soul," fond of his pipe, fond of his glass, and fond of his "fiddlers
three." There were two kings so called--Cole (or Coïl I.) was the
predecessor of Porrex; but Coïl II. was succeeded by Lucius, "the
first British king who embraced the Christian religion." Which of
these two mythical kings the song refers to is not evident.
_Cole (Mrs.)_. This character is designed for Mother Douglas, who kept
a "gentlemen's magazine of frail beauties" in a superbly furnished
house at the north-east corner of Covent Garden. She died 1761.--S.
Foote, _The Minor_ (1760).
COLEIN (_2 syl._), the great dragon slain by Sir Bevis of
Southampton.--Drayton, _Polyolbion_, ii. (1612).
COLEMI'RA (_3 syl._), a poetical name for a cook. The word is
compounded of _coal_ and _mire_.
"Could I," he cried "express how bright a grace
Adorns thy morning hands and well-washed face,
Thou wouldst, Colemira, grant what I implore,
And yield me love, or wash thy face no more."
Shenstone, _Colemira_ (an eclogue).
COLE'PEPPER (_Captain_) or CAPTAIN PEPPERCULL, the Alsatian
bully.--Sir W. Scott, _Fortunes of Nigel_ (time, James I.).
COLIN, or in Scotch CAILEN, _Green Colin_, the laird of Dunstaffnage,
so called from the green colour which prevailed in his tartan.
COLIN AND ROSALINDE. In _The Shephearde's Calendar_ (1579), by Edm.
Spenser, Rosalinde is the maiden vainly beloved by Colin Clout, as her
choice was already fixed on the shepherd Menalcas. Rosalinde is an
anagram of "Rose Danil," a lady beloved by Spenser (_Colin Clout_),
but Rose Danil had already fixed her affections on John Florio the
Resolute, whom she subsequently married.
And I to thee will be as kind
As Colin was to Rosalinde,
Of courtesie the flower.
M. Drayton, _Dowsabel_ (1593)
COLIN CLOUT, the pastoral name assumed by the poet Spenser, in _The
Shephearde's Calendar, The Ruins of Time, Daphnaida_, and in the
pastoral poem called _Colin Clout's come home again_ (from his visit
to Sir Walter Raleigh). Ecl. i. and xii. are soliloquies of Colin,
being lamentations that Rosalinde will not return his love. Ecl. vi.
is a dialogue between Hobbinol and Colin, in which the former tries to
comfort the disappointed lover. Ecl. xi. is a dialogue between Thenot
and Colin, Thenot begs Colin to sing some joyous lay; but Colin pleads
grief for the death of the sheperdess Dido, and then sings a monody on
the great sheperdess deceased. In ecl. vi. we are told that Rosalinde
has betrothed herself to the shepherd Menalcas (1579).
In the last book of the _Faery Queen_, we have a reference to "Colin
and his lassie," (Spenser and his wife) supposed to be Elizabeth, and
elsewhere called "Mirabella" See CLOUT, etc.
_Colin Clout and his lassie_, referred to in the last book of the
_Faery Queen_, are Spenser and his wife Elizabeth, elsewhere called
"Mirabella" (1596).
COLIN CLOUT'S COME HOME AGAIN. "Colin Clout" is Spenser, who had
been to London on a visit to "the Shepherd of the Ocean" (Sir Walter
Raleigh), in 1589; on his return to Kilcolman, in Ireland, he wrote
this poem. "Hobbinol," his friend (Gabriel Harvey, L.L.D.), tells him
how all the shepherds had missed him, and begs him to relate to him
and them his adventures while abroad. The pastoral contains a eulogy
of British contemporary poets, and of the court beauties of Queen
Elizabeth (1591). (See COLYN.)
COLIN TAMPON, the nickname of a Swiss, as John Bull means an
Englishman, etc.
COLKITTO (_Young_), or "Vich Alister More," or "Alister M'Donnell,"
a Highland chief in the army of Montrose.--Sir W. Scott, _Legend of
Montrose_ (time, Charles I.).
COLLEAN (_May_), the heroine of a Scotch ballad, which relates how
"fause Sir John" carried her to a rock for the purpose of throwing her
down into the sea; but May outwitted him, and subjected him to the
same fate he had designed for her.
COLLEEN', _i.e._ "girl;" Colleen bawn ("the blond girl"); Colleen rhue
("the red-haired girl"), etc.
[Illustration] Dion Boucicault has a drama entitled _The Colleen
Bawn_, founded upon Gerald Griffin's novel _The Collegians_.
COLLIER _(Jem)_, a smuggler.--Sir W. Scott, _Redgauntlet_ (time,
George III.)
COLLINGWOOD AND THE ACORNS. Collingwood never saw a vacant place in
his estate, but he took an acorn out of his pocket and popped it
in.--Thackeray, _Vanity Fair_ (1848).
COLMAL, daughter of Dunthalmo, Lord of Teutha _(the Tweed_). Her
father, having murdered Rathmor in his halls, brought up the two young
sons of the latter, Calthon and Colmar, in his own house; but when
grown to manhood he thought he detected a suspicious look about them,
and he shut them up in two separate caves on the banks of the Tweed,
intending to kill them. Colmal, who was in love with Calthon, set
him free, and the two made good their escape to the court of Fingal.
Fingal sent Ossian with 300 men to liberate Colmar; but when Dunthalmo
heard thereof, he murdered the prisoner. Calthon, being taken captive,
was bound to an oak, but was liberated by Ossian, and joined in
marriage to Colmal, with whom he lived lovingly in the halls of
Teutha.--Ossian, _Calthon and Colmal_.
COLMAR, brother of Calthon. When quite young their father was murdered
by Dunthalmo, who came against him by night, and killed him in his
banquet hall; but moved by pity, he brought up the two boys in his own
house. When grown to manhood, he thought he observed mischief in their
looks, and therefore shut them up in two separate cells on the banks
of the Tweed. Colmal the daughter of Dunthalmo, who was in love with
Calthon, liberated him from his bonds, and they fled to Fingal to
crave aid on behalf of Colmar; but before succor could arrive,
Dunthalmo had Colmar brought before him, "bound with a thousand
thongs," and slew him with his spear.--Ossian, _Calthon and Colmal._
COLNA-DONA ("_love of heroes_"), daughter of King Car'ul. Fingal sent
Ossian and Toscar to raise a memorial on the banks of the Crona,
to perpetuate the memory of a victory he had obtained there. Carul
invited the two young men to his hall, and Toscar fell in love with
Colna-Dona. The passion being mutual, the father consented to their
espousals.--Ossian, _Colna-Dona._
COLOGNE _(The three kings of_), the three Magi, called Gaspar,
Melchior, and Baltha'zar. Gaspar means "the white one." Melchior,
"king of light;" Balthazar, "lord of treasures." Klop-stock, in _The
Messiah_, says there were six Magi, whom he calls Hadad, Sel'ima,
Zimri, Mirja, Beled, and Sunith.
[Illustration] The "three" Magi are variously named; thus one
tradition gives them as Apellius, Amerus, and Damascus; another calls
them Magalath, Galgalath, and Sarasin; a third says they were Ator,
Sator, and Perat'oras. They are furthermore said to be descendants of
Balaam the Mesopotamian prophet.
COLON, one of the rabble leaders in _Hudibras_, is meant for Noel
Perryan or Ned Perry, an ostler. He was a rigid puritan "of low
morals," and very fond of bear-baiting.
COLONNA (_The Marquis of_), a high-minded, incorruptible noble of
Naples. He tells the young king bluntly that his oily courtiers are
vipers who would suck his life's blood, and that Ludovico, his chief
minister and favorite, is a traitor. Of course he is not believed, and
Ludovico marks him out for vengeance. His scheme is to get Colonna,
of his own free will, to murder his sister's lover and the king. With
this view he artfully persuades Vicentio, the lover, that Evadnê (the
sister of Colonna) is the king's wanton. Vicentio indignantly discards
Evadnê, is challanged to fight by Colonna, and is supposed to be
killed. Colonna, to revenge his wrongs on the king, invites him to a
banquet with intent to murder him, when the whole scheme of villainy
is exposed: Ludovico is slain, and Vicentio marries Evadnê.--Shiel,
_Evadne, or the Statue_ (1820).
COLOSSOS (Latin, _colossus_), a gigantic brazen statue 126 feet high,
executed by Charles for the Rhodians. Blaise de Vignenère says it was
a striding figure, but Comte de Caylus proves that it was not so, and
did not even stand at the mouth of the Rhodian port. Philo tells us
that it _stood_ on a _block of white marble_, and Lucius Ampellius
asserts that it _stood in a car_. Tiekell makes out the statue to be
so enormous in size, that--
While at one foot the thronging galleys ride,
A whole hour's sail scarce reached the further side;
Betwixt the brazen thighs in loose array,
Ten thousand streamers on the billows play.
Tickell, _On the Prospect of Peace_.
COLOSSUS. Negro servant in G.W. Cable's "Posson Jone." He vainly tries
to dissuade his master from drinking, and, in the end, restores to him
the money lost during the drunken bout.
"In thundering tones" the parson was confessing
himself a "plum fool from whom the conceit
had been jolted out, and who had been made
to see that even his nigger had the longest
head of the two."
COL'THRED (_Benjamin_) or "Little Benjie," a spy employed by Nixon
(Edward Redgauntlet's agent).--Sir. W. Scott, _Redgauntlet_ (time,
George III.)
COLUMB (_St._) or _St. Columba_, was of the family of the kings of
Ulster; and with twelve followers founded amongst the Picts and Scots
300 Christian establishments of presbyterian character; that in Iona
was founded 563.
The Pictish men by St. Columb taught.
Campbell, _Rewllura_.
COLUMBUS (_Christopher_), Genoese navigator who was fitted out by
Ferdinand and Isabella for a voyage of discovery resulting in the
sight of the New World (1492). His ships were the _Santa Maria_,
the _Pinta_ and the _Nina_, all small.--Washington Irving, _Life of
Columbus_.
COLYN CLOUT (_The Boke of_), a rhyming six-syllable tirade against the
clergy, by John Skelton, poet-laureate (1460-1529).
COMAL AND GALBI'NA. Comal was the son of Albion, "chief of a hundred
hills." He loved Galbi'na (daughter of Conlech), who was beloved by
Grumal also. One day; tired out by the chase, Comal and Galbina rested
in the cave of Roman; but ere long a deer appeared, and Comal went
forth to shoot it. During his absence, Galbina dressed herself in
armor "to try his love," and "strode from the cave." Comal thought
it was Grumal, let fly an arrow, and she fell. The chief too late
discovered his mistake, rushed to battle, and was slain.--Ossian,
_Fingal_, ii.
COM'ALA, daughter of Sarno, king of Inistore (_the Orkneys_). She fell
in love with Fingal at a feast to which Sarno had invited him after
his return from Denmark or Lochlin (_Fingal_, iii.). Disguised as a
youth, Comala followed him, and begged to be employed in his wars; but
was detected by Hidallan, son of Lamor, whose love she had slighted.
Fingal was about to marry her when he was called to oppose Caracul,
who had invaded Caledonia. Comala witnessed the battle from a hill,
thought she saw Fingal slain, and though he returned victorious, the
shock on her nerves was so great that she died.--Ossian, _Comala_.
COMAN'CHES (3 _syl_.), an Indian tribe of the Texas. (See CAMANCHES.)
COMB (_Reynard's Wonderful_), said to be made of Pan'thera's bone, the
perfume of which was so fragrant that no one could resist following
it; and the wearer of the comb was always of a merry heart. This comb
existed only in the brain of Master Fox.--_Reynard the Fox_, xii.
(1498).
CO'ME (_St_.), (see Cosme,) a physician, and patron saint of medical
practitioners.
"By St. Come!" said the surgeon, "here's a pretty adventure."--Lesage,
(_Gil Blas_, vii. 1 1735).
COME AND TAKE THEM. The reply of Leon'idas, king of Sparta, to the
messengers of Xerxes, when commanded by the invader to deliver up his
arms.
COM'EDY (_The Father of_), Aristoph'anês the Athenian (B.C. 444-380).
_Comedy (Prince of Ancient)_, Aristoph'anês (B.C. 444-380).
_Comedy (Prince of New)_, Menander (B.C. 342-291).
COMEDY OF ERRORS, by Shakespeare (1593), Aemilia, wife of Ægeon, had
two sons at a birth, and named both of them Antipholus. When grown
to manhood, each of these sons had a slave named Dromio, also
twin-brothers. The brothers Antipholus had been shipwrecked in
infancy, and being picked up by different vessels, were carried one to
Syracuse and the other to Ephesus. The play supposes that Antipholus
of Syracuse goes in search of his brother, and coming to Ephesus with
his slave, Dromio, a series of mistakes arises from the extraordinary
likeness of the two brothers and their two slaves. Adriana, the wife
of the Ephesian, mistakes the Syracusan for her husband; but he
behaves so strangely that her jealousy is aroused, and when her true
husband arrives he is arrested as a mad man. Soon after, the Syracusan
brother being seen, the wife, supposing it to be her mad husband
broken loose, sends to capture him; but he flees into a convent.
Adriana now lays her complaint before the duke, and the lady abbess
comes into court. So both brothers face each other, the mistakes are
explained, and the abbess turns out to be Aemilia, the mother of the
twin brothers. Now, it so happened that Ægeon, searching for his son,
also came to Ephesus, and was condemned to pay a fine or suffer death,
because he, a Syracusan, had set foot in Ephesus. The duke, however,
hearing the story, pardoned him. Thus Ægeon found his wife in the
abbess, the parents their twin sons, and each son his long-lost
brother.
[Illustration] The plot of this comedy is copied from the _Menaechmí_
of Plautus.
COMHAL or COMBAL, son of Trathal, and father of Fingal. His queen
was Morna, daughter of Thaddu. Comhal was slain in battle,
fighting against the tribe of Morni, the very day that Fingal was
born.--Ossian.
Fingal said to Aldo, "I was born in the battle."
Ossian, _The Battle of Lora_.
COMINES [_Cum'.in_]. Philip des Comines, the favorite minister of
Charles, "the Bold," Duke of Burgundy, is introduced by Sir W. Scott,
in _Quentin Durward_ (time, Edward IV.).
COMMANDER OF THE FAITHFUL (_Emir al Mumenin_), a title assumed by Omar
I., and retained by his successors in the caliphate (581, 634-644).
COMMINGES (_2 syl_.) (_Count de_), the hero of a novel so-called by
Mde. de Tencin (1681-1749).
COMMITTEE (_The_), a comedy by the Hon. Sir R. Howard. Mr. Day, a
Cromwellite, is the head of a Committee of Sequestration, and is a
dishonest, canting rascal, under the thumb of his wife. He gets into
his hands the deeds of two heiresses, Anne and Arbella. The former
he calls Ruth, and passes her off as his own daughter; the latter he
wants to marry to his booby son Able. Ruth falls in love with Colonel
Careless, and Arbella with colonel Blunt. Ruth contrives to get into
her hands the deeds, which she delivers over to the two colonels, and
when Mr. Day arrives, quiets him by reminding him that she knows of
certain deeds which would prove his ruin if divulged (1670).
T. Knight reproduced this comedy as a farce under the title of _The
Honest Thieves_.
COMMON (_Dol_), an ally of Subtle the alchemist.--Ben Jonson, _The
Alchemist_ (1610).
COMMONER (_The Great_), Sir John Barnard, who in 1737 proposed to
reduce the interest of the national debt from 4 per cent. to 3 per
cent., any creditor being at liberty to receive his principal in full
if he preferred it. William Pitt, the statesman, is so called also
(1759-1806).
COMNE'NUS (_Alexius_), emperor of Greece, introduced by Sir. W. Scott
in _Count Robert of Paris_ (time, Rufus).
_Anna Comne'na_ the historian, daughter of Alexius Comnenus, emperor
of Greece.--Same novel.
COMPEYSON, a would-be gentleman and a forger. He duped Abel Magwitch
and ruined him, keeping him completely under his influence. He also
jilted Miss Havisham.--C. Dickens, _Great Expectations_ (1860).
COM'RADE (_2 syl_.), the horse given by a fairy to Fortunio.
He has many rare qualities ... first he eats
but once in eight days; and then he knows
what's past, present, and to come [and speaks
with the voice of a man].--Comtesse DAunoy,
_Fairy Tales_ ("Fortunio." 1682).
COMUS, the god of revelry. In Milton's "masque" so called, the "lady"
is lady Alice Egerton, the younger brother is Mr. Thomas Egerton, and
the elder brother is Lord Viscount Brackley (eldest son of John,
earl of Bridgewater, president of Wales). The lady, weary with long
walking, is left in a wood by her two brothers, while they go to
gather "cooling fruit" for her. She sings to let them know her
whereabouts, and Comus, coming up, promises to conduct her to a
cottage till her brothers could be found. The brothers, hearing a
noise of revelry, become alarmed about their sister, when her guardian
spirit informs them that she has fallen into the hands of Comus. They
run to her rescue, and arrive just as the god is offering his captive
a potion; the brothers seize the cup and dash it on the ground, while
the spirit invokes Sabri'na, who breaks the spell and releases the
lady (1634).
CONACH'AR, the Highland apprentice of Simon Glover, the old glover
of Perth. Conachar is in love with his master's daughter, Catharine,
called "the fair maid of Perth;" but Catharine loves and ultimately
marries Henry Smith, the armorer. Conachar is at a later period Ian
Eachin [_Hector_] M'Ian, chief of the clan Quhele.--Sir W. Scott,
_Fair Maid of Perth_ (time, Henry IV.).
CONAR, son of Trenmor, and first "king of Ireland." When the Fir-bolg
(or belgae from Britain settled in the _south_ of Ireland) had reduced
the Cael (or colony of Caledonians settled in the _north_ of Ireland)
to the last extremity by war, the Cael sent to Scotland for aid.
Trathel (grandfather of Fingal) accordingly sent over Conar with
an army to their aid; and Conar, having reduced the Fir-bolg to
submission, assumed the title of "king of Ireland." Conar was
succeeded by his son Cormac I.; Cormac I. by his son Cairbre; Cairbre
by his son Artho; Artho by his son Cormac II. (a minor); and
Cormac (after a slight interregnum) by Ferad-Artho (restored by
Fingal).--Ossian.
CONCORD HYMN, by Ralph Waldo Emerson, and beginning:
"By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April's breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood
And fired the shot heard round the world."
was sung on the Anniversary of the Battle of Concord, April 19, 1836.
CONKEY CHICKWEED, the man who robbed himself of 327 guineas, in order
to make his fortune by exciting the sympathy of his neighbors and
others. The tale is told by detective Blathers.--C. Dickens, _Oliver
Twist_ (1837).
CON'LATH, youngest son of Morni, and brother of the famous Gaul (_a
man's name_). Coiilath was betrothed to Cutho'na, daughter of Ruma,
but before the espousals Toscar came from Ireland to Mora, and was
hospitably received by Morni. Seeing Cuthona out hunting, Toscar
carried her off in his skiff by force, and being overtaken by Conlath
they both fell in fight. Three days afterwards Cuthona died of
grief.--Ossian, _Conlath and Cuthona_.
CONNAL, son of Colgar, petty king of Togorma, and intimate friend of
Cuthullin, general of the Irish tribes. He is a kind of Ulysses, who
counsels and comforts Cuthullin in his distress, and is the very
opposite of the rash, presumptuous, though generous Calmar.--Ossian,
_Fingal_.
CON'NEL (_Father_), an aged Catholic priest full of gentle
affectionate feelings. He is the patron of a poor vagrant boy called
Neddy Fennel, whose adventures furnished the incidents of Banim's
novel called _Father Connell_ (1842).
_Father Connell_ is not unworthy of association
with the Protestant _Vicar of Wakefield_.--R.
Chambers, _English Literature_, ii. 612.
CONINGSBY, a novel by B. Disraeli. The characters are meant for
portraits; thus: "Croker" represents Rigby; "Menmouth," Lord Hertford;
"Eskdale," Lowther; "Ormsby," Irving; "Lucretia," Mde. Zichy;
"Countess Colonna," Lady Strachan; "Sidonia," Baron A. de Rothschild;
"Henry Sidney," Lord John Manners; "Belvoir," Duke of Rutland,
second son of Beaumanoir. The hero is of noble birth, he loves Edith
Millbank, the daughter of a wealthy manufacturer, is returned for
Parliament and marries Edith.
CONQUEROR (_The_). Alexander the Great, _The Conqueror of the World_
(B.C. 356, 336-323), Alfonso of Portugal (1094, 1137-1185). Aurungzebe
the Great, called _Alemgir_ (1618, 1659-4707), James of Aragon (1206,
1213-1276). Othman or Osman I., founder of the Turkish Empire (1259,
1299-1326). Francisco Pizarro, called _Conquistador_, because he
conquered Peru (1475-1541). William, duke of Normandy, who obtained
England by conquest (1027,1066-1137).
CON'RAD (_Lord_), the corsair, afterwards called Lara. A proud,
ascetic but successful pirate. Hearing that the Sultan, Seyd [Seed],
was about to attack the pirates, he entered the palace in the disguise
of a dervise, but being found out was seized and imprisoned. He was
released by Gulnare (_2 syl_.), the sultan's favorite concubine, and
fled with her to the Pirates' Isle, but finding Medo'ra dead, he
left the island with Gulnare, returned to his native land, headed a
rebellion, and was shot.--Lord Byron, _The Corsair_, continued in
_Lara_ (1814). CONRAD DRYFOOS, the son of a rich man, the backer and
virtual proprietor of _Every Other Week_, in W. D. Howells's novel, _A
Hazard of New Fortunes_.
"He's got a good head and he wanted to study
for the ministry when they were all living together
out on the farm ... You know they used
to think that any sort of stuff was good enough
to make a preacher out of; but they wanted the
good timber for business, and so the old man
wouldn't let him."
Foiled in this purpose, Conrad becomes a reformer and receives a
mortal wound in the attempt to protect an old Socialist against the
police, who are trying to quell a mob of strikers (1890).
CON'RADE (_2 syl._), a follower of Don John (bastard brother of Don
Pedro, Prince of Aragon).--Shakespeare, _Much Ado About Nothing_
(1600).
_Conrade_ (_2 syl._), Marquis of Montserrat, who, with the
grand-master of the Templars, conspired against Richard Coeur de
Lion. He was unhorsed in combat, and murdered in his tent by the
Templar.--Sir W. Scott, _The Talisman_ (time, Richard I.).
CONSTANCE, mother of Prince Arthur, and widow of Geoffrey
Plantagenet.--Shakespeare, _King John_ (1598).
Mrs. Bartley's "Lady Macbeth," "Constance,"
and "Queen Katherine" [_Henry VIII._], were
powerful embodiments, and I question if they
have ever since been so finely portrayed (1785-1850).--J.
Adolphus, _Recollections_.
_Constance_, daughter of Sir William Fondlove, and courted by
Wildrake, a country squire, fond of field sports. "Her beauty rich,
richer her grace, her mind yet richer still, though richest all." She
was "the mould express of woman, stature, feature, body, limb;" she
danced well, sang well, harped well. Wildrake was her childhood's
playmate, and became her husband.--S. Knowles, _The Love Chase_
(1837).
_Constance_, daughter of Bertulphe, provost of Bruges, and bride of
Bouchard, a knight of Flanders. She had "beauty to shame young love's
most fervent dream, virtue to form a saint, with just enough of earth
to keep her woman." By an absurd law of Charles "the Good," earl of
Flanders, made in 1127, this young lady, brought up in the lap of
luxury, was reduced to serfdom, because her grandfather was a serf;
her aristocratic husband was also a serf because he married her (a
serf). She went mad at the reverse of fortune, and died.--S. Knowles,
_The Provost of Bruges_ (1836).
_Constance Varley_. American girl traveling in the East with friends,
and bearing with her everywhere the memory of a man she has loved for
years in secret. She meets him at Damascus and after some days of
pleasant companionship, he resolves to offer his hand to her. The
words are upon his tongue, when an unfortunate misunderstanding
divides them forever. A year later she marries another man who loves
her sincerely without appreciating the finest part of her nature.
A woman quotes at sight of Constance's portrait:
"I discern
Infinite passion and the pain
Of finite hearts that yearn."
"There was a singular suggestion of sadness
about the grave sweet eyes, and on the small
close mouth."--Julia C. Fletcher, _Mirage_
(1882).