Learoyd. The Yorkshireman who completes the trio of friends in Rudyard Kipling’s story Soldiers Three. He “was born on the wolds and bred in the dales. ... His chief virtue was an unmitigated patience which helped him to win fights.”—Soldiers Three.
Leather-Stockings, the nickname of Natty Bumppo, a half-savage and half-Christian chevalier of American wild-life. He appears in five of J. F. Cooper’s novels, hence called the Leather-stocking Tales.—See Bumppo.
Le Castre, the indulgent father of Mirable “the wild goose,” Beaumont and Fletcher, The Wild-goose Chase (1652).
L’Eclair (Philippe), orderly of Captain Florian. L’Eclair is a great boaster, who masks his brag under the guise of modesty. He pays his court to Rosabelle, the lady’s-maid of Lady Geraldine.—W. Dimond, The Foundling of the Forest.
Led Captain (A), an obsequious person, who styles himself “Captain;” and, out of cupboard love, dances attendance on the master and mistress of a house.
Mr. Wagg, the celebrated wit, and a led captain and trencherman of my Lord Steyne, was caused by the ladies to make the assault.—Thackeray, Vanity Fair, li. (1848).
Lee (Sir Henry), an officer in attendance at Greenwich Palace.—Sir W. Scott, Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).
Lee (Sir Henry), an old royalist, and head-ranger of Woodstock Forest.
Alice Lee, daughter of the old knight. She married Markham Everard.
Colonel Albert Lee, her brother, the friend of Charles II.—Sir W. Scott, Woodstock (time, commonwealth).
Leek, worn on St. David’s Day. The general tale is that King Cadwallader, in 640, gained a complete victory over the Saxons by the special interposition of St. David, who ordered the Britons to wear leeks in their caps, that they might recognize each other. The Saxons, for want of some common cognizance, often mistook friends for foes. Drayton gives another version: He says the saint lived in the valley Ewias (2 syl.), situated between the Hatterill Hills, in Monmouthshire. It was here “that reverend British saint to contemplation lived,”
Lefevre (Lieutenant), a poor officer dying from want and sickness. His pathetic story is told by Sterne, in a novel called The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy (1759).
“Mr. Fulmer, I have borrowed a book from your shop. ’Tis the sixth volume of my deceased friend, Tristram.... The divine story of Lefevre, which makes part of this book, ... does honor, not to its author only, but to human nature.”—Cumberland, The West Indian, ii. 1.
Legend (Sir Sampson), a foolish, testy, prejudiced, and obstinate old man, between 50 and 60. His favorite oath is “Odd!” He tries to disinherit his elder son, Valentine, for his favorite son Ben, a sailor; and he fancies Angelica is in love with him, when she only intends to fool him.
He says: “I know the length of the emperor of China’s foot, have kissed the Great Mogul’s slipper, and have rid a-hunting upon an elephant with the cham of Tartary.”—W. Congreve, Love for Love, ii. (1695).
“Sir Sampson Legend” is such another lying, over-bearing character, but he does not come up to “Sir Epicure Mammon” [in Ben Jonson’s play, The Alchemist].—C. Lamb.
Legend (The Golden), a semi-dramatic poem by Longfellow, taken from an old German tale by Hartmann von der Aue [Our], called Poor Henry (1851). Hartmann was one of the minnesingers, and lived in the twelfth century. (See Henry, Poor.)
Legend of Montrose, a novel by Sir W. Scott (1819). This brief, imperfect story contains one of Scott’s best characters, the redoubted Rittmaster, Dugald Dalgetty, a combination of soldado and pedantic student of Mareschal College, Aberdeen.
Legends (Golden), a collection of monkish legends, in Latin, by Jacob de Voragine or Varagine, born at Varaggio, in Grenoa. He wrote Legenda Sancta, which was so popular that it was called “Legenda Aurea” (1230-1298).
Legion of Honor, an order of merit, instituted by Napoleon I. when “first consul,” in 1802. The undress badges are, for:
Chevaliers, a bow of red ribbon in the buttonhole of their coat, to which a medal is attached.
Officers, a rosette of red ribbon, etc., with medal.
Commanders, a collar-ribbon.
Grand-officers, a broad ribbon under the waistcoat.
Grand-cross, a broad ribbon, with a star on the breast, and a jewel-cross pendant.
⁂ Napoleon III. instituted a lower degree than Chevalier, called Médaille Militaire, distinguished by a yellow ribbon.
Legree, a slave-dealer and hideous villain, brutalized by slave-dealing and slave-driving.—Harriet Beecher Stowe Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1853).
Leicester (The earl of), in the court of Queen Elizabeth.
The countess of Leicester (born Amy Robsart), but previously betrothed to Edmund Tressilian.—Sir W. Scott, Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).
Leigh (Aurora), the heroine and title of a poem by Mrs. Browning. The design of this poem is to show the noble aim of true art.
Leila, the young Turkish child rescued by Don Juan at the siege of Ismail (canto viii. 93-102). She went with him to St. Petersburg, and then he brought her to England. As Don Juan was never completed, the future history of Leila has no sequel.
Leila (2 syl.), the beautiful slave of the Caliph Hassan. She falls in love with “the Giaour” [djow´.er], flees from the seraglio, is overtaken, and cast into the sea.
Leilah, the Oriental type of female loveliness, chastity, and impassioned affection. Her love for Mejnôun, in Mohammedan romance, is held in much the same light as that of the bride for the bridegroom in Solomon’s song, or Cupid and Psychê among the Greeks.
When he sang the loves of Megnôun and Leileh [sic] ... tears insensibly overflowed the cheeks of his auditors.—W. Beckford, Vathek (1786).
L. E. L., pseudonym of Letitia Elizabeth Landon (afterwards Mrs. Maclean), poetess (1802-1838).
Lela Marien, the Virgin Mary.
In my childhood, my father kept a slave, who, in my own tongue [Arabic], instructed me in the Christian worship, and informed me of many things of Lela Marien.—Cervantes, Don Quixote, I. iv. 10 (1605).
Le´lia, a cunning, wanton widow, with whom Julio is in love.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Captain (1613).
Lélie (2 syl.) a young man engaged to Célie, daughter of Gorgibus; but Gorgibus insists that his daughter shall give up Lélie for Valère, a much richer man. Célie faints on hearing this, and drops the miniature of Lélie, which is picked up by Sganarelle’s wife. Sganarelle finds it, and, supposing it to be a lover of his wife, takes possession of it, and recognizes Lélie as the living original. Lélie asks how he came by it, is told he took it from his wife, and concludes that he means Célie. He accuses her of infidelity in the presence of Sganarelle, and the whole mystery is cleared up.—Molière, Sganarelle (1660).
Lélie, an inconsequential, light-headed, but gentlemanly coxcomb.—Molière, L’Etourdi (1653).
Lemnian Deed (A), one of unparalleled cruelty and barbarity. This Greek phrase owes its origin to the legend that the Lemnian women rose one night, and put to death every man and male child in the island.
On another occasion they slew all the men and all the children born of Athenian parents.
Lemuel Barker, young rustic, who, encouraged by Rev. Mr. Sewall’s praise of certain of his verses, comes to Boston in the hope of achieving literary fame. He is, in turn, fleeced by sharpers, almost starved, put into the positions of elevator boy, private reader, horse-car conductor, etc. Is entrapped into an engagement of marriage with a vulgar, but respectable girl, and wiser and soberer for each experience, takes his place as a worthy citizen.—W. D. Howells, The Minister’s Charge (1886).
Lenore, a name which Edgar Poe has introduced in two of his poems; one called The Raven, and the other called Lenore (1811-1849).
Lenore, the heroine of Bürger’s ballad of that name, in which a spectral lover appears to his mistress after death, and carries her on horseback, behind him, to the graveyard, where their marriage is celebrated amid a crew of howling goblins.
⁂ The Suffolk Miracle is an old English ballad of like character.
Lenormand (Mdlle.), a famous tireuse de cartes. She was a squat, fussy, little old woman, with a gnarled and knotted visage, and an imperturbable eye. She wore her hair cut short, and parted on one side, like that of a man; dressed in an odd-looking casaquin, embroidered and frogged like the jacket of an hussar; and snuffed continually. This was the little old woman whom Napoleon I. regularly consulted before setting out on a campaign. Mdlle. Lenormand foretold to Josephine her divorce; and when Murat, king of Naples, visited her in disguise, she gave him the cards to cut, and he cut four times in succession le grand pendu (king of diamonds); whereupon Mdlle. rose and said, “La séance est terminée; c’est dix louis pour les rois;” pocketed the fee, and left the room taking snuff.
(In cartomancy, le grand pendu signifies that the person to which it is dealt, or who cuts it, will die by the hands of the executioner.)executioner.)
Lent (Galeazzo’s), a form of torture devised by Galeazzo Visconti, calculated to prolong the victim’s life for forty days.
Len´ville (2 syl.), first tragedian at the Portsmouth Theatre. When Nicholas Nickleby joined the company Mr. Lenville was jealous, and attempted to pull his nose; but Nicholas pulled the nose of Mr. Lenville instead.—C. Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby (1888).
Leodegraunce or Leodegran, king of Camelyard, father of Guenever (King Arthur’s wife). Uther, the pendragon, gave him the famous Round Table, which would seat 150 knights (pt. i. 45); and when Arthur married Guenever, Leodegraunce gave him the table and 100 knights as a wedding gift (pt. i. 45). The table was made by Merlin, and each seat had on it the name of the knight to whom it belonged. One of the seats was called the “Siege Perilous,” because no one could sit on it without “peril of his life,” except Sir Galahad, the virtuous and chaste, who accomplished the quest of the Holy Graal.—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur (1470).
Le´oline (3 syl.) one of the male attendants of Dionys´ia, wife of Cleon, governor of Tarsus, and employed by his mistress to murder Mari´na, the orphan daughter of Prince Periclês, who had been committed to her charge to bring up. Leoline took Marina to the shore with this view, when some pirates seized her, and sold her at Metali´nê for a slave. Leoline told his mistress that the orphan was dead, and Dionysia raised a splendid sepulchre to her memory.—Shakespeare, Pericles, Prince of Tyre (1608).
Leon, son of Constantine, the Greek emperor. Amon and Beatrice, the parents of Bradamant, promise to him their daughter Bradamant in marriage; but the lady is in love with Roge´ro. When Leon discovers this attachment, he withdraws his suit, and Bradamant marries Rogero.—Ariosto, Orlando Furioso (1516).
Leon, the hero who rules Margaritta, his wife, wisely, and wins her esteem and wifely obedience. Margaritta is a wealthy Spanish heiress, who married in order to indulge in wanton intrigues more freely. She selected Leon because he was supposed to be a milksop whom she could bend to her will; but no sooner is she married than Leon acts with manly firmness and determination, but with great affection also. He wins the esteem of every one, and Margaritta becomes a loving, devoted, virtuous, and obedient wife.—Beaumont and Fletcher, Rule a Wife and Have a Wife (1640).
Edward Kynaston [1619-1687] executed the part of “Leon” with a determined manliness, well worth the best actor’s imitation. He had a piercing eye, and a quick, imperious vivacity of voice.—Colley Cibber.
Leonard, a real scholar, forced for daily bread to keep a common school.—Crabbe, Borough, xxiv. (1810).
Leonardo [Gonzaga], duke of Mantua, travelling in Switzerland, an avalanche fell on him, and he was nursed through a severe illness by Mariana, the daughter of a Swiss burgher and they fell in love with each other. On his return home he was entrapped by brigands, and kept prisoner for two years. Mariana, seeking him, went to Mantua, where Count Florio fell in love with her, and obtained her guardian’s consent to their union; but Mariana refused to comply. The case was referred to the duke (Ferrardo), who gave judgment in favor of the count. Leonardo happened to be present, and throwing off his disguise, assumed his rank as duke, and married Mariana; but being called away to the camp, left Ferrardo regent. Ferrardo laid a most villainous scheme to prove Mariana guilty of adultery with Julian St. Pierre; but Leonardo refused to credit her guilt. Julian turned out to be her brother, exposed the whole plot, and amply vindicated Mariana of the slightestslightest indiscretion.—S. Knowles, The Wife (1833).
Leona´to, governor of Messina, father of Hero and uncle of Beatrice.—Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing (1600).
Leonesse (3 syl.) Leonesse, Leonnais, Leones, Leonnoys, Lyonnoys, etc., a mythical country belonging to Cornwall, supposed to have been sunk under the sea since the time of King Arthur. It is very frequently mentioned in the Arthurian romances.
Leonidas of Modern Greece, Marco Bozzaris, a Greek patriot, who with 1200 men, put to rout 4000 Turco-Albanians, at Kerpenisi, but was killed in the attack (1823). He was buried at Mesolonghi.
Leonilla Lynmore. Artless girl brought up by her mother in ignorance of all sorts of superstitious fancies. At eighteen, she visits the Rookleys, an old Boston family, with whom belief in portents and apparitions is a part of religious belief. The result of signs and wonders, apparently accomplished is a brain fever. She recovers, shaken in nerve, but sane, and shows it by marrying Captain Seaforth. Eliza Leslie, Leonilla Lynmore (1840).
Le´onine (3 syl.), servant to Dionyza.—Shakespeare, Pericles, Prince of Tyre (1608).
Leonine Verse. So called from Leonius, a canon of the church of St. Victor in Paris, in the twelfth century, who first composed them. It is a verse with a rhyme in the middle as:
Leonnoys or Leonesse (q.v.), a country once joining Cornwall, but now sunk in the sea full forty fathoms deep. Sir Tristram was born in Leonês or Leonnoys, and is always called a Cornish knight.
⁂ Tennyson calls the word “Lyonesse,” but Sir T. Malory “Leonês.”
Léonor, sister of Isabelle, an orphan; brought up by Ariste (2 syl.), according to his notions of training a girl to make him a good wife. He put her on her honor, tried to win her confidence and love, gave her all the liberty consistent with propriety and social etiquette, and found that she loved him, and made him a fond and faithful wife. (See(See Isabelle.)—Molière, L’école des Maris (1661).
Leono´ra, the usurping queen of Aragon, betrothed to Bertran, a prince of the blood-royal, but in love with Torrismond, general of the forces. It turns out that Torrismond is son and heir of Sancho the deposed king. Sancho is restored, and Torrismond marries Leonora.—Dryden, The Spanish Fryar (1680).
Leonora, betrothed to Don Carlos, but Don Carlos resigned her to Don Alonzo, to whom she proved a very tender and loving wife. Zanga the Moor, out of revenge, poisoned the mind of Alonzo against his wife by insinuating her criminal love for Don Carlos. Out of jealousy, Alonzo had his friend put to death, and Leonora, knowing herself suspected, put an end to her life.—Edward Young, The Revenge (1721).
Leonora, the daughter of poor parents, who struck the fancy of Don Diego. The Don made a compact with her parents to take her home with him and place her under a duenna for three months, to ascertain if her temper was as sweet as her face was pretty, and at the expiration of that time, either to return her spotless or to make her his wife. At the end of three months, Don Diego (a man of 60) goes to arrange for the marriage, locking his house and garden, as he supposes, securely; but Leander, a young student, smitten with Leonora, makes his way into the house, and is about to elope with her when the don returns. Like a man of sense, Don Diego at once sees the suitability of the match, consents to the union of the young people, and even settles a marriage portion on Leonora, his ward if not his wife.—I. Bickerstaff, The Padlock.
Leonora, betrothed to Ferdinand, a fiery young Spaniard (jealous of Donna Clara, who has assumed boy’s clothes for a time). Ferdinand despises the “amphibious coxcomb,” and calls his rival “a vile compound of fringe, lace, and powder.”—Jephson, Two Strings to your Bow (1792).
Leonora, the heroine of Miss Edgeworth’s novel of the same name. The object of the tale is to make the reader feel what is good, and desirous of being so (1806).
Leonora, wife of Fernando Florestan, a State prisoner in Seville. In order to effect her husband’s release, she assumed the attire of a man, and the name of Fidelio. In this disguise she entered the service of Rocco, the jailer, and Marcellina, the jailer’s daughter, fell in love with her. Pizzaro, the governor of the prison resolving to assassinate Fernando Florestan, sent Rocco and Fidelio to dig his grave in the prison-cell. When Pizarro descended to perpetrate the deed of blood, Fidelio drew a pistol on him; and the minister of State, arriving at this crisis, ordered the prisoner to be released. Leonora (Fidelio) was allowed to unlock her husband’s chains, and Pizarro’s revenge came to naught.—Beethoven, Fidelio (an opera, 1791).
Leonora, a princess, who falls in love with Manri´co, the supposed son of Azuce´na, a gypsy, but in reality the son of Garzia (brother of the Conte di Luna). The Conte di Luna entertains a base passion for the princess, and, getting Manrico into his power, is about to kill him, when Leonora intercedes, and promises to give herself to the count if he will spare his nephew’s life. The count consents; but while he goes to release Manrico, Leonora kills herself by sucking poison from a ring, and Manrico dies also.—Verdi, Il Trovato´rê (an opera, 1853).
Leonora (The History of), an episode in the novel of Joseph Andrews, by Fielding (1742).
Leonora [d’Este] (2 syl.), sister of Alfonso II., reigning duke of Ferrara. The poet Tasso conceived a violent passion for this princess, “but she knew it not nor viewed it with disdain.” Leonora never married, but lived with her eldest sister, Lauretta, duchess of Urbino, who was separated from her husband. The episode of Sophronia and Olindo (Jerusalem Delivered, ii.) is based on this love incident. The description of Sophronia is that of Leonora, and her ignorance of Olindo’s love points to the poet’s unregarded devotion.
Leonora de Guzman, the “favorite” of Alfonzo XI., of Castile. FernandoFernando, not knowing that she was the king’s mistress, fell in love with her; and Alfonzo, to reward Fernando’s services, gave her to him in marriage. No sooner was this done, than the bridegroom learned the character of his bride, rejected her with scorn, and became a monk. Leonora became a noviciate in the same convent, obtained her husband’s forgiveness, and died.—Donizetti, La Favorita (an opera, 1842).
Leon´tes (3 syl.), king of Sicily. He invited his old friend Polixenês, king of Bohemia, to come and stay with him, but became so jealous of him that he commanded Camillo to poison him. Instead of doing so, Camillo warned Polixenês of his danger, and fled with him to Bohemia. The rage of Leontês was now unbounded, and he cast his wife Hermionê into prison, where she gave birth to a daughter. The king ordered the infant to be cast out on a desert shore, and then brought his wife to a public trial. Hermionê fainted in court, the king had her removed, and Paulina soon came to announce that the queen was dead. Ultimately, the infant daughter was discovered under the name of Perdĭta, and was married to Florizel, the son of Polixenês. Hermionê was also discovered to the king in a tableau vivant, and the joy of Leontês was complete.—Shakespeare, The Winter’s Tale (1604).
Leon´tius, a brave but merry old soldier.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Humorous Lieutenant (1647).
Le´opold, a sea-captain, enamoured of Hippol´yta, a rich lady, wantonly in love with Arnoldo. Arnoldo, however, is contracted to the chaste Zeno´cia, who is basely pursued by the governor, Count Clodio.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Custom of the Country (1647).
Leopold, archduke of Austria, a crusader who arrested Richard I. on his way home from the Holy Land.—Sir W. Scott, The Talisman (time, Richard I.).
Leopold, nicknamed Peu-à-peu by George IV. Stein, speaking of Leopold’s vacillating conduct in reference to the Greek throne, says of him: “He has no color,” i.e., no fixed plan of his own, but only reflects the color of those around him; in other words, he is “blown about by every wind.”
Lepol´emo (The Exploits and Adventures of), part of the series called Le Roman des Romans, pertaining to “Amadis, of Gaul.” This part was added by Pedro de Lujan.
Leporello, in The Libertine, by Shadwell (1676).
The following advertisement from Liston appeared in June, 1817:—
“My benefit takes place this evening at Covent Garden Theatre, and I doubt not will be splendidly attended.... I shall perform ‘Fogrun,’ in The Slave, and ‘Leporello’ in The Libertine. In the delineation of these arduous characters I shall display much feeling and discrimination, together with great taste in my dresses, and elegance of manner. The audiences will be delighted, and will testify their approbation by rapturous applause. When, in addition to my professional merits, regard is had to the loveliness of my person and the fascination of my face, ... there can be no doubt that this announcement will receive the attention it deserves.”—J. Liston.
Leporello, the valet of Don Giovanni.—Mozart, Don Giovanni (an opera, 1787).
Lermites and Martafax, two rats that conspired against the White Cat.—Comtesse D’Aunoy, Fairy Tales (“The White Cat” 1682).
Lesbia, the poetic name given by the poet Catullus to his mistress, Clodia.
Lesbia’s Sparrow. One of the best known of the poems of Catullus is the one called Lesbia’s Sparrow, in which the girl so prettily laments the loss of her favorite bird. It has been often translated.
Lesbian Poets (The), Terpander, Alcæus, Ari´on, and the poetess Sappho.
Lesbian Rule, squaring the rule from the act, and not the act from the rule; like correcting a sun-dial by a clock, and not the clock by the sun-dial. A specious excuse for doing, or not doing, as inclination dictates.
Lesley (Captain), a friend of Captain M’Intyre.—Sir W. Scott, The Antiquary (time, George III.).
Leslie (General), a parliamentary leader.—Sir W. Scott, Legend of Montrose (time, Charles I.).
Leslie (Hope). Heroine of a novel of colonial life, the scene of which is laid in Agawam (Springfield), Mass.—Catherine Maria Sedgwick, Hope Leslie (1827).
Leslie (Norman). Hero of a novel of New York life, early in the nineteenth century. He is wrongfully accused of a murder, and although the charge is not proved, rests under the ban with the public for years, until the real criminal is brought to light.—Theodore S. Fay, Norman Leslie (1835).
Lesly (Ludovic), surnamed Le Balafré, an old archer in the Scotch guard of Louis XI., of France. Uncle of Quentin Durward.—Sir W. Scott, Quentin Durward (time, Edward IV.).
Lesurques (Jerome), a solicitor, who, being in greatly reduced circumstances, holds the White Lion inn, unknown to his son (act i. 2).
Joseph Lesurques (2 syl.), son of the solicitor, and father of Julie. He is so like Dubosc, the highwayman, that he is accused of robbing the night-mail from Lyons, and murdering the courier.
Julie Lesurques, daughter of Joseph Lesurques, in love with Didier. When her father is imprisoned, she offers to release Didier from his engagement; but he remains loyal throughout.—Edward Stirling, The Courier of Lyons (1852).
Letters (Greek). Cadmus, the Phœnician, introduced sixteen; Simonidês and Epicharmos (the poets) introduced six or eight others; but there is the greatest diversity as to what letters, or how many, are to be attributed to them. Aristotle says Epicharmos introduced θ, χ; others ascribe to him ξ, η, ψ, ω. Dr. Smith, in his Classical Dictionary, tells us Simonidês introduced “the long vowels and double letters” (η, ω, θ, χ, φ, ψ). Lempriere, under “Cadmus,” ascribes to him θ, ζ, ψ, χ; and under “Simonides,” η, ω, ξ, ψ. Others maintain that the Simonidês letters are η, ω, ζ, ψ.
Letters (Father of), François I., of France, Père des Lettres (1494, 1515-1547). Lorenzo de Medici, “the Magnificent” (1448-1492).
Leuca´dia’s Rock, a promontory, the south extremity of the island Leucas or Leucadia, in the Ionian Sea. Sappho leapt from this rock when she found her love for Pha´on unrequited. At the annual festival of Apollo, a criminal was hurled from Leucadia’s Rock into the sea; but birds of various sorts were attached to him, in order to break his fall, and if he was not killed he was set free. The leap from this rock is called “The Lovers’ Leap.”
Leucip´pe (3 syl.), wife of Menippus; a bawd who caters for king Antig´onus, who, although an old man, indulges in the amorous follies of a youth.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Humorous Lieutenant (1647).
Leucoth´ea, once called “Ino.” Ath´amas, son of Æŏlus, had by her two sons, one of whom was named Melicer´tês. Athamas, being driven mad, Ino and Melicertês threw themselves into the sea; Ino became Leucothea, and Melicertês became Palæmon or Portumnus, the god of ports or strands. Leucothea means the “white goddess,” and is used for “Matuta” or the dawn, which precedes sunrise, i.e. Aurora.
Leven (The earl of), a parliamentary leader.—Sir W. Scott, Legend of Montrose (time, Charles I.).
Leviathan of Literature (The), Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-1784).
Levites (The), in Dryden’s Absalom and Achitophel, means the nonconformist ministers expelled by the Act of Conformity (1681-2).
Levitt (Frank), a highwayman.—Sir W. Scott, Heart of Midlothian (time, George II.).
Lewis (Don), brother of Antonio, and uncle of Carlos, the bookworm, of whom he is dotingly fond. Don Lewis is no scholar himself, but he adores scholarship. He is headstrong and testy, simple-hearted and kind.
Lewis (Lord), father of Angeli´na.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Elder Brother (1637).
Lewis (Matthew Gregory), generally called “Monk Lewis,” from his romance, The Monk (1794). His best known verses are the ballads of Alonzo the Brave, and Bill Jones. He also wrote a drama entitled Timour, the Tartar (1775-1818).
Lewis Baboon. Louis XIV., of France, is so called by Dr. Arbuthnot in his History of John Bull. Baboon is a pun on the word Bourbon, specially appropriate to this royal “posture-master” (1712).
Lew´some (2 syl.), a young surgeon and general practitioner. He forms the acquaintance of Jonas Chuzzlewit, and supplies him with the poison which he employs.—C. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit (1844).
Lewson, a noble, honest character. He is in love with Charlotte Beverley, and marries her, although her brother has gambled away all her fortune.—Edward Moore, The Gamester (1753).
Leycippes and Clitophonta, a romance in Greek, by Achilles Tatius, in the fifth century; borrowed largely from the Theag´enês and Chariclēa of Heliodōrus, bishop of Trikka.
Liar (The), a farce by Samuel Foote (1761). John Wilding, a young gentleman fresh from Oxford, has an extraordinary propensity for romancing. He invents the most marvellous tales, utterly regardless of truth, and thereby involves both himself and others in endless perplexities. He pretends to fall in love with a Miss Grantam, whom he accidentally meets, and, wishing to know her name, is told it is Godfrey, and that she is an heiress. Now it so happens that his father wants him to marry the real Miss Grantam, and, in order to avoid so doing, he says he is already married to a Miss Sibthorpe. He afterwards tells his father he invented this tale because he really wished to marry Miss Godfrey. When Miss Godfrey is introduced, he does not know her, and while in this perplexity a woman enters, who declares she is his wife, and that her maiden name was Sibthorpe. Again he is dumbfounded, declares he never saw her in his life, and rushes out, exclaiming, “All the world is gone mad, and is in league against me!”
⁂ The plot of this farce is from the Spanish. It had been already taken by Corneille in Le Menteur (1642), and by Steele in his Lying Lover (1704).
Liar (The), Al Aswad; also called “The Impostor,” and “The Weathercock.” He set himself up as a prophet against Mahomet; but frequently changed his creed.
Mosëilma was also called “The Liar.” He wrote a letter to Mahomet, which began thus: “From Mosëilma, prophet of Allah, to Mahomet, prophet of Allah;” and received an answer beginning thus: “From Mahomet, the prophet of Allah, to Mosëilma, the Liar.”
Liars (The Prince of), Ferdinand Mendez Pinto, a Portuguese traveller, whose narratives deal so much in the marvellous that Cervantes dubbed him “The Prince of Liars.” He is alluded to in the Tatler as a man “of infinite adventure and unbounded imagination.”
Sir John Mandeville is called “The Lying Traveller” (1300-1372).
Liban´iel (4 syl.), the guardian angel of Philip, the apostle.—Klopstock, The Messiah, iii. (1748).
Liberator (The). Daniel O’Connell was so called because he was the leader of the Irish party, which sought to sever Ireland from England. Also called “The Irish Agitator” (1776-1847).
Simon Bolivar, who established the independence of Peru, is so called by the Peruvians (1785-1831).
Liberty (Goddess of). On December 20, 1793, the French installed the worship of reason for the worship of God, and M. Chaumette induced Mdlle. Malliard, an actress, to personify the “goddess of Liberty.”Liberty.” She was borne in a palanquin, dressed with buskins, a Phrygian cap, and a blue chlamys over a white tunic. Being brought to Notre Dame, she was placed on the high altar, and a huge candle was placed behind her. Mdlle. Malliard lighted the candle, to signify that liberty frees the mind from darkness, and is the “light of the world;” then M. Chaumette fell on his knees to her and offered incense as to a god.
Liberty (The goddess of). The statue so called, placed over the entrance of the Palais Royal, represented Mde. Tallien.
Liberty Hall. Squire Hardcastle says to young Harlow and Hastings, when they mistake his house for an “inn,” and give themselves airs, “This is Liberty Hall, gentlemen; you may do just as you please here.”—Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, i. 2 (1773).
Libiti´na, the goddess who presides over funerals, and hence in Latin an undertaker is called libitina´rius.
He brought two physicians to visit me, who, by their appearance, seemed zealous ministers of the goddess Libitina.—Lesage, Gil Blas, ix. 8 (1735).
Lichas, servant of Herculês, who brought to him from Dejani´ra the poisoned shirt of Nessus. He was thrown by Herculês from the top of Mount Etna into the sea. Seneca says (Hercules) that Lichas was tossed aloft into the air, and sprinkled the clouds with his blood. Ovid says: “He congealed, like hail, in mid-air, and turned to stone; then, falling into the Uuboic Sea, became a rock, which still bears his name and retains the human form” (Met. ix.).
Lickitup (The laird of), friend of Neil Blanc, the town piper.—Sir W. Scott, Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).
Lie. The four P’s—a Palmer, a Pardoner, a Poticary and a Pedler—disputed as to which could tell the greatest lie. The Palmer asserted that he never saw a woman out of patience; the other three P’s were so taken aback by this assertion that they instantly gave up the contest, saying that it was certainly the greatest falsehood they ever heard.—John Heywood, The Four P’s (1520).
Liebenstein and Sternfels, two ruined castles on the Rhine. Leoline, the orphan, was the sole surviving child of the lord of Liebenstein, and two brothers (Warbeck and Otto) were the only surviving children of the lord of Sternfels. Both these brothers fell in love with Leoline, but as the lady gave Otto the preference, Warbeck joined the crusades. Otto followed his brother to Palistine, but the war was over, and Otto brought back with him a Greek girl, whom he had made his bride. Warbeck now sent a challenge to his brother for this insult to Leoline, but Leoline interposed to stop the fight. Soon after this the Greek wife eloped, and Otto died childless. Leoline retired to the adjacent convent of Bornhofen, which was attacked by robbers, and Warbeck, in repelling them, received his death-wound, and died in the lap of Leoline.—Traditions of the Rhine.
Life (The Battle of), a Christmas story, by C. Dickens (1846). It is the story of Grace and Marion, the two daughters of Dr. Jeddler, both of whom loved Alfred Heathfield, their father’s ward. Alfred loved the younger daughter; but Marion, knowing of her sister’s love, left her home clandestinely, and all thought she had eloped with Michael Warden. Alfred then married Grace, and in due time Marion make it known to her sister that she had given up Alfred to her, and had gone to live with her Aunt Martha till they were married. It is said that Marion subsequently married Michael Warden, and found with him a happy home.
Ligéa, one of the three sirens. The other two were Parthen´ope and Leucothëa.Leucothëa. Milton gives the classic sirens, combs; borrowing a detail from the Scandinavian Lorelei. Ligēa or Largeia means “shrill,” or “sweet voiced.”