the pedantic student of Mareschal College. As a soldier of fortune,
he is retained in the service of the Earl of Monteith. The Marquis of
Argyll (leader of the parliamentary army) tried to tamper with him
in prison, but Dugald siezed him, threw him down, and then made his
escape, locking the marquis in the dungeon. After the battle, Captain
Dalgetty was knighted. This "Ritt-master" is a pedant, very conceited,
full of vulgar assurance, with a good stock of worldly knowledge,
a student of divinity, and a soldier who lets his sword out to the
highest bidder. The character is original and well drawn.--Sir W.
Scott, _Legend of Montrose_ (time, Charles I.).
The original of this character was Munro, who wrote an account of the
campaigns of that band of Scotch and English auxiliaries in the island
of Swinemünde, in 1630. Munro was himself one of the band. Dugald
Dalgetty is one of the best of Scott's characters.
DALTON (_Mrs._), housekeeper to the Rev. Mr. Staunton, of Willingham
Rectory.--Sir W. Scott, _Heart of Midlothian_ (time, George II.).
_Dalton (Beginald)_, the hero of a novel so called, by J. C. Lockhart
(1832).
DALZELL (_General Thomas_), in the royal army of Charles II.--Sir W.
Scott, _Old Mortality_ (1816).
DAME DU LAC, Vivienne le Fay. The lake was "en la marche de la petite
Bretaigne;" "en ce lieu ... avoit la dame moult de belles maisons et
moult riches."
_Dame du Lac_, Sebille (2 _syl_.). Her castle was surrounded by a
river on which rested so thick a fog that no eye could see across it.
Alexander the Great abode a fortnight with this fay, to be cured of
his wounds, and King Arthur was the result of their amour. (This is
not in accordance with the general legends of this noted hero. See
ARTHUR.)--_Perceforest_, i. 42.
DAM'IAN, a squire attending on the Grand-Master of the Knights
Templars.--Sir W. Scott, _Ivanhoe_ (time, Richard I.).
DAMIOT'TI (_Dr. Baptisti_), a Paduan quack, who exhibits "the
enchanted mirror" to Lady Forester and Lady Bothwell. They see therein
the clandestine marriage and infidelity of Sir Philip Forester.--Sir
W. Scott, _Aunt Margaret's Mirror_ (time, William III.). DAMIS
_[Dah.me]_, son of Orgon and Elmire (2 _syl_.), impetuous and
self-willed.--Molière, _Tartuffe_ (1664).
DAMN WITH FAINT PRAISE.
Damn with faint praise, assent with evil leer,
And without sneering, teach the rest to sneer.
Pope, _Prologue to the Satires_, 201 (1734).
DAMNO'NII, the people of Damnonium, that is, Cornwall, Devon,
Dorsetshire, and part of Somersetshire. This region, says Richard of
Cirencester (_Hist._ vi. 18), was much frequented by the Phoenician,
Greek, and Gallic merchants, for the metals with which it abounded,
and particularly for its tin.
Wherein our Devonshire now and fartherest Cornwal are,
The old Danmonii [_sic_] dwelt.
Drayton, _Polyolbion_, xvi. (1613).
DAMARIS WAINRIGHT. A woman richly endowed by Nature and fortune, whose
mother and brother have died insane. She comes to maidenly maturity
under the impression which strengthens into belief that madness is her
heritage. After long struggles she accepts the hand of one who has
striven steadily to combat what he considers a morbid conviction, and
makes ready for her marriage. When dressed for the ceremony she sits
down to await her bridegroom, and the image of herself in a tarnished
mirror suggests a train of melancholy musing that result in dementia.
"With a mad impulse to flee she sprang to her
feet just as Lincoln knocked.... For an instant
her failing reason struggled to consciousness
as a drowning swimmer writhes a last time
to the surface, and gasps a breath only to give it
up in futile bubbles that mark the spot where he
sank. With a supreme effort her vanquished
will for a moment re-asserted itself. She knew
her lover was at the door, and she knew also
that the feet of doom had been swifter than those
of the bridegroom.... She sprang forward
and threw open the door."
"'I am mad!' she shrieked, in a voice which
pierced to every corner of the old mansion."
Arlo Bates, _The Wheel of Fire_, (1885).
DAM'OCLES (3 _syl_.), a sycophant, in the court of Dionys'ius _the
Elder_, of Syracuse. After extolling the felicity of princes,
Dionysius told him he would give him experimental proof thereof.
Accordingly he had the courtier arrayed in royal robes and seated at
a sumptuous banquet, but overhead was a sword suspended by a single
horsehair, and Damocles was afraid to stir, lest the hair should break
and the sword fall on him. Dionysius thus intimated that the lives of
kings are threatened every hour of the day.--Cicero.
Let us who have not our names in the Red
Book console ourselves by thinking comfortably
how miserable our betters may be, and that
Damocles, who sits on satin cushions, and is
served on gold plate, has an awful sword hanging
over his head, in the shape of a bailiff, or
hereditary disease, or family secret.--Thackeray,
_Vanity Fair_, xlvii. (1848).
DAMOE'TAS, a herdsman. Theocritos and Virgil use the name in their
pastorals.
And old Damoetas loved to hear our song.
Milton, _Lycidas_ (1638).
DA'MON, a goat-herd in Virgil's third _Eclogue_. Walsh introduces the
same name in his _Eclogues_ also. Any rustic, swain, or herdsman.
DAMON AND DELIA. Damon asks Delia why she looks so coldly on him. She
replies because of his attention to Belvidêra. He says he paid these
attentions at her own request, "to hide the secret of their mutual
love." Delia confesses that his prudence is commendable, but his
acting is too earnest. To this he rejoins that she alone holds his
heart; and Delia replies:
Tho' well I might your truth mistrust,
My foolish heart believes you just;
Reason this faith may disapprove,
But I believe, because I love.
Lord Lyttleton.
DAMON AND MUSIDO'RA, two lovers who misunderstood each other. Musidora
was coy, and Damon thought her shyness indicated indifference; but one
day he saw her bathing, and his delicacy so charmed the maiden that
she at once accepted his proffered love.--Thomson, _The Seasons_
("Summer," 1727).
DA'MON AND PYTH'IAS. Damon, a senator of Syracuse, was by nature
hot-mettled, but was schooled by Pythagore'an philosophy into a Stoic
coldness and slowness of speech. He was a fast friend of the republic,
and when Dionysius was made "King" by a vote of the senate, Damon
upbraided the betrayers of his country, and pronounced Dionysius a
"tryant." For this he was seized, and as he tried to stab Dionysius,
he was condemned to instant death. Damon now craved respite for four
hours to bid farewell to his wife and child, but the request was
denied him. On his way to execution, his friend Pythias encountered
him, and obtained permission of Dionysius to become his surety, and to
die in his stead, if within four hours Damon did not return. Dionysius
not only accepted the bail, but extended the leave to six hours. When
Damon reached his country villa, Lucullus killed his horse to prevent
his return; but Damon, seizing the horse of a chance traveler, reached
Syracuse just as the executioner was preparing to put Pythias to
death. Dionysius so admired this proof of friendship, that he forgave
Damon, and requested to be taken into his friendship.
This subject was dramatized in 1571 by Richard Edwards, and again in
1825 by John Banim.
(The classic name of _Pythias_ is "Phintias.")
DAMSEL OR DAMOISEAU (in Italian, _donzel_; in Latin, _domisellus_);
one of the gallant youths domiciled in the _maison du roi._ These
youths were always sons of the greater vassals. Louis VII. _(le
Jeune_) was called "The Royal Damsel;" and at one time the royal
body-guard was called "The King's Damsells."
DAMSEL OF BRITTANY, Eleanor, daughter of Godffrey (second son of Henry
II. of England). After the death of Arthur, his sister Eleanor was
next in succession to the crown, but John, who had caused Arthur's
death, confined Eleanor in Bristol Castle, where she remained till her
death, in 1241.
D'AMVILLE (2 _syl_), "the atheist," with the assistance of Borachio,
murdered Montferrers, his brother, for his estates.--Cyril Tourneur,
_The Atheists Tragedy_ (seventeenth century).
DAM'YAN (2 _syl_.), the lover of May (the youthful bride of January, a
Lombard knight, 60 years of age).--Chaucer, _Canterbury Tales_ ("The
Merchant's Tale," 1388).
DAN OF THE HOWLET HIRST, the dragon of the revels at Kennaquhair
Abbey.--Sir W. Scott, _The Abbot_ and _The Monastery_ (time,
Elizabeth).
DAN'AE, (3 _syl_.), an Argive princess, visited by Zeus [Jupiter]
in the form of a shower of gold, while she was confined in an
inaccessible tower.
DANAID (3 _syl_), Dan'aus had fifty daughters, called the Danaïds or
Dana'ïdês. These fifty women married the fifty sons of Ægyptus, and
(with one exception) murdered their husbands on the night of their
espousals. For this crime they were doomed in Hadês to pour water
everlastingly into sieves.
Let not your prudence, dearest, drowse or prove
The Danaid of a leaky vase.
Tennyson, _The Princess_, ii.
DANCING CHANCELLOR _(The)_, Sir Christopher Hatton, who attracted the
attention of Queen Elizabeth by his graceful dancing, at a masque. She
took him into favor, and made him both Chancellor and knight of the
Garter (died 1591).
[Illustration] Mons. de Lauzun, the favorite of Louis XIV., owed his
fortune to his grace in dancing in the king's quadrille.
Many more than one nobleman owed the favor he enjoyed at court to
the way he pointed his toe or moved his leg.--A. Dumas, _Taking the
Bastile._
DANCING WATER _(The)_, from the Burning forest. This water had the
power of imparting youthful beauty to those who used it. Prince Chery,
aided by a dove, obtained it for Fairstar.
The dancing water is the eighth wonder of
the world. It beautifies ladies, makes them
young again, and even enriches them.--Comtesse
D'Aunoy, _Fairy Tales_ ("Princess Fairstar,"
1682).
DANDIES _(The Prince of_), Beau Brummel (1778-1840).
DANDIN _(George)_, a rich French tradesman, who marries Ang'elique,
the daughter of Mons. le Baron de Sotenville, and has the "privilege"
of paying-off the family debts, maintaining his wife's noble parents,
and being snubbed on all occasions to his heart's content. He
constantly said to himself; in self-rebuke, _Vous Vavez voulu, vous
Vavez voulu, George Dandin!_ ("You have no one to blame but yourself!
you brought it on yourself, George Dandin!")
Vous l'avez voulu, vous l'avez voulu, George
Dandin! vous l'avez voulu!... vous avez juste-ment
ce que vous meritez.--Molière, _George
Dandin_, i. 9 (1668).
"Well, _tu l'as voulu_, George Dandin," she said,
with a smile, "you were determined on it, and
must bear the consequences."--Percy Fitzgerald,
_The Parvenu Family_, ii. 262.
[Illustration] There is no such phrase in the comedy as _Tu l'as
voulu_, it is always _Vous Vavez voulu_.
DAN'DOLO _(Signor)_, a friend to Fazio in prosperity, but who turns
from him when in disgrace. He says:
Signor, I am paramount
In all affairs of boot and spur and hose;
In matters of the robe and cap supreme;
In ruff disputes, my lord, there's no appeal
From my irrefragibility.
Dean Milman, _Fazio_, ii. I (1815).
DANGEAU _(Jouer a la_), to play as good a hand at cards as Phillippe
de Courcillon, marquis de Dangeau (1638-1720).
DAN'GERFLELD _(Captain)_, a hired witness in the "Popish Plot"--Sir W.
Scott, _Pe-veril of the Peak_ (time, Charles II.).
DANGLE, a gentleman bitten with the theatrical mania, who annoys a
manager with impertinent flattery and advice. It is said that Thomas
Vaughan, a playwright of small reputation, was the original of this
character.--Sheridan, _The Critic_ (see act i. I), (1779).
DAN'HASCH, one of the genii who did not "acknowledge the great
Solomon."
When the Princess Badoura in her sleep was carried to the bed of
Prince Camaral'zaman that she might see him, Danhasch changed himself
into a flea, and bit her lip, at which Badoura awoke, saw the prince
sleeping by her side, and afterwards became his wife.--_Arabian
Nights_ ("Camaralzarnan and Badoura.")
DANIEL, son of Widow Lackitt; a wealthy Indian planter. A noodle of
the softest mould, whom Lucy Weldon marries for his money.--Thomas
Southern, _Oroonoko_ (1696).
DAN'NISCHEMEND, the Persian sorcerer, mentioned in Donnerhugel's
narrative.--Sir W. Scott, _Anne of Geierstein_ (time, Edward IV.).
DANTÊ AND BEATRICE. Some say that Beatrice, in Dantê's _Divina
Commedia_, merely personifies faith; others think it a real character,
and say she was the daughter of the illustrious family of Portinari,
for whom the poet entertained a purely platonic affection. She
meets the poet after he has been dragged through the river Lethê
_(Purgatory_, xxxi), and conducts him through paradise. Beatrice
Portina'ri married Simon de Bardi, and died at the age of 24; Dante
was a few months older.
Some persons say that Dante meant Theology
By Beatrice, and not a mistress; I ...
Deem this a commentator's phantasy.
Byron, _Don Juan_, iii. 11 (1820).
DANTÊ AND-VIRGIL. Virgil was Dante's poetic master and is described as
conducting him through the realms depicted in the _Divina Commedia_.
[Illustration] The poet married Gemma, of the powerful house of
Donati. (See LOVES).
_Dantê's Beard_. All the pictures of
Dantê which I have seen represent him without any beard or hair on his
face at all; but in _Purgatory_, xxxi., Beatrice says to him, "Raise
thou thy beard, and lo! what sight shall do," _i.e._ lift up your face
and look about you; and he adds, "No sooner lifted I mine aspect up
... than mine eyes _(encountered)_ Beatrice."
DAN DEVEREUX. A young Nantucket giant married to a dainty waif rescued
in infancy from the sea. He marries her because she is homeless
and seems to be in love with him. When too late, he knows that his
affections are another's, and sees his wife fascinated by a handsome
French adventurer. In an attempt to elope, the wife and her lover are
wrecked, and clinging to a spar, are overtaken by the "terrible South
Breaker--plunging and rearing and swelling, a monstrous billow,
sweeping and swooping and rocking in." Dan in later life, marries
Georgia, his first love.--Harriet Prescott Spofford, _The South
Breaker_ (1863).
DANTON OF THE CEVENNES. Pierre Seguier, prophet and preacher of
Magistavols, in France. He was a leader amongst the Camisards.
DANVERS _(Charles)_, an embyro barrister of the Middle Temple.--C.
Selby, _The Unfinished Gentleman._
DAPH'NE (2 _syl_.)., daughter of Sileno and Mysis, and sister of Nysa.
The favorite of Apollo while sojourning on earth in the character of a
shepherd lad named "Pol."--Kate O'Hara, _Midas_ (a burletta, 1778).
(In classic mythology Daphnê fled from the amorous god, and escaped by
being changed into a laurel.)
DAPH'NIS, a beautiful Sicilian shepherd, the inventor of bucolic
poetry. He was a son of Mercury, and friend both of Pan and Apollo.
_Daph'nis_, the modest shepherd.
This is that modest shepherd, he
That only dare salute, but ne'er could be
Brought to kiss any, hold discourse, or sing,
Whisper, or boldly ask.
John Fletcher, _The Faithful Shepherdess_, i. 3
(1610).
DAPH'NIS AND CHLO'E, a prose pastoral love story in Greek, by Longos
(a Byzantine), not unlike the tale of _The Gentle Shepherd_, by Allan
Ramsay. Gessner has also imitated the Greek romance in his idyll
called _Daphnis_. In this lovestory Longos says he was hunting in
Lesbos, and saw in a grove consecrated to the nymphs a beautiful
picture of children exposed, lovers plighting their faith, and the
incursions of pirates, which he now expresses and dedicates to Pan,
Cupid, and the nymphs. Daphnis, of course, is the lover of Chloê.
DAPPER, a lawyer's clerk, who went to Subtle "the alchemist," to be
supplied with "a familiar" to make him win in horse-racing, cards,
and all games of chance. Dapper is told to prepare himself for an
interview with the fairy queen by taking "three drops of vinegar in
at the nose, two at the mouth, and one at either ear," "to cry _hum_
thrice and _buzz_ as often."--Ben Jonson, _The Alchemist_ (1610).
DAPPLE, the donkey ridden by Sancho Panza, in Cervantês' romance of
_Don Quixote_ (1605-1615).
DARBY AND JOAN. This ballad, called _The Happy Old Couple_, is printed
in the _Gentleman's Magazine_, v. 153 (March, 1735).
It is also in Plumtre's _Collections of Songs_, 152 (Camb. 1805), with
the music. The words are sometimes attributed to Prior, and the first
line favors the notion: "Dear _Chloe_, while thus beyond measure;"
only Prior always spells _Chloe_ without "h."
Darby and Joan are an old-fashioned, loving couple, wholly averse to
change of any sort. It is generally said that Henry Woodfall was the
author of the ballad, and that the originals were John Darby (printer,
of Bartholomew Close, who died 1730) and his wife Joan. Woodfall
served his apprenticeship with John Darby.
"You may be a Darby _[Mr. Hardcastle]_, but
I'll be no Joan, I promise you."--Goldsmith, _She
Stoops to Conquer_, i. 1 (1773).
DRADU-LE'NA, the daughter of Foldath, general of the Fir-bolg or Belgæ
settled in the south of Ireland. When Foldath fell in battle,
His soul rushed to the vale of Mona, to
Dardu-Lena's dream, by Dalrutho's stream,
where she slept, returning from the chase of
hinds. Her bow is near the maid, unstrung ...
Clothed in the beauty of youth, the love of
heroes lay. Dark-bending from ... the wood
her wounded father seemed to come. He appeared
at times, then hid himself in mist.
Bursting into tears, she arose. She knew that
the chief was low ... Thou wert the last of his
race, O blue-eyed Dardu-Lena!--Ossian, _Temora_,
v.
DARGO, the spear of Ossian, son of Fingal.--Ossian, _Calthon and
Colmal_.
DAR'GONET, "the Tall," son of Astolpho, and brother of Paradine.
In the fight provoked by Oswald against Duke Grondibert, which was
decided by four combatants against four, Dargonet was slain by Hugo
the Little. Dargonet and his brother were rivals for the love of
Lora.--Sir Wm. Davenant, _Gondibert_, i. (died 1668).
DARI'US AND HIS HORSE. The seven candidates for the throne of Persia
agreed that he should be king whose horse neighed first. As the horse
of Darius was the first to neigh, Darius was proclaimed king.
That brave Scythian
Who found more sweetness in his horse's neighing
Than all the Phrygian, Dorian, Lydian playing.
Lord Brooke.
DARLEMONT, guardian and maternal uncle of Julio of Harancour; formerly
a merchant. He takes possession of the inheritance of his ward by foul
means, but is proud as Lucifer, suspicious, exacting, and tyrannical.
Every one fears him; no one loves him.--Thorn. Holcroft, _Deaf and
Dumb_ (1785.)
DARLING _(Grace)_, daughter of William Darling, lighthouse-keeper on
Longs tone, one of the Fame Islands. On the morning of September 7,
1838, Grace and her father saved nine of the crew of the _Forfarshire_
steamer, wrecked among the Fame Islands opposite Bamborough Castle
(1815-1842).
DARNAY _(Charles)_, the lover and afterwards the husband of Lucie
Manette. He bore a strong likeness to Sydney Carton, and was a noble
character, worthy of Lucie. His real name was Evrémonde.--C. Dickens,
_A Tale of Two Cities_ (1859.)
DARNEL _(Aurelia)_, a character in Smollet's novel entitled _The
Adventures of Sir Launcelot Greaves_ (1760).
DARNLEY, the _amant_ of Charlotte [Lambert], in _The Hypocrite_, by
Isaac Bicker-staff. In Molière's comedy of _Tartuffe_, Charlotte is
called "Mariane," and Darnley is "Valère."
DAR'-THULA, daughter of Colla, and "fairest of Erin's maidens." She
fell in love with Nathos, one of the three sons of Usnoth, lord of
Etha (in Argyllshire). Cairbar, the rebel was also in love with her,
but his suit was rejected. Nathos was made commander of King Cormac's
army at the death of Cuthullin, and for a time upheld the tottering
throne. But the rebel grew stronger and stronger, and at length found
means to murder the young king; whereupon the army under Nathos
deserted. Nathos was now obliged to quit Ireland, and Dar-Thula fled
with him. A storm drove the vessel back to Ulster, where Cairbar was
encamped, and Nathos, with his two brothers, being overpowered by
numbers, fell. Dar-Thula was arrayed as a young warrior; but when her
lover was slain "her shield fell from her arm; her breast of snow
appeared, but it was stained with blood. An arrow was fixed in
her side," and her dying blood was mingled with that of the three
brothers.--Ossian, _Dar-Thula_ (founded on the story of "Deirdri," i.
_Trans, of the Gaelic Soc_.)
DAR'TLE (_Rosa_), companion of Mrs. Steerforth. She loved Mrs.
Steerforth's son, but her love was not reciprocated. Miss Dartle is a
vindictive woman, noted for a scar on her lip, which told tales when
her temper was aroused. This scar was from a wound given by young
Steerforth, who struck her on the lip when a boy.--C. Dickens, _David
Copperfield_ (1849).
DARWIN'S MISSING LINK, the link between the monkey and man. According
to Darwin, the present host of animal life began from a few elemental
forms, which developed, and by natural selection propagated certain
types of animals, while others less suited to the battle of life died
out. Thus, beginning with the larvae of ascidians (a marine mollusc,)
we get by development to fish lowly organized (as the lancelet),
thence to ganoids and other fish, then to amphibians. From amphibians
we get to birds and reptiles, and thence to mammals, among which comes
the monkey, between which and man is a MISSING LINK.
DASHALL (_The Hon. Tom_), cousin of Tally-ho. The rambles and
adventures of these two blades are related by Pierce Egan (1821-1822).
D'ASUMAR (_Count_), an old Nestor who fancied nothing was so good as
when he was a young man.
"Alas! I see no men nowadays comparable
to those I knew heretofore; and the tournaments
are not performed with half the magnificence as
when I was a young man...." Seeing some
fine peaches served up, he observed, "In my
time, the peaches were much larger than they
are at present; natures degenerates every day."
"At that rate," said his companion, smiling,
"the peaches of Adam's time must have been
wonderfully large."--Lesage, _Gil Blas_, iv. 7
(1724).
DAUGHTER (_The_), a drama by S. Knowles (1836). Marian, "daughter" of
Robert, once a wrecker, was betrothed to Edward, a sailor, who went on
his last voyage, and intended then to marry her. During his absence a
storm at sea arose, a body was washed ashore, and Robert went down to
plunder it. Marian went to look for her father and prevent his robbing
those washed ashore by the waves, when she saw in the dusk some one
stab a wrecked body. It was Black Norris, but she thought it was her
father. Robert being taken up Marian gave witness against him, and he
was condemned to death. Norris said he would save her father if she
would marry him, and to this she consented; but on the wedding day
Edward returned. Norris was taken up for murder, and Marian was saved.
DAUGHTER WITH HER MURDERED FATHER'S HEAD. Margaret Roper, daughter of
Sir Thomas More, obtained privately the head of her father, which had
been exposed for some days on London Bridge, and buried it in St.
Dunstan's Church, Canterbury (1835). Tennyson alludes to this in the
following lines:--
Morn broadened on the borders of the dark,
Ere I saw her who clasped in her last trance
Her murdered father's head.
The head of the young earl of Derwent-water was exposed on Temple Bar
in 1716. His wife drove in a cart under the the arch, and a man, hired
for the purpose, threw the young earl's head into the cart, that it
might be decently buried--Sir Bernard Burke Mdlle. de Sombreuil,
daughter of the Comte de Sombreuil, insisted on the sharing her
father's prison during the "Reign of Terror," and in accompanying him
to the guillotine.
DAUPHIN _(Le Grand_), Louis duc de Bourgoyne, eldest son of Louis
XIV., for whom was published the _Delphine Classics_ (1661-1711).
_Dauphin (Le Petit)_, son of the "Grand Dauphin" (1682-1712).