Gessler (Albrecht), the brutal and tyrannical governor of Switzerland, appointed by Austria over the three forest cantons. When the people rose in rebellion, Gessler insulted them by hoisting his cap on a pole, and threatening death to any one who refused to bow down to it in reverence. William Tell refused to do so, and was compelled to shoot at an apple placed on the head of his own son. Having dropped an arrow by accident, Gessler demanded why he had brought a second. “To shoot you,” said the intrepid mountaineer, “if I fail in my task.” Gessler then ordered him to be cast into Kusnacht Castle, “a prey to the reptiles that lodged there.” Gessler went in the boat to see the order executed, and as the boat neared land, Tell leapt on shore, pushed back the boat, shot Gessler, and freed his country from Austrian domination.—Rossini, Guglielmo Tell (1829).

Geta, according to Sir Walter Scott, the representative of a stock slave and rogue in the new comedy of Greece and Rome (? Getês).

The principal character, upon whose devices and ingenuity the whole plot usually turns, is the Geta of the piece—a witty, roguish, insinuating, and malignant slave, the confidant of a wild and extravagant son, whom he aids in his pious endeavors to cheat a suspicious, severe, and griping father.—Sir Walter Scott, The Drama.

Ghengis Khan, a title assumed by Tamerlane or Timour the Tartar (1336-1405).

Giaffir [Djaf.fir], pacha of Aby´dos, and father of Zuleika [Zu.lee´.kah]. He tells his daughter he intends her to marry the governor of Magne´sia, but Zuleika has given her plight to her cousin Selim. The lovers take to flight; Giaffir pursues and shoots Selim; Zuleika dies of grief; and the father lives on, a broken-hearted old man, calling to the winds, “Where is my daughter?” and echo answers, “Where?”—Byron, Bride of Abydos (1813).

Giam´schid [Jam.shid], suleyman of the Peris. Having reigned seven hundred years, he thought himself immortal; but God, in punishment, gave him a human form, and sent him to live on earth, where he became a great conqueror, and ruled over both the East and West. The bulwark of the Peris’ abode was composed of green chrysolite, the reflection of which gives to the sky its deep blue-green hue.

She only wished the amorous monarch had shown more ardor for the carbuncle of Giamschid.—W. Beckford, Vathek (1786).

Giants of Mythology and Fable. Strabo makes mention of the skeleton of a giant 60 cubits in height. Pliny tells us of another 46 cubits. Boccaccio describes the body of a giant from bones discovered in a cave near Trapani, in Sicily, 200 cubits in length. One tooth of this “giant” weighed 200 ounces; but Kircher says the tooth and bones were those of a mastodon.

Ac´amas, one of the Cyclops.—Greek Fable.

Adamastor, the giant Spirit of the Cape. His lips were black, teeth blue, eyes shot with livid fire, and voice louder than thunder.—Camoëns, Lusiad, v.

Ægæon, the hundred-handed giant. One of the Titans.—Greek Fable.

Ag´rois, one of the giants called Titans. He was killed by the Parcæ.—Greek Fable.

Alcyoneus [Al´.sĭ.ŏ.nuce] or Al´cion, brother of Porphyrĭon. He stole some of the Sun’s oxen, and Jupiter sent Herculês against him, but he was unable to prevail, for immediately the giant touched the earth he received fresh vigor. Pallas, seizing him, carried him beyond the moon, and he died. His seven daughters were turned into halcyonshalcyons, or kingfishers.—Apollonios of Rhodes, Argonautic Expedition, i. 6.

Al´gebar´. The giant Orīon is so called by the Arabs.

Alifanfaron or Alipharnon, emperor of Trapoban.—Don Quixote.

Aloe´os, (4 syl.), son of Titan and Terra.—Greek Fable.

Aloi´des (4 syl.), sons of Alēĕus (4 syl.), named Otos and Ephialtês (q.v.).

Am´erant, a cruel giant slain by Guy of Warwick.—Percy, Reliques.

Angoulaffre, the Saracen giant. He was 12 cubits high, his face measured 3 feet in breadth, his nose was 9 inches long, his arms and legs 6 feet. He had the strength of thirty men, and his mace was the solid trunk of an oak tree, 300 years old. The tower of Pisa lost its perpendicularity by the weight of this giant leaning against it to rest himself. He was slain in single combat by Roland, at Fronsac.—L’Epine, Croquemitaine.

Antæos, 60 cubits (85 feet) in height.—Plutarch.

Arges (2 syl.), one of the Cyclops.—Greek Fable.

Aschapart, a giant 30 feet high, and with 12 inches between his eyes. Slain by Sir Bevis of Southampton.—British Fable.

Atlas, the giant of the Atlas Mountains, who carries the world on his back. A book of maps is called an “atlas” from this giant.—Greek Fable.

Balan, “bravest and strongest of the giant race.”—Amădis of Gaul.

Belle, famous for his three leaps, which gave names to the places called Wanlip, Burstall, and Bellegrave.—British Fable.

Belle´rus, the giant from whom Cornwall derived its name “Bellerium.”—British Fable. Milton: Lycidas.

Blunderbore (3 syl.), the giant who was drowned because Jack scuttled his boat.—Jack the Giant-killer.

Briare´os (4 syl.), a giant with a hundred hands. One of the Titans.—Greek Fable.

Brobdingnag, a country of giants, to whom an ordinary-sized man was “not half so big as a round little worm pricked from the lazy finger of a maid.”—Swift, Gulliver’s Travels.

Brontes (2 syl.), one of the Cyclops.—Greek Fable.

Burlong, a giant mentioned in the romance of Sir Tryamour.

Cacus, of Mount Aventine, who dragged the oxen of Hereculês into his cave tail foremost.—Greek Fable.

Calig´orant, the Egyptian giant, who entrapped travellers with an invisible net.—Ariosto.

Caraculiambo, the giant that Don Quixote intended should kneel at the foot of Dulcin´ea.—Cervantes, Don Quixote.

Ceus or Cœus, son of Heaven and Earth. He married Phœbê, and was the father of Latōna.—Greek Fable.

Chalbroth, the stem of all the giant race.—Rabelais, Pantagruel.

Christopherus, or St. Christopher, the giant who carried Christ across a ford, and was well-nigh borne down with the “child’s” ever-increasing weight.—Christian Legend.

Clytious, one of the giants who made war upon the gods. Vulcan killed him with a red-hot iron mace.—Greek Fable.

Colbrand, the Danish giant slain by Guy of Warwick.—British Fable.

Corflambo, a giant who was always attended by a dwarf.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, iv. 8.

Cormoran´, the Cornish giant who fell into a pit twenty feet deep, dug by Jack and filmed over with a thin layer of grass and gravel.—Jack the Giant-killer.

Cormorant, a giant discomfited by Sir Brian.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, vi. 4.

Coulin, the British giant pursued by Debon, and killed by falling into a deep chasm.—British Fable.

Cyclops, giants with only one eye, and that in the middle of the forhead. They lived in Sicily, and were blacksmiths.—Greek Fable.

Despair, of Doubting Castle, who found Christian and Hopeful asleep on his grounds, and thrust them into a dungeon. He evilly entreated them, but they made their escape by the key “Promise.”—Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress, i.

Dondasch, a giant contemporary with Seth. “There were giants in the earth in those days.”—Oriental Fable.

Encel´ados, “most powerful of the giant race.” Overwhelmed under Mount Etna.—Greek Fable.

Ephialtes (4 syl.), a giant who grew nine inches every month.—Greek Fable.

Erix, son of Goliah [si.] and grandson of Atlas. He invented legerdemain.—Duchat, [Oe]uvres de Rabelais (1711).

Eu´rytos, one of the giants that made war with the gods. Bacchus killed him with his thyrsus.—Greek Fable.

Ferracute, a giant 36 feet in height, with the strength of forty men.—Turpin’s Chronicle.

Ferragus, a Portuguese giant.—Valentine and Orson.

Fierabras, of Alexandria, “the greatest giant that ever walked the earth.”—Mediæval Romance.

Fion, son of Comnal, an enormous giant, who could place his feet on two mountains, and then stoop and drink from a stream in the valley between.—Gaelic Legend.

Fiorgwyn, the gigantic father of Frigga.—Scandinavian Mythology.

Fracassus, father of Ferrăgus, and son of Morgantê.

Gabbara, the father of Goliah [sic] of Secondille, and inventor of the custom of drinking healths.—Duchat, [Oe]uvres de Rabelais (1711).

Galapas, the giant slain by King Arthur.—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur.

Galligantus, the giant who lived with Hocus-Pocus the conjuror.—Jack the Giant-killer.

Garagantua, same as Gargantua (q.v.).

Gargantua, a giant so large that it required 900 ells of linen for the body of his shirt, and 200 more for the gussets; 406 ells of velvet for his shoes, and 1100 cow-hides for their soles. His toothpick was an elephant’s tusk, and 17,913 cows were required to give him milk. This was the giant who swallowed five pilgrims, with their staves, in a salad.—Rabelais, Gargantua.

Gemmagog, son of the giant Oromedon, and inventor of Poulan shoes, i.e. shoes with a spur behind, and turned-up toes fastened to the knees. These shoes were forbidden by Charles V. of France, in 1365, but the fashion revived again.—Duchat, [Oe]uvres de Rabelais (1711).

Geryon´eo, a giant with three bodies [Philip II. of Spain].—Spenser, Faëry Queen, v. 11.

Giralda, the giantess. A statue of victory on the top of an old Moorish tower in Seville.

Godmer, son of Albion, a British giant slain by Canu´tus, one of the companions of Brute.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, ii. 10.

Goem´agot, the Cornish giant who wrestled with Cori´neus (3 syl.), and was hurled over a rock into the sea. The place where he fell was called “Lam Goëmagot.”—Geoffrey, British History.

Gogmagog, king of the giant race of Albion when Brute colonized the island. He was slain by Cori´neus. The two statues of Guildhall represent Gogmagog and Corineus. The giant carries a pole-axe and spiked balls. This is the same as Goëmagot.

Grangousia, the giant king of Utopia.—Rabelais, Pantagruel.

Grantorto, the giant who withheld the inheritance of Ire´na.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, v.

Grim, the giant slain by Greatheart, because he tried to stop pilgrims on their way to the Celestial City.—Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress, ii.

Grum´bo, the giant up whose sleeve Tom Thumb crept. The giant, thinking some insect had crawled up his sleeve, gave it a shake, and Tom fell into the sea, when a fish swallowed him.—Tom Thumb.

Gyges, who had fifty heads and a hundred hands. He was one of the Titans.—Greek Fable.

Hapmouche, the giant “fly-catcher.” He invented the drying and smoking of neats’ tongues.—Duchat, Œuvres de Rabelais (1711).

Hippol´ytos, one of the giants who made war with the gods. He was killed by Hermês.—Greek Fable.

Hrasvelg, the giant who keeps watch over the Tree of Life, and devours the dead.—Scandinavian Mythology.

Hurtali, a giant in the time of the Flood. He was too large of stature to get into the ark, and therefore rode straddle-legs on the roof. He perpetuated the giant race. Atlas was his grandson.

Indracittran, a famous giant of Indian mythology.

Jotun, the giant of Jötunheim or Giant-land, in Scandinavian story.

Juliance, a giant of Arthurian romance.

Kifri, the giant of atheism and infidelity.

Kottos, a giant with a hundred hands. One of the Titans.—Greek Fable.

Malambru´no, the giant who shut up Antonoma´sia and her husband in the tomb of the deceased queen of Candaya.—Cervantes, Don Quixote, II. iii. 45.

Margutte (3 syl.), a giant 10 feet high, who died of laughter when he saw a monkey pulling on his boots.—Pulci, Morgante Maggiore.

Maugys, the giant warder with whom Sir Lybius does battle.—Libeaux.

Maul, the giant of sophistry, killed by Greatheart, who pierced him under the fifth rib.—Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress, ii.

Mont-Rognon, one of Charlemagne’s paladins.

Morgante (3 syl.), a ferocious giant, who died by the bite of a crab.—Pulci, Morgante Maggiore.

Mugillo, a giant famous for his mace with six balls.

Offerus, the pagan name of St. Christopher, whose body was 12 ells in height.—Christian Legend.

Ogias, an antediluvain giant, mentioned in the apocrypha condemned by Pope Gelasius I. (492-496).

Orgoglio, a giant thrice the height of an ordinary man. He takes captive the Red Cross Knight, but is slain by King Arthur.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, i.

Ori´on, a giant hunter, noted for his beauty. He was slain by Diana, and made a constellation.—Greek Fable.

Otos, a giant, brother of Ephialtês. They both grew nine inches every month. According to Pliny, he was 46 cubits (66 feet) in height.—Greek Fable.

Pallas, one of the giants called Titans. Minerva flayed him, and used his skin for armor; hence she was called Pallas Minerva.—Greek Fable.

Pantag´ruel, son of Gargantua, and last of the race of giants.

Polybo´tes (4 syl.), one of the giants who fought against the gods. The sea-god pursued him to the island of Cos, and, tearing away a part of the island, threw it on him and buried him beneath the mass.—Greek Fable.

Polyphe´mos, king of the Cyclops. His skeleton was found at Trapa´ni, in Sicily, in the fourteenth century, by which it is calculated that his height was 300 feet.—Greek Fable.

Porphyr´ion, one of the giants who made war with the gods. He hurled the island of Delos against Zeus; but Zeus, with the aid of Herculês, overcame him.—Greek Fable.

Pyrac´mon, one of the Cyclops.—Greek Fable.

Ritho, the giant who commanded King Arthur to send his beard to complete the lining of a robe.—Arthurian Romance.

Slay-good, a giant slain by Greatheart. Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress, ii.

Ster´opes (3 syl.), one of the Cyclops.—Greek Fable.

Tartaro, the Cyclops of Basque legendary lore.

Teutoboch´us, a king, whose remains were discovered in 1613, near the river Rhone. His tomb was 30 feet long.—Mazurier, Histoire Véritable du Géant Teutobochus (1618).

Thaon, one of the giants who made war with the gods. He was killed by the Parcæ.—Hesiod, Theogony.

Titans, a race of giants.—Greek Fable.

Tit´yos, a giant whose body covered nine acres of land. He tried to defile Latōna, but Apollo cast him into Tartarus, where a vulture fed on his liver, which grew again as fast as it was devoured.—Greek Fable.

Typhœus, a giant with a hundred heads, fearful eyes, and most terrible voice. He was the father of the Harpies. Zeus [Jupiter] killed him with a thunderbolt, and he lies buried under Mount Etna.—Hesiod, Theogony.

Typhon, son of Typhœus, a giant with a hundred heads. He was so tall that he touched heaven with his head. His offspring were Gorgon, Geryon, Cerberos, and the hydra of Lernê. He lies buried under Mount Etna.—Homer, Hymns.

Widenostrils, a huge giant, who lived on windmills, andand died from eating a lump of fresh butter.—Rabelais, Pantagruel iv. 17.

Yohak, the giant guardian of the caves of Babylon.—Southey, Talaba, v.

⁂ Those who wish to pursue this subject further, should consult the notes of Duchat, bk. ii. 1 of his Œuvres de Rabelais.

Giants in Real Life.

Anak, father of the Anakim. The Hebrew spies said they themselves were mere grasshoppers in comparison to these giants.—Josh. xv. 14; Judges i. 20; Numb. xiii. 33.

Anak, 7 feet 8 inches at the age of 26. Exhibited in London, 1862-5. Born at Ramonchamp, in the Vosges (1 syl.), 1840. His real name was Joseph Brice.

Andron´icus II., 10 feet. Grandson of Alexius Comnēnus. Nicetas asserts that he had seen him.

Bamford (Edward), 7 feet 4 inches. Died in 1768, and was buried in St. Dunstan’s Churchyard.

Bates (Captain), 7 feet 11 inches; of Kentucky. Exhibited in London, 1871.

Blacker (Henry), 7 feet 4 inches, and most symmetrical. Born at Cuckfield, Sussex, in 1724. Generally called “The British Giant.”

Bradley, 7 feet 8 inches at death. Born at Market Weighton, in Yorkshire. His right hand is preserved in the museum of the College of Surgeons (1798-1820).

Brice (Joseph), 7 feet 8 inches. His hand could span 15½ inches.

Busby (John), 7 feet 9 inches; of Darfield. His brother was about the same height.

Chang-Woo-Goo, 7 feet 6 inches; of Fychou. The Chinese giant. Exhibited in London, 1865-6.

Charlemagne, 8 feet nearly. He could squeeze together three horse-shoes at once with his hands.

Cotter (Patrick), 8 feet 7½ inches. The Irish giant. A cast of his hand is preserved in the museum of the College of Surgeons (died 1802).

Elea´zer, 7 cubits (10 feet 6 inches). The Jewish giant mentioned by Josephus. He lived in the reign of Vitellius.

Eleizegue (Joachim), 7 feet 10 inches. The Spanish giant. Exhibited in London.

Evans (William), 8 feet at death. Porter to Charles I. (died 1632).

Frank (Big), 7 feet 8 inches; weight 22 stone; girth round the chest, 58 inches. He was an Irishman, whose name was Francis Sheridan (died 1870).

Frenz (Louis), 7 feet 4 inches. The French giant.

Gabara, 9 feet 9 inches. An Arabian giant. Pliny says he was the tallest man seen in the days of Claudius.

Gilly, 8 feet. A Swede; exhibited as a show in the early part of the nineteenth century.

Goli´ath, 6 cubits and a span (? 9 feet 4 inches).—1 Sam. xvii. 4, etc. His “brother” was also a giant.—2 Sam. xxi. 19; 1 Chron. xx. 5.

Gordon (Alice), 7 feet. An Essex giantess (died 1737).

Hale (Robert), 7 feet 6 inches; born at Somerton. Generally called “The Norfolk Giant” (1820-1862).

Har´drada (Harold), “5 ells of Norway in height” (nearly 8 feet). The Norway giant.

La Pierre, 7 feet 1 inch; of Stratgard, in Denmark.

Louis, 7 feet 4 inches. The French giant. His left hand is preserved in the museum of the College of Surgeons.

Loushkin, 8 feet 5 inches. The Russian giant, and drum-major of the Imperial Guards.

M’Donald (James), 7 feet 6 inches; of Cork (died 1760).

M’Donald (Samuel), 6 feet 10 inches. A Scotchman; usually called “Big Sam” (died 1802).

Magrath (Cornelius), 7 feet 8 inches. He was an orphan, reared by Bishop Berkley, and died at the age of 20 (1740-1760).

Maximi´nus, 8 feet 6 inches. The Roman emperor (235-238).

Mellon (Edmund), 7 feet 6 inches. Born at Port Leicester, Ireland (1665-1684).

Middleton (John), 9 feet 3 inches. “His hand was 17 inches long, and 8½ inches broad.” He was born at Hale, in Lancashire, in the reign of James I.—Dr. Plott, History of Staffordshire.

Miller (Maximilian Christopher), 8 feet. His hand measured 12 inches, and his fore-finger 9 inches long. The Saxon giant. Died in London (1674-1734).

Murphy, 8 feet 10 inches. An Irish giant, contemporary with O’Brien. Died at Marseilles.

O’Brien or Charles Byrne, 8 feet 4 inches. The Irish giant. His skeleton is preserved in the museum of the College of Surgeons (1761-1783).

Og, king of Bashan. “His bed was 9 cubits by 4 cubits” (? 13½ feet by 6 feet).—Deut. iii. 11.

⁂ The Great Bed of Ware is 12 feet by 12 feet.

Osen (Heinrich), 7 feet 6 inches; weight, 300 lbs. or 37-1/4 stone. Born in Norway.

Porus, an Indian king who fought against Alexander near the river Hydaspês (B.C. 327). He was a giant “5 cubits in height” [7½ feet], with strength in proportion.—Quintus Curtius, De rebus gestis Alexandri Magni.

Riechart (J. H.), 8 feet 3 inches, of Friedberg. His father and mother were both giants.

Salmeron (Martin), 7 feet 4 inches. A Mexican.

Sam (Big), 6 feet 10 inches. (See “M’Donald.”)

Sheridan (Francis), 7 feet 8 inches. (See “Frank.”)

Swan (Miss Anne Hanen), 7 feet 11 inches; of Nova Scotia.

⁂ In 1682, a giant 7 feet 7 inches was exhibited in Dublin. A Swede 8 feet 6 inches was in the body-guard of a king of Prussia. A human skeleton 8 feet 6 inches is preserved in the museum of Trinity College, Dublin.

Becanus says he had seen a man nearly 10 feet high, and a woman fully 10 feet. Gasper Bauhin speaks of a Swiss 8 feet in height. Del Rio says he saw a Piedmontes in 1572 more than 9 feet in stature. C.S.F. Warren, M.A., says (in Notes and Queries, August 14, 1875) that his father knew a lady 9 feet high; “her head touched the ceiling of a good-sized room.” Vanderbrook says he saw a black man, at Congo, 9 feet high.

Giant of Literature, Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-1783).

Giant’s Leap (Lam Goëmagot) or “Goëmagot’s Leap.” Now called Haw, near Plymouth. The legend is that Cori´neus (3 syl.) wrestled with Goëmagot, king of the Albion giants, heaved the monster on his shoulder, carried him to the top of a high rock, and cast him into the sea.

At the beginning of the encounter, Corineus and the giant, standing front to front, held each other strongly in their arms, and panted aloud for breath; but Goëmagot presently grasping CroineusCroineus with all his might, broke three of his ribs, two on the right side and one on his left. Corineus, highly enraged, roused up his whole strength, snatched up the giant, ran with him on his shoulders to the neighboring cliff, and heaved him into the sea.... The place where he fell is called Lam Goëmagot to this day.—Geoffrey, British History, i. 16 (1142).

Giaour [djow´.er]. Byron’s tale called The Giaour is supposed to be told by a Turkish fisherman who had been employed all the day in the gulf of Ægi´na, and landed his boat at night-fall on the Piræ´us, now called the harbor of Port Leonê. He was eye-witness of all the incidents, and in one of them a principal agent (see line 352: “I hear the sound of coming feet....”). The tale is this: Leilah, the beautiful concubine of the Caliph Hasson, falls in love with a giaour, flees from the seraglio, is overtaken by an emir, put to death, and cast into the sea. The giaour cleaves Hassan’s skull, flees for his life, and becomes a monk. Six years afterwards he tells his history to his father confessor on his death-bed, and prays him to “lay his body with the humblest dead, and not even to inscribe his name on his tomb.” Accordingly, he is called “the Giaour,” and is known by no other name (1813).

Giauha´re (4 syl.), daughter of the king of Saman´dal, the mightiest of the undersea empires. When her father was made captive by king Saleh, she emerged for safety to a desert island, where she met Bed´er, the young king of Persia, who proposed to make her his wife; but Griauharê “spat on him,” and changed him “into a white bird with red beak and red legs.” The bird was sold to a certain king, and, being disenchanted, resumed the human form. After several marvellous adventures, Beder again met the under-sea princess, proposed to her again, and she became his wife and queen of Persia.—Arabian Nights (“Beder and Griauharê”).

Gibbet, a foot-pad and a convict, who “left his country for his country’s good.” He piqued himself on being “the best-behaved man on the road.”

’Twas for the good of my country I should be abroad.—George Farquhar, The Beaux’ Stratagem, iii. 3 (1707).

I thought it rather odd ... and said to myself, as Gibbet said when he heard that Aimwell had gone to church, “That looks suspicious.”—James Smith.

Gibbet (Master), secretary to Martin Joshua Bletson (parliamentary commissioner).—Sir W. Scott, Woodstock (time, Commonwealth).

Gib´bie (Guse), a half-witted lad in the service of Lady Bellenden.—Sir W. Scott, Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).

Like Goose Gibbie of famous memory, he first kept the turkeys, and then, as his years advanced, was promoted to the more important office of minding the cows.—Keightley.

Gibby, a Scotch Highlander in attendance on Colonel Briton. He marries Inis, the waiting-woman of Isabella.—Mrs. Centlivre, The Wonder (1714).

Gibou, (Madame), a type of feminine vulgarity. A hard-headed, keen-witted, coarsely clever, and pragmatical maîtresse femme, who believes in nothing but a good digestion and money in the Funds.—Henri Monnier, Scènes Populaires (1852.)

Mde. Pochet and Mde. Gibou are the French “Mrs. Gamp and Mrs. Harris.”

Gibson (Janet), a young dependent on Mrs. Margaret Bertram of Singleside.—Sir W. Scott, Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

Gifford (John). This pseudonym has been adopted by three authors: (1) John Richards Green, Blackstone’s Commentaries Abridged, 1823; (2) Edward Foss, An Abridgment of Blackstone’s Commentaries (1821); (3) Alexander Whellier, The English Lawyer.

Gifford (William), author of The Baviad, a poetical satire, which annihilated the Delia Crusca school of poets (1794). In 1796, Gifford published The Mœviad, to expose the low state of dramatic authorship.

He was a man with whom I had no literary sympathies.... He had, however, a heart full of kindness for all living creatures except authors: them he regarded as a fishmonger regards eels, or as Izaak Walton did worms.—Southey.

Giggleswick Fountain ebbs and flows eight times a day. The tale is that Giggleswick was once a nymph living with the Oreads on Mount Craven. A satyr chanced to see her, and resolved to win her; but Giggleswick fled to escape her pursuer, and praying to the “topic gods” (the local genii), was converted into a fountain, which still pants with fear. The tale is told by Drayton, in his Polyolbion, xxviii. (1622).

Gilbert, butler to Sir Patrick Charteris, provost of Perth.—Sir W. Scott, Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.).

Gilbert (Miss), an ambitious girl with a taste for literary celebrity. She writes one book which is a slight success, another which “takes.” Petted from her childhood, and spoiled by the tolerable measure of adulation she receives subsequently, she needs the discipline of mortification and schooling to tone her down to what an originally fine nature was designed to become. She becomes the happy wife of a self-made man who has done his work well.—Josiah Gilbert Holland, Miss Gilbert’s Career (1859).

Gilbert (Sir), noted for the sanative virtue of his sword and cere-cloth. Sir Launcelot touched the wounds of Sir Meliot with Sir Gilbert’s sword and wiped them with a cere-cloth, and “anon a wholer man was he never in all his life”—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, i. 116 (1470).

Gilbert with the White Hand, one of the companions of Robin Hood, mentioned often in The Lyttell Geste of Robyn Hode (fytte v. and vii.).

Gil´bertscleugh, cousin to Lady Margaret Bellenden.—Sir W. Scott, Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).

Gil Blas, son of Blas of Santilla´ne, ’squire or “escudero” to a lady, and brought up by his uncle, Canon Gil Perês. Gil Blas went to Dr. Godinez’s school, of Oviedo [O.ve.á.do.] and obtained the reputation of being a great scholar. He had fair abilities, a kind heart, and good inclinations, but was easily led astray by his vanity. Full of wit and humor, but lax in his morals. Duped by others at first, he afterwards played the same devices on those less experienced. As he grew in years, however, his conduct improved, and when his fortune was made he became an honest, steady man.—Lesage, Gil Blas (1715).

(Lesage has borrowed largely from the romance of Espinel, called Vida del Escudero Marcos de Obregon (1618), from which he has taken his prologue, the adventure of the parasite (bk. i. 2), the dispersion of the company of Cacabelos by the muleteer (bk. i. 3),the incident of the robber’s cave (bk. i. 4, 5), the surprise by the corsairs, the contributions levied by Don Raphael and Ambrose (bk. i. 15, 16), the service with the duke of Lerma, the character of Sangrado (called by Espinel Sagredo), and even the reply of Don Matthias de Silva when asked to fight a duel early in the morning, “As I never rise before one, even for a party of pleasure, it is unreasonable to expect that I should rise at six to have my throat cut,” bk. iii. 8.)

Gilda, beautiful daughter of the jester, Rigoletto. She is beloved by his master, the duke, who abducts her, Rigoletto conniving at the deed under the impression that the wife of his enemy occupies the chamber given without his knowledge to Gilda.—Verdi, Rigoletto.

Gildas de Ruys (St.) near Vannes, in France. This monastery was founded in the sixth century, by St. Gildas, “The Wise” (516-565).

Gil´deroy, a famous robber. There were two of the name, both handsome Scotchmen, both robbers and both were hanged. One lived in the seventeenth century and “had the honor” of robbing Cardinal Richelieu and Oliver Cromwell. The other was born in Roslin, in the eighteenth century, and was executed in Edinburgh for “stealing sheep, horses and oxen.” In the Percy Reliques, I. iii. 12, is the lament of Gilderoy’s widow at the execution of her “handsome” and “winsome” Gilderoy; and Campbell has a ballad on the same subject. Both are entitled “Gilderoy,” and refer to the latter robber; but in Thomson’s Orpheus Caledonius, ii, is a copy of the older ballad.

⁂ Thomson’s ballad places Gilderoy in the reign of Mary, “queen of Scots,” but this is not consistent with the tradition of his robbing Richelieu and Cromwell. We want a third Gilderoy for the reign of Queen Mary—one living in the sixteenth century.

Gilding a Boy. A naked boy was gilded all over, to adorn a pageant when Leo X. was made Pope, and died of suffocation.—Vasari, Life of Puntormo.

Gildip´pe (3 syl.) wife of Edward, an English baron, who accompanied her husband to Jerusalem, and performed prodigies of valor in the war (bk. ix.). Both she and her husband were slain by Solyman (bk. xx.).—Tasso, Jerusalem Delivered (1575).

Giles, a farmer in love with Patty, “the maid of the mill” and promised to him by her father; but Patty refuses to marry him. Ultimately, “the maid of the mill” marries Lord Aimworth. Giles is a blunt, well-meaning, working farmer, with no education, no refinement, no notion of the amenities of social life.—Bickerstaff, The Maid of the Mill.

Giles (1 syl.), serving-boy to Claud Halcro.—Sir W. Scott, The Pirate (time William III.).

Giles (1 syl.), warder of the Tower.—Sir W. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel (time, James I.).

Giles (1 syl.), jailer of Sir Reginald Front de Bœuf.—Sir W. Scott, Ivanhoe (time, Richard I.).

Giles (Will), apprentice of Gibbie Girder, the cooper at Wolf’s Hope village.—Sir W. Scott, Bride of Lammermoor (time,f William III.).

Giles, the “farmer’s boy,” “meek, fatherless, and poor,” the hero of Robert Bloomfield’s principal poem, which is divided into “Spring,” “Summer,” “Autumn,” and “Winter”“Winter” (1798).

Giles of Antwerp, Giles Coignet, the painter (1530-1600).

Gillfillan (Habakkuk), called “Gifted Gilfillan,” a Camero´nian officer and enthusiast.—Sir W. Scott, Waverley (time, George II.).

Gill (Harry), a farmer, who forbade old Goody Blake to carry home a few sticks, which she had picked up from his land, to light a wee-bit fire to warm herself by. Old Goody Blake cursed him for his meanness, saying he should never from that moment cease from shivering with cold; and, sure enough, from that hour, a-bed or up, summer or winter, at home or abroad, his teeth went “chatter, chatter, chatter still.” Clothing was of no use, fires of no avail, for, spite of all, he muttered, “Poor Harry Gill is very cold.”—Wordsworth, Goody Blake and Harry Gill (1798).

Gill (Mrs. Peter). Bustling matron with a genius for innovation. She conducts her household affairs according to sanitary and sanatory principles; discovers that condiments are pernicious and that beans are excellent for the complexion; is bent upon a water-cure, and finds out and invents so many “must bes” and “don’ts” as to ruin the comfort of husband and children.—Robert B. Roosevelt, Progressive Petticoats (1874).

Gil´lamore (3 syl.) or Guillamur, king of Ireland, being slain in battle by Arthur, Ireland was added by the conqueror to his own dominions.