The singing apple is as great an embellisher of wit as the dancing water is of beauty. Would you appear in public as a poet or prose writer, a wit or a philosopher, you only need smell it, and you are possessed at once of these rare gifts of genius.—Comtesse D’Aunoy,Fairy Tales(“Princess Fairstar,” 1682).
The singing apple is as great an embellisher of wit as the dancing water is of beauty. Would you appear in public as a poet or prose writer, a wit or a philosopher, you only need smell it, and you are possessed at once of these rare gifts of genius.—Comtesse D’Aunoy,Fairy Tales(“Princess Fairstar,” 1682).
Singing Tree(The), a tree, every leaf of which was a mouth, and all the leaves sang together in harmonious concert.—Arabian Nights(“The Two Sisters,” the last story).
***In the tale ofCherry and Fairstar, “the singing tree” is called “the singing apple” (q.v.).
Single-Speech Hamilton, William Gerard Hamilton, statesman (1729-1796). His first speech was delivered November 13, 1775, and his eloquence threw into the shade every orator except Pitt himself.
It was supposed that he had exhausted himself in that one speech, and had become physically incapable of making a second; so that afterwards, when he really did make a second, everybody was naturally disgusted, and most people dropped his acquaintance.—De Quincey (1786-1859).
It was supposed that he had exhausted himself in that one speech, and had become physically incapable of making a second; so that afterwards, when he really did make a second, everybody was naturally disgusted, and most people dropped his acquaintance.—De Quincey (1786-1859).
Singleton(Captain), the hero of a novel by D. Defoe, calledThe Adventures of Captain Singleton.
Singular Doctor(The), William Occam,Doctor Singularis et Invincibilis(1276-1347).
***The “Occam razor” wasentia nonsunt multiplicanda, “entities are not to be unnecessarily multiplied.” In other words, elements, genera, and first principles are very few in number.
Sinner Saved(A). Cyra, daughter of Proterĭus of Cappadōcia, was on the point of taking the veil among Emmelia’s sisterhood, and just before the day of renunciation, Elĕēmon, her father’s freed slave, who loved her, sold himself to the devil, on condition of obtaining her for his wife. He signed the bond with a drop of his heart’s blood, and carried about with him a little red spot on hisbresst,as a perpetual reminder of the compact. The devil now sent a dream to Cyra, and another to her father, which caused them to change their plans; and on the very day that Cyra was to have taken the veil, she was given by St. Basil in marriage to Eleemon, with whom she lived happily for many years, and had a large family. One night, while her husband was asleep, Cyra saw the blood-red spot; she knew what it meant, and next day Eleemon told her the whole story. Cyra now bestirred herself to annul the compact, and went with her husband to St. Basil, to whom a free and full confession was made. Eleemon was shut up for a night in a cell, and Satan would have carried him off, but he clung to the foot of a crucifix. Next day Satan met St. Basil in the cathedral, and demanded his bond. St. Basil assured him the bond was illegal and invalid. The devil was foiled, the red mark vanished from the skin of Eleemon, a sinner was saved, and St. Basil came off victorious.—Amphilochius,Life of St. Basil. (See Rosweyde,Vitæ Patrum, 156-8.)
***Southey has converted this legend into a ballad of nine lays (1829).
Sinon, the crafty Greek, who persuaded the Trojans to drag the Wooden Horse into their city.—Virgil,Æneid, ii.
Dantê, in hisInferno, places Sinon, with Potiphar’s wife, Nimrod, and the rebellious giants, in the tenth pit of Malêbolgê.
Sin Saxon.Sprightly, sparkling personage, who appears, first as a saucy girl, then, as a vivacious young matron, in several of A. D. T. Whitney’s books. She marries Frank Sherman.—A. D. T. Whitney,Leslie GoldthwaiteandThe Other Girls.
Sintram, the Greek hero of the German romance,Sintram and His Companions, by Baron Lamotte Fouqué.
Sintram’s Sword, Welsung.
Sio´na, a seraph, to whom was committed the charge of Bartholomew, the apostle.—Klopstock,The Messiah, iii. (1748).
Siph´a, the guardian angel of Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter.—Klopstock,The Messiah, iii. (1748).
Si´phax, a soldier, in love with Princess Calis, sister of Astorax, king of Paphos. The princess is in love with Polydore, the brother of General Memnon, (“the mad brother”).—Beaumont and Fletcher,The Mad Lover(1617).
Sir Oracle, a dictatorial prig; a dogmatic pedant.
I am Sir Oracle,And when I ope my lips, let no dog bark.Shakespeare,Merchant of Venice, act i. sc. 1 (1598).
Sirens, three sea-nymphs, whose usual abode was a small island near Cape Pelōrus, in Sicily. They enticed sailors ashore by their melodious singing, andthen killed them. Their names are Parthenŏpê, Ligeia, and Leucothĕa.—Greek Fable.
Sirloin of Beef.James I., on his return from a hunting excursion, so much enjoyed his dinner, consisting of a loin of roast beef, that he laid his sword across it, and dubbed it Sir Loin. At Chingford, in Essex, is a place called “Friday Hill House,” in one of the rooms of which is an oak table with a brass plate let into it, inscribed with the following words:—“All Lovers of Roast Beef will like to know that on this Table a Loin was knighted by King James the First on his Return from Hunting in Epping Forest.”
Knighting the loin of beef is also ascribed to Charles II.
Our second Charles, of fame facete,On loin of beef did dine;He held his sword, pleased, o’er the meat.“Arise, thou famed Sir Loin.”Ballad of the New Sir John Barleycorn.
Sister Anne, sister of Fatĭma (the seventh and last wife of Bluebeard). Fatima, being condemned to death by her tyrannical husband, requested sister Anne to ascend to the highest tower of the castle to watch for her brothers, who were momentarily expected. Bluebeard kept roaring below stairs for Fatima to be quick; Fatima was constantly calling out from her chamber, “Sister Anne, do you see them coming?” and sister Anne was on the watch-tower, mistaking every cloud of dust for the mounted brothers. They arrived at last, rescued Fatima, and put Bluebeard to death.—Charles Perrault,Contes(“La Barbe Bleue,” 1697).
This is a Scandinavian tale taken from theFolks Sagas.
Sis´yphos, in LatinSisyphus, a king of Corinth, noted for his avarice and fraud. He was punished in the infernal regions by having to roll uphill a huge stone, which always rolled down again as soon as it reached the top. Sisyphos is a type of avarice, never satisfied. The avaricious man reaches the summit of his ambition, and no sooner does he so than he finds the object of his desire as far off as ever.
With many a weary step, and many a groan,Up the high hill he heaves a huge round stone;The huge round stone, returning with a bound,Thunders impetuous down, and smokes along the ground.Homer,Odyssey, xi. [Pope’s trans.].
Sisyphus, in the Milesian tales, was doomed to die, but when Death came to him, the wily fellow contrived to fasten the unwelcome messenger in a chair, and then feasted him till old Spare-ribs grew as fat as a prize pig. In time, Pluto released Death, and Sisyphus was caught, but prayed that he might speak to his wife before he went to Hadês. The prayer was granted, and Sisyphus told his wife not to bury him, for though she might think him dead, he would not be really so. When he got to the infernal regions, he made the ghosts so merry with his jokes, that Pluto reproved him, and Sisyphus pleaded that, as he had not been buried, Pluto had no jurisdiction over him, nor could he even be ferried across the Styx. He then obtained leave to return to earth, that he might persuade his wife to bury him. Now, the wily old king had previously bribed Hermês, when he took him to Hadês, to induce Zeus to grant him life, provided he returned to earth again in the body; when, therefore, he did return, he demanded of Hermês the fulfillment of his promise, and Hermês induced Zeus to bestow on him life. Sisyphus was now allowed to return to earth, with a promise that he should never die again, till he himself implored for death. So he lived, and lived till he was weary of living, and when he went to Hadês the second time, he was allotted, by way of punishment, the task of rolling a huge stone to the top of a mountain. Orpheus (2syl.), asked him how he could endure so ceaseless and vain an employment, and Sisyphus replied that he hoped ultimately to accomplish the task. “Never,” exclaimed Orpheus; “it can never be done!” “Well, then,” said Sisyphus, “mine is at worst but everlasting hope.”—Lord Lytton,Tales of Miletus, ii.
Sitoph´agus(“the wheat-eater”), one of the mouse princes, who being wounded in the battle, crept into a ditch to avoid further injury or danger.
The lame Sitophagus, oppressed with pain,Creeps from the desperate dangers of the plain;And where the ditches rising weeds supply ...There lurks the silent mouse relieved of heat,And, safe embowered, avoids the chance of fate.Parnell,Battle of the Frogs and Mice. iii. (about 1712).
The last two lines might be amended thus:
There lurks the trembling mouse with bated breath,And, hid from sight, avoids his instant death.
Siward[Se.´ward], the earl of Northumberland, and general of the English forces, acting against Macbeth.—Shakespeare,Macbeth(1606).
Six Chronicles(The). Dr. Giles compiled and edited six Old English Chronicles for Bohn’s series in 1848. They are: Ethelwerd’sChronicle, Asser’sLife of Alfred, Geoffrey of Monmouth’sBritish History, Gildas the Wise, Nennius’sHistory of the Britons, and Richard of CirencesterOn the Ancient State of Britain. The last three were edited in 1757, by Professor Bertram, in hisScriptores Tres, but great doubt exists as to the genuineness of the chronicles contained in Dr. Bertram’s compilation. (SeeThree Writers.)
Sixteen-String-Jack, John Rann, a highwayman. He was a great fop, and wore sixteen tags to his breeches, eight at each knee (hanged 1774).
Dr. Johnson said that Gray’s poetry towered above the ordinary run of verse, as Sixteen-String-Jack above the ordinary foot-pad.—Boswell,Life of Johnson(1791).
Dr. Johnson said that Gray’s poetry towered above the ordinary run of verse, as Sixteen-String-Jack above the ordinary foot-pad.—Boswell,Life of Johnson(1791).
Skeffington, author ofSleeping Beauty,Maids and Bachelors, etc.
And suregreatSkeffington must claim our praiseFor skirtless coats, and skeletons of plays.Byron,English Bards and Scotch Reviewers(1809).
Transcriber’s NoteThe following errors and inconsistencies have been maintained.Misspelled words and typographical errors:PageError1Perrose should read Penrose4tranlation should read translation4A. D. should read A.D.5sword.’” should read sword.’9France. See should read France. (See13outstretehed should read outstretched14the the sword should read the sword17incalcuable should read incalculable19waistcoat—Mrs. should read waistcoat.—Mrs.34The vail should read The veil38“about the Mikado’s” should read “about by the Mikado’s”42mutiplied should read multiplied46Merlin’s magic mirror (q.v.). This entry does not exist.47“He should read He52succeeeded should read succeeded53also; should read also,54rent is paid. should read rent is paid).56shows.” should read shows.56preformed should read performed57(time, Commonwealth. should read (time, Commonwealth).57Passe-Tyme should read Passe-tyme63Love à-la-Mode- should read Love à-la-Mode.66Polyolboin should read Polyolbion69gray should read grey71(1508) should read (1598)71Rev. Mr.) should have a comma following87act. i. should read act i.88Chauvvin should read Chauvin92Bibliothèque Oriental should read Bibliothèque Orientale94(1698) should read (1598)94Pylos, was has an extra, following Pylos96Charles II.). should read Charles II.100Gentlehomme should read Gentilehomme100“The Chase, The Road, The Turf” should read “The Chase, the Turf, and the Road”101Ninive should read Nineve101Nino-Thoma should read Nina-Thoma101magificence should read magnificence101Nine. Worthies should read Nine Worthies102Uffizii should read Uffizi102He Says should read He says104cadavarous should read cadaverous105Charles II) should read Charles II.)106J Home should read J. Home112Atticœ should read Atticæ116Sopho´oclês should read Soph´oclês121imagintion should read imagination125v.), should read v.).126Alhague) has extra )127dog bark!” should read dog bark!135Furlough should read Turlough135Coimba should read Coimbra135eightteenth should read eighteenth136horse-jockey:” should read horse-jockey;”139Grondibert should read Gondibert140was slain should read were slain142le Grand. is missing )142howover should read however144fifteenth century) should read (fifteenth century)145Paineshould bePaine146(1772) should have a following.151Mosart should read Mozart152ignorantifiè should read ignorantifié161Darton and Co, should read Darton and Co.,162villifies should read vilifies162Polinices. This entry does note exist.165Hawes (1506) should end with a.166“The Deerslayer” should read “The Deerslayer,”167Rocky Mountains. has an extra . at the end167of Dorchester, should read of Dorchester.168St Patrick should read St. Patrick168etc.. should read etc.,169Bonarparte should read Bonaparte171St Remi should read St. Remi (2 times)174d’ane should read d’âne175Zaïda should read Zaïde175Pedrè should read Pèdre (3 times)178[Thrift) should read (Thrift)178Boundderby should read Bounderby181pcn should read pen181sc. 2 (1589) should read sc. 2 (1589).184Dr Parker should read Dr. Parker185101, 102. should read 101, 102).186—See Notes should read (See Notes189“excess.”). should read “excess.”)190Po tau should read Pot au192(1768-1848. should read (1768-1848).195Fennimore should read Fenimore199syl.) should readsyl.).201him thirty should read him “thirty202(1214-1292; should read (1214-1292);202(1627-1691; should read (1627-1691);202(B.C.) 106 should read (B.C.106207breathe-therein. should read breathe-therein.”209Elfenseigen. should read Elfenseigen.)214“(The incident of” either should not have a ( or a ) is missing at the end of the sentence.214notas, should read notas.227garralous should read garrulous228“Antinöus, should read “Antinöus,”229“songs,” should read “songs.”229Enggland should read England232Friesingen should read Freisingen232conscrated should read consecrated232Lequien should read Le Quien234who stabbed should read who “stabbed240Quarakhata. should read Quarakhata.”246Docter should read Doctor248reions should read regions250protegé should read protégé250forgiven should read forgiven.251caligraphist should read calligraphist254i.e, should read i.e.,257(Pwyll should read (“Pwyll265Monnema should read Monema267act. i. should read act i.268Pyrnne should read Prynne275rantipolish, should read rantipolish.277met should read meet278refered should read referred282king- should read kingdom282Cathaginians should read Carthaginians286VerborumSignificatione should read Verborum Significatione286entititled should read entitled287Resolute Doctor should read Resolute Doctor”287“The “saint” should read The “saint”289thierepos should read Thierepos295(bk. vii.) should read (bk. vii.).296Perveril should read Peveril298SeeOrmandine. This entry does not exist299Mortham, was should read Mortham was301Henry IV.) should read Henry IV.).305(q.v.) should read (q.v.).307The marquis should read “The marquis310npon should read upon311R.C. should read B.C.313(St) should read (St.)318Shakepeare should read Shakespeare322Edward II. and Edward I. should readEdward II.andEdward I.325Innamarato should read Innamorato326Inis-Thorna should read Inis-Thona326to part!” should read to part!’326a friar should read “a friar330exqusite should read exquisite330into a river. should end with )332and and should read and336heirarchy should read hierarchy338(1474-1566): should read (1474-1566);339(died 251. should read (died 251).339inkeeper should read innkeeper340Arnoldshould read Arnold340martydom should read martyrdom341satire (1704) should read satire (1704).342Bibliothèques Orientale should read Bibliothèque Orientale342folly should read folly.343English) should read English),343for Uncle should read for “Uncle343(1741-1779 should end with a )344serpant should read serpent344(The) Pythagoras should read (The), Pythagoras346(1605-15) should read (1605-15).356father of “Lucia.” should end with )360plasir should read plaisir365instalment should read installment367hemlet should read helmet368corse should read corpse368accidently should read accidentally369reconcilation should read reconciliation379πλέιους should read πλείους380fron should read from384Cumberland) has extra )386Whitehall 1607 should read Whitehall, 1607386Whitehall 1604 should read Whitehall, 1604386Meres 1598 should read Meres, 1598387n’etait should read n’était390lady,and should read lady, and391November; should read November:392(1651-1610) should read (B.C.1651-1610)395the administration should read The administration396etc., (1557) has extra (400villian should read villain405inland should read island406bresst should read breastThe following words had inconsistent spelling:Aboulhassan / AboulhassenFrançois / FrancoisKhrosrou-schah / Khrosru-scharPullicenella / PullicinellaSulla / SyllaThe following words had inconsistent hyphenation:brick-dust / brickdustday-break / daybreakEast-cheap / Eastcheapgrand-son / grandsonHawk-eye / Hawkeyeheart-sick / heartsickMay-pole / Maypolemoon-light / moonlightNôman-al-Aôuar / Nômanal-Aôuarout-witted /outwittedPuss-in-Boots / Puss in Bootsre-united / reunitedRos-crana / Roscranastep-mother / stepmotherUn-born / UnbornOther inconsistencies:i.e. / i. eThe inclusion of the "or" in the italics for two-part titles connected by ", or"
Transcriber’s Note
The following errors and inconsistencies have been maintained.
Misspelled words and typographical errors:
The following words had inconsistent spelling:
Aboulhassan / AboulhassenFrançois / FrancoisKhrosrou-schah / Khrosru-scharPullicenella / PullicinellaSulla / Sylla
The following words had inconsistent hyphenation:
brick-dust / brickdustday-break / daybreakEast-cheap / Eastcheapgrand-son / grandsonHawk-eye / Hawkeyeheart-sick / heartsickMay-pole / Maypolemoon-light / moonlightNôman-al-Aôuar / Nômanal-Aôuarout-witted /outwittedPuss-in-Boots / Puss in Bootsre-united / reunitedRos-crana / Roscranastep-mother / stepmotherUn-born / Unborn
Other inconsistencies:
i.e. / i. eThe inclusion of the "or" in the italics for two-part titles connected by ", or"