In the first act, the king of Morocco, by way of recreation, shot a hundred Moorish slaves with arrows; in the second, he beheaded thirtyPortuguese officers, prisoners of war; and in the third and last act, Muley, mad with his wives, set fire with his own hand to a detached palace, in which they were shut up, and reduced them all to ashes.... This conflagration, accompanied with a thousand shrieks, closed the piece in a very diverting manner.—Lesage,Gil Blas, ii. 9 (1715).
In the first act, the king of Morocco, by way of recreation, shot a hundred Moorish slaves with arrows; in the second, he beheaded thirtyPortuguese officers, prisoners of war; and in the third and last act, Muley, mad with his wives, set fire with his own hand to a detached palace, in which they were shut up, and reduced them all to ashes.... This conflagration, accompanied with a thousand shrieks, closed the piece in a very diverting manner.—Lesage,Gil Blas, ii. 9 (1715).
Mull Sack.John Cottington, in the time of the Commonwealth, was so called, from his favorite beverage. John Cottington emptied the pockets of Oliver Cromwell when lord protector; stripped Charles II. of £1500; and stole a watch and chain from Lady Fairfax.
***Mull sack is spiced sherry negus.
Mulla’s Bard, Spenser, author of theFaëry Queen. The Mulla, a tributary of the Blackwater, in Ireland, flowed close by the spot where the poet’s house stood. He was born and died in London (1553-1599).
... it irks me while I write,As erst the bard of Mulla’s silver stream,Oft as he told of deadly dolorous plightSighed as he sung, and did in tears indite.Shenstone,The Schoolmistress(1758).
Mulla.Thomas Campbell, in his poem on theSpanish Parrot, calls the island of Mull, “Mulla’s Shore.”
Mullet(Professor), the “most remarkable man” of North America. He denounced his own father for voting on the wrong side at an election for president, and wrote thunderbolts in the form of pamphlets, under the signature of “Suturb” or Brutus reversed.—C. Dickens,Martin Chuzzlewit(1844).
Mullins(Rev. Peter). A minister of the gospel, who holds so hard to the belief that the laborer is worthy of his hire, that he can see nothing but the hire.
“How am I to know whether my services are acceptable unless every year there is some voluntary testimonial concerning them? It seems to me that I must have such a testimonial. I find myself looking forward to it.”—Josiah Gilbert Holland,Arthur Bonnicastle(1873).
“How am I to know whether my services are acceptable unless every year there is some voluntary testimonial concerning them? It seems to me that I must have such a testimonial. I find myself looking forward to it.”—Josiah Gilbert Holland,Arthur Bonnicastle(1873).
Mul´mutine Laws, the code of Dunvallo Mulmutius, sixteenth king of the Britons (aboutB.C.400). This code was translated by Gildas from British into Latin, and by Alfred into English. The Mulmutine laws obtained in this country till the Conquest.—Holinshed,History of England, etc., iii. 1 (1577).
Mulmutius made our laws,Who was the first of Britain which did putHis brows within a golden crown, and call’dHimself a king.Shakespeare,Cymbeline, act iii. sc. 1 (1605).
Mulmutius(Dunwallo), son of Cloten, king of Cornwall. “He excelled all the kings of Britain in valor and gracefulness of person.” In a battle fought against the allied Welsh and Scotch armies, Mulmutius tried the very scheme which Virgil (Æneid, ii.) says was attempted by Æneas and his companions—that is, they dressed in the clothes and bore the arms of the enemy slain, and thus disguised, committed very great slaughter. Mulmutius, in his disguise, killed both the Cambrian and Albanian kings, and put the allied army to thorough rout.—Geoffrey,British History, ii. 17.
Mulmutius this land in such estate maintainedAs his great Belsire Brute.Drayton,Polyolbion, viii. (1612).
Mulvaney(Terence). Rollicking, epigrammatic, harum-scarum Irish trooper, in the Indian service, whose adventures and sayings are narrated inSoldiers Three,The Courting of Dinah Shadd,etc., by Rudyard Kipling.
Multon(Sir Thomas de), of Gilsland. He is Lord de Vaux, a crusader, and master of the horse to King Richard I.—Sir. W. Scott,The Talisman(time, Richard I.).
Mumblazen(Master Michael), the old herald, a dependant of Sir Hugh Robsart.—Sir W. Scott,Kenilworth(time, Elizabeth).
Mumbo Jumbo, an African bogie, hideous and malignant, the terror of women and children.
Mumps(Tib), keeper of the “Mumps’ Ha’ ale-hous’,” on the road to Charlie’s Hope farm.—Sir W. Scott,Guy Mannering(time, George II.).
Munchau´sen(The Baron), a hero of most marvellous adventures.—Rudolf Erich Raspe (a German, but storekeeper of the Dolcoath mines, in Cornwall, 1792).
***The name is said to refer to Hieronymus Karl Friedrich von Münchhausen, a German officer in the Russian army, noted for his marvellous stories (1720-1797). It is also supposed to be an implied satire on the traveller’s tales of Baron de Tott, in hisMémoires sur les Turcs et Tartares(1784), and those of James Bruce, “The African Traveller,” in hisTravels to Discover the Sources of the Nile(1790).
Munchausen(The Baron). The French Baron Munchausen is represented by M. de Crac, the hero of a French operetta.
Mu´nera, daughter of Pollentê, the Saracen, to whom he gave all the spoils he could lay his hands on. Munera was beautiful and rich exceedingly; but Talus, having chopped off her golden hands and silver feet, tossed her into the moat.—Spenser,Faëry Queen, v. 2 (1596).
Mungo, a black slave of Don Diego.
Dear heart, what a terrible life am I led!A dog has a better dat’s sheltered and fed ...Mungo here, Mungo dere,Mungo everywhere ...Me wish to the Lord me was dead.I. Bickerstaff,The Padlock(1768).
Münster(Baroness). American woman married to a German prince, who wants to get rid of her. She comes to America with her brother to visit relatives, and is bored by everything, and forever threatening to write to the reigning prince to recall her to Germany.—Henry James, Jr.,The Europeans(1878).
Murat(The Russian), Michael Miloradowitch (1770-1820).
Murdstone(Edward), the second husband of Mrs. Copperfield. His character was “firmness,” that is, an unbending self-will, which rendered the young life of David intolerably wretched.
Jane Murdstone, sister of Edward, as hard and heartless as her brother. Jane Murdstone became the companion of Dora Spenlow, and told Mr. Spenlow of David’s love for Dora, hoping to annoy David. At the death of Mr. Spenlow, Jane returned to live with her brother.—Dickens,David Copperfield(1849).
MurrayorMoray(The bonnie earl of), James Stewart, the “Good Regent,” a natural son of James V. of Scotland, by Margaret, daughter of John, Lord Erskine. He joined the reform party in 1556, and went to France in 1561, to invite Mary queen of Scots to come and reside in her kingdom. He was an accomplice in the murder of Rizzio, and during the queen’simprisonment was appointed regent. According to an ancient ballad, this bonny earl “was the queen’s love,”i.e.Queen Anne of Denmark, daughter of Frederick II., and wife of James I. of England. It is said that James, being jealous of the handsome earl, instigated the earl of Huntly to murder him (1531-1570).
Introduced by Sir W. Scott inThe MonasteryandThe Abbot(time, Elizabeth).
Murray(John), of Broughton, secretary to Charles Edward, the Young Pretender. He turned king’s evidence, and revealed to Government all the circumstances which gave rise to the rebellion, and the persons most active in its organization.
If crimes like these hereafter are forgiven,Judas and Murray both may go to heaven.Jacobite Relics, ii. 374.
Musæus, the poet (B.C.1410), author of the elegant tale ofLeander and Hero. Virgil places him in the Elysian fields attended by a vast multitude of ghosts, Musæus being taller by a head than any of them (Æneid, vi. 677).
Swarm ... as the infernal spiritsOn sweet Musæus when he came to hell.C. Marlowe,Dr. Faustus(1590).
Muscadins of Paris, Paris exquisites, who aped the London cockneys in the first French Revolution. Their dress was top-boots with thick soles, knee-breeches, a dress-coat with long tails and high stiff collar, and a thick cudgel called aconstitution. It was thought John Bull-like to assume a huskiness of voice, a discourtesy of manners, and a swaggering vulgarity of speech and behavior.
Cockneys of London! Muscadins of Paris!Byron,Don Juan, viii. 124 (1824).
Mus´carol, king of flies, and father of Clarion, the most beautiful of the race.—Spenser,Muiopotmos, or The Butterfly’s Fate(1590).
Muse(The Tenth), Marie Lejars de Gournay, a French writer (1566-1645).
Antoinette Deshoulieres; also called “The French Callĭŏpê.” Her best work is an allegory calledLes Moutons(1633-1694).
Mdlle. Scudéri was preposterously so called (1607-1701).
Also Delphine Gray, afterwards Mde. Emile de Girardin. Hernom de plumewas “viconte de Launay.” Béranger sang of “the beauty of her shoulders,” and Châteaubriand, of “the charms of her smile” (1804-1855).
Muse-Mother, Mnemos´ynê, goddess of memory, and mother of the Muses.
Memory,That sweet Muse-mother.E. B. Browning,Prometheus Bound(1850).
Muses(Symbols of the).
Cal´liope[Kăl´.ly.ŏ.py], the epic Muse: a tablet and stylus, sometimes a scroll.
Clio, Muse of history: a scroll or open chest of books.
Er´ato, Muse of love ditties: a lyre.
Euter´pê, Muse of lyric poetry: a flute.
Melpom´enê, Muse of tragedy: a tragic mask, the club of Hercules, or a sword. She wears the cothurnus, and her head is wreathed with vine leaves.
Pol´yhym´nia, Muse of sacred poetry: sits pensive, but has no attribute, because deity is not to be represented by any visible symbol.
Terpsic´horê[Terp.sick´.o.ry], Muse of choral song and dance: a lyre and the plectrum.
Thali´a, Muse of comedy and idyllic poetry: a comic mask, a shepherd’s staff, or a wreath of ivy.
Uran´ia, Muse of astronomy: carries a staff pointing to a globe.
Museum(A Walking), Longīnus, author of a work onThe Sublime(213-273).
Musgrave(Sir Richard), the English champion who fought with Sir William Deloraine, the Scotch champion, to decide by combat whether young Scott, the heir of Branksome Hall, should become the page of King Edward, or be delivered up to his mother. In the combat, Sir Richard was slain, and the boy was delivered over to his mother.—Sir W. Scott,Lay of the Last Minstrel(1805).
Musgrave(Sir Miles), an officer in the king’s service under the earl of Montrose.—Sir W. Scott,Legend of Montrose(time, Charles I.).
Music.Amphion is said to have built the walls of Thebes by the music of his lyre. Ilium and the capital of Arthur’s kingdom were also built to divine music. The city of Jericho was destroyed by music (Joshuavi. 20).
They were building still, seeing the city was builtTo music.Tennyson.
Music and Men of Genius.Hume, Dr. Johnson, Sir W. Scott, Robert Peel and Lord Byron had no ear for music, and neither vocal nor instrumental music gave them the slightest pleasure. To the poet Rogers it gave actual discomfort. Even the harmonious Pope preferred the harsh dissonance of a street organ to Handel’s oratorios.
Music(Father of), Giovanni Battista Pietro Aloisio da Palestri´na (1529-1594).
Music(Father of Greek), Terpander (fl.B.C.676).
Music’s First Martyr.Menaphon says that when he was in Thessaly he saw a youth challenge the birds in music; and a nightingale took up the challenge. For a time the contest was uncertain; but then the youth, “in a rapture,” played so cunningly that the bird, despairing, “down dropped upon his lute, and brake her heart.”
***This beautiful tale, by Strada (in Latin) has been translated in rhyme by R. Crashaw. Versions have been given by Ambrose Philips, and others; but none can compare with the exquisite relation of John Ford, in his drama entitledThe Lover’s Melancholy(1628).
Musical Small-Coal Man, Thos. Britton, who used to sell small coals and keep a musical club (1654-1714).
Musicians(Prince of), Giovanni Battista Pietro Aloisio da Palestri´na (1529-1594).
Musidora, thedame du cœurof Damon. Damon thought her coyness was scorn; but one day he caught her bathing, and his delicacy on the occasion so enchanted her that she at once accepted his proffered love.—Thomson,Seasons(“Summer,” 1727).
Musido´rus, a hero, whose exploits are told by Sir Philip Sidney, in hisArcadia(1581).
Musketeer, a soldier armed with a musket, but specially applied to a company of gentlemen who were a mounted guard in the service of the king of France from 1661.
They formed two companies, thegreyand theblack; so called from the color of their hair. Both were clad in scarlet, and hence their quarters were called theMaison rouge. In peace they followed the kingin the chase, to protect him; in war they fought either on foot or horseback. They were suppressed in 1791; restored in 1814, but only for a few months; and after the restoration of Louis XVIII. we hear no more of them. Many Scotch gentlemen enrolled themselves among these dandy soldiers, who went to war with curled hair, white gloves, and perfumed like milliners.
***A. Dumas has a novel calledThe Three Musketeers(1844), the first of a series; the second isTwenty Years Afterwards; and the third,Viconte de Bragelonne.
Muslin, the talkative, impertinent, intriguingsuivanteof Mrs. Lovemore. Mistress Muslin is sweet upon William, the footman, and loves cards.—A. Murphy,The Way to Keep Him(1760).
Mus´tafa, a poor tailor of China, father of Aladdin, killed by illness brought on by the idle vagabondism of his son.—Arabian Nights(“Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp”).
Mutton, a courtezan, sometimes called a “laced mutton.” “Mutton Lane,” in Clerkenwell, was so called because it was a suburra or quarter for harlots. The courtezan was called a “Mutton” even in the reign of Henry III., for Bracton speaks of them asoves.—De Legibus, etc., ii. (1569).
Mutton-Eating King(The), Charles II. of England (1630, 1659-1685).
Here lies our mutton-eating king,Whose word no man relies on;He neversaida foolish thing,And neverdida wise on’.Earl of Rochester.
Mutual Friend(Our), a novel by Charles Dickens (1864). The “mutual friend” is Mr. Boffin, “the golden dustman,” who was the mutual friend of John Harmon and of Bella Wilfer. The tale is this: John Harmon was supposed to have been murdered by Julius Handford; but it was Ratford, who was murdered by Rogue Riderhood, and the mistake arose from a resemblance between the two persons. By his father’s will, John Harmon was to marry Bella Wilfer; but John Harmon knew not the person destined by his father for his wife, and made up his mind to dislike her. After his supposed murder, he assumed the name of John Rokesmith, and became the secretary of Mr. Boffin, “the golden dustman,” residuary legatee of old John Harmon, by which he became possessor of £100,000. Boffin knew Rokesmith, but concealed his knowledge for a time. At Boffin’s house, John Harmon (as Rokesmith) met Bella Wilfer, and fell in love with her. Mr. Boffin, in order to test Bella’s love, pretended to be angry with Rokesmith for presuming to love Bella; and, as Bella married him, he cast them both off “for a time,” to live on John’s earnings. A baby was born, and then the husband took the young mother to a beautiful house, and told her he was John Harmon, that the house was their house, that he was the possessor of £100,000 through the disinterested conduct of their “mutual friend,” Mr. Boffin; and the young couple lived happily with Mr. and Mrs. Boffin, in wealth and luxury.
Mutusa-ili, Babylonian sage and unsuspected Jew, high in repute for wisdom and prophetic powers.—Elizabeth Stuart Phelps and Herbert D. Ward,The Master of the Magicians(1890).
My Book(Dr.). Dr. John Aberne´thy (1765-1830) was so called because he used to say to his patients, “Read my book” (On Surgical Observations).
My Little All.
I was twice burnt out, and lost my little all both times.—Sheridan,The Critic, i. 1 (1779).
I was twice burnt out, and lost my little all both times.—Sheridan,The Critic, i. 1 (1779).
Myrebeau(Le sieure de), one of the committee of the states of Burgundy.—Sir W. Scott,Anne of Geierstein(time, Edward IV.).
Myro, a statuary of Eleu´thĕræ, who carved a cow so true to nature that even bulls mistook it for a living animal. (SeeHorse Painted.)
E’en Myro’s statues, which for art surpassAll others, once were but a shapeless mass.Ovid,Art of Love, iii.
Myrra, an Ionian slave, and the beloved concubine of Sardanapa´lus, the Assyrian king. She roused him from his indolence to resist Arba´cês, the Mede, who aspired to his throne, and when she found his cause hopeless, induced him to mount a funeral pile, which she fired with her own hand, and then, springing into the flames, she perished with the tyrant.—Byron,Sardanapalus(1819).
Myrtle(Mrs. Lerviah), sentimental Christian, who finds Magdalens and poor, ill-clad, homeless girls “so depressing,” but begs Nixy Trent, the only one who ever entered her house, “to consider that there is hope for us all in the way of salvation which our Lord has marked out for sinners.” After which crumb of ghostly consolation she proceeds to turn Nixy out of the house.—Elizabeth Stuart Phelps,Hedged In(1870).
Mysie, the female attendant of Lady Margaret Bellenden, of the Tower of Tillietudlem.—Sir W. Scott,Old Mortality(time, Charles II.).
Mysie, the old housekeeper at Wolf’s Crag Tower.—Sir W. Scott,Bride of Lammermoor(time, William III.).
Mysis, the scolding wife of Sile´no, and mother of Daph´nê and Nysa. It is to Mysis that Apollo sings that popular song, “Pray, Goody, please to moderate the rancour of your tongue” (act i. 3).—Kane O’Hara,Midas(1764).
Mysterious Husband(The), a tragedy by Cumberland (1783). Lord Davenant was a bigamist. His first wife was Marianne Dormer, whom he forsook in three months to marry Louisa Travers. Marianne, supposing her husband to be dead, married Lord Davenant’s son. Miss Dormer’s brother was the betrothed of the second Lady Davenant before her marriage with his lordship. She was told that he had proved faithless and had married another. The report of Lord Davenant’s death and the marriage of Captain Dormer were both false. When the villainy of Lord Davenant could be concealed no longer, he destroyed himself.
Nat,the fairy that addressed Orpheus, in the infernal regions, and offered him for food a roasted ant, a flea’s thigh, butterflies’ brains, some sucking mites, a rainbow tart etc., to be washed down with dew-drops and beer made from seven barleycorns—a very heady liquor.—King,Orpheus and Eurydice(1730-1805).
Nab-man(The), a sheriff’s officer.
Old Dornton has sent the nab-man after him at last.—Guy Mannering, ii. 3.
Old Dornton has sent the nab-man after him at last.—Guy Mannering, ii. 3.
***This is the dramatized version of Sir W. Scott’s novel, by Terry (1816).
Nacien, the holy hermit who introduced Galahad to the “Siege Perilous,” the only vacant seat in the Round Table. This seat was reserved for the knight who was destined to achieve the quest of the Holy Graal. Nacien told the king and his knights that no one but a virgin knight could achieve that quest.—Sir T. Malory,History of Prince Arthur, iii. (1470).
Nadab, in Dryden’s satire ofAbsalom and Achitophel, is meant for Lord Howard, a profligate, who laid claim to great piety. As Nadab offered incense with strange fire and was slain, so Lord Howard, it is said, mixed the consecrated wafer with some roast apples and sugar.—Pt. i. (1681).
Nadgett, a man employed by Montague Tigg (manager of the “Anglo-Bengalee Company”) to make private inquiries. He was a dried-up, shrivelled old man. Where he lived and how he lived, nobody knew; but he was always to be seen waiting for some one who never appeared; and he would glide along apparently taking no notice of any one.—C. Dickens,Martin Chuzzlewit(1844).
Nag’s Head Consecration, a scandal perpetuated by Pennant, on the dogma of “apostolic succession.” The “high-church clergy” assert that the ceremony called holy orders has been transmitted without interruption from the apostles. Thus, the apostles laid hands on certain persons, who (say they) became ministers of the gospel; these persons “ordained” others in the same manner; and the succession has never been broken. Pennant says, at the Reformation the bishops came to a fix. There was only one bishop, viz., Anthony Kitchen, of Llandaff, and Bonner would not allow him to perform the ceremony. In this predicament, the fourteen candidates for episcopal ordination rummaged up Story, a deposed bishop, and got him to “lay hands” on Parker, as archbishop of Canterbury. As it would have been profanation for Story to do this in a cathedral or church, the ceremony was performed in a tavern called the Nag’s Head, corner of Friday Street, Cheapside. Strype refutes this scandalous tale in hisLife of Archbishop Parker, and so does Dr. Hook; but it will never be stamped out.
Naggleton(Mr.andMrs.), types of a nagging husband and wife. They are for ever jangling at trifles and willful misunderstandings.—Punch(1864-5).
Naked Bear(The).Hush! the naked bear will hear you!a threat and reproof to unruly children in North America. The naked bear, says the legend, was larger and more ferocious than any of the species. It was quite naked, save and except one spot on its back, where was a tuft of white hair.—Heckewelder,Transactions of the American Phil. Soc., iv. 260.
Thus the wrinkled old NokomisNursed the little Hiawatha,Rocked him in his linden cradle,Stilled his fretful wail by saying“Hush! the naked bear will get thee!”Longfellow,Hiawatha, iii. (1855).
Nakir´,Nekir, orNakeer. (SeeMonker and Nakir.)
Nala, a legendary king of India, noted for his love of Damayanti, and his subsequent misfortunes. This legendary king has been the subject of numerous poems.
***Dean Milman has translated into English the episode from theMahâbhârata,and W. Yates has translated the Nalodaya of the great Sanskrit poem.
Nama, a daughter of man, beloved by the angel Zaraph. Her wish was to love intensely and to love holily, but as she fixed her love on a seraph, and not on God, she was doomed to abide on earth, “unchanged in heart and frame,” so long as the earth endureth; but at the great consummation both Nama and her seraph will be received into those courts of love, where “love never dieth.”—Moore,Loves of the Angels, ii. (1822).
Namby(Major), a retired officer, living in the suburbs of London. He had been twice married; his first wife had four children, and his second wife three. Major Namby, though he lived in a row, always transacted his domestic affairs by bawling out his orders from the front garden, to the annoyance of his neighbors. He used to stalk half-way down the garden path, with his head high in the air, his chest stuck out, and flourishing his military cane. Suddenly he would stop, stamp with one foot, knock up the hinder brim of his hat, begin to scratch the nape of his neck, wait a moment, then wheel round, look at the first-floor window, and roar out, “Matilda!” (the name of his wife) “don’t do so-and-so;” or “Matilda! do so-and-so.” Then he would bellow to the servants to buy this, or not to let the children eat that, and so on.—Wilkie Collins,Pray Employ Major Namby(a sketch).
Names of Terror.The following amongst others, have been employed as bogie-names to frighten children with:—
Attilawas a bogie-name to the Romans.
BoorBoh, son of Odin, was a fierce Gothic captain. His name was used by his soldiers when they would fight or surprise the enemy.—Sir William Temple.
***Warton tells us that the Dutch scared their children with the name of Boh.
Bonaparte, at the close of the eighteenth and beginning of the nineteenth centuries, was a name of terror in Europe.
Corvi´nus(Mathias), the Hungarian, was a scare-name to the Turks.
LilisorLilithwas a bogie-name used by the ancient Jews to unruly children. The rabbinical writers tell us that Lilith was Adam’s wife before the creation of Eve. She refused to submit to him, and became a horrible night-spectre, especially hostile to young children.
Lunsford, a name employed to frighten children in England. Sir Thomas Lunsford, governor of the Tower, was a man of most vindictive temper, and the dread of everyone.
Made children with your tones to run for’t,As bad as Bloody-bones or Lunsford.S. Butler,Hudibras, iii. 2, line 1112, (1678).
Narses(2syl.) was the name used by Assyrian mothers to scare their children with.
The name of Narses was the formidable sound with which the Assyrian mothers were accustomed to terrify their infants.—Gibbon,Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, viii. 219 (1776-88).
The name of Narses was the formidable sound with which the Assyrian mothers were accustomed to terrify their infants.—Gibbon,Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, viii. 219 (1776-88).
RawheadandBloody-boneswere at one time bogie-names to children.
Servants awe children and keep them in subjection by telling them of Rawhead and Bloody-bones.—Locke.
Servants awe children and keep them in subjection by telling them of Rawhead and Bloody-bones.—Locke.
Richard I., “Cœur de Lion.” This name, says Camden (Remains), was employed by the Saracens as a “name of dread and terror.”
His tremendous name was employed by the Syrian mothers to silence their infants; and ifa horse suddenly started from the way, his rider was wont to exclaim, “Dost thou think King Richard is in the bush?”—Gibbon,Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, xi. 146 (1776-88).
His tremendous name was employed by the Syrian mothers to silence their infants; and ifa horse suddenly started from the way, his rider was wont to exclaim, “Dost thou think King Richard is in the bush?”—Gibbon,Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, xi. 146 (1776-88).
Sebastian(Don), a name of terror once used by the Moors.
Nor shall Sebastian’s formidable nameBe longer used to still the crying babe.Dryden,Don Sebastian(1690).
Talbot(John), a name used in Francein terroremto unruly children.
They in France to feare their young children crye, “The Talbot commeth!”—Hall,Chronicles(1545).
They in France to feare their young children crye, “The Talbot commeth!”—Hall,Chronicles(1545).
Here (said they) is the terror of the French,The scarecrow that affrights our children so.Shakespeare, 1Henry VI.act.i. sc. 4 (1589).
Is this the Talbot so much feared abroad,That with his name the mothers still their babes?Shakespeare, 1Henry VI.act iv. sc. 5 (1589).
Tamerlane, a name used by the Persiansin terrorem.
Tarquin, a name of terror in Roman nurseries.
The nurse to still her child, will tell my story,And fright her crying babe with Tarquin’s name.Shakespeare,Rape of Lucrece(1594).
(See alsoNaked Bear.)
Namo, duke of Bavaria, and one of Charlemagne’s twelve paladins.—Ariosto,Orlando Furioso(1516).
Namou´na, an enchantress. Though first of created beings, she is still as young and beautiful as ever.—Persian Mythology.
Namous, the envoy of Mahomet in paradise.
Nancy, eldest daughter of an English country family, in straitened circumstances. Nancy is a romp and untamed, but sound-hearted, and loves her brothers and sister tenderly. To advance their interests she marries Sir Roger Tempest, who is much her senior. In time, and after many misunderstandings, she learns to love him, and “they live happily together ever after.”—Rhoda Broughton,Nancy.
Nancy, servant to Mrs. Pattypan. A pretty little flirt, who coquets with Tim Tartlet and young Whimsey, and helps Charlotte Whimsey in her “love affairs.”—James Cobb,The First Floor(1756-1818).
Nancy, a poor misguided girl, who really loves the villain Bill Sykes (1syl.). In spite of her surroundings, she has still some good feelings, and tries to prevent a burglary planned by Fagin and his associates. Bill Sykes, in a fit of passion, strikes her twice upon the face with the butt-end of a pistol, and she falls dead at his feet.—C. Dickens,Oliver Twist(1837).
Nancy, the sailor’s fancy. At half-past four he parted from her; at eight next morn he bade her adieu. Next day a storm arose, and when it lulled the enemy appeared; but when the fight was hottest, the jolly tar “put up a prayer for Nancy.” Dibdin,Sea Songs(“’Twas post meridian half-past four,” 1790).
Nancy(Miss), Mrs. Anna Oldfield, a celebrated actress, buried in Westminster Abbey. She died in 1730, and lay in state, attended by two noblemen. Mrs. Oldfield was buried in a “very fine Brussels lace head-dress, a new pair of kid gloves, and a robe with lace ruffles and a lace collar.” (SeeNarcissa.)
Nancy Dawson, a famous actress, whotook London by storm. Her father was a poster in Clare Market (1728-1767).
Her easy mien, her shape so neat,She foots, she trips, she looks so sweet;I die for Nancy Dawson.
Nancy of the Vale, a village maiden, who preferred Strephon to the gay lordlings who sought her hand in marriage.—Shenstone,A Ballad(1554).
Nannic, deformed brother of Guenn, and her darling. He is versed in all manner of auguries and much feared and consulted by the peasants on this account.—Blanche Willis Howard,Guenn.
Nannie, Miss Fleming, daughter of a farmer in the parish of Tarbolton, in Ayrshire. Immortalized by R. Burns.
Nannie (Little).
“This world, whose brightest daySeems to us so dreary,Nannie found all bright and gay,Love-alight and cheery,Stayed a little while to playAnd went home unweary.”Elizabeth Akers Allen,Poems(1866).
Nan´tolet, father of Rosalura and Lillia-Bianca.—Beaumont and Fletcher,The Wild-Goose Chase(1652).
Napoleon I., called by the Germans “Kaiser Kläs” (q.v.).
“M” is curiously coupled with the history of Napoleon I. and III. (See M.)
The following is a curious play on the word Napoleon.
That is:
Napoleon Apollyon is [being] a lion going about destroying cities.
Chauvinism, Napoleon idolatry.Chauvvinis a blind idolater of Napoleon I., in Scribe’s drama entitledSoldat Laboureur.
Napoleon III.His nicknames.
Arenenberg(Comte d’). So he called himself after his escape from the fortress of Ham.Badinguet, the name of the man he shot in his Boulogne escapade.Boustrapa, a compound of Bou[logne], Stra[sbourg] and Pa[ris], the places of his noted escapades.Grosbec.So called from the rather unusual size of his nose.Man of December.So called because December was his month of glory. Thus, he was elected president December 11, 1848; made hiscoup d’étatDecember 2, 1851; and was created emperor December 2, 1852.Man of Sedan.So called because at Sedan he surrendered his sword to the king of Prussia (September, 1870).Ratipole, same as the west of EnglandRantipole, a harum-scarum, half idiot, half madcap.The Little.Victor Hugo gave him this title; but the hatred of Hugo to Napoleon was monomania.Verhuel, the name of his supposed father.
Arenenberg(Comte d’). So he called himself after his escape from the fortress of Ham.
Badinguet, the name of the man he shot in his Boulogne escapade.
Boustrapa, a compound of Bou[logne], Stra[sbourg] and Pa[ris], the places of his noted escapades.
Grosbec.So called from the rather unusual size of his nose.
Man of December.So called because December was his month of glory. Thus, he was elected president December 11, 1848; made hiscoup d’étatDecember 2, 1851; and was created emperor December 2, 1852.
Man of Sedan.So called because at Sedan he surrendered his sword to the king of Prussia (September, 1870).
Ratipole, same as the west of EnglandRantipole, a harum-scarum, half idiot, half madcap.
The Little.Victor Hugo gave him this title; but the hatred of Hugo to Napoleon was monomania.
Verhuel, the name of his supposed father.
Number 2.The second of the month was Louis Napoleon’s day. It was also one of the days of his uncle, the other being the fifteenth.
Thecoup d’étatwas December 2; he was made emperor December 2, 1852; the Franco-Prussian war opened at Saarbrück, August 2, 1870; he surrendered his sword to William of Prussia, September 2, 1870.
Napoleon I. was crowned December 2, 1804; and the victory of Austerlitz was December 2, 1805.
Numerical Curiosities.1. 1869, the last year of Napoleon’s glory; the next year was that of his downfall. As a matter of curiosity, it may be observed that if the day of his birth, or the day of the empress’s birth, or the date of the capitulation of Paris, be added to that of the coronation of Napoleon III., the result always points to 1869. Thus, he was crowned 1852; he was born 1808; the Empress Eugénie was born 1826: the capitulation of Paris was 1871. Whence:
2. 1870, the year of his downfall. By adding the numerical values of the birth date either of Napoleon or Eugénie to the date of the marriage, we get their fatal year of 1870. Thus, Napoleon was born 1808; Eugénie, 1826; married, 1853.
2.Empereur.The votes for the president to be emperor were 7,119,791; those against him were 1,119,000. If now the numbers 711979r/Upside down 1116be written on a piece of paper, and held up to the light, the reverse side will show the wordempereur. (The dash is the dividing mark, and forms the long stroke of the “p.”)
Napoleon and Talleyrand.Napoleon I. one day entered a roadside inn, and called for breakfast. There was nothing in the house but eggs and cider (which Napoleon detested). “What shall we do?” said the emperor to Talleyrand. In answer to this, thegrand chambellanimprovised the rhymes following:—
Le bon roi DagobertAimait le bon vin au dessert.Le grand St. EloiLui dit, “O mon roi,Le droit réuniL’a bien renchéri.”“Eh bien!” lui dit le roi ...
But he could get no further. Whereupon Napoleon himself instantly capped the line thus:
“Je boirai du cidre avec toi.”Chapus,Dieppe, etc.(1853).
Our royal master, Dagobert,Good wine loved at his dessert.But St. EloiOnce said, “Mon roi,We here prepareNo dainty fare.”“Well,” cried the king, “so let it be,Cider to-day we’ll drink with thee.”
Napoleon of the Drama.Alfred Bunn, lessee of Drury Lane Theatre (1819-1826) was so called; and so was Robert William Elliston, his predecessor (1774-1826, died 1831).
Napoleon of Mexico, the emperor Augusto Iturbidê (1784-1824).
Napoleon of Oratory, W. E. Gladstone (1809- ).
Napoleon of Peace, Louis Philippe of France (1773, reigned 1830-1848, died 1850).
Narcissa, meant for Elizabeth Lee, the step-daughter of Dr. Young. In Night ii. the poet says she was clandestinely buried at Montpelier, because she was a Protestant.—Dr. Young,Night Thoughts(1742-6).
Narcissa, Mrs. Oldfield, the actress, who insisted on being rouged and dressed inBrussels lace when she was “laid out.” (SeeNancy.)
“Odious! In woolen? ’Twould a saint provoke!”Were the last words that poor Narcissa spoke.“No, let a charming chintz and Brussels laceWrap my cold limbs and shade my lifeless face;One would not, sure, be frightful when one’s dead!And, Betty, give this cheek a little red.”Pope,Moral Essays, i. (1731).
Narcisse, an airy young Creole. He has boundless faith in himself, and a Micawberish confidence in the future. He would like to be called “Papillon,” the butterfly; “’Cause thass my natu’e! I gatheth honey eve’y day fum eve’y opening floweh, as the bahd of Avon wemawked.”—George W. Cable,Dr. Sevier(1883).
Narcissus, a flower. According to Grecian fable, Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection in a fountain, and, having pined away because he could not kiss it, was changed into the flower which bears his name.—Ovid,Metamorphoses, iii. 346, etc.
Echo was in love with Narcissus, and died of grief because he would not return her love.
Narcissus fair,As o’er the fabled fountain hanging still.Thomson,Seasons(“Spring,” 1728).
***Glück, in 1779, produced an opera calledEcho et Narcisse.
Narren-Schiff(“The ship of fools”), a satirical poem, in German, by Brandt (1491), lashing the follies and vices of the period. Brandt makes knowledge of one’s self the beginning of wisdom; maintains the equality of man; and speaks of life as a brief passage only. The book at one time enjoyed unbounded popularity.
Narses(2syl.), a Roman general against the Goths; the terror of children.