Perigot loved Am'oret. In order to break off this affection, Amarillis
induced "the sullen shepherd" to dip her in "the magic well," whereby
she became transformed into the perfect resemblance of her rival, and
soon effectually disgusted Perigot with her bold and wanton conduct.
When afterwards he met the true Amoret, he repulsed her, and even
wounded her with intent to kill. Ultimately, the trick was discovered
by Cor'in, "the faithful shepherdess," and Perigot was married to his
true love.--John Fletcher, _The Faithful Shepherd_ (1610).
AMARYLLIS, in Spenser's pastoral _Colin Clout's Come Home Again_, was
the countess of Derby. Her name was Alice, and she was the youngest of
the six daughters of sir John Spenser, of Althorpe, ancestor of the
noble houses of Spenser and Marlborough. After the death of the
earl, the widow married sir Thomas Egerton, keeper of the Great Seal
(afterwards baron of Ellesmere and viscount Brackley). It was for this
very lady, during her widowhood, that Milton wrote his _Ar'cades_ (3
_syl_.).
No less praiseworthy are the sisters three,
The honour of the noble family
Of which I meanest boast myself to be ...
Phyllis, Charyllis, and sweet Amaryllis:
Phyllis the fair is eldest of the three,
The next to her is bountiful Charyllis,
But th' youngest is the highest in degree.
Spenser, _Colin Clout's Come Home Again_ (1594).
AM'ASISI, _Amosis_, or _Aah'mes_ (3 _syl_.), founder of the eighteenth
Egyptian dynasty (B.C. 1610). Lord Brooke attributes to him one of the
pyramids. The three chief pyramids are usually ascribed to Suphis (or
Cheops), Sen-Suphis (or Cephrenês), and Mencherês, all of the fourth
dynasty.
Amasis and Cheops how can time forgive.
Who in their useless pyramids would live?
Lord Brooke, _Peace_.
AMATEUR (_An_), Pierce Egan the younger published under this pseudonym
his _Real Life in London_, or _The Rambles and Adventures of Rob
Tally-ho, Esq., and his Cousin, the Hon. Tom Dashall, through the
Metropolis_ (1821-2).
AMAUROTS (_The_), a people whose kingdom was invaded by the Dipsodes
(2 _syl_.), but Pantag'ruel, coming to their defence, utterly routed
the invaders.--Rabelais, _Pantagruel_, ii. (1533).
AMA'VIA, the personification of Intemperance in grief. Hearing that
her husband, sir Mordant, had been enticed to the Bower of Bliss by
the enchantress Acra'sia, she went in quest of him, and found him so
changed in mind and body she could scarcely recognize him; however,
she managed by tact to bring him away, but he died on the road, and
Amavia stabbed herself from excessive grief.--Spenser, _Faëry Queen_,
ii. 1 (1590).
AMAZO'NA, a fairy, who freed a certain country from the Ogri and the
Blue Centaur. When she sounded her trumpet, the sick were recovered
and became both young and strong. She gave the princess Carpil'lona a
bunch of gilly-flowers, which enabled her to pass unrecognized before
those who knew her well.--Comtesse D'Aunoy, _Fairy Tales_ ("The
Princess Carpillona," 1682).
AMAZONS, a fabled race of women-warriors. It was said that in order to
use the bow, they cut off one of their breasts.
AMBER, said to be a concretion of birds' tears, but the birds were the
sisters of Melea'ger, called Meleag'ridês, who never ceased weeping
for their dead brother.--Pliny, _Natural History_, xxxvii. 2, 11.
Around thee shall glisten the loveliest amber.
That ever the sorrowing sea-birds have wept.
T. Moore, _Fire-Worshippers_.
AM'BROSE (2 _syl_.), a sharper, who assumed in the presence of Gil
Blas the character of a devotee. He was in league with a fellow who
assumed the name of don Raphael, and a young woman who called herself
Camilla, cousin of donna Mencia. These three sharpers allure Gil Blas
to a house which Camilla says is hers, fleece him of his ring, his
portmanteau, and his money, decamp, and leave him to find out that the
house is only a hired lodging.--Lesage, _Gil Blas_, i. 15, 16 (1715).
(This incident is borrowed from Espinel's romance entitled _Vida de
Escudero, marcos de Obregon_, 1618.)
_Am'brose_ (2 _syl_.), a male domestic servant waiting on Miss
Seraphine and Miss Angelica Arthuret.--Sir W. Scott, _Redgauntlet_
(time, George II.).
_Ambrose (Brother)_, a monk who attended the prior Aymer, of Jorvaulx
Abbey.--Sir W. Scott, _Ivanhoe_ (time, Richard I.).
_Am'brosius (Father)_, abbot of Kennaquhair, is Edward Glendinning,
brother of sir Halbert Glendinning (the knight of Avenel). He appears
at Kinross, disguised as a nobleman's retainer.--Sir W. Scott, _The
Abbot_ (time, Elizabeth).
AME'LIA, heroine of novel of same name. Young daughter of a German
inn-keeper, who rises to a high position in society, through native
merit, graces of mind and person.--Eliza Leslie (1843).
_Ame'lia_, a model of conjugal affection, in Fielding's novel so
called. It is said that the character was modelled from his own
wife. Dr. Johnson read this novel from beginning to end without once
stopping.
_Amelia_ is perhaps the only book of which, being printed off betimes
one morning, a new edition was called for before night. The character
of Amelia is the most pleasing heroine of all the romances.--Dr.
Johnson.
_Ame'lia_, in Thomson's _Seasons_, a beautiful, innocent young woman,
overtaken by a storm while walking with her troth-plight lover,
Cel'adon, "with equal virtue formed, and equal grace. Hers the mild
lustre of the blooming morn, and his the radiance of the risen day."
Amelia grew frightened, but Celadon said, "'Tis safety to be near
thee, sure;" when a flash of lightning struck her dead in his
arms.--"Summer" (1727).
_Amelia_, in Schiller's tragedy of _The Robbers_.
Or they will learn how generous worth sublimes
The robber Moor, and pleads for all his crimes;
How poor Amelia kissed with many a tear
His hand, blood-stained, but ever, ever dear.
Campbell, _Pleasures of Hope_, ii. (1799).
_Amelia Bailey_, ambitious woman with "literary tastes," who in
pursuit of a suitable sphere, marries a rich Californian, and "shines
with the diamonds her husband has bought, and makes a noise, but it is
the blare of vulgar ostentation,"--William Henry Rideing, _A Little
Upstart_ (1885).
AMELOT (2 _syl_.), the page of sir Damian de Lacy.--Sir W. Scott, _The
Betrothed_ (time, Henry II.).
AM'GIAD, son of Camaralzaman and Badoura, and half-brother of Assad
(son of Camaralzaman and Haiatal'nefous). Each of the two mothers
conceived a base passion for the other's son, and when the young
princes revolted at their advances, accused them to their father of
designs upon their honor. Camaralzaman ordered his emir Giondar to put
them both to death, but as the young men had saved him from a lion he
laid no hand on them, but told them not to return to their father's
dominions. They wandered on for a time, and then parted, but both
reached the same place, which was a city of the Magi. Here, by a
strange adventure Amgiad was made vizier, while Assad was thrown into
a dungeon, where he was designed as a sacrifice to the fire-god.
Bosta'na, a daughter of the old man who imprisoned Assad, released
him, and Amgiad out of gratitude made her his wife. After which, the
king, who was greatly advanced in years, appointed him his successor,
and Amgiad used his best efforts to abolish the worship of fire and
establish "the true faith."--_Arabian Nights_ ("Amgiad and Assad").
AM'YAS, a squire of low degree, beloved by Aemylia. They agreed
to meet at a given spot, but on their way thither both were taken
captives--Amyas by Corflambo, and Aemylia by a man monster. Aemylia
was released by Belphoebê (3 _syl_.), who slew "the caitiff;" and
Amyas by prince Arthur, who slew Corflambo. The two lovers were then
brought together by the prince "in peace and joyous blis."--Spenser,
_Faëry Queen_, iv. 7, 9 (1596).
AMI'DAS, the younger brother of Brac'idas, sons of Mile'sio; the
former in love with the dowerless Lucy, and the latter with the
wealthy Philtra. The two brothers had each an island of equal size and
value left them by their father, but the sea daily added to the island
of the younger brother, and encroached on that belonging to Bracidas.
When Philtra saw that the property of Amidas was daily increasing,
she forsook the elder brother and married the wealthier; while Lucy,
seeing herself jilted, threw herself into the sea. A floating chest
attracted her attention, she clung to it, and was drifted to the
wasted island. It was found to contain great riches, and Lucy gave its
contents and herself to Bracidas. Amidas claimed the chest as his own
by right, and the question in dispute was submitted to sir Ar'tegal.
The wise arbiter decided, that whereas Armidas claimed as his own all
the additions given to his island by the sea, Lucy might claim as her
own the chest, because the sea had given it to her.--Spenser, _Faëry
Queen_, v. 4 (1596).
AM'IEL, in Dryden's _Absalom and Achitophel_, is meant for sir Edward
Seymour, Speaker of the House of Commons.
Who can Amiel's praise refuse?
Of ancient race by birth, but nobler yet
In his own worth, and without title great.
The sanhedrim long time as chief he ruled,
Their reason guided, and their passion cooled.
Part i.
A'MIN (_Prince_), son of the caliph Haroun-al-Raschid; he married
Am'inê, sister of Zobeide (3 _syl_.), the caliph's wife.--_Arabian
Nights' Entertainments_ ("The History of Amine").
_Am'ina_, an orphan, who walked in her sleep. She was betrothed to
Elvi'no, a rich farmer, but being found the night before the wedding
in the chamber of count Rodolpho, Elvino rightly refused to marry her.
The count remonstrated with the young farmer, and while they were
talking, the orphan was seen to get out of a window and walk along
the narrow edge of a mill-roof while the great wheel was rapidly
revolving; she then crossed a crazy old bridge, and came into the same
chamber. Here she awoke, and, seeing Elvino, threw her arms around
him so lovingly, that all his doubts vanished, and he married
her.--Bellini, _La Sonnambula_ (an opera, 1831).
AM'INE (3 _syl_.), half-sister of Zobei'dè (3 _syl_.), and wife of
Amin, the caliph's son. One day she went to purchase a robe, and the
seller told her he would charge nothing if she would suffer him to
kiss her cheek. Instead of kissing he bit it, and Amine, being asked
by her husband how she came by the wound, so shuffled in her answers
that he commanded her to be put to death, a sentence he afterwards
commuted to scourging. One day she and her sister told the stories
of their lives to the caliph Haroun-al-Raschid, when Amin
became reconciled to his wife, and the caliph married her
half-sister.--_Arabian Nights'Entertainments_ ("History of Zobeide and
History of Amine").
AM'INE (3 _syl_.) or AM'INES (3 _syl_.), the beautiful wife of Sidi
Nouman. Instead of eating her rice with a spoon, she used a bodkin for
the purpose, and carried it to her mouth in infinitesimal portions.
This went on for some time, till Sidi Nouman determined to ascertain
on what his wife really fed, and to his horror discovered that she was
a ghoul, who went stealthily by night to the cemetery, and feasted on
the freshly-buried dead.--_Arabian Nights_ ("History of Sidi Nouman").
One of the Aminês' sort, who pick up their
grains of food with a bodkin.--O.W. Holmes,
_Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table_.
AMIN'TOR, a young nobleman, the troth-plight husband of Aspatia, but
by the king's command he marries Evad'ne (3 _syl_.). This is the great
event of the tragedy of which Amintor is the hero. The sad story of
Evadne, the heroine, gives name to the play.--Beaumont and Fletcher,
_The Maid's Tragedy_ (1610).
(Till the reign of Charles II., the kings of England claimed the
feudal right of disposing in marriage any one who owed them feudal
allegiance. In _All's Well that Ends Well_, Shakespeare makes the king
of France exercise a similar right, when he commands Bertram, count
of Rousillon, to marry against his will Hel'ena, the physician's
daughter.)
AMIS THE PRIEST, the hero of a comic German epic of the 13th century,
represented as an Englishman, a man of great wit and humor, but
ignorant and hypocritical. His popularity excites the envy of the
superior clergy, who seek to depose him from the priesthood by making
public exposition of his ignorance, but by his quickness at repartee
he always manages to turn the laugh against them.--Ascribed to
Stricker of Austria.
AM'LET (_Richard_), the gamester in Vanbrugh's _Confederacy_ (1695).
He is usually called "Dick."
I saw Miss Pope for the second time, in the year 1790, in the
character of "Flippanta," John Palmer being "Dick Amlet," and Mrs.
Jordan "Corinna."--James Smith.
_Mrs. Amlet_, a rich, vulgar tradeswoman, mother of _Dick_, of whom
she is very proud, although she calls him a "sad scapegrace," and
swears "he will be hanged." At last she settles on him £10,000, and he
marries Corinna, daughter of Gripe the rich scrivener.
AMMO'NIAN HORN (_The_), the cornucopia. Ammon king of Lib'ya gave to
his mistress Amalthe'a (mother of Bacchus) a tract of land resembling
a ram's horn in shape, and hence called the "_Ammonian_ horn" (from
the giver), the "_Amalthe'an_ horn" (from the receiver), and the
"_Hesperian_ horn" (from its locality). Amalthea also personifies
fertility. (Ammon is Ham, son of Noah, founder of the African race.)
(See AMALTHEA.)
[Here] Amalthea pours,
Well pleased, the wealth of that Ammonian horn,
Her dower. Akenside, _Hymn to the Naiads_.
AM'MON'S SON. Alexander the Great called himself the son of the god
Ammon, but others call him the son of Philip of Macedon.
Of food I think with Philip's son, or rather
Ammon's (ill pleased with one world and one
father).
Byron, _Don Juan_, v. 31.
(Alluding to the tale that when Alexander had conquered the whole
world, he wept that there was no other world to conquer.)
A'MON'S SON is Rinaldo, eldest son of Amon or Aymon marquis d'Este,
and nephew of Charlemagne.--Ariosto, _Orlando Furioso_ (1516).
AM'ORET, a modest, faithful shepherdess, who plighted her troth to
Per'igot (_t_ sounded) at the "Virtuous Well." The wanton shepherdess
Amarillis, having by enchantment assumed her appearance and dress, so
disgusted Perigot with her bold ways, that he lost his love for the
true Amoret, repulsed her with indignation, and tried to kill her. The
deception was revealed by Cor'in, "the faithful shepherdess," and the
lovers being reconciled, were happily married.--John Fletcher, _The
Faithful Shepherdess_ (before 1611).
AMORET'TA or AM'ORET, twin-born with Belphoebê (3 _syl_.), their
mother being Chrysog'onê (4 _syl_.). While the mother and her two
babes were asleep, Diana took one (Belphoebê) to bring up, and Venus
the other. Venus committed Amoretta to the charge of Psychê (2
_syl_.), and Psychê tended her as lovingly as she tended her own
daughter Pleasure, "to whom she became the companion." When grown to
marriageable estate, Amoretta was brought to Fairyland, and wounded
many a heart, but gave her own only to sir Scudamore (bk. iii. 6).
Being seized by Bu'sirane, an enchanter, she was kept in durance
by him because she would not "her true love deny;" but Britomart
delivered her and bound the enchanter (bk. iii. 11, 12), after which
she became the tender, loving wife of sir Scudamore.
_Amoret_ is the type of female loveliness and wifely affection, soft,
warm, chaste, gentle, and ardent; not sensual nor yet platonic, but
that living, breathing, warm-hearted love which fits woman for the
fond mother and faithful wife.--Spenser, _Faëry Queen_, iii. (1590).
AMOUR'Y (_Sir Giles_), the Grand-Master of the Knights Templars, who
conspires with the marquis of Montserrat against Richard I. Saladin
cuts off the Templar's head while in the act of drinking.--Sir W.
Scott, _The Talisman_ (time, Richard I.).
AM'PHIBAL (_St._), confessor of St. Alban of Verulam. When Maximia'nus
Hercu'lius, general of Diocle'tian's army in Britain, pulled down the
Christian churches, burnt the Holy Scriptures, and put to death the
Christians with unflagging zeal, Alban hid his confessor, and offered
to die for him.
A thousand other saints whom Amphibal had taught ...
Were slain where Lichfield is, whose name doth rightly sound
(There of those Christians slain), "Dead-field" or burying-ground.
Drayton, _Polyolbion_, xxiv. (1622).
AMPHI'ON is said to have built Thebes by the music of his lute.
Tennyson has a poem called _Amphion_, a skit and rhyming _jeu
d'esprit_.
Amphion there the loud creating lyre
Strikes, and behold a sudden Thebes aspire.
Pope, _Temple of Fame_.
AMPHIS-BAENA, a reptile which could go head foremost either way,
because it had a head at each extremity. Milton uses the word in
_Paradise Lost_, x. 524. (Greek, _ampi baino_, "I go both ways.")
The amphis-baena doubly armed appears,
At either end a threatening head she rears.
Rowe, _Pharsalia_, ix. 696, etc. (by Lucan).
AMPHITRYON, a Theban general, husband of Alcme'nê (3 _syl._). While
Amphitryon was absent at war with Pter'elas, king of the Tel'eboans,
Jupiter assumed his form, and visited Alcmenê, who in due time became
the mother of Her'culês. Next day Amphitryon returned, having slain
Pterelas, and Alcmenê was surprised to see him so soon again. Here a
great entanglement arose, Alcmenê telling her husband he visited her
last night, and showing him the ring he gave her, and Amphitryon
declaring he was with the army. This confusion is still further
increased by his slave Sos'ia, who went to take to Alcmenê the news of
victory, but was stopped at the door of the house by Mercury, who had
assumed for the nonce Sosia's form, and the slave could not make out
whether he was himself or not. This plot has been made a comedy by
Plautus, Molière, and Dryden.
The scenes which Plautus drew, to-night we show,
Touched by Molière, by Dryden taught to glow.
_Prologue to Hawksworth's version_.
As an Amphitryon _chez qui l'on dine_, no one knows better than Ouidà
the uses of a _recherché_ dinner.--E. Yates, _Celebrities_, xix.
"_Amphitryon_": _Le véritable Amphitryon est l'Amphitryon où l'on
dine_ ("The master of the feast is the master of the house"). While
the confusion was at its height between the false and true Amphitryon,
_Socie_ [Sosia] the slave is requested to decide which was which, and
replied--
Je ne me trompois pas, messieurs; ce mot termine
Toute l'irrésolution;
Le véritable Amphitryon
Est l'Amphitryon où l'on dine.
Molière, _Amphitryon_, iii. 5 (1668).
Demosthenes and Cicero
Are doubtless stately names to hear,
But that of good Amphitryon
Sounds far more pleasant to my ear.
M.A. Désaugiers (1772-1827).
AMRAH, the faithful woman-servant of the household of Ben-Hur in Lew
Wallace's novel, _Ben-Hur_. Through her heroic services, Judah,
the son, finds the mother and sister from whom he has been so long
separated (1880).
AM'RI, in _Absalom and Achitophel_, by Dryden and Tate, is Heneage
Finch, earl of Nottingham and lord chancellor. He is called "The
Father of Equity" (1621-1682).
To whom the double blessing did belong,
With Moses' inspiration, Aaron's tongue.
Part ii.
AMUN'DEVILLE (_Lord Henry_), one of the "British privy council." After
the sessions of parliament he retired to his country seat, where he
entertained a select and numerous party, among which were the duchess
of Fitz-Fulke, Aurora Raby, and don Juan, "the Russian envoy."
His wife was lady Adeline. (His character is given in xiv. 70,
71.)--Byron, _Don Juan_, xiii. to end.
AM'URATH III., sixth emperor of the Turks. He succeeded his father,
Selim II., and reigned 1574-1595. His first act was to invite all his
brothers to a banquet, and strangle them. Henry IV. alludes to this
when he says--
This is the English, not the Turkish court;
Not Amurath an Amurath succeeds,
But Harry, Harry.
Shakespeare, 2 _Henry IV._ act v. sc. 2 (1598).
AMUSEMENTS OF KINGS. The great amusement of _Ardeltas_ of Arabia
Petraea, was currying horses; of _Artaba'nus_ of Persia, was
mole-catching; of _Domitian_ of Rome, was catching flies; of
_Ferdinand VII._, of Spain, was embroidering petticoats; of _Louis
XVI._, clock and lock making; of _George IV._, the game of patience.
AMY MARCH, the artist sister in Louisa M. Alcott's _Little Women_
(1868).
AMY WENTWORTH, the high-born but contented wife of the "Brown Viking
of the Fishing-smack," in John Greenleaf Whittier's poem, _Amy
Wentworth_.
She sings, and smiling, hears her praise,
But dreams the while of one
Who watches from his sea-blown deck
The ice-bergs in the sun. (1860.)
AMYN'TAS, in _Colin Clout's Come Home Again_, by Spenser, is
Ferdinando earl of Derby, who died 1594.
Amyntas, flower of shepherd's pride forlorn.
He, whilst he lived, was the noblest swain
That ever pipèd on an oaten quill.
Spenser, _Colin Clout's Come Home Again_ (1591).
AMYN'TOR. (See AMINTOR.)
A'MYS and AMY'LION, the Damon and Pythias of mediaeval romance.--See
Ellis's _Specimens of Early English Metrical Romances_.
AMYTIS, the Median queen of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.
Beautiful, passionate, and conscienceless, she condemns an innocent
rival to the worst of fates, without a pang of conscience, and dies a
violent death at the hands of one who was once her lover.
The gardens were well-watered and dripped luxuriantly.... At this time
of the morning, Amytis amused herself alone, or with a few favored
slaves. She dipped through artificial dew and pollen, bloom and
fountain, like one of the butterflies that circled above her small
head, or one of the bright cold lizards that crept about her feet. She
bathed, she ran, she sang, and curled to sleep, and stirred and bathed
again.--_The Master of the Magicians_, by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps and
Herbert D. Ward (1890).
ANACHARSIS [CLOOTZ]. Baron Jean Baptiste Clootz assumed the _prenome_
of Anacharsis, from the Scythian so called, who travelled about
Greece and other countries to gather knowledge and improve his own
countrymen. The baron wished by the name to intimate that his own
object in life was like that of Anacharsis (1755-1794).
ANACHRONISMS. (See ERRORS.)
CHAUCER, in his tale of _Troilus_, at the siege of Troy, makes
Pandarus refer to _Robin Hood_.
And to himselfe ful soberly he saied,
From hasellwood there jolly Robin plaied.
Book v.
GILES FLETCHER, in _Christ's Victory_, pt. ii. makes the Tempter
seem to be "a good old _hermit_ or _palmer_, travelling to see some
_saint_, and _telling his beads!!_"
LODGE, in _The True Tragedies of Marius and Sylla_ (1594), mentions
"the razor of Palermo" and "St. Paul's steeple," and introduces
Frenchmen who "for forty crowns" undertake to poison the Roman consul.
MORGLAY makes Dido tell Æneas that she should have been contented with
a son, even "if he had been a _cockney dandiprat_" (1582).
SCHILLER, in his _Piccolomini_, speaks of _lightning conductors_. This
was about 150 years before they were invented.
SHAKESPEAKE, in his _Coriolanus_ (act ii. sc. 1), makes Menenius refer
to _Galen_ above 600 years before he was born.
Cominius alludes to _Roman Plays_, but no such things were known for
250 years after the death of Cominius.--_Coriolanus_, act ii. sc. 2.
Brutus refers to the "_Marcian Waters_ brought to Rome by Censorinus."
This was not done till 300 years afterwards.
In _Hamlet_, the prince Hamlet was educated at _Wittemberg School_,
which was not founded till 1502; whereas Saxo-Germanicus, from whom
Shakespeare borrowed the tale, died in 1204. Hamlet was thirty years
old when his mother talks of his going back to school (act i. sc. 2).
In 1 _Henry IV._, the carrier complains that "the _turkeys_ in his
pannier are quite starved" (act ii. sc. 5), whereas turkeys came from
America, and the New World was not even discovered for a century
after. Again in _Henry V._, Grower is made to say to Fluellen, "Here
comes Pistol, swelling like a turkey-cock" (act v. sc. 1).
In _Julius Cæsar_, Brutus says to Cassius, "Peace, count the clock."
To which Cassius replies, "The clock has stricken three."
Clocks were not known to the Romans, and striking-clocks were not
invented till some 1400 years after the death of Cæsar.
VIRGIL places Æneas in the port Velinus, which was made by Curius
Dentatus.