Sedgwick (Doomsday), William Sedgwick, a fanatical "prophet" in the Commonwealth, who pretended that it had been revealed to him in a vision that the day of doom was at hand.

Sedillo, the licentiate, with whom Gil Blas took service as a footman. Sedillo was a gouty old gourmand of 69. Being ill, he sent for Dr. Sangrado, who took from him six porringers of blood every day, and dosed him incessantly with warm water, giving him two or three pints at a time, saying, "a patient cannot be blooded too much; for it is a great error to suppose that blood is needful for the preservation of life. Warm water," he maintained, "drunk in abundance, is the true specific in all distempers." When the licentiate died under this treatment, the doctor insisted it was because his patient had neither lost blood enough nor drunk enough warm water.—Lesage, Gil Blas, ii. 1, 2 (1715).

Sedley (Mr.), a wealthy London stock-broker, brought to ruin by the fall of the Funds just prior to the battle of Waterloo. The old merchant then tried to earn a meagre pittance by selling wine, coals, or lottery-tickets by commission, but his bad wine and cheap coals found but few customers.

Mrs. Sedley, wife of Mr. Sedley. A homely, kind-hearted motherly woman in her prosperous days, but soured by adversity, and quick to take offence.

Amelia Sedley, daughter of the stock-broker, educated at Miss Pinkerton's academy, Chiswick Mall, and engaged to Captain George Osborne, son of a rich London merchant. After the ruin of old Sedley, George married Amelia, and was disinherited by his father. He was adored by his young wife, but fell on the field of Waterloo. Amelia then returned to her father, and lived in great indigence, but Captain Dobbin greatly loved her, and did much to relieve her worst wants. Captain Dobbin rose in his profession to the rank of colonel, and married the young widow.

Joseph Sedley, a collector, of Boggley Wollah; a fat, sensual, conceited dandy, vain, shy, and vulgar. "His Excellency" fled from Brussels on the day of the battle between Napoleon and Wellington, and returned to Calcutta, where he bragged of his brave deeds, and made appear that he was Wellington's right hand; so that he obtained the sobriquet of "Waterloo Sedley." He again returned to England, and became the "patron" of Becky Sharp (then Mrs. Rawdon Crawley, but separated from her husband). But this lady proved a terrible dragon, fleeced him of all his money, and in six months he died under very suspicious circumstances.—Thackeray, Vanity Fair (1848).

Sedley (Sir Charles), in the court of Charles II.—Sir W. Scott, Woodstock (time, Commonwealth).

Seelencooper (Captain), superintendent of the military hospital at Ryde.—Sir W. Scott, The Surgeon's Daughter (time, George II.).

Seer (The Poughkeepsie), Andrew Jackson Davis.

Seicen'to (3 syl.), the sixteenth century of Italian notables, the period of bad taste and degenerate art. The degraded art is termed Seicentista, and the notables of the period the Seicentisti. The style of writing was inflated and bombastic, and that of art was what is termed "rococo." The chief poet was Marini (1569-1615), the chief painter Caravaggio (1569-1609), the chief sculptor Bernini (1593-1680), and the chief architect Borromini (1599-1667).

Sede, in Voltaire's tragedy of Mahomet, was the character in which Talma, the great French tragedian, made his début in 1787.

Seidel-Beckir, the most famous of all talismanists. He made three of extraordinary power: viz., a little golden fish, which would fetch from the sea whatever was desired of it; a poniard, which rendered the person who bore it invisible, and all others whom he wished to be so; and a steel ring, which enabled the wearer to read the secrets of another's heart.—Comte de Caylus, Oriental Tales ("The Four Talismans," 1743).

Sejanus (AElius), a minister of Tibērius, and commander of the Praetorian Guards. His affability made him a great favorite. In order that he might be the foremost man of Rome, all the children and grandchildren of the emperor were put to death under sundry pretences. Drusus, the son of Tiberius, then fell a victim. He next persuaded the emperor to retire, and Tiberius went to Campania, leaving to Sejānus the sole management of affairs. He now called himself emperor; but Tiberius, roused from his lethargy, accused his minister of treason. The senate condemned him to be strangled, and his remains, being treated with the grossest insolence, were kicked into the Tiber, A.D. 31. This was the subject of Ben Jonson's first historical play, entitled Sejanus (1603).

Sejjin or Sejn, the record of all evil deeds, whether by men or the genii, kept by the recording angel. It also means that dungeon beneath the seventh earth, where Eblis and his companions are confined.

Verily, the register of the deeds of the wicked is surely in Sejjin.—Sale, Al Korân, lxxxiii.

Selby (Captain), an officer in the guards.—Sir W. Scott, Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Self-Admiration Society (The). Poets: Morris, Rosetti and Swinburne. Painters: Brown, Mudon, Whistler and some others.

Selim, son of Abdallah, who was murdered by his brother, Giaffir (pacha of Aby'dos). After the death of his brother, Giaffir (2 syl.) took Selim under his charge and brought him up, but treated him with considerable cruelty. Giaffir had a daughter named Zuleika (3 syl.), with whom Selim fell in love; but Zuleika thought he was her brother. As soon as Giaffir discovered the attachment of the two cousins for each other, he informed his daughter that he intended her to marry Osmyn Bey; but Zuleika eloped with Selim, the pacha pursued them, Selim was shot, Zuleika killed herself, and Giaffir was left childless and alone.—Byron, Bride of Abydos (1813).

Selim, son of Acbar. Jehanguire was called Selim before his accession to the throne. He married Nourmahal, the "Light of the Haram," but a coolness rose up between them. One night Nourmahal entered the sultan's banquet-room as a lute-player, and so charmed young Selim that he exclaimed, "If Nourmahal had so sung, I could have forgiven her!" It was enough. Nourmahal threw off her disguise, and became reconciled to her husband.—T. Moore, Lalla Rookh ("Light of the Haram," 1817).

Selim, son of the Moorish king of Algiers. [Horush] Barbarossa, the Greek renegade, having made himself master of Algiers, slew the reigning king, but Selim escaped. After the lapse of seven years, he returned under the assumed name of Achmet, and headed an uprising of the Moors. The insurgents succeeded, Barbarossa was slain, the widowed Queen Zaphīra was restored to her husband's throne, and Selim, her son, married Irēnê, daughter of Barbarossa.—J. Brown, Barbarossa (1742 or 1755).

Selim, friend of Etan (the supposed son of Zamti, the mandarin).—Murphy, The Orphan of China (1759).

Sel'ima, daughter of Bajazet, sultan of Turkey, in love with Prince Axalla, but promised by her father in marriage to Omar. When Selima refused to marry Omar, Bajazet would have slain her; but Tamerlane commanded both Bajazet and Omar to be seized. So every obstacle was removed from the union of Selima and Axalla.—N. Rowe, Tamerlane (1702).

Selima, one of the six Wise Men from the East, led by the guiding star to Jesus.—Klopstock, The Messiah, v. (1771).

Se'lith, one of the two guardian angels of the Virgin Mary, and of John the Divine.—Klopstock, The Messiah, ix. (1771).

Sellock (Cisly), a servant girl in the service of Lady and Sir Geoffrey Peveril, of the Peak.—Sir W. Scott, Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Selvaggio, the father of Sir Industry, and the hero of Thomson's Castle of Indolence.

In Fairy-land there lived a knight of old, Of feature stern, Selvaggio well y-clept; A rough, unpolished man, robust and bold, But wondrous poor. He neither sowed nor reaped; No stores in summer for cold winter heaped. In hunting all his days away he wore— Now scorched by June, now in November steeped, Now pinched by biting January sore. He still in woods pursued the libbard and the boar.

Thomson, Castle of Indolence, ii. 5 (1745).

Sem'ele (3 syl.), ambitious of enjoying Jupiter in all his glory, perished from the sublime effulgence of the god. This is substantially the tale of the second story of T. Moore's Loves of the Angels. Liris requested her angel lover to come to her in all his angelic brightness; but was burnt to ashes as she fell into his embrace.

For majesty gives nought to subjects, ... A royal smile, a guinea's glorious rays, Like Semelê, would kill us with its blaze.

Peter Pindar [Dr. Wolcot], Progress of Admiration (1809).

Semi'da, the young man, the only son of a widow, raised from the dead by Jesus, as he was being carried from the walls of Nain. He was deeply in love with Cidli, the daughter of Jairus.

He was in the bloom of life. His hair hung in curls on his shoulders, and he appeared as beautiful as David, when, sitting by the stream of Bethlehem, he was ravished at the voice of God.—Klopstock, The Messiah, iv. (1771).

Semir'amis, queen of Assyria, wife of Ninus. She survived her husband, and reigned. The glory of her reign stands out so prominently that she quite eclipses all the monarchs of ancient Assyria. After a reign of forty-two years she resigned the crown to her son, Ninyas, and took her flight to heaven in the form of a dove. Semiramis was the daughter of Dercĕto, the fish-goddess, and a Syrian youth, and, being exposed in infancy, was brought up by doves.

Semiramis of the North, Margaret, daughter of Waldemar III. of Denmark. At the death of her father she succeeded him; by the death of her husband, Haco VIII., king of Norway, she succeeded to that kingdom also; and, having conquered Albert of Sweden, she added Sweden to her empire. Thus was she queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden (1353-1412).

Semirămis of the North, Catherine of Russia, a powerful and ambitious sovereign, but in morals a law unto herself (1729-1796).

Semkail, the angel of the winds and waves.

I keep the winds in awe with the hand which you see in the air, and prevent the wind Haidge from coming forth. If I gave it freedom it would reduce the universe to powder. With my other hand I hinder the sea from overflowing, without which precaution it would cover the face of the whole earth.—Comte de Caylus, Oriental Tales ("History of Abdal Motalleb," 1743).

Semo (Son of), Cuthullin, general of the Irish tribes.

Sempro'nius, one of the "friends" of Timon of Athens, and "the first man that e'er received a gift from him." When Timon sent to borrow a sum of money of "his friend," he excused himself thus: As Timon did not think proper to apply to me first, but asked others before he sent to me, I consider his present application an insult. "Go," said he to the servant, "and tell your master:

Who bates mine honor shall not know my coin."

Shakespeare, Timon of Athens, act iii. sc. 3 (1600).

Sempronius, a treacherous friend of Cato while in Utĭca. Sempronius tried to mask his treason by excessive zeal and unmeasured animosity against Caesar, with whom he was acting in alliance. He loved Marcia, Cato's daughter, but his love was not honorable love; and when he attempted to carry off the lady by force, he was slain by Juba, the Numidian prince.—J. Addison, Cato (1713).

I'll conceal My thoughts in passion, 'tis the surest way. I'll bellow out for Rome, and for my country, And mouth at Caesar till I shake the senate. Your cold hypocrisy's a stale device, A worn-out trick.

Act i. 1.

Sena'nus (St.), the saint who fled to the island of Scattery, and resolved that no woman should ever step upon the isle. An angel led St. Can'ara to the isle, but Senanus refused to admit her.—T. Moore, Irish Melodies ("St. Senanus and the Lady," 1814).

Sen'eca (The Christian), Bishop Hall, of Norwich (1574-1656).

Sene'na (3 syl.), a Welsh maiden, in love with Car'adoc. She dressed in boy's clothes, and, under the assumed name of Mervyn, became the page of the Princess Goervyl, that she might follow her lover to America, when Madoc colonized Caer-Madoc. Senena was promised in marriage to another; but when the wedding day arrived and all was ready, the bride was nowhere to be found.

... she doffed Her bridal robes, and clipt her golden locks, And put on boy's attire, thro' wood and wild To seek her own true love; and over sea, Forsaking all for him, she followed him.

Southey, Madoc, ii. 23 (1805).

Sennac'herib, called by the Orientals King Moussal.—D'Herbelot, Notes to the Korân (seventeenth century).

Sennamar, a very skilful architect, who built at Hirah, for Nôman-al-Aôuar, king of Hirah, a most magnificent palace. In order that he might not build another equal or superior to it, for some other monarch, Nôman cast him headlong from the highest tower of the building.—D'Herbelot, Bibliothèque Orientale (1697).

[Asterism] A parallel tale is told of Neim'heid (2 syl.), who employed four architects to build for him a palace in Ireland, and then, jealous lest they should build one like it, or superior to it, for another monarch, he had them all privately put to death.—O'Halloran, History of Ireland.

Sensitive (Lord), a young nobleman of amorous proclivities, who marries Sabīna Rosny, a French refugee, in Padua, but leaves her, more from recklessness than wickedness. He comes to England and pays court to Lady Ruby, a rich young widow; but Lady Ruby knows of his marriage to the young French girl, and so hints at it that his lordship, who is no libertine, and has a great regard for his honor, sees that his marriage is known, and tells Lady Ruby he will start without delay to Padua, and bring his young wife home. This, however, was not needful, as Sabina was at the time the guest of Lady Ruby. She is called forth, and Lord Sensitive openly avows her to be his wife.—Cumberland, First Love (1796).

Sentimental Journey (The), by Laurence Sterne (1768). It was intended to be sentimental sketches of his tour through Italy in 1764, but he died soon after completing the first part. The tourist lands at Calais, and the first incident is his interview with a poor monk of St. Francis, who begged alms for his convent. Sterne refused to give anything, but his heart smote him for his churlishness to the meek old man. From Calais he goes to Montriul (Montreuil-sur-Mer) and thence to Nampont, near Cressy. Here occurred the incident, which is one of the most touching of all the sentimental sketches, that of "The Dead Ass." His next stage was Amiens, and thence to Paris. While looking at the Bastille, he heard a voice crying, "I can't get out! I can't get out!" He thought it was a child, but it was only a caged starling. This led him to reflect on the delights of liberty and miseries of captivity. Giving reins to his fancy, he imaged to himself a prisoner who for thirty years had been confined in a dungeon, during all which time "he had seen no sun, no moon, nor had the voice of kinsman breathed through his lattice." Carried away by his feelings, he burst into tears, for he "could not sustain the picture of confinement which his fancy had drawn." While at Paris, our tourist visited Versailles, and introduces an incident which he had witnessed some years previously at Rennes, in Brittany. It was that of a marquis reclaiming his sword and "patent of nobility." Any nobleman in France who engaged in trade, forfeited his rank; but there was a law in Brittany that a nobleman of reduced circumstances might deposit his sword temporarily with the local magistracy, and if better times dawned upon him, he might reclaim it. Sterne was present at one of these interesting ceremonies. A marquis had laid down his sword to mend his fortune by trade, and after a successful career at Martinico for twenty years, returned home, and reclaimed it. On receiving his deposit from the president, he drew it slowly from the scabbard, and, observing a spot of rust near the point, dropped a tear on it. As he wiped the blade lovingly, he remarked, "I shall find some other way to get it off." Returning to Paris, our tourist starts for Italy; but the book ends with his arrival at Moulines (Moulins). Some half a league from this city he encountered Maria, whose pathetic story had been told him by Mr. Shandy. She had lost her goat when Sterne saw her, but had instead a little dog named Silvio, led by a string. She was sitting under a poplar, playing on a pipe her vespers to the Virgin. Poor Maria had been crossed in love, or, to speak more strictly, the curé of Moulines had forbidden her banns, and the maiden lost her reason. Her story is exquisitely told, and Sterne says, "Could the traces be ever worn out of her brain, and those of Eliza out of mine, she should not only eat of my bread and drink of my cup, but Maria should lie in my bosom, and be unto me as a daughter."

Sentinel and St. Paul's Clock (The). The sentinel condemned to death by court-martial for falling asleep on his watch, but pardoned because he affirmed that he heard St. Paul's clock strike thirteen instead of twelve, was John Hatfield, who died at the age of 102, June, 1770.

Sentry (Captain), one of the members of the club under whose auspices the Spectator was professedly issued.

September Massacre (The), the slaughter of loyalists confined in the Abbaye. This massacre took place in Paris between September 2 and 5, 1792, on receipt of the news of the capture of Verdun. The number of victims was not less than 1200, and some place it as high as 4000.

September the Third was Cromwell's day. On September 3, 1650, he won the battle of Dunbar. On September 3, 1651, he won the battle of Worcester. On September 3, 1658, he died.

Seraphic Doctor (The), St. Bonaventura, placed by Dantê among the saints of his Paradiso (1221-1274).

Seraphic Saint (The), St. Francis d'Assisi (1182-1226).

Of all the saints, St. Francis was the most blameless and gentle.—Dean Milman.

Seraphina Arthuret (Miss), a papist. Her sister is Miss Angelica Arthuret.—Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George III.).

Sera'pis, an Egyptian deity symbolizing the Nile, and fertility in general.

Seraskier' (3 syl.), a name given by the Turks to a general of division, generally a pacha with two or three tails. (Persian, seri asker, "head of the army.")

... three thousand Moslems perished here, And sixteen bayonets pierced the seraskier.

Byron, Don Juan, viii. 81 (1824).

Serb, a Servian or native of Servia.

Sereme'nes (4 syl.), brother-in-law of King Sardanapālus, to whom he entrusts his signet-ring to put down the rebellion headed by Arbācês, the Mede, and Belĕsis, the Chaldēan soothsayer. Seremēnês was slain in a battle with the insurgents.—Byron, Sardanapalus (1819).

Sere'na, allured by the mildness of the weather, went into the fields to gather wild flowers for a garland, when she was attacked by the Blatant Beast, who carried her off in its mouth. Her cries attracted to the spot Sir Calidore, who compelled the beast to drop its prey.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, vi. 3 (1596).

Sergis (Sir), the attendant on Irēna. He informs Sir Artegal that Irena is the captive of Grantorto, who has sworn to take her life within ten days, unless some knight will volunteer to be her champion, and in single combat prove her innocent of the crime laid to her charge.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, v. 11 (1596).

Sergius, a Nestorian monk, said to be the same as Boheira, who resided at Bosra, in Syria. This monk, we are told, helped Mahomet in writing the Korân. Some say it was Saïd or Felix Boheira.

Boheira's name, in the books of Christians, is Sergius.—Masudi, History, 24 (A.D. 956).

Serimner, the wild boar whose lard fed the vast multitude in Einheriar, the hall of Odin. Though fed on daily, the boar never diminished in size. Odin himself gave his own portion of the lard to his two wolves, Geri and Freki.—Scandinavian Mythology. (See RUSTICUS'S PIG.)

Seri'na, daughter of Lord Acasto, plighted to Chamont (the brother of Monimia, "the orphan").—Otway, The Orphan (1680).

Seriswattee, the Janus of Hindû mythology.

The Serpent and Satan. There is an Arabian tradition that the devil begged all the animals, one after another, to carry him into the garden, that he might speak to Adam and Eve, but they all refused except the serpent, who took him between two of its teeth. It was then the most beautiful of all the animals, and walked upon legs and feet.—Masudi, History, 22 (A.D. 956).

The Serpent's Punishment. The punishment of the serpent for tempting Eve was this: (1) Michael was commanded to cut off its legs; and (2) the serpent was doomed to feed on human excrements ever after.

Serpent d'Isabit, an enormous monster, whose head rested on the top of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, its body filled the whole valley of Luz, St. Sauveur, and Gèdres, and its tail was coiled in the hollow below the cirque of Gavarnie. It fed once in three months, and supplied itself by making a very strong inspiration of its breath, whereupon every living thing around was drawn into its maw. It was ultimately killed by making a huge bonfire, and waking it from its torpor, when it became enraged, and drawing a deep breath, drew the bonfire into its maw, and died in agony.—Rev. W. Webster, A Pyrenean Legend (1877).

Served My God. WOLSEY said, in his fall, "Had I but served my God with half the zeal I served my king, He would not in mine age have left me naked to mine enemies."—Shakespeare, Henry VIII. act iii. sc. 2 (1601).

SAMRAH, when he was deposed from the government of Basorah by the Caliph Moawiyah, said, "If I had served God so well as I have served the caliph, He would never have condemned me to all eternity."

ANTONIO PEREZ, the favorite of Philip II. of Spain, said, "Mon zele etoit si grand vers ces benignes puissances [i.e. Turin] qui si j'en eusse eu autant pour Dieu, je ne doubte point qu'il ne m'eut deja recompensé de son paradis."

The earl of GOWRIE, when, in 1854, he was led to execution, said, "If I had served God as faithfully as I have done the king [James VI.], I should not have come to this end."—Spotswood, History of the Church of Scotland, 332, 333 (1653).

Sesostris (The Modern), Napoleon Bonaparte (1769, 1804-1815, 1821).

But where is he, the modern, mightier far, Who, born no king, made monarchs draw his car; The new Sesostris, whose unharnessed kings, Freed from the bit, believe themselves with wings, And spurn the dust o'er which they crawled of late, Chained to the chariot of the chieftain's state?

Byron, Age of Bronze (1821).

[Asterism] "Sesostris," in Fénelon's Télémaque, is meant for Louis XIV.

Set'ebos, a deity of the Patagonians.

His art is of such power, It would control my dam's god Setebos.

Shakespeare, The Tempest (1609).

The giants, when they found themselves fettered, roared like bulls, and cried upon Setebos to help them.—Eden, History of Travayle.

Seth, a servant of the Jew at Ashby. Reuben is his fellow-servant.—Sir W. Scott, Ivanhoe (time, Richard I.).

Seth Fairchild. Young countryman, who is almost persuaded to be in love with Isabel, the wife of his brother, Albert. Albert is killed—it is supposed, accidentally—and Isabel, assuming that Seth has murdered him, and for her sake, promises to keep the deed secret. The horror of the supposition and her readiness to believe him capable of the crime, dispels Seth's unholy illusion and sends him back to his first love, who has always been his good angel.—Harold Frederic, Seth's Brother's Wife (1887).

Settle (Elkana), the poet, introduced by Sir W. Scott in Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Seven Champions of Christendom (The): St. George for England; St. Andrew for Scotland; St. Patrick for Ireland; St. David for Wales; St. Denis for France; St. James for Spain; and St. Anthony for Italy.

[Asterism] Richard Johnson wrote The Famous History of the Seven Champions of Christendom (1617).

Seven, Rienzi's Number.

October 7, Rienzi's foes yielded to his power. 7 months Rienzi reigned as tribune. 7 years he was absent in exile. 7 weeks of return saw him without an enemy (Oct. 7). 7 was the number of the crowns the Roman convents and the Roman council awarded him.

Seven Sleepers (The). The tale of these sleepers is told in divers manners. The best accounts are those in the Korân xviii., entitled, "The Cave, Revealed at Mecca;" The Golden Legends, by Jacques de Voragine; the De Gloria Martyrum, i. 9, by Gregory of Tours; and the Oriental Tales, by Comte de Caylus (1743).

Names of the Seven Sleepers. Gregory of Tours says their names were: Constantine, Dionysius, John, Maximian, Malchus, Martinian or Marcian, and Serapĭon. In the Oriental Tales the names given are: Jemlikha, Mekchilinia, Mechlima, Merlima, Debermouch, Charnouch, and the shepherd Keschetiouch. Their names are not given in the Korân.

Number of the Sleepers. Al Seyid, a Jacobite Christian of Najrân, says the sleepers were only three, with their dog; others maintain that their number was five, besides the dog; but Al Beidâwi, who is followed by most authorities, says they were seven, besides the dog.

Duration of the Sleep. The Korân says it was "300 years and nine years over;" the Oriental Tales say the same; but if Gregory of Tours is followed, the duration of the sleep was barely 230 years.

The Legend of the Seven Sleepers. (1) According to Gregory of Tours. Gregory says they were seven noble youths of Ephesus, who fled in the Decian persecution to a cave in Mount Celion, the mouth of which was blocked up by stones. After 230 years they were discovered, and awoke, but died within a few days, and were taken in a large stone coffin to Marseilles. Visitors are still shown, in St. Victor's Church, the stone coffin.

If there is any truth at all in the legend, it amounts to this: In A.D. 250, some youths (three or seven) suffered martyrdom under the Emperor Decius, "fell asleep in the Lord," and were buried in a cave of Mount Celion. In 479 (the reign of Theodosius) their bodies were discovered, and, being consecrated as holy relics, were removed to Marseilles.

(2) According to the Oriental Tales. Six Grecian youths were slaves in the palace of Dakiānos (Decianus, Decius). This Dakianos had risen from low degrees to kingly honors, and gave himself out to be a god. Jemlikha was led to doubt the divinity of his master, because he was unable to keep off a fly which persistently tormented him, and being roused to reflection, came to the conclusion that there must be a god to whom both Dakianos and the fly were subject. He communicated his thoughts to his companions, and they all fled from the Ephesian court till they met the shepherd Keschetiouch, whom they converted, and who showed them a cave, which no one but himself knew of. Here they fell asleep, and Dakianos, having discovered them, commanded the mouth of the cave to be closed up. Here the sleepers remained 309 years, at the expiration of which time they all awoke, but died a few hours afterwards.

The Dog of the Seven Sleepers. In the notes of the Korân, by Sale, the dog's name is Kratim, Kratimer, or Katmir. In the Oriental Tales it is Catnier, which looks like a clerical blunder for Catmer, only it occurs frequently. It is one of the ten animals admitted into Mahomet's paradise. The Korân tells us that the dog followed the seven young men into the cave, but they tried to drive him away, and even broke three of its legs with stones, when the dog said to them, "I love those who love God. Sleep, masters, and I will keep guard." In the Oriental Tales the dog is made to say, "You go to seek God, but am not I also a child of God?" Hearing this, the young men were so astounded, they went immediately, and carried the dog into the cave.

The Place of Sepulture of the Seven Sleepers. Gregory of Tours tells us that the bodies were removed from Mount Celion in a stone coffin to Marseilles. The Korân, with Sale's notes, informs us they were buried in the cave, and a chapel was built there to mark the site. (See SLEEPER.)

The Seven Sleepers turning on their sides. William of Malmesbury says that Edward the Confessor, in his mind's eye, saw the seven sleepers turn from their right sides to their left, and (he adds) whenever they turn on their sides, it indicates great disasters to Christendom.

Woe, woe to England! I have seen a vision: The seven sleepers in the cave of Ephesus Have turned from right to left.

Tennyson, Harold, i. 1.

Seven Wise Masters. Lucien, the son of Dolopathos, was placed under the charge of Virgil, and was tempted in manhood by his step-mother. He repelled her advances, and she accused him to the king of taking liberties with her. By consulting the stars it was discovered that if he could tide over seven days his life would be spared; so seven wise masters undertook to tell the king a tale each, in illustration of rash judgments. When they had all told their tales, the prince related, under the disguise of a tale, the story of the queen's wantonness; whereupon Lucien was restored to favor, and the queen was put to death.—Sandabar, Parables (contemporary with King Courou).

[Asterism] John Rolland, of Dalkeith, has rendered this legend into Scotch verse. There is an Arabic version by Nasr Allah (twelfth century), borrowed from the Indian by Sandabar. In the Hebrew version by Rabbi Joel (1270), the legend is called Kalilah and Dimnah.

Seven Wise Men (The).

One of Plutarch's brochures in the Moralia is entitled "The Banquet of the Seven Wise Men," in which Periander is made to give an account of a contest at Chalcis between Homer and Hesiod, in which the latter wins the prize, and receives a tripod, on which he caused to be engraved this inscription:

This Hesiod vows to the Heliconian nine, In Chalcis won from Homer the divine.

Seven Wise Men of Greece (The), seven Greeks of the sixth century B.C., noted for their maxims.

BIAS. His maxim was, "Most men are bad" ("There is none that doeth good, no, not one," Psalm xiv. 3): Hoi pleious kakoi (fl. B.C. 550).

CHILO. "Consider the end:" Telos horan makrou biou (fl. B.C. 590).

CLEOBŪLOS. "Avoid extremes" (the golden mean): Ariston metron (fl. B.C. 580).

PERIANDER. "Nothing is impossible to industry" (patience and perseverance overcome mountains): Meletê to pan (B.C. 665-585).

PITTĂCOS. "Know thy opportunity" (seize time by the forelock): Kairon gnôthi (B.C. 652-569).

SOLON. "Know thyself:" Gnôthi seauton (B.C. 638-558).

THĀLES (2 syl.). "Suretyship is the forerunner of ruin." ("He that hateth suretyship is sure," Prov. xi. 15): Engua, para d'átê (B.C. 636-546).

First Solon, who made the Athenian laws, While Chilo, in Sparta, was famed for his saws; In Milētos did Thalês astronomy teach; Bias used in Priēnê his morals to preach; Cleobūlos of Lindos, was handsome and wise; Mitylēnê, gainst thraldom saw Pittăcos rise; Periander is said to have gained, thro' his court, The title that Myson, the Chenian, ought.

[Asterism] It is Plato who says that Myson should take the place of Periander as one of the Seven Wise Men.

Seven Years.

Barbarossa changes his position in his sleep every seven years.

Charlemagne starts in his chair from sleep every seven years.

Ogier, the Dane, stamps his iron mace on the floor every seven years.

Olaf Redbeard of Sweden uncloses his eyes every seven years.

Seven Year's War (The), the war maintained by Frederick II. of Prussia against Austria, Russia, and France (1756-1763).

Seven Against Thebes (The). At the death of Oedĭpus, his two sons, Eteŏclês and Polynīcês, agreed to reign alternate years, but at the expiration of the first year Eteoclês refused to resign the crown to his brother. Whereupon, Polynicês induced six others to join him in besieging Thebes, but the expedition was a failure. The names of the seven Grecian chiefs who marched against Thebes were: Adrastos, Amphiarāos, Kapaneus, Hippomedon (Argives), Parthenopaeos (an Arcadian), Polynicês (a Theban), and Tydeus (an AEolian). (See EPIGONI.)

AEschylos has a tragedy on the subject.

Severn, a corruption of Averne, daughter of Astrild. The legend is this: King Locryn was engaged to Gwendolen, daughter of Corīneus, but seeing Astrild (daughter of the king of Germany), who came to this island with Homber, king of Hungary, fell in love with her. While Corineus lived he durst not offend him, so he married Gwendolen, but kept Astrild as his mistress, and had by her a daughter (Averne). When Corineus died, he divorced Gwendolen, and declared Astrild queen, but Gwendolen summoned her vassals, dethroned Locryn, and caused both Astrild and Averne to be cast into the river, ever since called Severn fron[TN-167] Averne "the kinges dohter."

Sevier (Dr.), New Orleans physician. "His inner heart was all of flesh, but his demands for the rectitude of mankind pointed out like the muzzles of cannon through the embrasures of his virtues." He befriends the struggling Richlings, setting John upon his feet time and again, and in his last illness, never leaving him until he goes out and closes the door upon the dying man, reunited to his wife and child. Dr. Sevier finds work for the widow, and educates little Alice, named for his own dead wife.

"And oh! when they two, who have never joined hands on this earth, go to meet John and Alice,—which GOD grant may be at one and the same time,—what weeping there will be among GOD'S poor!"—George W. Cable, Dr. Sevier (1883).

Sewall (Judge) Colonial judge in Massachusetts. He has left in his diary a circumstantial account of his courtship of Madam Winthrop, also a curious "confession" made by him in church of the "Guilt contracted upon the opening of the late Commission of Oyer and Terminer, at Salem."—Sewall Papers (1697).

Sewall (Rev. Mr.). Boston clergyman, liberal in opinion, and large of heart. He counsels the Lapham parents in their family perplexities, and becomes the not-too-willing sponsor of Lemuel Barker, a rustic aspirant after literary honors.—W. L. Howells, The Rise of Silas Lapham and The Minister's Charge.

Sex. Milton says that spirits can assume either sex at pleasure, and Michael Psellus asserts that demons can take what sex, shape, and color they please, and can also contract or dilate their forms at pleasure.

For spirits when they please, Can either sex assume, or both; so soft And uncompounded is their essence pure; Not tied or manacled with joint and limb, Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones, Like cumbrous flesh.

Paradise Lost, i. 423, etc. (1665).

Sex. Caeneus and Tire'sias were at one part of their lives of the male sex, and at another part of their lives of the female sex. (See these names.)

Iphis was first a woman, and then a man.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, ix. 12; xiv 699.

Sextus [Tarquinius]. There are several points of resemblance in the story of Sextus and that of Paris, son of Priam. (1) Paris was the guest of Menelāos, when he eloped with his wife, Helen; and Sextus was the guest of Lucretia when he defiled her. (2) The elopement of Helen was the cause of a national war between the Greek cities and the allied cities of Troy; and the defilement of Lucretia was the cause of a national war between Rome and the allied cities under Por'sena. (3) The contest between Greece and Troy terminated in the victory of Greece, the injured party; and the contest between Rome and the supporters of Tarquin terminated in favor of Rome, the injured party. (4) In the Trojan war, Paris, the aggressor, showed himself before the Trojan ranks, and defied the bravest of the Greeks to single combat, but when Menelaos appeared, he took to flight; and so Sextus rode vauntingly against the Roman host, but when Herminius appeared, fled to the rear like a coward. (5) In the Trojan contest, Priam and his sons fell in battle; and in the battle of Lake Regillus, Tarquin and his sons were slain.

[Asterism] Lord Macaulay has taken the "Battle of Lake Regillus" as the subject of one of his Lays of Ancient Rome. Another of his lays, called "Horatius," is the attempt of Porsĕna to re-establish Tarquin on the throne.

Seyd, pacha of the Morea, assassinated by Gulnare (2 syl.), his favorite concubine. Gulnare was rescued from the burning harem by Conrad, "the Corsair." Conrad, in the disguise of a dervise, was detected and seized in the palace of Seyd, and Gulnare, to effect his liberation, murdered the pacha.—Byron, The Corsair (1814).

Seyton (Lord), a supporter of Queen Mary's cause.

Catherine Seyton, daughter of Lord Seyton, a maid of honor in the Court of Queen Mary. She appears at Kinross village in disguise.

Henry Seyton, son of Lord Seyton.—Sir W. Scott, The Abbot (time, Elizabeth).

Sforza, of Lombardy. He with his two brothers (Achilles and Palamēdês) were in the squadron of adventurers in the allied Christian army.—Tasso, Jerusalem Delivered (1575).

[Asterism] The word Sforza means "force," and, according to tradition, was derived thus: Giacomuzzo Attendolo, the son of a day laborer, being desirous of going to the wars, consulted his hatchet, resolving to enlist if it stuck fast in the tree at which he flung it. He threw it with such force that the whole blade was completely buried in the trunk (fifteenth century).

Sforza (Ludov'ico), duke of Milan, surnamed "the More," from mora, "a mulberry" (because he had on his arm a birth-stain of a mulberry color). Ludovico was dotingly fond of his bride, Marcelia, and his love was amply returned; but during his absence in the camp, he left Francesco lord protector, and Francesco assailed the fidelity of the young duchess. Failing in his villainy, he accused her to the duke of playing the wanton with him, and the duke, in a fit of jealousy, slew her. Sforza was afterwards poisoned by Eugenia (sister of Francesco), whom he had seduced.

Nina Sforza, the duke's daughter.—Massinger, The Duke of Milan (1622).

[Asterism] This tragedy is obviously an imitation of Shakespeare's Othello (1611).

Sganarelle, the "cocu imaginaire," of Molière's comedy (1660). The plot runs thus: Célie was betrothed to Lélie, but her father, Gorgĭbus, insisted on her marrying Valère, because he was the richer man. Célie fainted on hearing this, and dropped her lover's miniature, which was picked up by Sganarelle's wife. Sganarelle, thinking it to be the portrait of a gallant, took possession of it, and Lélie asked him how he came by it. Sganarelle said he took it from his wife, and Lélie supposed that Célie had become the wife of Sganarelle. A series of misapprehensions arose thence: Célie supposed that Lélie had deserted her for Madame Sganarelle; Sganarelle supposed that his wife was unfaithful to him; madame supposed that her husband was an adorer of Célie; and Lélie supposed that Célie was the wife of Sganarelle. In time they met together, when Lélie charged Célie with being married to Sganarelle; both stared, an explanation followed, when a messenger arrived to say that Valère was married.—Molière, Le Cocu Imaginaire.

Sganarelle, younger brother of Ariste (2 syl.); a surly, domineering, conceited fellow, the dupe of the play. His brother says to him, "Cette farouche humeur à tous vos procédés inspire un air bizarre, et, jusques à l'habit, rend tout chez vous barbare." The father of Isabelle and Léonor, on his death-bed, committed them to the charge of Sganarelle and Ariste, who were either to marry them or dispose of them in marriage. Sganarelle chose Isabelle, but insisted on her dressing in serge, going to bed early, keeping at home, looking after the house, mending the linen, knitting socks, and never flirting with any one. The consequence was, she duped her guardian, and cajoled him into giving his signature to her marriage with Valère.—Molière, L'Ecole des Maris.

Sganarelle (3 syl.). At about 63 years of age, Sganarelle wished to marry Dorimène (3 syl.), daughter of Alcantor, a girl fond of dances, parties of pleasure, and all the active enjoyments of young life. Feeling some doubts about the wisdom of this step, he first consults a friend, who dissuades him, but, seeing the advice is rejected, replies "Do as you like." He next consults two philosophers, but they are so absorbed in their philosophy, that they pay no attention to him. He then asks the gypsies, who take his money and decamp with a dance. At length, he overhears Dorimène telling a young lover that she only marries the old dotard for his money, and that he cannot live above a few months; so he makes up his mind to decline the marriage. The father of the lady places the matter in his son's hands, and the young fire-eater, armed with two swords, goes at once to the old fiancé, and begs him to choose one. When Sganarelle declines to fight, the young man beats him soundly, and again bids him choose a sword. After two or three good beatings, Sganarelle consents to the marriage "forcé."—Molière, Le Mariage Forcé (1664).

Molière wrote Sganarelle ou Le Cocu Imaginaire (q.v.) as a supplement to this comedy.

[Asterism] This joke about marrying is borrowed from Rabelais, Pantagruel, iii. 35, etc. Panurge asks Trouillogan whether he would advise him to marry. The sage says "No." "But I wish to do so," says the prince. "Then do so, by all means," says the sage. "Which, then, would you advise?" asks Panurge. "Neither," says Trouillogan. "But," says Panurge, "that is not possible." "Then both," says the sage. After this, Panurge consults many others on the subject, and lastly the oracle of the Holy Bottle.

The plot of Molière's comedy is founded on an adventure recorded of the count of Grammont (q.v.). The count had promised marriage to la belle Hamilton, but deserted her, and tried to get to France. Being overtaken by the two brothers of the lady, they clapped their hands on their swords, and demanded if the count had not forgotten something or left something behind. "True," said the count; "I have forgotten to marry your sister;" and returned with the two brothers to repair this oversight.

Sganarelle, father of Lucinde. Anxious about his daughter because she has lost her vivacity and appetite, he sends for four physicians, who retire to consult upon the case, but talk only on indifferent topics. When Sganarelle asks the result of their deliberation, they all differ, both in regard to the disease, and the remedy to be applied. Lisette (the lady's maid) sends for Clitandre, the lover, who comes disguised as a quack doctor, tells Sganarelle that the young lady's disease must be acted on through the imagination, and prescribes a mock marriage. Sganarelle consents to the experiment, but Clitandre's assistant being a notary, the mock marriage proves to be a real one.—Molière, L'Amour Médecin (1665).

Sganarelle, husband of Martine. He is a faggot-maker, and has a quarrel with his wife, who vows to be even with him for striking her. Valère and Lucas (two domestics of Géronte) ask her to direct them to the house of a noted doctor. She sends them to her husband, and tells them he is so eccentric that he will deny being a doctor, but they must beat him well. So they find the faggot-maker, whom they beat soundly, till he consents to follow them. He is introduced to Lucinde, who pretends to be dumb, but, being a shrewd man, he soon finds out that the dumbness is only a pretence, and takes with him Léandre as an apothecary. The two lovers understand each other, and Lucinde is rapidly cured with "pills matrimoniac."—Molière, Le Médecin Malgré Lui (1666).

[Asterism] Sganarelle being asked by the father what he thinks is the matter with Lucinde, replies, "Entendez-vous le Latin?" "En aucune façon," says Géronte. "Vous n'entendez point le Latin?" "Non, monsieur." "That is a sad pity," says Sganarelle, "for the case may be briefly stated thus:

Cabricias arci thuram, catalamus, singulariter, nominativo, haec musa, la muse, bonus, bona, bonum. Deus sanctus, estne oratio Latinas? etiam, oui, quare? pourquoi? quia substantivo et adjectivum concordat in generi, numerum, et casus." "Wonderful man!" says the father.—Act iii.

Sganarelle (3 syl.), valet to Don Juan. He remonstrates with his master on his evil ways, but is forbidden sternly to repeat his impertinent admonitions. His praise of tobacco, or rather snuff, is somewhat amusing:

Tabac est la passion des honnêtes gens; et qui vit sans tabac n'est pas digne de vivre. Non seulement il réjouit et purge les cerveaux humains, mais encore il instruit les ames à la vertu, et l'on apprend avec lui à devenir honnête homme ... il inspire des sentiments d'honneur à tous ceux qui en prennent.—Molière, Don Juan, i. 1 (1665).

Shaccabac, in Blue Beard. (See SCHACABAC.)

I have seen strange sights. I have seen Wilkinson play "Macbeth;" Matthews, "Othello;" Wrench, "George Barnwell;" Buckstone, "Iago;" Rayner, "Penruddock;" Keeley, "Shylock;" Liston, "Romeo" and "Octavian;" G. F. Cooke, "Mercutio;" John Kemble, "Archer;" Edmund Kean, clown in a pantomine; and C. Young, "Shaccabac."—Record of a Stage Veteran.

"Macbeth," "Othello," "Iago" (in Othello), "Shylock" (Merchant of Venice), "Romeo" and "Mercutio" (in Romeo and Juliet), all by Shakespeare: "George Barnwell" (Lillo's tragedy so called); "Penruddock" (in The Wheel of Fortune), by Cumberland);[TN-168] "Octavian" (in Colman's drama so called); "Archer" (in The Beaux' Stratagem, by Farquhar).

Shackfords (The). Lemuel Shackford, "a hard, avaricious, passionate man, holding his own way remorselessly.... A prominent character because of his wealth, endless lawsuits and eccentricity."

Richard Shackford, nephew of Lemuel, a frank, whole-souled young fellow, intent upon his profession, but willing to make everybody else comfortable as he wins his way up. He is accused, upon circumstantial evidence, of the murder of his uncle, but is extricated by his own sagacity, which enables him to fix the crime upon the true assassin.—T. B. Aldrich, The Stillwater Tragedy (1880).

Shaddai (King), who made war upon Diabolus for the regaining of Mansoul.—John Bunyan, The Holy War (1682).

Shade (To fight in the). Dieneces [Di.en'.e.seez], the Spartan, being told that the army of the Persians was so numerous that their arrows would shut out the sun, replied, "Thank the gods! we shall then fight in the shade."

Shadow (Simon), one of the recruits of the army of Sir John Falstaff. "A half-faced fellow," so thin that Sir John said, "A foeman might as well level his gun at the edge of a penknife" as at such a starveling.—Shakespeare, 2 Henry IV. act iii. sc. 2 (1598).

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were cast, by the command of Nebuchadnezzar, into a fiery furnace, but received no injury, although the furnace was made so hot that the heat thereof "slew those men" that took them to the furnace.-Dan. iii. 22.

By Nimrod's order, Abraham was bound and cast into a huge fire at Cûtha; but he was preserved from injury by the angel Gabriel, and only the cords which bound him were burnt. Yet so intense was the heat that above 2000 men were consumed thereby.—See Gospel of Barnabas, xxviii.; and Morgan, Mahometanism Explained, V. i. 4.

Shadwell (Thomas), the poet-laureate, was a great drunkard, and was said to be "round as a butt, and liquored every chink" (1640-1692).

Besides, his [Shadwell's] goodly fabric fills the eye, And seems designed for thoughtless majesty.

Dryden, MacFlecknoe (1682).

[Asterism] Shadwell took opium, and died from taking too large a dose. Hence Pope says:

Benlowes, propitious still to blockheads, bows; And Shadwell nods the poppy on his brows.

The Dunciad, iii. 21, 22 (1728).

Benlowes was a great patron of bad poets, and many have dedicated to him their lucubrations. Sometimes the name is shifted into "Benevolus."

Shaf'alus and Procrus. So Bottom, the weaver, calls Cephălus and Procris. (See CEPHALUS.)

Pyramus. Not Shafalus to Procrus was so true.

Thisbe. As Shafalus to Procrus; I to you.

Shakespeare, Midsummer Night's Dream (1592).

Shaftesbury (Anthony Ashley Cooper, earl of), introduced by Sir W. Scott in Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Shafton (Ned), one of the prisoners in Newgate with old Sir Hildebrand Osbaldistone.—Sir W. Scott, Rob Roy (time, George I.).

Shafton (Sir Piercie), called "The knight of Wolverton," a fashionable cavaliero, grandson of old Overstitch, the tailor, of Holderness. Sir Piercie talks in the pedantic style of the Elizabethan courtiers.—Sir W. Scott, The Monastery (time, Elizabeth).

Shah (The), a famous diamond, weighing 86 carats. It was given by Chosroës, of Persia, to the Czar of Russia. (See DIAMONDS.)

Shakebag (Dick), a highwayman with Captain Colepepper.—Sir W. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel (time, James I.).

Shakespeare, introduced by Sir W. Scott in the ante-rooms of Greenwich Palace.—Sir W. Scott, Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

[Asterism] In Woodstock there is a conversation about Shakespeare.

Shakespeare's Home. He left London before 1613, and established himself at Stratford-on-Avon, in Warwickshire, where he was born (1564), and where he died (1616). In the diary of Mr. Ward, the vicar of Stratford, is this entry: "Shakspeare, Drayton and Ben Jonson had a merry meeting, and, it seems, drank too hard, for Shakspeare died of a fever then contracted." (Drayton died 1631, and Ben Jonson, 1637.) Probably Shakespeare died on his birthday, April 23.

Shakespeare's Monument, in Westminster Abbey, designed by Kent, and executed by Scheemakers, in 1742. The statue to Shakespeare in Drury Lane Theatre was by the same.

The statue of Shakespeare in the British Museum is by Roubiliac, and was bequeathed to the nation by Garrick. His best portrait is by Droeshout.

Shakespeare's Plays, quarto editions:

ROMEO AND JULIET: 1597, John Danter; 1599, Thomas Creede for Cuthbert Burby; 1609, 1637. Supposed to have been written, 1595.

KING RICHARD II.: 1597, Valentine Simmes for Andrew Wise; 1598, 1608 (with an additional scene); 1615, 1634.

KING RICHARD III.: 1597, ditto; 1598, 1602, 1612, 1622.

LOVE'S LABOR'S LOST; 1598, W. W. for Cuthbert Burby. Supposed to have been written, 1594.

KING HENRY IV. (pt. I): 1598, P. S. for Andrew Wise; 1599, 1604, 1608, 1613. Supposed to have been written, 1597.

KING HENRY IV. (pt. 2): 1600, V. S. for Andrew Wise and William Aspley; 1600. Supposed to have been written, 1598.

KING HENRY V.: 1600, Thomas Creede for Thomas Millington and John Busby; 1602, 1608. Supposed to have been written, 1599.

MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM: 1600, Thomas Fisher; 1600, James Roberts. Mentioned by Meres, 1598. Supposed to have been written, 1592.

MERCHANT OF VENICE: 1600, I. R. for Thomas Heyes; 1600, James Roberts; 1637. Mentioned by Meres, 1598.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING: 1600, V. S. for Andrew Wise and William Aspley.

MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR: 1602, T. C. for Arthur Johnson; 1619. Supposed to have been written, 1596.

HAMLET: 1603, I. R. for N. L.; 1605, 1611. Supposed to have been written, 1597.

KING LEAR: 1608, A. for Nathaniel Butter; 1608, B. for ditto. Acted at Whitehall, 1607. Supposed to have been written, 1605.

TROILUS AND CRESSIDA: 1609, G. Eld for R. Bonian and H. Whalley (with a preface). Acted at court, 1609. Supposed to have been written, 1602.

OTHELLO: 1622, N. O. for Thomas Walkely. Acted at Harefield, 1602.

The rest of the dramas are:

All's Well that Ends Well, 1598. First title supposed to be Love's Labor's Won.

Antony and Cleopatra, 1608. No early mention made of this play.

As You Like It. Entered at Stationer's Hall, 1600.

Comedy of Errors, 1593. Mentioned by Meres, 1598.

Coriolanus, 1610. No early mention made of this play.

Cymbeline, 1605. No early mention made of this play.

1 Henry VI. Alluded to by Nash in Pierce Penniless, 1592.

2 Henry VI. Original title, First Part of the Contention, 1594.

3 Henry VI. Original title, True Tragedy of Richard Duke of York, 1595.

Henry VIII., 1601. Acted at the Globe Theatre, 1613.

John (King), 1596. Mentioned by Meres, 1598.

Julius Caesar, 1607. No early mention made of this play.

Lear, 1605. Acted at Whitehall[TN-169] 1607. Printed 1608.

Macbeth, 1606. No early mention made of this play.

Measure for Measure, 1603. Acted at Whitehall[TN-170] 1604.

Merry Wives of Windsor, 1596. Printed 1602.

Pericles Prince of Tyre. Printed 1609.

Taming of the Shrew. (?) Acted at Henslow's Theatre, 1593. Entered at Stationer's Hall, 1607.

Tempest, 1609. Acted at Whitehall, 1611.

Timon of Athens, 1609. No early mention made of this play.

Titus Andronicus, 1593. Printed 1600.

Twelfth Night. Acted in the Middle Temple Hall, 1602.

Two Gentlemen of Verona, 1595. Mentioned by Meres[TN-171] 1598.

Winter's Tale, 1604. Acted at Whitehall, 1611.

First complete collection in folio; 1623, Isaac Jaggard and Ed. Blount; 1632, 1664, 1685. The second folio is of very little value.

Shakespeare's Parents. His father was John Shakespeare, a glover, who married Mary Arden, daughter of Robert Arden, Esq., of Bomich, a good country gentleman.

Shakespeare's Wife, Anne Hathaway, of Shottery, some eight years older than himself; daughter of a substantial yeoman.

Shakespeare's Children. One son, Hamnet, who died in his twelfth year (1585-1596). Two daughters, who survived him, Susanna and Judith, twin-born with Hamnet. Both his daughters married and had children, but the lines died out.

Voltaire says of Shakespeare: "Rimer had very good reason to say that Shakespeare n'etait[TN-172] q'un vilain singe." Voltaire, in 1765, said, "Shakespeare is a savage with some imagination, whose plays can please only in London and Canada." In 1735 he wrote to M. de Cideville, "Shakespeare is the Corneille of London, but everywhere else he is a great fool (grand fou d'ailleur)."

Shakespeare of Divines (The), Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667).

Taylor, the Shakespeare of divines.—Emerson.

Shakespeare of Eloquence (The). The comte de Mirabeau was so called by Barnave (1749-1791).

Shakespeare of Germany (The), Augustus Frederick Ferdinand von Kotzebue (1761-1819).

Shakespeare of Prose Fiction (The). Richardson, the novelist, is so called by D'Israeli (1689-1761).

Shallow, a weak-minded country justice, cousin to Slender. He is a great braggart, and especially fond of boasting of the mad pranks of his younger days. It is said that Justice Shallow is a satirical portrait of Sir Thomas Lucy of Charlecote, who prosecuted Shakespeare for deer-stealing.—Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor (1596); and 2 Henry IV. (1598).

As wise as a justice of the quorum and custalorum in Shallow's time.—Macaulay.

Shallum, lord of a manor consisting of a long chain of rocks and mountains called Tirzah. Shallum was "of gentle disposition, and beloved both by God and man." He was the lover of Hilpa, a Chinese antediluvian princess, one of the 150 daughters of Zilpah, of the race of Cohu or Cain.—Addison, Spectator, viii. 584-5 (1712).

Shalott (The lady of), a poem by Tennyson, in four parts. Pt. i. tells us that the lady passed her life in the island of Shalott in great seclusion, and was known only by the peasantry. Pt. ii. tells us that she was weaving a magic web, and that a curse would fall on her if she looked down the river. Pt. iii. describes how Sir Lancelot rode to Camelot in all his bravery; and the lady gazed at him as he rode along. Pt. iv. tells us that the lady floated down the river in a boat called The Lady of Shalott, and died heart-broken on the way. Sir Lancelot came to gaze on the dead body, and exclaimed, "She has a lovely face, God in his mercy grant her grace!" This ballad was afterwards expanded into the Idyll called "Elaine, the Lily Maid of Astolat" (q.v.), the beautiful incident of Elaine and the barge being taken from the History of Prince Arthur, by Sir T. Malory.

"While my body is whole, let this letter be put into my right hand, and my hand bound fast with the letter until I be cold, and let me be put in a fair bed with all the richest clothes that I have about me, and so let my bed and all my rich clothes be laid with me in a chariot to the next place whereas the Thames is, and there let me be put in a barge, and but one man with me such as ye trust to steer me thither, and that my barge be covered with black samite over and over." ... So when she was dead, the corpse and the bed and all was led the next way unto to the Thames, and there a man and the corpse and all were put in a barge on the Thames, and so the man steered the barge to Westminster, and there he rowed a great while to and fro, or any man espied.—Pt. iii. 123.

King Arthur saw the body and had it buried, and Sir Lancelot made an offering, etc. (ch. 124); much the same as Tennyson has reproduced it in verse.

Shalott (The lady of). "It is not generally known that the lady of Shalott lived, last summer, in an attic at the east end of South Street." Thus begins a story of an incurable invalid, whose only amusement is watching street scenes reflected in a small mirror hung opposite the one window of her garret-room. A stone flung by a boy shatters the mirror, and the fragile creature never recovers from the shock.—Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, The Lady of Shalott.

Shamho'zai (3 syl.), the angel who debauched himself with women, repented, and hung himself up between earth and heaven.—Bereshit rabbi (in Gen. vi. 2).

[Asterism] Harût and Marût were two angels sent to be judges on earth. They judged righteously until Zohara appeared before them, when they fell in love with her, and were imprisoned in a cave near Babylon, where they are to abide till the day of judgment.

Shandy (Tristram), the nominal hero of Sterne's novel called The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1759). He is the son of Walter and Elizabeth Shandy.

Captain Shandy, better known as "Uncle Toby," the real hero of Sterne's novel. Captain Shandy was wounded at Namur, and retired on half-pay. He was benevolent and generous, brave as a lion but simple as a child, most gallant and most modest. Hazlitt says that "the character of Uncle Toby is the finest compliment ever paid to human nature." His modest love-passages with Widow Wadman, his kindly sympathy for Lieutenant Lefevre, and his military discussions, are wholly unrivalled.

Aunt Dinah [Shandy], Walter Shandy's aunt. She bequeathed to him [pounds]1000, which Walter fancied would enable him to carry out all the wild schemes with which his head was crammed.

Mrs. Elizabeth Shandy, mother of Tristram Shandy. The ideal of nonentity, individual from its very absence of individuality.

Walter Shandy, Tristram's father, a metaphysical Don Quixote, who believes in long noses and propitious names; but his son's nose was crushed, and his name, which should have been Trismegistus ("the most propitious"), was changed in christening to Tristram ("the most unlucky"). If much learning can make man mad, Walter Shandy was certainly mad in all the affairs of ordinary life. His wife was a blank sheet, and he himself a sheet so written on and crossed and rewritten that no one could decipher the manuscript.—L. Sterne, The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy (1759).

Sharp, the ordinary of Major Touchwood, who aids him in his transformation, but is himself puzzled to know which is the real and which the false colonel.—T. Dibdin, What Next?

Sharp (Rebecca), the orphan daughter of an artist. "She was small and slight in person, pale, sandy-haired, and with green eyes, habitually cast down, but very large, odd, and attractive when they looked up." Becky had the "dismal precocity of poverty," and, being engaged as governess in the family of Sir Pitt Crawley, bart., contrived to marry, clandestinely, his son, Captain Rawdon Crawley, and taught him how to live in splendor "upon nothing a year." Becky was an excellent singer and dancer, a capital talker and wheedler, and a most attractive, but unprincipled, selfish, and unscrupulous woman. Lord Steyne introduced her to court; but her conduct with this peer gave rise to a terrible scandal, which caused a separation between her and Rawdon, and made England too hot to hold her. She retired to the Continent, was reduced to a Bohemian life, but ultimately attached herself to Joseph Sedley, whom she contrived to strip of all his money, and who lived in dire terror of her, dying in six months under very suspicious circumstances.—Thackeray, Vanity Fair (1848).

Sharp (Timothy), the "lying valet" of Charles Gayless. His object is to make his master, who has not a sixpence in the world, pass for a man of wealth in the eyes of Melissa, to whom he is engaged.—Garrick, The Lying Valet (1741).

Sharp-Beak, the crow's wife, in the beast-epic called Reynard the Fox (1498).

Sharpe (The Right Rev. James), archbishop of St. Andrew's, murdered by John Balfour (a leader in the covenanters' army) and his party.—Sir W. Scott, Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).

Sharper (Master), the cutler in the Strand.—Sir W. Scott, Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Sharpitlaw (Gideon), a police officer.—Sir W. Scott, Heart of Midlothian (time, George II.).

Shawonda'see, son of Mudjekeewis, and king of the south wind. Fat and lazy, listless and easy. Shawondasee loved a prairie maiden (the Dandelion), but was too indolent to woo her.—Longfellow, Hiawatha (1855).

She Stoops to Conquer, a comedy by Oliver Goldsmith (1773). Miss Hardcastle, knowing how bashful young Marlow is before ladies, stoops to the manners and condition of a barmaid, with whom he feels quite at his ease, and by this artifice wins the man of her choice.

[Asterism] It is said that when Goldsmith was about 16 years old, he set out for Edgworthstown, and finding night coming on when at Ardagh, asked a man "which was the best house in town"—meaning the best inn. The man, who was Cornelius O'Kelly, the great fencing-master, pointed to that of Mr. Ralph Fetherstone, as being the best house in the vicinity. Oliver entered the parlor, found the master of the mansion sitting over a good fire, and said he intended to pass the night there, and should like to have supper. Mr. Fetherstone happened to know Goldsmith's father, and, to humor the joke, pretended to be the landlord of "the public," nor did he reveal himself till next morning at breakfast, when Oliver called for his bill. It was not Sir Ralph Fetherstone, as is generally said, but Mr. Ralph Fetherstone, whose grandson was Sir Thomas.

Sheba. The queen of Sheba, or Saba (i.e. the Sabeans) came to visit Solomon, and tested his wisdom by sundry questions, but affirmed that his wisdom and wealth exceeded even her expectations.—1 Kings x.; 2 Chron. ix.

No, not to answer, madam, all those hard things That Sheba came to ask of Solomon.

Tennyson, The Princess, ii.

[Asterism] The Arabs call her name Balkis, or Belkis; the Abyssinians, Macqueda; and others, Aazis.

Sheba (The queen of), a name given to Mde. Montreville (the Begum Mootee Mahul).—Sir W. Scott, The Surgeon's Daughter (time, George II.).

Shebdiz, the Persian Bucephalos, the favorite charger of Chosroës II., or Khosrou Parvis, of Persia (590-628).

Shedad, king of Ad, who built a most magnificent palace, and laid out a garden called "The Garden of Irem," like "the bowers of Eden." All men admired this palace and garden, except the prophet Houd, who told the king that the foundation of his palace was not secure. And so it was, that God, to punish his pride, first sent a drought of three years' duration, and then the Sarsar, or icy wind, for seven days, in which the garden was destroyed, the palace ruined, and Shedad, with all his subjects, died.

It is said that the palace of Shedad, or Shuddaud, took 500 years in building, and when it was finished the angel of death would not allow him even to enter his garden, but struck him dead, and the rose garden of Irem was ever after invisible to the eye of man.—Southey, Thalaba, the Destroyer, 1. (1797).

Sheep-Dog (A), a lady-companion, who occupies the back seat of the barouche, carries wraps, etc., goes to church with the lady,and[TN-173] "guards her from the wolves," as much as the lady wishes to be guarded, but no more.

"Rawdon," said Becky, ... "I must have a sheep-dog ... I mean a moral shepherd's dog ... to keep the wolves off me." ... "A sheep-dog, a companion! Becky Sharp with a sheep-dog! Isn't that good fun!"—Thackeray, Vanity Fair, xxxvii. (1848).

Sheep of the Prisons, a cant term in the French Revolution for a spy under the jailers.—C. Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, iii. 7 (1859).

Sheep Tilted at. Don Quixote saw the dust of two flocks of sheep coming in opposite directions, and told Sancho they were two armies—one commanded by the Emperor Alifanfaron, sovereign of the island of Trap'oban, and the other by the king of the Garaman'teans, called "Pentap'olin with the Naked Arm." He said that Alifanfaron was in love with Pentapolin's daughter, but Pentapolin refused to sanction the alliance, because Alifanfaron was a Mohammedan. The mad knight rushed on the flock "led by Alifanfaron," and killed seven of the sheep, but was stunned by stones thrown at him by the shepherds. When Sancho told his master that the two armies were only two flocks of sheep, the knight replied that the enchanter Freston had "metamorphosed the two grand armies" in order to show his malice.—Cervantes, Don Quixote, I. iii. 4 (1605).

[Asterism] After the death of Achillês, Ajax and Ulysses both claimed the armor of Hector. The dispute was settled by the sons of Atreus (2 syl.), who awarded the prize to Ulysses. This so enraged Ajax that it drove him mad, and he fell upon a flock of sheep driven at night into the camp, supposing it to be an army led by Ulysses and the sons of Atreus. When he found out his mistake, he stabbed himself. This is the subject of a tragedy by Soph'oclês called Ajax Mad.

[Asterism] Orlando in his madness also fell foul of a flock of sheep.—Ariosto, Orlando Furioso (1516).

Sheffield (The Bard of), James Montgomery, author of The Wanderer of Switzerland, etc. (1771-1854).

With broken lyre and cheek serenely pale, Lo! Sad Alcaens wanders down the vale ... O'er his lost works let classic Sheffield weep; May no rude hand disturb their early sleep!

Byron, English Bards and Scotch Reviewers (1809).

Sheila, pretty, simple-hearted girl, whose father is a magnate among his neighbors in the Orkney Islands. Sheila is won by a Londoner—Lavender by name—who visits her island home. He transplants the Northern wild flower into a London home, where she pines for a while, homesick and heart-sick. In time, her sound sense enables her to adjust herself to altered conditions, and her stronger nature raises and ennobles her husband's.—William Black, A Princess of Thulè.

Shelby (Mr.), Uncle Tom's first master. Being in commercial difficulties, he was obliged to sell his faithful slave. His son afterwards endeavored to buy Uncle Tom back again, but found that he had been whipped to death by the villain Legree.—Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852).

Shell (A). Amongst the ancient Gaels a shell was emblematic of peace. Hence when Bosmi'na, Fingal's daughter, was sent to propitiate King Erragon, who had invaded Morven, she carried with her a "sparkling shell as a symbol of peace, and a golden arrow as a symbol of war."—Ossian, The Battle of Lora.

Shells, i.e., hospitality. "Semo, king of shells" ("hospitality"). When Cuthullin invites Swaran to a banquet, his messenger says, "Cuthullin gives the joy of shells; come and partake the feast of Erin's blue-eyed chief." The ancient Gaels drank from shells; and hence such phrases as "chief of shells," "hall of shells," "king of shells," etc. (king of hospitality). "To rejoice in the shell" is to feast sumptuously and drink freely.

Shemus-an-Snachad, or "James of the Needle," M'Ivor's tailor at Edinburgh.—Sir W. Scott, Waverley (time, George II.)

Shepheardes Calendar (The), twelve eclogues in various metres, by Spenser, one for each month. January: Colin Clout (Spenser) bewails that Rosalind does not return his love, and compares his forlorn condition to the season itself. February: Cuddy, a lad, complains of the cold, and Thenot laments the degeneracy of pastoral life. March: Willie and Thomalin discourse of love (described as a person just aroused from sleep). April: Hobbinol sings a song on Eliza, queen of shepherds. May: Palinode (3 syl.) exhorts Piers to join the festivities of May, but Piers replies that good shepherds who seek their own indulgence expose their flocks to the wolves. He then relates the fable of the kid and her dam. June: Hobbinol exhorts Colin to greater cheerfulness, but Colin replies there is no cheer for him while Rosalind remains unkind and loves Menalcas better than himself. July: Morrel, a goat-herd, invites Thomalin to come with him to the uplands, but Thomalin replies that humility better becomes a shepherd (i.e., a pastor or clergyman). August: Perigot and Willie contend in song, and Cuddy is appointed arbiter. September: Diggon Davie complains to Hobbinol of clerical abuses. October: On poetry, which Cuddy says has no encouragement, and laments that Colin neglects it, being crossed in love. November;[TN-174] Colin, being asked by Thenot to sing, excuses himself because of his grief for Dido, but finally he sings her elegy. December: Colin again complains that his heart is desolate because Rosalind loves him not (1579).

Shepheards Hunting (The), four "eglogues" by George Wither, while confined in the Marshalsea (1615). The shepherd, Roget, is the poet himself, and his "hunting" is a satire called Abuses Stript and Whipt, for which he was imprisoned. The first three eglogues are upon the subject of Roget's imprisonment, and the fourth is on his love of poetry. "Willy" is the poet's friend, William Browne, of the Inner Temple, author of Britannia's Pastorals. He was two years the junior of Wither.

Shepherd (The), Moses, who for forty years fed the flocks of Jethro, his father-in-law.

Sing, heavenly Muse, that on the secret top Of Oreb or of Sinai, didst inspire That shepherd who first taught the chosen seed, "In the beginning," how the heaven and earth Rose out of chaos.

Milton, Paradise Lost, i. (1665).

Shepherd (The Gentle), George Grenville, the statesman. One day, in addressing the House, George Grenville said, "Tell me where! tell me where!..." Pitt hummed the line of a song then very popular, beginning, "Gentle shepherd, tell me where!" and the whole House was convulsed with laughter (1712-1770).

[Asterism] Allan Ramsay has a beautiful Scotch pastoral called The Gentle Shepherd (1725).

Shepherd (John Claridge), the signature adopted by the author of The Shepherd of Banbury's Rules to Judge of the Changes of Weather, etc. (1744). Supposed to be Dr. John Campbell, author of A Political Survey of Britain.

Shepherd-Kings (The), or Hyksos. These Hyksos were a tribe of Cuthites driven from Assyria by Aralius and the Shemites. Their names were: (1) SAĪTÊS or Salātês, called by the Arabs El-Weleed, and said to be a descendant of Esau (B.C. 1870-1851); (2) BEON, called by the Arabs Er-Reiyan, son of El-Weleed (B.C. 1851-1811); (3) APACHNAS (B.C. 1811-1750); (4) APŌPHIS, called by the Arabs Er-Reiyan II., in whose reign Joseph was sold into Egypt and was made viceroy (B.C. 1750-1700); (5) JANIAS (B.C. 1700-1651); (6) ASSETH (1651-1610).[TN-175] The Hyksos were driven out of Egypt by Amŏsis or Thetmosis, the founder of the eighteenth dynasty, and retired to Palestine, where they formed the chiefs or lords of the Philistines. (Hyksos is compounded of hyk, "king," and sos, "shepherd.")

[Asterism] Apophis or Aphophis was not a shepherd-king, but a pharaoh or native ruler, who made Apachnas tributary, and succeeded him, but on the death of Aphophis the hyksos were restored.

Shepherd Lord (The), Lord Henry de Clifford, brought up by his mother as a shepherd to save him from the vengeance of the Yorkists. Henry VII. restored him to his birthright and estates (1455-1543).

The gracious fairy, Who loved the shepherd lord to meet In his wanderings solitary.

Wordsworth, The White Doe of Rylstone (1815).

Shepherd of Banbury. (See SHEPHERD, JOHN CLARIDGE.)

Shepherd of Filida.

"Preserve him, Mr. Nicholas, as thou wouldst a diamond. He is not a shepherd, but an elegant courtier," said the curé.—Cervantes, Don Quixote, I. i. 6 (1605).

Shepherd of Salisbury Plain (The), the hero and title of a religious tract by Hannah More. The shepherd is noted for his homely wisdom and simple piety. The academy figure of this shepherd was David Saunders, who, with his father, had kept sheep on the plain for a century.

Shepherd of the Ocean. So Colin Clout (Spenser) calls Sir Walter Raleigh in his Colin Clout's Come Home Again (1591).

Shepherdess (The Faithful), a pastoral drama by John Fletcher (1610). The "faithful shepherdess" is Corin, who remains faithful to her lover although dead. Milton has borrowed rather largely from this pastoral in his Comus.

Sheppard (Jack), immortalized for his burglaries and escapes from Newgate. He was the son of a carpenter in Spitalfields, and was an ardent, reckless and generous youth. Certainly the most popular criminal ever led to Tyburn for execution (1701-1724).

[Asterism] Daniel Defoe made Jack Sheppard the hero of a romance in 1724, and W. H. Ainsworth, in 1839.

Sherborne, in Dorsetshire, always brings ill luck to the possessor. It belonged at one time to the see of Canterbury, and Osmond pronounced a curse on any laymen who wrested it from the Church.

The first laymen who held these lands was the Protector Somerset, who was beheaded by Edward VI.

The next laymen was Sir Walter Raleigh, who was also beheaded.

At the death of Raleigh, James I. seized on the lands, and conferred them on Car, earl of Somerset, who died prematurely. His younger son, Carew, was attainted, committed to the Tower, and lost his estates by forfeiture.

[Asterism] James I. was no exception. He lost his eldest son, the prince of Wales, Charles I. was beheaded, James II. was forced to abdicate, and the two Pretenders consummated the ill luck of the family.

Sherborne is now in the possession of Digby, earl of Bristol.

(For other possessions which carry with them ill luck, see GOLD OF TOLOSA, GOLD OF NIBELUNGEN, GRAYSTEEL, HARMONIA'S NECKLACE, etc.)

Sheridan's Ride, the story of the brilliant dash of Sheridan upon Winchester, that turned the fortunes of the day in favor of the Federal forces. Early, in command of the Confederates, had driven the United States troops out of the town. When Sheridan met them, they were in full retreat.

"Hurrah! hurrah for horse and man, And when their statues are placed on high, Under the dome of the Union sky, The American soldier's Temple of Fame, There, with the glorious General's name Be it said, in letters both bold and bright:— Here is the steed that saved the day By carrying Sheridan into the fight, From Winchester—twenty miles away!'"

Thomas Buchanan Read, Sheridan's Ride.

Sheva, the philanthropic Jew, most modest, but most benevolent. He "stints his appetite to pamper his affections, and lives in poverty that the poor may live in plenty." Sheva is "the widows' friend, the orphans' father, the poor man's protector, and the universal dispenser of charity, but he ever shrank to let his left hand know what his right hand did." Ratcliffe's father rescued him at Cadiz, from an auto da fe, and Ratcliffe himself rescued him from a howling London mob. This noble heart settled [pounds]10,000 on Miss Ratcliffe at her marriage, and left Charles the heir of all his property.—Cumberland, The Jew (1776).

[Asterism] The Jews of England made up a very handsome purse, which they presented to the dramatist for this championship of their race.

Sheva, in the satire of Absalom and Achitophel, by Dryden and Tate, is designed for Sir Roger Lestrange, censor of the press, in the reign of Charles II. Sheva was one of David's scribes (2 Sam. xx. 25), and Sir Roger was editor of the Observator, in which he vindicated the court measures, for which he was knighted.

Than Sheva, none more loyal zeal have shown, Wakeful as Judah's lion for the crown.

Tate, Absalom and Achitophel, ii. (1682).

Shib'boleth, the test pass-word of a secret society. When the Ephraimites tried to pass the Jordan, after their defeat by Jephthah, the guard tested whether they were Ephraimites or not, by asking them to say the word "Shibboleth," which the Ephraimites pronounced "Sibboleth" (Judges xii. 1-6).

In the Sicilian Vespers, a word was given as a test of nationality. Some dried peas (ciceri) were shown to a suspect: if he called them cheecharee, he was a Sicilian, and allowed to pass; but if siseri, he was a Frenchman, and was put to death.

In the great Danish slaughter on St. Bryce's Day (November 13, 1002), according to tradition, a similar test was made with the words "Chichester Church," which, being pronounced hard or soft, decided whether the speaker were Dane or Saxon.

Shield of Rome (The), Fabius "Cunctātor." Marcellus was called "The Sword of Rome." (See FABIUS.)

Shift (Samuel), a wonderful mimic, who, like Charles Mathews, the elder, could turn his face to anything. He is employed by Sir William Wealthy, to assist in saving his son, George, from ruin, and accordingly helps the young man in his money difficulties by becoming his agent. Ultimately, it is found that Sir George's father is his creditor, the young man is saved from ruin, marries, and becomes a reformed and honorable member of society, who has "sown his wild oats."—Foote, The Minor (1760).

Shilling (To cut one off with a). A tale is told of Charles and John Banister. John, having irritated his father, the old man said, "Jack, I'll cut you off with a shilling." To which the son replied, "I wish, dad, you would give it to me now."

[Asterism] The same identical anecdote is told of Sheridan and his son Tom.

Shingle (Solon), prominent personage in J. S. Jones's farce, The People's Lawyer.

Ship (The Intelligent). Ellīda (Frithjof's ship) understood what was said to it; hence in the Frithjof Saga the son of Thornsten constantly addresses it, and the ship always obeys what is said to it.—Tegner, Frithjof Saga, x. (1825).

Shipton (Mother), the heroine of an ancient tale entitled The Strange and Wonderful History and Prophecies of Mother Shipton, etc.—T. Evan Preece.

Shipwreck (The), a poem in three cantos, by William Falconer (1762). Supposed to occupy six days. The ship was the Britannia, under the command of Albert, and bound for Venice. Being overtaken in a squall, she is driven out of her course from Candia, and four seamen are lost off the lee main-yardarm. A fearful storm greatly distresses the vessel and the captain gives command "to bear away." As she passes the island of St. George, the helmsman is struck blind by lightning. Bowsprit, foremast, and main-topmast being carried away, the officers try to save themselves on the wreck of the foremast. The ship splits on the projecting verge of Cape Colonna. The captain and all his crew are lost except Arion (Falconer), who is washed ashore, and being befriended by the natives, returns to England to tell this mournful story.

Shirley. Bright, independent heiress of Yorkshire, beautiful and courted, who chooses her own way and her own husband.—Charlotte Brontè, Shirley.

Shoo-King (The), the history of the Chinese monarchs, by Confucius. It begins with Yoo, B.C. 2205.

Shoolbred (Dame), the foster-mother of Henry Smith.—Sir W. Scott, Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.).

Shore (Jane), the heroine and title of a tragedy by N. Rowe (1312). Jane Shore was the wife of a London merchant, but left her husband to become the mistress of Edward IV. At the death of that monarch, Lord Hastings wished to obtain her, but she rejected his advances. This drew on her the jealous wrath of Alicia (Lord Hastings's mistress), who induced her to accuse Lord Hastings of want of allegiance to the lord protector. The duke of Gloucester commanded the instant execution of Hastings; and, accusing Jane Shore of having bewitched him, condemned her to wander about in a sheet, holding a taper in her hand, and decreed that any one who offered her food or shelter should be put to death. Jane continued an outcast for three days, when her husband came to her succor, but he was seized by Gloucester's myrmidons, and Jane Shore died.

Shoreditch (Duke of). Barlow, the favorite archer of Henry VIII., was so entitled by the Merry Monarch, in royal sport. Barlow's two skillful companions were created at the same time, "marquis of Islington," and "earl of Pancras."

Good king, make not good lord of Lincoln "duke of Shoreditche."—The Poore Man's Petition to the Kinge (art. xvi. 1603).

Shorne (Sir John) noted for his feat of conjuring the devil into a boot.

To Master John Shorne, That blessêd man borne, Which jugeleth with a bote; I beschrewe his herte rote That will trust him, and it be I.

Fantassie of Idolatrie.

Short-Lived Administration (The). the[TN-176] administration formed February 12, 1746, by William Pulteney. It lasted only two days.

Shortcake (Mrs.), the baker's wife, one of Mrs. Mailsetter's friends.—Sir W. Scott, The Antiquary (time, George III.).

Shortell (Master), the mercer at Liverpool.—Sir W. Scott, Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Short'hose (2 syl.), a clown, servant to Lady Hartwell, the widow.—Beaumont and Fletcher, Wit Without Money (1539).

Shorthouse (Tom), epitaph of.

Hic Jacet Tom Shorthouse, sine Tom, sine Sheets, sine Riches; Qui Vixit sine Gown, sine Cloak, sine Shirt, sine Breeches.

Old London (taken from the Magna Britannia)

Shovel-Boards or Edward Shovel-Boards, broad shillings of Edward III. Taylor, the water-poet, tells us "they were used for the most part at shoave-board."

... the unthrift every day, With my face downwards do at shoave-board play.

Taylor, the water-poet (1580-1754).

Shewsberry (Lord), the earl marshall in the court of Queen Elizabeth.—Sir W. Scott, Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

Shufflebottom (Abel), a name assumed by Robert Southey in some of his amatory productions (1774-1843).

Shuffles (Robert). One of the "bad boys," whose misdemeanors and reformation are sketched in Outward Bound, by William T. Adams (Oliver Optic).

Shuffleton (The Hon. Tom), a man of very slender estate, who borrows of all who will lend, but always forgets to repay or return the loans. When spoken to about it, he interrupts the speaker before he comes to the point, and diverts the conversation to some other subject. He is one of the new school, always emotionless, looks on money as the summum bonum, and all as fair that puts money in his purse. The Hon. Tom Shuffleton marries Lady Caroline Braymore, who has [pounds]4000 a year. (See DIMANCHE.)—G. Colman, Jr., John Bull.

Shylock, the Jew, who lends Antonio (a Venetian merchant) 3000 ducats for three months, on these conditions: If repaid within the time, only the principal would be required; if not, the Jew should be at liberty to cut from Antonio's body a pound of flesh. The ships of Antonio being delayed by contrary winds, the merchant was unable to meet his bill, and the Jew claimed the forfeiture. Portia, in the dress of a law doctor, conducted the trial, and when the Jew was about to take his bond, reminded him that he must shed no drop of blood, nor must he cut either more or less than an exact pound. If these conditions were infringed his life would be forfeit. The Jew, feeling it to be impossible to exact the bond under such conditions, gave up the claim, but was heavily fined for seeking the life of a Venetian citizen.—Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice (1598).

Among modern actors, Henry Irving, as Shylock, stands unsurpassed.

According to the kindred authority of Shylock, no man hates the thing he would not kill.—Sir W. Scott.

[Asterism] Paul Secchi tells us a similar tale: A merchant of Venice, having been informed by private letter that Drake had taken and plundered St. Domingo, sent word to Sampson Ceneda, a Jewish usurer. Ceneda would not believe it, and bet a pound of flesh it was not true. When the report was confirmed the pope told Secchi he might lawfully claim his bet if he chose, only he must draw no blood, nor take either more or less than an exact pound, on the penalty of being hanged.—Gregorio Leti, Life of Sextus V. (1666).

Sibbald, an attendant on the earl of Menteith.—Sir W. Scott, Legend of Montrose (time, Charles I.).

Sibylla, the sibyl. (See SIBYLS.)

And thou, Alecto, feede me wyth thy foode ... And thou, Sibilla, when thou seest me faynte, Addres thyselfe the gyde of my complaynte.

Sackville, Mirrour for Magistraytes ("Complaynte," etc., (1557).[TN-177]

Sibyls. Plato speaks of only one sibyl; Martian Capella says there were two (the Erythraean or Cumaean sibyl, and the Phrygian); Pliny speaks of the three sibyls; Jackson maintains, on the authority of AElian, that there were four; Shakespeare speaks of the nine sibyls of old Rome (1 Henry VI. act i. sc. 2); Varro says they were ten (the sibyls of Libya, Samos, Cumae (in Italy), Cumae (in Asia Minor), Erythrae, Persia, Tiburtis, Delphi, Ancy'ra (in Phrygia), and Marpessa), in reference to which Rabelais says, "she may be the eleventh sibyl" (Pantagruel, iii. 16); the mediaeval monks made the number to be twelve, and gave to each a distinct prophecy respecting Christ. But whatever the number, there was but one "sibyl of old Rome" (the Cumaean), who offered to Tarquin the nine Sibylline books.

Sibyl's Books (The). We are told that the sibyl of Cumae (in AEŏlis) offered Tarquin nine volumes of predictions for a certain sum of money, but the king, deeming the price exorbitant, refused to purchase them; whereupon she burnt three of the volumes, and next year offered Tarquin the remaining six at the same price. Again he refused, and the sibyl burnt three more. The following year she again returned, and asked the original price for the three which remained. At the advice of the augurs the king purchased the books, and they were preserved with great care under guardians specially appointed for the purpose.

Sicilian Bull (The), the brazen bull invented by Perillos for the tyrant Phalăris, as an engine of torture. Perillos himself was the first victim enclosed in the bull.

As the Sicilian bull that rightfully His cries echoed who had shaped the mould, Did so rebellow with the voice of him Tormented, that the brazen monster seemed Pierced through with pain.

Dantê, Hell, xxvii. (1300).

Sicilian Vespers (The), the massacre of the French in Sicily, which began at Palermo, March 30, 1282, at the hour of vespers, on Easter Monday. This wholesale slaughter was provoked by the brutal conduct of Charles d'Anjou (the governor) and his soldiers towards the islanders.

A similar massacre of the Danes was made in England, on St. Bryce's Day (November 13), 1002.

Another similar slaughter took place at Bruges, March 24, 1302.

[Asterism] The Bartholomew Massacre (Aug. 24, 1572) was a religious not a political movement.

Sicilien (Le) or L'AMOUR PEINTRE, a comedy by Molière (1667). The Sicilian is Don Pèdre, who has a Greek slave named Is'idore. This slave is loved by Adraste (2 syl.), a French gentleman, and the plot of the comedy, turns on the way that the Frenchman allures the Greek slave away from her master. Hearing that his friend Damon is going to make a portrait of Isidore, he gets him to write to Don Pèdre a letter of introduction, requesting that the bearer may be allowed to take the likeness. By this ruse, Adraste reveals his love to Isidore, and persuades her to elope. The next step is this: Zaïde (2 syl.), a young slave, pretends to have been ill-treated by Adraste, and runs to Don Pèdre to crave protection. The don bids her go in, while he intercedes with Adraste on her behalf. The Frenchman seems to relent, and Pèdre calls for Zaïde to come forth, but Isidore comes instead, wearing Zaïde's veil. Don Pèdre says to Adraste, "There, take her home, and use her well!" "I will," says Adraste, and leads off the Greek slave.

Siddartha, born at Gaya, in India, and known in Indian history as Buddha (i.e. "The Wise").

Sidney, the tutor and friend of Charles Egerton McSycophant. He loves Constantia, but conceals his passion for fear of paining Egerton, her accepted lover.—C. Macklin, The Man of the World (1764).

Sidney (Sir Philip). Sir Philip Sidney, though suffering extreme thirst from the agony of wounds, received in the battle of Zutphen, gave his own draught of water to a wounded private, lying at his side, saying, "Poor fellow, thy necessity is greater than mine."

A similar instance is recorded of Alexander "the Great," in the desert of Gedrosia.

David, fighting against the Philistines, became so parched with thirst, that he cried out, "Oh, that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!" And the three mighty men broke through the host of the Philistines, and brought him water; nevertheless, he would not drink it, but poured it out unto the Lord.—2 Sam. xxiii. 15-17.

Sidney's Sister, Pembroke's Mother. Mary Herbert (born Sidney), countess of Pembroke, who died 1621.

Underneath this sable hearse Lies the subject of all verse— Sidney's sister, Pembroke's mother. Death, ere thou hast slain another Fair, and good, and learned as she, Time shall throw his dart at thee.

Ben Jonson (1574-1637).

Sid'rophel, William Lily, the astrologer.

Quoth Ralph, "Not far from hence doth dwell A cunning man, hight Sidrophel, That deals in destiny's dark counsels, And sage opinions of the moon sells; To whom all people, far and near, On deep importances repair."

S. Butler, Hudibras, ii. 3 (1664).

Siebel, Margheri'ta's rejected lover, in the opera of Faust e Margherita, by Gounod (1859).

Siége. Mon siége est fait, my opinion is fixed, and I cannot change it. This proverb rose thus: The abbé de Vertot wrote the history of a certain siege, and applied to a friend for some geographical particulars. These particulars did not arrive till the matter had passed the press; so the abbé remarked with a shrug, "Bah! mon siége est fait."

Siege Perilous (The). The Round Table contained sieges for 150 knights, but three of them were "reserved." Of these, two were posts of honor, but the third was reserved for him who was destined to achieve the quest of the Holy Graal. This seat was called "perilous," because if any one sat therein, except he for whom it was reserved, it would be his death. Every seat of the table bore the name of its rightful occupant, in letters of gold, and the name on the "Siege Perilous" was Sir Galahad (son of Sir Launcelot and Elaine).

Said Merlin, "There shall no man sit in the two void places but they that shall be of most worship. But in the Siege Perilous there shall no man sit but one, and if any other be so hardy as to do it, he shall be destroyed."—Pt. i. 48.

Then the old man made Sir Galahad unarm; and he put on him a coat of red sandel, with a mantel upon his shoulder furred with fine ermines ... and he brought him unto the Siege Perilous, when he sat beside Sir Launcelot. And the good old man lifted up the cloth, and found there these words written: THE SIEGE OF SIR GALAHAD.—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, iii. 32 (1470).

Siege of Calais, a novel by Mde. de Tencin (1681-1749). George Colman has a drama with the same title.

Siege of Damascus. Damascus was besieged by the Arabs while Eu'menês was governor. The general of the Syrians was Pho'cyas, and of the Arabs, Caled. Phocyas asked Eumenês's permission to marry his daughter, Eudo'cia, but was sternly refused. After gaining several victories he fell into the hands of the Arabs, and then joined them in their siege in order to revenge himself on Eumenês. Eudocia fell into his power, but she refused to marry a traitor. Caled requested Phocyas to point out to him the governor's tent; on being refused, they fought, and Caled fell. Abudah, being now in chief command, made an honorable peace with the Syrians, Phocyas died, and Eudocia retired to a convent.—J. Hughes, Siege of Damascus (1720).

Siege of Rhodes, by Sir W. Davenant (1656).

Sieg'fried [Seeg.freed], hero of pt. i. of the Nibelungen Lied, the old German epic. Siegfried was a young warrior of peerless strength and beauty, invulnerable except in one spot between his shoulders. He vanquished the Nibelungs, and carried away their immense hoards of gold and precious stones. He wooed and won Kriemhild, the sister of Günther, king of Burgundy, but was treacherously killed by Hagan while stooping for a draught of water after a hunting expedition.

Siegfried had a cape, or cloak, which rendered him invisible, the gift of the dwarf, Alberich; and his sword, called Balmung, was forged by Wieland, blacksmith of the Teutonic gods.

This epic consists of a number of different lays by the old minnesingers, pieced together into a connected story as early as 1210. It is of Scandinavian origin, and is in the Younger Edda, amongst the "Völsunga Sagas" (compiled by Snorro, in the thirteenth century).

Siegfried's Birthplace. He was born in Phinecastle, then called Xanton.

Siegfried's Father and Mother. Siegfried was the youngest son of Siegmund and Sieglind, king and queen of the Netherlands.

Siegfried called Horny. He was called horny because, when he slew the dragon, he bathed in its blood, and became covered with a horny hide which was invulnerable. A linden leaf happened to fall on his back between his shoulder-blades, and, as the blood did not touch this spot, it remained vulnerable.—The minnesingers, The Nibelungen Lied (1210).

Sieg'fried von Lindenberg, the hero of a comic German romance by Müller (1779). Still popular and very amusing.

Sieglind [Seeg.lind], the mother of Siegfried, and wife of Siegmund, king of the Netherlands.—The minnesingers, The Nibelungen Lied (1210).

Siegmund [Seeg.mund], king of the Netherlands. His wife was Sieglind, and his son, Siegfried [Seeg.freed].—The minnesingers, The Nibelungen Lied (1210).

Sige'ro, "the Good," slain by Argantês. Argantês hurled his spear at Godfrey, but it struck Sigēro, who "rejoiced to suffer in his sovereign's place."—Tasso, Jerusalem Delivered, xi. (1575).

Sightly (Captain), a dashing young officer, who runs away with Priscilla Tomboy, but subsequently obtains her guardian's consent to marry her.—The Romp (altered from Bickerstaff's Love in the City).

Sigismonda, daughter of Tancred, king of Salerno. She fell in love with Guiscardo, her father's squire, revealed to him her love, and married him in a cavern attached to the palace. Tancred discovered them in each other's embrace, and gave secret orders to waylay the bridegroom and strangle him. He then went to Sigismonda, and reproved her for her degrading choice, which she boldly justified. Next day, she received a human heart in a gold casket, knew instinctively that it was Guiscardo's, and poisoned herself. Her father being sent for, she survived just long enough to request that she might be buried in the same grave as her young husband, and Tancred: