[Asterism] Menippus was a cynic philosopher and poet of Gadara, in Phoenicia, who wrote twelve books of satires in prose and verse.

Varro wrote in Latin a work called The Satires of Menippus (Satyrae Menippeae).

Mennibojou, a North American Indian deity.

Mentz (Baron von), a Heidelberg bully, whose humiliation at the hands of the fellow-student he has insulted is the theme of an exciting chapter in Theodore S. Fay's novel, Norman Leslie (1835).

Menteith (the earl of), a kinsman of the earl of Montrose.—Sir W. Scott, Legend of Montrose (time, Charles I.).

Mentor, a wise and faithful adviser or guide. So called from Mentor, a friend of Ulyssês, whose form Minerva assumed when she accompanied Telemachus in his search for his father.—Fénelon, Télémaque (1700).

Mephistoph'eles (5 syl.), the sneering, jeering, leering attendant demon of Faust in Goethe's drama of Faust, and Gounod's opera of the same name. Marlowe calls the name "Mephostophilis" in his drama entitled Dr. Faustus. Shakespeare, in his Merry Wives of Windsor writes the name "Mephostophilus;" and in the opera he is called "Mefistofele" (5 syl.). In the old demonology, Mephistophelês was one of the seven chief devils, and second of the fallen archangels.

Mephostophilis, the attendant demon of Faustus, in Marlowe's tragedy of Dr. Faustus (1589).

There is an awful melancholy about Marlowe's "Mephostophilis," perhaps more expressive than the malignant mirth of that fiend in the renowned work of Goethe.—Hallam.

Mephostophilus, the spirit or familiar of Sir John Faustus or [Dr.] John Faust (Shakespeare, Merry Wives of Windsor, 1596). Subsequently it became a term of reproach, about equal to "imp of the devil."

Mercedes, Spanish woman, who, to disarm suspicion, drinks the wine poisoned for the French soldiery who have invaded the town. She is forced to let her baby drink it, also, and gives no sign of perturbation until the invaders, twenty in number, have partaken of the wine, and the baby grows livid and expires before their eyes.—Thomas Bailey Aldrich, Mercedes (drama, 1883).

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

Merchant of Venice (The), Antonio, who borrowed 3000 ducats for three months of Shylock, a Jew. The money was borrowed to lend to a friend named Bassanio, and the Jew, "in merry sport," instead of interest, agreed to lend the money on these conditions: If Antonio paid it within three months, he should pay only the principal; if he did not pay it back within that time, the merchant should forfeit a pound of his own flesh, from any part of his body the Jew might choose to cut it off. As Antonio's ships were delayed by contrary winds, he could not pay the money, and the Jew demanded the forfeiture. On the trial which ensued, Portia, in the dress of a law doctor, conducted the case, and, when the Jew was going to take the forfeiture, stopped him by saying that the bond stated "a pound of flesh," and that, therefore, he was to shed no drop of blood, and he must cut neither more nor less than an exact pound, on forfeit of his life. As these conditions were practically impossible, the Jew was nonsuited and fined for seeking the life of a citizen.—Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice (1598).

The story is in the Gesta Romanorum, the tale of the bond being ch. xlviii., and that of the caskets ch. xcix.; but Shakespeare took his plot from a Florentine novelette called Il Pecorone, written in the fourteenth century, but not published till the sixteenth.

There is a ballad on the subject, the date of which has not been determined. The bargain runs thus:

"No penny for the loan of it, For one year shall you pay— You may do me a good turn Before my dying day; But we will have a merry jest, For to be talkêd long; You shall make me a bond," quoth he, "That shall be large or strong."

Merchant's Tale (The), in Chaucer, is substantially the same as the first Latin metrical tale of Adolphus, and is not unlike a Latin prose tale given in the appendix of T. Wright's edition of AEsop's fables. The tale is this:

A girl named May married January, an old Lombard baron, 60 years of age, but entertained the love of Damyan, a young squire. She was detected in familiar intercourse with Damyan, but persuaded her husband that his eyes had deceived him, and he believed her.—Chaucer, Canterbury Tales (1388).

Mercian Laws. (See MARTIAN.)

Mercilla, a "maiden queen of great power and majesty, famous through all the world, and honored far and nigh." Her kingdom was disturbed by a soldan, her powerful neighbor, stirred up by his wife Adicĭa. The "maiden queen" is Elizabeth; the "soldan," Philip of Spain, and "Adicia" is injustice, presumption, or the bigotry of popery.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, v. (1596).

Mercu'tio, kinsman of Prince Escalus, and Romeo's friend. An airy, sprightly, elegant young nobleman, so full of wit and fancy that Dryden says Shakespeare was obliged to kill him in the third act, lest the poet himself should have been killed by Mercutio.—Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet (1598).

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

Mercy, a young pilgrim, who accompanied Christiana in her walk to Zion. When Mercy got to the Wicket Gate, she swooned from fear of being refused admittance. Mr. Brisk proposed to her, but being told that she was poor, left her, and she was afterwards married to Matthew, the eldest son of Christian.—Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress, ii. (1684).

Merdle (Mr.), banker, a skit on the directors of the Royal British bank, and on Mr. Hudson, "the railway king." Mr. Merdle, of Harley Street, was called the "Master Mind of the Age." He became insolvent, and committed suicide. Mr. Merdle was a heavily made man, with an obtuse head, and coarse, mean, common features. His chief butler said of him, "Mr. Merdle never was a gentleman, and no ungentlemanly act on Mr. Merdle's part would surprise me." The great banker was "the greatest forger and greatest thief that ever cheated the gallows."

Lord Decimus [Barnacle] began waving Mr. Merdle about ... as Gigantic Enterprise. The wealth of England, Credit, Capital, Prosperity, and all manner of blessings.—Bk. ii. 24.

Mrs. Merdle, wife of the bank swindler. After the death of her husband, society decreed that Mrs. Merdle should still be admitted among the sacred few; so Mrs. Merdle was still received and patted on the back by the upper ten.—C. Dickens, Little Dorrit (1857).

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

Meredith (Mr. Michael), "the man of mirth," in the managing committee of the Spa hotel.—Sir. W. Scott, St. Ronan's Well. (time, George III.).

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

Meredith (Owen), pseudonym of the Hon. Edward Robert Bulwer Lytton (Lord Lytton), author of The Wanderer (1859), etc. This son of Lord Bulwer Lytton, poet and novelist, succeeded to the peerage in 1873.

Me'rida (Marchioness), betrothed to Count Valantia.—Mrs. Inchbald, Child of Nature.

Meridarpax, the pride of mice.

Now nobly towering o'er the rest, appears A gallant prince that far transcends his years; Pride of his sire, and glory of his house, And more a Mars in combat than a mouse; His action bold, robust his ample frame, And Meridarpax his resounding name.

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

Merid'ies or "Noonday Sun," one of the four brothers who kept the passages of Castle Perilous. So Tennyson has named him; but in the History of Prince Arthur, he is called "Sir Permōnês, the Red Knight."—Tennyson, Idylls ("Gareth and Lynette"); Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, i. 129 (1470).

Merion (James), New York lawyer, who plays the lover to three women, honestly believing himself enamoured of each.—Ellen Olney Kirke, A Daughter of Eve (1889).

Merle (Madame), a plausible woman with an ambition to be thought the incarnation of propriety, who carries with her the knowledge that she is the mistress of a man who has a wife, and that Madame Merle's illegitimate daughter is brought up by the step-mother, who knows nothing of the shameful story.—Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady (1881).

Merlin (Ambrose), prince of enchanters. His mother was Matilda, a nun, who was seduced by a "guileful sprite," or incubus, "half angel and half man, dwelling in mid-air betwixt the earth and moon." Some say his mother was the daughter of Pubidius, lord of Math-traval, in Wales; and others make her a princess, daughter of Demetius, king of Demet'ia. Blaise baptized the infant, and thus rescued it from the powers of darkness.

Merlin died spell-bound, but the author and manner of his death are given differently by different authorities. Thus, in the History of Prince Arthur (Sir T. Malory, 1470), we are told that the enchantress Nimue or Ninive inveigled the old man, and "covered him with a stone under a rock." In the Morte d'Arthur it is said "he sleeps and sighs in an old tree, spell-bound by Vivien." Tennyson, in his Idylls ("Vivien"), says that Vivien induced Merlin to take shelter from a storm in a hollow oak tree, and left him spell-bound. Others say he was spell-bound in a hawthorn bush, but this is evidently a blunder. (See MERLIN THE WILD.)

[Asterism] Merlin made "the fountain of love," mentioned by Bojardo in Orlando Innamorato, l. 3.

Ariosto, in Orlando Furioso, says he made "one of the four fountains" (ch. xxvi).

He also made the Round Table at Carduel for 150 knights, which came into the possession of King Arthur on his marriage with Queen Guinever; and brought from Ireland the stones of Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain.

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

Of Merlin and his skill what region doth not hear?... Who of a British nymph was gotten, whilst she played With a seducing sprite ... But all Demetia thro' there was not found her peer.

Drayton, Polyolbion, v. (1612).

Merlin (The English), W. Lilly, the astrologer, who assumed the nom de plume of "Mer'linus Anglĭcus" (1602-1681).

Merlin the Wild, a native of Caledonia, who lived in the sixteenth century, about a century after the great Ambrose Merlin, the sorcerer. Fordun, in his Scotichronicon, gives particulars about him. It was predicted that he would die by earth, wood, and water, which prediction was fulfilled thus: A mob of rustics hounded him, and he jumped from a rock into the Tweed, and was impaled on a stake fixed in the river bed. His grave is still shown beneath an aged hawthorn bush at Drummelzier, a village on the Tweed.

Merlin's Cave, in Dynevor, near Carmarthen, noted for its ghastly noises of rattling iron chains, brazen caldrons, groans, strokes of hammers, and ringing of anvils. The cause is this: Merlin set his spirits to fabricate a brazen wall to encompass the city of Carmarthen, and as he had to call on the Lady of the Lake, bade them not to slacken their labor till he returned; but he never did return, for Vivien by craft got him under the enchanted stone, and kept him there. Tennyson says he was spell-bound by Vivien in a hollow oak tree, but the History of Prince Arthur (Sir T. Malory) gives the other version.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, iii. 3 (1590).

Merop's Son, a nobody, a terrae filius, who thinks himself somebody. Thus Phaëton (Merop's son), forgetting that his mother was an earthborn woman, thought he could drive the horses of the sun, but not being able to guide them, nearly set the earth on fire. Many presume like him, and think themselves capable or worthy of great things, forgetting all the while that they are only "Merop's son."

Why, Phaëton (for thou art Merop's son), Wilt thou aspire to guide the heavenly car, And with thy daring folly burn the world?

Shakespeare, Two Gentlemen of Verona, act iii. sc. 1 (1594).

Merrilees (Meg), a half-crazy woman, part sibyl and part gypsy. She is the ruler and terror of the gypsy race. Meg Merrilees was the nurse of Harry Bertram.—Sir W. Scott, Gay Mannering (time, George II.).

In the dramatized version of Scott's novel, Miss Cushman [1845-9] made "Meg Merrilees" her own. She showed therein indisputably the attributes of genius. Such was her power over the intention and feeling of the part, that the mere words were quite a secondary matter. It was the figure, the gait, the look, the gesture, the tone, by which she put beauty and passion into language the most indifferent.—Henry Morley.

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

[Asterism] Prior has a poem on Merry Andrew.

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

Merry Mount. Name of the home of a certain Englishman, called in the chronicle "the pestilent Morton," who set up a May-pole in colonial Massachusetts.

"That worthy gentleman, Mr. John Endicott, ... visiting those parts, caused that May-pole to be cut down, and rebuked them for their profaneness ... so they now (or others) changed the name of their place, 'Merry Mount,' again, and called it 'Mount Dagon.'"—William Bradford, History of the Plymouth Plantation (1630-50).

Mer'rylegs, a highly trained, performing dog, belonging to Signor Jupe, clown in Sleary's circus. This dog leaves the circus when his master disappears, but several years afterwards finds its way back and dies.—C. Dickens, Hard Times (1854).

Merthyr Tydvil, a corruption of Martyr St. Tidfil, a Welsh princess who suffered martyrdom.

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

Merton (Tristram). Thomas Babington Macaulay (Lord Macaulay), so signs the ballads and sketches which he inserted in Knight's Quarterly Magazine.

Mertoun (Basil), alias VAUGHAN, formerly a pirate.

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

Merveilleuse [Mair.vay.'uze], the sword of Doolin of Mayence. It was so sharp that, if placed edge downwards on a block of wood, it would cut through it of itself.

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

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

Messali'na, wife of the Emperor Claudius of Rome. Her name is a by-word for incontinency (A.D. *-48).

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

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

Messala. Haughty young Roman who feigns friendship for Ben-Hur, and betrays his confidence. In after years the scheme of revenge nursed by the ruined youth is fulfilled in the famous chariot-race.—Lew Wallace, Ben Hur, A Tale of the Christ (1880).

Messiah (The), an epic poem in fifteen books, by F. G. Klopstock. The first three were published in 1748, and the last in 1773. The subject is the last days of Jesus, His crucifixion and resurrection. Bk. i. Jesus ascends the Mount of Olives, to spend the night in prayer. Bk. ii. John the Beloved, failing to exorcise a demoniac, Jesus goes to his assistance; and Satan, rebuked, returns to hell, where he tells the fallen angels his version of the birth and ministry of Christ, whose death he resolves on. Bk. iii. Messiah sleeps for the last time on the Mount of Olives; the tutelar angels of the twelve apostles, and a description of the apostles are given. Satan gives Judas a dream, and then enters the heart of Caiaphas. Bk. iv. The council in the palace of Caiaphas decree that Jesus must die; Jesus sends Peter and John to prepare the Passover, and eats His Last Supper with His apostles. Bk. v. The three hours of agony in the garden. Bk. vi. Jesus, bound, is taken before Annas, and then before Caiaphas. Peter denies his Master. Bk. vii. Christ is brought before Pilate; Judas hangs himself; Pilate sends Jesus to Herod, but Herod sends Him again to Pilate, who delivers Him to the Jews. Bk. viii. Christ nailed to the cross. Bk. ix. Christ on the cross. Bk. x. The Death of Christ. Bk. xi. The vail[TN-10] of the Temple rent, and the resurrection of many from their graves. Bk. xii. The burial of the body, and death of Mary, the sister of Lazarus. Bk. xiii. The resurrection and suicide of Philo. Bk. xiv. Jesus shows Himself to His disciples. Bk. xv. Many of those who had risen from their graves show themselves to others. Conclusion.

Messiah, an oratorio by Handel (1749). The liberetto was by Charles Jennens, nicknamed "Soliman the Magnificent."

Metanoi'a, Repentance personified, by William Browne, in Britannia's Pastorals, v. (Greek, mĕtanoia, "repentance".)

Faire Metanoia is attending To croune thee with those joys that know no ending.

Pastorals, v. 1 (1613).

Metasta'sio. The real name of this Italian poet was Trapassi (death). He was brought up by Gravina, who Grecized the name (1698-1782).

[Asterism] So "Melancthon" is the Greek form of Schwarzerdê ("black earth"); "Oecolampadius" is the Greek form of the German name Hausschein; "Desiderius Erasmus" is Gheraerd Gheraerd (the first "Gheraerd" is Latinized into Desiderius, and the latter is Grecized into Erasmus).

Meth'os, drunkenness personified. He is twin-brother of Gluttony, their mother being Caro (fleshly lust). In the battle of Mansoul, Methos is slain by Agnei'a (wifely chastity) spouse of Eucra'tês (temperance), and sister of Parthen'ia (maiden chastity). (Greek, methê or methŭs is "drunkenness.")—Phineas Fletcher, The Purple Island, vii., xi. (1633).

Met'ophis, the corrupt chief minister of Sesostris.

Il avait l'ame aussi corrumpue et aussi artificieuse que Sesostris était sincère et généreux.—Fénelon, Télémaque (1700).

Mexit'li, chief god and idol of the Az'tecas. He leaped full-grown into life, and with a spear slew those who mocked his mother, Coatlan'tona (4 syl.).

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

Southey, Madoc, ii. 21 (1805).

[Asterism] Of course, it will be remembered that Minerva, like Mexitli, was born full-grown and fully armed.

Mezen'tius, king of the Tyrrhenians, who put criminals to death by tying them face to face with dead bodies.—Virgil, AEneid, viii. 485.

Mezzora'mia, an earthly paradise in Africa, accessible by only one road. Gaudentio di Lucca discovered the road, and lived at Mezzoramia for twenty-five years.—Simon Berington, Gaudentio di Lucca.

M. F. H., Master [of the] Fox-hounds.

Micaw'ber (Mr. Wilkins), a most unpractical, half-clever man, a great speechifier, letter writer, projector of bubble schemes, and, though confident of success, never succeeding. Having failed in everything in the old country, he migrated to Australia, and became a magistrate at Middlebay.—C. Dickens, David Copperfield (1849).

[Asterism] This truly amiable, erratic genius is a portrait of Dickens's own father, "David Copperfield" being Dickens, and "Mrs. Nickleby" (one can hardly believe it) is said to be Dickens's mother.

Mi'chael (2 syl.), the special protector and guardian of the Jews. This archangel is messenger of peace and plenty.—Sale's Korân, ii. notes.

[Asterism] That Michael was really the protector and guardian angel of the Jews we know from Dan. x. 13, 21; xii. 1.

Milton makes Michael the leader of the heavenly host in the war in heaven. The word means "God's power." Gabriel was next in command to the archangel Michael.

Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince

Paradise Lost, vi. 44 (1665).

[Asterism] Longfellow, in his Golden Legend, says that Michael is the presiding spirit of the planet Mercury, and brings to man the gift of prudence ("The Miracle-Play," iii., 1851).

Michael, the "trencher favorite" of Arden of Feversham, in love with Maria, sister of Mosby. A weak man, who both loves and honors Arden, but is inveigled by Mosby to admit ruffians into Arden's house to murder him.—Geo. Lillo, Arden of Feversham (1592).

Michael, God of Wind (St.). At the promontory of Malea is a chapel built to St. Michael, and the sailors say when the wind blows from that quarter it is occasioned by the violent motion of St. Michael's wings. Whenever they sail by that promontory, they pray St. Michael to keep his wings still.

St. Michael's Chair. It is said that any woman who has sat on Michael's chair (on St. Michael's Mount, in Cornwall), will rule her husband ever after.

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

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

Michael Angelo des Kermesses, Peter van Laar, called Le Bamboche, born at Laaren (1613-1673).

Or Michel-Ange des Bamboches.

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

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

Réné Michael Slodtz is also called the same (1705-1764).

Michael Angelo Titmarsh, one of the pseudonyms under which Thackeray contributed to Frazer's Magazine (1811-1863).

Michael Armstrong, "the factory boy." The hero and title of a novel by Mrs. Trollope (1839). The object of this novel is to expose what the authoress considered to be the evils of the factory system.

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

Michael, the Stammerer, born at Armorium, in Phrygia, mounted the throne as emperor of Greece in A.D. 820. He used all his efforts to introduce the Jewish Sabbath and sacrifice.

I think I have proved ... The error of all those doctrines so vicious ... That are making such terrible work in the Churches By Michael the Stammerer.

Longfellow, The Golden Legend (1851).

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

Michelot, an unprincipled, cowardly, greedy man, who tries to discover the secret of "the gold-mine." Being procurator of the president of Lyons, his office was "to capture and arrest" those charged with civil or criminal offences.—E. Stirling, The Gold-Mine, or Miller of Grenoble (1854).

Micomico'na, the pretended queen of Micomicon. Don Quixote's adventure to Micomiconnia came to nothing, for he was taken home in a cage, almost as soon as he was told of the wonderful enchantments.—Cervantes, Don Quixote, I. iv. 2 (1605.)

Mi'das (Justice), appointed to adjudge a musical contest between Pol and Pan. He decides in favor of Pan, whereupon Pol throws off his disguise, appears as the god Apollo, and, being indignant at the decision, gives Midas "the ears of an ass."—Kane O'Hara, Midas (1764).

Edward Shuter (1728-1776) was pronounced by Garrick "the greatest comic actor;" and C. Dibdin says: "Nothing on earth could have been superior to his 'Midas.'"

Midas's Ears. The servant who used to cut the king's hair, discovering the deformity, was afraid to whisper the secret to any one, but, being unable to contain himself, he dug a hole in the earth, and, putting his mouth into it, cried out, "King Midas has ass's ears!" He then filled up the hole and felt relieved.

Tennyson makes the barber a woman:

No livelier than the dame That whispered "Asses' ears" among the sedge.

Tennyson, The Princess.

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

Middlemas (Mr. Matthew), a name assumed by General Witherington.

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

Richard Middlemas, alias Richard Tresham, a foundling, apprenticed to Dr Gray. He discovers that he is the son of General Witherington, and goes to India, where he assumes the character of Sadoc, a black slave in the service of Mde. Montreville. He delivers Menie Gray by treachery to Tippoo Saib, and Hyder Ali gives him up to be crushed to death by an elephant.—Sir W. Scott, The Surgeon's Daughter (time, George II.).

Middlewick (Mr. Perkyn), a retired butterman, the neighbor of Sir Geoffrey Champneys, and the father of Charles. The butterman is innately vulgar, drops his h's and inserts them out of place, makes the greatest geographical and historical blunders, has a tyrannical temper, but a tender heart. He turns his son adrift for marrying Violet Melrose, an heiress, who snubbed the plebeian father. When reduced to great distress, the old butterman goes to his son's squalid lodgings and relents. So all ends happily.

Charles Middlewick, son of the retired butterman, well educated, and a gentleman. His father wanted him to marry Mary Melrose, a girl without a penny, but he preferred Violet, an heiress.—H. J. Byron, Our Boys (1875).

Midge, the miller's son, one of the companions of Robin Hood. (See MUCH.)

Midge (The), a well-born but friendless waif, thrown at the age of thirteen upon the charity of Dr. Peters, an eccentric bachelor. She cares for his house and for him in quaint, womanly fashion, very bewitching, until she is grown. The suit of another and a younger man, makes the doctor know, to his cost, how well he loves her. He holds his peace, and marries Midge to her lover.

"Then he went into the big pantry. In the corner on the shelf, still lay the crock in which the Midge had hidden her head, heavy with childish grief, years before. The old stool stood before it. He sat down on it and rested his hot forehead on the cool rim of the jar.

"And that's the end of the story."—H. C. Bunner, The Midge (1886).

Midian Mara, the Celtic mermaid.

Midlo'thian (The Heart of), a tale of the Porteous riot, in which the incidents of Effie and Jeanie Deans are of absorbing interest. Effie was seduced by Geordie Robertson (alias George Staunton), while in the service of Mrs. Saddletree. She murdered her infant, and was condemned to death; but her half-sister, Jeanie, went to London, pleaded her cause before the queen, and obtained her pardon. Jeanie, on her return to Scotland, married Reuben Butler; and Geordie Robertson (then Sir George Staunton) married Effie. Sir George being shot by a gypsy boy, Effie (i.e. Lady Staunton), retired to a convent on the Continent.—Sir W. Scott, Heart of Midlothian (time, George II.).

Midshipman Easy. (See EASY.)

Midsummer Night's Dream. Shakespeare says there was a law in Athens, that if a daughter refused to marry the husband selected for her by her father, she might be put to death. Egēus (3 syl.), an Athenian, promised to give his daughter, Hermia, in marriage to Demētrius; but, as the lady loved Lysander, she refused to marry the man selected by her father, and fled from Athens with her lover. Demetrius went in pursuit of her, followed by Helĕna, who doted on him. All four came to a forest, and fell asleep. In their dreams a vision of fairies passed before them, and on awaking, Demetrius resolved to forego Hermia, who disliked him, and to take to wife Helena, who sincerely loved him. When Egeus was informed thereof, he readily agreed to give his daughter to Lysander, and the force of the law was not called into action (1592).

[Asterism] Several of the incidents of this comedy are borrowed from the Diana of Montemayor, a Spaniard (sixteenth century).

Midwinter (Ozias), the alias of another Allan Armadale. His father has murdered the father of the real Allan, and the son of the homicide resolves to keep his own identity a secret, while trying to atone to Allan for the wrong done him. He loves and marries the perfidious governess of Allan's betrothed.—Wilkie Collins, Armadale.

Miggs (Miss), the handmaiden and "comforter" of Mrs. Varden. A tall, gaunt young woman, addicted to pattens; slender and shrewish, of a sharp and acid visage. She held the male sex in utter contempt, but had a secret exception in favor of Sim Tappertit, who irreverently called her "scraggy." Miss Miggs always sided with madam against master, and made out that she was a suffering martyr, and he an inhuman Nero. She called ma'am "mim;" said her sister lived at "twenty-sivin;" Simon she called "Simmun." She said Mrs. Varden was "the mildest, amiablest, forgivingest-sperited, longest-sufferingest female in existence." Baffled in all her matrimonial hopes, she was at last appointed female turnkey to a county Bridewell, which office she held for thirty years, when she died.

Miss Miggs, baffled in all her schemes ... and cast upon a thankless, undeserving world, turned very sharp and sour ... but the justices of the peace for Middlesex ... selected her from 124 competitors to the office of turnkey for a county Bridewell, which she held till her decease, more than thirty years afterwards, remaining single all that time.—C. Dickens, Barnaby Rudge (1841).

Mign'on, a beautiful, dwarfish, fairy-like Italian girl, in love with Wilhelm, her protector. She glides before us in the mazy dance, or whirls her tambourine like an Ariel. Full of fervor, full of love, full of rapture, she is overwhelmed with the torrent of despair at finding her love is not returned, becomes insane, and dies.—Goethe, Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship (1794-6).

Sir W. Scott drew his "Fenella," in Peveril of the Peak, from this character; and Victor Hugo has reproduced her in his Notre Dame, under the name of "Esmeralda."

Mignonette:

"A pitcher of mignonette In a tenement's highest casement Queer sort of flower-pot—yet That pitcher of mignonette Is a garden in heaven set To the little sick child in the basement, The pitcher of mignonette. In the tenement's highest casement."

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

Migonnet, a fairy king, who wished to marry the princess brought up by Violenta, the fairy mother.

Of all dwarfs he was the smallest. His feet were like an eagle's, and close to the knees, for legs he had none. His royal robes were not above half a yard long, and trailed one-third part upon the ground. His head was as big as a peck, and his nose long enough for twelve birds to perch on. His beard was bushy enough for a canary's nest, and his ears reached a foot above his head.—Comtesse D'Aulnoy, Fairy Tales ("The White Cat," 1682).

Mikado (of Japan), the hero of Gilbert and Sullivan's opera "The Mikado." The plot turns upon the complications brought about [TN-11] the Mikado's severe laws against flirting:

"So he decreed in words succint, That all who flirted, leered or winked, Unless connubially linked, Should forthwith be beheaded."

Mi'lan (The duke of), an Italian prince, an ally of the Lancastrians.—Sir W. Scott, Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).

Milan Decree, a decree of Napoleon Bonaparte, dated Milan, December 27, 1807, declaring "the whole British empire to be in a state of blockade, and prohibiting all countries from trading with Great Britain, or using any article made therein."

[Asterism] As Britain was the best customer of the very nations forbidden to deal with her, this very absurd decree was a two-edged sword, cutting both ways.

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

Mildmay (Frank), hero of sea-story bearing his name.—Frederick Marryatt.

Mile'sian Fables (Milesiae Fabulae), very wanton and ludicrous tales. Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton (Lord Lytton) published six of the Lost Tales of Milētus in rhymeless verse. He pretends he borrowed them from the scattered remnants preserved by Apollodo'rus and Conon, contained in the pages of Pausa'nias and Athenaeus, or dispersed throughout the Scholiasts. The Milesian tales were, for the most part, in prose; but Ovid tells us that Aristi'dês rendered some of them into verse, and Sisenna into Latin.

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

The original tales by Antonius Diog'enês are described by Photius. It appears that they were great favorites with the luxurious Sybarites. A compilation was made by Aristīdês, by whom (according to Ovid) some were versified also. The Latin translation by Sisenna was made about the time of the civil wars of Ma'rius and Sylla. Parthen'ius Nice'nus, who taught Virgil Greek, borrowed thirty-six of the tales, which he dedicated to Cornelius Gallus, and entitled Erôtikôn Pathêmatôn ("love stories").

Milesia Crimina, amatory offences. Venus was worshipped at Milētus, and hence the loose amatory tales of Antonius Diogenês were entitled Milesiae Fabulae.

Mile'sians, the "ancient" Irish. The legend is that Ireland was once peopled by the Fir-bolg or Belgae from Britain, who were subdued by Milesians from Asia Minor, called the Gaels of Ireland.

Miles (Throckmorton), harum-scarum, brave, indiscreet, over-generous hero of Constance Cary Harrison's story, Flower de Hundred (1890).

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

Milford (Jack), a natural son of Widow Warren's late husband. He was the crony of Harry Dornton, with whom he ran "the road to ruin." Jack had a fortune left him, but he soon scattered it by his extravagant living, and was imprisoned for debt. Harry then promised to marry Widow Warren if she would advance him [pounds]6,000 to pay off his friend's debts with. When Harry's father heard of this bargain, he was so moved that he advanced the money himself; and Harry, being set free from his bargain, married the widow's daughter instead of the widow. Thus all were rescued from "the road to ruin."—Holcroft, The Road to Ruin (1792).

Milinowski, a portly, imposing American widow, who, after twenty years spent under the marital rule of a Prussian army officer, "takes kindly to the prose of life." She is the exemplary and not unkindly chaperone of Miss Caroline Lester, heroine of Charlotte Dunning's book Upon a Cast (1885).

Milk-Pail (The), which was to gain a fortune, (See PERRETTE.)

Millamant, the prétendue of Edward Mirabell. She is a most brilliant girl, who says she "loves to give pain, because cruelty is a proof of power; and when one parts with one's cruelty, one parts with one's power." Millamant is far gone in poetry, and her heart is not in her own keeping. Sir Wilful Witwould makes love to her, but she detests "the superannuated lubber."—W. Congreve, The Way of the World (1700).

Miller (James), the "tiger" of the Hon. Mr. Flammer. James was brought up in the stable, educated on the turf and pavé, polished and completed in the fives-court. He was engaged to Mary Chintz, the maid of Miss Bloomfield.—C. Selby, The Unfinished Gentleman.

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

[Asterism] Mottley compiled a jest-book in the reign of James II., entitled Joe Miller's Jests. The phrase, "That's a Joe Miller," means "that's a jest from Mottley's book."

Miller (Maximilian Christopher), the Saxon giant; height eight feet. His hand measured a foot; his second finger was nine inches long; his head unusually large. He wore a rich Hungarian jacket and a huge plumed cap. This giant was exhibited in London in the year 1733. He died aged 60; was born at Leipsic (1674-1734).

Miller (Draxy), bonny daughter of a thriftless, honest man, whose energy in the effort to recover some hundreds of acres of woodland deeded to her in jest, and supposed to be unprofitable, leads to comfort for her father, and a happy marriage for herself.—Saxe Holm Stories (1886).

Miller of Mansfield (The), John Cockle, a miller and keeper of Sherwood Forest. Hearing the report of a gun, John Cockle went into the forest at night to find poachers, and came upon the king (Henry VIII.), who had been hunting, and had got separated from his courtiers. The miller collared him; but, being told he was a wayfarer, who had lost himself in the forest, he took him home with him for the night. Next day, the courtiers were brought to the same house, having been seized as poachers by the under-keepers. It was then discovered that the miller's guest was the king, who knighted the miller, and settled on him 1000 marks a year.—R. Dodsley, The King and the Miller of Mansfield (1737).

Miller of Trompington (The), Simon Simkin, an arrant thief. Two scholars undertook to see that a sack of corn was ground for "Solar Hill College," without being tampered with; so one stood at the hopper, and the other at the trough below. In the mean time, Simon Simkin let loose the scholars' horse; and while they went to catch it, he purloined half a bushel of the flour, which was made into cakes, and substituted meal in its stead. But the young men had their revenge; they not only made off with the flour, meal, and cakes without payment, but left the miller well trounced also.—Chaucer, Canterbury Tales ("The Reeve's Tale," 1388).

A trick something like that played off on the Miller of Trompington.—Review of Kirkton, xix. 253.

Miller on the Dee. "There was a Jolly Miller once lived on the River Dee," is a song by Isaac Bickerstaff, introduced in Love in a Village, i. 1 (1763).

Mills (Miss), the bosom friend of Dora. Supposed to have been blighted in early life in some love affair, and hence she looks on the happiness of others with a calm, supercilious benignity, and talks of herself as being "in the desert of Sahara."—C. Dickens, David Copperfield (1849).

Millwood (Sarah), the courtezan who enticed George Barnwell to rob his master and murder his uncle. Sarah Millwood spent all the money that George Barnwell obtained by these crimes, then turned him out of doors, and informed against him. Both were hanged.—George Lillo, George Barnwell (1732).

Milly, the wife of William Swidger. She is the good angel of the tale.—C. Dickens, The Haunted Man (1848).

Milo, an athlete of Croto'na, noted for his amazing strength. He could carry on his shoulders a four-year-old heifer. When old, Milo attempted to tear in twain an oak tree, but the parts, closing on his hands, held him fast, till he was devoured by wolves.

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

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

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

A very German Milton indeed.

Coleridge.

Milton's Monument, in Westminster Abbey, was by Rysbrack.

Milvey (The Rev. Frank), a "young man expensively educated and wretchedly paid, with quite a young wife and half a dozen young children. He was under the necessity of teaching ... to eke out his scanty means, yet was generally expected to have more time to spare than the idlest person in the parish, and more money than the richest."

Mrs. Milvey (Margaretta), a pretty, bright little woman, emphatic and impulsive, but "something worn by anxiety. She had repressed many pretty tastes and bright fancies, and substituted instead schools, soup, flannel, coals, and all the week-day cares and Sunday coughs of a large population, young and old."—C. Dickens, Our Mutual Friend (1864).

Minagro'bis, admiral of the cats in the great sea-fight of the cats and rats. Minagrobis won the victory by devouring the admiral of the rats, who had made three voyages round the world in very excellent ships, in which he was neither one of the officers nor one of the crew, but a kind of interloper.—Comtesse D'Aulnoy, Fairy Tales ("The White Cat," 1682).

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

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

Lady Minikin, wife of Lord Minikin. According to bon ton, she hates her husband, and flirts with Colonel Tivy; and Colonel Tivy, who is engaged to Miss Tittup, flirts with a married woman. It is bon ton to do so.—Garrick, Bon Ton (1760).

Minjekah'wun, Hiawatha's mittens, made of deer-skin. When Hiawatha had his mittens on, he could smite the hardest rocks asunder.

He [Hiawatha] had mittens, Minjekahwun, Magic mittens made of deer-skin; When upon his hands he wore them, He could smite the rocks asunder.

Longfellow, Hiawatha, iv. (1855).

Minna and Brenda, two beautiful girls, the daughters of Magnus Troil, the old udaller of Zetland. Minna was stately in form, with dark eyes and raven locks; credulous and vain, but not giddy; enthusiastic, talented and warm-hearted. She loved Captain Clement Cleveland; but Cleveland was killed in an encounter on the Spanish main. Brenda had golden hair, a bloom on her cheeks, a fairy form, and a serene, cheerful disposition. She was less the heroine than her sister, but more the loving and confiding woman. She married Mordaunt Mertoun (ch. iii).—Sir W. Scott, The Pirate (time, William III.).

Minna von Barnhelm. A wealthy girl who is engaged to Major von Tellheim, a Prussian soldier. He loses his fortune, is wounded and suspected of dishonor, and from regard for Minna strives to break the engagement. Everything is righted, and they marry.—G. E. Lessing.

Minneha'ha ("the laughing water"), daughter of the arrow-maker of Daco'tah, and wife of Hiawatha. She was called Minnehaha from the waterfall of that name between St. Anthony and Fort Snelling.

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

Longfellow, Hiawatha, iv. (1855).

Minnesingers, the Troubadours of Germany during the Hohenstaufen period (1138-1294), minstrels who composed and sung short lyrical poems—usually in praise of women or in celebration of the beauties of nature—called Minne, or love songs. The names of nearly three hundred of these poets have come down to us, including all classes of society, the most famous being Dietmar von Aist, Ulrich von Lichenstein, Heinrich von Frauenlob, and above all Walther von der Vogelweid (1168-1230). Wolfram von Eschenbach, Gottfried von Strasburg, and Hartmann von der Aue are also classed among the Minnesingers, but their principal fame was won in the field of metrical romance.

[Asterism] The story runs that Vogelweid bequeathed his worldly all to a Wurtzburg monastery upon condition that they should feed the doves at noon every day upon his grave. The multiplying birds aroused the avaricious alarm of the abbot, who forbade the daily distribution.

"Time has long effaced the inscriptions On the cloister's funeral stones, And tradition only tells us Where repose the poet's bones. But around the vast cathedral By sweet echoes mutiplied[TN-12] Still the birds repeat the legend And the name of Vogelweid."

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

Mino'na, "the soft blushing daughter of Torman," a Gaelic bard in the Songs of Selma, one of the most famous portions of Macpherson's Ossian.

Minor (The), a comedy by Samuel Foote (1760). Sir George Wealthy, "the minor," was the son of Sir William Wealthy, a retired merchant. He was educated at a public school, sent to college, and finished his training in Paris. His father, hearing of his extravagant habits, pretended to be dead, and, assuming the guise of a German baron, employed several persons to dodge the lad, some to be winners in his gambling, some to lend money, some to cater to other follies, till he was apparently on the brink of ruin. His uncle, Mr. Richard Wealthy, a City merchant, wanted his daughter, Lucy, to marry a wealthy trader, and as she refused to do so, he turned her out of doors. This young lady was brought to Sir George as a fille de joie, but she touched his heart by her manifest innocence, and he not only relieved her present necessities, but removed her to an asylum where her "innocent beauty would be guarded from temptation, and her deluded innocence would be rescued from infamy." The whole scheme now burst as a bubble. Sir George's father, proud of his son, told him he was his father, and that his losses were only fictitious; and the uncle, melted into a better mood, gave his daughter to his nephew, and blessed the boy for rescuing his discarded child.

Minotti, governor of Corinth, then under the power of the doge. In 1715 the city was stormed by the Turks; and during the siege one of the magazines in the Turkish camp blew up, killing 600 men. Byron says it was Minotti himself who fired the train, and that he perished in the explosion.—Byron, Siege of Corinth (1816).

Minstrel (The), an unfinished poem, in Spenserian metre, by James Beattie. Its design was to trace the progress of a poetic genius, born in a rude age, from the first dawn of fancy to the fullness of poetic rapture. The first canto is descriptive of Edwin, the minstrel; canto ii. is dull philosophy, and there, happily, the poem ends. It is a pity it did not end with the first canto (1773-4).

And yet poor Edwin was no vulgar boy, Deep thought oft seemed to fix his infant eye. Dainties he heeded not, nor gaude, nor toy, Save one short pipe of rudest minstrelsy; Silent when sad, affectionate, tho' shy; And now his look was most demurely sad; And now he laughed aloud, though none knew why. The neighbors stared and sighed, yet blessed the lad; Some deemed him wondrous wise, and some believed him mad.

Canto i. 16.

Minstrel (Lay of the Last). Ladye Margaret, "the flower of Teviot," was the daughter of Lord Walter Scott, of Branksome Hall. She loved Baron Henry, of Cranstown; but between the two families a deadly feud existed. One day the elfin page of Lord Cranstown inveigled the heir of Branksome Hall (then a lad) into the woods, where he fell into the hands of the English, who marched with 3000 men to Branksome Hall; but, being told that Douglas was coming to the rescue with 10,000 men, the two armies agreed to settle by single combat whether the lad should be given up to the mother or be made King Edward's page. The two champions were Sir Richard Musgrave (English) and Sir William Deloraine (Scotch). The Scotch champion slew Sir Richard, and the boy was delivered to his mother. It now turned out that Sir William Deloraine was Lord Cranstown, who claimed and received the hand of Ladye Margaret as his reward.—Sir W. Scott (1805).

Minstrel of the Border, Sir W. Scott; also called "The Border Minstrel" (1771-1832).

My steps the Border Minstrel led.

Wordsworth, Yarrow Revisited.

Great Minstrel of the Border.

Wordsworth.

Minstrel of the English Stage (The Last), James Shirley, last of the Shakespeare school (1594-1666).

[Asterism] Then followed the licentious French school, headed by John Dryden.

Minstrels (Royal Domestic).

Of William I., Berdie, called Regis Jocula'tor.

Of Henry I., Galfrid and Royer, or Raher.

Of Richard I., Blondel.

Mint Julep, a Virginian beverage, celebrated in song by Charles Fenno Hoffman (185-). A favorite variety of this drink is compounded of brandy, water, sugar, mint-leaves and pounded ice, and is called a "hail-storm."

"The draught was delicious, and loud the acclaim, 'Though something seemed wanting for all to bewail; But JULEPS the drink of immortals became When Jove himself added a handful of hail."

Charles Fenno Hoffman, Poems (1846).

Mintz, alias Araminta Sophronia—the best cook and housemaid in town—rules the Stackpole family with a rod of red-hot steel until the son of the house defies her by marrying the head scholar in the Boston Cooking School.—Augusta Larned, Village Photographs (1887).

Miol'ner (3 syl.), Thor's hammer.

This is my hammer, Miölner the mighty; Giants and sorcerers cannot withstand it.

Saemund Sigfusson, Edda (1130).

Miquelets (Les), soldiers of the Pyrenees, sent to co-operate with the dragoons of the Grand Monarque against the Camisards of the Cevennes.

Mir'abel, the "wild goose," a travelled Monsieur, who loves women in a loose way, but abhors matrimony, and especially dislikes Oria'na; but Oriana "chases" the "wild goose" with her woman's wiles, and catches him.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Wild-goose Chase (1652).

Mirabel (Old). He adores his son, and wishes him to marry Oria'na. As the young man shilly-shallies, the father enters into several schemes to entrap him into a declaration of love; but all his schemes are abortive.

Young Mirabel, the son, called "the inconstant." A handsome, dashing young rake, who loves Oriana, but does not wish to marry. Whenever Oriana seems lost to him the ardor of his love revives; but immediately his path is made plain, he holds off. However, he ultimately marries her.—G. Farquhar, The Inconstant (1702).

Mirabell (Edward), in love with Millamant. He liked her, "with all her faults; nay, liked her for her faults, ... which were so natural that (in his opinion) they became her."—W. Congreve, The Way of the World (1700).

Not all that Drury Lane affords Can paint the rakish "Charles" so well, Or give such life to "Mirabell" [As Montague Talbot, 1778-1831].

Crofton Croker.

Mirabella, "a maiden fair, clad in mourning weeds, upon a mangy jade unmeetly set, with a lewd fool called Disdain" (canto 6). Timias and Serena, after quitting the hermit's cell, meet her. Though so sorely clad and mounted, the maiden was "a lady of great dignity and honor, but scornful and proud." Many a wretch did languish for her through a long life. Being summoned to Cupid's judgment hall, the sentence passed on her was that she should "ride on a mangy jade, accompanied by a fool, till she had saved as many lovers as she had slain" (canto 7). Mirabella was also doomed to carry a leaky bottle, which she was to fill with tears, and a torn wallet, which she was to fill with repentance: but her tears and her repentance dropped out as fast as they were put in, and were trampled under foot by Scorn (canto 8).—Spenser, Faëry Queen, vi. 6-8 (1596).

[Asterism] "Mirabella" is supposed to be meant for Rosalind, who jilted Spenser, and who is called by the poet "a widow's daughter of the glen, and poor."

Mir'amont, brother of Justice Brisac, and uncle of the two brothers, Charles (the scholar) and Eustace (the courtier). Miramont is an ignorant, testy old man, but a great admirer of learning and scholars.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Elder Brother (1637).

Miran'da, daughter of Prospero, the exiled duke of Milan, and niece of Antonio, the usurping duke. She is brought up on a desert island, with Ariel, the fairy spirit, and Cal'iban, the monster, as her only companions. Ferdinand, son of the king of Naples, being shipwrecked on the island, falls in love with her, and marries her.—Shakespeare, The Tempest (1609).

Identifying herself with the simple yet noble-minded Miranda in the isle of wonder and enchantment.—Sir W. Scott.

Miranda, an heiress, the ward of Sir Francis Gripe. As she must obtain his consent to her marriage before she could obtain possession of her fortune, she pretended to love him, although he was 64 years old; and the old fool believed it. When, therefore, Miranda asked his consent to marry, he readily gave it, thinking himself to be the man of her choice; but the sly little hussy laughed at her old guardian, and plighted her troth to Sir George Airy, a man of 24.—Mrs. Centlivre, The Busy Body (1709).

Mir'ja, one of the six Wise Men of the East, led by the guiding star to Jesus. Mirja had five sons, who followed his holy life.—Klopstock, The Messiah, v. (1771).

Mirror (Alasnam's), a mirror which showed Alasnam if "a beautiful girl was also chaste and virtuous." The mirror was called "the touchstone of virtue."—Arabian Nights ("Prince Zeyn Alasnam").

Mirror (Cambuscan's), a mirror sent to Cambuscan', king of Tartary, by the king of Araby and Ind. It showed those who consulted it if any adversity were about to befall them; if any one they loved were friend or foe.—Chaucer, Canterbury Tales ("The Squire's Tale," unfinished.)

"Or call up him who left half-told, The story of Cambuscan bold.

* * * * *

That owned the virtuous ring and glass."

Milton, Il Penseroso.

Mirror (Kelly's), Dr. Dee's speculum. Kelly was the doctor's speculator or seer. The speculum resembled a "piece of polished cannel coal."

Kelly did all his feats upon The devil's looking-glass, a stone.

S. Butler, Hudibras (1663-78).

Mirror (Lao's), a looking-glass which reflected the mind as well as the outward form.—Goldsmith, Citizen of the World, xlv. (1759).

Mirror (Merlin's Magic) or Venus's looking-glass, fabricated in South Wales, in the days of King Ryence. It would show to those that looked therein anything which pertained to them, anything that a friend or foe was doing. It was round like a sphere, and was given by Merlin to King Ryence.

That never foe his kingdom might invade But he it knew at home before he heard Tidings thereof.

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

Mirror (Prester John's), a mirror which possessed similar virtues to that made by Merlin. Prester John could see therein whatever was taking place in any part of his dominions.

[Asterism] Dr. Dee's speculum was also spherical, and possessed a similar reputed virtue.

Mirror (Reynard's Wonderful). This mirror existed only in the brain of Master Fox. He told the queen lion that whoever looked therein could see what was being done a mile off. The wood of the frame was part of the same block out of which Crampart's magic horse was made.—Reynard the Fox, xii. (1498).

Mirror (Venus's), generally called "Venus's looking-glass," the same as Merlin's magic mirror (q.v.).[TN-13]

Mirror (Vulcan's). Vulcan made a mirror which showed those who looked into it the past, present, and future. Sir John Davies says that Cupid handed this mirror to Antin'ous, when he was in the court of Ulysses, and Antinous gave it to Penel'opê, who beheld therein the court of Queen Elizabeth and all its grandeur.

Vulcan, the king of fire, that mirror wrought ... As there did represent in lively show Our glorious English court's divine image As it should be in this our golden age.

Sir John Davies, Orchestra (1615).

Mirror of King Ryence, a mirror made by Merlin. It showed those who looked into it whatever they wished to see.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, iii. (1590).

Mirror of Knighthood, a romance of chivalry. It was one of the books in Don Quixote's library, and the curé said to the barber:

"In this same Mirror of Knighthood we meet with Rinaldo de Montalban and his companions, with the twelve peers of France, and Turpin, the historian. These gentlemen we will condemn only to perpetual exile, as they contain something of the famous Bojardo's invention, whence the Christian poet Ariosto borrowed the groundwork of his ingenious compositions; to whom I should pay little regard if he had not written in his own language [Italian]."—Cervantes, Don Quixote, I. i. 6 (1605).

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

Mirrour for Magistraytes, begun by Thomas Sackville, and intended to be a poetical biography of remarkable Englishmen. Sackville wrote the "Induction," and furnished one of the sketches, that of Henry Stafford, duke of Buckingham (the tool of Richard III.). Baldwynne, Ferrers, Churchyard, Phair, etc., added others. Subsequently, John Higgins, Richard Nichols, Thomas Blenerhasset, etc., supplied additional characters; but Sackville alone stands out pre-eminent in merit. In the "Induction," Sackville tells us he was conducted by Sorrowe into the infernal regions. At the porch sat Remorse and Dread, and within the porch were Revenge, Miserie, Care, and Slepe. Passing on, he beheld Old Age, Maladie, Famine, and Warre. Sorrowe then took him to Achĕron, and ordered Charon to ferry them across. They passed the three-headed Cerbĕrus and came to Pluto, where the poet saw several ghosts, the last of all being the duke of Buckingham, whose "complaynt" finishes the part written by Thomas Sackville (1557). (See BUCKINGHAM.)

[Asterism] Henry Stafford, duke of Buckingham, must not be mistaken for George Villiers, duke of Buckingham 150 years later.

Mirza (The Vision of). Mirza, being at Grand Cairo on the fifth day of the moon, which he always kept holy, ascended a high hill, and, falling into a trance, beheld a vision of human life. First he saw a prodigious tide of water rolling through a valley with a thick mist at each end—this was the river of time. Over the river was a bridge of a thousand arches, but only three score and ten were unbroken. By these, men were crossing, the arches representing the number of years the traveller lived before he tumbled into the river. Lastly, he saw the happy valley, but when he asked to see the secrets hidden under the dark clouds on the other side, the vision was ended, and he only beheld the valley of Bagdad, with its oxen, sheep, and camels grazing on its sides.—Addison, Vision of Mirza (Spectator, 159).

Misbegot (Malcolm), natural son of Sybil Knockwinnock, and an ancestor of Sir Arthur Wardour.—Sir W. Scott, The Antiquary (time, George III.).

Miser (The), a comedy by H. Fielding, a réchauffé of Molière's comedy L'Avare. Lovegold is "Harpagon," Frederick is "Cléante," Mariana is "Mariane," and Ramilie is "La Fléche." Lovegold, a man of 60, and his son Frederick, both wish to marry Mariana, and, in order to divert the old miser from his foolish passion, Mariana pretends to be most extravagant. She orders a necklace and ear-rings of the value of [pounds]3000, a petticoat and gown from a fabric which is [pounds]12 a yard, and besets the house with duns. Lovegold gives [pounds]2000 to break off the bargain, and Frederick becomes the bridegroom of Mariana.

Misers.—See Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.

Misere're (The), sung on Good Fridays in Catholic churches, is the composition of Gregorio Allegri, who died in 1640.

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

Mishe-Nah'ma, the great sturgeon, "king of fishes," subdued by Hiawatha. With this labor, the "great teacher" taught the Indians how to make oil for winter. When Hiawatha threw his line for the sturgeon, that king of fishes first persuaded a pike to swallow the bait and try to break the line, but Hiawatha threw it back into the water. Next, a sun-fish was persuaded to try the bait, with the same result. Then the sturgeon, in anger, swallowed Hiawatha and canoe also; but Hiawatha smote the heart of the sturgeon with his fist, and the king of fishes swam to the shore and died. Then the sea-gulls opened a rift in the dead body, out of which Hiawatha made his escape.

"I have slain the Mishê-Nahma, Slain the king of fishes" said he.

Longfellow, Hiawatha, vii. (1855).

Misnar, sultan of India, transformed by Ulin into a toad. "He[TN-14] was disenchanted by the dervise Shemshel'nar, the most "pious worshipper of Alla amongst all the sons of Asia." By prudence and piety, Misnar and his vizier, Horam, destroyed all the enchanters who filled India with rebellion, and, having secured peace, married Hem'junah, daughter of Zebenezer, sultan of Cassimir, to whom he had been betrothed when he was known only as the prince of Georgia.—James Ridley, Tales of the Genii, vi., vii. (1751).

Misog'onus, by Thomas Rychardes, the third English comedy (1560). It is written in rhyming quatrains, and not in couplets like Ralph Roister Doister and Gammer Gurton's Needle.

Miss in Her Teens, a farce by David Garrick (1753). Miss Biddy Bellair is in love with Captain Loveit, who is known to her only by the name of Rhodophil; but she coquets with Captain Flash and Mr. Fribble, while her aunt wants her to marry an elderly man by the name of Stephen Loveit, whom she detests. When the Captain returns from the wars, she sets Captain Flash and Mr. Fribble together by the ears; and while they stand fronting each other, but afraid to fight, Captain Loveit enters, recognizes Flash as a deserter, takes away his sword, and dismisses Fribble as beneath contempt.

Mississippi Bubble, the "South Sea scheme" of France, projected by John Law, a Scotchman. So called because the projector was to have the exclusive trade of Louisiana, on the banks of the Mississippi, on condition of his taking on himself the National Debt (incorporated 1717, failed 1720).

The debt was 208 millions sterling. Law made himself sole creditor of this debt, and was allowed to issue ten times the amount in paper money, and to open "the Royal Bank of France," empowered to issue this paper currency. So long as a 20-franc note was worth 20 francs, the scheme was a prodigious success, but immediately the paper money was at a discount, a run on the bank set in, and the whole scheme burst.

Miss Ludington. A beautiful girl changed by illness into "a sad and faded woman." She had a portrait painted from an ivory miniature of herself, taken before the change, and conceives the idea that what she was once must still exist somewhere. The phantasy is played upon by impostors, who undertake to materialize the fancied creature and introduce her as the soul-sister of the credulous spinster. The instrument of the audacious fraud becomes conscience stricken and reveals it.—Edward Bellamy, Miss Ludington's Sister (1884).

Mistletoe Bough (The). The song so called is by Thomas Haynes Bayley, who died 1839. The tale is this: Lord Lovel married a young lady, a baron's daughter, and on the wedding night the bride proposed that the guest should play "hide-and-seek." The bride hid in an old oak chest, and the lid, falling down, shut her in, for it went with a spring-lock. Lord Lovel sought her that night and sought next day, and so on for a week, but nowhere could he find her. Some years later, the old chest was sold, and, on being opened, was found to contain the skeleton of the bride.

Rogers, in his Italy, gives the same story, and calls the lady "Ginevra" of Modĕna.

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

Another is inserted in the Causes Célèbres.

Marwell Old Hall (near Winchester), once the residence of the Seymours, and afterwards of the Dacre family, has a similar tradition attached to it, and "the very chest is said to be now the property of the Rev. J. Haygarth, rector of Upham."

Bramshall, Hampshire, has a similar tale and chest.

The great house at Malsanger, near Basingstoke, also in Hampshire, has a similar tradition connected with it.

Mi'ta, sister of Aude. She married Sir Miton de Rennes, and became the mother of Mitaine. (See next art.)—Croquemitaine, xv.

Mitaine, daughter of Mita and Miton, and godchild of Charlemagne. She went in search of Fear Fortress, and found that it existed only in the imagination, for as she boldly advanced towards it, the castle gradually faded into thin air. Charlemagne made Mitaine, for this achievement, Roland's squire, and she fell with him in the memorable attack at Roncesvallês. (See previous art.)—Croquemitaine, iii.

Mite (Sir Matthew), a returned East Indian merchant, dissolute, dogmatical, ashamed of his former acquaintances, hating the aristocracy, yet longing to be acknowledged by them. He squanders his wealth on toadies, dresses his livery servants most gorgeously, and gives his chairmen the most costly exotics to wear in their coats. Sir Matthew is forever astonishing weak minds with his talk about rupees, lacs, jaghires, and so on.—S. Foote, The Nabob.

Mithra or Mithras, a supreme divinity of the ancient Persians, confounded by the Greeks and Romans with the sun. He is the personification of Ormuzd, representing fecundity and perpetual renovation. Mithra is represented as a young man with a Phrygian cap, a tunic, a mantle on his left shoulder, and plunging a sword into the neck of a bull. Scaliger says the word means "greatest" or "supreme." Mithra is the middle of the triplasian deity: the Mediator, Eternal Intellect, and Architect of the world.

Her towers, where Mithra once had burned, To Moslem shrines—oh shame!—were turned; Where slaves, converted by the sword, Their mean apostate worship poured, And cursed the faith their sires adored.

Moore, Lalla Rookh ("The Fire-Worshippers," 1817).

Mithridate (3 syl.), a medicinal confection, invented by Damoc'ratês, physician to Mithrida'tês, king of Pontus, and supposed to be an antidote to all poisons and contagion. It contained seventy-two ingredients. Any panacea is called a "mithridate."

Their kinsman garlic bring, the poor man's mithridate.

Drayton, Polyolbion, xx. (1622).

Mithridate (3 syl.), a tragedy by Racine, (1673). "Monime" (2 syl.), in this drama, was one of Mdlle. Rachel's great characters.

Mithrida'tes (4 syl.), surnamed "the Great." Being conquered by the Romans, he tried to poison himself, but poison had no effect on him, and he was slain by a Gaul. Mithridatês was active, intrepid, indefatigable, and fruitful in resources; but he had to oppose such generals as Sulla, Lucullus, and Pompey. His ferocity was unbounded, his perfidy was even grand.

[Asterism] Racine has written a French tragedy on the subject, called Mithridate (1673); and N. Lee brought out his Mithridatês in English about the same time.

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

M'liss, brave, arch, and loving girl of the Wild West; the heroine of one of Bret Harte's most popular sketches.

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

Mne'me (2 syl.), a well-spring of Boeo'tia, which quickens the memory. The other well-spring in the same vicinity, called Lê'thê, has the opposite effect, causing blank forgetfulness.—Pliny.

Dantê calls this river Eu'noê. It had the power of calling to the memory all the good acts done, all the graces bestowed, all the mercies received, but no evil.—Dantê, Purgatory, xxxiii. (1308).

Mo'ath, a well-to-do Bedouin, father of Onei'za (3 syl.), the beloved of Thalaba. Oneiza, having married Thalaba, died on the bridal night, and Moath arrived just in time to witness the mad grief of his son-in-law.—Southey, Thalaba, the Destroyer, ii., viii. (1798).

Mocca'sins, an Indian buskin.

He laced his moccasins [sic] in act to go.

Campbell, Gertrude of Wyoming, i. 24 (1809).

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

Mock Doctor (The), a farce by H. Fielding (1733), epitomized from Le Médecin Malgré Lui, of Molière (1666). Sir Jasper wants to make his daughter marry a Mr. Dapper; but she is in love with Leander and pretends to be dumb. Sir Jasper hears of a dumb doctor, and sends his two flunkies to fetch him. They ask one Dorcas to direct them to him, and she points them to her husband, Gregory, a faggot-maker; but tells them he is very eccentric, and must be well beaten, or he will deny being a physician. The faggot-maker is accordingly beaten into compliance, and taken to the patient. He soon learns the facts of the case, and employs Leander as apothecary. Leander makes the lady speak, and completes his cure with "pills matrimoniac." Sir Jasper takes the joke in good part, and becomes reconciled to the alliance.

Mocking-Bird. "During the space of a minute, I have heard it imitate the woodlark, chaffinch, blackbird, thrush, and sparrow.... Their few natural notes resemble those of the nightingale, but their song is of greater compass and more varied."—Ashe, Travels in America, ii. 73.

Moclas, a famous Arabian robber, whose name is synonymous with "thief." (See ALMANZOR, the caliph.)

Mode (Sir William), in Mrs. Centlivre's drama, The Beaux' Duel (1703).

Mode'love (Sir Philip), one of the four guardians of Anne Lovely, the heiress. Sir Philip is an "old beau, that has May in his fancy and dress, but December in his face and his heels. He admires all new fashions ... loves operas, balls, and masquerades" (act i. 1). Colonel Freeman personates a French fop, and obtains his consent to marry his ward, the heiress.—Mrs. Centlivre, A Bold Stroke for a Wife (1717).

Modely, a man of the world, gay, fashionable, and a libertine. He had scores of "lovers," but never loved till he saw the little rustic lass named Aura Freehold, a farmer's daughter, to whom he proposed matrimony.—John Philip Kemble, The Farm-house.

Modish (Lady Betty), really in love with Lord Morelove, but treats him with assumed scorn or indifference, because her pride prefers "power to ease." Hence she coquets with Lord Foppington (a married man), to mortify Morelove and arouse his jealousy. By the advice of Sir Charles Easy, Lord Morelove pays her out in her own coin, by flirting with Lady Graveairs, and assuming an air of indifference. Ultimately, Lady Betty is reduced to common sense, and gives her heart and hand to Lord Morelove.—Colley Cibber, The Careless Husband (1704).

Modo, the fiend that urges to murder, and one of the five that possessed "poor Tom."—Shakespeare, King Lear, act iv. sc. 1 (1605).

Modred, son of Lot, king of Norway, and Anne, own sister of King Arthur (pt. viii. 21; ix. 9). He is always called "the traitor." While King Arthur was absent, warring with the Romans, Modred was left regent, but usurped the crown, and married his aunt, the queen (pt. x. 13). When Arthur heard thereof, he returned, and attacked the usurper, who fled to Winchester (pt. xi. 1). The king followed him, and Modred drew up his army at Cambula, in Cornwall, where another battle was fought. In this engagement Modred was slain, and Arthur also received his death-wound (pt. xi. 2). The queen, called Guanhuma'ra (but better known as Guen'evere), retired to a convent in the City of Legions, and entered the order of Julius the Martyr (pt. xi. 1).—Geoffrey, British History (1142).

[Asterism] This is so very different from the accounts given in Arthurian romance of Mordred, that it is better to give the two names as if they were different individuals.

Modred (Sir), nephew of King Arthur. He hated Sir Lancelot, and sowed discord among the knights of the Round Table. Tennyson says that Modred "tampered with the lords of the White Horse," the brood that Hengist left. Geoffrey of Monmouth says, he made a league with Cheldric, the Saxon leader in Germany, and promised to give him all that part of England which lies between the Humber and Scotland, together with all that Hengist and Horsa held in Kent, if he would aid him against King Arthur. Accordingly, Cheldric came over with 800 ships, filled "with pagan soldiers" (British History, xi. 1).

When the king was in Brittany, whither he had gone to chastise Sir Lancelot for adultery with the queen, he left Sir Modred regent, and Sir Modred raised a revolt. The king returned, drew up his army against the traitor, and in this "great battle of the West" Modred was slain and Arthur received his death-wound.—Tennyson, Idylls of the King ("Guinevere," 1858).

[Asterism] This version is in accordance neither with Geoffrey of Monmouth (see previous art.), nor with Arthurian romance (see MORDRED), and is, therefore, given separately.

Modu, the prince of all devils that take possession of a human being.

Mado was the chief devil that had possession of Sarah Williams; but ... Richard Mainy was molested by a still more considerable fiend called Modu, ... the prince of all other devils.—Harsnett; Declaration of Popish Impostures, 268.

Modus, cousin of Helen; a "musty library, who loved Greek and Latin;" but cousin Helen loved the bookworm, and taught him how to love far better than Ovid could with his Art of Love. Having so good a teacher, Modus became an apt scholar, and eloped with Cousin Helen.—S. Knowles, The Hunchback (1831).

Moe'chus, adultery personified; one of four sons of Caro (fleshly lust). His brothers were Pornei'us (fornication), Acath'arus and Asel'gês (lasciviousness). In the battle of Mansoul, Moechus is slain by Agnei'a (wifely chastity), the spouse of Encra'tês (temperance) and sister of Parthen'ia (maidenly chastity). (Greek, moichos "an adulterer.")—Phineas Fletcher, The Purple Island, xi. (1633).

Moeli'ades (4 syl.). Under this name William Drummond signalized Henry, prince of Wales, eldest son of James I., in the monody entitled Tears on the Death of Moeliadës. The word is an anagram of Milês a Deo. The prince, in his masquerades and martial sports, used to call himself "Moeliadês of the Isles."

Moeliadês, bright day-star of the West.

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

The burden of the monody is:

Moeliadês sweet courtly nymphs deplore, From Thulê to Hydaspês' pearly shore.

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

Mogg Megone. Indian sachem who, at the behest of a white girl, kills her betrayer, and brings his scalp to her. In the storm of anguished remorse awakened by the sight of the bloody trophy, the woman murders Megone in his sleep, and is henceforth banned by the church, driven by conscience, a miserable wanderer upon the earth.—John Greenleaf Whittier, Mogg Megone.

Moha'di (Mahommed), the twelfth imaum, whom the Orientals believe is not dead, but is destined to return and combat Antichrist before the consummation of all things.

[Asterism] Prince Arthur, Merlin, Charlemagne, Barbarossa, Dom Sebastian, Charles V., Elijah Mansur, Desmond of Kilmallock, etc., are traditionally not dead, but only sleeping till the fullness of time, when each will awake and effect most wondrous restorations.

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

The men of mohair, as the citizens were called.—Asylum Christi, viii.

Moha'reb, one of the evil spirits of Dom-Daniel, a cave "under the roots of the ocean." It was given out that these spirits would be extirpated by one of the family of Hodei'rah (3 syl.), so they leagued against the whole race. First, Okba was sent against the obnoxious race, and succeeeded[TN-15] in killing eight of them, Thalaba alone having escaped alive. Next, Abaldar was sent against Thalaba, but was killed by a simoom. Then Loba'ba was sent to cut him off, but perished in a whirlwind. Lastly, Mohareb undertook to destroy him. He assumed the guise of a warrior, and succeeded in alluring the youth to the very "mouth of hell;" but Thalaba, being alive to the deceit, flung Mohareb into the abyss.—Southey, Thalaba, the Destroyer, v. (1797).

Mohicans (Last of the), Uncas, the Indian chief, son of Chingachook, and called "Deerfoot."—J. F. Cooper, The Last of the Mohicans (a novel, 1826).

The word ought to be pronounced Mo.hek'.kanz, but is usually called Mo.hĕ.kanz.

Mohocks, a class of ruffians who at one time infested the streets of London. So called from the Indian Mohocks. At the Restoration, the street bullies were called Muns and Tityre Tus; they were next called Hectors and Scourers; later still, Nickers and Hawcabites; and lastly, Mohocks.

Now is the time that rakes their revels keep, Kindlers of riot, enemies of sleep; His scattered pence the flying Nicker flings, And with the copper shower the casement rings; Who has not heard the Scowerer's midnight fame? Who has not trembled at the Mohock's name?

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

Mohun (Lord), the person who joined Captain Hill in a dastardly attack on the actor, Mountford, on his way to Mrs. Bracegirdle's house, in Howard Street. Captain Hill was jealous of Mountford, and induced Lord Mohun to join him in this "valiant exploit." Mountford died next day, Captain Hill fled from the country, and Mohun was tried but acquitted.

The general features of this cowardly attack are very like that of the Count Koningsmark on Thomas Thynne of Lingleate Hill. Count Koningsmark was in love with Elizabeth Percy (widow of the earl of Ogle), who was contracted to Mr. Thynne; but before the wedding day arrived, the count, with some hired ruffians, assassinated his rival in his carriage as it was passing down Pall Mall.

[Asterism] Elizabeth Percy, within three months of the murder, married the duke of Somerset.

Moidart (John of), captain of the clan Ronald, and a chief in the army of Montrose.—Sir W. Scott, Legend of Montrose, (time, Charles I.).

Moi'na (2 syl.), daughter of Reutha'mir, the principal man of Balclu'tha, a town on the Clyde, belonging to the Britons. Moina married Clessammor (the maternal uncle of Fingal), and died in childbirth of her son Carthon, during the absence of her husband.—Ossian, Carthon.

Mokanna, the name given to Hakem ben Haschem, from a silver gauze veil worn by him "to dim the lustre of his face," or rather to hide its extreme ugliness. The history of this impostor is given by D'Herbelot, Bibliothèque Orientale (1697).

[Asterism] Mokanna forms the first story of Lalla Rookh ("The Veiled Prophet of Khorassan"), by Thomas Moore (1817).

Mokattam (Mount), near Cairo (Egypt), noted for the massacre of the Caliph Hakem B'amr-ellah, who was given out to be incarnate deity, and the last prophet who communicated between God and man (eleventh century). Here, also;[TN-16] fell in the same massacre his chief prophet, and many of his followers. In consequence of this persecution, Durzi, one of the "prophet's" chief apostles, led the survivors into Syria, where they settled between the Libanus and Anti-Libanus, and took the name of Durzis, corrupted into Druses.

As the khalif vanished erst, In what seemed death to uninstructed eyes, On red Mokattam's verge.

Robert Browning, The Return of the Druses, i.

Molay (Jacques), grand-master of the Knights Templar, as he was led to the stake, summoned the pope (Clement V.), within forty days, and the king (Philippe IV.), within forty weeks, to appear before the throne of God to answer for his death. They both died within the stated periods. (See SUMMONS TO DEATH.)

Molière (The Italian), Charlo Goldoni (1707-1793).

Molière (The Spanish), Leandro Fernandez Moratin (1760-1828).

Moll Cutpurse, Mary Frith, who once attacked General Fairfax on Hounslow Heath.

Moll Flanders, a woman of great beauty, born in the Old Bailey. She was twelve years a courtezan, five years a wife, twelve years a thief, eight years a convict in Virginia; but ultimately grew rich, and died a penitent in the reign of Charles II.

[Asterism] Daniel Defoe wrote her life and adventures, which he called The Fortunes of Moll Flanders (1722).

Molly, Jaggers's housekeeper. A mysterious, scared-looking woman, with a deep scar across one of her wrists. Her antecedents were full of mystery, and Pip suspected her of being Estella's mother.—C. Dickens, Great Expectations (1860).

Molly Maggs, a pert young housemaid, in love with Robin. She hates Polyglot, the tutor of "Master Charles," but is very fond of Charles. Molly tries to get "the tuterer Polypot" into a scrape, but finds, to her consternation, that Master Charles is in reality the party to be blamed.—J. Poole, The Scapegoat.

Molly Maguires, stout, active young men, dressed up in women's clothes, with faces blackened, or otherwise disguised. This secret society was organized in 1843, to terrify the officials employed by Irish landlords to distrain for rent, either by grippers, (bumbailiffs), process-servers, keepers, or drivers (persons who impound cattle till the rent is paid.[TN-17]—W. S. Trench, Realities of Irish Life, 82.

Molly Mog, an innkeeper's daughter at Oakingham, Berks. Molly Mog was the toast of all the gay sparks in the former half of the eighteenth century; but died a spinster at the age of 67 (1699-1766).

[Asterism] Gay has a ballad on this Fair Maid of the Inn. Mr. Standen, of Arborfield, the "enamoured swain," died in 1730. Molly's sister was quite as beautiful as "the fair maid" herself. A portrait of Gay still hangs in Oakingham Inn.

Molly Wilder, New England girl, who shelters and cares for a young French nobleman wrecked on the Cape Cod coast. A love affair and a clandestine marriage follow. The marriage is acknowledged when peace is established between the French and English.—Jane G. Austin, A Nameless Nobleman (1881).

Molmu'tius. (See MULMUTIUS.)

Moloch (ch = k), the third in rank of the Satanic hierarchy, Satan being first, and Beëlzebub second. The word means "king." The rabbins say the idol was of brass, with the head of a calf. Moloch was the god of the Am'monites (3 syl.), and was worshipped in Rabba, their chief city.

First Moloch, horrid king, besmeared with blood Of human sacrifice, and parents' tears, Though, for the noise of drums and timbrels loud, Their children's cries unheard, that passed thro' fire To his grim idol. Him the Ammonite Worshipped in Rabba.

Milton, Paradise Lost, i. 392, etc. (1665).

Mo'ly (Greek, môlu), mentioned in Homer's Odyssey. An herb with a black root and white blossom, given by Hermês to Ulysses, to counteract the spells of Circê, (See HAEMONY.)

... that Mō'ly That Hermês once to wise Ulysses gave.

Milton, Comus (1634).

The root was black, Milk-white the blossom; Môly is its name In heaven.

Homer, Odyssey, x. (Cowper's trans.).

Momus's Lattice. Momus, son of Nox, blamed Vulcan, because, in making the human form, he had not placed a window in the breast for the discerning of secret thoughts.

Were Momus' lattice in our breasts, My soul might brook to open it more widely Than theirs [i. e. the nobles].

Byron, Werner, iii., 1 (1822).

Mon or Mona, Anglesia, the residence of the Druids. Suetonius Paulīnus, who had the command of Britain in the reign of Nero (from A.D. 59 to 62), attacked Mona, because it gave succor to the rebellious. The frantic inhabitants ran about with fire-brands, their long hair streaming to the wind, and the Druids invoked vengeance on the Roman army.—See Drayton, Polyolbion, viii. (1612).

Mon'aco (The king of), noted because whatever he did was never right in the opinion of his people, especially in that of Rabagas, the demagogue: If he went out, he was "given to pleasure;" if he stayed at home, he was "given to idleness;" if he declared war, he was "wasteful of the public money;" if he did not, he was "pusillanimous;" if he ate, he was "self-indulgent;" if he abstained, he was "priest-ridden."—M. Sardou, Rabagas (1872).

Monaco. Proud as a Monegasque. A French phrase. The tradition is that Charles Quint ennobled every one of the inhabitants of Monaco.

Monaldini (Signor), rich, bourgeois citizen of Rome, who purchases, fits up and lets to desirable tenants an old palace.—Mary Agnes Tincker, Signor Monaldini's Niece (1879).

Monarch of Mont Blanc, Albert Smith; so-called, because for many years he amused a large London audience, night after night, by relating "his ascent of Mont Blanc" (1816-1860).

Monarque (Le Grand), Louis XIV., of France (1638, 1643-1715).

Monastery (The), a novel by Sir W. Scott (1820). The Abbot appeared the same year. These two stories are tame and very defective in plot; but the character of Mary queen of Scots, in The Abbot, is a correct and beautiful historical portrait. The portrait of Queen Elizabeth is in Kenilworth.

Monçada (Matthias de), a merchant, stern and relentless. He arrests his daughter the day after her confinement of a natural son.

Zilia de Monçada, daughter of Matthias, and wife of General Witherington.—Sir W. Scott, The Surgeon's Daughter, (time, George II.).

Monda'min, maize or Indian corn (mon-da-min, "the Spirit's grain").

Sing the mysteries of mondamin, Sing the blessing of the corn-fields.

Longfellow, Hiawatha, xiii. (1855).

Mone'ses (3 syl.), a Greek prince, betrothed to Arpasia, whom for the nonce he called his sister. Both were taken captive by Baj'azet. Bajazet fell in love with Arpasia, and gave Monēsês a command in his army. When Tamerlane overthrew Bajazet, Monēsês explained to the Tartar king how it was that he was found in arms against him, and said his best wish was to serve Tamerlane. Bajazet now hated the Greek, and, as Arpasia proved obdurate, thought to frighten her into compliance by having Monēsês bow-strung in her presence; but the sight was so terrible that it killed her.—N. Rowe, Tamerlane (1702).

Money, a drama by Lord E. L. B. Lytton (1840). Alfred Evelyn, a poor scholar, was secretary and factotum of Sir John Vesey, but received no wages. He loved Clara Douglas, a poor dependent of Lady Franklin; proposed to her, but was not accepted, "because both were too poor to keep house." A large fortune being left to the poor scholar, he proposed to Georgina, the daughter of Sir John Vesey; but Georgina loved Sir Frederick Blount, and married him. Evelyn, who loved Clara, pretended to have lost his fortune, and, being satisfied that she really loved him, proposed a second time, and was accepted.

Moneytrap, husband of Araminta, but with a tendresse for Clarissa, the wife of his friend Gripe.—Sir John Vanbrugh, The Confederacy (1695).

Monflathers (Miss), mistress of a boarding and day establishment, to whom Mrs. Jarley sent little Nell, to ask her to patronize the wax-work collection. Miss Monflathers received the child with frigid virtue, and said to her, "Don't you think you must be very wicked to be a wax-work child? Don't you know it is very naughty to be a wax child when you might have the proud consciousness of assisting, to the extent of your infant powers, the noble manufacturers of your country?" One of the teachers here chimed in with "How doth the little—;" but Miss Monflathers remarked, with an indignant frown, that "the little busy bee" applied only to genteel children, and the "works of labor and of skill" to painting and embroidery, not to vulgar children and wax-work shows."[TN-18]—Charles Dickens, The Old Curiosity Shop, xxxi. (1840).