[i]

[ii]

Copyright, 1892, by
Selmar Hess.

Photographs printed on the
Hess Press.

[iii]

VOLUME 3.

[1]

MArk Tapley, a servant and companion of Martin Chuzzlewit, who travels with him to Eden in North America. Mark Tapley believes there’s no real achievement in being cheerful during good times; however, when he gets to Eden, faces every hardship, loses all his money, gets conned by everyone, and nearly dies from fevers, he realizes it would truly be an achievement "to be jolly under the circumstances." —C. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit (1843).

Markham, a gentleman in the service of the Earl of Sussex.—Sir W. Scott, Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

Markham (Mrs.), the pen name of Mrs. Elizabeth Perrose (born Elizabeth Cartwright), author of History of England, among other works.

Markleham (Mrs.), Annie's mother. Obsessed with enjoyment, she always claimed that she indulged in it for “Annie’s sake.” Mrs. Markleham is usually called “the old soldier.”—C. Dickens, David Copperfield (1849).

Marksman, one of Fortunio’s seven attendants. He had such sharp vision that he usually covered his eyes to tone down the intense clarity of his sight.—Comtesse D’Aunoy, Fairy Tales (“Fortunio,” 1682).

Marlborough (The duke of), John Churchill. He was referred to by Marshal Turenne as Le Bel Anglais (1650-1722).

Marlow (Sir Charles), the warm-hearted old friend of Squire Hardcastle.

Young Marlow, son of Sir Charles. “He’s the most modest man you’ll ever meet when it comes to women of reputation and virtue; however, his friends paint a very different picture of him when it comes to women of a different kind” (act i. 1). Mistaking Hardcastle’s house for an inn and Miss Hardcastle for the barmaid, he feels completely at ease and flirts without hesitation. Once he realizes that the so-called “inn” is actually a private home and the supposed barmaid is the squire’s daughter, he finds that his shyness has been shattered, and he has no trouble expressing his feelings for her as a result[2].—Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer (1773).

When Goldsmith was between 16 and 17, he headed to Edgworthstown. As night was falling, he asked a man which was the “best house” in town—meaning the best inn. The man pointed to Sir Ralph Fetherstone's house (or Mr. Fetherstone), and Oliver walked into the parlor to find the owner sitting by a nice fire. Oliver told him he wanted to spend the night and asked him to bring in supper. “Sir Ralph,” knowing who he was dealing with, played along with the joke, which Oliver didn’t realize until the next day when he asked for his bill. (It’s noted in Notes and Queries that Ralph Fetherstone was only Mr., but his grandson was Sir Thomas).

Marmaduke Wharne. An eccentric old Englishman who has lived in America for a long time. He is kind and generous, but often comes across as rough in his manner and speech.—A. D. T. Whitney, Leslie Goldthwaite’s Summer (1866).

Marmaduke (Sir). A man who has lost everything the world can offer—money, love, fame, and friends—but still finds solace in this:

“I consider it worth
All the pain of shattered dreams,—
All the loves and honors gone,—
To gain the heavens, even if it means
Losing everything on earth.”

Theodore Tilton, *Sir Marmaduke’s Musings* (1867).

Marmion. Lord Marmion was engaged to Constance de Beverley, but he dumped her for Lady Clare, an heiress who loved Ralph de Wilton. Lady Clare turned down Lord Marmion’s proposal and sought refuge from him in the convent of St. Hilda in Whitby. Constance took her vows in the convent of St. Cuthbert on Holy Isle, but eventually left the convent secretly, was captured, brought back, and buried alive in a deep cell. Meanwhile, Lord Marmion was sent by Henry VIII on a mission to James IV of Scotland and stopped at the hall of Sir Hugh de Heron, who sent a palmer as his guide. On his return, Lord Marmion ordered the abbess of St. Hilda to release Lady Clare and place her under the care of her relative, Fitzclare of Tantallon Hall. There, she ran into the palmer, who was Ralph de Wilton. After Lord Marmion was killed at the battle of Flodden Field, she was free to marry the man she loved.—Sir W. Scott, Marmion (1808).

Marmion (Lord), a descendant of Robert de Marmion, who received the manor of Scrivelby in Lincolnshire from William the Conqueror. This Robert de Marmion was the first royal champion of England, and the title stayed in the family until the reign of Edward I, when, without male heirs, it transferred to John Dymoke, the son-in-law of Philip Marmion, and it remains with that family to this day.

Marnally (Bernard). Attractive Irish tutor at “Happy-go-Lucky,” a country house. He is accused of murdering the young widow's infant children, whom he loves, but he is found not guilty and returns to Ireland. Years later, he returns to America, reunites with his old love, and marries her.—Miriam Coles Harris, Happy-go-Lucky (1881).

Marner (Silas). A miser and a woman-hater living a simple life, who one night discovers a baby girl in his cottage, and through raising her, learns to have patience with life and kindness toward others.—George Eliot, Silas Marner.

[3]Virgil, whose full name was Publius Virgilius Maro (70-19 B.C.).

Oh, if only I had the sacred skill of Maro
To awaken compassion in the sensitive heart,
To craft the smooth and sorrowful verse
With all the flair of beautiful grief ...
Then I might ...

Falconer, The Shipwreck, iii. 5 (1756).

Maronites (3 syl.), a religious semi-Catholic group from Syria, are constantly in conflict with their nearby neighbors, the Druses, a semi-Muslim sect. Both groups are currently under the sultan's rule but maintain their own legal systems. The Maronites number around 400,000, while the Druses are about half that size. The Maronites get their name from J. Maron, their founder; the Druses are named after Durzi, who led them from Egypt into Syria. The patriarch of the Maronites lives in Kanobin, and the hakem of the Druses is based in Deir-el-kamar. The Maronites, sometimes referred to as the “Catholics of Lebanon,” differ from Roman Catholics in several ways and have their own pope or patriarch. In 1860, the Druses launched a brutal attack on the Maronites, prompting intervention from Europe.

Marotte (2 syl.), a footman of Gorgibus; an ordinary middle-class guy who hates pretentiousness. When the sophisticated ladies of the house attempt to turn him into a fashionable servant and try to teach him some fancy speech, he straightforwardly tells them he doesn’t understand Latin.

Marphisa, sister of Rogero, was a female knight with incredible skill. Raised by a magician, she was kidnapped at the age of seven and sold to the king of Persia. When she turned 18, her royal master attacked her honor; she killed him and took the crown for herself. Marphisa then traveled to Gaul to join Agramant's army but later entered Charlemagne's camp, where she was baptized.—Ariosto, Orlando Furioso (1516).

Marphu´rius, a doctor from the Pyrrhonian school. Sganarelle asks him about his marriage, but the philosopher responds, "Maybe; it's possible; it could be; everything's uncertain;" until finally Sganarelle hits him, and Marphurius says he will sue him for assault. "Maybe," replies Sganarelle; "it's possible; it could be," etc., echoing the exact words of the philosopher (sc. ix.).—Molière, Le Mariage Forcé (1664).

Marplot, “the busybody.” A clumsy, good-hearted, meddling young man, very curious, overly involved, and always messing up whatever he gets involved in. Marplot is introduced by Mrs. Centlivre in two comedies, The Busy Body and Marplot in Lisbon.

^*_*^* This was Henry Woodward’s standout role (1717-1777). His insatiable curiosity, his gradual understanding, and his complete overwhelm by the weight of his dilemmas were so entertaining that even Garrick admitted he was the clear “Marplot” of the stage.—Boaden, Life of Siddons.

N. B.—William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle, released a free translation of Molière’s L’Etourdi, which he called Marplot.

Marquis de Basqueville, one night at the opera, was informed by a messenger that his house was on fire. “Well,” he replied to the messenger, “talk to Madame the Marquise across in that box; this is a household matter.” —Chapus, Dieppe et ses Environs (1853).

Marrall (Jack), a spiteful, vengeful opportunist. He is the clerk and pawn of Sir Giles Overreach. When Marrall thinks Wellborn is broke, he treats him poorly; but as soon as he believes Wellborn is about to marry the wealthy widow, Lady Allworth, he becomes very submissive and even offers to lend him money. Marrall then turns against his master, Sir Giles, and reveals to Wellborn the shady tricks that have led to him being cheated out of his estates. However, when he asks Wellborn to take him on as a servant, Wellborn replies, “Someone who betrays one master will betray another;” and refuses to engage with him.—Massinger, A New Way to Pay Old Debts (1628).

Married Men of Genius. The number of talented men who are unhappy in their marriages is quite high. Here are some well-known examples: Socrates and Xanthippe; Saadi, the Persian poet; Dante and Gemma Donati; Milton and Mary Powell; Marlborough and Sarah Jennings; Gustavus Adolphus and his capricious queen; Byron and Miss Milbanke; Dickens and Miss Hogarth; etc. Any reader could easily add to this list.

Mars, the embodiment of divine strength. Bacchus is the protective spirit of the Muslims, and Mars is the safeguarding power of the Christians.—Camoens, The Lusiad (1569).

That Young Mars of Men, Edward the Black Prince, who with 8,000 troops defeated the French king, John, at Poitiers, where John's army was estimated at 60,000—some even say more (A. D. 1356).

The Mars of Men, Henry Plantagenet, Earl of Derby, the third son of Henry, Earl of Lancaster, and a close relative of Edward III. (See Derby.)

Marse’ Chan. A brave soldier from Virginia whose beloved acts cool and distant until she hears that he has died in battle. After that, she mourns for him like a widow for her husband, and when she passes away, she is buried beside him.—Thomas Nelson Page, In Ole Virginia (1887).

Mars of Portugal (The), Afonso de Albuquerque, viceroy of India (1452-1515).

Mars Wounded. A striking similarity to the meeting of Diomed and Mars in the Iliad, v., can be found in Ossian. Homer describes how Diomed threw his spear at Mars, which, piercing the belt, hurt the war-god in the stomach; “Mars bellowed loudly, and even nine thousand men, ten thousand, couldn’t make a sound that loud as they fought fiercely.” Then Mars, rising and enveloped in clouds, was carried up to Olympus.

Ossian, in Carrick-Thura, describes how Loda, the god of his enemies, appeared like a “blast from the mountain. He came in his terror and shook his dark spear. His eyes were like flames, and his voice was similar to distant thunder. ‘Son of night,’ Fingal said, ‘get back. Do I fear your gloomy figure, spirit of gloomy Loda? Your shield of clouds is weak, your meteor sword is feeble.’” Then he split the dark shadow with his sword. It [5] fell like a column of smoke. It shrieked. Then curling up, the wounded spirit rose on the wind, and the island shook to its core.”

Marseilles’ Good Bishop, Henri François Xavier de Belsunce (1671-1775). He is remembered for his charitable efforts during the plague in Marseilles (1720-1722).

Charles Borromēo, archbishop of Milan a century earlier (1576), was just as dedicated and selfless during the plague in Milan (1538-1584).

Sir John Lawrence, the lord mayor of London during the Great Plague, supported 40,000 dismissed servants and deserves everlasting recognition.

Darwin mentions Belsunce and Lawrence in his Loves of the Plants, ii. 433.

Marshal Forwards, Blücher; named for his boldness in battle and the speed of his movements during the campaign of 1813 (1742-1819).

Marsi, part of the Sabellian race, known for Magic and believed to be descended from Circê.

Marsiglio, a Saracen king, who planned the attack on Roland, “under the tree where Judas hanged himself.” With an army of 600,000 men, split into three groups, Marsiglio attacked the paladin in Roncesvalles and defeated him; but Charlemagne arrived and drove the Saracens away, hanging Marsiglio on the same tree where he had plotted the attack.—Turpin, Chronicle (1122).

Marsilia, “who carries the great Cynthia’s train,” is the marchioness of Northampton, to whom Spenser dedicated his Daphnaida. This lady was Helena, the daughter of Wolfgangus Swavenburgh, a Swede.

No less worthy of praise is Marsilia,
Best known for supporting the great Cynthia’s train.
She is the example of true womanhood....
Deserving, right after Cynthia [queen Elizabeth] to follow,
As she is next in nobility.

Spenser, *Colin Clout’s Come Home Again* (1595).

Marsyas, the Phrygian flute player. He challenged Apollo to a skill contest, but after losing to the god, he was flayed alive for his arrogance.

Mar´tafax and Ler´mites (3 syl.), two well-known rats taken before the White Cat for treason, but found not guilty.—Comtesse D’Aunoy, Fairy Tales (“The White Cat,” 1682).

Martaño, a real coward, stole Gryphon's armor and showed up before King Norandino wearing it. After being honored as if he were the rightful owner, Martano left Damascus with Origilla; however, Aquilant exposed the fraud, and he was hanged (bks. viii., ix.).—Ariosto, Orlando Furioso (1516).

Marteau des Heretiques, Pierre d’Ailly; also known as L’Aigle de la France (1350-1420).

Martel (Charles), Charles, the illegitimate son of Pépin d’Héristal.

M. Collin de Plancy says that this “mayor of the palace” of France wasn’t called “Martel” because he hammered the Saracens under Abd-el-Rahman in 732, but because his patron saint was Martellus (or St. Martin).—Bibliothèque des Légendes.

Thomas Delf, in his translation of Chev[6]reuil’s Principles of Harmony, etc., of Colors (1847), refers to himself as “Charles Martel.”

Martext (Sir Oliver), a vicar in Shakespeare’s comedy As You Like It (1600).

Martha:

“Yeah, Lord! But man has to work
And woman has to bake the bread;
And some have to stay up and watch
Early for others’ sake
Who pray instead.”

Julia C. R. Dorr, *Afternoon Songs* (1885).

Martha, sister to “The Scornful Lady” (no name given).—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Scornful Lady (1616).

Martha, the maid at Shaw’s Castle.—Sir W. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well (time, George III.).

Martha, the elderly housekeeper at Osbaldistone Hall.—Sir W. Scott, Rob Roy (time, George I.).

Martha, daughter of Ralph and Louise de Lascours, and sister of Diana de Lascours. When the crew of the Urania rebelled, Martha, along with Ralph de Lascours (the captain), Louise de Lascours, and Barabas, were set adrift in a boat and stranded on an iceberg in "the Frozen Sea." The iceberg broke apart, drowning Ralph and Louise, while Barabas was rescued by a ship, and Martha fell into the hands of an Indian tribe, who named her Orgari´ta ("withered corn"). She married Carlos, but since he married under a false name, the marriage was invalid. When Carlos was handed over to the law, Orgarita was placed under the care of her grandmother, Mde. de Théringe, and [probably] married Horace de Brienne.—E. Stirling, The Orphan of the Frozen Sea (1856).

Martha, a friend of Margaret. She seduces Mephistopheles with great worldly cleverness.—Goethe, Faust (1798).

Martha, also known as Ulrica, mother of Bertha, who is engaged to Hereward and marries him.—Sir W. Scott, Count Robert of Paris (time, Rufus).

Martha (The Abbess), the head of Elcho Nunnery. She is related to the Glover family.—Sir W. Scott, Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.).

Martha (Dame), housekeeper to Major Bridgenorth.—Sir W. Scott, Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Martha Hilton, a maid in the household of the widowed Governor Wentworth, surprised the guests gathered to celebrate his sixtieth birthday by marrying him in front of them.—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Lady Wentworth.

Marthé, a young orphan, is in love with Frédéric Auvray, a young artist who loves her back but leaves her to go to Rome, where he falls for another woman, Elena, the sister of Duke Strozzi. Marthé leaves her Swiss guardian, a pastor, and travels to Rome in the middle of winter, disguised as a boy and going by the name Piccolino. She shares her story with Elena, who decides to leave the unreliable Frédéric, and then Frédéric tells the Swiss traveler to never come near him again. In despair, Marthé jumps into the Tiber but is saved. Frédéric has a change of heart, reconciles with her, and marries the heartbroken maiden.—Mons. Guiraud, Piccolino (an opera, 1875).

Marthon, an old cook at Arnheim Cas[7]tle.—Sir W. Scott, Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).

Marthon, also known as Rizpah, a Bohemian woman, serving the Countess Hameline of Croye.—Sir W. Scott, Quentin Durward (time, Edward IV.).

Martian Laws (not Mercian as Wharton mentions in his Law Dictionary) are the laws compiled by Martia, the wife of Guithelin, who was the great-grandson of Mulmutius, the one who set up the “Mulmutian Laws” (q.v.). Alfred translated both of these legal codes into Saxon-English and referred to the Martian code as Pa Marchitle Lage. These laws have no relation to the kingdom of Mercia.—Geoffrey, British History, iii. 13 (1142).

Guynteline, ... whose queen, ... to demonstrate her integrity,
first shaped her Martian according to wise Mulmutius' laws.

Drayton, *Polyolbion*, viii. (1612).

Martigny (Marie, Countess of), wife of the Earl of Etherington.—Sir W. Scott, St. Ronan's Well (time, George III.).

Martin, in Swift’s Tale of the Tub, represents Martin Luther; “John” symbolizes Calvin; and “Peter” refers to the pope of Rome (1704).

In Dryden’s Hind and Panther, “Martin” refers to the Lutheran group (1687).

Martin, the old grocer near Sir Henry Lee’s lodge.—Sir W. Scott, Woodstock (time, Commonwealth).

Martin, the old shepherd working for the lady of Avenel.—Sir W. Scott, The Monastery (time, Elizabeth).

Martin, the ape in the beast tale of Reynard the Fox (1498).

Martin (Dame), partner of Darsie Latimer at the fishers’ dance.—Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George III.).

Martin (Sarah), the prison reformer from Great Yarmouth. This young woman, despite being a poor dressmaker, came up with a plan to reform prisoners in her hometown and dedicated twenty-four years to her heartfelt and valuable work, serving as a schoolteacher, chaplain, and industrial supervisor. In 1835, Captain Williams, the prison inspector, presented her ideas to the Government, believing that the country could greatly benefit from their practical wisdom (1791-1843).

Martin Weldeck, the miner. His story is read by Lovel to a picnic group at St. Ruth’s ruins.—Sir W. Scott, The Antiquary (time, George III.).

Martine (3 syl.), Sganarelle's wife. She’s having a heated argument with her husband, who hits her, and she screams. Mr. Robert, a neighbor, steps in and says to Sganarelle, “What a disgrace! Damn the scoundrel for hitting his wife like that.” The woman hits back at him for his rudeness and says, “I want him to hit me;” and Sganarelle gives him a good beating for getting involved in something that isn’t his business.—Molière, Le Médecin Malgré Lui (1666).

Martival (Stephen de), a field steward at the tournament.—Sir W. Scott, Ivanhoe (time, Richard I.).

Martivalle (Martius Galeotti), astrologer to Louis XI of France.—Sir W. Scott, Quentin Durward (set in the time of Edward IV.).

Martyr King (The), Henry VI., laid to rest in Windsor next to Edward IV.

[8]

Here over the Martyr King [Henry VI.] the marble weeps.
And right beside him, once-feared Edward [IV.] sleeps;
The grave brings together those who have found rest,
And the oppressor and the oppressed lie mixed together.

Pope.

Martyr King (The), Charles I of England (1600, 1625-1649).

Louis XVI of France is also known as Louis "the Martyr" (1754, 1774-1793).

Science Martyrs.

Claude Louis, Count Berthollet, who experimented on himself to see how carbonic acid affected the human body, ultimately died as a result of the experiment (1748-1822).

Giordano Bruno, who was burned alive for claiming that matter is the source of everything (1550-1600).

Galileo, who was imprisoned twice by the Inquisition for insisting that the Earth revolves around the Sun, not the other way around (1564-1642).

And many others.

Marvelous Boy (The), Thomas Chatterton (1752-1770).

I thought of Chatterton, the amazing young man,
The restless spirit that died in his arrogance.

Wordsworth.

Marwood (Alice), the daughter of an old woman who called herself Mrs. Brown. When she was just a girl, she got involved in a burglary and was sent away as punishment. Carker, the manager at Dombey and Son, seduced her, leading both her and her mother to seek revenge. Alice looked a lot like Edith (Mr. Dombey’s second wife), and in fact, they were cousins, since Mrs. Brown was the “wife” of the brother-in-law of the Hon. Mrs. Skewton (Edith’s mother).—C. Dickens, Dombey and Son (1846).

Marwood (Mistress), rejected by Fainall, feels bitter towards all men. She says, “I’ve stopped hating those snakes—men, and I’ve now come to despise them;” but she considers marrying to keep her husband “in a state of fear and jealousy.”—W. Congreve, The Way of the World (1700).

Mary, the attractive housemaid of the esteemed mayor of Ipswich (Nupkins). When Arabella Allen marries Mr. Winkle, Mary becomes part of her household; but she eventually marries Sam Weller and moves to Dulwich, serving as Mr. Pickwick’s housekeeper.—C. Dickens, The Pickwick Papers (1836).

Mary, Valentine’s niece, and his sister Alice. In love with Mr. Thomas.—Beaumont and Fletcher, Mons. Thomas (1619).

Mary. The queen’s Marys, four young noblewomen, the same age as Mary, who would later become “queen of Scots.” They boarded the French galleys with her in 1548, destined to be her childhood playmates and her companions as she grew up. Their names were Mary Beaton (or Bethune), Mary Livingston (or Leuison), Mary Fleming (or Flemyng), and Mary Seaton (Seton or Seyton).

^*_*^* Mary Carmichael has no place in real history, even though an old ballad claims:

Yestrien the queen had four Marys;
Tonight she’ll only have three:
There was Mary Beaton, and Mary Seaton,
And Mary Carmichael and I.

^*_*^* One of Whyte Melville’s novels is titled The Queen’s Marys.

Mary Anne is a slang term for the guillotine; it’s also referred to as L’abbaye de monte-à-re[9]gret (“the mountain of mournful ascent”). (See Marianne.)

Mary Anne, a common name for a secret republican group in France. See Marianne.)—B. Disraeli, Lothair.

Mary Graham is an orphan who was taken in by old Martin Chuzzlewit. Later on, she married Martin Chuzzlewit, the grandson, who is the main character in the story.

Mary Scudder. Blue-eyed daughter of a "capable" New England housewife. Since she was a child, she has loved her cousin. Her mother disapproves because she believes James is "unregenerate," and encourages Mary to accept Dr. Hopkins, her pastor. When the doctor learns the truth, he gives up his engagement to Mary for the younger lover.—Harriet Beecher Stowe, The Minister’s Wooing (1862).

Mary Stuart, a historical tragedy by J. Haynes (1840). The story revolves around the death of David Rizzio.

^*_*^* Schiller chose Mary Stuart as the topic for a tragedy. P. Lebrun adapted the German play into French. Sir W. Scott, in The Abbot, tells the story of Mary’s escape to England.

Mary Tudor. Victor Hugo wrote a tragedy with this title in 1833, and Tennyson released a play called Queen Mary in 1878, summarizing the reign of Tudor Mary.

Mary and Byron. The “Mary” that Lord Byron wrote about was Miss Chaworth. They were both under the care of Mr. White. Miss Chaworth married John Musters, and Lord Byron married Miss Milbanke; both marriages were equally unfortunate. Lord Byron, in The Dream, talks about his romantic relationship with Mary Chaworth.

Mary in Heaven (To) and Highland Mary, lyrics written by Robert Burns for Mary Campbell, reflect a deep connection between the poet and Mary before he left Ayrshire for Nithsdale. Mary Morison, a youthful piece, was inspired by a previous love. The lines in the latter

Those smiles and looks showed me,
That make the miser’s treasure seem worthless,

resembles those in Highland Mary—

Still over those scenes my memory stirs,
And lovingly lingers with careful longing.

Mary of Modena, the second wife of James II of England, and mother of "The Pretender."

Mary Queen of Scots was first held at Carlisle; she was moved in 1568 to Bolton; in 1569 she was held at Tutbury, Wingfield, Tutbury, Ashby-de-la-Zouche, and Coventry; in 1570 she was moved to Tutbury, Chatsworth, and Sheffield; in 1577 to Chatsworth; in 1578 to Sheffield; in 1584 to Wingfield; in 1585 to Tutbury, Chartley, Tixhall, and Chartley; in 1586 (September 25) to Fotheringay.

^*_*^* She is introduced by Sir W. Scott in his novel titled The Abbot.

Schiller chose Mary Stuart as the subject of his greatest tragedy, and P. Lebrun[10] released a French version of it in France (1729-1807).

Mary, Queen of Scots. The most elegant and poetic compliment ever given to a woman was offered to Mary, Queen of Scots, by Shakespeare, in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Remember, the mermaid represents “Queen Mary;” the dolphin refers to the “dauphin of France,” whom Mary married; the rude sea signifies the “Scottish rebels;” and the stars that shot from their spheres represent “the princes who broke away from their loyalty to Queen Elizabeth.”

Do you remember?
When I once sat on a cliff,
And heard a mermaid, riding on a dolphin’s back,
Singing with such sweet and beautiful voice,
That the rough sea became calm at her song;
And some stars shot wildly from their orbits,
To listen to the sea-maid’s music.

Act 2, Scene 1 (1592).

These "stars" were the Earl of Northumberland, the Earl of Westmoreland, and the Duke of Norfolk.

Mary, the Maid of the Inn, the joy and light of the parish, was about to marry Richard, a lazy, worthless guy. One autumn night, two guests were drinking at the inn, and one of them said he wouldn't really want to go to the abbey on such a night. “I bet Mary will go,” said the other, and the wager was made. Mary went, and when she heard footsteps, she hid, and then two young men passed by carrying a woman they had just killed. One of their hats blew off and landed at Mary's feet. She picked it up, rushed back to the inn, told her story, and then revealed the hat, discovering it belonged to Richard. She lost her mind and became a lifelong maniac.—R. Southey, Mary, the Maid of the Inn (from Dr. Plot’s History of Staffordshire, 1686).

Mary Pyncheon. (See __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.)

Mary Woodcock. (See Woodcock.)

Marzavan, the foster brother of Princess Badoura.—Arabian Nights (“Camaralzaman and Badoura”).

Masaniello, a variation of [Tom]maso Aniello, was a fisherman from Naples who led a rebellion in 1647 against the Duke of Arcos. He was determined to kill the duke’s son for seducing his sister Fenella, who was deaf and mute. The uprising was successful, and Masaniello was declared “chief magistrate of Portici” by the crowd; however, he became overwhelmed by his newfound power, leading the mob to shoot him and toss his corpse into a ditch. The following day, though, his body was recovered and buried with great ceremony and splendor. When Fenella learned about her brother's death, she jumped into the crater of Vesuvius.

^*_*^* Auber has an opera on this topic (1831), with the libretto by Scribe. Caraffa had already selected the same subject for an opera before.

Mascarille (3 syl.), the servant of La Grange. To help two foolish, romantic girls change their ways, La Grange and Du Croisy introduce their servants as the “marquis of Mascarille” and the “viscount of Jodelet.” The girls are charmed by their “aristocratic visitors;” however, when the ruse has gone on long enough, the masters step in and reveal the deception. This way, the girls learn a valuable lesson and avoid any serious negative consequences.—Molière, Les Précieuses Ridicules (1659).

^*_*^* Molière had already used the same name in two of his other comedies, L’Etourdi (1653) and Le Dépit Amoureux (1654).

[11]Masetto, a country guy who's set to marry Zerlīna; but Don Giovanni steps in before the wedding and tricks the naïve girl into thinking he wants to make her a lady and his wife.—Mozart, Don Giovanni (libretto by L. da Ponte, 1787).

Maskwell, the “double dealer.” He pretends to love Lady Touchwood, but it's just a way to use her to break the bond between Mellefont (2 syl.) and Cynthia. Maskwell feigns friendship with Mellefont only to deceive him about his plans to take Cynthia, to whom Mellefont is engaged. Cunning and hypocrisy are Maskwell’s replacements for wisdom and honesty.—W. Congreve, The Double Dealer (1700).

Massasowat. Edward Winslow's account of Massasowat—the friendly Native American chief whose partnership with the Pilgrim Fathers ended only with his death—is an interesting addition to colonial literature. The treatments and diet Winslow used are so unusual that they underline his comment—“We, with admiration, blessed God for giving his blessing to such rare and ignorant means.”—Edward Winslow, Good News from New England (1624).

Mason (William). The medallion for this poet in Westminster Abbey was created by Bacon.

Mason (Lady). She creates a fake will that looks like it was written by her husband, giving his estate to herself and their son. No one suspects the fraud for years. When questions come up, Lady Mason is involved with a charming old baronet who refuses to believe she’s guilty until, plagued by guilt, she falls at his feet and confesses everything.

Lucius Mason. The self-righteous, attractive young man for whom Lady Mason sacrifices so much. When he discovers the truth, he is severe in his judgment of the troubled woman.—Anthony Trollope, Orley Farm.

Master (The). Goethe is called Der Meister (1749-1832).

Master (The Old). A mythical character whose breakfast-table monologues are some of the most delightful parts of Oliver Wendell Holmes’s Poet at the Breakfast Table. “I think he might be aware that he has a three-story intellect, and I’m not entirely convinced that he isn’t right.”

Master Adam, Adam Billaut, the French poet (1602-1662).

Master Humphrey, the narrator of the story titled “The Old Curiosity Shop.”—C. Dickens, Master Humphrey’s Clock (1840).

Master Leonard, the grand-master of the night-time gatherings of demons. He led these meetings appearing as a three-horned goat with a black human face.—Middle Age Demonology.

Master, like a Man (Like).

Such a mistress, such Nan;
Such a master, such a man.

Tusser, xxxviii. 22.

Again:

Such a master, such a man; and such a mistress, such a maid; Such a husband and wife; such well-kept homes.
T. Tusser, *Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry*, xxxix. 22 (1557).

Master Matthew, a town gossip.—Ben Jonson, Every Man in His Humor (1598).

Master Stephen, a simple country guy with a sad disposition. (See Master Matthew). —Ben Jonson, Every Man in His Humor (1598).

Master of Sentences, Pierre Lombard, wrote a book titled Sentences (1100-1164).

Masters (Doctor), doctor to Queen Elizabeth.—Sir W. Scott, Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

Masters (The Four): (1) Michael O’Clerighe (or Clery), who died in 1643; (2) Cucoirighe O’Clerighe; (3) Maurice Conry; (4) Fearfeafa Conry; authors of Annals of Donegal.

Mat Mizen, first mate of H.M. ship Tiger. The epitome of a bold, impulsive, daredevil English sailor. His adventures with Harry Clifton in Delhi are the key events in Barrymore’s melodrama, El Hyder, Chief of the Ghaut Mountains.

Mat-o’-the Mint, a highway robber in Captain Macheath’s crew. Peachum says, “He’s a promising, strong guy, and works hard in his own way. A bit too bold and impulsive; he could make good profits off the public if he doesn’t ruin it all by killing someone.” —Gay, The Beggar’s Opera, i. (1727).

Matabrune (3 syl.), wife of King Pierron of Strong Island, and mother of Prince Oriant, one of the ancestors of Godfrey of Bouillon.—Mediæval Romance of Chivalry.

Math Calculators.

George Parkes Bidder, president of the Institution of Civil Engineers (1800- ).

Jedediah Buxton, from Elmeton in Derbyshire. He could count the number of letters in any of his father’s sermons after hearing them from the pulpit. He went to see Garrick in Richard III. and recounted how many words each actor spoke (1705-1775).

Zerah Colburn, from Vermont, U.S., arrived in London in 1812 at the age of eight. The Duke of Gloucester asked him to multiply five-digit numbers by three, and he answered immediately. He could find the cube root of nine-digit numbers in just a few seconds (1804-).

Vito Mangiamele, the son of a Sicilian shepherd. In 1839, M. Arago, Lacroix, Libri, and Sturm assessed the boy, who was then 11 years old, and in just half a minute he calculated the cube root of seven-digit numbers, and in three seconds, he did the same for nine-digit numbers (1818-).

Alfragan, the Arab astronomer (died 820).

Mathilde (2 syl.), the main character of a story named after her by Sophie Ristaud, Dame Cottin (1773-1807).

Mathilde (3 syl.), the sister of Gessler, the oppressive governor of Switzerland, falls in love with Arnoldo, a Swiss man who saved her life when it was threatened by an avalanche. After Gessler's death, she marries the brave Swiss.—Rossini, Guglielmo Tell (an opera, 1829).

Mathis, a German miller, was deep in debt. One Christmas Eve, a Polish Jew arrived at his house in a sled. After resting and eating, the Jew set off for Nantzig, which was “four leagues away.” Mathis followed him, killed him with an axe, and burned the body in a lime kiln. He then paid off his debts, thrived, and became a well-respected mayor. On the wedding night of his only daughter, Annette, he died of a stroke, which he had been warned about by the constant sound of sleigh bells in his ears. In his dream, he imagined himself being put into a hypnotic sleep[13] in open court, where he confessed everything and was executed.—J. R. Ware, The Polish Jew.

^*_*^* This is the character that first brought H. Irving to public attention.

Math´isen, one of the three Anabaptists who convinced John of Leyden to join their rebellion; but as soon as John was declared “the prophet-king,” the three rebels betrayed him to the emperor. When the traitors entered the banquet hall to capture their pawn, they all met their end in the flames of the burning palace.—Meyerbeer, Le Prophète (an opera, 1849).

Matilda, wife of the earl of Leicester, in the “first American tragedy regularly produced” in the United States.

She intends to poison her lord, but he uncovers and stops the plan. Filled with shame and regret, she stabs herself in the heart, begging Leicester to “have pity on her young lover.” —William Dunlap, Leicester, A Tragedy (1794).

Matilda, sister of Rollo and Otto, dukes of Normandy, and daughter of Sophia.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Bloody Brother (1639).

Matilda, daughter of Lord Robert Fitzwalter.

^*_*^* Michael Drayton has a poem that's about 650 lines long, known as such.

Matilda, daughter of Rokeby and niece of Mortham. Matilda was loved by Wilfred, son of Oswald; however, she loved Redmond, her father’s page, who turned out to be Mortham’s son.—Sir W. Scott, Rokeby (1812).

Matsys (Quintin), a blacksmith from Antwerp, fell in love with Liza, the daughter of the artist Johann Mandyn. Her father declared that only an artist could marry her, so Matsys gave up his trade and dedicated himself to painting. After some time, he visited Mandyn’s studio to see his painting of the fallen angel; on the outstretched leg of one of the figures, he painted a bee. It looked so realistic that when the old man returned, he tried to shoo it away with his handkerchief. When he realized it was a clever trick by Matsys, he was so pleased that he immediately gave Liza to him in marriage.

Matthew Merrygreek, the servant of Ralph Roister Doister. He is a real-life embodiment of “vice” in the old morality plays.—Nicholas Udall, Ralph Roister Doister (the first English comedy, 1634).

Matthias de Monçada, a merchant. He is the father of Mrs. Witherington, wife of General Witherington.—Sir W. Scott, The Surgeon’s Daughter (time, George II.).

Matthias de Silva (Don), a charming Spanish man. One day, he received a challenge for defamation right after he went to bed, and said to his servant, “I wouldn’t get up before noon for the best party ever planned. So, you can imagine if I'm really going to wake up at six in the morning to get my throat cut.” —Lesage, Gil Blas, iii. 8 (1715).

(This reply was taken from the romantic story of Espinel, called Vida del Escudero Marços de Obregon, 1618).

Mattie, housemaid for Bailie Nicol Jarvie, and later his wife.—Sir W. Scott, Rob Roy (time, George I.).

Maud Muller, a pretty and shy haymaker,[14] catches the attention of the judge who stops by and asks for a cup of water. He falls in love with the country girl but feels he can't marry her. She, too, remembers him fondly, dreaming hopelessly of what her life could have been if things were different.

“Of all the sad words spoken or written,
The saddest are these, ‘It could have been.’”

J. G. Whittier, *Maud Muller*.

Bret Harte has created a witty parody of Maud Muller—“Mrs. Judge Jenkins.”

“There are no sadder words of speech or writing,
Than ‘It is, but it shouldn’t have been!’”

Maude, (1 syl.), wife of Peter Pratefast, "who was obsessed with cleanliness."

She kept her dishes clean;
And when she didn’t have cloths, for sure,
She wiped her dishes with her dog's tail.

Stephen Hawes, The Pastyme of Pleasure, 29. (1515).

Maugis, the wise figure in French romance. He was one of Charlemagne’s knights, a sorcerer and hero.

^*_*^* In Italian romance, he is referred to as “Malagigi” (q.v.).

Maugis d’Aygremont, the son of Duke Bevis d’Aygremont, was stolen as a baby by a female slave. While the slave rested under a hawthorn bush, a lion and a leopard attacked and killed her, then fought each other over the infant. Oriande la fèe, drawn to the scene by the baby’s cries, exclaimed, “by the powers above, the child is mal gist (‘badly nursed’)!” and from then on, he was known as Mal-gist or Mau-gis’. Once he grew up, he got the enchanted horse Bayard and took the sword Flamberge from Anthenor (the Saracen). Later, he gave both to his cousin Renaud (Renaldo). Romance of Maugis d’Aygremont et de Vivian son Frère.

^*_*^* In the Italian romance, Maugis is referred to as “Malagigi,” Bevis as “Buovo,” Bayard as “Bayardo,” Flamberge as “Fusberta,” and Renaud as “Renaldo.”

Maugrabin (Zamet), a Bohemian, was hanged near Plessis-lès-Tours.

Hayraddin Maugrabin, the “Zingaro,” brother of Zamet Maugrabin. He takes on the disguise of Rouge Sanglier and pretends to be a messenger from Liège [Le.aje].—Sir W. Scott, Quentin Durward (time, Edward IV.).

Maugraby, son of Hal-il-Maugrăby and his wife Yandar. Hal-il-Maugraby founded Dom-Daniel “under the roots of the ocean” near the coast of Tunis, and his son finished it. They were the most powerful magicians that ever lived. Maugraby was killed by Prince Habed-il-Rouman, son of the caliph of Syria, and with his death, Dom-Daniel came to an end.—Continuation of Arabian Nights (“History of Maugraby”).

Maugys was a giant who guarded the bridge to a castle where a lady was trapped. Sir Lybius, one of the knights of the Round Table, fought him, killed him, and rescued the lady.—Libeaux (a romance).

Maul, a giant who used to mislead young pilgrims with clever arguments. He attacked Mr. Greatheart with a club; but Greatheart stabbed him under the fifth rib, and then decapitated him.—Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress, ii. (1684).

Maul of Monks, Thomas Cromwell, the visitor-general of English monasteries, which he quickly shut down (1490-1540).

[15]Maulstatute (Master), a judge.—Sir W. Scott, Peveril of the Peak (during the time of Charles II.).

Maun'drel, a tiresome chatterbox, a woman who just can't stop talking.

Maundrels, unpredictable talk, especially from someone in a delirium, or the incoherent rambling of a sleeper.

^*_*^* The term is believed to be a distortion of Mandeville (Sir John), who released a travel book filled with pointless stories and rambling gossip.

Mauprat (Adrien de), a colonel and knight in the king’s army; “the most reckless lover and bravest knight in France.” He married Julie, but the king charged him with treason for this act and imprisoned him in the Bastille. After being released by Cardinal Richelieu, he was pardoned and found happiness with the king’s blessing.—Lord Lytton, Richelieu (1839).

Mauprat is the last of a fierce line of French noble robbers. His wild instincts are transformed into genuine nobility through his love for his beautiful cousin.—George Sand, Mauprat (1836).

Maurice Beevor (Sir), a greedy man, and (failing the countess's children) the heir to the Arundel estates. The countess had two sons (Arthur and Percy), so Sir Maurice hired assassins to kill them; however, his plans were thwarted, and he died having lived “a sordid, spat-upon, revengeless, worthless, and rascally poor cousin.” —Lord Lytton, The Sea-Captain (1839).

Mause (Old), mother of Cuddie Headrigg, and a covenanter.—Sir W. Scott, Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).

Mausolus, king of Caria, for whom his wife Artemisia built a tomb that was one of the “Seven Wonders of the World” (BCE 353).

The main mausoleums besides this are those of Augustus; Hadrian (now known as the Castle of St. Angelo) in Rome; Henri II., built by Catherine de Medicis; St. Peter the Martyr, in the church of St. Eustatius, by G. Balduccio; the one in memory of Louis XVI.; and Napoleon's tomb in Les Invalides, Paris. The one Queen Victoria built for Prince Albert can also be mentioned.

Mauthe Dog, a black ghost spaniel that haunted the guardroom of Peeltown in the Isle of Man. One day, a drunk soldier walked into the guardroom while the dog was there, but he lost his ability to speak and died within three days.—Sir W. Scott, Lay of the Last Minstrel, vi. 26 (1805).

Mauxalin'da, in love with Moore from Moore Hall; but the brave fighter against the dragon leaves her for Margery, the daughter of Gubbins from Roth’ram Green.—H. Carey, Dragon of Wantley (1696-1743).

Mavortian, a soldier or son of Mavors (Mars).

Mawworm is a crass imitation of Dr. Cantwell, "the hypocrite." He misuses his native language horribly but thinks he’s meant to preach. He tells old Lady Lambert that he has already written several sermons, but “always does them poorly” because he can't write well. He believes his “religious calling” is more lucrative than selling “grocery, tea, small beer, charcoal, butter, brick dust, and other[16] spices,” leading him to conclude that it “is sinful to run a shop.” He's a follower of Dr. Cantwell and believes in him completely.

Max is a hunter and the best marksperson in Germany. He was promised to Agatha, who would be his wife if he won the prize in the annual competition. Caspar convinced Max to go to the wolf’s glen at midnight and get seven enchanted bullets from Samiel, the Black Huntsman. On the day of the contest, while Max was shooting, he ended up killing Caspar, who was hiding in a tree, and as a result, the king abolished this annual festival. —Weber, Der Freischütz (an opera, 1822).

Maxime (2 syl.), an officer of Prefect Almachius. He was ordered to execute Valerian and Tiburcê for refusing to worship the image of Jupiter; however, he took pity on them, invited them to his home, converted, and was baptized. When Valerian and Tiburcê were later martyred, Maxime claimed he saw angels come and take them to heaven, after which Almachius had him beaten with rods “until he gave up his life.”—Chaucer, Canterbury Tales (“Second Nun’s Tale,” 1388).

^*_*^* This is based on the story of “Cecilia” in the Legenda Aurea; and both are versions of the story of Paul and the jailer of Philippi (Acts xvi. 19-34).

Maximilian (son of Frederick III), the hero of the Teuerdank, the Orlando Furioso of the Germans, by Melchior Pfinzing.

.... [here] in ancient heroic times
Sat the poet Melchoir, singing the praises of Kaiser Maximilian.

Longfellow, *Nuremberg*.

Maximin, a Roman dictator.—Dryden, Tyrannic Love, or the Royal Martyr.

Maximus (referred to by Geoffrey as “Maximian”), a Roman senator, was invited to become king of Britain in 381. He conquered Armorica (Bretagne) and issued a decree to gather 100,000 common people from Britain to settle there, along with 30,000 soldiers to protect the colony. As a result, Armorica became known as “The other Britain” or “Little Britain.” —Geoffrey, British History, v. 14 (1142).

Maximus finally won the victory in Gaul,
... after Gratian’s defeat.
He gave Armorica to the brave victor....
Which colony ... is called “Little Britain.”

Drayton, *Polyolbion*, ix. (1612).

Maxwell, deputy chamberlain at Whitehall.—Sir W. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel (time, James I.).

Maxwell (Mr. Pate), the lord of Summertrees, known as “Pate in Peril;” one of the Catholic conspirators alongside Redgauntlet.—Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George III.).

Maxwell (The Right Hon. William), Lord Evandale, an officer in the king’s army.—Sir W. Scott, Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).

May was a girl who married January, a 60-year-old baron from Lombardy. She had feelings for Damyan, a young squire; and one day the baron caught Damyan and May in a compromising situation, but the young wife told her husband that his eyesight was so poor that it couldn't be trusted. The old man accepted this reasoning—after all, what is better than “a fertile wife and a trusting partner?”—Chaucer, Canterbury Tales (“The Merchant’s Tale,” 1388).

[17]May is unlucky for brides. Mary, Queen of Scotland, married Bothwell, the killer of her husband, Lord Darnley, on May 12.

It is said that in the month of May, it is bad luck for the common people to get married.

Ovid, Fasti, verse.

May-Day (Evil), May 1, 1517, when the young workers in London revolted against the foreign residents and caused incalculable damage. This riot started on May 1 and continued until May 22.

May Queen (The), a poem in three parts by Tennyson (1842). Alice, a cheerful and lively child, was selected as the May queen, and since she was worried she might sleep in, she asked her mother to wake her up early.

I sleep so deeply every night, Mom, that I won’t wake up,
Unless you call me loudly when the day starts to come up;
But I have to gather bunches of flowers, and buds and colorful garlands,
Because I’m going to be queen of May, Mom, I’m going to be queen of May.

The old year came to an end, and the dark-eyed country girl was near death. She hoped to see the new year before she passed away and asked her mother once again to make sure to wake her up early; but it was not because she was sleeping so deeply. Alas! No.

Good night, sweet mom; wake me up before the day starts.
I lie awake all night, but I fall asleep in the morning;
But I want to see the sun rise on the joyful New Year,
So if you’re getting up, call me, call me early, dear mom.

The day came and went, but Alice stayed until March. The snowdrops had faded before her, and the violets were blooming. Robin had always adored the child, but the careless village beauty, in her happy youth, looked down on him and never thought of love. Now, as she was heading to the land of shadows, her last words were:

And say a kind word to Robin, and tell him not to worry;
There are plenty who are better than me, who could make him happy still.
If I had lived—I can’t say—I might have been his wife;
But all of that is gone, along with my wish to live.

Maye (The), that subtle and complex feeling inspired by the goddess Maya. Plato, Epicharmos, and some other ancient philosophers connect it to the presence of divinity. “It is the divine force that stirs within us.” In poetry, it adds a deeper meaning to the spoken word, while in ordinary minds, it can turn into confusion or intuition. Maya is an Indian goddess who represents the “power of creation.”

Mayeux is a common name in France for a man who is deformed, vain, and promiscuous, but also witty and brave. It appears in many French romances and caricatures.

Mayflower, a ship weighing 180 tons, set sail from Plymouth in December 1620 and carried 102 Puritans, known as the “Pilgrim Fathers,” to Massachusetts, where they named their settlement New Plymouth.

... the Mayflower left the harbor [Plymouth],
Caught the wind at her side, and aimed for the open Atlantic,
Carried on the waves of the sea, and the excited hearts of the pilgrims.

Longfellow, Courtship of Miles Standish, vol. (1858).

[18]Men of the Mayflower, the Pilgrim Fathers, who sailed on the Mayflower to North America in 1620.

Mayflower (Phœbe), servant at Sir Henry Lee’s lodge.—Sir W. Scott, Woodstock (time, commonwealth).

Maylie (Mrs.), the woman of the house that was broken into by Bill Sykes and others. Mrs. Maylie is the mother of Harry Maylie and the aunt of Rose Fleming, who resides with her.

Harry Maylie, Mrs. Maylie’s son. He marries his cousin, Rose Fleming.—C. Dickens, Oliver Twist (1837).

Mayor of Garratt (The). Garratt is located between Wandsworth and Tooting. The first mayor of this village was elected in the late eighteenth century, and the election happened like this: Garratt Common had frequently been encroached upon, and in 1780, the residents came together to defend their rights. The chairman was referred to as the Mayor, and since it was during a general election period, the group established a rule that a new “mayor” would be elected at every general election. The speeches from these mayors, written by Foote, Garrick, Wilks, and others, are satirical and political jabs. The first mayor of Garratt was “Sir” John Harper, a brickdust retailer, and the last was “Sir” Harry Dimsdale, a muffin seller (1796). In Foote’s farce of the same name, Jerry Sneak is elected mayor, being the son-in-law of the landlord (1763).

Mayors (Lord) who have established noble families:

Maypole (The), the nickname given to Erangard Melousine de Schulemberg, Duchess of Kendal, the mistress of George I, because of her slender build and tall stature (1719, died 1743).

Mazarin of Letters (The), D’Alembert (1717-1783).

Mazarine (A), a local council member in London; named after the mazarine-blue silk gown worn by this official.

Mazeppa (Jan), a leader of the Cossacks, was born into a noble Polish family in Podolia. He served as a page in the court of[19] Jan Casimir, the king of Poland. While in this role, he became involved with Theresia, the young wife of a Podolian count, who found out about the affair and had the young page tied to a wild horse and set loose. The horse galloped away in a frenzy and collapsed dead in Ukraine, where Mazeppa was found by a Cossack who cared for him in his own home. Eventually, the young page rose to become a prince of Ukraine but fought against Russia in the battle of Pultowa. Lord Byron (1819) has Mazeppa recount his story to Charles XII after the battle (1640-1709).

M. B. Waistcoat, a clerical waistcoat. M. B. stands for “Mark [of the] Beast;” named this way because, when these waistcoats were first worn by Protestant clergymen (around 1830), they were labeled as a sign of a popish inclination.

McGrath (Miss Jane), “is a woman. Of course, during the war she was as loyal as she understood loyalty. She believed in her state. She had two brothers who went into the Confederate service, and she gave them both horses. But would any sister let her brother go on foot?... Her case is one that I will push the hardest.... If Congress does not consider it favorably, it will show that Congress has no compassion.”—D. R. Locke’s, The Struggles—Social, Financial and Political—of Petroleum, V. Nasby.

Meadows (Sir William), a nice country gentleman, the friend of Jack Eustace, and father of young Meadows.

Young Meadows left his father's house because the old man wanted him to marry Rosetta, whom he had never met. He went by Thomas and started working as a gardener for Justice Woodcock. There, he fell in love with the woman he thought was just the chamber-maid, who turned out to be Rosetta, and their marriage made everyone happy.—I. Bickerstaff, Love in a Village.

Meagles (Mr.), a highly “practical guy,” who, being financially stable, traveled the world for fun. His group included himself, his daughter Pet, and his daughter’s servant named Tatty-coram. Mr. Meagles was a cheerful man; but also clear-headed, sharp, and determined.

Mrs. Meagles, wife of the “practical man,” and mother of Pet.—C. Dickens, Little Dorrit (1857).

Meal-Tub Plot, a made-up conspiracy created by Dangerfield to eliminate those who opposed the succession of James, duke of York, who later became James II. The plan was hidden in a meal tub in the home of Mrs. Cellier (1685).

Measure for Measure. In Vienna, there was a law that condemned a man to death for living with a woman who wasn't his wife; however, the law was rarely enforced, leading the mothers of Vienna to complain to the duke about its neglect. So, the duke appointed Angelo to enforce it and, disguised as a friar, left for a while to observe what would happen. Just after the duke left, Claudio was sentenced[20] to death for breaking the law. His sister Isabel went to plead for his life, and Angelo told her he would spare her brother if she would give herself to him. Isabel informed her brother he needed to prepare for death, as accepting Angelo's conditions was out of the question. The duke, still disguised as a friar, heard everything and convinced Isabel to agree in words but to send Mariana (Angelo's divorced wife) in her place. This happened, but Angelo ordered the executioner to behead Claudio, a crime that "the friar" managed to prevent. The next day, the duke returned to the city, and Isabel recounted her story. In the end, the duke married Isabel, Angelo took back his wife, and Claudio married Juliet, whom he had seduced.—Shakespeare, Measure for Measure (1603).

^*_*^* This story is from Whetstone’s Heptameron (1578). A similar story is also found in Giraldi Cinthio’s third decade of stories.

Medam´othi is the island where Pantag´ruel's fleet landed on the fourth day of their journey. Here, many unique curiosities were purchased, like “the picture of a man’s voice,” an “echo brought to life,” “Plato’s ideas,” some of “Epicurus’s atoms,” a sample of “Philome´la’s needlework,” and other rare items of vertu that couldn't be found anywhere else.—Rabelais, Pantagruel, iv. 3 (1545).

^*_*^* Medamothi is a Greek compound word meaning “never in any place.” So Utopia is a Greek compound that means “no place;” Kennaquhair is a Scottish compound meaning “I don’t know where;” and Kennahtwhar is Anglo-Saxon for the same. All these places are located at 91° north latitude and 180° 1' west longitude, in the Niltālê Ocean.

Medea, a well-known sorceress from Colchis who married Jason, the leader of the Argonauts, helped him obtain the golden fleece. After ten years of marriage, Jason left her for Glaucê; in retaliation, Medea sent the bride a poisoned dress that killed both Glaucê and her father. Medea then killed her two sons and escaped to Athens in a chariot pulled by dragons.

The story has been adapted in Greek by Euripides; in Latin by Seneca and Ovid; in French by Corneille (Médée, 1635), Longepierre (1695), and Legouvé (1849); in English by Glover (1761).

Medea and Absyrtus. When Medea ran away with Jason from Colchis (in Asia), she killed her brother, Absyrtus, and, after cutting his body into several pieces, scattered the fragments around so their father would be delayed in collecting them, making it impossible for him to catch up to the escapees.

Meet I, a baby of the Duke of York,
Into as many pieces will I cut it
As wild Medea did with young Absyrtus.

Shakespeare, 2 Henry VI. act v, scene 2 (1591).

Medea’s Kettle. Medea, the sorceress, chopped up an old ram, tossed the pieces into her cauldron, and through her spells turned the old ram into a young lamb. The daughters of Pelias believed they could restore their father to his youth, just like Æson. So, they killed him and placed his body in Medea’s cauldron; however, Medea refused to say the necessary incantation, and as a result, the old man was not brought back to life.

Médecin Malgré Lui (Le) is a comedy[21] by Molière (1666). The “forced doctor” is Sganarelle, a woodworker, who is called by Géronte to cure his daughter’s muteness. Sganarelle quickly realizes that the illness is feigned to avoid an unwanted marriage and brings in her boyfriend as a pharmacist. The silence is instantly lifted, and the couple is happily united with “matrimonial pills.”

In 1723, Fielding created a farce titled The Mock Doctor, inspired by this comedy. He names the doctor “Gregory” and Géronte “Sir Jasper.” The mute girl Lucinde is called “Charlotte,” and her lover Léandre is Anglicized to “Leander.”

Medham (“the sharp”), one of Muhammad’s swords.

Medicine (The Father of), Aretæos of Cappadocia (2nd and 3rd centuries).

Also Hippocrates, of Cos (B.C. 460-357).

Medina, the embodiment of balance, Elissa's step-sister (thrift) and Perissa's (excess). The three sisters could never see eye to eye on anything.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, ii. (1590).

Medley (Matthew), the assistant of Sir Walter Waring. He marries Dolly, the daughter of Goodman Fairlop, the woodcutter.—Sir H. P. Dudley, The Woodman (1771).

Medora, the beloved wife of Conrad, the corsair. When Conrad was captured by Pacha Seyd, Medora waited day after day for his return, enduring the pain of hope that seemed endless. Yet he did not come back, and Medora died. Meanwhile, Gulnare, Seyd's favorite concubine, killed the pacha, freed Conrad, and sailed with him to the corsair’s island home. However, when Conrad discovered that his wife was dead, he left the island and went to an unknown destination. The continuation of the story is found in the poem called Lara.—Byron, The Corsair (1814).

Medoro, a stunning Moorish young man from a humble background, served as a page to Agramante. After being wounded, Angelica bandaged his injuries, fell for him, married him, and they moved to Cathay, where he became a king through his marriage. This was the reason for Orlando’s madness.—Ariosto, Orlando Furioso (1516).

Medusa (The Soft), Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots (1545-1577).

Rise from your bloody grave,
You stunning Medusa of the “Fated Line,”
Whose wicked beauty terrified the brave!

Lord Lytton, Ode, i. (1839).

Meeta, the “maid of Mariendorpt,” a real woman and a true heroine. She is the daughter of Mahldenau, the minister of Mariendorpt, whom she loves almost to the point of idolization. Her fiancé is Major Rupert Roselheim. Upon hearing about her father’s capture in Prague, she sets out on foot to seek his forgiveness.—S. Knowles, The Maid of Mariendorpt (1838).

Meg, a pretty, smart, responsible girl, daughter of Toby Veck, and engaged to Richard, who she marries on New Year’s Day.—C. Dickens, The Chimes (1844).

[22]Meg Dods, the elderly landlady at St. Ronan’s Well.—Sir W. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well (time, George III.).

Meg Merrilees, a half-crazy fortune teller or gypsy woman.—Sir W. Scott, Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

Meg Murdochson, an elderly gypsy thief, mother of Madge Wildfire.—Sir W. Scott, Heart of Midlothian (time, George II.).

Megid´don, the guardian angel of Simon the Canaanite. This Simon, “once a shepherd, was called by Jesus from the field, and hosted Him in his hut with a lamb.”—Klopstock, The Messiah, iii. (1748).

Megingjard, the belt of Thor, which doubled his strength.

Megissog´won (“the great pearl feather”), a sorcerer and the spirit of wealth. It was Megissogwon who unleashed the burning fever on people, the white mist, and death. Hiawatha defeated him and taught humanity the art of medicine. This great Pearl-Feather killed the father of Niko´mis (Hiawatha's grandmother). Hiawatha fought the sorcerer all day without success; at dusk, the woodpecker advised him to aim for the tuft of hair on the sorcerer's head, the only weak spot. So, Hiawatha fired his last three arrows at the tuft, and Megissogwon was slain.

“Honor to Hiawatha!
He has defeated the great Pearl-Feather;
Defeated the strongest of magicians—
The one who brought the fiery fever, ...
Brought sickness and death among us.”

Longfellow, Hiawatha, 9. (1855).

Megnoun. (See __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.)

Meg'ra, a seductive woman in the play Philaster, or Love Lies a-bleeding, by Beaumont and Fletcher (1608).

Meiklehose (Isaac), one of the elders of Roseneath parish.—Sir W. Scott, Heart of Midlothian (time, George II.).

Meiklewham (Mr. Saunders), “the lawyer,” on the managing committee of the Spa hotel.—Sir W. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well (time, George III.).

Meister (Wilhelm), the protagonist and title of a novel by Goethe. The goal is to illustrate that even with his mistakes and flaws, a person is guided by a higher power and ultimately achieves a greater purpose in the end (1821).

Meistersingers, or minstrel tradesmen of Germany, were a group of master tradesmen who aimed to revive national minstrelsy, which had declined with the fall of the minnesingers, or love minstrels (1350-1523). Their themes were mostly moral or religious, and they followed strict guidelines. The three main figures were Hans Rosenblüt (an armorial painter, born 1450), Hans Folz (a surgeon, born 1479), and Hans Sachs (a cobbler, 1494-1574). Other notable members included Heinrich von Mueglen, Konrad Harder, Master Altschwert, Master Barthel Regenbogen (the blacksmith), Muscablüt (the tailor), and Hans Blotz (the barber).

Mejnoun and Leila (2 syl.), a Persian love story, the Romeo and Juliet of Eastern romance. They are the most beautiful, pure, and passionate lovers; the ideal examples of what love could be if human nature were perfect.

[23]Mela Dryfoos. A loud young woman from the wealthy era, “physically too pleasing and too well-built to ever truly be upset,” but selfish and rude, resting securely on the significance that her father’s wealth provides her. —W. D. Howells, A Hazard of New Fortunes (1889).

Melan'cates (4 syl.), the hound that killed Actæon and was transformed into a deer.

Melanchates, that dog
That brought Actæon down,
Gave him his fatal wound, ...
Was transformed into a deer.

J. Skelton, *Philip Sparrow* (era of Henry VIII).

Melantius is a tough, straightforward soldier who thinks everyone is honest until proven guilty, at which point he becomes a ruthless enforcer. Melantius and Diph´ilus are brothers of Evadnê.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Maid’s Tragedy (1610).

^*_*^* The main scene between Antony and Ventidius in Dryden’s All for Love is based on The Maid’s Tragedy. “Ventidius” takes the role of Melantius.

Melchior, one of the three kings of Cologne. He was the “Wise Man of the East” who brought gold to the infant Jesus, a symbol of royalty. The other two were Gaspar and Balthazar. Melchior means “king of light.”

Melchior, a monk serving the black priest of St. Paul’s.—Sir W. Scott, Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).

Melchior (i.e. Melchior Pfinzing), a German poet who wrote the Teuerdank, an epic poem featuring Kaiser Maximilian (son of Frederick III.) as its hero. This poem was the Orlando Furioso of the Germans.

Sat the poet Melchior, singing the praises of Kaiser Maximilian.

Longfellow, *Nuremberg*.

Meleager, son of Althaea, who was destined to live as long as a particular log stayed unburned. Althaea kept the log for several years, but one day, angry with her son, she threw it into the fire, where it was burned. Her son died at that very moment.—Ovid, Metam., viii. 4.

Sir John Davies uses this to illustrate the immortality of the soul. He says that the life of the soul doesn't rely on the body like Meleager's life depended on the cursed brand.

Again, if she relies on the body's support—
If her life relies on the body's survival,
Like Meleager’s on the deadly brand;
She would only care about the body's well-being.

Reason, vol. iii. (1622).

Melesig´enes (5 syl.). Homer got his name from the river Melês (2 syl.) in Asia Minor, where some believe he was born.

... various types of poetry,
Æolian melodies and Dorian lyric poems,
And the one who gave them life, but sang even higher,
Blind Melesigenes, whom we call Homer,
Whose poem Phœbus claimed for himself.

Milton, *Paradise Regained* (1671).

Melema (Tito). A charming and skilled Greek adventurer who marries Romola but cheats on her. He meets his end at the hands of an older man who had supported him during his childhood and youth, a man he had heartlessly abandoned and disregarded.—George Eliot, Romola.

Me´li (Giovanni), a Sicilian born in Palermo, is celebrated for his eclogues and idylls. Meli is known as “The Sicilian Theocritus” (1740-1815).

He really enjoyed reading
The songs of the Sicilian Muse—
Bucolic songs sung by Meli.

Longfellow, *The Wayside Inn* (prelude, 1863).

Meliadus, father of Sir Tristan;[24] prince of Lyonnesse, and one of the heroes of Arthurian romance.—Tristan de Leonois (1489).

^*_*^* Tristan, in the History of Prince Arthur, put together by Sir T. Malory (1470), is referred to as “Tristram;” but the early minnesingers of Germany (twelfth century) referred to him as “Tristan.”

Melibé (3 syl.), a wealthy young man married to Prudens. One day, while Melibé was working in the fields, some enemies broke into his home, attacked his wife, and injured his daughter Sophie in her feet, hands, ears, nose, and mouth. Melibé was furious and vowed to take revenge, but Prudens convinced him “to forgive his enemies and to do good to those who mistreated him.” So he gathered his enemies and forgave them, hoping that “God, in His endless mercy, will forgive us our sins at the time of our death for the wrongs we have done to Him in this wretched world.”—Chaucer, Canterbury Tales (1388).

^*_*^* This story is a free translation of a French tale.—See MS. Reg., xix. 7; and MS. Reg., xix. 11, British Museum.

Melibee, a shepherd and the supposed father of Pastorella. Pastorella married Sir Calidore.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, vi. 9 (1596).

“Melibee” is Sir Francis Walsingham. In the Ruins of Time, Spenser calls him “Melibœ.” Sir Philip Sidney (the “Sir Calidore” of the Faëry Queen) married his daughter Frances. Sir Francis Walsingham died in 1590, so broke that he didn’t leave enough money to cover his funeral expenses.

Meliboeus, one of the shepherds in Eclogue i. of Virgil.

Spenser, in the Ruins of Time (1591), refers to Sir Francis Walsingham as “the good Melibœ;” and in the final book of the Faëry Queen, he calls him “Melibee.”

Melin’da, Sylvia's cousin. She loves Worthy, though she acts like she doesn't, and flirts with him for a year. After pushing her sweet, modest lover to the brink of madness, she has a change of heart and agrees to marry him. —G. Farquhar, The Recruiting Officer (1705).

Melior, a beautiful fairy, who took Parthenopex of Blois away in her magical boat to her hidden island.—Parthenopex de Blois (a French romance, twelfth century).

Melisendra (The princess), the natural daughter of Marsilio, and the “supposed daughter of Charlemagne.” She ran away with Don Gayferos. King Marsilio sent his troops to chase after the runaway couple. After marrying Melisendra, Don Gayferos handed her over as a captive to the Moors in Saragossa. This was the story from Master Peter's puppet show, presented to Don Quixote and his squire at “the inn beyond the hermitage.”—Cervantes, Don Quixote, II. ii. 7 (1615).

Melissa, a prophetess who lived in Merlin’s cave. Bradamant gave her the enchanted ring to take to Rogero; so, in the guise of Atlantês, she went to Alcina’s island, freed Rogero, and broke the spell on all the captives on the island.

In book 19, Melissa, disguised as Rodŏmont, convinced Agramant to break the agreement that was meant to settle the conflict through single combat, leading to a full-scale battle.—Ariosto, Orlando Furioso (1516).

^*_*^* This incident from book nineteen is similar to what happens in Homer’s Iliad, book three, verses four, where Paris and Menelaus decide to resolve their conflict through[25] single combat; however, Minerva convinces Pandarus to violate the truce, leading to a full-scale battle.

Me´lita (now Malta). The place where the ship carrying St. Paul ended up was the “Porto de San Paolo,” and according to tradition, the cathedral of Citta Vecchia is located on the site where Publius, the Roman governor, lived. St. Paul’s grotto, a cave nearby, is named in honor of this great apostle.

Meli´tus, a gentleman from Cyprus, in the play called The Laws of Candy, by Beaumont and Fletcher (1647).

Melizyus, king of Thessaly, in the golden age of Saturn. He was the first to train horses for human use.

Melizyus (King) held his court in the Tower of Chivalry, and there knighthood was bestowed upon Graunde Amoure, after giving him the following advice:

And first, Good Hope should be his leg armor;
His breastplate, of Perfect Righteousness,
Girded first with the belt of Chastity;
His rich cloak should be good business,
Lined with Alms ...
The helmet Mekenes, and the shield Good Faith,
His sword God’s Word, as Saint Paul says.

Stephen Hawes, The Passe-tyme of Plesure, 28. (1515).

Mell (Mr.), the unfortunate and undervalued second master at Salem House, the school run by Mr. Creakle. Mr. Mell played the flute. His mother lived in a charitable housing facility, and Steerforth used to mock Mell about this “degradation,” ultimately leading to his dismissal. Mell moved to Australia and found success in his new life. —C. Dickens, David Copperfield (1849).

Melle´font (2 syl.), in love with Cynthia, the daughter of Sir Paul Pliant. His aunt, Lady Touchwood, had an inappropriate obsession with him, and when he rejected her advances, she swore to destroy him. After surviving several narrow escapes from the deceit of his aunt and his so-called "friend," Maskwell, he managed to win and marry the woman he loved.—W. Congreve, The Double Dealer (1700).

Mellifluous Doctor (The), St. Bernard, whose writings were known as “a river of paradise” (1091-1153).

Melnotte (Claude), the son of a gardener, is in love with Pauline, “the Beauty of Lyons,” but she treats him with disdain. Beauseant and Glavis, two other rejected suitors, teamed up with him to bring her down a notch. To achieve this, Claude pretended to be the prince of Como, and Pauline married him, but she was furious when she realized she had been tricked. Claude left her to join the French army and, using the name Morier, rose to the rank of colonel in just two and a half years. He then returned to Lyons and found his father-in-law on the verge of bankruptcy, and Pauline about to be sold to Beauseant to settle their debts. Claude paid the money needed and claimed Pauline as his loving and faithful wife.—Lord L. B. Lytton, Lady of Lyons (1838).

Melo (Juan de), born in Castile in the 15th century. A disagreement arose in Esalo´na about who was the braver warrior, Achillês or Hector. The Marquis de Ville´na said, “Let’s see if the supporters of Achillês can fight as well as they talk.” At that moment, a massive fire-breathing monster appeared in the assembly, repeating the same challenge. Everyone recoiled in fear except Juan de Melo, who drew his sword and stood in front of King Juan II to protect him, “for better or for worse.” The king appointed him alcaydê of Alcala la Real, in Grana´da, for his loyalty.—Chronica de Don Alvaro de Luna.

Melrose (Violet), an heiress, marries Charles Middlewick. This was against his father's wishes because Violet had the poor judgment to insult the retired businessman and viewed vulgarity as the “unpardonable sin.”

Mary Melrose, Violet’s cousin, but without any money. She marries Talbot Champneys; however, his father, Sir Geoffrey, wanted him to marry Violet, the heiress.—H. J. Byron, Our Boys (a comedy, 1875).

Melusina, the most famous of the fairies of France. After trapping her father in a mountain for upsetting her mother, she was cursed to turn into a serpent every Saturday. When she married the count of Lusignan, she made him promise never to visit her on that day, but because of his jealousy, he broke his vow. As a result, Melusina had to leave her mortal husband and wander the world as a ghost until the end of time. Some say the count imprisoned her in the dungeon wall of his castle.—Jean d’Arras (fourteenth century).

^*_*^* The cry of despair let out by the fée when she found out about her husband's secret visit is the source of the phrase, Un cri de Mélusine (“A shriek of despair”).

Melvil (Sir John), a young baronet, is engaged to Miss Sterling, the elder daughter of a City merchant, who promises to give her £800,000. Just before the wedding, Sir John realizes that he doesn't care for Miss Sterling but is deeply in love with her younger sister, Fanny, and proposes to her instead. His proposal is turned down, and soon it’s revealed that Miss Fanny has been secretly married to Lovewell for four months.—Colman and Garrick, The Clandestine Marriage (1766).

Melville (Major), a magistrate at Cairnvreckan village.—Sir W. Scott, Waverley (time, George II.).

Melville (Sir Robert), part of the delegation from the privy council to Mary, Queen of Scots.—Sir W. Scott, The Abbot (time, Elizabeth).

Melville, the father of Constantia.—C. Macklin, The Man of the World (1764).

Melville (Julia), a genuinely admirable girl, is in love with Faulkland, who is constantly jealous of her for no reason. She accepts his indirect comments without holding a grudge and interacts with him with honesty and patience (see act i. 2).—Sheridan, The Rivals (1775).

Melyhalt (The Lady), a strong subject of King Arthur, whose lands Sir Galiot invaded; despite this, the lady chose Sir Galiot as her preferred knight and chevalier.

Memnon, king of the Ethiopians. He went to help his uncle, Priam, and was killed by Achilles. His mother, Eos, heartbroken from his death, cries for him every morning, and her tears become what we know as dew.

Memnon, the black statue of King Amenhotep III in Thebes, Egypt, produces musical sounds when struck by the rays of the[27] morning sun. Kircher claims these sounds come from a kind of harpsichord or Aeolian harp inside the statue, with the strings being affected by the sun's warmth. Cambyses, curious to uncover the secret, cut the statue in half from head to waist; however, it still continued to produce its morning melody.

Memnon, “the mad lover,” general of As'torax, king of Paphos.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Mad Lover (1617).

Memnon, the title of a novel by Voltaire, aims to demonstrate the foolishness of seeking too much knowledge.

Memnon’s Sister. Hemera, mentioned by Dictys Cretensis.

Black, but in a way that would suit
Prince Memnon’s sister well.

Milton, *Il Penseroso* (1638).

Memorable (The Ever-), John Hales, of Eton (1584-1656).

Memory. The people best known for their memory are:

Magliabecchi, from Florence, known as "The Universal Index and Living Encyclopedia" (1633-1714).

P. J. Beronicius, the Greek and Latin improviser, who had memorized Horace, Virgil, Cicero, Juvenal, both Plinys, Homer, and Aristophanes. He passed away in Middleburgh in 1676.

Andrew Fuller, after listening to 500 lines twice, could recite them flawlessly. He could also repeat a sermon or speech word for word; he could name every shop sign from the Temple to the far end of Cheapside, and list the items displayed in each shop, either forwards or backwards.

“Memory” Woodfall could hold a discussion in his mind and recite it two weeks later.

“Memory” Thompson could recite the names, trades, and details of every shop from Ludgate Hill to Piccadilly.

William Ratcliff, the novelist's husband, could easily recall a debate the next morning.

Memory (The Bard of), Samuel Rogers, writer of the Pleasures of Memory (1762-1855).

Men of Prester John’s Country. Prester John, in his letter to Manuel Comnēnus, says that his land is inhabited by men with horns, one-eyed individuals (with the eye sometimes in front of the head and sometimes behind it), giants who stand forty ells tall (i.e., 120 feet), the phoenix, and ghouls that consume premature children. He names fifteen different tributary states, including those of Gog and Magog (currently confined behind high mountains); however, at the end of the world, these fifteen states will spread across the entire earth.

Menalcas, any shepherd or country person. The name appears in the Idylls of Theocritus, the Eclogues of Virgil, and the Shepheardes Calendar of Spenser.

Meńcia of Mosquera (Donna) married Don Alvaro de Mello. A few days after the wedding, Alvaro got into an argument with Don Ańdrea de Baesa and killed him. He had to flee from Spain, leaving his bride behind, and his property was taken away. For seven years, she had no news of him (most of that time he was a slave), but after seven years, she heard a report of his death in Fez. The young [28] widow then married the marquis of Guardia, who lived in a grand castle near Burgos. However, while walking in the grounds one morning, she noticed the intense way one of the under-gardeners was looking at her. This man turned out to be her first husband, Don Alvaro, and they ran away from the castle together. But on the way, a gang of robbers attacked them. Alvaro was killed, and the woman was taken to the robbers’ hideout, where Gil Blas saw her and heard her sad story. The lady was soon released and sent back to the marquis of Guardia's castle. She found the marquis dying of grief, and he actually passed away the following day, after which Mencia went to a convent.—Lesage, Gil Blas, i. 11-14 (1715).

Mendo´za, a Jewish prizefighter, who held the championship title at the end of the last century, opened the Lyceum in the Strand in 1791 to teach “the noble art of self-defense.”

Mendoza (Isaac), a wealthy Jew who believes he's incredibly smart, but gets fooled by everyone. (See under Isaac.)—Sheridan, The Duenna (1775).

Menech´mians, people who are just like each other, similar to the brothers Dromio. Named after the Mencœchmi of Plautus.

Menec´rates (4 syl.), a doctor from Syracuse, was incredibly vain and arrogant. He called himself Jupiter and started a letter to Philip, the king of Macedon, with: “Menecratês Jupiter to King Philip, greetings.” When Philip invited him to a banquet, the physician was served only frankincense, like the gods; however, Menecratês was very offended and rushed home.

Mengs (John), the grumpy innkeeper in Kirchhoff village.—Sir W. Scott, Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).

Menippee (Satyre), a well-known political satire, was written during what is known in French history as the Holy League, which aimed to eliminate the Huguenots, trap King Henri III in a monastery, and crown the Duc de Guise. The satire includes both verse and prose, and its purpose is to reveal the deceitful intentions of Philip of Spain and the dangerous ambitions of the Guises.

It is divided into two parts, the first called Catholicon d’Espagne, by Pierre Leroy (1593), which reveals those who were corrupted by Spain's gold; the second part is called Abrégé des Etats de la Ligue, by Gillot, Pithou, Rapin, and Passerat, published in 1594.

^*_*^* Menippus was a cynical philosopher and poet from Gadara in Phoenicia, who wrote twelve books of satirical prose and poetry.

Varro wrote in Latin a work called The Satires of Menippus (Satyræ Menippeæ).

Mennibojou, a North American Indian god.

Mentz (Baron von), a bully from Heidelberg, faces humiliation at the hands of the fellow student he insulted, which is the focus of an exciting chapter in Theodore S. Fay’s novel, Norman Leslie (1835).

[29]Menteith (the earl of), a relative of the earl of Montrose.—Sir W. Scott, Legend of Montrose (during the time of Charles I.).

Mentor, a wise and loyal adviser or guide. Named after Mentor, a friend of Ulysses, whose form Minerva took on when she helped Telemachus in his search for his father.—Fénelon, Télémaque (1700).

Mephistopheles (5 syl.), the mocking, sneering, leering demon who serves Faust in Goethe’s play Faust and Gounod’s opera of the same name. Marlowe refers to him as “Mephostophilis” in his play Dr. Faustus. Shakespeare, in The Merry Wives of Windsor, uses the name “Mephostophilus”; and in the opera, he is called “Mefistofele” (5 syl.). In ancient demonology, Mephistopheles was one of the seven main devils and the second of the fallen archangels.

Mephostophilis, the serving demon of Faustus, in Marlowe’s tragedy of Dr. Faustus (1589).

Mephistopheles, the spirit or companion of Sir John Faustus or [Dr.] John Faust (Shakespeare, Merry Wives of Windsor, 1596). It later became a term of insult, roughly equivalent to “devil’s imp.”

Mercedes, a Spanish woman, drinks the wine poisoned for the French soldiers who have invaded the town to avoid raising suspicion. She has to let her baby drink it, too, and shows no signs of worry until the twenty invaders have consumed the wine, and her baby turns pale and dies right in front of them.—Thomas Bailey Aldrich, Mercedes (drama, 1883).

Mercer (Major), at the presidency of Madras.—Sir W. Scott, The Surgeon’s Daughter (time, George II.).

Merchant of Venice (The), Antonio borrowed 3000 ducats from Shylock, a Jew, for three months. He borrowed the money to help his friend Bassanio. Shylock, in a lighthearted manner, agreed to lend the money under these conditions: If Antonio paid it back within three months, he only had to repay the principal; if he didn’t pay it back on time, he would have to forfeit a pound of his own flesh, from any part of his body that Shylock chose. As Antonio’s ships were delayed by unfavorable winds, he couldn’t repay the money, and Shylock demanded the forfeiture. During the trial that followed, Portia, disguised as a lawyer, took charge of the case. When Shylock was about to take the forfeiture, she interrupted him, pointing out that the bond specified “a pound of flesh,” and that he could shed no blood and had to cut exactly a pound, under penalty of losing his life. Since these conditions were impossible to meet, Shylock lost the case and was fined for trying to take the life of a citizen. —Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice (1598).

The story can be found in the Gesta Romanorum, specifically the tale of the bond in ch. xlviii. and that of the caskets in ch. xcix.; however, Shakespeare based his plot on a Florentine short story called Il Pecorone, which was written in the fourteenth century but wasn't published until the sixteenth century.

There’s a ballad about this topic, but the date is unknown. The deal goes like this:

[30]

“Not a dime for borrowing it,
You’ll pay for a year—
You can do me a favor
Before I die;
But we’ll have a good laugh,
So it can be discussed for a bit;
You’ll give me a promise,” he said,
“That'll be large or solid.”

Merchant’s Tale (The), in Chaucer, is largely the same as the first Latin metrical tale of Adolphus, and is similar to a Latin prose tale included in the appendix of T. Wright’s edition of Æsop’s fables. The tale is this:

Mercian Laws. (See __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__.)

Mercilla, a "virtuous queen of great power and majesty, famous around the world, and respected near and far." Her kingdom was troubled by a sultan, her powerful neighbor, incited by his wife Adicia. The "virtuous queen" refers to Elizabeth; the "sultan" refers to Philip of Spain, and "Adicia" represents injustice, arrogance, or the intolerance of popery.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, v. (1596).

Mercutio, a relative of Prince Escalus, and Romeo’s friend. A lively, spirited, and graceful young nobleman, so clever and imaginative that Dryden claims Shakespeare had to kill him off in the third act, to prevent the poet himself from being overshadowed by Mercutio.—Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet (1598).

Mercutio of Actors (The), William Lewis (1748-1811).

Mercy, a young traveler, who joined Christiana on her journey to Zion. When Mercy arrived at the Wicket Gate, she fainted from fear of being turned away. Mr. Brisk proposed to her, but when he learned that she was poor, he left her. She later married Matthew, the eldest son of Christian.—Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress, ii. (1684).

Merdle (Mr.), a banker, is a parody of the directors of the Royal British bank and Mr. Hudson, “the railway king.” Mr. Merdle, from Harley Street, was known as “the Master Mind of the Age.” He went bankrupt and took his own life. Mr. Merdle was a big man, with a blunt head and rough, ordinary features. His head butler remarked, “Mr. Merdle was never a gentleman, and I wouldn’t be surprised by any ungentlemanly action from him.” This notorious banker was described as “the greatest forger and the biggest thief that ever escaped the gallows.”

Mrs. Merdle, wife of the bank con artist. After her husband's death, society decided that Mrs. Merdle should still be welcomed among the elite; so Mrs. Merdle continued to be accepted and received compliments from the upper class.—C. Dickens, Little Dorrit (1857).

Meredith (Mr.), one of the conspirators with Redgauntlet.—Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George III.).

Meredith (Mr. Michael), “the cheerful guy,” on the managing committee of the[31] Spa hotel.—Sir. W. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well. (time, George III.).

Meredith (Sir), a Welsh knight.—Sir W. Scott, Castle Dangerous (time, Henry I.).

Meredith (Owen), the pen name of the Hon. Edward Robert Bulwer Lytton (Lord Lytton), is the author of The Wanderer (1859), among other works. He was the son of Lord Bulwer Lytton, the poet and novelist, and inherited the title in 1873.

Merida (Marchioness), engaged to Count Valantia.—Mrs. Inchbald, Child of Nature.

Meridarpax, the mouse's pride.

Now standing tall above the others, there’s
A brave prince who far exceeds his age;
The pride of his father and the glory of his family,
More of a warrior in battle than timid;
His actions bold, his strong build impressive,
And Meridarpax is his powerful name.

Parnell, The Battle of the Frogs and Mice, iii. (around 1712).

Meridies or “Noonday Sun,” one of the four brothers who guarded the passages of Castle Perilous. That’s how Tennyson referred to him; however, in the History of Prince Arthur, he’s called “Sir Permōnês, the Red Knight.”—Tennyson, Idylls (“Gareth and Lynette”); Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, i. 129 (1470).

Merion (James), a New York lawyer, who juggles relationships with three women, genuinely believing he is in love with each one.—Ellen Olney Kirke, A Daughter of Eve (1889).

Merle (Madame), a seemingly proper woman with a desire to be seen as the embodiment of respectability, who carries the secret that she is the mistress of a man who is married, and that Madame Merle’s illegitimate daughter is raised by the stepmother, who is completely unaware of the scandalous backstory.—Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady (1881).

Merlin (Ambrose), the prince of enchanters. His mother was Matilda, a nun, who was seduced by a “deceptive spirit,” or incubus, “half angel and half man, living in the air between the earth and the moon.” Some say his mother was the daughter of Pubidius, lord of Math-traval in Wales; others claim she was a princess, the daughter of Demetius, king of Demetia. Blaise baptized the infant, saving it from the forces of darkness.

Merlin died under a spell, but different sources describe the author and circumstances of his death in various ways. In the History of Prince Arthur (Sir T. Malory, 1470), it’s said that the enchantress Nimue or Ninive tricked the old man and “covered him with a stone under a rock.” In the Morte d’Arthur, it’s mentioned that “he sleeps and sighs in an old tree, spell-bound by Vivien.” Tennyson, in his Idylls (“Vivien”), claims that Vivien persuaded Merlin to take shelter from a storm in a hollow oak tree and left him spell-bound. Others believe he was spell-bound in a hawthorn bush, but that’s clearly an error. (See Merlin the Untamed.)

^*_*^* Merlin created “the fountain of love,” referred to by Bojardo in Orlando Innamorato, l. 3.

Ariosto, in Orlando Furioso, says he created “one of the four fountains” (ch. xxvi).

He also created the Round Table at Carduel for 150 knights, which King Arthur received when he married Queen Guinever; and he brought the stones of Stonehenge from Ireland to Salisbury Plain.

Allusion is made to him in the Faëry[32] Queen; in Ellis’s Specimens of Early English Metrical Romances; in Drayton’s Polyolbion; in Kenilworth, by Sir W. Scott, etc. T. Heywood has attempted to show the fulfillment of Merlin’s prophecies.

Of Merlin and his abilities, what area hasn’t heard?...
Who was born of a British nymph while she played
With a charming spirit ...
But throughout Demetia, there wasn’t anyone like her.

Drayton, *Poly-Olbion*, v. (1612).

Merlin (The English), W. Lilly, the astrologer, who took on the pen name “Mer´linus Anglĭcus” (1602-1681).

Merlin the Wild, who was from Caledonia, lived in the sixteenth century, about a hundred years after the famous Ambrose Merlin, the sorcerer. Fordun, in his Scotichronicon, provides details about him. It was foretold that he would die from earth, wood, and water, and this prediction came true when a group of villagers chased him, causing him to leap from a rock into the Tweed, where he was impaled on a stake set in the riverbed. His grave is still visible beneath an old hawthorn bush at Drummelzier, a village on the Tweed.

Merlin’s Cave, in Dynevor, near Carmarthen, is famous for its eerie sounds of clanging iron chains, brass cauldrons, groans, hammer strikes, and the ringing of anvils. The reason for this noise is that Merlin set his spirits to build a brass wall to surround the city of Carmarthen, and since he needed to summon the Lady of the Lake, he instructed them not to stop working until he came back; but he never returned, because Vivien tricked him into getting trapped under the enchanted stone and kept him there. Tennyson claims he was spellbound by Vivien in a hollow oak tree, but the History of Prince Arthur (Sir T. Malory) tells a different story.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, iii. 3 (1590).

Merop’s Son, a nobody, a terræ filius, who thinks he’s someone important. So Phaëton (Merop’s son), forgetting that his mother was an earthborn woman, thought he could drive the sun's horses, but he couldn’t control them and almost set the earth on fire. Many people are like him, thinking they are capable or deserving of great things, while forgetting that they are just “Merop’s son.”

Why, Phaëton (because you are Merop's son),
Do you want to try to drive the heavenly chariot,
And with your reckless ambition set the world on fire?

Shakespeare, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act 3, Scene 1 (1594).

Merrilees (Meg), a somewhat eccentric woman, both a seer and a wanderer. She is the leader and fearsome figure of the gypsy community. Meg Merrilees served as the nurse for Harry Bertram.—Sir W. Scott, Gay Mannering (time, George II.).

Merry Andrew, Andrew Borde, doctor to Henry VIII. (1500-1549).

^*_*^* Prior has a poem about Merry Andrew.

Merry Monarch (The), Charles II., of England (1630, 1660-1685).

Merry Mount. This is the name of the home of a particular Englishman, referred to in the chronicle as “the troublesome Morton,” who erected a Maypole in colonial Massachusetts.

[33]

Mer´rylegs is a highly trained performing dog owned by Signor Jupe, the clown at Sleary’s circus. The dog leaves the circus when his owner goes missing, but years later he returns and eventually dies.—C. Dickens, Hard Times (1854).

Merthyr Tydvil, a version of Martyr St. Tidfil, a Welsh princess who was martyred.

Merton (Tommy), one of the main characters in Sanford and Merton, a story for boys, by Thomas Day (1783-9).

Merton (Tristram). Thomas Babington Macaulay (Lord Macaulay) signs the ballads and sketches he included in Knight’s Quarterly Magazine.

Mertoun (Basil), also known as Vaughan, formerly a pirate.

Mordaunt Mertoun, son of Basil Mertoun. He marries Brenda Troil.—Sir W. Scott, The Pirate (time, William III.).

Merveilleuse [Mair.vay.´uze], the sword of Doolin of Mayence. It was so sharp that, if set blade-down on a wooden block, it would slice through it on its own.

Mervett (Gustavus de), in Charles XII., a historical drama by J. R. Planché (1826).

Mervyn (Mr. Arthur), Julia Mannering's guardian.—Sir W. Scott, Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

Messalina, wife of Emperor Claudius of Rome. Her name is synonymous with promiscuity (CE *-48).

Messalina (The Modern), Catherine II of Russia (1729-1796).

Messalina of Germany, Barbary of Cilley, the second wife of Kaiser Sigismund of Germany (fifteenth century).

Messala. Arrogant young Roman who pretends to be friends with Ben-Hur, but ultimately betrays his trust. In later years, the plan for revenge that the devastated young man harbors comes to fruition in the famous chariot race.—Lew Wallace, Ben Hur, A Tale of the Christ (1880).

Messiah (The), an epic poem in fifteen books, by F. G. Klopstock. The first three were published in 1748, and the last in 1773. The subject is the final days of Jesus, His crucifixion, and resurrection. Bk. i. Jesus ascends the Mount of Olives to spend the night in prayer. Bk. ii. John the Beloved, unable to exorcise a demon, calls on Jesus for help; Satan, rebuked, returns to hell, where he tells the fallen angels his take on the birth and ministry of Christ, whose death he plots. Bk. iii. Messiah sleeps for the last time on the Mount of Olives; the guardian angels of the twelve apostles are mentioned, and a description of the apostles is provided. Satan gives Judas a dream and then enters the heart of Caiaphas. Bk. iv. The council in Caiaphas's palace decides that Jesus must die; Jesus sends Peter and John to prepare for Passover and shares His Last Supper with His apostles. Bk. v. The three hours of agony in the[34] garden. Bk. vi. Jesus, bound, is taken before Annas, and then before Caiaphas. Peter denies his Master. Bk. vii. Christ is brought before Pilate; Judas hangs himself; Pilate sends Jesus to Herod, but Herod sends Him back to Pilate, who turns Him over to the Jews. Bk. viii. Christ nailed to the cross. Bk. ix. Christ on the cross. Bk. x. The Death of Christ. Bk. xi. The vail of the Temple is torn, and many rise from their graves. Bk. xii. The burial of the body and the death of Mary, Lazarus's sister. Bk. xiii. The resurrection and suicide of Philo. Bk. xiv. Jesus appears to His disciples. Bk. xv. Many of those who had risen from their graves show themselves to others. Conclusion.

Messiah, an oratorio by Handel (1749). The libretto was written by Charles Jennens, who was nicknamed “Soliman the Magnificent.”

Metanoi´a, Repentance personified, by William Browne, in Britannia’s Pastorals, v. (Greek, mĕtanoia, “repentance”.)

Faire Metanoia is participating
To crown you with joys that never end.

Pastorals, vol. 1 (1613).

Metasta´sio. The poet's real name was Trapassi (death). He was raised by Gravina, who gave him a Greek-style name (1698-1782).

^*_*^* So “Melancthon” is the Greek version of Schwarzerdê (“black earth”); “Œcolampadius” is the Greek version of the German name Hausschein; “Desiderius Erasmus” is Gheraerd Gheraerd (the first “Gheraerd” is translated to Latin as Desiderius, and the second is rendered in Greek as Erasmus).

Methos, the embodiment of drunkenness. He is the twin brother of Gluttony, and their mother is Caro (fleshly lust). In the battle of Mansoul, Methos is defeated by Agnei´a (wifely chastity), the wife of Eucra´tês (temperance), and sister of Parthen´ia (maiden chastity). (Greek, methê or methŭs means “drunkenness.”)—Phineas Fletcher, The Purple Island, vii., xi. (1633).

Met´ophis, the unethical chief minister of Sesostris.

Mexit´li, the chief god and idol of the Aztecs. He appeared fully grown and used a spear to kill those who ridiculed his mother, Coatlan´tona (4 syl.).

Already at [his mother’s breast] the blow was aimed,
When forth Mexitli leapt, and in his hand
The angry spear.

Southey, *Madoc*, vol. 2, p. 21 (1805).

^*_*^* Of course, it will be remembered that Minerva, just like Mexitli, was born fully grown and fully armed.

Mezen’tius, king of the Tyrrhenians, who executed criminals by forcing them to face dead bodies.—Virgil, Æneid, viii. 485.

Mezzora'mia, a paradise on Earth in Africa, reachable by just one road. Gaudentio di Lucca found this road and lived in Mezzoramia for twenty-five years.—Simon Berington, Gaudentio di Lucca.

M. F. H., Master of the Foxhounds.

Micawber (Mr. Wilkins), a very impractical, somewhat clever man, who loved to give speeches, write letters, and come up with unrealistic schemes, was always sure he would succeed but never actually did. After failing at everything back home, he moved to [35] Australia and became a magistrate in Middlebay.—C. Dickens, David Copperfield (1849).

^*_*^* This genuinely friendly, unpredictable genius represents Dickens’s own father, with “David Copperfield” being Dickens himself, and “Mrs. Nickleby” (it’s hard to believe) is said to be Dickens’s mother.

Mi'chael (2 syl.), the unique protector and guardian of the Jewish people. This archangel is a messenger of peace and abundance.—Sale’s Korân, ii. notes.

^*_*^* It’s clear that Michael was truly the protector and guardian angel of the Jews, as we see in Dan. x. 13, 21; xii. 1.

Milton makes Michael the leader of the heavenly army in the battle in heaven. The word means “God’s power.” Gabriel was next in command to the archangel Michael.

Go, Michael, prince of the heavenly armies

Paradise Lost, vi. 44 (1665).

^*_*^* Longfellow, in his Golden Legend, mentions that Michael is the guiding spirit of the planet Mercury, and provides humanity with the gift of wisdom (“The Miracle-Play,” iii., 1851).

Michael, the “favorite” of Arden of Feversham, loves Maria, who is Mosby’s sister. He’s a weak man who both loves and respects Arden, but he gets manipulated by Mosby into letting thugs into Arden’s house to kill him.—Geo. Lillo, Arden of Feversham (1592).

Michael, God of Wind (St.). At the tip of Malea is a chapel dedicated to St. Michael, and sailors say that when the wind comes from that direction, it’s because St. Michael is flapping his wings. Whenever they pass by that point, they pray to St. Michael to keep his wings calm.

St. Michael’s Chair. It is said that any woman who has sat on Michael’s chair (on St. Michael’s Mount, in Cornwall) will have control over her husband for the rest of their lives.

Michael Angelo of Battle-Scenes (The), Michael Angelo Cerquozzi, from Rome (1600-1660).

Michael Angelo of France (The), Jean Cousin (1500-1590).

Michael Angelo des Kermesses, Peter van Laar, known as Le Bamboche, born in Laaren (1613-1673).

Or Michelangelo of Bamboches.

Michael Angelo of Music (The), Johann Christoph von Glück (1714-1787).

Michael Angelo of Sculptors (The), Pierre Puget (1623-1694).

Réné Michael Slodtz is also known by that name (1705-1764).

Michael Angelo Titmarsh was one of the pen names that Thackeray used to write for Frazer’s Magazine (1811-1863).

Michael Armstrong, “the factory boy.” The main character and title of a novel by Mrs. Trollope (1839). The purpose of this novel is to highlight what the author believed to be the problems with the factory system.

Michael Perez, the copper captain. (See Perez.)

Michael, the Stammerer, born in Armorium, Phrygia, became the emperor of Greece in CE 820. He worked hard to implement the Jewish Sabbath and sacrifices.

[36]

I believe I've shown...
The flaws in all those harmful beliefs...
That are causing such chaos in the Churches
By Michael the Stammerer.

Longfellow, *The Golden Legend* (1851).

Michal, in the satire of Absalom and Achitophel, by Dryden and Tate, is intended to represent Catharine, the wife of Charles II.—Pt. ii. (1682).

Michelot is a dishonest, cowardly, and greedy man who is trying to figure out the secret of “the gold-mine.” As the prosecutor for the president of Lyons, his job was to “capture and arrest” those accused of civil or criminal offenses.—E. Stirling, The Gold-Mine, or Miller of Grenoble (1854).

Micomico´na, the so-called queen of Micomicon. Don Quixote's journey to Micomiconnia ended in failure, as he was taken home in a cage, almost immediately after hearing about the amazing enchantments.—Cervantes, Don Quixote, I. iv. 2 (1605.)

Midas (Justice) is chosen to judge a music competition between Pan and Apollo. He opts for Pan, prompting Apollo to reveal his true identity, get furious about the verdict, and give Midas “the ears of an ass.” —Kane O’Hara, Midas (1764).

Edward Shuter (1728-1776) was called “the greatest comic actor” by Garrick, and C. Dibdin remarked, “Nothing on earth could have been better than his ‘Midas.’”

Midas’s Ears. The servant who used to cut the king’s hair discovered the deformity and was too afraid to tell anyone, but unable to keep it to himself, he dug a hole in the ground, leaned in, and shouted, “King Midas has donkey ears!” He then covered up the hole and felt a sense of relief.

Tennyson makes the barber a woman:

Not any livelier than the lady.
Who whispered “Donkeys’ ears” among the reeds.

Tennyson, *The Princess*.

Middleburgh (Mr. James), a magistrate from Edinburgh.—Sir W. Scott, Heart of Midlothian (time, George II.).

Middlemas (Mr. Matthew), the name taken on by General Witherington.

Mrs. Middlemas, wife of the general (originally Zelia de Monçada).

Richard Middlemas, also known as Richard Tresham, a foundling, becomes an apprentice to Dr. Gray. He learns that he is the son of General Witherington and travels to India, where he takes on the identity of Sadoc, a black slave working for Mde. Montreville. He betrays Menie Gray by handing her over to Tippoo Saib, and Hyder Ali has him executed by being crushed to death by an elephant.—Sir W. Scott, The Surgeon’s Daughter (time, George II.).

Middlewick (Mr. Perkyn), a retired butter seller, is the neighbor of Sir Geoffrey Champneys and the father of Charles. The butter seller is inherently coarse, drops his h’s in odd places, makes major geographical and historical mistakes, has a quick temper, but a soft heart. He disowns his son for marrying Violet Melrose, an heiress who looked down on her working-class father. When he finds himself in serious trouble, the old butter seller goes to his son’s rundown apartment and forgives him. So everything ends well.

Charles Middlewick, son of the retired butter seller, well educated, and a gentleman. His father wanted him to marry Mary[37] Melrose, a girl with no money, but he preferred Violet, an heiress.—H. J. Byron, Our Boys (1875).

Midge, the miller's son, one of Robin Hood's friends. (See Much.)

Midge (The), a privileged but lonely orphan, was forced at the age of thirteen to rely on the kindness of Dr. Peters, an odd bachelor. She takes care of his home and him in an endearing, nurturing way, which is quite charming, until she matures. The advances of another younger man make the doctor painfully aware of how much he truly loves her. He keeps quiet and marries Midge off to her suitor.

Midian Mara, the Celtic siren.

Midlo'thian (The Heart of), a story about the Porteous riot, where the events involving Effie and Jeanie Deans are particularly captivating. Effie was seduced by Geordie Robertson (also known as George Staunton) while working for Mrs. Saddletree. She killed her baby and was sentenced to death; however, her half-sister, Jeanie, went to London, appealed to the queen on her behalf, and got her pardon. Upon returning to Scotland, Jeanie married Reuben Butler; and Geordie Robertson (now Sir George Staunton) married Effie. Sir George was shot by a gypsy boy, leading Effie (i.e. Lady Staunton) to retire to a convent in Europe.—Sir W. Scott, Heart of Midlothian (time, George II.).

Midshipman Easy. (See Easy.)

Midsummer Night’s Dream. Shakespeare writes that there was a law in Athens stating that if a daughter rejected the husband chosen for her by her father, she could face the death penalty. Egeus (3 syl.), an Athenian, promised to marry off his daughter, Hermia, to Demetrius; however, since she loved Lysander, she rejected the man her father had chosen and ran away from Athens with her lover. Demetrius chased after her, followed by Helena, who was infatuated with him. The four of them ended up in a forest and fell asleep. In their dreams, they were visited by a vision of fairies, and upon waking, Demetrius decided to give up on Hermia, who didn’t return his feelings, and to marry Helena, who loved him genuinely. When Egeus was informed of this, he readily agreed to let his daughter be with Lysander, and the law was not enforced (1592).

^*_*^* Many of the events in this comedy are taken from the Diana by Montemayor, a Spanish author from the sixteenth century.

Midwinter (Ozias), the alias of another Allan Armadale. His father has killed the father of the real Allan, and the son of the murderer decides to keep his own identity hidden while trying to make amends to Allan for the wrong done to him. He falls in love with and marries the deceitful governess of Allan’s fiancée.—Wilkie Collins, Armadale.

Miggs (Miss), the maid and “comforter” of Mrs. Varden. A tall, skinny young woman who loved wearing pattens; she was slender and abrasive, with a sharp and sour face. She held men in complete contempt but had a secret soft spot for Sim Tappertit, who disrespectfully called her “scraggy.” Miss Miggs always[38] took Mrs. Varden's side against Mr. Varden, portraying herself as a suffering martyr and him as a cruel Nero. She referred to ma’am as “mim;” claimed her sister lived at “twenty-sivin;” and called Simon “Simmun.” She described Mrs. Varden as “the mildest, most amiable, most forgiving, longest-suffering woman in existence.” After facing disappointment in all her marriage hopes, she was ultimately appointed as the female turnkey at a county Bridewell, a position she held for thirty years until her death.

Mignón, a beautiful, tiny, fairy-like Italian girl, is in love with Wilhelm, her protector. She dances gracefully, twirling her tambourine like a spirit. Full of passion, love, and joy, she is consumed by despair when she realizes her love isn’t reciprocated, leading her to madness and ultimately to her death.—Goethe, Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship (1794-6).

Sir W. Scott created his “Fenella” in Peveril of the Peak based on this character, and Victor Hugo has depicted her in his Notre Dame under the name “Esmeralda.”

Mignonette:

“A pitcher of mignonette
In the highest window of the tenement
A strange kind of flower pot—yet
That pitcher of mignonette
Is a garden placed in heaven
For the little sick child in the basement,
The pitcher of mignonette.
In the tenement’s highest window.”

Henry Cuyler Bunner, Airs from Arcady and Elsewhere (1884).

Migonnet, a fairy king, wanted to marry the princess raised by Violenta, the fairy mother.

Mikado (of Japan), the hero of Gilbert and Sullivan’s opera “The Mikado.” The plot revolves around the complications created about the Mikado’s strict laws against flirting:

“So he declared succinctly,
That anyone who flirted, leered, or winked,
Unless married,
Should immediately be beheaded.”

Milan (The Duke of), an Italian prince and ally of the Lancastrians.—Sir W. Scott, Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).

Milan Decree, a decree by Napoleon Bonaparte, dated Milan, December 27, 1807, declaring “the entire British Empire to be under blockade, and banning all countries from trading with Great Britain or using any products made there.”

^*_*^* Since Britain was the biggest customer of the very nations she was banned from trading with, this ridiculous rule was a double-edged sword, causing problems for both sides.

Mildred, the bride, “fresh and fair as May,” whom Philip, the pastor, installs as Mistress of the Manse, in Josiah Gilbert Holland’s poem of that name (1874).

Mildmay (Frank), the hero of the sea story that shares his name.—Frederick Marryatt.

Mile´sian Fables (Milesiæ Fabulæ), very playful and amusing stories. Sir Ed[39]ward Bulwer Lytton (Lord Lytton) published six of the Lost Tales of Milētus in free verse. He claims he borrowed them from the scattered remnants saved by Apollodo´rus and Conon, found in the writings of Pausa´nias and Athenæus, or spread through the Scholiasts. The Milesian tales were mostly in prose; however, Ovid mentions that Aristi´dês turned some of them into verse, and Sisenna into Latin.

Junxit Aristides Milesia carmina secum
Pulsus Aristides nec tamen urba sua est.

The original stories by Antonius Diogenes are described by Photius. They seem to have been very popular among the indulgent Sybarites. A collection was made by Aristides, who (according to Ovid) also turned some of them into verse. The Latin translation by Sisenna was created around the time of the civil wars between Marius and Sulla. Parthenius of Nicaea, who taught Virgil Greek, borrowed thirty-six of the tales, which he dedicated to Cornelius Gallus and titled Erôtikôn Pathêmatôn (“love stories”).

Milesia Crimina, romantic crimes. Venus was honored in Miletus, which is why the scandalous love stories by Antonius Diogenês were called Milesiæ Fabulæ.

Milésians, the “ancient” Irish. The legend says that Ireland was once inhabited by the Fir-bolg or Belgæ from Britain, who were conquered by the Milésians from Asia Minor, known as the Gaels of Ireland.

Miles (Throckmorton), reckless, courageous, impulsive, and overly generous hero of Constance Cary Harrison’s story, Flower de Hundred (1890).

Milford (Colonel), a friend of Sir Geoffrey Peveril.—Sir W. Scott, Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Milford (Jack), the illegitimate son of Widow Warren’s late husband, was friends with Harry Dornton, with whom he led a life of excess. Jack inherited a fortune but quickly blew it all on his lavish lifestyle and ended up in prison for debt. Harry then made a deal to marry Widow Warren if she would lend him £6,000 to pay off Jack’s debts. When Harry’s father heard about this arrangement, he was so touched that he gave Harry the money himself; as a result, Harry was freed from his promise and married the widow’s daughter instead of the widow. In the end, everyone was saved from the path of destruction.—Holcroft, The Road to Ruin (1792).

Milinowski is a big, strong American widow who, after being married to a Prussian army officer for twenty years, "takes to the everyday life" quite well. She serves as a typical and not unkind chaperone for Miss Caroline Lester, the heroine of Charlotte Dunning’s book Upon a Cast (1885).

Milk-Pail (The), which was set to make a fortune, (See Perette.)

Millamant, the pretender of Edward Mirabell. She is an incredibly bright young woman who says she “loves to cause pain because cruelty shows power; and when you let go of your cruelty, you also let go of your power.” Millamant is deeply immersed in poetry, and her heart is not her own to keep. Sir Wilful Witwould is trying to win her over, but she can't stand “the outdated fool.”—W. Congreve, The Way of the World (1700).

Miller (James), the “tiger” of the Hon. Mr. Flammer. James was raised in the stable, trained on the racetrack and pavé, and refined in the fives court.[40] He was engaged to Mary Chintz, the maid of Miss Bloomfield.—C. Selby, The Unfinished Gentleman.

Miller, (Joe), James Ballantyne, writer of Old Joe Miller, by the Editor of New J. M., three volumes. (1801).

^*_*^* Mottley put together a joke book during the reign of James II, titled Joe Miller’s Jests. The expression, “That’s a Joe Miller,” means “that’s a joke from Mottley’s book.”

Miller (Maximilian Christopher), the Saxon giant; height eight feet. His hand was a foot long; his second finger measured nine inches; his head was unusually large. He wore an elaborate Hungarian jacket and a large feathered cap. This giant was displayed in London in 1733. He died at 60; he was born in Leipzig (1674-1734).

Miller (Draxy), the lovely daughter of a generous but impractical man, whose determination to reclaim hundreds of acres of forest land that were playfully deeded to her and thought to be worthless, brings comfort to her father and leads to her own happy marriage.—Saxe Holm Stories (1886).

Miller of Mansfield (The), John Cockle, a miller and keeper of Sherwood Forest. After hearing a gunshot, John Cockle ventured into the forest at night to look for poachers and stumbled upon the king (Henry VIII), who had been hunting and got lost from his entourage. The miller grabbed him, but when he was told the man was just a traveler who had lost his way in the forest, he decided to take him home for the night. The next day, the king’s courtiers were brought to the same house, having been captured as poachers by the under-keepers. It was then revealed that the miller's guest was king, who knighted the miller and granted him an annual income of 1000 marks.—R. Dodsley, The King and the Miller of Mansfield (1737).

Miller of Trompington (The), Simon Simkin, a complete thief. Two scholars took it upon themselves to ensure that a sack of corn was ground for “Solar Hill College” without interference; one stood by the hopper, and the other at the trough below. Meanwhile, Simon Simkin let the scholars’ horse loose; and while they went to catch it, he stole half a bushel of the flour, which he turned into cakes, and replaced it with meal. But the young men got their revenge; they not only made off with the flour, meal, and cakes without paying but also left the miller in bad shape too.—Chaucer, Canterbury Tales (“The Reeve’s Tale,” 1388).

Miller on the Dee. “There was a cheerful miller who once lived by the River Dee,” is a song by Isaac Bickerstaff, introduced in Love in a Village, i. 1 (1763).

Mills (Miss), the close friend of Dora. It's believed she experienced a heartbreak early on in life, which is why she views the happiness of others with a calm, condescending kindness and describes herself as being “in the desert of Sahara.”—C. Dickens, David Copperfield (1849).

Millwood (Sarah), the mistress who lured George Barnwell into robbing his master and killing his uncle. Sarah Millwood spent all the money that George Barnwell got from these crimes, then kicked him out and reported him. Both were hanged.—George Lillo, George Barnwell (1732).

[41]Milly, the wife of William Swidger. She is the good spirit of the story.—C. Dickens, The Haunted Man (1848).

Milo was an athlete from Croton, famous for his incredible strength. He could carry a four-year-old heifer on his shoulders. In his old age, Milo tried to split an oak tree in half, but the parts closed around his hands and trapped him until he was eaten by wolves.

Milo (The English), Thomas Topham, from London (1710-1752).

Milton, introduced by Sir Walter Scott in Woodstock (time, Commonwealth).

Milton of Germany, Frederick Gottlieb Klopstock, author of The Messiah, an epic poem (1724-1803).

A very German Milton.
Coleridge.

Milton’s Monument in Westminster Abbey was created by Rysbrack.

Milvey (The Rev. Frank), a “young man with a fancy education and a terrible salary, with a relatively young wife and six small kids. He had to teach ... to make ends meet, yet everyone seemed to think he should have more free time than the laziest person in the community, and more money than the wealthiest.”

Mrs. Milvey (Margaretta), a pretty, lively woman, passionate and impulsive, but “somewhat worn by worry. She had pushed aside many beautiful tastes and bright dreams, and instead took on schools, soup, warm clothing, heating, and all the everyday worries and Sunday coughs of a large community, young and old.”—C. Dickens, Our Mutual Friend (1864).

Minagro´bis, the admiral of the cats in the great sea battle between cats and rats. Minagrobis claimed victory by eating the admiral of the rats, who had traveled around the world three times in very fine ships, where he was neither an officer nor part of the crew, but more like a stowaway.—Comtesse D’Aulnoy, Fairy Tales (“The White Cat,” 1682).

Min'cing, lady's maid to Millamant. She says mem for ma'am, fit for fought, la'ship for ladyship, etc.—W. Congreve, The Way of the World (1700).

Minikin (Lord), married to a cousin of Sir John Trotley, but, according to good manners, he flirts with Miss Tittup; and Miss Tittup, who is engaged to Colonel Tivy, flirts with a married man.

Lady Minikin, wife of Lord Minikin. By social norms, she dislikes her husband and flirts with Colonel Tivy; and Colonel Tivy, who is engaged to Miss Tittup, flirts with a married woman. It's fashionable to behave this way.—Garrick, Bon Ton (1760).

Minjekah´wun, Hiawatha’s mittens, made of deer skin. When Hiawatha wore his mittens, he could smash the hardest rocks apart.

He [Hiawatha] had mittens, Minjekahwun,
Magical mittens made of deer skin;
When he wore them on his hands,
He could smash the rocks apart.

Longfellow, Hiawatha, IV. (1855).

Minna and Brenda, two gorgeous girls, the daughters of Magnus Troil, the old landlord of Zetland. Minna had a dignified appearance, with dark eyes and shiny black hair; she was gullible and vain, but not flighty; passionate, talented, and kind-hearted. She[42] loved Captain Clement Cleveland; however, Cleveland was killed during an encounter on the Spanish coast. Brenda had golden hair, a rosy complexion, a delicate figure, and a calm, cheerful personality. She wasn’t as much of a hero as her sister, but she was more of a loving and trusting woman. She married Mordaunt Mertoun (ch. iii).—Sir W. Scott, The Pirate (time, William III.).

Minna von Barnhelm. A rich girl who is engaged to Major von Tellheim, a Prussian soldier. He loses his wealth, gets wounded, and is thought to be dishonorable, and out of respect for Minna, he tries to end the engagement. Everything gets resolved, and they get married.—G. E. Lessing.

Minnehaha (“the laughing water”), daughter of the arrow maker of Dacotah, and wife of Hiawatha. She got her name Minnehaha from the waterfall of that name located between St. Anthony and Fort Snelling.

From the waterfall, he named her
Minnehaha, Laughing Water.

Longfellow, *Hiawatha*, iv. (1855).

Minnesingers, the Troubadours of Germany during the Hohenstaufen period (1138-1294), were musicians who wrote and performed short lyrical poems—usually praising women or celebrating the beauty of nature—known as Minne, or love songs. The names of nearly three hundred of these poets have been preserved, representing all social classes, with the most notable being Dietmar von Aist, Ulrich von Lichenstein, Heinrich von Frauenlob, and especially Walther von der Vogelweid (1168-1230). Wolfram von Eschenbach, Gottfried von Strasburg, and Hartmann von der Aue are also recognized as Minnesingers, but they are more famous for their work in metrical romance.

^*_*^* The tale goes that Vogelweid left everything he owned to a Wurtzburg monastery, on the condition that they would feed the doves at noon every day at his grave. The growing number of birds triggered the greedy concerns of the abbot, who banned the daily feeding.

“Time has long erased the inscriptions
On the cloister's gravestones,
And tradition only tells us
Where the poet's remains lie.
But around the vast cathedral
By sweet echoes multiplied
Still the birds repeat the legend
“And the name is Vogelweid.”

H. W. Longfellow, Walter von der Vogelweid 186-.

Mino´na, “the gentle, blushing daughter of Torman,” a Gaelic poet in the Songs of Selma, one of the most well-known sections of Macpherson’s Ossian.

Minor (The), a comedy by Samuel Foote (1760). Sir George Wealthy, “the minor,” was the son of Sir William Wealthy, a retired merchant. He was educated at a public school, went to college, and completed his training in Paris. His father, hearing about his extravagant lifestyle, pretended to be dead and, disguised as a German baron, hired several people to keep an eye on him—some to win his gambling bets, some to lend him money, and some to support his other vices—until it seemed he was on the verge of ruin. His uncle, Mr. Richard Wealthy, a City merchant, wanted his daughter, Lucy, to marry a wealthy trader, and when she refused, he kicked her out. This young woman was brought to Sir George as a fille de joie, but her obvious innocence touched his heart. He not only helped her with her immediate needs but also sent her to a safe place where her “innocent beauty would be shielded from temptation, and her misled innocence would be saved from disgrace.” The entire scheme then unraveled. Sir George’s father, proud of his son, revealed his true identity, saying that the losses were just a ruse; and the uncle, softened by the situation, agreed to let his daughter marry his nephew and blessed the young man for saving his abandoned child.

Minotti, the governor of Corinth, which was then under the control of the doge. In 1715, the city was attacked by the Turks; and during the siege, one of the ammunition depots in the Turkish camp exploded, killing 600 men. Byron claims it was Minotti himself who ignited the fuse, and that he died in the blast.—Byron, Siege of Corinth (1816).

Minstrel (The), an unfinished poem in Spenserian meter by James Beattie, aimed to follow the journey of a poetic genius, born in a rough time, from the first spark of imagination to the peak of poetic ecstasy. The first canto describes Edwin, the minstrel; canto ii. is tedious philosophy, and thankfully, that's where the poem concludes. It's a shame it didn't finish after the first canto (1773-4).

But poor Edwin was no ordinary kid,
Deep thoughts often seemed to hold his young attention.
He wasn’t interested in fancy snacks, shiny things, or toys,
Except for one simple pipe of rough tunes;
He was quiet when he was sad, kind, but shy;
Now his expression was quite serious.
And now he laughed loudly, although no one knew why.
The neighbors watched and sighed, but they admired the boy;
Some thought him incredibly wise, and some thought he was insane.

Canto 1, Verse 16.

Minstrel (Lay of the Last). Lady Margaret, “the flower of Teviot,” was the daughter of Lord Walter Scott of Branksome Hall. She loved Baron Henry of Cranstown, but there was a bitter feud between their families. One day, the mischievous page of Lord Cranstown lured the heir of Branksome Hall, who was just a boy then, into the woods, where he was captured by the English. They marched with 3,000 men to Branksome Hall, but when they learned that Douglas was coming to help with 10,000 men, the two armies agreed to have a single combat to decide whether the boy would be returned to his mother or become Page to King Edward. The two champions were Sir Richard Musgrave (English) and Sir William Deloraine (Scottish). The Scottish champion defeated Sir Richard, and the boy was returned to his mother. It turned out that Sir William Deloraine was Lord Cranstown, who claimed and received Lady Margaret’s hand in marriage as his reward.—Sir W. Scott (1805).

Minstrel of the Border, Sir W. Scott; also known as “The Border Minstrel” (1771-1832).

My steps were guided by the Border Minstrel.

Wordsworth, *Yarrow Revisited*.

Great Minstrel of the Border.

Wordsworth.

Minstrel of the English Stage (The Last), James Shirley, the final member of the Shakespearean school (1594-1666).

^*_*^* Then came the indulgent French school, led by John Dryden.

Musicians (Royal Domestic).

Of William I., Berdie, known as Regis Jocula'tor.

Of Henry I, Galfrid and Royer, or Raher.

Of Richard I., Blondel.

[44]Mint Julep, a drink from Virginia, famously mentioned in a song by Charles Fenno Hoffman (185-). A popular version of this drink is made with brandy, water, sugar, mint leaves, and crushed ice, and is known as a “hail-storm.”

“The drink was amazing, and the praise was loud,
Yet something felt off for everyone to mourn;
But Mint Juleps, the drink of the gods, became
When Jove himself tossed in a handful of hail.”

Charles Fenno Hoffman, *Poems* (1846).

Mintz, also known as Araminta Sophronia—the best cook and housemaid in town—controls the Stackpole family with an iron fist until the family's son defies her by marrying the head instructor at the Boston Cooking School.—Augusta Larned, Village Photographs (1887).

Mjölnir (3 syl.), Thor’s hammer.

This is my hammer, Mjölnir the mighty;
Giants and sorcerers can't stand up to it.

Sæmund Sigfusson, Edda (1130).

Miquelets (The), soldiers from the Pyrenees, dispatched to work alongside the dragoons of the Great Monarch against the Camisards of the Cevennes.

Mirabel, the “wild goose,” a well-traveled man who loves women casually but hates marriage, especially has a strong dislike for Oriana; however, Oriana uses her feminine charm to pursue the “wild goose” and eventually catches him.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Wild-goose Chase (1652).

Mirabel (Old). He loves his son and hopes he'll marry Oria´na. As the young man hesitates, the father comes up with various plans to get him to confess his feelings; however, all of his plans fail.

Young Mirabel, the son, known as “the inconstant.” A charming and fashionable young man, who loves Oriana but doesn't want to get married. Whenever Oriana seems to be slipping away from him, his passion flares up; but as soon as his options become clear, he pulls back. Ultimately, though, he ends up marrying her.—G. Farquhar, The Inconstant (1702).

Mirabell (Edward), in love with Millamant. He liked her “with all her flaws; in fact, he liked her for her flaws, ... which were so genuine that (in his view) they suited her perfectly.”—W. Congreve, The Way of the World (1700).

Not everything Drury Lane offers
Can portray the charming “Charles” as accurately,
Or bring such vibrancy to “Mirabell”
[As Montague Talbot, 1778-1831].

Crofton Croker.

Mirabella, “a beautiful maiden dressed in mourning clothes, riding a shabby horse that didn’t suit her, alongside a shameless fool named Disdain” (canto 6). Timias and Serena, after leaving the hermit’s cell, encounter her. Despite her shabby appearance and mount, the maiden was “a lady of great dignity and honor, yet scornful and proud.” Many a poor soul pined for her throughout their lives. Called to Cupid’s court, the verdict against her was that she should “ride on a shabby horse, accompanied by a fool, until she had saved as many lovers as she had killed” (canto 7). Mirabella was also cursed to carry a leaky bottle, which she was to fill with tears, and a torn wallet, which she was to fill with regret: but her tears and regret fell out as quickly as they were added, trampled underfoot by Scorn (canto 8).—Spenser, Faëry Queen, vi. 6-8 (1596).

^*_*^* “Mirabella” is meant for Rosalind, who left Spenser, and who[45] is referred to by the poet as “a widow’s daughter of the glen, and poor.”

Mir´amont, brother of Justice Brisac, and uncle of the two brothers, Charles (the scholar) and Eustace (the courtier). Miramont is an ignorant, cranky old man, but a big fan of knowledge and scholars.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Elder Brother (1637).

Miranda, daughter of Prospero, the exiled duke of Milan, and niece of Antonio, the usurping duke. She grows up on a deserted island, with Ariel, the fairy spirit, and Caliban, the monster, as her only companions. Ferdinand, son of the king of Naples, gets shipwrecked on the island, falls in love with her, and marries her.—Shakespeare, The Tempest (1609).

Miranda is an heiress and the ward of Sir Francis Gripe. Since she needs his permission to marry before she can access her fortune, she pretended to love him, even though he was 64 years old, and the old fool bought it. When Miranda asked for his consent to marry, he gladly gave it, thinking he was the one she wanted; but the sneaky little tramp laughed at her old guardian and promised herself to Sir George Airy, who was 24.—Mrs. Centlivre, The Busy Body (1709).

Mirja, one of the six Wise Men from the East, was led by the guiding star to Jesus. Mirja had five sons who followed his righteous path.—Klopstock, The Messiah, v. (1771).

Mirror (Alasnam’s), a mirror that showed Alasnam if “a beautiful girl was also pure and virtuous.” The mirror was known as “the touchstone of virtue.”—Arabian Nights (“Prince Zeyn Alasnam”).

Mirror (Cambuscan’s), a mirror sent to Cambuscan, the king of Tartary, by the king of Arabia and India. It revealed to those who looked into it if any misfortune was about to happen to them; whether someone they cared about was a friend or an enemy.—Chaucer, Canterbury Tales (“The Squire’s Tale,” unfinished.)

“Or call up the one who left the story half-finished,
The tale of the bold Cambuscan.
Understood. Please provide the text you would like me to modernize.
Who possessed the virtuous ring and glass.”

Milton, *Il Penseroso*.

Mirror (Kelly’s), Dr. Dee’s speculum. Kelly was the doctor's oracle or visionary. The speculum looked like a “piece of shiny cannel coal.”

Kelly accomplished all his exploits on
the devil’s mirror, a stone.

S. Butler, *Hudibras* (1663-78).

Mirror (Lao’s), a mirror that reflected both the mind and the outward appearance.—Goldsmith, Citizen of the World, xlv. (1759).

Mirror (Merlin’s Magic) or Venus’s looking-glass, made in South Wales during the reign of King Ryence. It would reveal to anyone who looked into it anything that was relevant to them, including what a friend or enemy was doing. It was spherical in shape and was gifted by Merlin to King Ryence.

That no enemy could invade his kingdom
But he knew about it at home before he heard
The news.

Britomart, the daughter and heiress of King Ryence, saw in the mirror her future husband and his name, which was Sir Artegal. —Spenser, Faëry Queen, iii. 2 (1590).

[46]Mirror (Prester John’s), a mirror that had powers similar to the one made by Merlin. Prester John could see everything happening anywhere in his kingdom.

^*_*^* Dr. Dee’s speculum was also spherical and had a similar reputed ability.

Mirror (Reynard’s Wonderful). This mirror only existed in the mind of Master Fox. He told the lion queen that anyone who looked into it could see what was happening a mile away. The wood of the frame came from the same block used to make Crampart’s magic horse.—Reynard the Fox, xii. (1498).

Mirror (Venus’s), commonly known as “Venus’s looking-glass,” is the same as Merlin’s magic mirror (q.v.).

Mirror (Vulcan’s). Vulcan created a mirror that revealed the past, present, and future to anyone who looked into it. Sir John Davies notes that Cupid gave this mirror to Antinous while he was at Ulysses' court, and Antinous then presented it to Penelope, who saw in it the court of Queen Elizabeth and all its splendor.

Vulcan, the king of fire, created a mirror ...
That vividly displayed
The glorious image of our English court
As it should be in this golden age.

Sir John Davies, Orchestra (1615).

Mirror of King Ryence, a mirror created by Merlin. It revealed to those who gazed into it whatever they wanted to see.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, iii. (1590).

Mirror of Knighthood, a tale of chivalry. It was one of the books in Don Quixote’s library, and the priest said to the barber:

Mirror of all Martial Men, Thomas, Earl of Salisbury (died 1428).

Mirrour for Magistrates, started by Thomas Sackville, was meant to be a poetic biography of notable English figures. Sackville wrote the “Induction” and contributed one of the sketches, that of Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham (a pawn of Richard III.). Baldwynne, Ferrers, Churchyard, Phair, and others added additional sketches. Later, John Higgins, Richard Nichols, Thomas Blenerhasset, and others provided more characters, but Sackville remains the standout in terms of quality. In the “Induction,” Sackville describes how he was guided by Sorrow to the underworld. At the entrance sat Remorse and Fear, and just inside were Revenge, Misery, Care, and Sleep. As he continued, he encountered Old Age, Disease, Famine, and War. Sorrow then led him to Acheron and instructed Charon to take them across. They passed the three-headed Cerberus and reached Pluto, where the poet saw several spirits, the last being the Duke of Buckingham, whose “complaint” concludes the section written by Thomas Sackville (1557). (See Buckingham.)

^*_*^* Henry Stafford, duke of Buckingham, should not be confused with George Villiers, duke of Buckingham, 150 years later.

Mirza (The Vision of). Mirza, while in Grand Cairo on the fifth day of the [47] moon, which he always honored, climbed a high hill and, falling into a trance, had a vision of human life. First, he saw a massive tide of water flowing through a valley with a thick fog at both ends—this was the river of time. Above the river was a bridge with a thousand arches, but only seventy were intact. People were crossing using these, with the arches symbolizing the number of years the traveler lived before falling into the river. Finally, he saw a happy valley, but when he asked to uncover the secrets hidden beneath the dark clouds on the other side, the vision ended, and he could only see the valley of Bagdad, filled with oxen, sheep, and camels grazing on its slopes.—Addison, Vision of Mirza (Spectator, 159).

Misbegot (Malcolm), the illegitimate son of Sybil Knockwinnock, and a forebear of Sir Arthur Wardour.—Sir W. Scott, The Antiquary (time, George III.).

Miser (The), a comedy by H. Fielding, is a remake of Molière’s comedy L’Avare. Lovegold represents “Harpagon,” Frederick is “Cléante,” Mariana is “Mariane,” and Ramilie is “La Fléche.” Lovegold, a 60-year-old man, and his son Frederick both want to marry Mariana. To distract the old miser from his foolish obsession, Mariana pretends to be extremely extravagant. She orders a necklace and earrings worth £3000, a petticoat and gown made from fabric that costs £12 a yard, and fills the house with bill collectors. Lovegold pays £2000 to cancel the deal, allowing Frederick to marry Mariana.

Misers.—See Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.

Misere´re (The), sung on Good Fridays in Catholic churches, is the work of Gregorio Allegri, who passed away in 1640.

Mishe-Mok´wa, the great bear killed by Mudjekeewis.—Longfellow, Hiawatha, ii. (1855).

Mishe-Nah'ma, the great sturgeon, “king of fishes,” conquered by Hiawatha. Through this effort, the “great teacher” showed the Indians how to make oil for winter. When Hiawatha cast his line for the sturgeon, that king of fishes first tricked a pike into swallowing the bait and attempting to break the line, but Hiawatha threw it back into the water. Next, a sunfish was persuaded to bite the bait, with the same outcome. Then, in anger, the sturgeon swallowed both Hiawatha and his canoe; but Hiawatha struck the sturgeon's heart with his fist, causing the king of fishes to swim ashore and die. Then the sea gulls made a cut in the dead body, allowing Hiawatha to escape.

“I have killed the Mishê-Nahma,
Killed the king of fish,” he said.

Longfellow, Hiawatha, VII. (1855).

Misnar, sultan of India, was turned into a toad by Ulin. “He was set free by the dervish Shemshel´nar, the most devoted worshipper of Allah among all the sons of Asia.” Through wisdom and devotion, Misnar and his vizier, Horam, eliminated all the sorcerers who brought chaos to India, and after achieving peace, he married Hem´junah, the daughter of Zebenezer, sultan of Cassimir, to whom he had been engaged when he was still known as the prince of Georgia.—James Ridley, Tales of the Genii, vi., vii. (1751).

Misogonus, by Thomas Rychardes, the[48] third English comedy (1560). It is written in rhyming quatrains, not in couplets like Ralph Roister Doister and Gammer Gurton’s Needle.

Miss in Her Teens, a comedy by David Garrick (1753). Miss Biddy Bellair is in love with Captain Loveit, whom she knows only as Rhodophil; however, she flirts with Captain Flash and Mr. Fribble, while her aunt insists she marry an older man named Stephen Loveit, whom she hates. When the Captain returns from the war, she stirs up trouble between Captain Flash and Mr. Fribble; as they face off against each other, too scared to fight, Captain Loveit arrives, recognizes Flash as a deserter, takes his sword away, and dismisses Fribble as unworthy of his time.

Mississippi Bubble, the "South Sea scheme" of France, was proposed by John Law, a Scotsman. It got its name because the plan was for him to have exclusive trade rights to Louisiana, along the banks of the Mississippi, as long as he took on the National Debt (incorporated in 1717, failed in 1720).

The debt was 208 million pounds. Law appointed himself the only creditor of this debt and was permitted to issue ten times that amount in paper money, and to establish "the Royal Bank of France," which was authorized to issue this paper currency. As long as a 20-franc note was worth 20 francs, the scheme was hugely successful, but as soon as the paper money lost value, a bank run began, and the entire scheme collapsed.

Miss Ludington. A beautiful girl transformed by illness into “a sad and faded woman.” She had a portrait painted from an ivory miniature of herself, taken before the change, and believes that who she used to be must still exist somewhere. This fantasy is manipulated by con artists who claim to bring her imagined self to life and present her as the soul-sister of the gullible spinster. The person behind the bold deception becomes consumed with guilt and exposes the truth.—Edward Bellamy, Miss Ludington’s Sister (1884).

Mistletoe Bough (The). The song referred to is by Thomas Haynes Bayley, who died in 1839. Here's the story: Lord Lovel married a young woman, the daughter of a baron, and on their wedding night, the bride suggested playing “hide-and-seek.” She hid in an old oak chest, but the lid fell down and trapped her inside, as it had a spring-lock. Lord Lovel searched for her that night and continued searching the next day, and so on for a week, but he could never find her. Years later, the old chest was sold, and when it was opened, it contained the skeleton of the bride.

Rogers, in his Italy, shares the same story and refers to the lady as “Ginevra” of Modĕna.

Collet, in his Relics of Literature, shares a similar story.

Another is included in the Causes Célèbres.

Marwell Old Hall (near Winchester), once home to the Seymours and later the Dacre family, has a similar story connected to it, and “the very chest is said to now belong to Rev. J. Haygarth, rector of Upham.”

Bramshall, Hampshire, has a similar story and chest.

The big house at Malsanger, close to Basingstoke, also in Hampshire, has a similar tradition associated with it.

Mita, sister of Aude. She married Sir[49] Miton de Rennes and became the mother of Mitaine. (See next art.)—Croquemitaine, xv.

Mitaine, daughter of Mita and Miton, and godchild of Charlemagne. She set out to find Fear Fortress, only to discover it existed solely in her mind, as the castle slowly vanished into nothing as she bravely approached it. For this accomplishment, Charlemagne appointed Mitaine as Roland’s squire, and she fought alongside him in the famous battle at Roncesvalles. (See previous art.)—Croquemitaine, iii.

Mite (Sir Matthew), a returning merchant from East India, is reckless and opinionated, embarrassed by his past connections but despising the upper class while secretly wanting their recognition. He wastes his money on sycophants, outfits his servants in the most elaborate attire, and provides his chairmen with the priciest decorations to wear on their uniforms. Sir Matthew constantly impresses impressionable people with his discussions about rupees, lacs, jaghires, and so on.—S. Foote, The Nabob.

Mithra or Mithras is the highest god of the ancient Persians and was confused by the Greeks and Romans with the sun. He embodies Ormuzd, symbolizing fertility and continuous renewal. Mithra is depicted as a young man wearing a Phrygian cap, a tunic, a cloak draped over his left shoulder, and is shown plunging a sword into the neck of a bull. Scaliger states that the word means “greatest” or “supreme.” Mithra is the central figure in the triad of deities: the Mediator, Eternal Intellect, and Architect of the world.

Her towers, where Mithra once burned,
Have sadly been transformed into Muslim shrines;
Where slaves, forced to convert by the sword,
Betrayed their heritage with their hollow worship,
And condemned the faith their ancestors cherished.

Moore, *Lalla Rookh* (“The Fire-Worshippers,” 1817).

Mithridate (3 syl.), a medicinal blend created by Damoc´ratês, the doctor for Mithrida´tês, king of Pontus, and believed to be a cure for all poisons and diseases. It had seventy-two ingredients. Any cure-all is referred to as a “mithridate.”

Bring garlic, the poor man's antidote.

Drayton, *Polyolbion*, xx. (1622).

Mithridate (3 syl.), a tragedy by Racine, (1673). “Monime” (2 syl.), in this play, was one of Mdlle. Rachel’s standout roles.

Mithridates (4 syl.), known as “the Great.” After being defeated by the Romans, he attempted to poison himself, but the poison had no effect on him, and he was killed by a Gaul. Mithridates was energetic, fearless, tireless, and resourceful; however, he had to face formidable generals like Sulla, Lucullus, and Pompey. His brutality knew no limits, and his treachery was quite remarkable.

^*_*^* Racine wrote a French tragedy on the topic, titled Mithridate (1673); and N. Lee published his English version, Mithridatês, around the same time.

Mixit (Dr.), the pharmacist at the Black Bear Inn in Darlington.—Sir W. Scott, Rob Roy (time, George I.).

M’liss, a brave, clever, and loving girl from the Wild West; the heroine of one of Bret Harte’s most popular stories.

M. M. Sketch (An), a memo sketch.

[50]Mne´me (2 syl.), a spring in Boeotia that enhances memory. The other spring nearby, called Lê´thê, has the opposite effect, leading to total forgetfulness.—Pliny.

Dante calls this river Eunoë. It had the ability to bring to mind all the good deeds done, all the blessings received, and all the mercies granted, but no evil. —Dante, Purgatory, xxxiii. (1308).

Mo'ath, a wealthy Bedouin and father of Onei'za (3 syl.), who was loved by Thalaba. Onei'za, after marrying Thalaba, passed away on their wedding night, and Mo'ath showed up just in time to see the overwhelming sorrow of his son-in-law.—Southey, Thalaba, the Destroyer, ii., viii. (1798).

Moccasins, an Indian buskin.

Mochingo, an uninformed servant of Princess Ero'ta.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Laws of Candy (1647).

Mock Doctor (The), a comedy by H. Fielding (1733), based on Le Médecin Malgré Lui by Molière (1666). Sir Jasper wants his daughter to marry Mr. Dapper, but she loves Leander and pretends to be mute. Sir Jasper hears about a mute doctor and sends his two lackeys to find him. They ask a woman named Dorcas for directions, and she points them to her husband, Gregory, a bundle maker; but she warns them that he’s very strange and needs to be beaten up a bit, or he’ll claim he’s not a doctor. The bundle maker is then beaten into submission and taken to the patient. He quickly figures out what’s going on and employs Leander as his assistant. Leander gets the lady to speak and finishes the treatment with “matrimonial pills.” Sir Jasper takes the joke well and comes to accept the marriage.

Mocking-Bird. “In just a minute, I have heard it imitate the woodlark, chaffinch, blackbird, thrush, and sparrow.... Their limited natural notes are similar to those of the nightingale, but their song is broader and more diverse.”—Ashe, Travels in America, ii. 73.

Moclas, a notorious Arabian thief, whose name is synonymous with “robber.” (See Almanzor, the caliph.)

Mode (Sir William), in Mrs. Centlivre’s play, The Beaux’ Duel (1703).

Mode'love (Sir Philip), one of the four guardians of Anne Lovely, the heiress. Sir Philip is an “old flirt, who has spring in his style and appearance, but winter in his face and in his posture. He admires all the latest trends ... loves operas, parties, and masquerades” (act i. 1). Colonel Freeman plays the role of a French dandy and gets his approval to marry his ward, the heiress.—Mrs. Centlivre, A Bold Stroke for a Wife (1717).

Modely was a worldly man, stylish, cheerful, and carefree. He had many “lovers,” but never truly loved until he met a charming country girl named Aura Freehold, a farmer’s daughter, to whom he proposed marriage. —John Philip Kemble, The Farm-house.

Trendy (Lady Betty) is truly in love with Lord Morelove but acts like she doesn’t care or is scornful because her pride values “power over comfort.” So, she flirts with Lord Foppington (who is married) to upset Morelove and provoke his[51] jealousy. Following Sir Charles Easy’s advice, Lord Morelove returns the favor by flirting with Lady Graveairs and pretending to be indifferent. In the end, Lady Betty comes to her senses and gives her heart and hand to Lord Morelove.—Colley Cibber, The Careless Husband (1704).

Modo, the demon that compels murder, and one of the five that took over "poor Tom."—Shakespeare, King Lear, act iv. sc. 1 (1605).

Modred, son of Lot, king of Norway, and Anne, the sister of King Arthur (pt. viii. 21; ix. 9). He is always referred to as “the traitor.” While King Arthur was away fighting the Romans, Modred was left in charge but took the crown for himself and married his aunt, the queen (pt. x. 13). When Arthur found out, he returned and confronted the usurper, who fled to Winchester (pt. xi. 1). The king pursued him, and Modred assembled his army at Cambula, in Cornwall, where another battle took place. In this fight, Modred was killed, and Arthur also sustained a fatal injury (pt. xi. 2). The queen, known as Guanhuma´ra (but more commonly known as Guen´evere), retired to a convent in the City of Legions and joined the order of Julius the Martyr (pt. xi. 1).—Geoffrey, British History (1142).

^*_*^* This is so different from the stories in Arthurian romance about Mordred that it's better to treat the two names as if they refer to different people.

Modred (Sir), King Arthur's nephew. He despised Sir Lancelot and caused conflict among the knights of the Round Table. Tennyson mentions that Modred “manipulated the lords of the White Horse,” the descendants of Hengist. Geoffrey of Monmouth states he formed an alliance with Cheldric, the Saxon leader in Germany, and promised to give him all the land in England between the Humber and Scotland, along with everything Hengist and Horsa owned in Kent, if he would help him against King Arthur. As a result, Cheldric arrived with 800 ships, filled “with pagan soldiers” (British History, xi. 1).

When the king was in Brittany, where he had gone to punish Sir Lancelot for having an affair with the queen, he left Sir Modred in charge. Sir Modred then started a rebellion. The king came back, assembled his army against the traitor, and in this "great battle of the West," Modred was killed, and Arthur received his fatal wound.—Tennyson, Idylls of the King (“Guinevere,” 1858).

^*_*^* This version doesn't match either Geoffrey of Monmouth (see previous art.) or Arthurian romance (see Mordred), so it's provided separately.

Modu, the prince of all demons that possess a person.

Modus, Helen's cousin; a “bookish type, who loved Greek and Latin;” but cousin Helen adored the bookworm and showed him how to love far better than Ovid could with his Art of Love. With such a great teacher, Modus became a quick learner and ran away with Cousin Helen.—S. Knowles, The Hunchback (1831).

Mœ´chus, the embodiment of adultery; he was one of the four sons of Caro (fleshly lust). His[52] brothers included Pornei´us (fornication), Acath´arus, and Asel´gês (lasciviousness). In the battle of Mansoul, Mœchus is defeated by Agnei´a (wifely chastity), who is the wife of Encra´tês (temperance) and the sister of Parthen´ia (maidenly chastity). (Greek, moichos “an adulterer.”) —Phineas Fletcher, The Purple Island, xi. (1633).

Mœli´ades (4 syl.). Under this name, William Drummond highlighted Henry, prince of Wales, the eldest son of James I., in the poem titled Tears on the Death of Mœliadës. The word is an anagram of Milês a Deo. The prince, in his masquerades and military games, used to refer to himself as “Mœliadês of the Isles.”

Mœliadês, shining star of the West.

W. Drummond, Tears on the Death of Mœliades (1612).

The weight of the solo song is:

Mœliadês, sweet courtly nymphs, mourn,
From Thulê to Hydaspês’ shiny shore.

Moffat (Mabel), servant of Edward Redgauntlet.—Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George III.).

Mogg Megone. An Indian leader who, at the request of a white girl, kills the man who betrayed her and brings his scalp to her. Overcome with intense guilt upon seeing the bloody trophy, the woman kills Megone in his sleep, and from that point on, she is shunned by the church, tormented by her conscience, becoming a miserable wanderer on the earth.—John Greenleaf Whittier, Mogg Megone.

Moha´di (Mahommed), the twelfth imam, whom many in the East believe is not dead but is meant to come back and fight against the Antichrist before the end of the world.

^*_*^* Prince Arthur, Merlin, Charlemagne, Barbarossa, Dom Sebastian, Charles V, Elijah Mansur, Desmond of Kilmallock, and others are traditionally thought to be not dead, but merely sleeping until the right moment arrives, when each will awaken and bring about remarkable restorations.

Mohair (The Men of), the people of France.

Moha´reb is one of the evil spirits of Dom-Daniel, a cave “beneath the roots of the ocean.” It was said that these spirits would be wiped out by someone from the Hodei´rah family (3 syl.), so they banded together against the entire race. First, Okba was sent to deal with the troublesome group and succeeeded in killing eight of them, with only Thalaba escaping alive. Then, Abaldar was sent after Thalaba but was killed by a fierce wind. Next, Loba´ba was sent to capture him but died in a whirlwind. Finally, Mohareb took on the task of destroying him. He disguised himself as a warrior and managed to lure the young man to the very “mouth of hell;” however, Thalaba, aware of the trick, threw Mohareb into the abyss.—Southey, Thalaba, the Destroyer, v. (1797).

Mohicans (Last of the), Uncas, the Indian chief, son of Chingachcook, and known as “Deerfoot.”—J. F. Cooper, The Last of the Mohicans (a novel, 1826).

The word should be pronounced Mo.hek´.kanz, but is usually pronounced Mo.hĕ.kanz.

Mohocks, a group of troublemakers who once roamed the streets of London. The name comes from the Indian Mohocks. During the Restoration, these street thugs were referred to as Muns and Tityre Tus; then they were called Hectors and Scourers; later[53] on, Nickers and Hawcabites; and finally, Mohocks.

Now is the time when they throw their parties,
Instigators of chaos, foes of sleep;
The careless spender tosses their coins,
And the copper rain makes the window rattle;
Who hasn’t heard of the Scowerer’s late-night reputation?
Who hasn’t shivered at the Mohock’s name?

Gay, Trivia, vol. iii, p. 321, etc. (1712).

Mohun (Lord), the guy who teamed up with Captain Hill in a cowardly attack on the actor, Mountford, while he was heading to Mrs. Bracegirdle’s house in Howard Street. Captain Hill was jealous of Mountford and convinced Lord Mohun to join him in this so-called “brave act.” Mountford died the next day, Captain Hill ran away from the country, and Mohun was tried but found not guilty.