When first the Rhodian’s mimic art arrayedThe queen of Beauty in her Cyprian shade,The happy master mingled in his pieceEach look that charmed him in the fair of Greece ...Love on the picture smiled. Expression pouredHer mingling spirit there, and Greece adored.Pleasures of Hope, ii. (1799).
When first the Rhodian’s mimic art arrayedThe queen of Beauty in her Cyprian shade,The happy master mingled in his pieceEach look that charmed him in the fair of Greece ...Love on the picture smiled. Expression pouredHer mingling spirit there, and Greece adored.Pleasures of Hope, ii. (1799).
When first the Rhodian’s mimic art arrayedThe queen of Beauty in her Cyprian shade,The happy master mingled in his pieceEach look that charmed him in the fair of Greece ...Love on the picture smiled. Expression pouredHer mingling spirit there, and Greece adored.Pleasures of Hope, ii. (1799).
When first the Rhodian’s mimic art arrayed
The queen of Beauty in her Cyprian shade,
The happy master mingled in his piece
Each look that charmed him in the fair of Greece ...
Love on the picture smiled. Expression poured
Her mingling spirit there, and Greece adored.
Pleasures of Hope, ii. (1799).
Venus(Statues of).The Cnidian Venus, a nude statue, bought by theCnidians. By Praxitĕlês.
The Coan Venus, a draped statue, bought by the Coans. By Praxitelês.
The Venus de’ Medici, a statue dug up in several pieces at Hadrian’s villa, near Tiv´oli (seventeenth century), and placed for a time at the Medici palace at Rome, whence its name. It was the work of Cleom´enês, the Athenian. All one arm and part of the other were restored by Bandinelli. In 1680 this statue was removed to the Uffizi gallery at Florence. It was removed to Paris by Napoleon, but was afterwards restored.
The Venus of Arles, with a mirror in the right hand and an apple in the left. This statue is ancient, but the mirror and apple are by Girardin.
The Venus of Milo.The “Venus Victorious” is called the “Venus of Milo,” because it was brought from the island of Milo, in the Ægēan Sea, by Admiral Dumont d’Urville, in 1820. It is one of thechefs d’œuvreof antiquity, and is now in the Louvre of Paris.
The Pauline Venus, by Canōva. Modelled from Pauline Bonaparte, Princess Borghese.
I went by chance into the room of the Pauline Venus; my mouth will taste bitter all day. How venial! how gaudy and vile she is with her gilded upholstery! It is the most hateful thing that ever wasted marble.--Ouida,Ariadnê, i. 1.
The Venus Pandēmos, the sensual and vulgar Venus (Greek,pan-dêmos, for the vulgar or populace generally); as opposed to the “Uranian Venus,” the beau-ideal of beauty and loveliness.
Amongst the deities from the upper chamber a mortal came, the light, lewd woman, who had bared her charms to live for ever here in marble, in counterfeit of the Venus Pandēmos.--Ouida,Ariadnê, i. 1.
Gibson’s Venus, slightly tinted, was shown in the International Exhibition of 1862.
Venus, the highest throw with the fourtalior threetesseræ. The best cast of thetali(or four-sided dice) was four different numbers; but the best cast of thetesseræ(or ordinary dice) was three sixes. The worst throw was calledcanis--three aces intesseræand four aces intali.
Venus(The Isle of), a paradise created by “Divine Love” for the Lusian heroes. Here Uranian Venus gave Vasco de Gama the empire of the sea. This isle is not far from the mountains of Imāus, whence the Ganges and Indus derive their source.--Camoens,Lusiad, ix. (1572).
⁂Similar descriptions of paradise are: “the gardens of Alcinŏus” (Odyssey, vii.); “the island of Circê” (Odyssey, x.); Virgil’s “Elysium”(Æneid(Æneid, vi.); “the island and palace of Alci´na” (Orlando Furioso, vi., vii.); “the country of Logistilla” (Orlando Furioso, x.); “Paradise,” visited by Astolpho (Orlando Furioso, xxxiv.); “the island of Armi´da” (Jerusalem Delivered); “the bower of Acrasia” (Faëry Queen); “the palace with its forty doors” (Arabian Nights, “Third Calendar”), etc.
Venus(Ura´nian), the impersonation of divine love; the presiding deity of the Lusians.--Camoens,Lusiad(1572).
Venus and Adonis.Adōnis, a most beautiful boy, was greatly beloved by Venus and Proserpine. Jupiter decided that he should live four months with one and four months with the other goddess, and the rest of the year he might do what he liked. One day he was killed by a wild boar during a chase, and Venus was so inconsolable at the loss that the infernal gods allowed the boy to spend six months of the year with Venus on the earth, but the other six he was to spend in hell. Of course, this is an allegory of the sun, which is six months above and six months below the equator.
⁂ Shakespeare has a poem calledVenus and Adonis(1593), in which Adonis is made cold and passionless, but Venus ardent and sensual.
Venus of Cleom´enes(4syl.), now called the “Venus de’ Medici” or “Venus de Medicis.”
Venusberg, the mountain of fatal delights. Here Tannhäuser tarried, and when Pope Urban refused to grant him absolution, he returned thither, to be never more seen.--German Legend.
Ver´done(2syl.), nephew to Champernal, the husband of Lami´ra.--Beaumont and Fletcher,The Little French Lawyer(1647).
Verdugo, captain under the governorof Segovia.--Beaumont and Fletcher,The Pilgrim(1621).
Vere(Mr. Richard), laird of Ellieslaw, a Jacobite conspirator.
Miss Isabella Vere, the laird’s daughter. She marries young Patrick Earnscliffe, laird of Earnscliffe.--Sir W. Scott,The Black Dwarf(time, Anne).
Vere(Sir Arthur de), son of the earl of Oxford. He first appears under the assumed name of Arthur Philipson.--Sir W. Scott,Anne of Geierstein(time, Edward IV.).
Verges(2syl.), an old-fashioned constable and night-watch, noted for his blundering simplicity.--Shakespeare,Much Ado about Nothing(1600).
Vergob´retus, a dictator, selected by the druids, and possessed of unlimited power, both in war and state, during times of great danger.
This temporary king or vergobretus, laid down his office at the end of the war.--Dissertation on the Era of Ossian.
Verinder(Rachel), pretty, strong-willed, imperious, warm-hearted young Englishwoman, the legatee of a diamond of immense value. She receives it upon her twenty-first birthday, wears it all the evening and insists upon keeping it in her room that night. She sees from the adjoining apartment, her lover, Franklin Blake, purloin the gem, and hides the name of the thief, while discarding him.--Wilkie Collins,The Moonstone.
Verisopht(Lord Frederick), weak and silly, but far less vicious than his bear-leader, Sir Mulberry Hawk. He drawled in his speech, and was altogether “very soft.” Ralph Nickleby introduced his niece, Kate, to the young nobleman at a bachelor’s dinner-party, hoping to make of the introduction a profitable investment, but Kate was far too modest and virtuous to aid him in his scheme.--C. Dickens,Nicholas Nickleby(1838).
Vernon(Diana), niece of Sir Hildebrand Osbaldistone. She has great beauty, sparkling talents, an excellent disposition, high birth, and is an enthusiastic adherent of an exiled king. Diana Vernon marries Frank Osbaldistone.
Sir Frederick Vernon, father of Diana, a political intriguer called “his excellency the earl of Beauchamp.” He first appears as Father Vaughan [Vawn].--Sir W. Scott,Rob Roy(time, George I.).
Vernon(Elinor), “a student, enthusiastic and devoted, and one of rare attainments, both in character and degree.” She becomes an author of note. Her betrothed, Walter Mayward, would wean her from devotion to letters, and loses her thereby. Frederic St. Clair appreciates the glory of her perfected womanhood, loves and marries her, and her “poetry finds in his love its triumph, its crowning, its glorious apotheosis.”--Grace Greenwood,Heart Histories(1850).
Ver´olame(3syl.) orVerulam, “a stately nymph” of Isis. Seeing her stream besmeared with the blood of St. Alban, she prayed that it might be diverted into another channel, and her prayer was granted. The place where St. Alban was executed was at that time called Holmhurst.--Robert of Gloucester.Chronicle(in verse), 57 (thirteenth century).
⁂ A poetical account of this legend isalso given by W. Browne in hisBritannia’s Pastorals, iv (1613).
Veron´ica, the maiden who handed her handkerchief to Jesus on His way to Calvary. The “Man of Sorrows” wiped His face with it, returned it to the maiden, and it ever after had a perfect likeness of the Saviour photographed on it. The handkerchief and the maiden were both called Veronica (i.e.,vera iconica, “the true likeness”).
⁂ One of these handkerchiefs is preserved in St. Peter’s of Rome, and another in Milan Cathedral.
Verrina, the republican who murders Fiesco.--Schiller,Fiesco(1783).
Versatile(Sir George), a scholar, pleasing in manners, warm-hearted, generous, with the seeds of virtue and the soul of honor, but being deficient in stability, he takes his color, like the chameleon, from the objects at hand. Thus, with Maria Delaval, he is manly, frank, affectionate, and noble; with Lord Vibrate, hesitating, undecided, and tossed with doubts; with Lady Vibrate, boisterously gay, extravagant, and light-hearted. Sir George is betrothed to Maria Delaval, but the death of his father delays the marriage. He travels, and gives a fling to youthful indulgences. After a time, he meets Maria Delaval by accident, his better nature prevails, and he offers her his hand, his heart, his title, and his fortune.--Holcroft,He’s Much to Blame(1790).
Vertaigne(2 or 3syl.), a nobleman and judge, father of Lamīra and Beaupré.--Beaumont and Fletcher,The Little French Lawyer(1647).
Vesey(Sir John), a baronet, most worldly wise, and, being poor, gives himself the nickname of “Stingy Jack,” that he may be thought rich. Forthwith his £10,000 was exaggerated into £40,000. Sir John wanted his daughter to marry Alfred Evelyn, but feeling very uncertain about the stability of the young man’s money, shilly-shallied about it; and in the mean time, Georgina married Sir Frederick Blount, and Evelyn was left free to marry Clara Douglas, whom he greatly loved.--Lord L. Bulwer Lytton,Money(1840).
Vestris, called “The God of Dancing,” used to say, “Europe contains only three truly great men--myself, Voltaire, and Frederick of Prussia” (1729-1808).
Vesuvian Bay:
“My soul to-dayIs far away,Sailing the Vesuvian Bay;My wingéd boat,A bird afloat,Swims ’round the purple peaks remote.”
“My soul to-dayIs far away,Sailing the Vesuvian Bay;My wingéd boat,A bird afloat,Swims ’round the purple peaks remote.”
“My soul to-dayIs far away,Sailing the Vesuvian Bay;My wingéd boat,A bird afloat,Swims ’round the purple peaks remote.”
“My soul to-day
Is far away,
Sailing the Vesuvian Bay;
My wingéd boat,
A bird afloat,
Swims ’round the purple peaks remote.”
The English language does not contain a more exquisite bit of word-painting than the poem embodying the above-quoted lines.--Thomas Buchanan Read,Drifting(1867).
Veto(Monsieur and Madame), Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette. The king had the power of putting hisvetoon any decree of the National Assembly (1791), in consequence of which he was nicknamed “Capet Veto.”
⁂ The name occurs in the celebrated song calledLa Carmagnole, which was sung to a dance of the same name.
Vetus, in theTimesnewspaper, is thenom de plumeof Edward Sterling (1773-1847), “The Thunderer” (1812-13).
Vexhalia, wife of Osmond, an old Varangian guard.--Sir W. Scott,Count Robert of Paris(time, Rufus).
Vholes(1syl.), a lawyer who draws Richard Carstone into his toils. He is always closely buttoned up, and speaks in a lifeless manner, but is pre-eminently a “most respectable man.”--C. Dickens,Bleak House(1852).
Vibrate(Lord), a man who can never make up his mind to anything, and, “like a man on double business bent, he stands in pause, which he shall first begin, and both neglects.” Thus, he would say to his valet, “Order the coachman at eleven. No; order him at one. Come back! order him in ten minutes. Stay! don’t order him at all. Why don’t you go and do as I bid you?” or, “Tell Harry to admit the doctor. No, not just yet; in five minutes. I don’t know when. Was ever man so tormented?” So with everything.
Lady Vibrate, wife of the above. Extravagant, contradictious, fond of gaiety, hurry, noise, embarrassment, confusion, disorder, uproar, and a whirl of excitement. She says to his lordship:
I am all gaiety and good humor; you are all turmoil and lamentation. I sing, laugh, and welcome pleasure wherever I find it; you take your lantern to look for misery, which the sun itself cannot discover. You may think proper to be as miserable as Job; but don’t expect me to be a Job’s wife.--Act. ii. 1.
Lady Jane Vibrate, daughter of Lord and Lady Vibrate. An amiable young lady, attached to Delaval, whom she marries.--Holcroft,He’s Much to Blame(1790).
Vicar of Bray(The). Mr. Brome says the noted vicar was Simon Alleyn, vicar of Bray, in Berkshire, for fifty years. In the reign of Henry VIII. he wascatholictill the Reformation; in the reign of Edward VI. he wascalvanist; in the reign of Mary he waspapist; in the reign of Elizabeth he wasprotestant. No matter who was king, he resolved to die the vicar of Bray.--D’Israeli,Curiosities of Literature.
Another statement gives the name of Pendleton as the true vicar. He was afterwards rector of St. Stephen’s, Walbrook (Edward VI. to Elizabeth).
Hadyn says the vicar referred to in the song was Simon Symonds, who lived in the Commonwealth, and continued vicar till the reign of William and Mary. He wasindependentin the protectorate,episcopalianunder Charles II.,papistunder James II.,moderate protestantunder William and Mary.
⁂ The song calledThe Vicar of Braywas written in the reign of George I., by Colonel Fuller, or an officer in Fuller’s regiment, and does not refer to Alleyn, Pendleton, or Symonds, but to some real or imaginary person, who was vicar of Bray, from Charles II. to George I. The first verse begins: “In good King Charles’s golden days” I was a zealous high-church*-man. Ver. 2: “When royal James obtained the crown,” I found the Church of Rome would fit my constitution. Ver. 3: “When William was our king declared,” I swore to him allegiance. Ver. 4: “When gracious Anne became our queen,” I became a tory. Ver. 5: “When George, in pudding-time came o’er,” I became a whig. And “George my lawful king shall be--until the times do alter.”
I have had a long chase after the vicar of Bray, on whom the proverb ... Mr. Fuller, in hisWorthies... takes no notice of him.... I am informed it is Simon Alleyn or Allen who was vicar of Bray about 1540, and died, 1588.--Brome to Rawlins, June 14, 1735. (SeeLetters from the Bodleian, II. i. 100.)
Vicar of Wakefield(The), Dr. Primrose, a simple-minded, pious clergyman, with six children. He begins life with a good fortune, a handsome house, and wealthy friends, but is reduced to utter poverty without any fault of his own, and, being reduced like Job, like Job he is restored. First, he loses his fortune through the rascality of the merchant who held it. His next great sorrow was the elopement of his eldest daughter, Olivia, with Squire Thornhill. His third was the entire destruction by fire of his house, furniture and books, together with the savings which he had laid by for his daughters’ marriage portions. His fourth was being incarcerated in the county jail by Squire Thornhill for rent, his wife and family being driven out of house and home. His fifth was the announcement that his daughter, Olivia, “was dead,” and that his daughter, Sophia, had been abducted. His sixth was the imprisonment of his eldest son, George, for sending a challenge to Squire Thornhill. His cup of sorrow was now full, and comfort was at hand: (1) Olivia was not really dead, but was said to be so in order to get the vicar to submit to the squire, and thus obtain his release. (2) His daughter, Sophia, had been rescued by Mr. Burchell (Sir William Thornhill), who asked her hand in marriage. (3) His son, George, was liberated from prison, and married Miss Wilmot, an heiress. (4) Olivia’s marriage to the squire, which was said to have been informal, was shown to be legal and binding. (5) The old vicar was released, re-established in his vicarage, and recovered a part of his fortune.--Goldsmith,The Vicar of Wakefield(1766).
⁂ This novel has been dramatized several times: In 1819 it was performed in the Surrey Theatre; in 1823 it was turned into an opera; in 1850 Tom Taylor dramatized it; in 1878 W. G. Wills converted it into a drama of four acts, entitledOlivia.
The real interest of the story lies in the development of the character of the amiable vicar, so rich in heavenly, so poor in earthly wisdom; possessing little for himself, yet ready to make that little less, whenever misery appeals to his compassion. With enough of worldly vanity about him to show that he shares the weakness of our nature; ready to be imposed upon by cosmogonies and fictitious bills of exchange, and yet commanding, by the simple and serene dignity of goodness, the respect even of the profligate.--Encyc. Brit., Art. “Romance.”
Victor Amade´us(4syl.), king of Sardinia (1665, 1675-1732), noted for his tortuous policy. He was fierce, audacious, unscrupulous and selfish, profound in dissimulation, prolific in resources, and a “breaker of vows both to God and man.” In 1730 he abdicated, but a few months later wanted to regain the throne, which his son, Charles Emmanuel, refused to resign. On again plotting to recover the crown, he was arrested by D’Ormēa, the prime minister, and died.--R. Browning,King Victor and King Charles Emmanuel.
Victoria(Donna), the young wife of Don Carlos. Don Carlos had given to Donna Laura (a courtezan) the deeds of his wife’s estate; and Victoria, to get them back, dressed in man’s apparel, assumed the name of Florio, and made love to Laura. Having secured a footing, she introduced Gasper as the rich uncle of Victoria, and Gasper persuaded Laura that the deeds were wholly worthless, whereupon Laura tore them to pieces. By this manœuvre the estate was saved, and Don Carlos rescued from ruin.--Mrs. Cowley,A Bold Stroke for a Husband(1782).
Victorious(The). Almanzor means “victorious.” The Caliph Almanzor was the founder of Bagdad.
Thou, too, art fallen, Bagdad, city of peace!Thou, too, hast had thy day!...Thy founder The Victorious.Southey,Thalaba, the Destroyer, v. 6 (1797).
Thou, too, art fallen, Bagdad, city of peace!Thou, too, hast had thy day!...Thy founder The Victorious.Southey,Thalaba, the Destroyer, v. 6 (1797).
Thou, too, art fallen, Bagdad, city of peace!Thou, too, hast had thy day!...Thy founder The Victorious.Southey,Thalaba, the Destroyer, v. 6 (1797).
Thou, too, art fallen, Bagdad, city of peace!
Thou, too, hast had thy day!...
Thy founder The Victorious.
Southey,Thalaba, the Destroyer, v. 6 (1797).
Victory(The), Nelson’s ship.
At the head of the line goes the Victory,With Nelson on the deck,And on his breast the orders shineLike the stars on a shattered wreck.Lord Lytton,Ode, iii. 9 (1839).
At the head of the line goes the Victory,With Nelson on the deck,And on his breast the orders shineLike the stars on a shattered wreck.Lord Lytton,Ode, iii. 9 (1839).
At the head of the line goes the Victory,With Nelson on the deck,And on his breast the orders shineLike the stars on a shattered wreck.Lord Lytton,Ode, iii. 9 (1839).
At the head of the line goes the Victory,
With Nelson on the deck,
And on his breast the orders shine
Like the stars on a shattered wreck.
Lord Lytton,Ode, iii. 9 (1839).
Vidar, the god of wisdom, noted for his thick shoes, and not unfrequently called “The god with the thick shoes.”--Scandinavian Mythology.
Vienne(The archbishop of), chancellor of Burgundy.--Sir W. Scott,Anne of Geierstein(time, Edward IV.).
Vifell, father of Viking, famous for being the possessor of Angurva´del, the celebrated sword made in the East by dwarfs. Vifell won it from Björn Blœtand, and killed with it the giant Iernhös, whom he cleft from head to waist with a single stroke. Vifell left it to Viking, Viking to Thorsten, and Thorsten to his son, Frithjof. The hilt of the sword was gold, and the blade written with runes, which were dull in times of peace, but in war glittered “red as the crest of a cock when he fighteth.”--Tegnér,Frithjof Saga, iii. (1825).
Villalpando(Gaspar Cardillos de), a Spanish theologian, controversialist and commentator (1505-1570).
“Truly,” replied the canon, “I am better acquainted with books of chivalry than with Villalpando’s divinity.”--Cervantes,Don Quixote, I. iv. 17 (1605).
Ville´rius, in Davenant’sSiege of Rhodes(1656).
... pale with envy, Singleton foresworeThe lute and sword, which he in triumph bore,And vowed he ne’er would act Villerius more.Dryden,MacFlecknoe(1682).
... pale with envy, Singleton foresworeThe lute and sword, which he in triumph bore,And vowed he ne’er would act Villerius more.Dryden,MacFlecknoe(1682).
... pale with envy, Singleton foresworeThe lute and sword, which he in triumph bore,And vowed he ne’er would act Villerius more.Dryden,MacFlecknoe(1682).
... pale with envy, Singleton foreswore
The lute and sword, which he in triumph bore,
And vowed he ne’er would act Villerius more.
Dryden,MacFlecknoe(1682).
⁂ This was a favorite part of Singleton.
Villers(Mr.), a gentleman who professed a supreme contempt for women, and declared, if he ever married, he should prefer Widow Racket to be his executioner.--Mrs. Cowley,The Belle’s Stratagem(1780).
Villiard, a villain from whose hands Charles Belmont rescued Fidelia.--E. Moore,The Foundling(1748).
Vincent(Jenkin), or “Jin Vin,” one of old Ramsay’s apprentices, in love with Margaret Ramsay.--Sir W. Scott,Fortunes of Nigel(time, James I.).
Vincent de la Rosa, a boastful, vain, heartless adventurer, son of a poor laborer, who had served in the Italian wars. Coming to the village in which Leandra lived, he induced her to elope with him, and, having spoiled her of her jewels, money and other valuables, deserted her, and she was sent to a convent till the affair had blown over.
He wore a gay uniform, bedecked with glass buttons and steel ornaments; to-day he dressed himself in one piece of finery, and to-morrow in another. He would seat himself upon a bench under a large poplar, and entertain the villagers with his travels and exploits, assuring them there was not a country in the whole world he had not seen, nor a battle in which he had not taken part. He had slain more Moors than ever Tunis or Morocco produced; and as to duels, he had fought more than ever Gante had, or Luna, Diego Garcia de Paredez, or any other champion, always coming off victorious, and without losing one drop of blood.--Cervantes,Don Quixote, I. iv. 20 (“The Goat-herd’s Story,” 1605).
Vincen´tio, duke of Vienna. He delegates his office to Angelo, and leaves Vienna for a time, under the pretence of going on a distant journey; but, by assuming a monk’s hood, he observes, incognito, the conduct of his different officers. Angelo tries to dishonor Isabella, but the duke re-appears in due time and rescues her, while Angelo is made to marry Mariana, to whom he was already betrothed.--Shakespeare,Measure for Measure(1603).
⁂ Mariana was Angelo’s wife by civil contract, or, as the duke says to her, “He is thy husband by pre-contract,” though the Church had not yet sanctified the union and blessed it. Still, the duke says that it would be “no sin” in her to account herself his wife, and to perform towards him the duties of a wife. Angelo’s neglect of her was “a civil divorce,” which would have been a “sin” if the Church had sanctified the union, but which, till then, was only a moral or civil offence. Mariana also considered herself Angelo’s “wife,” and calls him “her husband.” This is an interesting illustration of the “civil contract” of matrimony long before “The Marriage Registration Act,” in 1837.
Vincentio, an old gentleman of Pisa, in Shakespeare’s comedy calledThe Taming of the Shrew(1593).
Vincentio, the troth-plight of Evadne, sister of the marquis of Colonna. Being himself without guile, he is unsuspicious, and when Ludovico, the traitor, tells him that Evadne is the king’s wanton, he believes it and casts her off. This brings about a duel between him and Evadne’s brother, in which Vincentio falls. He is not, however, killed; and when the villainy of Ludovico is brought to light, he re-appears and marries Evadne.--Sheil,Evadne, orThe Statue(1820).
Vincentio(Don), a young man who was music mad, and said that thesummum bonumof life is to get talked about. Like Queen Elizabeth, he loved a “crash” in music, plenty of noise and fury. Olivia de Zuniga disgusted him by maintaining the jew’s-harp to be the prince of musical instruments.--Mrs. Cowley,A Bold Stroke for a Husband(1782).
Vi´ola, sister of Sebastian; a young lady of Messaline. They were twins, and so much alike that they could be distinguished only by their dress. Viola and her brother were shipwrecked off the coast of Illyria, Viola was brought to shore by the captain, but her brother was left to shift for himself. Being a stranger in a strange land, Viola dressed as a page, and, under the name of Cesario, entered the service of Orsīno, duke of Illyria. The duke greatly liked his beautiful page, and, when he discovered her true sex, married her.--Skakespeare,Twelfth Night(1602).
Vi´ola and Hono´ra, daughter of General Archas, “the loyal subject” of the great-duke of Muscovia.--Beaumont and Fletcher,The Loyal Subject(1618).
Violan´te(4syl.), the supposed wife of Don Henrique (2syl.), an uxorious Spanish nobleman.--Beaumont and Fletcher,The Spanish Curate(1622).
Violante, the betrothed of Don Alonzo, of Alcazar, but given in marriage by King Sebastian to Henri´quez. This caused Alonzo to desert and join the emperor of Barbary. As renegade, he took the name of Dorax, and assumed the Moorish costume. In the war which followed, he saved Sebastian’s life, was told that Henriquez had died in battle, and that Violante,who never swerved from his love, being a young widow, was free and willing to be his wife.--Dryden,Don Sebastian(1690).
Violante, an attendant on the Princess Anna Comnēna, the historian.--Sir W. Scott,Count Robert of Paris(time, Rufus).
Violante, (4syl.), wife of Pietro (2syl.), and putative mother of Pompilia. Violantê provided this suppositious child partly to please old Pietro, and partly to cheat the rightful heirs.--R. Browning,The Ring and the Book, ii.
Violante(Donna), daughter of Don Pedro, a Portuguese nobleman, who intends to make her a nun; but she falls in love with Don Felix, the son of Don Lopez. Isabella (sister of Don Felix), in order to escape a hateful marriage, takes refuge with Donna Violantê (4syl.), who “keeps the secret” close, even at the risk of losing her sweetheart, for Felix discovers that a Colonel Briton calls at the house, and supposes Violantê to be the object of his visits. Ultimately the mystery is cleared up, and a double marriage takes place.--Mrs. Centlivre,The Wonder(1714).
Mrs. Yates (in the last act), with Garrick as “Don Felix,” was admirable. Felix, thinking he has gone too far, applies himself to soothe his Violantê. She turns from him and draws away her chair; he follows, and she draws further away. At length, by his winning, entreating, and cajoling, she is gradually induced to melt, and finally makes it up with him. Her condescension ... was admirable; her dignity was great and lofty, ... and when by degrees she laid aside her frown, and her lips relaxed into a smile, ... nothing could be more lovely and irresistible.... It laid the whole audience, as well as the lover, at her feet.--William Goodwin.
Violen´ta, any young lady nonentity; one who contributes nothing to the amusement or conversation of a party. Violenta is one of thedramatis personæof Shakespeare’sAll’s Well that Ends Well, but she only enters once, and then she neither speaks nor is spoken to (1598). (SeeRogero.)
Violenta, the fairy mother, who brought up the young princess, who was metamorphosed into a white cat for refusing to marry Migonnet (a hideously misshapen fairy).--Comtesse D’Aunoy,Fairy Tales(“The(“TheWhite Cat,” 1682).
Violet, the ward of Lady Arundel. She is in love with Norman, the “sea-captain,” who turns out to be the son of Lady Arundel by her first husband, and heir to the title and estates.--Lord Lytton,The Sea-Captain(1839).
Violet(Father), a sobriquet of Napoleon I.; also called “Corporal Violet”(1769(1769, 1804-1815, died, 1821).
⁂ Violets were the flowers of the empire, and when, in 1879, the ex-empress Eugénie was visited at Chislehurst by those who sympathized with her in the death of her son, “the prince imperial,” they were worn as symbols of attachment to the imperial family of France. The name was given to Napoleon on his banishment to Elba (1815), and implied that “he would return to France with the violets”.
Violet-Crowned City(The). Athens is so called by Aristophănês, (ιοστέφανος) (seeEquites, 1323 and 1329; andAcharnians, 637). Macaulay refers to Athens as “the violet-crowned city.” Ion (a violet) was a representative king of Athens, whose four sons gave names to the four Athenian classes; and Greece, in Asia Minor, was called Ionia. Athens was thecity of “Ion crowned its king,” and hence was the “Ion crowned” or King Ion’s city. Translating the word Ion into English, Athens was the “Violet-crowned” or King Violet’s city. Of course, the pun is the chief point, and was quite legitimate in comedy.
Similarly, Paris is called the “city of lillies,” by a pun between Louis and lys (the flower-de-luce), and France isl’empire des lysorl’empire des Louis.
By a similar pun, London might be called “the noisy town,” fromhlúd, “noisy.”
Violetta, a Portuguese, married to Belfield, the elder brother, but deserted by him. The faithless husband gets betrothed to Sophia (daughter of Sir Benjamin Dove), who loves the younger brother. Both Violetta and the younger brother are shipwrecked and cast on the coast of Cornwall, in the vicinity of Squire Belfield’s estate; and Sophia is informed that her “betrothed” is a married man. She is therefore free from her betrothal, and marries the younger brother, the man of her choice; while the elder brother takes back his wife, to whom he becomes reconciled.--R. Cumberland,The Brothers(1769).
Violin(The Angel with the). Rubens’s “Harmony” is an angel of the male sex playing a bass-viol.
The angel with the violin,Painted by Raphael, (?) he seemed.Longfellow,The Wayside Inn(1863).
The angel with the violin,Painted by Raphael, (?) he seemed.Longfellow,The Wayside Inn(1863).
The angel with the violin,Painted by Raphael, (?) he seemed.Longfellow,The Wayside Inn(1863).
The angel with the violin,
Painted by Raphael, (?) he seemed.
Longfellow,The Wayside Inn(1863).
Violin-Makers(The best): Gasparo di Salo (1560-1610); Nicholas Amati (1596-1684); Antonio Stradivari (1670-1728); Joseph A. Guarneri (1683-1745).
⁂ Of these, Stradivari was the best, and Nicholas Amati the next best.
The following are eminent, but not equal to the names given above:--Joseph Steiner (1620-1667); Matthias Klotz (1650-1696). (See Otto,On the Violin.)
Vipont(Sir Ralph de) a knight of St. John. He is one of the knights challengers.--Sir W. Scott,Ivanhoe(time, Richard I.).
Virgil, in theGesta Romanorum, is represented as a mighty but benevolent enchanter, and this is the character that Italian romances give him.
Similarly, Sir Walter Scott is called “The Great Wizard of the North.”
Virgil, in Dantê, is the personification of human wisdom, Beatrice of the wisdom which comes of faith, and St. Bernard of spiritual wisdom. Virgil conducts Dantê through the Inferno and through Purgatory too, till the seven P’s (peccata“sins”) are obliterated from his brow, when Beatrice becomes his guide. St. Bernard is his guide through a part of Paradise. Virgil says to Dantê:
Whatreasonhere discovers,Ihave powerTo show thee; that which lies beyond, expectFrom Beatrice----faithnot reason’s task.Dantê,Purgatory, xviii. (1308).
Whatreasonhere discovers,Ihave powerTo show thee; that which lies beyond, expectFrom Beatrice----faithnot reason’s task.Dantê,Purgatory, xviii. (1308).
Whatreasonhere discovers,Ihave powerTo show thee; that which lies beyond, expectFrom Beatrice----faithnot reason’s task.Dantê,Purgatory, xviii. (1308).
Whatreasonhere discovers,Ihave power
To show thee; that which lies beyond, expect
From Beatrice----faithnot reason’s task.
Dantê,Purgatory, xviii. (1308).
Virgil.The inscription on his tomb (said to have been written by himself) was:
Mantua me genuit; Calabri rapuere; tenet nuncParthenope; cecini pascua, rura, duces.In Mantua was I born; Calabria saw me die;Of sheep, fields, wars I sung; and now in Naples lie.
Mantua me genuit; Calabri rapuere; tenet nuncParthenope; cecini pascua, rura, duces.In Mantua was I born; Calabria saw me die;Of sheep, fields, wars I sung; and now in Naples lie.
Mantua me genuit; Calabri rapuere; tenet nuncParthenope; cecini pascua, rura, duces.
Mantua me genuit; Calabri rapuere; tenet nunc
Parthenope; cecini pascua, rura, duces.
In Mantua was I born; Calabria saw me die;Of sheep, fields, wars I sung; and now in Naples lie.
In Mantua was I born; Calabria saw me die;
Of sheep, fields, wars I sung; and now in Naples lie.
Virgil(The Christian), Giacomo Sannazaro (1458-1530).
Marco Girolamo Vida, author ofChristias(in six books), is also called “The Christian Virgil” (1490-1566).
⁂ Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, of Spain, is called by Bentley “The Virgil and Horace of Christians” (348-*).
Virgil of our Dramatic Poets(The). Ben Jonson is so called by Dryden (1574-1637).
Shakespeare was the Homer or father of our dramatic poets; Jonson was the Virgil, and pattern of elaborate writing. I admire rare Ben, but I love Shakespeare.--Dryden.
Virgil of the French Drama(The). Jean Racine is so called by Sir Walter Scott (1639-1699).
Virgil’s Courtship.Godfrey Gobilyve told Graunde Amoure that Virgil, the poet, once made proposals to a lady of high rank in the Roman court, who resolved to punish him for his presumption. She told him that if he would appear on a given night before her window, he should be drawn up in a basket. Accordingly he kept his appointment, got into the basket, and, being drawn some twenty feet from the ground, was left there dangling till noon the next day, the laugh and butt of the court and city.--Stephen Hawes,The Passe-tyme of Plesure, xxix. (1515).
Virgil’s Gnat(theCulex, ascribed to Virgil). A shepherd, having fallen asleep in the open air, was on the point of becoming the prey of a serpent, when a gnat stung him on the eyelid. The shepherd crushed the gnat, but at the same time alarmed the serpent, which the shepherd saw and beat to death. Next night the gnat appeared to the shepherd in a dream, and reproached him for ingratitude, whereupon he raised a monument in honor of his deliverer. Spenser has a free translation of thisstory,story,which he callsVirgil’s Gnat(1580). (SeeUse of Pests.)
Virgile du Rabut(Le), “The Virgil of the Plane,” Adam Bellaut, the joiner-poet, who died, 1662. He was pensioned by Richelieu, patronized by the “Great Condé,” and praised by Pierre Corneille.
Virgil´iais made by Shakespeare thewifeof Coriolanus, and Volumnia hismother; but historically Volumnia was his wife, and Vetu´ria his mother.--Coriolanus(1610).
The old man’s merriment in Menenius; the lofty lady’s dignity in Volumnia; the bridal modesty in Virgilia; the patrician and military haughtiness in Coriolanus; the plebeian malignity and tribunitian insolence in Brutus and Sicinius, make a very pleasing and interesting variety.--Dr. Johnson,On Coriolanus.
Virgil´ius, Feargil, bishop of Saltzburg, an Irishman. He was denounced as a heretic for asserting the existence of antipodês (*-784). (SeeHeresy.)
⁂ Metz, in France, was so called in the Franco-Prussian war (1870-1).
Virgin Martyr(The), a tragedy by Philip Massinger (1622).
”
Virgin Mary(The), is addressed by the following titles:--“Empress and Queen of Heaven;” “Empress and Queen of Angels;” “Empress and Queen of the Earth;” “Lady of the Universe or of the World;” “Mistress of the World;” “Patroness of all Men;” “Advocate for Sinners;” “Mediatrix;” “Gate of Paradise;” “Mother of Mercies and of Divine Grace;” “Goddess;” “The only Hope of Sinners,” etc., etc.
It is said that Peter Fullo, in 480, was the first to introduce invocations to the Virgin.
Virgin Modesty.John Wilmot, earl of Rochester, was so called by Charles II., because of his propensity to blushing (1647-1680).
Virgin Queen(The), Elizabeth (1533, 1558-1603).
Virgin Unmasked(The), a farce by H. Fielding. Goodwill had acquired by trade £10,000, and resolved to give his daughter Lucy to one of his relations, in order to keep the money in the family. He sent for her bachelor relations, and told them his intention; they were Blister (the apothecary), Coupee (the dancing-master), and Quaver (the singing-master). They all preferred their professions to the young lady, and while they were quarrelling about the superiority of their respective callings, Lucy married Thomas, the footman. Old Goodwill says, “I don’t know but that my daughter has made a better choice than if she had married one of these booby relations.”
Virginians(The), a sequel to Henry Esmond. It gives the story of Colonel Esmond’s twin grandsons, George and Harry Warrington, born and brought up in Virginia. George joins Braddock’s expedition, and is reported killed, Harry goes to England. George, escaping from Indian captivity, joins his brother, whom everybody had supposed the head of the family. Harry enters the army and George marries. One of the characters introduced in the book is George Washington, whom the twins believe to be in love with their widowed mother.--W. M. Thackeray,The Virginians.
Virgins(The Eleven Thousand). Ursul or Hörsel in Swabia, like Hulda in Scandinavia, means “the moon,” and her eleven thousand virgins are the stars. The bones shown in Cologne, as those of the eleven thousand virgins are those of males and females of all ages, and were taken from an old Roman cemetery across which the wall of Cologne ran (1106).
Virginia, a young Roman plebeian of great beauty, coveted by Appius Claudius, one of the decemvirs, and claimed as his slave. Her father, Virginius, being told of it, hastened to the forum, and arrived at the moment when Virginia was about to be delivered up to Appius. He seized a butcher’s knife, stabbed his daughter to the heart, rushed from the forum, and raised a revolt.
This has been the subject of a host of tragedies. InFrench, by Mairet (1628), by Leclerc (1645), by Campistron (1683), by La Beaumelle (1760), by Chabanon (1769), by Laharpe (1786), by Leblanc du Guillet (1786), by Guiraud (1827), by Latour St. Ybars (1845), etc. InItalian, by Alfieri (1783). InGerman, by Gotthold Lessing (eighteenth century). InEnglish, by John Webster, entitledAppius and Virginia(1654); by Miss Brooke (1760); J. S. Knowles (1820),Virginius.
It is one of Lord Macaulay’s lays (1842), supposed to be sung in the forum on the day when Sextus and Licinius were elected tribunes for the fifth time.
Virginia, the daughter of Mde. de la Tour. Madame was of a good family in Normandy, but, having married beneath her social position, was tabooed by her family. Her husband died before the birth of his first child, and the widow went to live at Port Louis, in the Mauritius, where Virginia was born. Their only neighbor was Margaret, with her love-child, Paul, an infant. The two children grew up together, and became strongly attached;but when Virginia was 15 years old, her wealthy great-aunt adopted her and requested that she might be sent immediately to France to finish her education. The aunt wanted her to marry a French count, and as Virginia refused to do so, disinherited her and sent her back to the Mauritius. When within a cable’s length of the island, a hurricane dashed the ship to pieces, and the corpse of Virginia was cast on the shore. Paul drooped, and died within two months.--Bernardin de St. Pierre,Paul and Virginia(1788).
⁂ In Cobb’s dramatic version of this story, Virginia’s mother is of Spanish origin, and dies committing Virginia to the charge of Dominique, a faithful old negro servant. The aunt is Donna Leonora de Guzman, who sends Don Antonio de Guardes to bring Virginia to Spain, and there to make her his bride. She is carried to the ship by force; but scarcely is she set on board when a hurricane dashes the vessel to pieces. Antonio is drowned, but Virginia is rescued by Alhambra, a runaway slave, whom she has befriended. The drama ends with the marriage between Virginia and Paul (1756-1818).
Virginius, father of the Roman Virginia, the title of a tragedy by S. Knowles (1820). (For the tale, seeVirginia.)
Macready (1793-1873) made the part of “Virginius” in Knowles’s drama so called, but the first to act it was John Cooper, in Glasgow (1820).
Visin, a Russian who had the power of blunting weapons by a look. Starchat´erus, the Swede, when he went against him, covered his sword with thin leather, and by this means obtained an easy victory.
Vision of Judgment(The), a poem in twelve parts, by Southey, written in hexameter verse (1820). The laureate supposes that he has a vision of George III., just dead, tried at the bar of heaven. Wilkes is his chief accuser, and Washington his chief defender. Judgment is given by acclamation in favor of the king, and in heaven he is welcomed by Alfred, Richard Cœur de Lion, Edward III., Queen Elizabeth, Charles I. and William III., Bede, Friar Bacon, Chaucer, Spenser, the duke of Marlborough and Berkeley the sceptic, Hogarth, Burke the infidel, Chatterton, who made away with himself, Canning, Nelson and all the royal family who were then dead.
⁂ Of all the literary productions ever issued from the press, never was one printed of worse taste than this. Byron wrote a quiz on it calledThe Vision of Judgment, in 106 stanzas of eight lines each (1820).
Visines, De(The). The uncle, an emigrant abbé who teaches French in Philadelphia, to private pupils. One of these is Marguerite Howard, with whom the nephew, Henri De Visines, speedily falls in love. The girl, in skating, finds herself upon a floating cake of ice from which she is rescued by Henri De Visines. A series of revelations brings about the truth that Marguerite is of the De Visine blood, and in due time she marries her newly-found cousin.--S. Weir Mitchell,Hephzibah Guinness(1880).
Vita´lis, the pseudonym of Eric Sjöberg, a Swedish poet. (Latin,vita lis, “life is a strife.”)
Viti´zaorWiti´za, king of the Visigoths, who put out the eyes of Cordŏva, the father of Roderick. He was himself dethroned and blinded by Roderick.--Southey,Roderick, the Last of the Goths(1814).
Vitruvius(The English), Inigo Jones (1572-1652).
Vivian, brother of Maugis d’Agremont, and son of Duke Bevis of Agremont. He was stolen in infancy by Tapinel, and sold to the wife of Sorgalant.--Roman de Maugis d’Agremont et de Vivian son Frère.
Vivian, son of Buovo (2syl.), of the house of Clarmont, and brother of Aldiger and Malagigi.--Ariosto,Orlando Furioso(1516).
Viviane(3syl.), daughter of Dyonas, a vavasour of high lineage, and generally called the “Lady of the Lake.” Merlin, in his dotage, fell in love with her, and she imprisoned him in the forest of Brécéliande, in Brittany. Viviane induced Merlin to show her how a person could be imprisoned by enchantment without walls, towers, or chains, and after he had done so, she fondled him into a sleep under a whitethorn laden with flowers. While thus he slept, she made a ring with her wimple round the bush, and performed the other needful ceremonies, whereupon he found himself enclosed in a prison stronger than the strongest tower, and from that imprisonment was never again released.--Merlin(a romance).
⁂ See the next article.
Viv´ienorVivian, the personification of shameless harlotry, or the crowning result to be expected from the infidelity of Queen Guin´evere. This wily wanton in Arthur’s court hated all the knights, and tried without success to seduce “the blameless king.” With Merlin, she succeeded better, for, being pestered with her importunity, he told her the secret of his power, as Samson told Delilah the secret of his strength. Having learnt this, Vivien enclosed the magician in a hollow oak, where he was confined as one dead, “lost to life, and use, and name, and fame.”--Tennyson,Idylls of the King(“Vivien,” 1858-9). (SeeViviane.)
⁂ In Malory’sHistory of Prince Arthur, i. 60, Nimue (?Ninive) is the fée who inveigled Merlin out of his secret:
And so upon a time it happened that Merlin shewed to her [Nimue] in a rock, whereas was a great wonder, and wrought by enchantment, which went under a stone. So by her subtle craft and working, she made Merlin to go under that stone, to let her wit of the marvels there; but she wrought so there for him that he came never out, for all his craft. And so she departed and left him there.
Voadic´iaorBoadice´a, queen of the British Icēni. Enraged against the Romans, who had defiled her two daughters, she excited an insurrection against them, and while Suetonius Paulīnus, the Roman governor, was in Mona (Anglesea), she took Colchester and London, and slew 70,000 Romans. Being at length defeated by Suetonius Paulinus, she put an end to her life by poison (A.D.61).
Cowper has an ode onBoadicea(1790).