In me the Spirit of the Cape behold ...That rock by you the “Cape of Tempests” named ...With wide-stretched piles I guard ...Great Adamastor is my dreaded name.Canto v.
In me the Spirit of the Cape behold ...That rock by you the “Cape of Tempests” named ...With wide-stretched piles I guard ...Great Adamastor is my dreaded name.Canto v.
In me the Spirit of the Cape behold ...That rock by you the “Cape of Tempests” named ...With wide-stretched piles I guard ...Great Adamastor is my dreaded name.Canto v.
In me the Spirit of the Cape behold ...
That rock by you the “Cape of Tempests” named ...
With wide-stretched piles I guard ...
Great Adamastor is my dreaded name.
Canto v.
Spiri´to, the Holy Ghost as the friend of man, personified in canto ix. ofThe Purple Island, by Phineas Fletcher (1633). He was married to Urania, and their offspring are: Knowledge, Contemplation, Care, Humility, Obedience, Faith or Fido, Penitence, Elpi´nus or Hope, and Love, the foster-son of Gratitude. (Latin,spirĭtus, “spirit.”)
Spitfire(Will), orWill Spittal, serving-boy of Roger Wildrake, the dissipated royalist.--Sir W. Scott,Woodstock(time, Commonwealth).
Spontaneous Combustion.There are above thirty cases on record of deathby spontaneous combustion, the most famous being that of the Countess Cornelia di Baudi Cesenatê, which was most minutely investigated, in 1731, by Guiseppê Bianchini, a prebendary of Verona.
The next most noted instance occurred at Rheims, in 1725, and is authenticated by no less an authority than Mon. Le Cat, the celebrated physician.
Messrs. Foderé and Mere investigated the subject of spontaneous combustion, and gave it as their fixed opinion that instances of death from such a cause cannot be doubted.
In vol. vi. of thePhilosophical Transactions, and in theEnglish Medical Jurisprudence, the subject is carefully investigated, and several examples are cited in confirmation of the fact.
Joseph Battaglia, a surgeon of Ponte Bosio, gives in detail the case of Don G. Maria Bertholi, a priest of Mount Valerius. While reading his breviary the body of this priest burst into flames in several parts, as the arms, back and head. The sleeves of his shirt, a handkerchief and his skull-cap were all more or less consumed. He survived the injury four days. (This seems to me more like an electrical attack than an instance of spontaneous combustion.)
Spontoon, the old confidential servant of Colonel Talbot.--Sir W. Scott,Waverley(time, George II.).
Spoons(Gossip). It was customary at one time for sponsors at christenings to give gilt spoons as an offering to their godchild. These spoons had on the handle the figure of one of the apostles or evangelists, and hence were called “Apostle spoons.” The wealthy would give the twelve apostles, those of less opulence the four evangelists, and others again a single spoon. When Henry VIII. asks Cranmer to be godfather to “a fair young maid,” Cranmer replies, “How may I deserve such honor, that am a poor and humble subject?” The king rejoins, “Come, come, my lord, you’d spare your spoons.”--Shakespeare,Henry VIII.act v. sc. 2 (1601).
Sporus.Under this name Pope satirized Lord John Hervey, generally called “Lord Fanny” from his effeminate habits and appearance. He was “half wit, half fool, half man, half beau.” Lord John Hervey was vice-chamberlain in 1736, and lord privy seal in 1740.
That thing of silk,Sporus, that mere white curd of asses’ milk;Satire or sense, alas! can Sporus feel,Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel?A. Pope,Prologue to the Satires(1734).
That thing of silk,Sporus, that mere white curd of asses’ milk;Satire or sense, alas! can Sporus feel,Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel?A. Pope,Prologue to the Satires(1734).
That thing of silk,Sporus, that mere white curd of asses’ milk;Satire or sense, alas! can Sporus feel,Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel?A. Pope,Prologue to the Satires(1734).
That thing of silk,
Sporus, that mere white curd of asses’ milk;
Satire or sense, alas! can Sporus feel,
Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel?
A. Pope,Prologue to the Satires(1734).
⁂ This Lord John Hervey married the beautiful Molly Lapel; hence Pope says:
So perfect a beau and a belleAs when Hervey, the handsome, was weddedTo the beautiful Molly Lapel.
So perfect a beau and a belleAs when Hervey, the handsome, was weddedTo the beautiful Molly Lapel.
So perfect a beau and a belleAs when Hervey, the handsome, was weddedTo the beautiful Molly Lapel.
So perfect a beau and a belle
As when Hervey, the handsome, was wedded
To the beautiful Molly Lapel.
S.P.Q.R., the Romans. The letters are the initials ofSenatus Populus-Que Romanus.
New blood must be pumped into the veins and arteries of the S.P.Q.R.--G.A. Sala (Belgravia, April, 1871).
Spotswood(Lady). A singular letter to this lady (widow of Governor Spotswood of Virginia) is preserved in the family. It was written by Rev. John Thompson, rector of St. Mark’s Church, Culpepper County, Virginia, and contains an elaborate and apparently dispassionate argument for marrying a clergyman. The only outbreak of loverly feeling is in the expressed hope that if he should convince her reason, she will “keep him no longer in suspense and misery, but consummate his happiness” (1742).
Sprackling(Joseph), a money-lender and a self-made man.
Thomas Sprackling, his brother and equal in roguery.--Wybert Reeve,Parted.
Spregner(Louis), Annette Veilchen’s bachelor.--Sir W. Scott,Anne of Geierstein(time, Edward IV.).
Sprightly(Miss Kitty), the ward of Sir Gilbert Pumpkin of Strawberry Hall. Miss Kitty is a great heiress, but stage-struck, and when Captain Charles Stanley is introduced she falls in love with him, first as a “play-actor,” and then in reality.--I. Jackman,All the World’s a Stage.
Spring(A Sacred). The ancient Sabines, in times of great national danger, vowed to the gods “a sacred spring” (ver sacrum), if they would remove the danger. That is, all the children born during the next spring were “held sacred,” and at the age of twenty were compelled to leave their country and seek for themselves a new home.
Spring-Heel Jack.The marquis of Waterford, in the early part of the nineteenth century, used to amuse himself by springing on travellers unawares, to terrify them; and from time to time others have followed his silly example. Even so late as 1877-8, an officer in her majesty’s service caused much excitement in the garrisons stationed at Aldershot, Colchester, and elsewhere by his “spring-heel” pranks. In Colchester and its neighborhood the tales told of this adventurer caused quite a little panic, and many nervous people were afraid to venture out after sunset, for fear of being “sprung” upon. I myself investigated some of the cases reported to me, but found them for the most part Fakenham ghost tales.
Springer(The). Ludwig Margrave, of Thuringia, was so called, because heescapedescapedfrom Giebichenstein, in the eleventh century, by leaping over the river Saale.
Sprowles(The). New England villageparvenus.
Hezekiah Sprowle, esquire and colonel is “a retired India merchant,”i.e., he used to deal in West India rum, molasses, etc. His wife was an heiress, and helps him push their way up the social ladder.
Miss Matilda Sprowle, just out of school. “There’s one piece o’goods,” said thecolonelcolonelto his wife, “that we han’t disposed of, nor got a customer for yet. That’s Matildy. I don’t mean to setherup at vaandoo, I guess she can have her pick of a dozen.”--Oliver Wendell Holmes,Elsie Venner(1861).
Spruce, M.C.(Captain), inLend Me Five Shillings, by J. M. Morton (1764-1838).
Spruch-Sprecher(The) or “sayer of sayings” to the archduke of Austria.--Sir W. Scott,The Talisman(time, Richard I.).
Spuma´dor, Prince Arthur’s horse. So called from the foam of its mouth, which indicated its fiery temper.--Spenser,Faëry Queen, ii. (1590).
⁂ In theMabinogion, his favorite mare is called Llamrei (“the curveter”).
Spurs(The Battle of), the battle of Guinnegate, in 1513, between Henry VIII. and the duc de Longueville. So called because the French used their spurs in flight more than their swords in fight. (SeeSpurs of Gold, etc.)
Squab(The Poet). Dryden was so called by Lord Rochester.
Square(Mr.), a “philosopher,” in Fielding’s novel calledThe History of Tom Jones, a Foundling(1749).
Squeers(Mr. Wackford), of Dotheboy’s Hall, Yorkshire, a vulgar, conceited, ignorant schoolmaster, overbearing, grasping, and mean. He steals the boys’ pocket money, clothes his son in their best suits, half starves them, and teaches them next to nothing. Ultimately, he is transported for purloining a deed.
Mrs. Squeers, wife of Mr. Wackford, a raw-boned, harsh, heartless virago, without one spark of womanly feeling for the boys put under her charge.
Miss Fanny Squeers, daughter of the schoolmaster, “not tall like her mother, but short like her father. From the former she inherited a voice of hoarse quality, and from the latter a remarkable expression of the right eye.” Miss Fanny falls in love with Nicholas Nickleby, but hates him and spites him because he is insensible of the soft impeachment.
Master Wackford Squeers, son of the schoolmaster, a spoilt boy, who was dressed in the best clothes of the scholars. He was over-bearing, self-willed, and passionate.--C. Dickens,Nicholas Nickleby(1838).
The person who suggested the character of Squeers was a Mr. Shaw, of Bowes. He married a Miss Laidman. The satire ruined the school, and was the death both of Mr. and Mrs. Shaw.--Notes and Queries, October 25, 1873.
Squeeze(Miss), a pawnbroker’s daughter. Her father had early taught her that money is the “one thing needful,” and at death left her a moderate competence. She was so fully convinced of the value of money that she would never part with a farthing without an equivalent, and refused several offers, because she felt persuaded her suitors sought her money and not herself. Now she is old and ill-natured, marked with the small-pox, and neglected by every one.--Goldsmith,A Citizen of the World, xxviii. (1759).
Squint(Lawyer), the great politician of society. He makes speeches for members of parliament, writes addresses, gives the history of every new play, and finds “seasonable thought” upon every possible subject.--Goldsmith,A Citizen of the World, xxix. (1759).
Squint-Eyed.[Guercīno] Gian-Francesco Barbieri, the painter (1590-1666).
Squintum(Dr.), George Whitefield is so called by Foote in his farce entitledThe Minor(1614-1770).
Squintum(Dr.). The Rev. Edward Irving, who had an obliquity of the eyes, was so called by Theodore Hook (1792-1834).
Squire of Dames(The), a young knight, in love with Col´umbell, who appointed him a year’s service before she would consent to become his bride. The “squire” was to travel for twelve months, to rescue distressed ladies, and bring pledges of his exploits to Columbell. At the end of the year he placed 300 pledges in her hands, but instead of rewarding him by becoming his bride, she set him another task, viz., to travel about the world on foot, and not present himself again till he could bring her pledges from 300 damsels that they would live inchastitychastityall their life. The squire told Columbell that in three years he had found only three persons whowould take the pledge, and only one of these, he said (a rustic cottager) took it from a “principle of virtue;” the other two (a nun and a courtezan) promised to do so, but did not voluntarily join the “virgin martyrs.” This “Squire of Dames” turned out to be Britomart.--Spenser,Faëry Queen, iii. 7 (1590).
⁂ This story is imitated from “The Host’s Tale,” inOrlando Furioso, xxviii.
Squires(Milton), servant in the Fairchild family, boorish, vindictive hind who murders one brother and tries to fasten the deed upon another.--Harold Frederic,Seth’s Brother’s Wife(1886).
Squirt, the apothecary’s boy in Garth’sDispensary; hence any apprentice lad or errand boy.
Here sauntering ’prentices o’er Otway weep.O’er Congreve smile, or over D’Urfey sleep,Pleased sempstresses the Lock’s famed Rape unfold,And Squirts read Garth till Apozems grow cold.J. Gay,Trivia(1712).
Here sauntering ’prentices o’er Otway weep.O’er Congreve smile, or over D’Urfey sleep,Pleased sempstresses the Lock’s famed Rape unfold,And Squirts read Garth till Apozems grow cold.J. Gay,Trivia(1712).
Here sauntering ’prentices o’er Otway weep.O’er Congreve smile, or over D’Urfey sleep,Pleased sempstresses the Lock’s famed Rape unfold,And Squirts read Garth till Apozems grow cold.J. Gay,Trivia(1712).
Here sauntering ’prentices o’er Otway weep.
O’er Congreve smile, or over D’Urfey sleep,
Pleased sempstresses the Lock’s famed Rape unfold,
And Squirts read Garth till Apozems grow cold.
J. Gay,Trivia(1712).
(Pope wroteThe Rape of the Lock, 1712.)
Squod(Phil), a grotesque little fellow, faithfully attached to Mr. George, the son of Mrs. Rouncewell (housekeeper at Chesney Wold). George had rescued the little street arab from the gutter, and the boy lived at George’s “Shooting Gallery” in Leicester Square (London). Phil was remarkable for limping along sideways, as if “tacking.”--C. Dickens,Bleak House(1852).
Stael(Madame de), called by Heine [Hi.ne] “a whirlwind in petticoats,” and a “sultana of mind.”
Stagg(Benjamin), the proprietor of the cellar in the Barbican where the secret society of “Prentice Knights” used to convene. He was a blind man, who fawned on Mr. Sim Tappertit, “the ’prentices glory” and captain of the “’Prentice Knights.” But there was a disparity between his words and sentiments, if we may judge from this specimen: “Good-night, most noble captain! farewell, brave general! bye-bye illustrious commander! a conceited, bragging, empty-headed, duck-legged idiot!” Benjamin Stagg was shot by the soldiery in the Gordon riots.--C. Dickens,Barnaby Rudge(1841).
Staggchase(Mrs. Frederick), descendant of an old Boston family, and one of the cleverest women in her set.--Arlo Bates,The Philistines(1888).
Stagirite(3syl.). Aristotle is called the Stagirite, because he was born at Stagīra, in Macedon. Almost all our English poets call the word Stagĭrite: as Pope, Thomson, Swift, Byron, Wordsworth, B. Browning, etc. The Greek would be Stag´īrite.
Thick like a glory round the Stagyrite,Your rivals throng, the Sages.R. Browning,Paracelsus, i.
Thick like a glory round the Stagyrite,Your rivals throng, the Sages.R. Browning,Paracelsus, i.
Thick like a glory round the Stagyrite,Your rivals throng, the Sages.R. Browning,Paracelsus, i.
Thick like a glory round the Stagyrite,
Your rivals throng, the Sages.
R. Browning,Paracelsus, i.
All the wisdom of the Stagirite.Wordsworth.
All the wisdom of the Stagirite.Wordsworth.
All the wisdom of the Stagirite.Wordsworth.
All the wisdom of the Stagirite.
Wordsworth.
Plato, the Stagyrite, and Tully joined.Thomson.
Plato, the Stagyrite, and Tully joined.Thomson.
Plato, the Stagyrite, and Tully joined.Thomson.
Plato, the Stagyrite, and Tully joined.
Thomson.
As if the Stagirite o’erlooked the line.Pope.
As if the Stagirite o’erlooked the line.Pope.
As if the Stagirite o’erlooked the line.Pope.
As if the Stagirite o’erlooked the line.
Pope.
Is rightly censured by the Stagirite,Who says his numbers do not fadge aright.Swift,To Dr. Sheridan(1718).
Is rightly censured by the Stagirite,Who says his numbers do not fadge aright.Swift,To Dr. Sheridan(1718).
Is rightly censured by the Stagirite,Who says his numbers do not fadge aright.Swift,To Dr. Sheridan(1718).
Is rightly censured by the Stagirite,
Who says his numbers do not fadge aright.
Swift,To Dr. Sheridan(1718).
Stammerer(The). Louis II. of France,le Bégué(846, 877-879).(846, 877-879).
Michael II., Emperor of the East (*, 820-829).
Notker or Notger, of St. Gall (830-912).
Stanchells, head jailer at the Glasgow tolbooth.--Sir W. Scott,Rob Roy(time, George I.).
Standard.A substantial building for water supplies, as the Water Standard of Cornhill, the Standard in Cheap, opposite Honey Lane, “which John Wells, grocer, caused to be made [?rebuilt] in his mayoralty, 1430.”--Stow,Survey(“Cheapside”).
The Cheapside Standard.This Standard was in existence in the reign of Edward I. In the reign of Edward III. two fishmongers were beheaded at the Cheapside Standard, for aiding in a riot. Henry IV. caused “the blank charter of Richard II.” to be burnt at this place.
The Standard, Cornhill.This was a conduit with four spouts, made by Peter Morris, a German, in 1582, and supplied with Thames water, conveyed by leaden pipes over the steeple of St. Magnus’s Church. It stood at the east end of Cornhill, at its junction with Gracechurch Street, Bishopsgate Street, and Leadenhall Street. The water ceased to run between 1598 and 1603, but the Standard itself remained long after. Distances from London were measured from this spot.
In the year 1775, there stood upon the borders of Epping Forest, at a distance of about twelve miles from London, measuring from the Standard in Cornhill, or rather from the spot on which the Standard used to be, a house of public entertainment, called the Maypole.--Dickens,Barnaby Rudge, i. (1841).
Standard(The Battle of the), the battle of Luton Moor, near Northallerton, between the English and the Scotch, in 1138. So called from the “standard,” which was raised on a wagon, and placed in the centre of the English army. The pole displayed the standards of St. Cuthbert of Durham, St. Peter of York, St. John of Beverley, and St. Wilfred of Ripon, surmounted by a little silver casket, containing a consecrated wafer.--Hailes,Annals of Scotland, i. 85 (1779).
The Battle of the Standard, was so called from the banner of St. Cuthbert, which was thought always to secure success. It came forth at the battle of Nevil’s Cross, and was again victorious. It was preserved with great reverence till the Reformation, when, in 1549, Catharine Whittingham (a French lady), wife of the dean of Durham, burnt it out of zeal against popery.--Miss Yonge,Cameos of English History, 126-8 (1868).
Standing(To die). Vespasian said, “An emperor of Rome ought to die standing.” Louis XVIII. of France, said, “A king of France ought to die standing.” This notion is not confined to crowned heads.
Standish(Miles), the puritan captain, was short of stature, strongly built, broad in the shoulders, deep-chested, and with sinews like iron. His wife, Rose, was the first to die “of all who came in theMayflower.” Being desirous to marry Priscilla, “the beautiful puritan,” he sent young Alden to plead his cause; but the maiden answered archly, “Why don’t you speak for yourself, John?” Soon after this, Standish was supposed to have been killed, and John Alden did speak for himself, and prevailed.--Longfellow,Courtship of Miles Standish(1858).
Standish(Mrs. Justice), a brother magistrate with Bailie Trumbull.--Sir W. Scott,Rob Roy(time, George I.).
Stanley, in the earl of Sussex’s train.--Sir W. Scott,Kenilworth(time, Elizabeth).
Stanley(Captain Charles), introduced by his friend, Captain Stukely, to the family at Strawberry Hall. Here he meets MissKitty Sprightly, an heiress, who has a theatrical twist. The captain makes love to her under the mask of acting, induces her to run off with him and get married, then, returning to the hall, introduces her as his wife. All the family fancy he is only “acting,” but discover too late that their “play” is a life-long reality.--I. Jackman,All the World’s a Stage.
Stanley Crest(The). On a chapeau gu. an eagle feeding on an infant in its nest. The legend is that Sir Thomas de Lathom, having no male issue, was walking with his wife one day, and heard the cries of an infant in an eagle’s nest. They looked on the child as a gift from God, and adopted it, and it became the founder of the Stanley race (time, Edward III.).
Stannard(Major). Sturdy, blunt, unaffected soldier, a terror to evil-doers, and the strong-tower of persecuted innocence. His wife is a lovely woman, worthy of the gallant warrior.--Charles King,Marion’s Faith, andThe Colonel’s Daughter(1886), (1888).
Stantons(The), John Stanton, intelligent young carpenter, engaged to Melissa Blake, once a teacher, now a copyist of legal papers.
Orin Stanton, half-brother to John. A sculptor; “one of the artists who would never be able to separate his idea of the nurse from that of the serving-maid. He viewed art from the strictly utilitarian standpoint which considers it a means toward the payment of butcher and baker and candlestick-maker.”--Arlo Bates,The Philistines(1888).
Staples(Lawrence), head jailer at Kenilworth Castle.--Sir W. Scott,Kenilworth(time, Elizabeth).
Starch(Dr.), the tutor of Blushington.--W. T. Moncrieff,The Bashful Man.
Starchat´erus, of Sweden, a giant in stature and strength, whose life was protracted to thrice the ordinary term. When he felt himself growing old, he hung a bag of gold round his neck, and told Olo he might take the bag of gold if he would cut off his head, and he did so. He hated luxury in every form, and said a man was a fool who went and dined out for the sake of better fare. One day, Helgo, king of Norway, asked him to be his champion in a contest which was to be decided by himself alone against nine adversaries. Starchaterus selected for the site of combat the top of a mountain covered with snow, and, throwing off his clothes, waited for the nine adversaries. When asked if he would fight with them one by one or all together, he replied, “When dogs bark at me, I drive them all off at once.”--Joannes Magnus,Gothorum Suevorumque Historia(1554).
Stareleigh(Justice), a stout, pudgy little judge, very deaf, and very irascible, who, in the absence of the chief justice, sat in judgment on the trial of “Bardell v. Pickwick.”--C. Dickens,The Pickwick Papers(1836).
Starno, king of Lochlin. Having been conquered by Fingal and generously set at liberty, he promised Fingal his daughter, Agandecca, in marriage, but meant to deal treacherously by him and kill him. Fingal accepted the invitation of Starno, and spent three days in boar-hunts. He was then warned by Agandecca to beware of her father, who had set an ambuscade to waylay him. Fingal, being forewarned, fell on the ambush and slew every man. When Starno heard thereof, he slew hisdaughter, whereupon Fingal and his followers took to arms, and Starno either “fled or died.” Swaran succeeded his father, Starno.---Ossian,Fingal, iii.; see alsoCath-Loda.
Starvation Dundas, Henry Dundas, the first Lord Melville. So called because he introduced the wordstarvationinto the language (1775).
Starveling(Robin), the tailor. He was cast for the part of “Thisbe’s mother,” in the drama played before Duke Theseus (2syl.) on “his wedding day at night.” Starveling has nothing to say in the drama.--Shakespeare,Midsummer Night’s Dream(1592).
Stati´ra, the heroine of La Calprenède’s romance ofCassandra. Statīra is the daughter of Darīus, and is represented as the “most perfect of the works of creation.” Oroondatês is in love with her, and ultimately marries her.
Statira, daughter of Dari´us, and wife of Alexander. Young, beautiful, womanly, of strong affection, noble bearing, mild yet haughty, yielding yet brave. Her love for Alexander was unbounded. When her royal husband took Roxāna into favor, the proud spirit of the princess was indignant, but Alexander, by his love, won her back again. Statira was murdered by Roxana, the Bactrian, called the “Rival Queen.”--N. Lee,Alexander The Great(1678).
Staunton(The Rev. Mr.), rector of Willingham, and father of George Staunton.
George Staunton, son of the Rev. Mr. Staunton. He appears first as “Geordie Robertson,” a felon; and in the Porteous mob he assumes the guise of “Madge Wildfire.” George Staunton is the seducer of Effie Deans. Ultimately he comes to the title of baronet, marries Effie, and is shot by a gypsy boy called “The Whistler,” who proves to be his own natural son.
Lady Staunton, Effie Deans, after her marriage with Sir George. On the death of her husband, she retires to a convent on the Continent.--Sir W. Scott,Heart of Midlothian(time, George II.).
Steadfast, a friend of the Duberly family.--Colman,The Heir-at-Law(1797).
Steel Castle, a strong ward, belonging to the Yellow Dwarf. Here he confined All-Fair when she refused to marry him according to her promise.--Comtesse D’Aunoy,Fairy Tales(“The Yellow Dwarf,” 1682).
Steenson(Willie), or “Wandering Willie,” the blind fiddler.
Steenie Steenson, the piper, in Wandering Willie’s tale.
Maggie Steenson, or “Epps Anslie,” the wife of Wandering Willie.--Sir W. Scott,Redgauntlet(time, George III.).
Steerforth, the young man who led little Em’ly astray. When tired of his toy, he proposed to her to marry his valet. Steerforth, being shipwrecked off the coast of Yarmouth, Ham Peggotty tried to rescue him, but both were drowned.--C. Dickens,David Copperfield(1849).
Steinbach(Erwin von), designed Strasbourg Cathedral; begun 1015, and finished 1439.
A great master of his craft,Erwin von Steinbach.Longfellow,Golden Legend(1851).
A great master of his craft,Erwin von Steinbach.Longfellow,Golden Legend(1851).
A great master of his craft,Erwin von Steinbach.Longfellow,Golden Legend(1851).
A great master of his craft,
Erwin von Steinbach.
Longfellow,Golden Legend(1851).
Steinernherz von Blutsacker(Francis),the scharf-gerichter, or executioner.--Sir W. Scott,Anne of Geierstein(time, Edward IV.).
Steinfeldt(The old baroness of), introduced in Donnerhugel’s narrative.--Sir W. Scott,Anne of Geierstein(time, Edward IV.).
Steinfort(The baron), brother of the Countess Wintersen. He falls in love with Mrs. Haller, but, being informed of the relationship between Mrs. Haller and “the stranger,” exerts himself to bring about a reconciliation.--Benj. Thompson,The Stranger(1797).
Stella.The Lady Penelopê Devereux, the object of Sir Philip Sidney’s affection. She married Lord Rich, and was a widow in Sidney’s life-time. Spenser says, in hisAstrophel, when Astrophel (Sir Philip) died, Stella died of grief, and the “two lovers” were converted into one flower, called “Starlight,” which is first red, and, as it fades, turns blue. Some call itpenthea, but henceforth (he says) it shall be called “Astrophel.” It is a pure fiction that Stella died from grief at the death of Sidney, for she afterwards married Charles Blount, created by James I. earl of Devonshire. The poet himself must have forgotten his own lines:
No less praiseworthy Stella do I read,Tho’ nought my praises of her needed are,Whom verse of noblest shepherd lately dead [1586]Hath praised and raised above each other star.Spenser,Colin Clout’s Come Home Again(1591).
No less praiseworthy Stella do I read,Tho’ nought my praises of her needed are,Whom verse of noblest shepherd lately dead [1586]Hath praised and raised above each other star.Spenser,Colin Clout’s Come Home Again(1591).
No less praiseworthy Stella do I read,Tho’ nought my praises of her needed are,Whom verse of noblest shepherd lately dead [1586]Hath praised and raised above each other star.Spenser,Colin Clout’s Come Home Again(1591).
No less praiseworthy Stella do I read,
Tho’ nought my praises of her needed are,
Whom verse of noblest shepherd lately dead [1586]
Hath praised and raised above each other star.
Spenser,Colin Clout’s Come Home Again(1591).
Stella.Miss Hester Johnson was so called by Swift, to whom she was privately married in 1706. Hester is first changed into the Greekaster, and “aster” in Latin, likestella, means “a star.” Stella lived with Mrs. Dingley, on Ormond Quay, Dublin.
Poor Stella must pack off to town ...To Liffy’s stinking tide at Dublin ...To be directed there by Dingley ...And now arrives the dismal day,She must return to Ormond Quay.Swift,To Stella at Wood Park(1723).
Poor Stella must pack off to town ...To Liffy’s stinking tide at Dublin ...To be directed there by Dingley ...And now arrives the dismal day,She must return to Ormond Quay.Swift,To Stella at Wood Park(1723).
Poor Stella must pack off to town ...To Liffy’s stinking tide at Dublin ...To be directed there by Dingley ...And now arrives the dismal day,She must return to Ormond Quay.Swift,To Stella at Wood Park(1723).
Poor Stella must pack off to town ...
To Liffy’s stinking tide at Dublin ...
To be directed there by Dingley ...
And now arrives the dismal day,
She must return to Ormond Quay.
Swift,To Stella at Wood Park(1723).
Steno(Michel), one of the chiefs of the tribunal of Forty. Steno insults some of the ladies assembled at a civic banquet given by Marino Faliero, the doge of Venice, and is turned out of the house. In revenge, he fastens on the doge’s chair some scurrilous lines against the young dogaressa, whose extreme modesty and innocence ought to have protected her from such insolence. The doge refers the matter to “the Forty,” who sentence Steno to two month’s imprisonment. This punishment, in the opinion of the doge, is wholly inadequate to the offence, and Marino Faliero joins a conspiracy to abolish the council altogether.--Byron,Marino Faliero, the Doge of Venice(1819).
Stentor, a Grecian herald in the Trojan war. Homer says he was “great-hearted, brazen-voiced, and could shout as loud as fifty men.”
He began to roar for help with the lungs of a Stentor.--Smollett.
Steph´ano, earl of Carnūti, the leader of 400 men in the allied Christian army. He was noted for his military prowess and wise counsel.--Tasso,Jerusalem Delivered, i. (1575).
Stephano, a drunken butler.--Shakespeare,The Tempest(1609).
Stephano, servant to Portia.--Shakespeare,Merchant of Venice(1598).
Stephen, one of the attendants of Sir Reginald Front de Bœuf (a follower of Prince John).--Sir W. Scott,Ivanhoe(time, Richard I.).
Stephen(Count), nephew of the count of Crèvecœur.--Sir W. Scott,Quentin Durward(time, Edward IV.).
Stephen(Master), a conceited puppy, who thinks all inferiors are to be snubbed and bullied, and all those weaker and more cowardly than himself are to be kicked and beaten. He is especially struck with Captain Bobadil, and tries to imitate his “dainty oaths.” Master Stephen has no notion of honesty and high-mindedness; thus he steals Downright’s cloak, which had been accidently dropped, declares he bought it, and then that he found it. Being convicted of falsehood, he resigns all claim to it, saying, in a huff, “There, take your cloak; I’ll none on’t.” This small-minded youth is young Kno’well’s cousin.--Ben Jonson,Every Man in his Humor(1598).
Stephen Steelheart, the nickname of Stephen Wetheral.--Sir W. Scott,Ivanhoe(time, Richard I.).
Stephen of Amboise, leader of 5000 foot soldiers from Blois and Tours in the allied Christian army of Godfrey of Bouillon. Impetuous in attack, but deficient in steady resistance. He was shot by Clorinda with an arrow (bk. xi.).--Tasso,Jerusalem Delivered(1575).
Sterling(Mr.), a vulgar, rich City merchant, who wishes to see his two daughters married to titles. Lord Ogleby calls him “a very abstract of ’Change;” and he himself says, “What signifies birth, education, titles, and so forth? Money, I say--money’s the stuff that makes a man great in this country.”
Miss Sterling, whose Christian name is Elizabeth or Betty; a spiteful, jealous, purse-proud damsel, engaged to Sir John Melvil. Sir John, seeing small prospect of happiness with such a tartar, proposed marriage to the younger sister; and Miss Sterling being left out in the cold, exclaimed, “Oh, that some other person, an earl or duke for instance, would propose to me, that I might be revenged on the monsters!”
Miss Fanny Sterling, an amiable, sweet-smiling, soft-speaking beauty, clandestinely married to Lovewell.--Colman and Garrick,The Clandestine Marriage(1766).
Sterry, a fanatical preacher, admired by Hugh Peters.--S. Butler,Hudibras(1663-78).
Stevens, a messenger of the earl of Sussex at Say’s Court.--Sir W. Scott,Kenilworth(time, Elizabeth).
Stewart(Colonel), governor of the castle of Doune.--Sir W. Scott,Waverley(time, George II.).
Stewart(Prince Charles Edward), surnamed “The Chevalier” by his friends, and “The Pretender” by his foes. Sir W. Scott introduces him inWaverley, and again inRedgauntlet, where he appears disguised as “Father Buonaventura.” (Now generally spelt Stuart.)
Stewart(Walking), John Stewart, the English traveller, who travelled on foot through Hindûstan, Persia, Nubia, Abyssinia, the Arabian Desert, Europe and the United States (died 1822).
A most interesting man,... eloquent in conversation, contemplative ... and crazy beyondall reach of helebore, ... yet sublime and divinely benignant in his visionariness. This man, as a pedestrian traveller, had seen more of the earth’s surface ... than any man before or since.--De Quincey.
⁂ Walking Stewart must not be confounded with John M’Douall Stuart, the Australian explorer (1818-1866).
Steyne(Marquis of), earl of Gaunt and of Gaunt Castle, a viscount, baron, knight of the Garter and of numerous other orders, colonel, trustee of the British Museum, elder brother of the Trinity House, governor of White Friars, etc., had honors and titles enough to make him a great man, but his life was not a highly moral one, and his conduct with Becky Sharp, when she was the wife of Colonel Rawdon Crawley, gave rise to a great scandal. His lordship floated through the ill report, but Mrs. Rawdon was obliged to live abroad.--W. M. Thackeray,Vanity Fair(1848).
Stick to it, says Baigent.Baigent was the principal witness of the Claimant in the great Tichborne trial, and his advice to hisprotégéwas, “Stick to it” (1872).
Stiggins, a hypocritical, drunken Methodist “shepherd” (minister), thought by Mrs. Weller to be a saint. His time was spent for the most part in drinking pineapple rum at the Marquis of Granby tavern.--C. Dickens,The Pickwick Papers(1836).
Still(Cornelius, the), Cornelius Tacitus. (Latin,tacĭtus, “still.”)
Cornelius, the Stylle, in his firste book of his yerely exploictes, called in Latine,Annales.--Fardle of Facions, iii. 3 (1555).
Stimulants used by Public Characters.
Bonaparte, snuff.
Braham, bottled porter.
Bull(Rev. William), the nonconformist, was an inveterate smoker.
Byron, gin-and-water.
Catley(Miss), linseed tea and madeira.
Cooke(G. F.), everything drinkable.
Disraeli(Lord Beaconsfield), champagne jelly.
Emery, cold brandy-and-water.
Erskine(Lord), opium in large doses.
Gladstone (W. E.), an egg beaten up in sherry.
Henderson, gum arabic and sherry.
Hobbes, only cold water.
Incledon, madeira.
Jordan(Mrs.), calves’-foot jelly dissolved in warm sherry.
Kean(Edmund), beef-tea, cold brandy.
Kemble(John), opium.
Lewis, mulled wine and oysters.
Newtonsmoked incessantly.
Oxberry, strong tea.
Pope, strong coffee.
Schillerrequired to sit over a table deeply impregnated with the smell of apples. He stimulated his brain with coffee and champagne.
Siddons(Mrs.), porter, not “stout.”
Smith(William), drank strong coffee.
Wedderburne(the first Lord Ashburton) used to place a blister on his chest when he had to make a great speech.--Dr. Paris,Pharmacologia(1819).
Wood(Mrs.), drank draught porter.
Stinkomalee.So Theodore Hook called the London University. The word was suggested by “Trincomalee” (in Ceylon), a name before the public at the time. Hook hated the “University,” because it admitted students of all denominations.
Only look at Stinkomalee and King’s College. Activity, union, craft, indomitable perseverance on the one side; indolence, indecision, internaldistrust, and jealousies, calf-like simplicity, and cowardice intolerable on the other.--Wilson,Noctes Ambrosianæ(1822-36).
Stitch(Tom), a young tailor, a great favorite with the ladies.--The Merry History of Tom Stitch(seventeenth century).
Stockwell(Mr.), a City merchant, who promised to give his daughter, Nancy, in marriage, to the son of Sir Harry Harlowe of Dorsetshire.
Mrs. Stockwell, the merchant’s wife, who always veers round to the last speaker, and can be persuaded to anything for the time being.
Nancy Stockwell, daughter of the merchant, in love with Belford, but promised in marriage to Sir Harry Harlowe’s son. It so happens that Sir Harry’s son has privately married another lady, and Nancy falls to the man of her choice.--Garrick,Neck or Nothing(1766).
Stolen Kisses, a drama by Paul Meritt, in three acts (1877). Felix Freemantle, under the pseudonym of Mr. Joy, falls in love with Cherry, daughter of Tom Spirit, once valet to Mr. Freemantle (who had come to the title of Viscount Trangmar). When Tom Spirit ascertained that “Felix Joy” was the son of the viscount, he forbade all further intercourse, unless Felix produced his father’s consent to the marriage. The next part of the plot pertains to the brother of Tom Spirit, who had assumed the name of Walter Temple, and, as a stock-broker, had become very wealthy. In his prosperity, Walter scornfully ignored his brother, Tom, and his ambition was to marry his daughter, Jenny, to the son of Viscount Trangmar, who owed him money. Thus, the two cousins, Cherry and Jenny, came into collision; but at the end Jenny married Fred Gay, a medical student, Cherry married Felix, the two brothers were reconciled, and Tom released his old master, Viscount Trangmar, by destroying the bond which Walter held and gave him.
Stonehenge.Aurelius Ambrosius asked Merlin what memento he could raise to commemorate his victory over Vortigern; and Merlin advised him to remove “The Giant’s Dance” from Mount Killaraus, in Ireland, to Salisbury Plain. So Aurelius placed a fleet and 15,000 men under the charge of Uther, the pendragon, and Merlin, for the purpose. Gilloman, king of Ireland, who opposed the invaders, was routed, and then Merlin, “by his art,” shipped the stones, and set them up on the plain “in the same manner as they stood on Killaraus.”--Geoffrey,British History, viii. 11-12 (1142).
How Merlin, by his skill and magic’s wondrous might,From Ireland hither brought the Sonendge in a night.Drayton,Polyolbion, iv. (1612).
How Merlin, by his skill and magic’s wondrous might,From Ireland hither brought the Sonendge in a night.Drayton,Polyolbion, iv. (1612).
How Merlin, by his skill and magic’s wondrous might,From Ireland hither brought the Sonendge in a night.Drayton,Polyolbion, iv. (1612).
How Merlin, by his skill and magic’s wondrous might,
From Ireland hither brought the Sonendge in a night.
Drayton,Polyolbion, iv. (1612).