Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction, and the Drama, Vol. 4 / A Revised American Edition of the Reader's Handbook

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The scope of this volume includes topics from ‘Falkland’ to ‘Mark’. There are numerous cross-references between topics, many of themm to be found in other volumes of this edition. Several of these are already provided by Project Gutenberg, but without the mechanism of allowing for external hyperlinks. To avoid any confusion, none of the references were linked.

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HARACTER SKETCHES

OF ROMANCE, FICTION

AND THE DRAMA::::

A REVISED AMERICAN EDITION

OF THE READER’S HANDBOOK

BY

THE REV. E. COBHAM BREWER, LL.D.

EDITED BY

MARION HARLAND

VOLUME IV

NEW YORK SELMAR HESS PUBLISHER

MDCCCXCII

Copyright, 1892, by

SELMAR HESS.

PHOTOGRAVURES PRINTED ON THE

HESS PRESS.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

VOLUME IV.

PHOTOGRAVURES AND ETCHINGS.

CHARACTER SKETCHES OF ROMANCE,

FICTION, AND THE DRAMA.

Skeggs (Miss Carolina Wilhelmina Amelia), the companion of “Lady Blarney.” These were two flash women, introduced by Squire Tuthill to the Primrose family, with a view of beguiling the two eldest daughters, who were both very beautiful. Sir William Thornhill thwarted their infamous purpose.--Goldsmith, Vicar of Wakefield (1766).

Skeleton (Sam), a smuggler.--Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George III.).

Sketchley (Arthur), George Rose, author of Mrs. Brown (her observations on men and objects, politics and manners, etc.).

Skettles (Sir Barnet), of Fulham. He expressed his importance by an antique gold snuff-box and a silk handkerchief. His hobby was to extend his acquaintances, and to introduce people to each other. Skettles, junior, was a pupil of Dr. Blimber.--C. Dickens, Dombey and Son (1846).

Skevington’s Daughter, an instrument of torture invented by Skevington, lieutenant of the Tower, in the reign of Henry VIII. It consisted of a broad iron hoop, in two parts, jointed with a hinge. The victim was put into the hoop, which was then squeezed close and locked. Here he remained for about an hour and a half in the most inexpressible torture. (Generally corrupted into the “Scavenger’s Daughter.”)

Skewton (The Hon. Mrs.), mother of Edith (Mr. Dombey’s second wife). Having once been a beauty, she painted when old and shrivelled, became enthusiastic about the “charms of nature,” and reclined in her bath-chair in the attitude she assumed in her barouche when young and well off. A fashionable artist had painted her likeness in this attitude, and called his picture “Cleopatra.” The Hon. Mrs. Skewton was the sister of the late Lord Feenix, and aunt to the present lord.--C. Dickens, Dombey and Son (1846).

Skiffins (Miss), an angular, middle-aged woman, who wears “green kid gloves when dressed for company.” She marries Wemmick.--C. Dickens, Great Expectations (1860).

Skimpole (Harold), an amateur artist, always sponging on his friends. Under a plausible, light-hearted manner he was intensely selfish, but Mr. Jarndyce looked on him as a mere child, and believed in him implicitly.--C. Dickens, Bleak House (1852).

(The original of this character was Leigh Hunt, who was greatly displeased at the skit.)

Skin (The Man without a), Richard Cumberland. So called by Garrick, on account of his painful sensitiveness of all criticism. The same irritability of temper made Sheridan caricature him in The Critic as “Sir Fretful Plagiary” (1732-1811).

Skinfaxi (“shining mane”), the horse which draws the chariot of day.--Scandinavian Mythology.

Skofnung, the sword of King Rolf, the Norway hero, preserved for centuries in Iceland.

Skogan. (See Scogan.)

Skreigh (Mr.), the precentor at the Gordon Arms inn, Kippletringan.--Sir W. Scott, Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

Skulls at Banquets. Plutarch tells us that towards the close of an Egyptian feast a servant brought in a skeleton, and cried to the guests, “Eat, drink, and be merry, for to-morrow you die!”

Like skulls at Memphian banquets.

Byron, Don Juan, iii. 65 (1820).

Skurliewhitter (Andrew), the scrivener.--Sir W. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel (time, James I.).

Sky-Lark, a lark with the “skies,” or ’scīs. The Westminster boys used to style themselves Romans, and the “town,” Volsci; the latter word was curtailed to ’sci [sky]. A row between the Westminsterians and the town roughs was called a ’sci-lark, or a lark with the Volsci.

Skyresh Bol´golam, the high admiral or galbert of the realm of Lilliput.--Swift, Gulliver’s[Gulliver’s] Travels (“Voyage to Lilliput,” iii., 1726).

Slackbridge, one of the “hands” in Bounderby’s mill at Coketown. Slackbridge is an ill-conditioned fellow, ill-made, with lowering eyebrows, and though inferior to many of the others, exercises over them a great influence. He is the orator, who stirs up his fellow-workmen to strike.--C. Dickens, Hard Times (1854).

Slammerkin (Mrs.). Captain Macheath says of her, “She is careless and genteel.” “All you fine ladies,” he adds, “who know your own beauty, affect an undress.”--Gay, The Beggar’s Opera, ii. 1 (1727).

Slander, an old hag, of “ragged, rude attyre, and filthy lockes,” who sucked venom out of her nails. It was her nature to abuse all goodness, to frame groundless charges, to “steale away the crowne of a good name,” and “never thing so well was doen, but she with blame would blot, and of due praise deprive.”

A foule and loathly creature sure in sight,

And in condition to be loathed no lesse:

For she was stuft with rancor and despight

Up to the throat, that oft with bitternesse

It forth would breake and gush in great excesse,

Pouring out streames of poyson and of gall

’Gainst all that truth or vertue doe professe,

Whom she with leasings lewdly did miscall,

And wickedly backbite. Her name men “Slaunder” call.

Spenser, Faëry Queen, IV. viii. 24 (1596[1596]).

Slang, from Slangenberg, a Dutch general, noted for his abusive and exaggerated epithets when he reproved the men under his command. The etymon is suited to this dictionary, and the following are not without wit:--Italian, s-lingua, s negative and lingua = “bad language;” French, esclandre, “an event which gives rise to scandal,” hence, faire esclandre, “to expose one to scandal,” causer de l’escandre, “to give ground for scandal;” Greek, skandălon, “an offense, a scandal.” “Slangs,” fetters for malefactors.

Slango, a lad, servant of Gaylove, a young barrister. He dresses up as a woman, and when Squire Sapskull comes from Yorkshire for a wife, Slango passes himself off as Arbella. In the mean time, Gaylove assumes the airs and manners of a Yorkshire tike, and marries Arbella, with whom he is in love.--Carey, The Honest Yorkshireman (1736).

Slawken-Ber´gius Hafen, an imaginary author, distinguished for the great length of his nose. In the Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy (by Sterne), Slawken-Bergius is referred to as a great authority on all lore connected with noses, and a curious tale is introduced from his hypothetical works about a man with an enormously long nose.

No nose can be justly amputated by the public, not even the nose of Slawken-Bergius himself.--Carlyle.

Slaygood (Giant), master of a gang of thieves which infested the King’s highway. Mr. Greatheart slew him, and rescued Feeblemind from his grasp in a duel.--Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress, ii. (1684).

Sleary, proprietor of the circus at Coketown. A stout man with one eye fixed and one loose, a voice like the efforts of a broken pair of bellows, a flabby skin, and muddled head. He was never sober and never drunk, but always kind-hearted. Tom Gradgrind, after robbing the bank, lay concealed in this circus as a black servant till Sleary connived at his escape. This Sleary did in gratitude to Thomas Gradgrind, Esq., M.P., who adopted and educated Cecilia Jupe, daughter of his clown, Signor Jupe.

Josephine Sleary, daughter of the circus proprietor, a pretty girl of 18, who had been tied on a horse at two years old, and had made a will at 12. This will she carried about with her, and in it she signified her desire to be drawn to the grave by two piebald ponies. Josephine married E. W. B. Childers, of her father’s circus.--C. Dickens, Hard Times (1854).

Sleek (Aminadab), in The Serious Family, a comedy by Morris Barnett.

Sleeper (The). Almost all nations have a tradition about some sleeper who will wake after a long period of dormancy.

American (North). Rip van Winkle, a Dutch colonist, of New York, slept twenty years in the Catskill Mountains[Mountains].--Washington Irving.

American (South). Sebastian I., supposed to have fallen in the battle of Alcazarquebir, in 1578, is only asleep, and will in due time awake, return to life, and make Brazil the chief kingdom of the earth.

Arabian Legends. Mahommed Mohadi, the twelfth imân, is only sleeping, like Charlemagne, till Antichrist appears, when he will awake in his strength, and overthrow the great enemy of all true believers.

Nourjahad is only in a temporary sleep, waiting the fulness of time.

British Traditions. King Arthur is not dead in Avillon, but is merely metamorphosed into a raven. In due time he will awake, resume his proper person, claim the throne of Britain, and make it the head and front of all the kingdoms of the globe. “Because King Arthur bears for the nonce the semblance of a raven, the people of Britain never kill a raven” (Cervantes, Don Quixote, I. ii. 5).

Gyneth slept 500 years by the enchantment of Merlin. She was the natural daughter of King Arthur and Guendolen, and was thus punished because she would not put an end to a combat in which twenty knights were mortally wounded, including Merlin’s son.--Sir W. Scott, Bridal of Triermain (1813).

Merlin, the enchanter, is not dead, but “sleeps and sighs in an old tree, spell-bound by Vivien.”--British Legend.

St. David was thrown into an enchanted sleep by Ormandine, but after sleeping for seven years, was awoke by Merlin.

French Legend. The French slain in the Sicilian Vespers are not really dead, but they sleep for the time being, awaiting the day of retribution.

German Legends. Barbarossa, with six of his knights, sleeps in Kyffhaüsberg, in Thuringia, till the fulness of time, when they will awake and make Germany the foremost kingdom of the earth. The beard of the red king has already grown through the table slab at which he is sitting, but it must wind itself three times round the table before his second event. Barbarossa occasionally wakes and asks, “Is it time?” when a voice replies, “Not yet. Sleep on.”

Charlemagne is not dead, but only asleep in Untersberg, near Saltzburg, waiting for the advent of Antichrist, when he will rouse from his slumber, go forth conquering, and will deliver Christendom that it may be fit for the second advent and personal reign of Christ.

Charles V., kaiser of Germany, is only asleep, waiting his time, when he will awake, return to earth, “resume the monarchy over Germany, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark, putting all enemies under his feet.”

Knez Lazar, of Servia, supposed to have been slain by the Turks in 1389, is not really dead, but has put on sleep for a while, and at an allotted moment he will re-appear in his full strength.

Grecian Legends. Endym´ion, a beautiful youth, sleeps a perpetual sleep in Latmos. Selēnê (the moon) fell in love with him, kissed him, and still lies by his side. In the British Museum is an exquisite statue of Endymion asleep.--Greek Fable.

Epimen´ides (5 syl.), the Cretan poet, was sent in boyhood to search for a stray sheep; being heated and weary, he stepped into a cave, and fell asleep for fifty-seven years. Epimenidês, we are told, attained the age of 154, 157, 229, and some say 289 years.--Pliny, History, vii. 12.

Irish Traditions. Brian, surnamed “Boroimhe,” king of Ireland, who conquered the Danes in twenty pitched battles, and was supposed to have been slain in the battle of Clontarf, in 1014, was only stunned. He still sleeps in his castle of Kincora, and the day of Ireland’s necessity will be Brian’s opportunity.

Desmond of Kilmallock, in Limerick, supposed to have perished in the reign of Elizabeth, is only sleeping under the waters of lough Gur. Every seventh year he re-appears in full armor, rides round the lake early in the morning, and will ultimately reappear and claim the family estates.--Sir W. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel.

Jewish Legend. Elijah, the prophet, is not dead, but sleeps in Abraham’s bosom till Antichrist appears, when he will return to Jerusalem and restore all things.

Russian Tradition. Elijah Mansur, warrior, prophet, and priest in Asiatic Russia, tried to teach a more tolerant form of Islâm, but was looked on as a heretic, and condemned to imprisonment in the bowels of a mountain. There he sleeps, waiting patiently the summons which will be given him, when he will awake, and wave his conquering sword to the terror of the Muscovite.--Milner, Gallery of Geography, 781.

Scandinavian Tradition. Olaf Tryggvason, king of Norway, who was baptized in London, and introduced Christianity into Norway, Iceland and Greenland. Being overthrown by Swolde, king of Sweden (A.D. 1000), he threw himself into the sea and swam to the Holy Land, became an anchorite, and fell asleep at a greatly advanced age; but he is only waiting his opportunity, when he will sever Norway from Sweden, and raise it to a first-class power.

Scottish Tradition. Thomas of Erceldoune sleeps beneath the Eildon Hills, in Scotland. One day an elfin lady led him into a cavern in these hills, and he fell asleep for seven years, when he revisited the upper earth, under a bond that he would return immediately the elfin lady summoned him. One day, as he was making merry with his friends, he heard the summons, kept his word, and has never since been seen.--Sir W. Scott, Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border.

Spanish Tradition. Bobadil el Chico, last of the Moorish kings of Granada, lies spell-bound near the Alhambra, but in the day appointed he will return to earth and restore the Moorish government in Spain.

Swiss Legend. Three of the family of Tell sleep a semi-death at Rütli, waiting for the hour of their country’s need, when they will wake up and deliver it.

⁂ See Seven Sleepers.

Sleeper Awakened (The). Abou Hassan, the son of a rich merchant at Bagdad, inherited a good fortune; but, being a prudent man, made a vow to divide it into two parts: all that came to him from rents he determined to set apart, but all that was of the nature of cash he resolved to spend on pleasure. In the course of a year he ran through this fund, and then made a resolve in future to ask only one guest at a time to his board. This guest was to be a stranger, and never to be asked a second time. It so happened that the Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid, disguised as a merchant, was on one occasion his guest, and heard Abou Hassan say that he wished he were caliph for one day, and he would punish a certain imân for tittle-tattling. Haroun-al-Raschid thought that he could make capital of this wish for a little diversion; so, drugging the merchant’s wine, he fell into a profound sleep, was conveyed to the palace, and, on waking, was treated as the caliph. He ordered the imân to be punished, and sent his mother a handsome gift; but at night, another sleeping draught being given him, he was carried back to his own house. When he woke he could not decide if he had been in a dream or not, but his conduct was so strange that he was taken to a mad-house. He was confined for several days, and, being discharged, the caliph in disguise again visited him, and repeated the same game, so that next day he could not tell which had been the dream. At length the mystery was cleared up, and he was given a post about the caliph’s person, and the sultana gave him a beautiful slave for his wife. Abou Hassan now played a trick on the caliph. He pretended to be dead, and sent his young wife to the sultana to announce the sad news. Zobeida, the sultana, was very much grieved, and gave her favorite a sum of money for the funeral expenses. On her return she played the dead woman, and Abou Hassan went to the caliph to announce his loss. The caliph expressed his sympathy, and, having given him a sum of money for the funeral expenses, went to the sultana to speak of the sad news of the death of the young bride. “The bride?” cried Zobeida; “you mean the bridegroom, commander of the faithful.” “No, I mean the bride,” answered the caliph, “for Abou Hassan has but just left me.” “That cannot be, sire,” retorted Zobeida, “for it is not an hour ago that the bride was here to announce his death.” To settle this moot point, the chief of the eunuchs was sent to see which of the two was dead; and Abou, who saw him coming, got the bride to pretend to be dead, and set himself at her head bewailing, so the man returned with the report that it was the bride who was dead, and not the bridegroom. The sultana would not believe him, and sent her aged nurse to ascertain the fact. As she approached, Abou Hassan pretended to be dead, and the bride to be the wailing widow; accordingly, the nurse contradicted the report of the eunuch. The caliph and sultana, with the nurse and eunuch, then all went to see for themselves, and found both apparently dead. The caliph now said he would give 1000 pieces of gold to know which died first, when Abou Hassan cried, “Commander of the faithful, it was I who died first.” The trick was found out, the caliph nearly died with laughter, and the jest proved a little mine of wealth to the court favorite.--Arabian Nights.

Sleepers. (See Seven Sleepers.)

Sleeping Beauty (The), a lady who sleeps in a castle a hundred years, during which time an impenetrable wood springs up around the castle; but being at length disenchanted by a young prince, she marries him. The brothers Grimm have reproduced this tale in German. The old Norse tale of Brynhild and Sigurd seems to be the original of The Sleeping Beauty.--Perrault, Contes du Temps (“La Belle au Bois Dormant,” 1697).

(Tennyson has poetized this nursery story.)

Sleepner, the horse of Odin.

Slender, one of the suitors of “sweet Anne Page.” His servant’s name is Simple. Slender is a country lout, cousin of Justice Shallow.--Shakespeare, Merry Wives of Windsor (1596).

Slick Mose, idiot boy, yet with animal instinct and dogged fidelity enough to make him signally useful to those to whom he is attached. “Della sets a heap by Slick Mose’s notions in things,” said the Colonel. “Well, there’s no tellin’ ’bout these half-witted creatures. And more people are half-witted than is suspected.”--Octave Thanet, Expiation (1890).

Slick (Sam), Judge Thomas Chandler Haliburton, of Nova Scotia, author of The Clockmaker (1837).

Sam Slick, a Yankee clockmaker and pedlar, wonderfully ’cute, a great observer, full of quaint ideas, droll wit, odd fancies, surprising illustrations, and plenty of “soft sawder.” Judge Haliburton wrote the two series called Sam Slick, or the Clockmaker (1837).

Sliderskew (Peg), the hag-like housekeeper of Arthur Gride. She robs her master of some deeds, and thereby brings on his ruin.--C. Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby (1838).

Sligo (Dr.), of Ireland. He looks with contempt on his countryman, Dr. Osasafras, because he is but a parvenu.

Osasafras? That’s a name of no note. He is not a Milesian, I am sure. The family, I suppose, came over the other day with Strongbow, not above seven or eight hundred years ago.--Foote, The Devil Upon Two Sticks (1768).

Slingsby (Jonathan Freke), John Francis Waller, author of The Slingsby Papers (1852), etc.

Slingsby (Philip), pseudonym of N. P. Willis, in the series of essays and tales published as The Slingsby Papers. Chief among these is Love in the Library (184-).

Slip, the valet of young Harlowe (son of Sir Harry Harlowe, of Dorsetshire). He schemes with Martin, a fellow-servant, to contract a marriage between Martin and Miss Stockwell (daughter of a wealthy merchant), in order to get possession of £10,000, the wedding portion. The plan was this: Martin was to pass himself off as young Harlowe, and marry the lady or secure the dot; but Jenny (Miss Stockwell’s maid) informs Belford, the lover of Miss Stockwell, and he arrests the two knaves just in time to prevent mischief.--Garrick, Neck or Nothing (1766).

Slippers, which enabled the feet to walk, knives that cut of themselves, and sabres which dealt blows at a wish, were presents brought to Vathek by a hideous monster without a name.--W. Beckford, Vathek (1784).

Slippery Sam, a highwayman in Captain Macheath’s gang. Peachum says he should dismiss him, because “the villain hath the impudence to have views of following his trade as a tailor, which he calls an honest employment.”--Gay, The Beggar’s Opera, i. (1727).

Slipslop (Mrs.), a lady of frail morals.--Fielding, Joseph Andrews (1742).

Slocums (The), Rowland Slocum, the head of a large marble-yard, and a good citizen. He gives Richard Shackford employment, and lets him become an inmate of his family.

Margaret Slocum, a motherless, only child, her father’s housekeeper, Richard Shackford’s fast friend, and, in time, his wife.--T. B. Aldrich, The Stillwater Tragedy (1880).

Slop (Dr.), Sir John Stoddart, M.D., editor of the New Times, who entertained an insane hatred of Napoleon Bonaparte, called by him “The Corsican Fiend.” William Hone devised the name from Stoddart’s book entitled Slop’s Shave at a Broken Hone (1820), and Thomas Moore helped to popularize it (1773-1856).

Slop (Dr.), a choleric, enthusiastic, and bigoted physician. He breaks down Tristram’s nose, and crushes Uncle Toby’s fingers to a jelly, in attempting to demonstrate the use and virtues of a newly invented pair of obstetrical forceps.--Sterne, The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1759).

(Under this name, Sterne ridiculed Dr. Burton, a man mid-wife of York.)

Slopard (Dame), wife of Grimbard, the brock or badger, in the beast-epic of Reynard the Fox (1498).

Sloppy, a love-child, brought up by Betty Higden, for whom he turned the mangle. When Betty died, Mr. Boffin apprenticed him to a cabinet-maker. Sloppy is described as “a very long boy, with a very little head, and an open mouth of disproportionate capacity that seemed to assist his eyes in staring.” It is hinted that he became “the prince” of Jenny Wren, the doll’s dressmaker.

Of an ungainly make was Sloppy. There was too much of him longwise, too little of him broadwise, and too many sharp angles of him angle-wise.... He had a considerable capital of knee, and elbow, and wrist, and ankle. Full-private Number One in the awkward squad was Sloppy.--C. Dickens, Our Mutual Friend, I. i. 16 (1864).

Slote (Hon. Bardwell). Member of Congress, who condenses phrases into initials, expressing himself phonetically as “H. K.” for Hard Cash, and “G. F.” for Jug Full.--B. E. Woolf, The Mighty Dollar (1875).

Slough of Despond (The), a deep bog, which Christian had to pass on his way to the Wicket Gate. Neighbor Pliable would not attempt it, and turned back. While Christian was floundering in the slough, Help came to his aid, and assisted him over.

The name of the slough was Despond. Here they wallowed for a time, and Christian, because of the burden that was on his back, began to sink into the mire. This miry slough is such a place as cannot be mended. It is the descent whither the scum and filth that attends conviction of sin doth continually run, and therefore is it called the Slough of Despond; for still, as the sinner is awakened about his lost condition, there arise in his soul many fears and doubts and discouraging apprehensions, which all of them get together, and settle in this place, and this is the reason of the badness of this ground.--Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress, i. (1678).

Slowboy (Tilly), nurse and general help of Mr. and Mrs. Peerybingle. She “was of a spare and straight shape, insomuch that her garments appeared to be in constant danger of sliding off her shoulders. Her costume was remarkable for its very partial development, and always afforded glimpses at the back of a pair of dead-green stays.” Miss Tilly was very fond of baby, but had a surprising talent for getting it into difficulties, bringing its head into perpetual contact with doors, dressers, stair-rails, bedposts, and so on. Tilly, who had been a foundling, looked upon the house of Peerybingle, the carrier, as a royal residence, and loved both Mr. and Mrs. Peerybingle with all the intensity of an undivided affection.--C. Dickens, The Cricket on the Hearth (1845).

Sludge (Gammer), the landlady of Erasmus Holiday, the schoolmaster in White Horse Vale.

Dickie Sludge, or “Flibbertigibbet,” her dwarf grandson.--Sir W. Scott, Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

Slum (Mr.), a patter poet, who dressed en militaire. He called on Mrs. Jarley, exhibitor of wax-works, all by accident. “What, Mr. Slum?” cried the lady of the wax-works; “who’d have thought of seeing you here?” “’Pon my soul and honor,” said Mr. Slum, “that’s a good remark! ’Pon my soul and honor, that’s a wise remark.... Why I came here? ’Pon my soul and honor, I hardly know what I came here for.... What a splendid classical thing is this, Mrs. Jarley! ’Pon my soul and honor, it is quite Minervian!” “It’ll look well, I fancy,” observed Mrs. Jarley. “Well!” said Mr. Slum; “It would be the delight of my life, ’pon my soul and honor, to exercise my Muse on such a delightful theme. By the way--any orders, madam? Is there anything I can do for you?” (ch. xxviii.).

“Ask the perfumers,” said the military gentleman, “ask the blacking-makers, ask the hatters, ask the old lottery office keepers, ask any man among ’em what poetry has done for him, and mark my word, he blesses the name of Slum.”[Slum.”]--C. Dickens, The Old Curiosity Shop (1840).

Slumkey (Samuel), “blue” candidate for the representation of the borough of Eatanswill in parliament. His opponent is Horatio Fizkin, who represents the “buff” interest.--C. Dickens, The Pickwick Papers (1836).

Sly (Christopher), a keeper of bears, and a tinker. In the induction of Shakespeare’s comedy called Taming of the Shrew, Christopher is found dead drunk by a nobleman, who commands his servant to take him to his mansion and attend on him as a lord. The trick is played, and the “commonty” of Taming of the Shrew is performed for the delectation of the ephemeral lord.

A similar trick was played by Haroun-al-Raschid on a rich merchant, named Abou Hassan (see Arabian Nights, “The Sleeper Awakened”). Also by Philippe le Bon of Burgundy, on his marriage with Eleanora (see Burton, Anatomy of Melancholy, ii. 2, 4; 1624).

Slyne (Chevy), one of old Martin Chuzzlewit’s numerous relations. He is a drunken, good-for-nothing vagabond, but his friend, Montague Tigg, considers him “an unappreciated genius.” His chief peculiarity consists in his always being “round the corner.”--C. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit (1844).

Small (Gilbert), the pinmaker, a hard-working old man, who loves his son most dearly.

Thomas Small, the son of Gilbert, a would-be man of fashion and maccaroni. Very conceited of his fine person, he thinks himself the very glass of fashion. Thomas Small resolves to make a fortune by marriage, and allies himself to Kate, who turns out to be the daughter of Strap, the cobbler.--S. Knowles, The Beggar of Bethnal Green (1834).

Small Beer Poet (The). W. Thomas Fitzgerald. He is now known only for one line, quoted in the Rejected Addresses: “The tree of freedom is the British oak.”--Cobbett gave him the sobriquet (1759-1829).

Small-Endians, a “religious sect” in Lilliput, who made it an article of orthodoxy to break their eggs at the small end. By the Small-endians is meant the Protestant party; the Roman Catholics are called the Big-endians, from their making it a sine quâ non for all true Churchmen to break their eggs at the big end.--Swift, Gulliver’s Travels (“Voyage to Lilliput,” 1726).

Smallweed Family (The), a grasping, ill-conditioned lot, consisting of grandfather, grandmother, and the twins, Bartholomew and Judy. The grandfather indulges in vituperative exclamations against his aged wife, with or without provocation, and flings at her anything he can lay his hand on. He becomes, however, so dilapidated at last that he has to be shaken up by his amiable grand-daughter, Judy, in order to be aroused to consciousness.

Bart., i.e., Bartholomew Smallweed, a youth, who moulds himself on the model of Mr. Gruppy, the lawyer’s clerk, in the office of Kenge and Carboy. He prides himself on being “a limb of the law,” though under 15 years of age; indeed it is reported of him that his first long clothes were made out of a lawyer’s blue bag.--C. Dickens, Bleak House (1852).

Sma´trash (Eppie), the ale-woman at Wolf’s Hope village.--Sir W. Scott, Bride of Lammermoor (time, William III.).

Smauker (John), footman of Angelo Cyrus Bantam. He invites Sam Weller to a “swarry” of “biled mutton.”--C. Dickens, The Pickwick Papers (1836).

Smectym´nuus, the title of a celebrated pamphlet containing an attack upon episcopacy (1641). The title is composed of the initial letters of the five writers, SM (Stephen Marshall), EC (Edmund Calamy), TY (Thomas Young), MN (Matthew Newcomen), UUS (William Spurstow). Sometimes one U is omitted. Butler says the business of synods is:

To find in lines of beard and face.

The physiognomy of “Grace;”

And by the sound and twang of nose,

If all be sound within disclose ...

The handkerchief about the neck

(Canonical cravat of Smeck,

From whom the institution came

When Church and State they set on flame ...)

Judge rightly if “regeneration”

Be of the newest cut in fashion.

Hudibras, i. 3 (1663).

Smelfungus. Smollett was so called by Sterne, because his volume of Travels through France and Italy is one perpetual snarl from beginning to end.

The lamented Smelfungus travelled from Boulogne to Paris, from Paris to Rome, and so on; but he set out with the spleen and jaundice, and every object he passed by was discolored or distorted. He wrote an account of them, but ’twas nothing but the account of his own miserable feelings.--Sterne, Sentimental Journey (1768).

Smell a Voice. When a young prince had clandestinely visited the young princess brought up in the palace of the Flower Mountain, the fairy mother, Violenta, said, “I smell the voice of a man,” and commanded the dragon on which she rode to make search for the intruder.--Comtesse D’Aunoy, Fairy Tales (“The White Cat,” 1682).

Bottom says, in the part of “Pyramus:”

I see a voice, now will I to the chink,

To spy an I can hear my Thisbe’s face.

Shakespeare, Midsummer Night’s Dream, act v. sc. 1 (1592).

Smike (1 syl.), a poor, half-starved, half-witted boy, the son of Ralph Nickleby. As the marriage was clandestine, the child was put out to nurse, and neither its father or mother went to see it. When about seven years old, the child was stolen by one Brooker, out of revenge, and put to school at Dotheboys Hall, Yorkshire. Brooker paid the school fees for six years, and being then transported, the payment ceased, and the boy was made a sort of drudge. Nicholas Nickleby took pity on him, and when he left, Smike ran away to join his friend, who took care of the poor half-witted creature till he died.--C. Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby (1838).

Smiler, a sheriff’s officer, in A Regular Fix, by J. M. Morton.

Smilinda, a lovelorn maiden, to whom Sharper was untrue. Pope, in his eclogue called The Basset Table (1715), makes Cordelia and Smilinda contend on this knotty point, “Who suffers most, she who loses at basset, or she who loses her lover?” They refer the question to Betty Lovet. Cordelia stakes her “lady’s companion, made by Mathers, and worth fifty guineas,” on the point; and Smilinda stakes a snuff-box, won at Corticelli’s in a raffle, as her pledge. When Cordelia has stated the iron agony of loss at cards, and Smilinda the crushing grief of losing a sweetheart, “strong as a footman, and as his master sweet,” Lovet awards the lady’s companion to Smilinda, and the snuff-box to Cordelia, and bids both give over, “for she wants her tea.” Of course, this was suggested by Virgil’s Eclogue, iii.

Smiley (Jim), the champion better of Calaveras County, and owner of a trained frog.--Mark Twain, The Jumping Frog (1867).

Smith (Henry), alias “Henry Gow,” alias “Gow Chrom,” alias “Hal of the Wynd,” the armorer, and lover of Catharine Glover, whom at the end he marries.--Sir W. Scott, Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.)

Smith (Mr.), a faithful, confidential clerk in the bank of Dornton and Sulky.--Holcroft, The Road to Ruin (1792).

Smith (Rainy Day), John Thomas Smith, Antiquary (1766-1833).

Smith (Wayland), an invisible farrier, who haunted the “Vale of White Horse,” in Berkshire, where three flat stones supporting a fourth, commemorate the place of his stithy. His fee was sixpence, and he was offended if more were offered him.

Sir W. Scott has introduced him in Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

Smith’s Prizeman, one who has obtained the prize (£25) founded in the University of Cambridge, by Robert Smith, D.D., once Master of Trinity. Two prizes are awarded annually to two commencing bachelors of arts for proficiency in mathematics and natural philosophy.

Smolkin, a punic spirit.

Peace, Smolkin, peace, thou fiend!

Shakespeare, King Lear, act iii. sc. 4 (1605).

Smollett of the Stage (The), George Farquhar (1678-1707).

Smotherwell (Stephen), the executioner.--Sir W. Scott, Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.).

Smyr´nean Poet (The), Mimnermos, born at Smyrna (fl. B.C. 630).

Snacks, the hard, grinding steward of Lord Lackwit, who, by grasping, got together £26,000. When Lord Lackwit died, and the property came to Robin Roughhead, he toadied him with the greatest servility, but Robin dismissed him, and gave the post to Frank.--Allingham, Fortune’s Frolic.

Snaffle (Erastus), a successful speculator in “wild cat” stocks, especially ingenious in “standing from under” when the crash comes.--Arlo Bates, The Philistines (1888).

Snaggs, a village portrait-taker and tooth-drawer. He says, “I draws off heads, and draws out teeth,” or “I takes off heads, and takes out teeth.” Major Touchwood, having dressed himself up to look like his uncle, the colonel, pretends to have the tooth-ache. Snaggs being sent for, prepares to operate on the colonel, and the colonel, in a towering rage, sends him to the right about.--T. Dibdin, What Next?

Snags´by (Mr.), the law-stationer in Cook’s Court, Cursitor Street. A very mild specimen of the “spear half,” in terrible awe of his termagant wife, whom he calls euphemistically “his little woman.” He preceded most of his remarks by the words, “not to put too fine a point upon it.”--C. Dickens, Bleak House (1852).

Snail, the collector of customs, near Ellangowan House.--Sir W. Scott, Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

Snailsfoot (Bryce), the jagger or pedlar.--Sir W. Scott, The Pirate (time, William III.).

Snake (Mr.), a traitorous ally of Lady Sneerwell, who has the effrontery to say to her, “you paid me extremely liberally for propagating the lie, but, unfortunately, I have been offered double to speak the truth.” He says:

Ah, sir, consider; I live by the baseness of my character; and if it were once known that I have been betrayed into an honest action, I shall lose every friend I have in the world.--Sheridan, School for Scandal, v. 3 (1777).

Snaw´ley, “in the oil and color line.” A “sleek, flat-nosed man, bearing in his countenance an expression of mortification and sanctity.”--C. Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby, iii. (1838).

Sneak (Jerry), a hen-pecked pinmaker; a paltry, pitiful, prying sneak. If ever he summoned up a little manliness, his wife would begin to cry, and Jerry was instantly softened.

Master Sneak, ... the ancient corporation of Garratt, in consideration of your great parts and abilities, and out of respect to their landlord, Sir Jacob, have unanimously chosen you mayor.--Act ii.

Jerry Sneak has become the type of hen-pecked husbands.--Temple Bar, 456 (1875).

Mrs. Sneak, wife of Jerry, a domineering tartar of a woman, who keeps her lord and master well under her thumb. She is the daughter of Sir Jacob Jollup.--S. Foote, The Mayor of Garratt (1763).

Jerry Sneak Russell. So Samuel Russell, the actor, was called, because of his inimitable representation of “Jerry Sneak,” which was quite a hit (1766-1845).

Sneer, a double-faced critic, who carps at authors behind their backs, but fawns on them when they are present (see act i. 1).--Sheridan, The Critic (1779).

Sneerwell (Lady), the widow of a City knight. Mr. Snake says, “Every one allows that Lady Sneerwell can do more with a word or a look than many can with the most labored detail, even when they happen to have a little truth on their side to support it.”

Wounded myself, in the early part of my life, by the envenomed tongue of slander, I confess I have since known no pleasure equal to the reducing of others to the level of my own reputation.--Sheridan, School for Scandal, i. 1 (1777).

Snevellicci (Mr.), in Crummle’s company of actors. Mr. Snevellicci plays the military swell, and is great in the character of speechless noblemen.

Mrs. Snevellicci, wife of the above, a dancer in the same theatrical company.

Miss Snevellicci, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Snevellicci, also of the Portsmouth Theatre. “She could do anything from a medley dance to Lady Macbeth.” Miss Snevellicci laid her toils to catch Nicholas Nickleby, but “the bird escaped from the nets of the toiler.”--C. Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby (1838).

Snitchey and Craggs, lawyers. It was the opinion of Mr. Thomas Craggs that “everything is too easy,” especially law; that it is the duty of wise men to make everything as difficult as possible, and as hard to go as rusty locks and hinges which will not turn for want of greasing. He was a cold, hard, dry man, dressed in grey-and-white like a flint, with small twinkles in his eyes. Jonathan Snitchey was like a magpie or raven. He generally finished by saying, “I speak for Self and Craggs,” and, after the death of his partner, “for Self and Craggs, deceased.”

Mrs. Snitchey and Mrs. Craggs, wives of the two lawyers. Mrs. Snitchey was, on principle, suspicious of Mr. Craggs; and Mrs. Craggs was, on principle, suspicious of Mr. Snitchey. Mrs. Craggs would say to her lord and master:

Your Snitcheys, indeed! I don’t see what you want with your Snitcheys, for my part. You trust a great deal too much to your Snitcheys, I think, and I hope you may never find my words come true.

Mrs. Snitchey would observe to Mr. Snitchey:

Snitchey, if ever you were led away by man, take my word for it you are led away by Craggs; and if ever I can read a double purpose in mortal eye, I can read it in Craggs’s eye.--C. Dickens, The Battle of Life, ii. (1846).

Snodgrass (Augustus), M.P.C., a poetical young man, who travels about with Mr. Pickwick, “to inquire into the source of the Hampstead ponds.” He marries Emily Wardle.--C. Dickens, The Pickwick Papers (1836).

Snoring (Great). “Rector of Great Snoring,” a dull, prosy preacher.

Snorro Sturleson, last of the great Icelandic scalds or court poets. He was author of the Younger Edda, in prose, and of the Heimskringla, a chronicle, in verse, of the history of Norway, from the earliest times to the year 1177. The Younger Edda is an abridgement of the Rhythmical Edda (see Sæmund Sigfusson). The Heimskringla appeared in 1230, and the Younger Edda is often called the Snorro Edda. Snorro Sturleson incurred the displeasure of Hakon, king of Norway, who employed assassins to murder him (1178-1241).

⁂ The Heimskringla was translated into English by Samuel Laing, in 1844.

Snout (Tom), the tinker who takes part in the “tragedy” of Pyrămus and Thisbe, played before the duke and duchess of Athens “on their wedding day at night.” Next to Peter Quince and Nick Bottom, the weaver, Snout was by far the most self-important man of the troupe. He was cast for Pyramus’s father, but has nothing to say, and does not even put in an appearance during the play.--Shakespeare, Midsummer Night’s Dream (1592).

Snow King (The), Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, king of Sweden, killed in the Thirty Years’ War, at the battle of Lutzen. The cabinet of Vienna said, in derision of him, “The Snow King is come, but he can live only in the north, and will melt away as soon as he feels the sun” (1594, 1611-1632).

At Vienna he was called, in derision, “The Snow King” who was kept together by the cold, but would melt and disappear as he approached a warmer soil.--Dr. Crichton, Scandinavia (“Gustavus Adolphus,” ii. 61).

Snow King (The), Frederick, elector palatine, made king of Bohemia by the Protestants in the autumn of 1619, but defeated and set aside in the following autumn.

The winter king, king in times of frost, a snow king, altogether soluble in the spring, is the name which Frederick obtained in German histories.--Carlyle.

Snow Queen (The), Christiana, queen of Sweden (1626, 1633-1689).

The Princess Elizabeth of England, who married Frederick V., elector palatine, in 1613, and induced him to accept the crown of Bohemia in 1619. She was crowned with her husband, October 25, 1619, but fled, in November, 1620, and was put under the ban of the empire in 1621. Elizabeth was queen of Bohemia during the time of snow, but was melted by the heat of the ensuing summer.

Snubbin (Serjeant), retained by Mr. Perker for the defence in the famous case of “Bardell v. Pickwick.” His clerk was named Mallard, and his junior, Phunky, “an infant barrister,” very much looked down upon by his senior.--C. Dickens, The Pickwick Papers (1836).

Snuffim (Sir Tumley), the doctor who attends Mrs. Wititterly.--C. Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby (1838).

Snuffle (Simon), the sexton of Garratt, and one of the corporation. He was called a “scollard, for he could read a written hand.”--S. Foote, Mayor of Garratt, ii. 1 (1763).

Snug, the joiner, who takes part in the “lamentable comedy” of Pyramus and Thisbe, played before the duke and duchess of Athens “on their wedding day at night.” His rôle was the “lion’s part.” He asked the manager (Peter Quince) if he had the “lion’s part written out, for,” said he, “I am slow of memory;” but being told he could do it extempore, “for it was nothing but roaring,” he consented to undertake it.--Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1592).

Sobri´no, one of the most valiant of the Saracen army, and called “The Sage.” He counselled Agrămant to entrust the fate of the war to a single combat, stipulating that the nation whose champion was worsted should be tributary to the other. Rogēro was chosen for the pagan champion, and Rinaldo for the Christian army; but when Rogero was overthrown, Agramant broke the compact. Sobrino was greatly displeased, and soon afterwards received the rite of Christian baptism.--Ariosto, Orlando Furioso (1516).

Who more prudent than Sobrino?--Cervantes, Don Quixote (1605).

Soc´ratês (The English), Dr. Johnson is so called by Boswell (1709-1784).

Mr. South’s amiable manners and attachment to our Socrătês at once united me to him.--Life of Johnson (1791).

Sofronia, a young Christian of Jerusalem, the heroine of an episode in Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered (1575). The tale is this: Aladine, king of Jerusalem, stole from a Christian church an image of the Virgin, being told by a magician that it was a palladium, and, if set up in a mosque, the Virgin would forsake the Christian army, and favor the Mohammedan. The image was accordingly set up in a mosque, but during the night was carried off by some one. Aladine, greatly enraged, ordered the instant execution of all his Christian subjects, but, to prevent this massacre, Sofronia accused herself of the offence. Her lover, Olindo, hearing that Sofronia was sentenced to death, presented himself before the king, and said that he and not Sofronia was the real offender; whereupon the king ordered both to instant execution; but Clorinda, the Amăzon, pleading for them, obtained their pardon, and Sofronia left the stake to join Olindo at the altar of matrimony.--Bk. ii.

This episode may have been suggested by a well-known incident in ecclesiastical history. At Merum, a city of Phrygia, Amachius, the governor of the province, ordered the temple to be opened, and the idols to be cleansed. Three Christians, inflamed with Christian zeal, went by night and broke all the images. The governor, unable to discover the culprits, commanded all the Christians of Merum to be put to death; but the three who had been guilty of the act confessed their offence, and were executed.--Socratês, Ecclesiastical History, iii. 15 (A.D. 439). (See Sophronia.)

Soham, a monster with the head of a horse, four eyes, and the body of a fiery dragon. (See Ouranabad.)

Soi-même. St. Soi-même, the “natural man,” in opposition to the “spiritual man.” In almost all religious acts and feelings, a thread of self may be detected, and many things are done ostensibly for God, but in reality for St. Soi-même.

They attended the church service not altogether without regard to St. Soi-même.--Asylum Christi, ii.

Soldan (The), Philip II. of Spain, whose wife was Adicia (or papal bigotry). Prince Arthur sent the soldan a challenge for wrongs done to Samient, a female ambassador (deputies of the states of Holland). On receiving this challenge, the soldan “swore and banned most blasphemously,” and mounting “his chariot high” (the high ships of the Armāda), drawn by horses fed on carrion (the Inquisitors), went forth to meet the prince, whom he expected to tear to pieces with his chariot scythes, or trample down beneath his horses’ hoofs. Not being able to get at the soldan from the great height of the chariot, the prince uncovered his shield, and held it up to view. Instantly the soldan’s horses were so terrified that they fled, regardless of the whip and reins, overthrew the chariot, and left the soldan on the ground, “torn to rags, amongst his own iron hooks and grapples keen.”--Spenser, Faëry Queen, v. 8 (1596).

⁂ The overthrow of the soldan by supernatural means, and not by combat, refers to the destruction of the Armada by tempest, according to the legend of the medals, Flavit Jehovah, et dissipati sunt (“He blew with His blast, and they were scattered”).

Soldier’s Daughter (The), a comedy by A. Cherry (1804). Mrs. Cheerly, the daughter of Colonel Woodley, after a marriage of three years, is left a widow, young, rich, gay, and engaging. She comes to London, and Frank Heartall, a generous-minded young merchant, sees her at the opera, falls in love with her, and follows her to her lodging. Here he meets with the Malfort family, reduced to abject poverty by speculation, and relieves them. Ferret, the villain of the piece, spreads a report that Frank gave the money as hush-money, because he had base designs on Mrs. Malfort; but his character is cleared, and he leads to the altar the blooming young widow, while the return of Malfort’s father places his son again in prosperous circumstances.

Soldiers’ Friend (The), Frederick, duke of York, second son of George III., and commander of the British forces in the Low Countries during the French Revolution (1763-1827).

Solarion, a dog, selected from the finest and purest breeds, and endowed with intellect and soul by means of electricity. He is his master’s favorite companion and fellow-student until master and dog love the same woman. They quarrel, the man strikes the dog, and the dog, leaping upon his former friend, tears him horribly. The master shoots him dead, and bears for the rest of his life in frightful disfigurement of visage tokens of his folly and madness.--Edgar Fawcett, Solarion (1890).

Solemn Doctor (The). Henry Goethals was by the Sorbonne given the honorary title of Doctor Solemnis (1227-1293).

Solemn League and Covenant, a league to support the Church of Scotland, and exterminate popery and prelacy. Charles II. signed it in 1651, but declared it null and void at his restoration.

Soles, a shoemaker, and a witness at the examination of Dirk Hatteraick.--Sir W. Scott, Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

Solid Doctor (The), Richard Middleton (*-1304).

Soliman the Magnificent, Charles Jennens, who composed the libretto for Handel’s Messiah (*-1773).

Soli´nus, duke of Ephesus, who was obliged to pass the sentence of the law on Æge´on, a merchant, because, being a Syracusan, he had dared to set foot in Ephesus. When, however, he discovered that the man who had saved his life, and whom he best loved, was the son of Ægeon, the prisoner was released, and settled in Ephesus.--Shakespeare, Comedy of Errors (1593).

Solomon, an epic poem in three books, by Prior (1718). Bk. i. Solomon seeks happiness from wisdom, but comes to the conclusion that “All is vanity;” this book is entitled Knowledge. Bk. ii. Solomon seeks happiness in wealth, grandeur, luxury, and ungodliness, but comes to the conclusion that “All is vanity and vexation of spirit;” this book is entitled Pleasure. Bk. iii., entitled Power, consists of the reflections of Solomon upon human life, the power of God, life, death, and a future state. An angel reveals to him the future lot of the Jewish race, and Solomon concludes with this petition:

Restore, Great Father, Thy instructed son,

And in my act may Thy great will be done!

Solomon is called king of the ginn and fairies. This is probably a mere blunder. The monarch of these spirits was called “suleyman,” and this title of rank has been mistaken for a proper name.

Solomon died standing. Solomon employed the genii in building the Temple, but, perceiving that his end was at hand, prayed God that his death might be concealed from the genii till the work was completed. Accordingly, he died standing, leaning on his staff as if in prayer. The genii, supposing him to be alive, toiled on, and when the Temple was fully built, a worm knawed the staff, and the corpse fell prostrate to the earth. Mahomet refers to this as a fact:

When We [God] had decreed that Solomon should die, nothing discovered his death unto them [the genii] except the creeping thing of the earth, which gnawed his staff. And when his [dead] body fell down, the genii plainly perceived that if they had known that which is secret, they would not have continued in a vile punishment.--Al Korân, xxxiv.

Solomon’s Favorite Wife. Prior, in his epic poem called Solomon (bk. ii.), makes Abra the favorite.

The apples she had gathered smelt most sweet;

The cake she kneaded was the savory meat;

All fruits their odor lost and meats their taste,

If gentle Abra had not decked the feast;

Dishonored did the sparkling goblet stand,

Unless received from gentle Abra’s hand; ...

Nor could my soul approve the music’s tone,

Till all was hushed, and Abra sung alone.

Al Beidâwi, Jallâlo´ddin, and Abulfeda, give Amīna, daughter of Jerâda, king of Tyre, as his favorite concubine.

Solomon Kills His Horses. Solomon bought a thousand horses, and went to examine them. The examination took him the whole day, so that he omitted the prayers which he ought to have repeated. This neglect came into his mind at sunset, and, by way of atonement, he slew all the horses except a hundred of the best “as an offering to God;” and God, to make him amends for his loss, gave him the dominion of the winds. Mahomet refers to this in the following passage:--

When the horses, standing on three feet, and touching the ground with the edge of the fourth foot, swift in the course, were set in parade before him [Solomon] in the evening, he said, “Verily I have loved the love of earthly good above the remembrance of my Lord; and I have spent the time in viewing these horses till the sun is hidden by the veil of night. Bring the horses back unto me.” And when they were brought back, he began to cut off their legs and their necks.--Al Korân, xxxvii.

Solomon’s Mode of Travelling. Solomon had a carpet of green silk, on which his throne was placed. This carpet was large enough for all his army to stand on. When his soldiers had stationed themselves on his right hand, and the spirits on his left, Solomon commanded the winds to convey him whither he listed. Whereupon the winds buoyed up the carpet, and transported it to the place the king wished to go to, and while passing thus through the air, the birds of heaven hovered overhead forming a canopy with their wings to ward off the heat of the sun. Mahomet takes this legend as an historic fact, for he says in reference to it:

Unto Solomon We subjected the strong wind, and it ran at his command to the land whereon We had bestowed our blessing.--Al Korân, xxi.

And again:

We made the wind subject to him, and it ran gently at his command whithersoever he desired.--Al Korân, xxxviii.

Solomon’s Signet-Ring. The rabbins say that Solomon wore a ring in which was set a chased stone that told him everything he wished to know.

Solomon Loses His Signet-Ring. Solomon’s favorite concubine was Amīna, daughter of Jerâda, king of Tyre, and when he went to bathe, it was to Amina that he entrusted his signet-ring. One day the devil, Sakhar, assumed the likeness of Solomon, and so got possession of the ring, and for forty days reigned in Jerusalem, while Solomon himself was a wanderer living on alms. At the end of the forty days, Sakhar flung the ring into the sea; it was swallowed by a fish, which was given to Solomon. Having thus obtained his ring again, Solomon took Sakhar captive, and cast him into the sea of Galilee.--Al Korân (Sale’s notes, ch. xxxviii.). (See Jovian.)

⁂ Mahomet, in the Korân, takes this legend as an historic fact, for he says: “We [God], also tried Solomon, and placed on his throne a counterfeit body [i.e., Sakhar, the Devil].”--Ch. xxxviii.

Uffan, the sage, saw Solomon asleep, and wishing to take off his signet-ring, gave three arrows to Aboutaleb, saying, “When the serpent springs upon me, and strikes me dead, shoot one of these arrows at me, and I shall instantly come to life again.” Uffan tugged at the ring, was stung to death, but, being struck by one of the arrows, revived. This happened twice. After the third attempt, the heavens grew so black, and the thunder was so alarming, that Aboutaleb was afraid to shoot, and throwing down the bow and arrow, fled with precipitation from the dreadful place.--Comte de Caylus, Oriental Tales (“History of Aboutaleb,” 1743).

Solomon (The Second), James I. of England (1566, 1603-1625).

The French king (Henri IV.) said, in the presence of Lord Sanquhar, to one that called James a second Solomon. “I hope he is not the son of David the fiddler” [David Rizzio].--Osborne, Secret History, i. 231.

Sully called him “The Wisest Fool in Christendom.”

Solomon, a tedious, consequential, old butler, in the service of Count Wintersen. He has two idiosyncrasies: One is that he receives letters of confidential importance from all parts of the civilized world, but “has received no communication from abroad to tell him who Mrs. Haller is.” One letter “from Constantinople” turns out to be from his nephew, Tim Twist, the tailor, about a waistcoat, which had been turned three times. In regard to the other idiosyncrasy, he boasts of his cellar of wine, provided in a “most frugal and provident way,” and of his alterations in the park, “all done with the most economical economy.” He is very proud of his son, Peter, a half-witted lad, and thinks Mrs. Haller “casts eyes at him.”--Benj. Thompson, The Stranger (1797).

Solomon Daisy, parish clerk and bellringer, of Chigwell. He had little, round, black, shiny eyes like beads; wore rusty black breeches, a rusty black coat, and a long-flapped waistcoat, with little queer buttons like his eyes. As he sat in the firelight, he seemed all eyes, from head to foot.--C. Dickens, Barnaby Rudge (1841).

Solomon of China (The), Taetsong I., whose real name was Lee-chemen. He reformed the calendar, founded a very extensive library, established schools in his palace, built places of worship for the Nestorian Christians, and was noted for his wise maxims (*, 618-626).

Solomon of England (The), Henry VII. (1457, 1485-1509). (See Solomon the Second.)

Solomon of France (The), Charles V. le Sage (1337, 1364-1380).

⁂ Louis IX. (i.e., St. Louis) is also called “The Solomon of France” (1215, 1226-1270).

Solon of French Prose (The), Balzac (1596-1655).

Solon of Parnassus (The). Boileau is so called by Voltaire, in allusion to his Art of Poetry (1636-1711).

Solsgrace (Master Nehemiah), a Presbyterian pastor.--Sir W. Scott, Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Solus, an old bachelor, who greatly wished to be a married man. When he saw the bright sides of domestic life, he resolved he would marry; but when he saw the reverse sides, he determined to remain single. Ultimately, he takes to the altar Miss Spinster.--Inchbald, Every One has His Fault (1794).

Solymæan Rout (The), the London rabble and rebels. Solymæa was an ancient name of Jerusalem, subsequently called Hiero-solyma, that is “sacred Solyma.” As Charles II. is called “David,” and London “Jerusalem,” the London rebels are called “the Solymæan rout,” or the rabble of Jerusalem.

The Solymæan rout, well versed of old,

In godly faction, and in treason bold, ...

Saw with disdain an Ethnic plot [popish plot] begun,

And scorned by Jebusites [papists] to be outdone.

Dryden, Absalom and Achitophel, i. (1681).

Sol´yman, king of the Saracens, whose capital was Nice. Being driven from his kingdom, he fled to Egypt, and was there appointed leader of the Arabs (bk. ix.). Solyman and Argantês were by far the most doughty of the pagan knights. The former was slain by Rinaldo (bk. xx.), and the latter by Tancred.--Tasso, Jerusalem Delivered (1575).

Somnambulus. Sir W. Scott so signs The Visionary (political satires, 1819).--Olphar Hamst [Ralph Thomas], Handbook of Fictitious Names.

Somo Sala (Like the Father of), a dreamer of air-castles, like the milkmaid Perrette, in Lafontaine. (See Count not, etc.)

Son of Be´lial (A), a wicked person, a rebel, an infidel.

Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial: they knew not [i.e., acknowledged not] the Lord.--1 Sam. ii. 12.

Son of Consolation, St. Barnabas of Cyprus (first century).--Acts iv. 36.