Chapter 29

Of a Monday I drive the coach, of a Tuesday I drive the plough, on Wednesday I follow the hounds, on Thursday I dun the tenants, on Friday I go to market, on Saturday I draw warrants, and on Sunday I draw beer.—Geo. Farquhar,The Beaux’ Stratagem, iii. 4 (1707).

Scrubin´da, the lady who “lived by the scouring of pots in Dyot Street, Bloomsbury Square.”

Oh, was I a quart, pint, or gill,To be scrubbed by her delicate hands!...My parlor that’s next to the skyI’d quit, her blest mansion to share;So happy to live and to dieIn Dyot Street, Bloomsbury Square.W. B. Rhodes,Bombastes Furioso(1790).

Scruple, the friend of Random. He is too honest for a rogue, and too conscientious for a rake. At Calais he met Harriet, the elder daughter of Sir David Dunder, of Dunder Hall, near Dover, and fell in love with her. Scruple subsequently got invited to Dunder Hall, and was told that his Harriet was to be married next day to Lord Snolt, a stumpy, “gummy” fogey of five and forty. Harriet hated the idea, and agreed to elope with Scruple; but her father discovered by accident theintention, and intercepted it. However, to prevent scandal, he gave his consent to the union, and discovered that Scruple, both in family and fortune, was quite suitable for a son-in-law.—G. Colman,Ways and Means(1788).

Scu´damour(Sir), the knight beloved by Am´oret (whom Britomart delivered from Busyrane, the enchanter), and whom she ultimately married. He is called Scudamour (3syl.) from [e]scu d’amour(“the shield of love”), which he carried (bk. iv. 10). This shield was hung by golden bands in the temple of Venus, and under it was written: “Whosoever be this Shield, Faire Amoret be his.” Sir Scudamour, determined to win the prize, had to fight with twenty combatants, overthrew them all, and the shield was his. When he saw Amoret in the company of Britomart, dressed as a knight, he was racked with jealousy, and went on his wanderings, accompanied by nurse Glaucê for “his squire;” but somewhat later, seeing Britomart, without herhemlet,he felt that his jealousy was groundless (bk. iv. 6). His tale is told by himself (bk. iv. 10).—Spenser,Faëry Queen, iii., iv. (1590-6).

Sculpture(Father of French), Jean Goujon (1510-1572). G. Pilon is so called also (1515-1590).

Scyld, the king of Denmark preceding Beowulf. The Anglo-Saxon epic poem calledBeowulf(sixth century) begins with the death of Scyld.

At his appointed time, Scyld deceased, very decrepit, and went into the peace of the Lord. They ... bore him to the sea-shore as he himself requested.... There on the beach stood the ring-prowed ship, the vehicle of the noble ... ready to set out. They laid down the dear prince, the distributer of rings, in the bosom of the ship, the mighty one beside the mast ... they set up a golden ensign high overhead ... they gave him to the deep. Sad was their spirit, mournful their mood.—Kemble,Beowulf(an Anglo-Saxon poem, 1833).

Scylla and Charybdis.The former was a rock, in which dwelt Scylla, a hideous monster, encompassed with dogs and wolves. The latter was a whirlpool, into which Charybdis was metamorphosed.—Classic Fable.

Scythian(That Brave), Darius, the Persian. According to Herod´otus, all the south-east of Europe used to be called Scythia, and Xenophon calls the dwellers south of the Caspian Sea “Scythians,” also. In fact, by Scythia was meant the south of Russia and west of Asia; hence, the Hungarians, a Tartar horde, settled on the east coast of the Caspian Sea, who, in 889, crossed into Europe, are spoken of as “Scythians,” and Lord Brooke calls the Persians “Scythians.” The reference below is to the following event in Persian history:—The death of Smerdis was kept for a time a profound secret, and one of the officers about the court who resembled him usurped the crown, calling himself brother of the late monarch. Seven of the high nobles conspired together, and slew the usurper, but it then became a question to which of the seven the crown should be offered. They did not toss for it, but they did much the same thing. They agreed to give the crown to him whose horse neighed first. Darius’s horse won, and thus Darius became king of the Persian empire.

That brave Scythian,Who found more sweetness in his horse’s neighingThan all the Phrygian, Dorian, Lydian playing.Lord Brooke, (1554-1628).

***Marlowe calls Tamburlaine of Tartary “a Scythian.”

You shall hear the Scythian TamburlaineThreatening the world with high astounding terms.Marlowe,Tamburlaine(prologue, 1587).

Scythian’s Name(The). Humber or Humbert, king of the Huns, invaded England during the reign of Locrin, some 1000 yearsB.C.In his flight, he was drowned in the river Abus, which has ever since been called the Humber, after “the Scythian’s name.”—Geoffrey,British History, ii. 2 (1142); and Milton’sHistory of England.

Or Humber loud that keeps the Scythian’s name.Milton,Vacation Exercise(1627).

Sea-Captain(The), a drama by Lord Lytton (1839). Norman, “the sea-captain,” was the son of Lady Arundel by her first husband, who was murdered. He was born three days after his father’s murder, and was brought up by Onslow, a village priest. At 14 he went to sea, and became the captain of a man-of-war. Lady Arundel married again, and had another son named Percy. She wished to ignore Norman, and to settle the title and estates on Percy, but it was not to be. Norman and Percy both loved Violet, a ward of Lady Arundel. Violet, however, loved Norman only. A scheme was laid to murder Norman, but failed; and at the end Norman was acknowledged by his mother, reconciled to his brother, and married to the ward.

Seaforth(The earl of), a royalist, in the service of King Charles I.—Sir W. Scott,Legend of Montrose(time, Charles I.).

Seasons(The), a descriptive poem in blank verse, by James Thomson, “Winter” (1726), “Summer” (1727), “Spring” (1728), “Autumn” (1730). “Winter” is inscribed to the earl of Wilmington; “Summer” to Mr. Doddington; “Spring” to the countess of Hertford; and “Autumn” to Mr. Onslow.

1. In “Winter,” after describing the season, the poet introduces his episode of a traveller lost in a snowstorm, “the creeping cold lays him along the snow, a stiffenedcorse,”of wife, of children, and of friends unseen. The whole book containing 1069 lines.

2. “Summer” begins with a description of the season, and the rural pursuits of haymaking and sheep-shearing; passes on to the hot noon, when “nature pants, and every stream looks languid.” After describing the tumultuous character of the season in the torrid zone, he returns to England, and describes a thunder-storm, in which Celădon and Amelia are overtaken. The thunder growls, the lightnings flash, louder and louder crashes the aggravated roar, “convulsing heaven and earth.” The maiden, terrified, clings to her lover for protection. “Fear not, sweet innocence,” he says. “He who involves yon skies in darkness ever smiles on thee. ’Tis safety to be near thee, sure, and thus to clasp protection.” As he speaks the words, a flash of lightning strikes the maid, and lays her a blackened corpse at the young man’s feet. The poem concludes with the more peaceful scenery of a summer’s evening, when the story of Damon and Musidōra is introduced. Damon had long loved the beautiful Musidora, but met with scant encouragement. One summer’s evening heaccidentlycame upon her bathing, and the respectful modesty of his love so won upon the damsel that she wrote upon a tree, “Damon, the time may come when you need not fly.” The whole book contains 1804 lines.

3. In “Spring” the poet describes itsgeneral features, and its influence on the vegetable and animal world. He describes a garden with its harem of flowers, a grove with its orchestry of song-birds making melody in their love, the rough world of brutes, furious and fierce with their strong desire, and lastly man tempered by its infusive influence. The book contains 1173 lines.

4. In “Autumn” we are taken to the harvest-field, where the poet introduces a story similar to that of Ruth and Boaz. His Ruth he calls “Lavinia,” and his Boaz “Palēmon.” He then describes partridge and pheasant shooting, hare and fox hunting, all of which he condemns. After luxuriating in the orchard and vineyard, he speaks of the emigration of birds, the falling of the sear and yellow leaf, and concludes with a eulogy of country life. The whole book contains 1371 lines.

***It is much to be regretted that the poet’s order has not been preserved. The arrangement of the seasons into Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, is unnatural, and mars the harmony of the poet’s plan.

Seatonian Prize.The Rev. Thomas Seaton, Fellow of Clare Hall, Cambridge University, bequeathed the rents of his Kislingbury estate for a yearly prize of £40 to the best English poem on a sacred subject announced in January, and sent in on or before September 29 following.

Shall hoary Granta call her sable sons....Shall these approach the Muse? Ah, no! she flies,And even spurns the great Seatonian prize.Byron,English Bards and Scotch Reviewers(1809).

Sebastes of Mytile´ne(4syl.), the assassin in the “Immortal Guards.”—Sir W. Scott,Count Robert of Paris(time, Rufus).

Sebastian, a young gentleman of Messalinê, brother to Viola. They were twins, and so much alike that they could not be distinguished except by their dress. Sebastian and his sister, being shipwrecked, escaped to Illyria. Here Sebastian was mistaken for his sister (who had assumed man’s apparel), and was invited by the Countess Olivia to take shelter in her house from a street broil. Olivia was in love with Viola, and thinking Sebastian to be the object of her love, married him.—Shakespeare,Twelfth Night(1614).

Sebastian, brother of Alonso, king of Naples, inThe Tempest(1609).

Sebastian, father of Valentine and Alice.—Beaumont and Fletcher,Mons. Thomas(1619).

Sebastian(Don), king of Portugal, is defeated in battle and taken prisoner by the Moors (1574). He is saved from death by Dorax, a noble Portuguese, then a renegade in the court of the emperor of Barbary. The train being dismissed, Dorax takes off his turban, assumes his Portuguese dress, and is recognized as Alonzo of Alcazar.—Dryden,Don Sebastian(1690).

The quarrel andreconcilationof Sebastian and Dorax [alias Alonzo of Alcazar] is a masterly copy from a similar scene between Brutus and Cassius [in Shakespeare’s Julius Cæsar].—R. Chambers,English Literature, i. 380.

Don Sebastian, a name of terror to Moorish children.

Nor shall Sebastian’s formidable nameBe longer used to still the crying babe.Dryden,Don Sebastian(1690).

Sebastian I. of Brazil, who fell in the battle of Alcazarquebir in 1578. The legend is that he is not dead, but is patiently biding the fulness of time, when hewill return, and make Brazil the chief kingdom of the earth. (SeeBarbarossa.)

Sebastoc´rator(The), the chief officer of state in the empire of Greece. Same as Protosebastos.—Sir W. Scott,Count Robert of Paris(time, Rufus).

Sebile(2syl.), la Dame du Lac, in the romance calledPerceforest. Her castle was surrounded by a river, on which rested so thick a fog that no one could see across it. Alexander the Great abode with her a fortnight to be cured of his wounds, and King Arthur was the result of this amour (vol. i. 42).

Secret Hill(The). Ossian said to Oscar, when he resigned to him the command of the morrow’s battle, “Be thine the secret hill to-night,” referring to the Gaelic custom of the commander of an army retiring to a secret hill the night before a battle, to hold communion with the ghosts of departed heroes.—Ossian,Cathlin of Clutha.

Secret Tribunal(The), the count of the Holy Vehme.—Sir W. Scott,Anne of Geierstein(time, Edward IV.).

Sedgwick(Doomsday), William Sedgwick, a fanatical “prophet” in the Commonwealth, who pretended that it had been revealed to him in a vision that the day of doom was at hand.

Sedillo, the licentiate, with whom Gil Blas took service as a footman. Sedillo was a gouty old gourmand of 69. Being ill, he sent for Dr. Sangrado, who took from him six porringers of blood every day, and dosed him incessantly with warm water, giving him two or three pints at a time, saying, “a patient cannot be blooded too much; for it is a great error to suppose that blood is needful for the preservation of life. Warm water,” he maintained, “drunk in abundance, is the true specific in all distempers.” When the licentiate died under this treatment, the doctor insisted it was because his patient had neither lost blood enough nor drunk enough warm water.—Lesage,Gil Blas, ii. 1, 2 (1715).

Sedley(Mr.), a wealthy London stock-broker, brought to ruin by the fall of the Funds just prior to the battle of Waterloo. The old merchant then tried to earn a meagre pittance by selling wine, coals, or lottery-tickets by commission, but his bad wine and cheap coals found but few customers.

Mrs. Sedley, wife of Mr. Sedley. A homely, kind-hearted motherly woman in her prosperous days, but soured by adversity, and quick to take offence.

Amelia Sedley, daughter of the stock-broker, educated at Miss Pinkerton’s academy, Chiswick Mall, and engaged to Captain George Osborne, son of a rich London merchant. After the ruin of old Sedley, George married Amelia, and was disinherited by his father. He was adored by his young wife, but fell on the field of Waterloo. Amelia then returned to her father, and lived in great indigence, but Captain Dobbin greatly loved her, and did much to relieve her worst wants. Captain Dobbin rose in his profession to the rank of colonel, and married the young widow.

Joseph Sedley, a collector, of Boggley Wollah; a fat, sensual, conceited dandy, vain, shy, and vulgar. “His Excellency” fled from Brussels on the day of the battle between Napoleon and Wellington, and returned to Calcutta, where he bragged of his brave deeds, and made appear that he was Wellington’s right hand; so that heobtained the sobriquet of “Waterloo Sedley.” He again returned to England, and became the “patron” of Becky Sharp (then Mrs. Rawdon Crawley, but separated from her husband). But this lady proved a terrible dragon, fleeced him of all his money, and in six months he died under very suspicious circumstances.—Thackeray,Vanity Fair(1848).

Sedley(Sir Charles), in the court of Charles II.—Sir W. Scott,Woodstock(time, Commonwealth).

Seelencooper(Captain), superintendent of the military hospital at Ryde.—Sir W. Scott,The Surgeon’s Daughter(time, George II.).

Seer(The Poughkeepsie), Andrew Jackson Davis.

Seicen´to(3syl.), the sixteenth century of Italian notables, the period of bad taste and degenerate art. The degraded art is termedSeicentista, and the notables of the period theSeicentisti. The style of writing was inflated and bombastic, and that of art was what is termed “rococo.” The chief poet was Marini (1569-1615), the chief painter Caravaggio (1569-1609), the chief sculptor Bernini (1593-1680), and the chief architect Borromini (1599-1667).

Sede, in Voltaire’s tragedy ofMahomet, was the character in which Talma, the great French tragedian, made hisdébutin 1787.

Seidel-Beckir, the most famous of all talismanists. He made three of extraordinary power: viz., a little golden fish, which would fetch from the sea whatever was desired of it; a poniard, which rendered the person who bore it invisible, and all others whom he wished to be so; and a steel ring, which enabled the wearer to read the secrets of another’s heart.—Comte de Caylus,Oriental Tales(“The Four Talismans,” 1743).

Sejanus(Ælius), a minister of Tibērius, and commander of the Prætorian Guards. His affability made him a great favorite. In order that he might be the foremost man of Rome, all the children and grandchildren of the emperor were put to death under sundry pretences. Drusus, the son of Tiberius, then fell a victim. He next persuaded the emperor to retire, and Tiberius went to Campania, leaving to Sejānus the sole management of affairs. He now called himself emperor; but Tiberius, roused from his lethargy, accused his minister of treason. The senate condemned him to be strangled, and his remains, being treated with the grossest insolence, were kicked into the Tiber,A.D.31. This was the subject of Ben Jonson’s first historical play, entitledSejanus(1603).

SejjinorSejn, the record of all evil deeds, whether by men or the genii, kept by the recording angel. It also means that dungeon beneath the seventh earth, where Eblis and his companions are confined.

Verily, the register of the deeds of the wicked is surely in Sejjin.—Sale,Al Korân, lxxxiii.

Selby(Captain), an officer in the guards.—Sir W. Scott,Peveril of the Peak(time, Charles II.).

Self-Admiration Society(The).Poets: Morris, Rosetti and Swinburne.Painters: Brown, Mudon, Whistler and some others.

Selim, son of Abdallah, who was murdered by his brother, Giaffir (pacha of Aby´dos). After the death of his brother, Giaffir (2syl.) took Selim under his charge and brought him up, but treated him with considerable cruelty. Giaffir had a daughter named Zuleika (3syl.), with whom Selim fell in love; but Zuleika thought he was her brother. As soon as Giaffir discovered the attachment of the two cousins for each other, he informed his daughter that he intended her to marry Osmyn Bey; but Zuleika eloped with Selim, the pacha pursued them, Selim was shot, Zuleika killed herself, and Giaffir was left childless and alone.—Byron,Bride of Abydos(1813).

Selim, son of Acbar. Jehanguire was called Selim before his accession to the throne. He married Nourmahal, the “Light of the Haram,” but a coolness rose up between them. One night Nourmahal entered the sultan’s banquet-room as a lute-player, and so charmed young Selim that he exclaimed, “If Nourmahal had so sung, I could have forgiven her!” It was enough. Nourmahal threw off her disguise, and became reconciled to her husband.—T. Moore,Lalla Rookh(“Light of the Haram,” 1817).

Selim, son of the Moorish king of Algiers. [Horush] Barbarossa, the Greek renegade, having made himself master of Algiers, slew the reigning king, but Selim escaped. After the lapse of seven years, he returned under the assumed name of Achmet, and headed an uprising of the Moors. The insurgents succeeded, Barbarossa was slain, the widowed Queen Zaphīra was restored to her husband’s throne, and Selim, her son, married Irēnê, daughter of Barbarossa.—J. Brown,Barbarossa(1742 or 1755).

Selim, friend of Etan (the supposed son of Zamti, the mandarin).—Murphy,The Orphan of China(1759).

Sel´ima, daughter of Bajazet, sultan of Turkey, in love with Prince Axalla, but promised by her father in marriage to Omar. When Selima refused to marry Omar, Bajazet would have slain her; but Tamerlane commanded both Bajazet and Omar to be seized. So every obstacle was removed from the union of Selima and Axalla.—N. Rowe,Tamerlane(1702).

Selima, one of the six Wise Men from the East, led by the guiding star to Jesus.—Klopstock,The Messiah, v. (1771).

Se´lith, one of the two guardian angels of the Virgin Mary, and of John the Divine.—Klopstock,The Messiah, ix. (1771).

Sellock(Cisly), a servant girl in the service of Lady and Sir Geoffrey Peveril, of the Peak.—Sir W. Scott,Peveril of the Peak(time, Charles II.).

Selvaggio, the father of Sir Industry, and the hero of Thomson’sCastle of Indolence.

In Fairy-land there lived a knight of old,Of feature stern, Selvaggio well y-clept;A rough, unpolished man, robust and bold,But wondrous poor. He neither sowed nor reaped;No stores in summer for cold winter heaped.In hunting all his days away he wore—Now scorched by June, now in November steeped,Now pinched by biting January sore.He still in woods pursued the libbard and the boar.Thomson,Castle of Indolence, ii. 5 (1745).

Sem´ele(3syl.), ambitious of enjoying Jupiter in all his glory, perished from the sublime effulgence of the god. This issubstantially the tale of the second story of T. Moore’sLoves of the Angels. Liris requested her angel lover to come to her in all his angelic brightness; but was burnt to ashes as she fell into his embrace.

For majesty gives nought to subjects, ...A royal smile, a guinea’s glorious rays,Like Semelê, would kill us with its blaze.Peter Pindar [Dr. Wolcot],Progress of Admiration(1809).

Semi´da, the young man, the only son of a widow, raised from the dead by Jesus, as he was being carried from the walls of Nain. He was deeply in love with Cidli, the daughter of Jairus.

He was in the bloom of life. His hair hung in curls on his shoulders, and he appeared as beautiful as David, when, sitting by the stream of Bethlehem, he was ravished at the voice of God.—Klopstock,The Messiah, iv. (1771).

Semir´amis, queen of Assyria, wife of Ninus. She survived her husband, and reigned. The glory of her reign stands out so prominently that she quite eclipses all the monarchs of ancient Assyria. After a reign of forty-two years she resigned the crown to her son, Ninyas, and took her flight to heaven in the form of a dove. Semiramis was the daughter of Dercĕto, the fish-goddess, and a Syrian youth, and, being exposed in infancy, was brought up by doves.

Semiramis of the North, Margaret, daughter of Waldemar III. of Denmark. At the death of her father she succeeded him; by the death of her husband, Haco VIII., king of Norway, she succeeded to that kingdom also; and, having conquered Albert of Sweden, she added Sweden to her empire. Thus was she queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden (1353-1412).

Semirămis of the North, Catherine of Russia, a powerful and ambitious sovereign, but in morals a law unto herself (1729-1796).

Semkail, the angel of the winds and waves.

I keep the winds in awe with the hand which you see in the air, and prevent the wind Haidge from coming forth. If I gave it freedom it would reduce the universe to powder. With my other hand I hinder the sea from overflowing, without which precaution it would cover the face of the whole earth.—Comte de Caylus,Oriental Tales(“History of Abdal Motalleb,” 1743).

Semo(Son of), Cuthullin, general of the Irish tribes.

Sempro´nius, one of the “friends” of Timon of Athens, and “the first man that e’er received a gift from him.” When Timon sent to borrow a sum of money of “his friend,” he excused himself thus: As Timon did not think proper to apply to me first, but asked others before he sent to me, I consider his present application an insult. “Go,” said he to the servant, “and tell your master:

Who bates mine honor shall not know my coin.”Shakespeare,Timon of Athens, act iii. sc. 3 (1600).

Sempronius, a treacherous friend of Cato while in Utĭca. Sempronius tried to mask his treason by excessive zeal and unmeasured animosity against Cæsar, with whom he was acting in alliance. He loved Marcia, Cato’s daughter, but his love was not honorable love; and when he attempted to carry off the lady by force, he was slain by Juba, the Numidian prince.—J. Addison,Cato(1713).

I’ll concealMy thoughts in passion, ’tis the surest way.I’ll bellow out for Rome, and for my country,And mouth at Cæsar till I shake the senate.Your cold hypocrisy’s a stale device,A worn-out trick.Act i. 1.

Sena´nus(St.), the saint who fled to the island of Scattery, and resolved that no woman should ever step upon the isle. An angel led St. Can´ara to the isle, but Senanus refused to admit her.—T. Moore,Irish Melodies(“St. Senanus and the Lady,” 1814).

Sen´eca(The Christian), Bishop Hall, of Norwich (1574-1656).

Sene´na(3syl.), a Welsh maiden, in love with Car´adoc. She dressed in boy’s clothes, and, under the assumed name of Mervyn, became the page of the Princess Goervyl, that she might follow her lover to America, when Madoc colonized Caer-Madoc. Senena was promised in marriage to another; but when the wedding day arrived and all was ready, the bride was nowhere to be found.

... she doffedHer bridal robes, and clipt her golden locks,And put on boy’s attire, thro’ wood and wildTo seek her own true love; and over sea,Forsaking all for him, she followed him.Southey,Madoc, ii. 23 (1805).

Sennac´herib, called by the Orientals King Moussal.—D’Herbelot,Notes to the Korân(seventeenth century).

Sennamar, a very skilful architect, who built at Hirah, for Nôman-al-Aôuar, king of Hirah, a most magnificent palace. In order that he might not build another equal or superior to it, for some other monarch, Nôman cast him headlong from the highest tower of the building.—D’Herbelot,Bibliothèque Orientale(1697).

***A parallel tale is told of Neim´heid (2syl.), who employed four architects to build for him a palace in Ireland, and then, jealous lest they should build one like it, or superior to it, for another monarch, he had them all privately put to death.—O’Halloran,History of Ireland.

Sensitive(Lord), a young nobleman of amorous proclivities, who marries Sabīna Rosny, a French refugee, in Padua, but leaves her, more from recklessness than wickedness. He comes to England and pays court to Lady Ruby, a rich young widow; but Lady Ruby knows of his marriage to the young French girl, and so hints at it that his lordship, who is no libertine, and has a great regard for his honor, sees that his marriage is known, and tells Lady Ruby he will start without delay to Padua, and bring his young wife home. This, however, was not needful, as Sabina was at the time the guest of Lady Ruby. She is called forth, and Lord Sensitive openly avows her to be his wife.—Cumberland,First Love(1796).

Sentimental Journey(The), by Laurence Sterne (1768). It was intended to be sentimental sketches of his tour through Italy in 1764, but he died soon after completing the first part. The tourist lands at Calais, and the first incident is his interview with a poor monk of St. Francis, who begged alms for his convent. Sterne refused to give anything, but his heart smote him for his churlishness to the meek old man. From Calais he goes to Montriul (Montreuil-sur-Mer) and thence to Nampont, near Cressy. Here occurred the incident, which is one of the most touching of all the sentimental sketches, that of “The Dead Ass.” His next stage was Amiens, and thence to Paris. While looking at the Bastille, he heard a voice crying, “I can’t get out! I can’t get out!” He thought it was a child, but it was only a caged starling. This led him to reflect on the delights of liberty and miseries of captivity. Giving reins to hisfancy, he imaged to himself a prisoner who for thirty years had been confined in a dungeon, during all which time “he had seen no sun, no moon, nor had the voice of kinsman breathed through his lattice.” Carried away by his feelings, he burst into tears, for he “could not sustain the picture of confinement which his fancy had drawn.” While at Paris, our tourist visited Versailles, and introduces an incident which he had witnessed some years previously at Rennes, in Brittany. It was that of a marquis reclaiming his sword and “patent of nobility.” Any nobleman in France who engaged in trade, forfeited his rank; but there was a law in Brittany that a nobleman of reduced circumstances might deposit his sword temporarily with the local magistracy, and if better times dawned upon him, he might reclaim it. Sterne was present at one of these interesting ceremonies. A marquis had laid down his sword to mend his fortune by trade, and after a successful career at Martinico for twenty years, returned home, and reclaimed it. On receiving his deposit from the president, he drew it slowly from the scabbard, and, observing a spot of rust near the point, dropped a tear on it. As he wiped the blade lovingly, he remarked, “I shall find some other way to get it off.” Returning to Paris, our tourist starts for Italy; but the book ends with his arrival at Moulines (Moulins). Some half a league from this city he encountered Maria, whose pathetic story had been told him by Mr. Shandy. She had lost her goat when Sterne saw her, but had instead a little dog named Silvio, led by a string. She was sitting under a poplar, playing on a pipe her vespers to the Virgin. Poor Maria had been crossed in love, or, to speak more strictly, the curé of Moulines had forbidden her banns, and the maiden lost her reason. Her story is exquisitely told, and Sterne says, “Could the traces be ever worn out of her brain, and those of Eliza out of mine, she should not only eat of my bread and drink of my cup, but Maria should lie in my bosom, and be unto me as a daughter.”

Sentinel and St. Paul’s Clock(The). The sentinel condemned to death by court-martial for falling asleep on his watch, but pardoned because he affirmed that he heard St. Paul’s clock strike thirteen instead of twelve, was John Hatfield, who died at the age of 102, June, 1770.

Sentry(Captain), one of the members of the club under whose auspices theSpectatorwas professedly issued.

September Massacre(The), the slaughter of loyalists confined in the Abbaye. This massacre took place in Paris between September 2 and 5, 1792, on receipt of the news of the capture of Verdun. The number of victims was not less than 1200, and some place it as high as 4000.

September the Thirdwas Cromwell’s day. On September 3, 1650, he won the battle of Dunbar. On September 3, 1651, he won the battle of Worcester. On September 3, 1658, he died.

Seraphic Doctor(The), St. Bonaventura, placed by Dantê among the saints of hisParadiso(1221-1274).

Seraphic Saint(The), St. Francis d’Assisi (1182-1226).

Of all the saints, St. Francis was the most blameless and gentle.—Dean Milman.

Seraphina Arthuret(Miss), a papist.Her sister is Miss Angelica Arthuret.—Sir W. Scott,Redgauntlet(time, George III.).

Sera´pis, an Egyptian deity symbolizing the Nile, and fertility in general.

Seraskier´(3syl.), a name given by the Turks to a general of division, generally a pacha with two or three tails. (Persian,seri asker, “head of the army.”)

... three thousand Moslems perished here,And sixteen bayonets pierced the seraskier.Byron,Don Juan, viii. 81 (1824).

Serb, a Servian or native of Servia.

Sereme´nes(4syl.), brother-in-law of King Sardanapālus, to whom he entrusts his signet-ring to put down the rebellion headed by Arbācês, the Mede, and Belĕsis, the Chaldēan soothsayer. Seremēnês was slain in a battle with the insurgents.—Byron,Sardanapalus(1819).

Sere´na, allured by the mildness of the weather, went into the fields to gather wild flowers for a garland, when she was attacked by the Blatant Beast, who carried her off in its mouth. Her cries attracted to the spot Sir Calidore, who compelled the beast to drop its prey.—Spenser,Faëry Queen, vi. 3 (1596).

Sergis(Sir), the attendant on Irēna. He informs Sir Artegal that Irena is the captive of Grantorto, who has sworn to take her life within ten days, unless some knight will volunteer to be her champion, and in single combat prove her innocent of the crime laid to her charge.—Spenser,Faëry Queen, v. 11 (1596).

Sergius, a Nestorian monk, said to be the same as Boheira, who resided at Bosra, in Syria. This monk, we are told, helped Mahomet in writing theKorân. Some say it was Saïd or Felix Boheira.

Boheira’s name, in the books of Christians, is Sergius.—Masudi,History, 24 (A.D.956).

Serimner, the wild boar whose lard fed the vast multitude in Einheriar, the hall of Odin. Though fed on daily, the boar never diminished in size. Odin himself gave his own portion of the lard to his two wolves, Geri and Freki.—Scandinavian Mythology.(SeeRusticus’s Pig.)

Seri´na, daughter of Lord Acasto, plighted to Chamont (the brother of Monimia, “the orphan”).—Otway,The Orphan(1680).

Seriswattee, the Janus of Hindû mythology.

The Serpent and Satan.There is an Arabian tradition that the devil begged all the animals, one after another, to carry him into the garden, that he might speak to Adam and Eve, but they all refused except the serpent, who took him between two of its teeth. It was then the most beautiful of all the animals, and walked upon legs and feet.—Masudi,History, 22 (A.D.956).

The Serpent’s Punishment.The punishment of the serpent for tempting Eve was this: (1) Michael was commanded to cut off its legs; and (2) the serpent was doomed to feed on human excrements ever after.

Serpent d’Isabit, an enormous monster, whose head rested on the top of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, its body filled the whole valley of Luz, St. Sauveur, and Gèdres, and its tail was coiled in the hollow below the cirque of Gavarnie. It fedonce in three months, and supplied itself by making a very strong inspiration of its breath, whereupon every living thing around was drawn into its maw. It was ultimately killed by making a huge bonfire, and waking it from its torpor, when it became enraged, and drawing a deep breath, drew the bonfire into its maw, and died in agony.—Rev. W. Webster,A Pyrenean Legend(1877).

Served My God.Wolseysaid, in his fall, “Had I but served my God with half the zeal I served my king, He would not in mine age have left me naked to mine enemies.”—Shakespeare,Henry VIII.act iii. sc. 2 (1601).

Samrah, when he was deposed from the government of Basorah by the Caliph Moawiyah, said, “If I had served God so well as I have served the caliph, He would never have condemned me to all eternity.”

Antonio Perez, the favorite of Philip II. of Spain, said, “Mon zele etoit si grand vers ces benignes puissances [i.e.Turin] qui si j’en eusse eu autant pour Dieu, je ne doubte point qu’il ne m’eut deja recompensé de son paradis.”

The earl ofGowrie, when, in 1854, he was led to execution, said, “If I had served God as faithfully as I have done the king [James VI.], I should not have come to this end.”—Spotswood,History of the Church of Scotland, 332, 333 (1653).

Sesostris(The Modern), Napoleon Bonaparte (1769, 1804-1815, 1821).

But where is he, the modern, mightier far,Who, born no king, made monarchs draw his car;The new Sesostris, whose unharnessed kings,Freed from the bit, believe themselves with wings,And spurn the dust o’er which they crawled of late,Chained to the chariot of the chieftain’s state?Byron,Age of Bronze(1821).

***“Sesostris,” in Fénelon’sTélémaque, is meant for Louis XIV.

Set´ebos, a deity of the Patagonians.

His art is of such power,It would control my dam’s god Setebos.Shakespeare,The Tempest(1609).

The giants, when they found themselves fettered, roared like bulls, and cried upon Setebos to help them.—Eden,History of Travayle.

Seth, a servant of the Jew at Ashby. Reuben is his fellow-servant.—Sir W. Scott,Ivanhoe(time, Richard I.).

Seth Fairchild.Young countryman, who is almost persuaded to be in love with Isabel, the wife of his brother, Albert. Albert is killed—it is supposed, accidentally—and Isabel, assuming that Seth has murdered him, and for her sake, promises to keep the deed secret. The horror of the supposition and her readiness to believe him capable of the crime, dispels Seth’s unholy illusion and sends him back to his first love, who has always been his good angel.—Harold Frederic,Seth’s Brother’s Wife(1887).

Settle(Elkana), the poet, introduced by Sir W. Scott inPeveril of the Peak(time, Charles II.).

Seven Champions of Christendom(The): St. George for England; St. Andrew for Scotland; St. Patrick for Ireland; St. David for Wales; St. Denis for France; St. James for Spain; and St. Anthony for Italy.

***Richard Johnson wroteThe Famous History of the Seven Champions of Christendom(1617).

Seven, Rienzi’s Number.

October 7, Rienzi’s foes yielded to his power.7 months Rienzi reigned as tribune.7 years he was absent in exile.7 weeks of return saw him without an enemy (Oct. 7).7 was the number of the crowns the Roman convents and the Roman council awarded him.

Seven Sleepers(The). The tale of these sleepers is told in divers manners. The best accounts are those in theKorânxviii., entitled, “The Cave, Revealed at Mecca;”The Golden Legends, by Jacques de Voragine; theDe Gloria Martyrum, i. 9, by Gregory of Tours; and theOriental Tales, by Comte de Caylus (1743).

Names of the Seven Sleepers.Gregory of Tours says their names were: Constantine, Dionysius, John, Maximian, Malchus, Martinian or Marcian, and Serapĭon. In theOriental Talesthe names given are: Jemlikha, Mekchilinia, Mechlima, Merlima, Debermouch, Charnouch, and the shepherd Keschetiouch. Their names are not given in theKorân.

Number of the Sleepers.Al Seyid, a Jacobite Christian of Najrân, says the sleepers were only three, with their dog; others maintain that their number was five, besides the dog; but Al Beidâwi, who is followed by most authorities, says they were seven, besides the dog.

Duration of the Sleep.TheKorânsays it was “300 years and nine years over;” theOriental Talessay the same; but if Gregory of Tours is followed, the duration of the sleep was barely 230 years.

The Legend of the Seven Sleepers.(1) According to Gregory of Tours. Gregory says they were seven noble youths of Ephesus, who fled in the Decian persecution to a cave in Mount Celion, the mouth of which was blocked up by stones. After 230 years they were discovered, and awoke, but died within a few days, and were taken in a large stone coffin to Marseilles. Visitors are still shown, in St. Victor’s Church, the stone coffin.

If there is any truth at all in the legend, it amounts to this: InA.D.250, some youths (three or seven) suffered martyrdom under the Emperor Decius, “fell asleep in the Lord,” and were buried in a cave of Mount Celion. In 479 (the reign of Theodosius) their bodies were discovered, and, being consecrated as holy relics, were removed to Marseilles.

(2) According to theOriental Tales. Six Grecian youths were slaves in the palace of Dakiānos (Decianus,Decius). This Dakianos had risen from low degrees to kingly honors, and gave himself out to be a god. Jemlikha was led to doubt the divinity of his master, because he was unable to keep off a fly which persistently tormented him, and being roused to reflection, came to the conclusion that there must be a god to whom both Dakianos and the fly were subject. He communicated his thoughts to his companions, and they all fled from the Ephesian court till they met the shepherd Keschetiouch, whom they converted, and who showed them a cave, which no one but himself knew of. Here they fell asleep, and Dakianos, having discovered them, commanded the mouth of the cave to be closed up. Here the sleepers remained 309 years, at the expiration of which time they all awoke, but died a few hours afterwards.

The Dog of the Seven Sleepers.In the notes of theKorân, by Sale, the dog’s name is Kratim, Kratimer, or Katmir. In theOriental Talesit is Catnier, which looks like a clerical blunder for Catmer, only it occurs frequently. It is one of the ten animals admitted into Mahomet’s paradise. TheKorântells us that the dog followed the seven young men into the cave, but they tried to drive him away, and even broke three of its legs with stones, when the dog said to them, “I love those who love God. Sleep, masters, andI will keep guard.” In theOriental Talesthe dog is made to say, “You go to seek God, but am not I also a child of God?” Hearing this, the young men were so astounded, they went immediately, and carried the dog into the cave.

The Place of Sepulture of the Seven Sleepers.Gregory of Tours tells us that the bodies were removed from Mount Celion in a stone coffin to Marseilles. TheKorân, with Sale’s notes, informs us they were buried in the cave, and a chapel was built there to mark the site. (SeeSleeper.)

The Seven Sleepers turning on their sides.William of Malmesbury says that Edward the Confessor, in his mind’s eye, saw the seven sleepers turn from their right sides to their left, and (he adds) whenever they turn on their sides, it indicates great disasters to Christendom.

Woe, woe to England! I have seen a vision:The seven sleepers in the cave of EphesusHave turned from right to left.Tennyson,Harold, i. 1.

Seven Wise Masters.Lucien, the son of Dolopathos, was placed under the charge of Virgil, and was tempted in manhood by his step-mother. He repelled her advances, and she accused him to the king of taking liberties with her. By consulting the stars it was discovered that if he could tide over seven days his life would be spared; so seven wise masters undertook to tell the king a tale each, in illustration of rash judgments. When they had all told their tales, the prince related, under the disguise of a tale, the story of the queen’s wantonness; whereupon Lucien was restored to favor, and the queen was put to death.—Sandabar,Parables(contemporary with King Courou).

***John Rolland, of Dalkeith, has rendered this legend into Scotch verse. There is an Arabic version by Nasr Allah (twelfth century), borrowed from the Indian by Sandabar. In the Hebrew version by Rabbi Joel (1270), the legend is calledKalilah and Dimnah.

Seven Wise Men(The).

One of Plutarch’sbrochuresin theMoraliais entitled “The Banquet of the Seven Wise Men,” in which Periander is made to give an account of a contest at Chalcis between Homer and Hesiod, in which the latter wins the prize, and receives a tripod, on which he caused to be engraved this inscription:

This Hesiod vows to the Heliconian nine,In Chalcis won from Homer the divine.

Seven Wise Men of Greece(The), seven Greeks of the sixth centuryB.C., noted for their maxims.

Bias.His maxim was, “Most men are bad” (“There is none that doeth good, no, not one,”Psalmxiv. 3):Οἱπλέιουςκακοὶ(fl.B.C.550).

Chilo.“Consider the end:”Τέλος ὁρᾳν μακροῦ βίου(fl.B.C.590).

Cleobūlos.“Avoid extremes” (the golden mean):Ἄριστον μέτρον(fl.B.C.580).

Periander.“Nothing is impossible to industry” (patience and perseverance overcome mountains):Μελέτη τὸ πᾶν(B.C.665-585).

Pittăcos.“Know thy opportunity” (seize time by the forelock):Καιρὸν γνῶθι(B.C.652-569).

Solon.“Know thyself:”Γνῶθι σεαυτὸν(B.C.638-558).

Thāles(2syl.). “Suretyship is the forerunner of ruin.” (“He that hateth suretyship is sure,”Prov.xi. 15):Εγγύα, πάρα δ᾽ ἄτη(B.C.636-546).

First Solon, who made the Athenian laws,While Chilo, in Sparta, was famed for his saws;In Milētos did Thalês astronomy teach;Bias used in Priēnê his morals to preach;Cleobūlos of Lindos, was handsome and wise;Mitylēnê, gainst thraldom saw Pittăcos rise;Periander is said to have gained, thro’ his court,The title that Myson, the Chenian, ought.

***It is Plato who says that Myson should take the place of Periander as one of the Seven Wise Men.

Seven Years.

Barbarossa changes his position in his sleep every seven years.

Charlemagne starts in his chair from sleep every seven years.

Ogier, the Dane, stamps his iron mace on the floor every seven years.

Olaf Redbeard of Sweden uncloses his eyes every seven years.

Seven Year’s War(The), the war maintained by Frederick II. of Prussia against Austria, Russia, and France (1756-1763).

Seven Against Thebes(The). At the death of Œdĭpus, his two sons, Eteŏclês and Polynīcês, agreed to reign alternate years, but at the expiration of the first year Eteoclês refused to resign the crown to his brother. Whereupon, Polynicês induced six others to join him in besieging Thebes, but the expedition was a failure. The names of the seven Grecian chiefs who marched against Thebes were: Adrastos, Amphiarāos, Kapaneus, Hippomedon (Argives), Parthenopæos (an Arcadian), Polynicês (a Theban), and Tydeus (an Æolian). (SeeEpigoni.)

Æschylos has a tragedy on the subject.

Severn, a corruption of Averne, daughter of Astrild. The legend is this: King Locryn was engaged to Gwendolen, daughter of Corīneus, but seeing Astrild (daughter of the king of Germany), who came to this island with Homber, king of Hungary, fell in love with her. While Corineus lived he durst not offend him, so he married Gwendolen, but kept Astrild as his mistress, and had by her a daughter (Averne). When Corineus died, he divorced Gwendolen, and declared Astrild queen, but Gwendolen summoned her vassals, dethroned Locryn, and caused both Astrild and Averne to be cast into the river, ever since called SevernfronAverne “the kinges dohter.”

Sevier(Dr.), New Orleans physician. “His inner heart was all of flesh, but his demands for the rectitude of mankind pointed out like the muzzles of cannon through the embrasures of his virtues.” He befriends the struggling Richlings, setting John upon his feet time and again, and in his last illness, never leaving him until he goes out and closes the door upon the dying man, reunited to his wife and child. Dr. Sevier finds work for the widow, and educates little Alice, named for his own dead wife.

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