thumb (Tom), a dwarf no bigger than a man’s thumb. He lived in the reign of King Arthur, by whom he was knighted. He was the son of a common ploughman, and was killed by the poisonous breath of a spider in the reign of Thunstone, the successor of King Arthur.

Amongst his adventures may be mentioned the following:--He was lying one day asleep in a meadow, when a cow swallowed him as she cropped the grass. At another time he rode in the ear of a horse. He crept up the sleeve of a giant, and so tickled him that he shook his sleeve, and Tom, falling into the sea, was swallowed by a fish. The fish being caught and carried to the palace gave the little man his introduction to the king.

⁂ The oldest version extant of this nursery tale is in rhyme, and bears the following title:--Tom Thumb, His Life and Death; wherein is declared many marvailous acts of manhood, full of wonder and strange merriments. Which little knight lived in King Arthur’s time, and was famous in the court of Great Brittaine. London: printed for John Wright, 1630 (Bodleian Library). It begins thus:

In Arthur’s court Tom Thumbe did liue--

A man of mickle might,

The best of all the Table Round,

And eke a doughty knight.

His stature but an inch in height,

Or quarter of a span;

Then thinke you not this little knight

Was prov’d a valiant man?

N.B.--“Great Britain” was not a recognized term till 1701 (Queen Anne), when the two parliaments of Scotland and England were united. Before that time, England was called “South Britain,” Scotland “North Britain,” and Brittany “Little Britain.” The date, 1630, would carry us back to the reign of Charles I.

Fielding, in 1730, wrote a burlesque opera called Tom Thumb, which was altered in 1778, by Kane O’Hara. Dr. Arne wrote the music to it, and his “daughter (afterwards Mrs. Cibber), then only 14, acted the part of ‘Tom Thumb’ at the Haymarket Theatre.”--T. Davies, Life of Garrick.

⁂ Here again the dates do not correctly fit in. Mrs. Cibber was born in 1710, and must have been 20 when Fielding produced his opera of Tom Thumb.

Thumb (General Tom), a dwarf exhibited in London in 1846. His real name was Charles S. Stratton. At the age of 25, his height was 25 inches, and his weight 25 lbs. He was born at Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1832, and died in January, 1879.

They rush by thousands to see Tom Thumb. They push, they fight, they scream, they faint, they cry, “Help!” and “Murder!” They see my bills and caravan, but do not read them. Their eyes are on them, but their sense is gone.... In one week 12,000 persons paid to see Tom Thumb, while only 133½ paid to see my “Aristidês.”--Haydon, the artist, MS. Diary.

Thunder (The Giant), a giant who fell into a river and was killed, because Jack cut the ropes which suspended a bridge which the giant was about to cross.--Jack the Giant Killer.

116Thunder (The Sons of). James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were called “Boaner´gês.”--Luke ix. 54; Mark iii. 17.

Thunder and Lightning, Stephen II. of Hungary, was surnamed Tonnant (1100, 1114-1131).

Thunderbolt (The). Ptolemy, king of Macedon, eldest son of Ptolemy Sotêr I., was so called from his great impetuosity (B.C. *, 285-279).

Handel was called by Mozart “The Thunderbolt” (1684-1759).

Thunderbolt of Italy (The), Gaston de Foix, nephew of Louis XII. (1489-1512).

Thunderbolt of War (The). Roland is so called in Spanish ballads.

Tisaphernês is so called in Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered, xx. (1575).

Thunderer (The), the Times newspaper. This popular name was first given to the journal in allusion to a paragraph in one of the articles contributed by Captain Edward Sterling, while Thomas Barnes was editor.

We thundered forth the other day an article on the subject of social and political reform.

Some of the contemporaries caught up the expression, and called the Times “The Thunderer.” Captain Sterling used to sign himself “Vetus” before he was placed on the staff of the paper.

Thundering Legion (The), the twelfth legion of the Roman army under Marcus Aurēlius acting against the Quadi, A.D. 174. It was shut up in a defile, and reduced to great straits for want of water, when a body of Christians, enrolled in the legion, prayed for relief. Not only was rain sent, but the thunder and lightning so terrified the foe that a complete victory was obtained, and the legion was ever after called “The Thundering Legion.”--Dion Cassius, Roman History, lxxi. 8; Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, v. 5.

The Theban legion, i.e., the legion raised in the Thebaïs of Egypt, and composed of Christian soldiers led by St. Maurice, was likewise called “The Thundering Legion.”

The term “Thundering Legion” existed before either of these two was so called.

Thunstone (2 syl.), the successor of King Arthur, in whose reign Tom Thumb was killed by a spider.--Tom Thumb.

Thu´rio, a foolish rival of Valentine for the love of Silvia, daughter of the duke of Milan.--Shakespeare, The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1595).

Thwacker (Quartermaster), in the dragoons.--Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George III.).

Thwackum, in Fielding’s novel, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling (1749).

Thyamis, an Egyptian thief, native of Memphis. Theagĕnês and Chariclēa being taken by him prisoners, he fell in love with the lady, and shut her up in a cave for fear of losing her. Being closely beset by another gang stronger than his own, he ran his sword into the heart of Chariclea, that she might go with him into the land of shadows, and be his companion in the future life.--Heliodorus, Æthiopica.

Like to the Egyptian thief, at point of death,

Kill what I love.

Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, act v. sc. 1 (1614).

Thyeste´an Banquet (in Latin cæna 117Thyestæ), a cannibal feast. Thyestês was given his own two sons to eat in a banquet served up to him by his brother, Atreus [At.truce].

Procnê and Philomēla served up to Tereus (2 syl.) his own son Itys.

⁂ Milton accents the word on the second syllable in Paradise Lost, x. 688, but then he calls Chalybe´an (Samson Agonistes, 133) “Chalyb´ean,” Æge´an (Paradise Lost, i. 745) “Æ´gean,” and Cambuscan´ he calls “Cambus´can.”

Thyeste´an Revenge, blood for blood, tit for tat of bloody vengeance.

1. Thyestês seduced the wife of his brother, Atreus (2 syl.), for which he was banished. In his banishment he carried off his brother’s son, Plisthĕnês, whom he brought up as his own child. When the boy was grown to manhood, he sent him to assassinate Atreus, but Atreus slew Plisthenês, not knowing him to be his son. The corresponding vengeance was this: Thyestês had a son named. Ægisthos, who was brought up by King Atreus as his own child. When Ægisthos was grown to manhood, the king sent him to assassinate Thyestês, but the young man slew Atreus instead.

2. Atreus slew his own son, Plisthenês, thinking him to be his brother’s child. When he found out his mistake, he pretended to be reconciled to his brother, and asked him to a banquet. Thyestês went to the feast, and ate part of his own two sons, which had been cooked, and were set before him by his brother.

3. Thyestês defiled the wife of his brother, Atreus, and Atreus married Pelopia, the unwedded wife of his brother, Thyestês. It was the son of this woman by Thyestês who murdered Atreus (his uncle and father-in-law).

⁂ The tale of Atreus and that of Œdĭpus are the two most lamentable stories of historic fiction, and in some points resemble each other: Thus Œdipus married his mother, not knowing who she was; Thyestês seduced his daughter, not knowing who she was. Œdipus slew his father, not knowing who he was; Atreus slew his son, not knowing who he was. Œdipus was driven from his throne by the sons born to him by his own mother; Atreus [At´.ruce] was killed by the natural son of his own wife.

Thymbræ´an God (The), Apollo; so called from a celebrated temple raised to his honor on a hill near the river Thymbrĭus.

The Thymbræan god

With Mars I saw and Pallas.

Dantê, Purgatory, xii. (1308).

Thymert, priest and guardian of Guenn. Beloved by the fisherfolk, and secretly in love with his beautiful ward. He finds her drowned on the shore of his island home.--Blanche Willis Howard, Guenn (1883).

Thyrsis, a herdsman introduced in the Idylls of Theocrĭtos, and in Virgil’s Eclogue, vii. Any shepherd or rustic is so called.

Hard by, a cottage chimney smokes

From betwixt two agêd oaks,

Where Corydon and Thyrsis met,

Are at their savory dinner set.

Milton, L’Allegro (1638).

Thyrsus, a long pole with an ornamental head of ivy, vine leaves, or a fir cone, carried by Bacchus and by his votaries at the celebration of his rites. It was emblematic of revelry and drunkenness.

118[I will] abash the frantic thyrsus with my song.

Akenside, Hymn to the Naiads (1767).

Tibbs (Beau), a poor, clever, dashing young spark, who had the happy art of fancying he knew all the haut monde, and that all the monde knew him; that his garret was the choicest spot in London, for its commanding view of the Thames; that his wife was a lady of distinguished airs; and that his infant daughter would marry a peer. He took off his hat to every man and woman of fashion, and made out that dukes, lords, duchesses, and ladies addressed him simply as Ned. His hat was pinched up with peculiar smartness; his looks were pale, thin, and sharp, round his neck he wore a broad black ribbon, and in his bosom a glass pin; his coat was trimmed with tarnished lace; and his stockings were silk. Beau Tibbs interlarded his rapid talk with fashionable oaths, such as, “Upon my soul! egad!”

“I was asked to dine yesterday,” he says, “at the Duchess of Piccadilly’s. My Lord Mudler was there. ‘Ned,’ said he, ‘I’ll hold gold to silver I can tell you where you were poaching last night ... I hope Ned, it will improve your fortune,’ ‘Fortune, my lord? five hundred a year at least--great secret--let it go no further.’ My lord took me down in his chariot to his country seat yesterday, and we had a tête-à-tête dinner in the country.” “I fancy you told us just now you dined yesterday at the duchess’s, in town.” “Did I so?” replied he, coolly. “To be sure, egad! now I do remember--yes, I had two dinners yesterday.”--Letter liv.

Mrs. Tibbs, wife of the beau, a slattern and a coquette, much emaciated, but with the remains of a good-looking woman. She made twenty apologies for being in dishabille; but had been out all night with the countess. Then, turning to her husband, she added, “And his lordship, my dear, drank your health in a bumper.” Ned then asked his wife if she had given orders for dinner. “You need make no great preparation--only we three. My lord cannot join us to-day--something small and elegant will do, such as a turbot, an ortolan, a----”

“Or,” said Mrs. Tibbs, “what do you think, my dear, of a nice bit of ox-cheek, dressed with a little of my own sauce?” “The very thing,” he replies; “it will eat well with a little beer. His grace was very fond of it, and I hate the vulgarity of a great load of dishes.” The citizen of the world now thought it time to decamp, and took his leave, Mrs. Tibbs assuring him that dinner would certainly be quite ready in two or three hours.--Letter lv.

Mrs. Tibbs’s lady’s-maid, a vulgar, brawny Scotchwoman. “Where’s my lady?” said Tibbs, when he brought to his garret his excellency the ambassador of China. “She’s a-washing your twa shirts at the next door, because they won’t lend us the tub any longer.”--Goldsmith, A Citizen of the World (1759).

Tibert (Sir), the name of the cat in the beast-epic of Reynard the Fox (1498).

Tibet Talkapace, a prating hand-maid of Custance, the gay and rich widow, vainly sought by Ralph Roister Doister.--Nicholas Udall, Ralph Roister Doister (first English comedy, 1534).

The metre runs thus:

I hearde our nourse speake of an husbande to-day

Ready for our mistresse, a rich man and gay;

And we shall go in our French hoodes every day ...

Then shall ye see Tibet, sires, treade the mosse so trig ...

Not lumperdee, clumperdee, like our Spaniel Rig.

Tibs (Mr.), a most “useful hand.” He will write you a receipt for the bite of a mad dog, tell you an Eastern tale to perfection, and understands the business part of an author so well that no publisher can 119humbug him. You may know him by his peculiar clumsiness of figure, and the coarseness of his coat; but he never forgets to inform you that his clothes are all paid for. (See Tibbs.)--Goldsmith, A Citizen of The World, xxix. (1759).

Tibullus (The French), the chevalier Evariste de Parny (1742-1814).

Tiburce (2 or 3 syl.), brother of Valerian, converted by St. Cecile, his sister-in-law, and baptized by Pope Urban. Being brought before the Prefect Almachius, and commanded to worship the image of Jupiter, he refused to do so, and was decapitated.--Chaucer, Canterbury Tales (“Second Nun’s Tale,” 1388).

⁂ When Tiburce is followed by a vowel it is made 2 syl., when by a consonant it is 3 syl., as:

And after this, Tiburce in good entente (2 syl.),

With Valerīan to Pope Urban went,

And this thing sche unto Tiburce tolde (3 syl.).

Chaucer.

Tibur´zio, commander of the Pisans, in their attack upon Florence, in the fifteenth century. The Pisans were thoroughly beaten by the Florentines, led by Lu´ria, a Moor, and Tiburzio was taken captive. Tiburzio tells Luria that the men of Florence will cast him off after peace is established, and advises him to join Pisa. This Luria is far too noble to do, but he grants Tiburzio his liberty. Tiburzio, being examined by the council of Florence, under the hope of finding some cause of censure against the Moor, to lessen or cancel their obligations to him, “testifies to his unflinching probity,” and the council could find no cause of blame, but Luria, by poison, relieves the ungrateful state of its obligation to him.--Robert Browning, Luria.

Tichborne Dole (The). When Lady Mabella was dying, she requested her husband to grant her the means of leaving a charitable bequest. It was to be a dole of bread, to be distributed annually on the Feast of the Annunciation, to any who chose to apply for it. Sir Roger, her husband, said he would give her as much land as she could walk over while a billet of wood remained burning. The old lady was taken into the park, and managed to crawl over twenty-three acres of land, which was accordingly set apart, and is called “The Crawls” to this hour. When the Lady Mabella was taken back to her chamber, she said, “So long as this dole is continued, the family of Tichborne shall prosper; but immediately it is discontinued, the house shall fall, from the failure of an heir male. This,” she added, “will be when a family of seven sons is succeeded by one of seven daughters.” The custom began in the reign of Henry II., and continued till 1796, when, singularly enough, the baron had seven sons and his successor seven daughters, and Mr. Edward Tichborne, who inherited the Doughty estates, dropping the original name, called himself Sir Edward Doughty.

Tickell (Mark), a useful friend, especially to Elsie Lovell.--Wybert Reeve, Parted.

Tickler (Timothy), an ideal portrait of Robert Sym, a lawyer of Edinburgh (1750-1844).--Wilson, Noctes Ambrosianæ (1822-36).

Tiddler. (See Tom Tiddler’s Ground.)

Tiddy-Doll, a nickname given to Richard Grenville, Lord Temple (1711-1770).

Tide-Waiters (Ecclesiastical). So the 120Rev. Lord Osborne (S. G. O.) calls the clergy in convocation whose votes do not correspond with their real opinions.

Tider (Robin), one of the servants of the earl of Leicester.--Sir W. Scott, Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

Tiffany, Miss Alscrip’s lady’s-maid; pert, silly, bold, and a coquette.--General Burgoyne, The Heiress (1781).

Tigg (Montague), a clever impostor, who lives by his wits. He starts a bubble insurance office--“the Anglo-Bengalee Company”--and makes considerable gain thereby. Having discovered the attempt of Jonas Chuzzlewit to murder his father, he compels him to put his money in the “new company,” but Jonas finds means to murder him.--C. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit (1844).

Tiglath-Pile´ser, son of Pul, second of the sixth dynasty of the new Assyrian empire. The word is Tiglath Pul Assur: “the great tiger of Assyria.”

Tigra´nes (3 syl.), one of the heroes slain by the impetuous Dudon soon after the arrival of the Christian army before Jerusalem.--Tasso, Jerusalem Delivered, iii. (1575).

Tigranes (3 syl.), king of Arme´nia.--Beaumont and Fletcher, A King or No King (1619).

Tigress Nurse (A). Tasso says that Clorinda was suckled by a tigress.--Jerusalem Delivered, xii.

Roman story says Romulus and Remus were suckled by a she-wolf.

Orson, the brother of Valentine, was suckled by a she-bear, and was brought up by an eagle.--Valentine and Orson.

Tilburi´na, the daughter of the governor of Tilbury Fort; in love with Whiskerandos. Her love-ravings are the crest unto the crest of burlesque tragedy (see act ii. 1).--Sheridan, The Critic (1779).

“An oyster may be crossed in love,” says the gentle Tilburina.--Sir W. Scott.

Tilbury Fort (The governor of), father of Tilburīna; a plain, matter-of-fact man, with a gushing, romantic and love-struck daughter. In Mr. Puff’s tragedy, The Spanish Armada.--Sheridan, The Critic (1779).

Tim Syllabub, a droll creature, equally good at a rebus, a riddle, a bawdy song or a tabernacle hymn. You may easily recognize him by his shabby finery, his frizzled hair, his dirty shirt and his half-genteel, but more than half-shabby dress.--Goldsmith, A Citizen of the World, xxix. (1759).

Times (The), a newspaper founded by John Walter in 1785. It was first called The London Daily Universal Register; in 1788 the words The Times or ... were added. This long title was never tolerated by the public, which always spoke of the journal as The Register, till the original title was suppressed, and the present title, The Times, remained. In 1803, John Walter, son of the founder, became manager, and greatly improved the character of the paper, and in 1814 introduced a steam press. He died in 1847, and was succeeded by his son, John Walter III. In the editorial department, John (afterwards “Sir John”) Stoddart (nicknamed “Dr. Slop”), who began to write political articles in The Times in 1810, was appointed 121editor in 1812, but, in 1816, was dismissed for his rabid hatred of Napoleon. He tried to establish an opposition journal, The New Times, which proved an utter failure. Sir John Stoddart was succeeded by John Stebbing; then followed Thomas Barnes (“Mr. T. Bounce”), who remained editor till his death, in 1841. W. F. A. Delane came next, and continued till 1858, when his son, John Thaddeus Delane, succeeded him. The following gentlemen were connected with this paper between 1870 and 1880:--

An East End Incumbent, Mr. Rowsell, a volunteer correspondent.

Anglicanus, Arthur P. Stanley, dean of Westminster, a volunteer correspondent.

C., Dr. Cumming, who often dates from Dunrobin.

C. E. T., Sir Charles E. Trevelyan, a volunteer correspondent.

Church Matters, the Rev. Henry Wace, preacher at Lincoln’s Inn.

City Article, M. B. Sampson.

Colleagues To Correspondents, Dr. Charles Austin, with Messrs. Dallas, Broome, and Kelly.

Correspondents in every chief town of the United Kingdom, and in all the most important foreign countries.

Critic. Fine Arts, Tom Taylor; Dramatic, John Oxenford (died 1876); Musical, T. J. Davidson.

Editor, John Thaddeus Delane, who succeeded his father; Assistant, Mr. Stebbings, who succeeded G. W. Dasent (“The Hardy Norseman”).

H., Vernon Harcourt, M. P., a volunteer correspondent.

Hertfordshire Incumbent, Canon Blakesley, dean of Lincoln.

Historicus, Vernon Harcourt, M. P., who also wrote slashing articles in the Saturday Review.

Irish Correspondent, Dr. G. V. Patten, editor and proprietor of the Dublin Daily Express.

Irish Matters, O’Conor Morris.

J. C., Dr. Cumming (see C.), a volunteer correspondent.

Leaders, Leonard H. Courteney, Dr. Gallenga, Mr. Knox, Robert Lowe, Canon Moseley, Lawrence Oliphant.

Manager of Office, Mowbray Morris.

Manager of Printing and Machinery, Mr. Macdonald.

Mercator, Lord Overstone, a volunteer correspondent.

Military Affairs, Captain Hozier.

Religious Matters, the Rev. Henry Wace, preacher at Lincoln’s Inn.

Reporters, about sixteen.

Runnymede, Benjamin Disraeli, afterwards earl of Beaconsfield, a volunteer correspondent.

Senex, Grote (died in 1871), a volunteer correspondent.

S. G. O., the Rev. Lord Sidney Godolphin Osborne, a volunteer correspondent.

Special Correspondent, Dr. W. Howard Russell, famous for his letters from the Crimēa, in 1854; from India, in 1857; from America, in 1861; from Bohemia, in 1866; from France, on the Franco-Prussian war, in 1870-71; etc. Occasionally, Captain Hozier has acted as “Our Own Correspondent.”

Vetus, Capt. Edw. Sterling, a volunteer correspondent.

Viator, John Alexander Kinglake, a volunteer correspondent.

⁂ Paper is supplied from the Taverham Mills; ink by Messrs. Fleming and Co., Leith, and by Messrs. Blackwell and Co., London; Daily Issue, between 70,000 and 80,000, which can be thrown from the press in two hours; Working Staff, 350 hands.

Called “The Thunderer” from an article contributed by Captain E. Sterling, beginning: “We thundered forth the other day an article on the subject of social and political reform;” and “The Turnabout,” because its politics jump with the times, and are not fossilized whig or tory.

Tim´ias, King Arthur’s squire. He went after the “wicked foster,” from whom Florimel fled, and the “foster,” with his two brothers, falling on him, were all slain. Timias, overcome by fatigue, now fell from his horse in a swoon, and Belphœbê, the huntress, happening to see him fall, ran to his succor, applied an ointment to his wounds, and bound them with her scarf. The squire, opening his eyes, exclaimed, “Angel or goddess; do I 122call thee right?” “Neither,” replied the maid, “but only a wood-nymph.” Then was he set upon his horse and taken to Belphœbê’s pavilion, where he soon “recovered from his wounds, but lost his heart” (bk. iii. 6). In bk. iv. 7 Belphœbê subsequently found Timias in dalliance with Amoret, and said to him, “Is this thy faith?” She said no more, “but turned her face and fled.” This is an allusion to Sir Walter Raleigh’s amour with Elizabeth Throgmorton (Amoret), one of the queen’s maids of honor, which drew upon Sir Walter (Timias) the passionate displeasure of his royal mistress, Queen Elizabeth, (Belphœbê).--Spenser, Faëry Queen, iii. (1590).

Timms (Corporal), a non-commissioned officer in Waverley’s regiment.--Sir W. Scott, Waverley (time, George II.).

Timo´leon, the Corinthian. He hated tyranny, and slew his own brother, whom he dearly loved, because he tried to make himself absolute in Corinth. “Timophănês he loved, but freedom more.”

The fair Corinthian boast

Timoleon, happy temper, mild and firm,

Who wept the brother while the tyrant bled.

Thomson, The Seasons (“Winter,” 1726).

Timon, the Man-hater, an Athenian, who lived in the time of the Peloponnesian war. Shakespeare has a drama so called (1609). The drama begins with the joyous life of Timon, and his hospitable extravagance; then launches into his pecuniary embarrassment, and the discovery that his “professed friends” will not help him; and ends with his flight into the woods, his misanthropy, and his death.

When he [Horace Walpole] talked misanthropy, he out-Timoned Timon.--Macaulay.

⁂ On one occasion, Timon said, “I have a fig tree in my garden, which I once intended to cut down; but I shall let it stand, that any one who likes may go and hang himself on it.”

Timon’s Banquet, nothing but cover and warm water. Being shunned by his friends in adversity, he pretended to have recovered his money, and invited his false friends to a banquet. The table was laden with covers, but when the contents were exposed, nothing was provided but lukewarm water. (See Schacabac.)--Shakespeare, Timon of Athens, act iii. sc. 6 (1609).

Timoth´eos, a musician, who charged double fees to all pupils who had learned music before.--Quintilian, De Institutione Oratoria, ii. 3.

Ponocrates made him forget all that he [Gargantua] had learned under other masters, as Timŏthĕus did to his disciples who had been taught music by others.--Rabelais, Gargantua, i. 23 (1533).

Timotheus placed on high

Amid the tuneful quire,

With flying fingers touched the lyre.

Dryden, Alexander’s Feast (1697).

Timothy (Old), ostler at John Menge’s inn, at Kirchoff.--Sir W. Scott, Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).

Timothy Quaint, the whimsical, but faithful steward of Governor Heartall; blunt, self-willed, but loving his master above all things, and true to his interests.--Cherry, The Soldier’s Daughter (1804).

Ti´murkan, the Tartar, and conqueror of China. After a usurpation of twenty years, he was slain in a rising of the people, by Zaphimri, “the orphan of China.”

My mind’s employed on other arts:

To sling the well-stored quiver

Over this arm, and wing the darts

123At the first reindeer sweeping down the vale,

Or up the mountain, straining every nerve;

To vault the neighing steed, and urge his course,

Swifter than whirlwinds, through the ranks of war;--

These are my passions, this my only science.

Raised from a soldier to imperial sway,

I still will reign in terror.

Murphy, The Orphan of China, iv. 1.

Tinacrio, “the Sage,” father of Micomico´na, queen of Micom´icon, and husband of Queen Zaramilla. He foretold that after his death his daughter would be dethroned by the giant, Pandafilando, but that in Spain, she would find a champion in Don Quixote, who would restore her to the throne. This adventure comes to nothing, as Don Quixote is taken home in a cage, without entering upon it.--Cervantes, Don Quixote, I. iv. 3 (1605).

Tinclarian Doctor (The Great), William Mitchell, a whitesmith and tin-plate worker, of Edinburgh, who published Tinkler’s Testament, dedicated to Queen Anne, and other similar works.

The reason why I call myself the Tinclarian doctor, is because I am a tinklar, and cures old pans and lantruns.--Introduction to Tinkler’s Testament.

⁂ Uniformity of spelling must not be looked for in the “doctor’s” book. We have “Tinklar,” “Tinkler,” and “Tinclarian.”

Tinderbox (Miss Jenny), a lady with a moderate fortune, who once had some pretensions to beauty. Her elder sister happened to marry a man of quality, and Jenny ever after resolved not to disgrace herself by marrying a tradesman. Having rejected many of her equals, she became at last the governess of her sister’s children, and had to undergo the drudgery of three servants, without receiving the wages of one.--Goldsmith, A Citizen of the World, xxviii. (1759).

Tinker (The Immortal or The Inspired), John Bunyan (1638-1688).

Tinsel (Lord), a type of that worst specimen of aristocracy, which ignores all merit but blue blood, and would rather patronize a horse-jockey than a curate, scholar, or poor gentleman. He would subscribe six guineas to the concerts of Signor Cantata, because Lady Dangle patronized him, but not one penny to “languages, arts, and sciences,” as such.--S. Knowles, The Hunchback (1831).

Tintag´el or Tintagil, a strong and magnificent castle on the coast of Cornwall, said to have been the work of two giants. It was the birthplace of King Arthur, and subsequently the royal residence of King Mark. Dunlop asserts that vestiges of the castle still exist.

They found a naked child upon the sands

Of dark Tintagil, by the Cornish sea,

And that was Arthur.

Tennyson, Guinevere (1858).

Tinto (Dick), a poor artist, son of a tailor in the village of Langdirdum. He is introduced as a lad in the Bride of Lammermoor, i. This was in the reign of William III. He is again introduced in St. Ronan’s Well, i., as touching up the sign-board of Meg Dods, in the reign of George III. As William III. died in 1702, and George III. began to reign in 1760, Master Dick must have been a patriarch when he worked for Mrs. Dods.--Sir W. Scott, Bride of Lammermoor (1819); St. Ronan’s Well (1823).

Meg Dods agreed with the celebrated Dick Tinto to repaint her father’s sign, which had become rather undecipherable. Dick accordingly gilded the bishop’s crook, and augmented 124the horrors of the devil’s aspect, until it became a terror to all the younger fry of the school-house.--St. Ronan’s Well, i.

Tintoretto, the historical painter, whose real name was Jacopo Robusti. He was called Il Furioso from the extreme rapidity with which he painted (1512-1594).

Tintoretto of England (The), W. Dobson was called “The Tintoret of England” by Charles I. (1610-1646).

Tintoretto of Switzerland (The), John Huber (eighteenth century).

Tiphany, the mother of the three kings of Cologne. The word is manifestly a corruption of St. Epiphany, as Tibs is of St. Ubes, Taudry of St. Audry, Tooley [Street] of St. Olaf, Telder of St. Ethelred, and so on.

Scores of the saints have similarly manufactured names.

Ti´phys, pilot of the Argonauts; hence any pilot.

Many a Tiphys ocean’s depths explore,

To open wondrous ways, untried before.

Ariosto, Orlando Furioso, viii. (Hoole).

⁂ Another name for a pilot or guiding power is Palinūrus; so called from the steersman of Ænēas.

E’en Palinurus nodded at the helm.

Pope, The Dunciad, iv. 614 (1742).

Tippins (Lady), an old lady “with an immense, obtuse, drab, oblong face, like a face in a tablespoon; and a dyed ’long walk’ up the top of her head, as a convenient public approach to the bunch of false hair behind.” She delights “to patronize Mrs. Veneering,” and Mrs. Veneering is delighted to be patronized by her ladyship.

Lady Tippins is always attended by a lover or two, and she keeps a little list of her lovers, and is always booking a new lover, or striking out an old lover, or putting a lover in her black list, or promoting a lover to her blue list, or adding up her lovers, or otherwise posting her book, which she calls her Cupĭdon.--C. Dickens, Our Mutual Friend, ii. (1864).