Madman (The Brilliant), Charles XII., of Sweden (1682, 1697-1718).

Madman of the North, Charles XII., of Sweden (1682, 1697-1718).

Madoc, youngest son of Owain Gwynedd, king of North Wales (who died 1169). He is called “The Perfect Prince,” “The Lord of Ocean,” and is the very beau-ideal of a hero. Invincible, courageous, strong and daring, but amiable, merciful and tender-hearted; most pious, but without bigotry; most wise, but without dogmatism; most provident and far-seeing. He left his native country in 1170, and ventured on the ocean to discover a new world; his vessels reached America, and he founded a settlement near the Missouri. Having made an alliance with the Az´tecas, he returned to Wales for a fresh supply of colonists, and conducted six ships in safety to the new settlement, called Caer-Madoc. War soon broke out between the natives and the strangers; but the white men proving the conquerors, the Az´tecas migrated to Mexico. On one occasion, being set upon from ambush, Madoc was chained by one foot to “the stone of sacrifice,” and consigned to fight with six volunteers. His first opponent was Ocell´opan, whom he slew; his next was Tlalăla, “the tiger,” but during this contest Cadwallon came to the rescue.—Southey, Madoc (1805).

Mador (Sir), a Scotch knight, who accused Queen Guinever of having poisoned his brother. Sir Launcelot du Lac challenged him to single combat and overthrew him; for which service King Arthur gave the queen’s champion La Joyeuse Garde as a residence.

Mæce´nas (Caius Cilnius), a wealthy Roman nobleman, a friend of Augustus, and liberal patron of Virgil, Horace, Propertius, and other men of genius. His name has become proverbial for a “munificent friend of literature” (died B.C. 8).

Are you not called a theatrical quidnunc and a mock Mæcēnas to second-hand authors?—Sheridan, The Critic, i. (1779).

Mæ´nad, a Bacchant, plu. Mænads or Mæ´nades (3 syl.). So called from the Greek, mainomai (“to be furious”), because they acted like mad women in their “religious” festivals.

Mæon´ides (4 syl.). Homer is so called, either because he was son of Mæon, or because he was a native of Mæon´ia (Lydia). He is also called Mæonius Senex, and his poems Mænonian Lays.

Mævius, any vile poet. (See Bavius).

Magalo´na (The Fair), daughter of the king of Naples. She is the heroine of an old romance of chivalry, originally written in French, but translated into Spanish in the fifteenth century. Cervantes alludes to this romance in Don Quixote. The main incident of the story turns on a flying horse made by Merlin, which came into the possession of Peter of Provence.—The History of the Fair Magalona, and Peter, the son of the Count of Provence.

⁂ Tieck has reproduced the history of Magalona in German (1773-1853).

Mage Negro King, Gaspar, king of Tarshish, a black Ethiop, and tallest of the three Magi. His offering was myrrh, indicative of death.

Maggy, the half-witted granddaughter of little Dorrit’s nurse. She had had a fever at the age of ten, from ill-treatment, and her mind and intellect never went beyond that period. Thus, if asked her age, she always replied, “Ten;” and she always repeated the last two or three words of what was said to her. She called Amy Dorritt “Little Mother.”

She was about eight and twenty, with large bones, large features, large feet and hands, large eyes, and no hair. Her large eyes were limpid and almost colorless; they seemed to be very little affected by light, and to stand unnaturally still. There was also that attentive listening expression in her face, which is seen in the faces of the blind; but she was not blind, having one tolerably serviceable eye. Her face was not exceedingly ugly, being redeemed by a smile.... A great white cap, with a quantity of opaque frilling ... apologized for Maggy’s baldness, and made it so difficult for her old black bonnet to retain its place on her head, that it held on round her neck like a gypsy’s baby.... The rest of her dress resembled sea-weed, with here and there a gigantic tea-leaf. Her shawl looked like a huge tea-leaf after long infusion.—C. Dickens, Little Dorrit, ix. (1857).

Magi, or Three Kings of Cologne, the “wise men from the East,” who followed the guiding-star to the manger in Bethlehem with offerings. Melchior, king of Nubia, the shortest of the three, offered gold, indicative of royalty; Balthazar, king of Chaldea, offered frankincense, indicative of divinity; and Gaspar, king of Tarshish, a black Ethiop, the tallest of the three, offered myrrh, symbolic of death.

Melchior means “king of light”light”; Balthazar “lord of treasures;” and Gaspar or Caspar, “the white one.”

⁂ Klopstock, in his Messiah, makes the Magi six in number, and gives the names as Hadad, Selima, Zimri, Mirja, Beled and Sunith—Bk. v. (1771).

Magic Rings, like that which Gyges, minister to King Candaules of Lydia, found in the flanks of a brazen horse. By means of this ring, which made its wearer invisible, Gyges first dishonored the queen, and then with her assistance, assassinated the king and usurped his throne.—Plato’s Republic; Cicero’s Offices.

Magic Wands. The hermit gave Charles the Dane and Ubaldo a wand, which, being shaken, infused terror into all who saw it.—Tasso, Jerusalem Delivered (1575).

The palmer who accompanied Sir Guyon had a wand of like virtue. It was made of the same wood as Mercury’s caduceus.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, ii. (1590).

Magician of the North (The), Sir W. Scott (1771-1832).

How beautifully has the Magician of the North described “The Field of Waterloo!”—Lord W.P. Lennox, Celebrities, etc., i. 16.

⁂ Johann Georg Hamann of Prussia, called himself “The Magician of the North” (1730-1788).

Magliabechi, the greatest book-worm that ever lived. He devoured books, and never forgot anything he read. He had also so exact a memory that he could tell the precise place and shelf of a book, as well as the volume and page of any passage required. He was the librarian of the Great-Duke Cosmo III. His usual dinner was three hard-boiled eggs and a draught of water (1633-1714).

Magmu, the coquette of Astracan.

Though naturally handsome, she used every art to set off her beauty. Not a word proceeded from her mouth that was not studied. To counterfeit a violent passion, to sigh à propos, to make an attractive gesture, to trifle agreeably, and collect the various graces of dumb eloquence into a smile, were the arts in which she excelled. She spent hours before her glass in deciding how a curl might be made to hang loose upon her neck to the greatest advantage; how to open and shut her lips so as best to show her teeth without affectation—to turn her face full or otherwise, as occasion might require. She looked on herself with ceaseless admiration, and always admired most the works of her own hand in improving on the beauty which nature had bestowed on her.—T. S. Gueulette, Chinese Tales (“Magmu,” 1723).

Magnanimous (The), Alfonso of Aragon (1385, 1416-1458).

Khosru or Chosroës, the twenty-first of the Sassanĭdês, was surnamed Noushirwan (“Magnanimous”) (*, 531-579).

Magnano, one of the leaders of the rabble that attacked Hudibras at a bear-baiting. The character is designed for Simeon Wait, a tinker, as famous an independent preacher as Burroughs. He used to style Cromwell “the archangel who did battle with the devil.”—S. Butler, Hudibras, i. 2 (1663).

Magnificent (The), Khosru or Chosroës I., of Persia (*, 531-579).

Lorenzo de Medici (1448-1492).

Robert, duc de Normandie; called Le Diable also (*, 1028-1035).

Soliman I., greatest of the Turkish sultans (1493, 1520-1566).

Magnus Troil, honest, plain Zetlander, convivial in his habits, but frank and hospitable. He has two motherless daughters.—Walter Scott, The Pirate. (See Minna and Brenda.)

Magog, according to Ezek. xxxviii., xxxix., was a country or people over whom Gog was prince. Some say the Goths are meant, others the Persians, others the Scythians or the northern nations of Europe generally.

Sale says that Magog is the tribe called by Ptolemy “Gilân,” and by Strabo “Geli” or “Gelæ.”—Al Korân, xxviii. note. (See Gog).

Magog, one of the princes of Satan, whose ambition is to destroy hell.

Magrico, the champion of Isabella, of Portugal, who refused to pay truage to France. He vanquished the French champion, and thus liberated his country from tribute.

Magua, subtle and cruel Huron chief, whose unholy passion for Cora Munro is the cause of her death.—James Fenimore Cooper, The Last of the Mohicans (1826).

Magwitch (Abel), a convict for life, the unknown father of Estella, who was adopted from infancy by Miss Havisham, the daughter of a rich banker. The convict, having made his escape to Australia, became a successful sheep farmer, and sent money secretly to Mr. Jaggers, a London lawyer, to educate Pip as a gentleman. When Pip was 23 years old Magwitch returned to England, under the assumed name of Provis, and made himself known to Pip. He was tracked by Orlick and Compeyson, arrested, condemned to death, and died in jail. All his money was confiscated.—C. Dickens, Great Expectations (1860).

Mahmut, the “Turkish Spy,” who remained undiscovered in Paris for forty-five years, revealing to his Government all the intrigues of the Christian courts (1637-1682).

Mahomet or Mohammed, the titular name taken by Halaibi, founder of Islam (570-632.)

Adopted Son: Usma, son of Zaid, his freed-man. (See below, “Zainab.”)

Angel, who revealed the Koran to Mahomet: Gabriel.

Banner: Sanjak-sherif, kept in the Eyab mosque at Constantinople.

Birthplace: Mecca, A.D. 570.

Bow: Al Catûm (“the strong”), confiscated from the Jews. In his first battle he drew it with such force that it snapped in two.

Camel: Al Adha (“the slit-eared”) the swiftest of his camels. One of the ten dumb animals admitted into paradise.

Concubines: Marīyeh, mother of Ibrahim, his son, was his favorite; but he had fourteen others.

Cousins: Ali, his best friend: Abû Sofiân ebn al Hareth.

Cuirass: Al Fadha. It was of silver, and was confiscated from the Jews.

Daughters by Kadijah; Zainab, Rukaijah, Umm Kulthûm, and Fâtima, his favorite (called one of the “three perfect women”).

Defeat: At Ohud, where it was reported that he was slain (A.D. 623).

Died at Medīna, on the lap of Ayishah, his favorite wife, 11 Hedjrah (June 8, 632).

Father: Abdallah, of the family of Hâshim and tribe of Koreish. Abdallah was a small merchant, who died when his son was five years old. At the death of his father, his grandfather took charge of him; but he also died within two years. He then lived with his uncle Abu Taleb (from the age of 7 to 14). (See Zesbet).

Father-in-law: Abû Bekr, father of his favorite wife, Ayishah.

Flight: Hedjrah or Heg´ira, July 16, 622.

Followers: called Moslem or Mussulmans.

Grandson: Abd-el-Motalleb.

Horse: Al Borak (“the lightninglightning”), brought to him by Gabriel, to carry him to the seventh heaven. It had the wings of an eagle, the face of a man, with the cheeks of a horse, and spoke Arabic.

Journey to Heaven (The), on Al Borak, is called Isra.

Mother: Amina or Aminta, of the family of Zuhra, and tribe of Koreish. (See Zesbet).

Nickname in Boyhood: El Amin (“the safe man”).

Personal Appearance: Middle height, rather lean, broad shoulders, strongly built, abundance of black curly hair, coal-black eyes with thick lashes, nose large and slightly bent, beard long. He had between his shoulders a black mole, “the seal of prophecy.”

Poisoned by Zainab, a Jewess, who placed before him poisoned meat, in 624. He tasted it, and ever after suffered from its effects, but survived eight years.

Scripture: Al Korân (“the reading”). It is divided into 114 chapters.

Sons by Kadijah: Al Kâsim and Abd Manâf; both died in childhood. By Mariyeh (Mary) his concubine: Ibrahim, who died when 15 months old. Adopted son: Usma, the child of his freedman, Zaid. (See “Zainab”).

Standard: Bajura.

Successor, Abû Bekr, his father-in-law (father of Ayishah).

Swords: Dhu´l Fakâr (“the trenchant”); Al Batter (“the striker”); Hatel (“the deadly”); Medham (“the keen”).

Tribe: that of the Koraichites or Koraich or Koreish, on both sides.

Uncles: Abu Taleb, a prince of Mecca, but poor; he took charge of the boy between the ages of 7 and 14, and was always his friend. Abû Laheb, who called him “a fool,” and was always his bitter enemy; in the Korân, exi., “the prophet” denounces him. Hamza, a third head of Islam.

Victories: Bedr (624); Muta (629); Taïf (630); Honein (630 or 8 Hedjrah).

White Mule: Fedda.

Wives: Ten, and fifteen concubines.

(1) Kadijah, a rich widow of his own tribe. She had been twice married, and was 40 years of age (Mahomet being 15). Kadijah was his sole wife for twenty-five years, and brought him two sons and four daughters. (Fâtima was her youngest child).

(2) Souda, widow of Sokran, nurse of his daughter Fâtima. He married her in 621, soon after the death of his first wife. The following were simultaneous with Souda.

(3) Ayishah, daughter of Abû Bekr. She was only nine years old on her wedding day. This was his favorite wife, on whose lap he died. He called her one of the “three perfect women.”

(4) Hend, a widow, 28 years old. She had a son when she married. Her father was Omeya.

(5) Zainab, divorced wife of Zaid, his freed slave. Married 627 (5 Hedjrah).

(6) Barra, a captive, widow of a young Arab chief, slain in battle.

(7)(7) Rehana, a Jewish captive. Her father was Simeon.

(8) Safīya, the espoused wife of Kenāna. This wife outlived the prophet for forty years. Mahomet put Kenana to death in order to marry her.

(9) Umm Habība (mother of Habiba), widow of Abû Sofian.

(10) Maimuna, who was 51 when he married her, and a widow. She survived all his ten wives.

⁂ It will be observed that most of Mahomet’s wives were widows.

Mahomet. Voltaire wrote a drama so entitled in 1738; and James Miller, in 1740, produced an English version of the same, called Mahomet the Impostor. The scheme of the play is this: Mahomet is laying siege to Mecca, and has in his camp Zaphna and Palmira, taken captives in childhood and brought up by him. They are really the children of Alcanor, the chief of Mecca, but know it not, and love each other. Mahomet is in love with Palmira, and sets Zaphna to murder Alcanor, pretending that it is God’s will. Zaphna obeys the behest, is told that Alcanor is his father, and is poisoned. Mahomet asks Palmira in marriage, and she stabs herself.

Mahomet’s Coffin is said to be suspended in mid-air. The wise ones affirm that the coffin is of iron, and is suspended by the means of loadstones. The faithful assert it is held up by four angels. Burckhardt says it is not suspended at all. A marabout told Labat:

Que le tombeau de Mahomet étoit porté en l’air par le moyen de certains Anges qui se relayent d’heure en heures pour soutenir ce fardeau.—Labat, Afrique Occidentale, ii. 143 (1728).

Mahomet’s Dove, a dove which. Mahomet taught to pick seed placed in his ear. The bird would perch on the prophet’s shoulder and thrust its bill into his ear to find its food; but Mahomet gave out that it was the Holy Ghost, in the form of a dove, sent to impart to him the counsels of God.—Dr. Prideaux, Life of Mahomet (1697); Sir W. Raleigh, History of the World, I. i. 6 (1614).

Mahomet’s Knowledge of Events. Mahomet, in his coffin, is informed by an angel of every event which occurs respecting the faithful.

Il est vivant dans son tombeau. Il fait la prière dans ce tombeau à chaque fois que le crieur en fait la proclamation, et au même tems qu’on la recite. Il y a un ange posté sur son tombeau qui a le soin de lui donner avis des prières que les fidèles font pour lui.—Gagnier, Vie de Mahomet, vii. 18 (1723).

Mahomet of the North, Odin, both legislator and supreme deity.

Mahoud, son of a rich jeweller of Delhi, who ran through a large fortune in riotous living, and then bound himself in service to Bennaskar, who proved to be a magician. Mahoud impeached Bennaskar to the cadi, who sent officers to seize him; but, lo! Mahoud had been metamorphosed into the likeness of Bennaskar, and was condemned to be burnt alive. When the pile was set on fire, Mahoud became a toad, and in this form met the Sultan Misnar, his vizier, Horam, and the Princess Hemju´nah, of Cassimir, who had been changed into toads also.—Sir C. Morell [J. Ridley], Tales of the Genii (“The Enchanter’s Tale,” vi., 1751).

Mahound or Mahoun, a name of contempt for Mahomet or any pagan god. Hence Ariosto makes Ferrau “blaspheme his Mahoun and Termagant” (Orlando Furioso, xii. 59).

Fitter for a turban for Mahound or Termagant, than the head-gear of a reasonable creature.—Sir W. Scott.

Mahu, the fiend-prince that urges to theft.

Five fiends have been in poor Tom at once; of lust, as Obidicut; Hobididance, prince of dumbness; Mahu, of stealing; Modo, of murder; and Flibbertigibbet, of mopping and mowing.—Shakespeare, King Lear, act iv. sc. 1 (1605).

Maid Ma´rian, a name assumed by Matilda, daughter of Robert, Lord Fitz-walter, while Robin Hood remained in a state of outlawry. She was poisoned with a poached egg at Dunmow Priory, by a messenger of King John sent for the purpose. This was because Marian was loved by the king, but rejected him. Drayton has written her legend.

Maid Marian, introduced into the May-day morris-dance, was a boy dressed in girl’s clothes. She was queen of the May and used to wear a tinsel crown, and carry in her left hand a flower. Her coif was purple, her surcoat blue, her cuffs white, the skirts of her robe yellow, the sleeves carnation, and the stomacher red with yellow cross bars. (See Morris-Dance.)

Maid of Athens, There´sa Macri, rendered famous by Byron’s song, “Maid of Athens, fare thee well!” Twenty-four years after this song was written, an Englishman sought out “the Athenian maid,” and found a beggar, without a single vestige of beauty. She was married and had a large family; but the struggle of her life was to find bread to keep herself and family from positive starvation. She lived to be over eighty years of age.

Maid of Bath (The), Miss Linley, who married R.B. Sheridan. Samuel Foote wrote a farce entitled The Maid of Bath, in which he gibbets Mr. Walter Long under the name of “Flint.”

Maid of Honor (The), by P. Massinger (1637). Cami´ola, a very wealthy, high-minded lady, was in love with Prince Bertoldo, brother of Roberto, king of the Two Sicilies; but Bertoldo, being a knight of Malta, could not marry without a dispensation from the pope. While matters were in this state Bertoldo led an army against Aurelia, duchess of Sienna, and was taken prisoner. Camiŏla paid his ransom, and Aurelia commanded the prisoner to be brought before her. Bertoldo came; the duchess fell in love with him and offered marriage, and Bertoldo, forgetful of Camiola, accepted the offer. The betrothed then presented themselves to the king, when Camiola exposed the conduct of Bertoldo. The king was indignant at the baseness, Aurelia rejected Bertoldo with scorn, and Camiola took the veil.

Maid of Mariendorpt (The), a drama by S. Knowles, based on Miss Porter’s novel of The Village of Mariendorpt (1838). The “maid” is Meeta, daughter of Mahldenau, minister of Mariendorpt, and betrothed to Major Rupert Roselheim. The plot is this; Mahldenau starts for Prague in search of Meeta’s sister, who fell into some soldiers’ hands in infancy during the siege of Magdeburg. On entering Prague, he is seized as a spy, and condemned toto death. Meeta, hearing of his capture, walks to Prague to plead for his life, and finds that the governor’s “daughter” is her lost sister. Rupert storms the prison and releases Mahldenau.

Maid of Norway, Margaret, daughter of Eric II. and Margaret of Norway. She was betrothed to Edward, son of Edward I., of England, but died on her passage (1290).

Maid of Orleans, Jeanne d’Arc, famous for having raised the siege of Orleans, held by the English. The general tradition is that she was burnt alive as a witch, but this is doubted (1412-1431).

Maid of Perth (Fair), Catharine Glover, daughter of Simon Glover, the old glover of Perth. She kisses Henry Smith while asleep on St. Valentine’s morning, and ultimately marries him.—Sir W. Scott, Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.).

Maid of Saragoza, Augustina, noted for her heroism at the siege of Saragoza, 1808-9.—See Southey’s History of the Peninsular War.

Maid of the Mill (The), an opera by Isaac Bickerstaff. Patty, the daughter of Fairfield, the miller, was brought up by Lord Aimworth’s mother. At the death of Lady Aimworth, Patty returned to the mill, and her father promised her in marriage to Farmer Giles; but Patty refused to marry him. Lord Aimworth about the same time betrothed himself to Theodosia, the daughter of Sir Harry Sycamore; but the young lady loved Mr. Mervin. When Lord Aimworth knew of this attachment, he readily yielded up his betrothed to the man of her choice, and selected for his bride, Patty, “the maid of the mill” (1765).

Maid of the Oaks (The), a two-act drama by J. Burgoyne. Maria, “the maid of the Oaks,” is brought up by Oldworth, of Oldworth Oaks, as his ward, but is informed on the eve of her marriage with Sir Harry Groveby that she is Oldworth’s daughter. The under-plot is between Sir Charles Dupely and Lady Bab Lardoon. Dupely professed to despise all women, and Lady Lardoon was “the princess of dissipation;” but after they fell in with each other, Dupely confessed that he would abjure his creed, and Lady Lardoon avowed that henceforth she renounced the world of fashion and its follies.

Maid’s Tragedy (The). The “maid” is Aspa´tia, the troth-plight wife of Amintor, who, at the king’s command, is made to marry Evad´ne (3 syl.). Her death forms the tragical event which gives name to the drama.—Beaumont and Fletcher (1610).

(The scene between Antony and Ventidius, in Dryden’s tragedy of All for Love, is copied from The Maid’s Tragedy, where “Melantius” answers to Ventidius).

Maiden (The), a kind of guillotine, introduced into Scotland by the Regent Morton, who was afterwards beheaded by it. The “maiden” resembled in form a painter’s easel about ten feet high. The victim placed his head on a cross-bar some four feet from the bottom, kept in its place by another bar. In the inner edges of the frame were grooves, in which slid a sharp axe weighted with lead and supported by a long cord. When all was ready, the cord was cut, and down fell the axe with a thud.—Pennant, Tour in Scotland, iii. 365 (1771).

The unfortunate earl [Argyll] was appointed to be beheaded by the “maiden.”—Sir W. Scott. Tales of a Grandfather, ii. 53.

The Italian instrument of execution was called the mannaïa. The apparatus was erected on a scaffold; the axe was placed between two perpendiculars. ... In Scotland the instrument of execution was an inferior variety of the mannaïa.—Memoirs of the Sansons, i. 257.

It seems pretty clear that the “maiden” ... is merely a corruption of the Italian mannaïa.—A.G. Reid.

Maiden King (The), Malcolm IV., of Scotland (1141, 1153-1165).

Malcolm, ... son of the brave and generous Prince Henry, ... was so kind and gentle in his disposition that he was usually called Malcolm “the Maiden.”—Sir W. Scott, Tales of a Grandfather, iv.

Maiden Queen (The), Elizabeth of England (1583, 1558-1603).

Maiden of the Mist (The), Anne of Geierstein, daughter of Count Albert of Geierstein. She is the baroness of Arnheim.—Sir W. Scott, Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).

Maidens’ Castle (The), on the Severn. It was taken from a duke by seven knights, and held by them till Sir Galahad expelled them. It was called “The Maidens’ Castle,” because these knights made a vow that every maiden who passed it should be made a captive. This is an allegory.

Mailsetter (Mrs.), keeper of the Fairport post-office.

Davie Mailsetter, her son.—Sir W. Scott, The Antiquary (time, George III.).

Maimou´ne (3 syl.), a fairy, daughter of Damriat, “king of a legion of genii.” When the Princess Badoura, in her sleep, was carried to the bed of Prince Camaral´zaman, to be shown to him, Maimounê changed herself into a flea, and bit the prince’s neck to wake him. Whereupon he sees the sleeping princess by his side, falls in love with her, and afterwards marries her.—Arabian Nights (“Camaralzaman and Badoura”).

Mai´muna or Maimu´na, one of the sorceresses of Dom-Daniel, who repents and turns to Allah. Thal´aba first encounters her, disguised as an old woman spinning the finest thread. He greatly marvels at its extreme fineness, but she tells him he cannot snap it; whereupon he winds it round his two wrists, and becomes powerless. Maimuna, with her sister-sorceress, Khwala, then carry him to the island of Moha´reb, where he is held in durance; but Maimuna releases him, repents, and dies.—Southey, Thalaba, the Destroyer, ix. (1797).

Mainote (2 syl.), a pirate who infests the coast of Attica.

Mainy (Richard), out of whom the Jesuits cast the seven deadly sins, each in the form of some representative animal. As each devil came forth, Mainy indicated the special sin by some trick or gesture. Thus, for pride, he pretended to curl his hair, for gluttony, to vomit, for sloth, to gape, and so on.—Bishop Harsnett, Declaration of Popish Impostures, 279, 280.

Maitland (Thomas), the pseudonym of Robert Buchanan, in The Contemporary Review, when he attacked the “Fleshly school.”

Maitre des Forges. By Georges Ohnet. A wealthy ironmaster, Phillippe Derblay, who loves Clarie de Beaulieu. In pique at her desertion by her high-born love, Gaston de Bligny, Clarie accepts and marries Phillippe. She eventually learns to love him.

Malachi, the canting, preaching assistant of Thomas Turnbull, a smuggler and schoolmaster.—Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George III.).

Malacoda, the fiend sent as an envoy to Virgil, when he conducted Dantê through hell.—Dantè, Hell, xxi. (1300).

Malade Imaginaire (Le), Mons. Argan, who took seven mixtures and twelve lavements in one month instead of twelve mixtures with twenty lavements, as he had hitherto done. “No wonder,” he says, “he is not so well.” He fancies his wife loves him dearly, and that his daughter is undutiful, because she declines to marry a young medical prig instead of Cléante (2 syl.) whom she loves. His brother persuades “the malade” to counterfeit death, in order to test the sincerity of his wife and daughter. The wife rejoices greatly at his death, and proceeds to filch his property, when Argan starts up and puts an end to her pillage. Next comes the daughter’s turn. When she hears of her father’s death, she bewails him with great grief, says she has lost her best friend, and that she will devote her whole life in prayer for the repose of his soul. Argan is delighted, starts up in a frenzy of joy, declares she is a darling, and shall marry the man of her choice freely, and receive a father’s blessing.—Molière, Le Malade Imaginaire (1673).

Malagi´gi, son of Buovo, brother of Aldĭger and Vivian (of Clarmont’s race), one of Charlemagne’s paladins, and cousin of Rinaldo. Being brought up by the fairy Orianda, he became a great enchanter.—Oriosto, Orlando Furioso (1516).

Malagri´da (Gabriel), an Italian Jesuit and missionary to Brazil, who was accused of conspiring against the king of Portugal (1689-1761).(1689-1761).

Lord Shelburne was nicknamed “Malagrida.” He was a zealous oppositionist during Lord North’s administration (1737-1805).

Malagrowther (Sir Mungo), a crabbed old courtier, soured by misfortune, and peevish from infirmities. He tries to make every one as sour and discontented as himself.—Sir W. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel (time, James I.).

Malagrowther (Malachi), Sir W. Scott, “On the proposed change of currency, etc.” (1826).

Lockhart says that these “diatribes produced in Scotland a sensation not inferior to that of the Drapier’s letters in Ireland.” They came out in the Edinburgh Weekly Journal.

Malambru´no, a giant, first cousin to Queen Maguncia, of Candaya. “Exclusive of his natural barbaritybarbarity, Malambruno was also a wizard,” who enchanted Don Calvijo and the Princess Antonomasia—the former into a crocodile of some unknown metal, and the latter into a monkey of brass. The giant sent Don Quixote the wooden horse, and was appeased “by the simple attempt of the knight to disenchant the victims of his displeasure.”—Cervantes, Don Quixote, II. iii. 4, 5, (1615).

Malaprop (Mrs.), aunt and guardian to Lydia Languish, the heiress. Mrs. Malaprop sets her cap at Sir Lucius O’Trigger, “a tall Irish baronet,” and corresponds with him under the name of Delia. Sir Lucius fancies it is the niece, and, when he discovers his mistake, declines the honor of marriage with the aunt. Mrs. Malaprop is a synonym for those who misapply words without mispronouncing them. Thus Mrs. Malaprop talks of a Darbyshire putrefaction, an allegory on the banks of the Nile, a barbarous Vandyke, she requests that no delusions to the past be made, and talks of flying with the utmost felicity.—Sheridan, The Rivals (1775).

(Mrs. Malaprop’s name is itself a clever invention; by no means mal à propos.)

Malbecco, “a cankered, crabbed carl,” very wealthy and very miserly, husband of a young wife named Hel´inore (3 syl.), of whom he is very jealous, and not without cause. Helinore, falling in love with Sir Paridel, her guest, sets fire to the closet where her husband keeps his treasures, and elopes with Paridel, while Malbecco stops to put out the flames. This done, Malbecco starts in pursuit, and finds that Paridel has tired of the dame, who has become the satyr’s dairy-maid. He soon finds her out, but she declines to return with him; and he, in desperation, throws himself from a rock, but receives no injury. Malbecco then creeps into a cave, feeds on toads and frogs, and lives in terror lest the rock should crush him or the sea overwhelm him. “Dying, he lives on, and can never die,” for he is no longer Malbecco, “but Jealousy is hight.”—Spenser, Faëry Queen, iii. 9, 10 (1590).

Malbrough´, corrupted in English into Malbrook, the hero of a popular French song. Generally thought to refer to John Churchill, duke of Marlborough, so famous for his victories over the French in the reign of Louis XIV.; but no incident of the one corresponds with the life of the other. The Malbrough of the song was evidently a crusader or ancient baron, who died in battle; and his lady, climbing the castle tower and looking out for her lord, reminds one of the mother of Sisera, who “looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the wheels of his chariots? ... Have they not sped? Have they not divided the spoil?’” (Judges, v. 28-30). The following are the words of the song:—

“Malbrough is gone to the wars. Ah! when will he return?” “He will come back by Easter, lady, or at latest by Trinity.” “No, no! Easter is past, and Trinity is past; but Malbrough has not returned.” Then did she climb the castle tower, to look out for his coming. She saw his page, but he was clad in black. “My page, my bonnie page,” cried the lady, “what tidings bring you—what tidings of my lord?” “The news I bring,” said the page, “is very sad, and will make you weep. Lay aside your gay attire, lady, your ornaments of gold and silver, for my lord is dead. He is dead, lady, and laid in earth. I saw him borne to his last home by four officers; one carried his cuirass, one his shield, one his sword, and the fourth walked beside the bier, but bore nothing. They laid him in earth. I saw his spirit rise through the laurels. They planted his grave with rosemary. The nightingale sang his dirge. The mourners fell to the earth; and when they rose up again, they chanted his victories. Then retired they all to rest.”

This song used to be sung as a lullaby to the infant son of Louis XVI.; and Napoleon I. never mounted his charger for battle without humming the air of Malbrough s’en va-t-en guerre. Mon. de Las Casas says he heard him hum the same air a little before his death.

Malbrouk, of Basque legend, is a child brought up by his godfather of the same name. At the age of seven he is a tall, full-grown man, and, like Proteus, can assume any form by simply naming the form he wishes to assume. Thus, by saying “Jesus, ant,” he becomes an ant; and “Jesus, pigeon,” he becomes a pigeon. After performing most wonderful prodigies, and releasing the king’s three daughters who had been stolen by his godfather, he marries the youngest of the princesses, and succeeds the king on his throne.

⁂ The name Malbrouk occurs in the Chanson de Gestes, and in the Basque Pastorales. (See above Malbrough.)

Malcolm, surnamed “Can More” (“great head”), eldest son of Duncan, “the Meek,” king of Scotland. He, with his father and younger brother, was a guest of Macbeth at Inverness Castle, when Duncan was murdered. The two young princes fled—Malcolm to the English court, and his brother Donalbain to Ireland. When Macduff slew Macbeth in the battle of Dunsin´ane, the son of Duncan was set on the throne of Scotland, under the name and title of Malcolm III.—Shakespeare, Macbeth (1606).

Mal´ecasta, the mistress of Castle Joyous, and the impersonation of lust. Britomart (the heroine of chastity) entered her bower, after overthrowing four of the six knights that guarded it; and Malecasta sought to win the stranger to wantonness, not knowing her sex. Of course, Britomart resisted all her wiles, and left the castle next morning.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, iii. 1 (1590).

Maledisaunt, a damsel who threw discredit on her knightly lover to prevent his encountering the danger of the battlefield. Sir Launcelot condoned her offense, and gave her the name of Bienpensaunt.

The Cape of Good Hope was called the “Cape of Storms” (Cabo Tormentoso) by Bartholomew Diaz, when discovered in 1493; but the king of Portugal (John II.) changed the name to “Good Hope.”

So the Euxine (that is, “the hospitable”) Sea was originally called “The Axine” (or “the inhospitable”) Sea.

Maleffort, seneschal of Lady Bria´na; a man of “mickle might,” slain by Sir Calidore.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, vi. 1 (1596).

Male´ger, (3 syl.), captain of the host which besieged Body Castle, of which Alma was queen. Prince Arthur found that his sword was powerless to wound him, so he took him up in his arms and tried to crush him, but without effect. At length the prince remembered that the earth was the carl’s mother, and supplied him with new strength and vigor as often as he went to her for it; so he carried the body, and flung it into a lake. (See Antæos.)—Spenser, Faëry Queen, ii. 11 (1590).

Malen´gin, Guile personified. When attacked by Talus, he changed himself into a fox, a bush, a bird, a hedgehog, and a snake; but Talus, with his iron flail, beat him to powder, and so “deceit did the deceiver fail.” On his back Malengin carried a net “to catch fools” with.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, v. 9 (1596).

Malepardus, the castle of Master Reynard, the fox, in the beast epic of Reynard the Fox (1498).

Males and Females. The proportion in England is 104.5 males to 100 females; in Russia it is 108.9; and the Jews in Livonia give the ratio of 120 males born to every 100 females. The mortality of males in infancy exceeds that of females, and war greatly disturbs the balance.

Mal-Fet (The chevalier), the name assumed by Sir Launcelot in Joyous Isle, during his fit of madness, which lasted two years.—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, iii. (1470).

Malfort (Mr.), a young man who has ruined himself by speculation.

Mrs. Malfort, the wife of the speculator, “houseless, friendless, defenceless, and forlorn.” The wants of Malfort are temporarily relieved by the bounty of Frank Heartall and the kindness of Mrs. Cheerly “the soldier’s daughter.” The return of Malfort, senior, from India, restores his son to ease and affluence.—Cherry, The Soldier’s Daughter (1804).

Malfy (Duchess of), twin-sister of Ferdinand, duke of Calabria. She fell in love with Antonio, her steward, and gave thereby mortal offense to her twin-brother, Ferdinand, and to her brother, the cardinal, who employed Bosola to strangle her.—John Webster, Duchess of Malfy (1618).

Malgo, a mythical king of Britain, noted for his beauty and his vices, his munificence and his strength. Malgo added Ireland, Iceland, Gothland, the Orkneys, Norway, and Dacia to his dominions. Geoffrey, British History, xi. 7 (1142).