Chapter 10

And now, Tatlanthe, thou art all my care;Where shall I find thee such another pair?Pity that you, who’ve served so long and well,Should die a virgin and lead apes in hell.Choose for yourself, dear girl, our empire round;Your portion is twelve hundred thousand pound.H. Carey,Chrononhotonthologos(1734).

And now, Tatlanthe, thou art all my care;

Where shall I find thee such another pair?

Pity that you, who’ve served so long and well,

Should die a virgin and lead apes in hell.

Choose for yourself, dear girl, our empire round;

Your portion is twelve hundred thousand pound.

H. Carey,Chrononhotonthologos(1734).

Tattle, a man who ruins characters by innuendo, and so denies a scandal as to confirm it. He is a mixture of “lying, foppery, vanity, cowardice, bragging, licentiousness, and ugliness, but a professed beau” (act i.). Tattle is entrapped into marriage with Mrs. Frail.--Congreve,Love for Love(1695).

⁂ “Mrs. Candour,” in Sheridan’sSchool for Scandal(1777), is a Tattle in petticoats.

Tattycoram, a handsome girl, with lustrous dark hair and eyes, who dressed very neatly. She was taken from the Foundling Asylum (London) by Mr. Meagles to wait upon his daughter. She was called in the hospital Harriet Beadle. Harriet was first changed to Hatty, then to Tatty, and Coram was added because the Foundling stands in Coram street. She was most impulsively passionate, and when excited had no control over herself. Miss Wade enticed her away for a time, but afterwards she returned to her first friends.--C. Dickens,Little Dorrit(1857)

Tawny(The). Alexandre Bonvici´no, the historian, was calledIl Moretto(1514-1564).

Taylor, “the water-poet.” He wrote four score books, but never learnt “so much as the accidences” (1580-1654).

Taylor, their better Charon, lends an oar,Once Swan of Thames, tho’ now he sings no more.Pope,The Dunciad, iii. 19 (1728).

Taylor, their better Charon, lends an oar,

Once Swan of Thames, tho’ now he sings no more.

Pope,The Dunciad, iii. 19 (1728).

Taylor(Dr. Chevalier John). He called himself “Opthalminator, Pontificial, Imperial and Royal.” He died, 1767. Hogarth has introduced him in his famous picture, “The Undertaker’s Arms.” He is one of the three figures atop, to the left hand of the spectator; the other two are Mrs. Mapp and Dr. Ward.

Teacher of Germany(The), Philip Melancthon, the reformer (1497-1560).

Teachwell(Mrs.), a pseudonym of Lady Ellinor Fenn, wife of Sir John Fenn, of East Dereham, Norfolk.

Teague(1 syl.), an Irish lad, taken into the service of Colonel Careless, a royalist, whom he serves with exemplary fidelity. He is always blundering, and always brewing mischief, with the most innocent intentions. His bulls and blunders are amusing and characteristic.--Sir Robert Howard,The Committee(1670), altered by T. Knight intoThe Honest Thieves.

Who...has not a recollection of the incomparable Johnstone [Irish Johnstone] in “Teague,” picturesquely draped in his blanket, and pouring forth his exquisite humor and mellifluous brogue in equal measure.--Mrs. C. Mathews,Tea Table Talk.

Tearless Battle(The), a battle foughtB. C.367, between the Lacedæmonians and the combined armies of the Arcadians and Argives (2 syl.). Not one of the Spartans fell, so that, as Plutarch says, they called it “The Tearless Battle.”

⁂ Not one was killed in the Abyssinian expedition under Sir R. Napier (1867-8).

Tears--Amber.The tears shed by the sisters of Pha´ëton were converted into amber.--Greek Fable.

According to Pliny (Natural History, xxxvii. 2, 11), amber is a concretion ofbirds’ tears, but the birds were the sisters of Meleāger, who never ceased weeping for his untimely death.

Tearsheet(Doll), a common courtezan.--Shakespeare, 2Henry IV.(1598).

Teazle(Sir Peter), a man who, in old age, married a country girl who proved extravagant, fond of pleasure, selfish and vain. Sir Peter was for ever nagging at her for her inferior birth and rustic ways, but secretly loving her and admiring hernaïveté. He says to Rowley, “I am the sweetest-tempered man alive, and hate a teasing temper, and so I tell her ladyship a hundred times a day.”

Lady Teazle, a lively, innocent, country maiden, who married Sir Peter, old enough to be her grandfather. Planted in London in the whirl of the season, she formed a liaison with Joseph Surface, but, being saved from disgrace, repented and reformed.--R. B. Sheridan,School for Scandal(1777).

Teeth.Rigord, an historian of the thirteenth century, tells that when Chosroës, the Persian, carried away the true cross discovered by St. Helĕna, the number of teeth in the human race was reduced. Before that time, Christians were furnished with thirty, and in some cases with thirty-two teeth, but since then no human being has had more than twenty-three teeth.--SeeHistoriens de France, xviii.

⁂ The normal number of teeth is thirty-two still. This “historic fact” is of a piece with that which ascribes to woman one more rib than to man.

Teetotal.The origin of this word is ascribed to Richard (Dicky) Turner, who, in addressing a temperance meeting in September, 1833, reduplicated the wordtotalto give it emphasis: “We not only wanttotalabstinence, we want more, we want t-total abstinence.” The novelty and force of the expression took the meeting by storm.

It is not correct to ascribe the word to Mr. Swindlehurst, of Preston, who is erroneously said to have stuttered.

Te´ian Muse, Anacreon, born at Teïos, in Ionia, and called by Ovid (Tristia, ii. 364) Teïa Musa (B.C.563-478).

The Scian and the Teian Muse ... [Simonidês and Anacreon]Have found the fame your shores refuse.Byron,Don Juan, iii. 86 (“The Isles of Greece,” 1820).

The Scian and the Teian Muse ... [Simonidês and Anacreon]

Have found the fame your shores refuse.

Byron,Don Juan, iii. 86 (“The Isles of Greece,” 1820).

⁂ Probably Byron meant Simonidês of Ceos. Horace (Carmĭna, ii. 1, 38) speaks of“Ceæ munera neniæ,”meaning Simonidês; but Scios, or Scio, properly means Chios, one of the seven places which laid claim to Homer. Both Ceos and Chios, are isles of Greece.

Tei´lo(St.), a Welsh saint, who took an active part against the Pelagian heresy. When he died, three cities contended for his body, but happily the strife was ended by the multiplication of the dead body into three St. Teilos. Capgrave insists that theipsissimebody was possessed by Llandaff.--English Martyrology.

Teirtu’s Harp, which played of itself, merely by being asked to do so, and when desired to cease playing, did so.--The Mabinogion(“Kilhwch and Olwen,” twelfth century).

St. Dunstan’s harp discoursed most enchanting music without being struck by any player.

The harp of the giant, in the tale ofJack and the Bean-Stalk, played of itself.In one of the old Welsh tales, the dwarf named Dewryn Fychan, stole from a giant a similar harp.

Telamachus,the only son of Ulysses and Penelŏpê. When Ulysses had been absent from home nearly twenty years, Telemachus went to Pylos and Sparta, to gain information about him. Nestor received him hospitably at Pylos, and sent him to Sparta, where Menelāus told him the prophecy of Proteus (2syl.), concerning Ulysses. He then returned home, where he found his father, and assisted him in slaying the suitors. Telemachus was accompanied in his voyage by the goddess of wisdom, under the form of Mentor, one of his father’s friends. (SeeTelemaque.)--Greek Fable.

Télémaque(Les Aventures de) a French prose epic, in twenty-four books, by Fénelon (1699). The first six books contain the story of the hero’s adventures, told to Calypso, as Ænēas told the story of the burning of Troy and his travels from Troy to Carthage to Queen Dido. Télémaque says to the goddess that he started with Mentor from Ithăca, in search of his father, who had been absent from home for nearly twenty years. He first went to inquire of old Nestor if he could give him any information on the subject, and Nestor told him to go to Sparta, and have an interview with Menelāus. On leaving Lacedæmonia, he was shipwrecked off the coast of Sicily, but was kindly treated by King Acestês, who furnished him with a ship to take him home (bk. i.). This ship fell into the hands of some Egyptians; he was parted from Mentor, and sent to feed sheep in Egypt. King Sesostris, conceiving a high opinion of the young man, would have sent him home, but died, and Télémaque was incarcerated by his successor in a dungeon overlooking the sea (bk. ii.). After a time he was released and sent to Tyre. Here he would have been put to death by Pygmalīon, had he not been rescued by Astarbê, the king’s mistress (bk. iii.). Again he embarked, reached Cyprus, and sailed thence to Crete. In this passage he saw Amphitrītê, the wife of the sea-god, in her magnificent chariot, drawn by sea-horses (bk. iv.). On landing in Crete, he was told the tale of King Idomĕneus (4syl.), who made a vow if he reached home in safety, after the siege of Troy, that he would offer in sacrifice the first living being that came to meet him. This happened to be his own son; but when Idomeneus proceeded to do according to his vow, the Cretans were so indignant that they drove him from the island. Being without a ruler, the islanders asked Télémaque to be their king (bk. v.). This he declined, but Mentor advised the Cretans to place the reigns of government in the hands of Aristodēmus. On leaving Crete, the vessel was again wrecked, and Télémaque, with Mentor, was cast on the island of Calypso (bk vi.). Here the narrative closes, and the rest of the story gives the several adventures of Télémaque from this point till he reaches Ithaca. Calypso, having fallen in love with the young prince, tried to detain him in her island, and even burnt the ship which Mentor had built to carry them home; but Mentor determined to quit the island, threw Télémaque from a crag into the sea, and then leaped in after him. They had now to swim for their lives, and they kept themselves afloat till they were picked up by some Tyrians (bk. vii.). The captain of the ship was very friendly to Télémaque, and promised to take him with his friend to Ithaca, but the pilot by mistake landed them on Salentum (bk. ix.).Here Télémaque, being told that his father was dead, determined to go down to the infernal regions to see him (bk. xviii.). In Hadês he was informed that Ulysses was still alive (bk. xix.). So he returned to the upper earth (bk. xxii.), embarked again, and this time reached Ithaca, where he found his father, and Mentor left him.

Tell(William), a famous chief of the confederates of the forest cantons of Switzerland, and son-in-law of Walter Furst. Having refused to salute the Austrian cap which Gessler, the Austrian governor, had set up in the market-place of Altorf, he was condemned to shoot an apple from the head of his own son. He succeeded in this perilous task, but letting fall a concealed arrow, was asked by Gessler with what object he had secreted it. “To kill thee, tyrant,” he replied, “if I had failed.” The governor now ordered him to be carried in chains across the Lake Lucerne to Küssnacht Castle, “there to be devoured alive by reptiles;” but, a violent storm having arisen on the lake, he was unchained, that he might take the helm. Gessler was on board, and when the vessel neared the castle, Tell leapt ashore, gave the boat a push into the lake, and shot the governor. After this he liberated his country from the Austrian yoke (1307).

This story of William Tell is told of a host of persons. For example: Egil, the brother of Wayland Smith, was commanded by King Nidung to shoot an apple from the head of his son. Egil, like Tell, took two arrows, and being asked why, replied, as Tell did to Gessler, “To shoot thee, tyrant, if I fail in my task.”

A similar story is told of Olaf and Eindridi, in Norway. King Olaf dared Eindridi to a trial of skill. An apple was placed on the head of Eindridi’s son, and the king shooting at it grazed the boy’s head, but the father carried off the apple clean. Eindridi had concealed an arrow to aim at the king, if the boy had been injured.

Another Norse tale is told of Hemingr and Harald, son of Sigurd (1066). After various trials of skill, Harald told Hemingr to shoot a nut from the head of Bjorn, his younger brother. In this he succeeded, not with an arrow, but with a spear.

A similar tale is related of Geyti, son of Aslak, and the same Harald. The place of trial was the Faroe Isles. In this case also it was a nut placed on the head of Bjorn.

Saxo Grammatĭcus tells nearly the same story of Toki, the Danish hero, and Harald; but in this trial of skill Toki killed Harald.--Danorum Regum Heroumque Historia(1514).

Reginald Scot says that Puncher shot a penny placed on his son’s head, but made ready another arrow to slay the Duke Remgrave who had set him the task (1584).

⁂ It is said of Domitian, the Roman emperor, that if a boy held up his hands with the fingers spread, he could shoot eight arrows in succession through the spaces without touching one of the fingers.

William of Cloudesley, to show the king his skill in shooting, bound his eldest son to a stake, put an apple on his head, and, at the distance of 300 feet, cleft the apple in two without touching the boy.

I have a son is seven years old,He is to me full dear,I will hym tye to a stake ...And lay an apple upon his head,And go six score paces hym fro,And I myselfe with a broad arrowWill cleve the apple in two.Percy,Reliques.

I have a son is seven years old,

He is to me full dear,

I will hym tye to a stake ...

And lay an apple upon his head,

And go six score paces hym fro,

And I myselfe with a broad arrow

Will cleve the apple in two.

Percy,Reliques.

Similar feats of skill are told of Adam Bell and Clym of the Clough.

In Altorf market-place, the spot is still pointed out where Tell shot the apple from his son’s head, and a plaster statue stands where the patriot stood when he took his aim.

See Roman fire in Hampden’s bosom swell,And fate and freedom in the shaft of Tell.Campbell,Pleasures of Hope, i. (1799).

See Roman fire in Hampden’s bosom swell,

And fate and freedom in the shaft of Tell.

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

⁂ The legend of William Tell has furnished Florian with the subject of a novel in French (1788); A. M. Lemierre with his tragedy ofGuillaume Tell(1766); Schiller with a tragedy in German,Wilhelm Tell(1804); Knowles with a tragedy in English,William Tell(1840); and Rossini with the opera ofGuglielmo Tell, in Italian (1829).

Tellus’s Son,Antæos, son of Posei´don and Gê, a giant wrestler of Lib´ya, whose strength was irresistible so long as he touched his mother (earth). Herculês, knowing this, lifted him into the air, and crushed him to death. Near the town of Tingis, in Mauritania, is a hill in the shape of a man, called “The Hill of Antæos,” and said to be his tomb.

So some have feigned that Tellus’ giant sonDrew many new-born lives from his dead mother;Another rose as soon as one was done,And twenty lost, yet still remained another.For when he fell and kissed the barren heath,His parent straight inspired successive breath,And tho’ herself was dead, yet ransomed him from death.Phineas Fletcher,The Purple Island, ix. (1633).

So some have feigned that Tellus’ giant son

Drew many new-born lives from his dead mother;

Another rose as soon as one was done,

And twenty lost, yet still remained another.

For when he fell and kissed the barren heath,

His parent straight inspired successive breath,

And tho’ herself was dead, yet ransomed him from death.

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

⁂ Similarly, Bernardo del Carpio lifted Orlando in his arms, and squeezed him to death, because his body was proof against any instrument of war.

Temliha,king of the serpents, in the island of serpents. King Temliha was “a small yellow serpent, of a glowing color,” with the gift of human speech, like the serpent which tempted Eve.--Comte de Caylus,Oriental Tales(“History of Aboutaleb,” 1743).

Tem´ora, the longest of the Ossianic prose-poems, in eight books. The subject is the dethronement of the kings of Connaught, and consolidation of the two Irish kingdoms in that of Ulster. It must be borne in mind that there were two colonies in Ireland--one the Fir-bolg, or British Belgæ, settled in the south, whose king was called the “lord of Atha,” from Atha, in Connaught, the seat of government; and the other the Cael, from Caledonia, in Scotland, whose seat of government was Temŏra, in Ulster. When Crothar was “lord of Atha,” he wished to unite the two kingdoms, and, with this view, carried off Conlāma, only child of the rival king, and married her. The Caledonians of Scotland interfered, and Conar, the brother of Fingal, was sent with an army against the usurper, conquered him, reduced the south to a tributary state, and restored, in his own person, the kingdom of Ulster. After a few years, Cormac II. (a minor) became king of Ulster and over-lord of Connaught. The Fir-bolg, seizing this opportunity of revolt, Cairbar, “lord of Atha,” threw off his subjection, and murdered the young king in his palace of Temora. Fingal interfered in behalf of the Caels; but no sooner had he landed in Ireland than Cairbar invited Oscar (Fingal’s grandson) to a banquet, picked a quarrel with him in the banquet hall, and both fell dead, each by the other’s hand. On the death of Cairbar, Faldath became leader of the Fir-bolg, but was slain by Fillan, son of Fingal. Fillan, in turn, was slain by Clathmor, brother of Cairbar. Fingal now took the lead of his army in person, slew Clathmor, reduced the Fir-bolg to submission, and placed on thethrone Ferad-Artho, the only surviving descendant of Conar (first of the kings of Ulster of Caledonian race).

Tempest(The), a drama by Shakespeare (1609). Prospero and his daughter, Miranda, lived on a desert island, enchanted by Sycŏrax, who was dead. The only other inhabitants were Caliban, the son of Sycorax, a strange, misshapen thing, like a gorilla, and Ariel, a sprite, who had been imprisoned by Sycorax for twelve years in the rift of a pine tree, from which Prospero set him free. One day Prospero saw a ship off the island, and raised a tempest to wreck it. By this means his brother, Anthonio, Prince Ferdinand, and the king of Naples, were brought to the island. Now it must be known that Prospero was once duke of Milan; but his brother, Anthonio, aided by the king of Naples, had usurped the throne, and set Prospero and Miranda adrift in a small boat, which was wind-driven to this desert island. Ferdinand (son of the king of Naples) and Miranda fell in love with each other, and the rest of the shipwrecked party being brought together by Ariel, Anthonio asked forgiveness of his brother, Prospero was restored to his dukedom, and the whole party was conducted by Ariel with prosperous breezes back to Italy.

⁂ Dryden has a drama calledThe Tempest(1668).

Tempest(The), a sobriquet of Marshal Junot, one of Napoleon’s generals, noted for his martial impetuosity (1771-1813).

Tempest(The Hon. Mr.), late governor of Senegambia. He was the son of Lord Hurricane; impatient, irascible, headstrong, and poor. He says he never was in smooth water since he was born, for being only a younger son, his father gave him no education, taught him nothing, and then buffeted him for being a dunce.

First I was turned into the army; there I got broken bones and empty pockets. Then I was banished to the coast of Africa, to govern the savages of Senegambia.--Act ii. 1.

Miss Emily[Tempest], daughter of Mr. Tempest; a great wit of very lively parts. Her father wanted her to marry Sir David Daw, a great lout with plenty of money, but she had fixed her heart on Captain Henry Woodville, the son of a man ruined by gambling. The prospect was not cheering, but Penruddock came forward, and by making them rich, made them happy.--Cumberland,The Wheel of Fortune(1779).

Tempest(Lady Betty), a lady with beauty, fortune and family, whose head was turned by plays and romances. She fancied a plain man no better than a fool, and resolved to marry only a gay, fashionable, dashing young spark. Having rejected many offers because the suitor did not come up to her ideal, she was gradually left in the cold. Now she is company only for aunts and cousins, in the ballroom is a wallflower, and in society generally esteemed a piece of fashionable lumber.--Goldsmith,A Citizen of the World, xxviii. (1759).

Templars(Knight), an order of knighthood founded in 1118, for the defence of the Temple in Jerusalem. Dissolved in 1312, and their lands, etc., transferred to the Hospitallers. They wore awhiterobe with aredcross; but the Hospitallers ablackrobe with awhitecross.

Temple(The). When Solomon was dying, he prayed that he might remainstanding till the Temple was completely finished. The prayer was granted, and he remained leaning on his staff till the Temple was finished, when the staff was gnawed through by a worm, and the dead body fell to the ground.--Talmud Legend.

Temple(Launcelot), the nom de plume of John Armstrong, the poet (1709-1779).

Temple(Elizabeth), daughter of Judge Temple and the heroine of two stirring adventures, the first being an escape, by the intervention of Leather-Stocking, from a panther, the second from a forest-fire, the hunter again coming to her aid. She marries Oliver Effingham, whom she has known as Oliver Edwards.--J. F. Cooper, The Pioneers (1822).

Templeton(Laurence), the pseudonym under which Sir W. Scott published Ivanhoe. The preface is initialed L. T., and the dedication is to the Rev. Dr. Dryasdust (1820).

Tempy(Miss), New England spinster, who kept her young, loving heart and through it, her young face, after all contemporaries were old. She had but one old quince-tree, but she tended it carefully every spring, “and would look at it so pleasant, and kind ofexpectthe thorny old thing into blooming.”

“She was just the same with folks!”--Sarah Orne Jewett,Miss Tempy’s Watchers(1888).

Tenantius, the father of Cymbeline, and nephew of Cassibelan. He was the younger son of Lud, king of the southern part of Britain. On the death of Lud, his younger brother, Cassibelan, succeeded, and on the death of Cassibelan, the crown came to Tenantius, who refused to pay the tribute to Rome exacted from Cassibelan, on his defeat by Julius Cæsar.

Tendo Achillis, a strong sinew running along the heel to the calf of the leg. So called because it was the only vulnerable part of Achillês. The tale is that Thetis held him by the heel when she dipped him in the Styx, in consequence of which the water did not wet the child’s heel. The story is post-Homeric.

Teniers(The English), George Morland (1763-1804).

Teniers(The Scottish), Sir David Wilkie (1785-1841).

Teniers of Comedy(The), Florent Carton Dancourt (1661-1726).

Tennessee’s Partner, camp-name for associate and co-worker with a dare-devil who runs away with the Partner’s wife, returns to camp without her, and is taken back amicably by the Partner. When Tennessee is tried for highway robbery the Partner offers “$1700 in coarse gold and a watch”--his whole fortune--to buy him off. The offer is refused; Tennessee is hanged. The Partner waits composedly, a little way from the gallows, with a mule and a cart. “When the gentlemen are done with the ‘diseased,’ he will take him.” “Ef thar is any present”--in his simple, serious way--“as would like to jine in the fun’l, they ken come.”--Bret Harte,Tennessee’s Partner(1871).

Tennis-Ball of Fortune(The), Pertinax, the Roman emperor. He was first a charcoal-seller, then a schoolmaster, then a soldier, then an emperor; but within three months he was dethroned and murdered(126-193; reigned from January 1 to March 28,A.D.193).

Tent(Prince Ahmed’s), a tent given to him by the fairy, Pari-Banou. It would cover a whole army, yet would fold up into so small a compass that it might be carried in one’s pocket.--Arabian Nights.

Solomon’s carpet of green silk was large enough to afford standing room for a whole army, but might be carried about like a pocket-handkerchief.

The ship,Skidbladnir, would hold all the deities of Valhalla, but might be folded up like a roll of parchment.

Bayard, the horse of the four sons of Aymon, grew larger or smaller, as one or more of the four sons mounted on its back.--Villeneuve,Les Quatre Filz Aymon.

Tents(The father of such as dwell in), Jabal.--Gen.iv. 20.

Terebin´thus, Ephes-dammim, or Pasdammim.--1 Sam.xvii. 1.

O, thou that ’gainst Goliath’s impious headThe youthful arms in Terebinthus sped,When the proud foe, who scoffed at Israel’s band,Fell by the weapon of a stripling hand.Tasso,Jerusalem Delivered, viii. (1575).

O, thou that ’gainst Goliath’s impious head

The youthful arms in Terebinthus sped,

When the proud foe, who scoffed at Israel’s band,

Fell by the weapon of a stripling hand.

Tasso,Jerusalem Delivered, viii. (1575).

Terence of England(The), Richard Cumberland (1732-1811).

Here Cumberland lies, having acted his parts;The Terence of England, the mender of hearts;A flattering painter, who made it his careTo draw men as they ought to be, not as they are ...Say ... wherefore his characters, thus without fault, ...Quite sick of pursuing each troublesome elf,He grew lazy at last, and drew men from himself.Goldsmith,Retaliation(1774).

Here Cumberland lies, having acted his parts;

The Terence of England, the mender of hearts;

A flattering painter, who made it his care

To draw men as they ought to be, not as they are ...

Say ... wherefore his characters, thus without fault, ...

Quite sick of pursuing each troublesome elf,

He grew lazy at last, and drew men from himself.

Goldsmith,Retaliation(1774).

Tere´sa, the female associate of Ferdinand, Count Fathom.--Smollett,Count Fathom(1754).

Teresa d´Acunha, lady’s-maid of Joceline, countess of Glenallan.--Sir W. Scott,The Antiquary(time, George III.).

Teresa Panza, wife of Sancho Panza. In pt. I. i. 7 she is called Dame Juana [Gutierez]. In pt. II. iv. 7 she is called Maria [Gutierez]. In pt. I. iv. she is called Joan.--Cervantes,Don Quixote(1605-15).

Tereus[Te´.ruse], king of Daulis, and the husband of Procnê. Wishing afterwards to marry Philomēla, her sister, he told her that Procnê was dead. He lived with his new wife for a time, and then cut out her tongue, lest she should expose his falsehood to Procnê; but it was of no use, for Philomela made known her story in the embroidery of a peplus. Tereus rushed after Procnê with an axe, but the whole party were metamorphosed into birds. Tereus was changed into a hoopoo (some say a lapwing, and others an owl), Procnê into a swallow, and Philomela into a nightingale.

And the mute Silence hist along,’Less Philomel will deign a songIn her sweetest saddest plight,Smoothing the rugged brow of night.* * * * * * * *Sweet bird that shunn’st the noise of follyMost musical, most melancholy.Milton,Il Penseroso.

And the mute Silence hist along,

’Less Philomel will deign a song

In her sweetest saddest plight,

Smoothing the rugged brow of night.

* * * * * * * *

Sweet bird that shunn’st the noise of folly

Most musical, most melancholy.

Milton,Il Penseroso.

InTitus Andronĭcusthe sons of Tamŏra, after defiling Lavinia, cut off her tongue and hands, but she wrote her tale in the sand with a staff held in her mouth and guided by her arms.

Fair Philomela, she but lost her tongue,And in a tedious sampler sewed her mind.But, lovely niece, that mean is cut from thee;A craftier Tereus, cousin, hast thou met,And he hath cut those pretty fingers off,That could have better sewed than Philomel.Act ii. sc. 4 (1593).

Fair Philomela, she but lost her tongue,

And in a tedious sampler sewed her mind.

But, lovely niece, that mean is cut from thee;

A craftier Tereus, cousin, hast thou met,

And he hath cut those pretty fingers off,

That could have better sewed than Philomel.

Act ii. sc. 4 (1593).

Ter´il(Sir Walter). The king exacts an oath from Sir Walter to send his bride, Cælestina, to court on her wedding night. Her father, to save her honor, gives her a mixture supposed to be poison, but in reality only a sleeping draught, from which she awakes in due time, to the amusement of the king and delight of her husband.--Thomas Dekker,Satiromastix(1602).

Termagant, an imaginary being, supposed by the crusaders to be a Mohammedan deity. In theOld Moralitiesthe degree of rant was the measure of the wickedness of the character portrayed; so Pontius Pilate, Herod, Judas Iscariot, Termagant, the tyrant, Sin, and so on, were all ranting parts.

I would have such a fellow whipped for o’er-doing Termagant; it out-Herods Herod, pray you, avoid it.--Shakespeare,Hamlet, act iii. sc. 2 (1596).

Termagant, the maid of Harriet Quidnunc. She uses most wonderful words, asparadropsicalfor “rhapsodical,”perjuredfor “assured,”phisologyfor “philology,”curacyfor “accuracy,”fignificationfor “signification,” importation for “import,”anecdotefor “antidote,”infirmariesfor “infirmities,”intimidatefor “intimate.”--Murphy,The Upholsterer(1758).

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

Termosi´ris, a priest of Apollo, in Egypt; wise, prudent, cheerful, and courteous.--Fénelon,Télémaque, ii. (1700).

Ternotte, one of the domestics of LadyEveline Berenger, “the betrothed.”--Sir W. Scott,The Betrothed(time, Henry II.).

Terpin(Sir), a king who fell into the power of Radigund, queen of the Amăzons. Refusing to dress in female attire, as she commanded, and to sew, card wool, spin, and do house work, he was doomed to be gibbeted by her women. Sir Artegal undertook his cause, and a fight ensued, which lasted all day. When daylight closed, Radigund proposed to defer the contest till the following day, to which Sir Artegal acceeded. Next day the knight was victorious; but when he saw the brave queen bleeding to death, he took pity on her, and, throwing his sword aside, ran to succor her. Up started Radigund as he approached, attacked him like a fury, and, as he had no sword, he was, of course, obliged to yield. So the contest was decided against him, and Sir Terpin was hung by women, as Radigund had commanded.--Spenser,Faëry Queen, v. 5 (1596).

Terpischore[Terp.sic´o.re.], the Muse of dancing.--Greek Fable.

Terrible(The), Ivan IV. or II. of Russia (1529, 1533-1584).

Terror of France(The), John Talbot, first earl of Shrewsbury (1373-1453).

Is this the Talbot, so much feared abroad,That with his name the mothers still their babes?Shakespeare,1 Henry VI.act ii. sc. 3 (1589).

Is this the Talbot, so much feared abroad,

That with his name the mothers still their babes?

Shakespeare,1 Henry VI.act ii. sc. 3 (1589).

Terror of the World(The), Attĭla, king of the Huns (*-453).

Terry Alts, a lawless body of rebels, who sprang up in Clare (Ireland) after the union.

The “Thrashers” of Connaught, the “Carders,” the followers of “Captain Right,” in the eighteenth century, those of “CaptainRock,” who appeared in 1822, and the “Fenians,” in 1865, were similar disturbers of the peace.

Tesoretto(“The Little Treasure,”) an Italian poem by Brunetto Latini, preceptor of Dantê (1285). The poem is one of the landmarks in the development of the Italian language. The poet says he was returning from an embassy to the king of Spain, and met a scholar who told him of the overthrow of the Guelfi. Struck with grief, he lost his road, and wandered into a wood, where Dame Nature accosted him, and disclosed to him the secrets of her works. On he wandered till he came to a vast plain, inhabited by Virtue and her four daughters, together with Courtesy, Bounty, Loyalty, and Prowess. Leaving this, he came to a fertile valley, which was for ever shifting its appearance, from round to square, from light to darkness. This was the valley of Queen Pleasure, who was attended by Love, Hope, Fear, and Desire. Ovid comes to the poet at length and tells him how to effect his escape. Dantê meets Brunetto Latini in Hell, and praises his poem.

Tes´sira, one of the leaders of the Moorish host.--Ariosto,Orlando Furioso(1516).

Tests of Chastity.Alasnam’s mirror; the brawn or boar’s head; drinking-horns (seeArthur’s Drinking-Horn;Sir Cradock and the Drinking-Horn); Florimel’s girdle; grotto of Ephesus; the test mantle; oath on St. Antony’s arm was held in supreme reverence because it was believed that whoever took the oath falsely would be consumed by “St. Antony’s fire” within the current year; the trial of the sieve.

Tests of Fidelity.Canacê’s mirror; Gondibert’s emerald ring. The corsned or “cursed mouthful,” a piece of bread consecrated by exorcism, and given to the “suspect” to swallow as a test. “May this morsel choke me if I am guilty,” said the defendant, “but turn to wholesome nourishment if I am innocent.” Ordeals, combats between plaintiff and defendant, or their representatives.

Tête Bottée, Philippe de Commines [Cum.min], politician and historian (1445-1509).

You, Sir Philippe des Comines [sic] were at ahunting-match with the duke, your master; andwhen he alighted, after the chase, he requiredyour services in drawing off his boots. Readingin your looks some natural resentment, ...he ordered you to sit down in turn, and renderedyou the same office ... but ... nosooner had he plucked one of your boots offthan he brutally beat it about your head ...and his privileged fool, Le Gloirieux, ... gaveyou the name ofTête Bottée.--Sir W. Scott,Quentin Durward, xxx. (time, Edward IV.).

You, Sir Philippe des Comines [sic] were at a

hunting-match with the duke, your master; and

when he alighted, after the chase, he required

your services in drawing off his boots. Reading

in your looks some natural resentment, ...

he ordered you to sit down in turn, and rendered

you the same office ... but ... no

sooner had he plucked one of your boots off

than he brutally beat it about your head ...

and his privileged fool, Le Gloirieux, ... gave

you the name ofTête Bottée.--Sir W. Scott,

Quentin Durward, xxx. (time, Edward IV.).

Te´thys, daughter of Heaven and Earth, the wife of Ocean and mother of the river-gods. In poetry it means the sea generally.

The golden sun above the watery bedOf hoary Têthys raised his beamy head.Hoole’sAriosto, viii.

The golden sun above the watery bed

Of hoary Têthys raised his beamy head.

Hoole’sAriosto, viii.

By the earth-shaking Neptune’s mace [trident],And Têthy’s grave majestic pace.Milton,Comus, 870 (1634).

By the earth-shaking Neptune’s mace [trident],

And Têthy’s grave majestic pace.

Milton,Comus, 870 (1634).

Tetrachor´don, the title of one of Milton’s books about marriage and divorce. The word means “the four strings;” and refers to the four chief places in Scripture which bear on the subject of marriage.

A book was writ of late calledTetrachordon.Milton,Sonnet, x.

A book was writ of late calledTetrachordon.

Milton,Sonnet, x.

Teucer, son of Telămon of Salămis, and brother of Telamon Ajax. He wasthe best archer of all the Greeks at the siege of Troy.

I may, like a second Teucer, discharge my shafts from behind the shield of my ally.--Sir W. Scott.

Teufelsdroeckh(Herr), pronounceToi.felz.drurk; an eccentric German professor and philosopher. The object of this satire is to expose all sorts of shams, social as well as intellectual.--Carlyle,Sartor Resartus(1849).

Teutonic Knights(The), an order organized by Frederick, duke of Suabia, in Palestine (1190). St. Louis gave them permission to quarter on their arms thefleur de lis(1250). The order was abolished, in 1809, by Napoleon I.

Tewksburys(The), “Society” couple, always bickering, and always making up, inveighing against the boredom of society duties, yet bent upon complying with every by-law, and sacrificing time and happiness to their idol.--Philip Henry Welch,The Tailor-Made Girl(1888).

Texartis, a Scythian soldier, killed by the Countess Brenhilda.--Sir W. Scott,Count Robert of Paris(time, Rufus).

Tezoz´omoc, chief of the priests of the Az´tecas. He fasted ten months to know how to appease the national gods, and then declared that the only way was to offer “the White Strangers” on their altars. Tezozomoc was killed by burning lava from a volcanic mountain.

TezozomocBeholds the judgment ... and seesThe lava floods beneath him. His hourIs come. The fiery shower, descending, heapsRed ashes round. They fall like drifted snows,And bury and consume the accursed priest.Southey,Madoc, ii. 26 (1805).

Tezozomoc

Beholds the judgment ... and sees

The lava floods beneath him. His hour

Is come. The fiery shower, descending, heaps

Red ashes round. They fall like drifted snows,

And bury and consume the accursed priest.

Southey,Madoc, ii. 26 (1805).

Thaddeus of Warsaw, the hero and title of a novel by Jane Porter (1803.)

Thaddu, the father of Morna, who became the wife of Comhal and the mother of Fingal.--Ossian.

Tha´is(2syl.), an Athenian courtezan, who induced Alexander, in his cups, to set fire to the palace of the Persian kings at Persepŏlis.

The king seized a flambeau with zeal to destroy;Thaïs led the way to light him to his prey,And, like another Helen, fired another Troy.Dryden,Alexanders Feast(1697).

The king seized a flambeau with zeal to destroy;

Thaïs led the way to light him to his prey,

And, like another Helen, fired another Troy.

Dryden,Alexanders Feast(1697).

Thaïs´a, daughter of Simon´idês, king of Pentap´olis. She married Periclês, prince of Tyre. In her voyage to Tyre Thaïsa gave birth to a daughter, and dying, as it was supposed, in childbirth, was cast into the sea. The chest in which she was placed drifted to Ephesus, and fell into the hands of Cer´imon, a physician, who soon discovered that she was not dead. Under proper care, she entirely recovered, and became a priestess in the temple of Diana. Periclês, with his daughter and her betrothed husband, visiting the shrine of Diana, became known to each other, and the whole mystery was cleared up.--Shakespeare,Pericles, Prince of Tyre(1608).

Thal´aba ebn Hateb, a poor man, who came to Mahomet, requesting him to beg God to bestow on him wealth, and promising to employ it in works of godliness. The “prophet” made the petition, and Thalaba rapidly grew rich. One day Mahomet sent to the rich man for alms, but Thalaba told the messengers their demand savored more of tribute than of charity, and refused to give anything; but afterwards repenting, he took to the “prophet”a good round sum. Mahomet now refused to accept it, and, throwing dust on the ungrateful churl, exclaimed, “Thus shall thy wealth be scattered!” and the man became poor again as fast as he had grown rich.--Al Korân, ix. (Sale’s notes).

Thal´aba, the Destroyer--that is, the destroyer of the evil spirits of Dom-Daniel. He was the only surviving child of Hodei´rah (3syl.), and his wife, Zeinab (2syl.); their other eight children had been cut off by the Dom-Danielists, because it had been decreed by fate that “one of the race would be their destruction.” When a mere stripling, Thalăba was left motherless and fatherless (bk. i.); he then found a home in the tent of a Bedouin named Mo´ath, who had a daughter, Onei´za (3syl.). Here he was found by Abdaldar, an evil spirit, sent from Dom-Daniel to kill him; but the spirit was killed by a simoom, just as he was about to stab the boy, and Thalaba was saved (bk. ii.). He now drew from the finger of Abdaldar, the magic ring, which gave him power over all spirits; and, thus armed, he set out to avenge the death of hisfatherfather(bk. iii.). On his way to Babylon he was encountered by a merchant, who was in reality the sorcerer, Loba´ba, in disguise. This sorcerer led Thalaba astray into the wilderness, and then raised up a whirlwind to destroy him; but the whirlwind was the death of Lobaba himself, and again Thalaba escaped (bk. iv.). He reached Babylon at length, and met there Mohāreb, another evil spirit, disguised as a warrior, who conducted him to the “mouth of hell.” Thalaba detected the villainy, and hurled the false one into the abyss (bk. v.). The young “Destroyer” was next conveyed to “the paradise of pleasure,” but he resisted every temptation, and took to flight just in time to save Oneiza, who had been brought there by violence (bk. vi.). He then killed Aloa´din, the presiding spirit of the garden, with a club, was made vizier, and married Oneiza, but she died on the bridal night (bk. vii.). Distracted at this calamity, he wandered towards Kâf, and entered the house of an old woman, who was spinning thread. Thalaba expressed surprise at its extreme fineness, but Maimu´na (the old woman) told him, fine as it was, he could not break it. Thalaba felt incredulous, and wound it round his wrists, when, lo! he became utterly powerless; and Maimuna, calling up her sister, Khwala, conveyed him helpless to the island of Moha´reb (bk. viii.). Here he remained for a time, and was at length liberated by Maimuna, who repented of her sins, and turned to Allah (bk. ix.). Being liberated from the island of Mohāreb, our hero wandered, cold and hungry, into a dwelling, where he saw Laila, the daughter of Okba, the sorcerer. Okba rushed forward with intent to kill him, but Laila interposed, and fell dead by the hand of her own father (bk. x.). Her spirit, in the form of a green bird, now became the guardian angel of “The Destroyer,” and conducted him to the simorg, who directed him the road to Dom-Daniel (bk. xi.), which he reached in time, slew the surviving sorcerers, and was received into heaven (bk. xii.).--Southey,Thalaba, the Destroyer(1797).

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

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