Desmonds of Kilmallock (Limerick). The legend is that the last powerful head of this family, who perished in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, still keeps his state under the waters of Lough Gur, that every seventh year he re-appears fully armed, rides round the lake early in the morning, and will ultimately return in the flesh to claim his own again. (See BARBAROSSA.)—Sir W. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel.
Despair (Giant), lived in Doubting Castle. He took Christian and Hopeful captive for sleeping on his grounds, and locked them in a dark dungeon from Wednesday to Saturday, without "one bit of bread, or drop of drink, or ray of light." By the advice of his wife, Diffidence, the giant beat them soundly "with a crab-tree cudgel." On Saturday night Christian remembered he had a key in his bosom, called "Promise," which would open any lock in Doubting Castle. So he opened the dungeon door, and they both made their escape with speed.—John Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress, i. (1678).
Deuce is in Him (The) a farce by George Colman, senior. The person referred to is Colonel Tember, under which name the plot of the farce is given (1762).
Deuga'la, says Ossian, "was covered with the light of beauty, but her heart was the house of pride."
Deve'ta, plu. Devetas, inferior or secondary deities in Hindû mythology.
Devil (The). Olivier le Daim, the tool of Louis XL, and once the king's barber, was called Le Diable, because he was as much feared, was as fond of making mischief, and was far more disliked than the prince of evil. Olivier was executed in 1484.
Devil (The French), Jean Bart, an intrepid French sailor, born at Dunkirk (1650-1702).
Devil (The White). George Castriot, surnamed "Scanderbeg," was called by the Turks "The White Devil of Wallachia" (1404-1467).
Devil (The Printer's). Aldus Manutius, a printer in Venice to the holy Church and the doge, employed a negro boy to help him in his office. This little black boy was believed to be an imp of Satan, and went by the name of the "printer's devil." In order to protect him from persecution, and confute a foolish superstition, Manutius made a public exhibition of the boy, and announced that "any one who doubted him to be flesh and blood might come forward and pinch him."
Devil (Robert the), of Normandy; so called because his father was said to have been an incubus or fiend in the disguise of a knight (1028-1035).
therefore.jpg Robert Francois Damiens is also called Robert le Diable, for his attempt to assassinate Louis XV. (1714-1757).
Devil (Son of the), Ezzeli'no, chief of the Gibelins, governor of Vicenza. He was so called for his infamous cruelties (1215-1259).
Devil Dick, Richard Porson, the critic, (1759-1808).
Devil on Two Sticks, (The), that is Le Diable Boiteux, by Lesage (1707). The plot of this humorous satirical tale is borrowed from the Spanish, El Diabolo Cojuelo, by Gueva'ra (1635). Asmode'us (le diable boiteux) perches Don Cle'ofas on the steeple of St. Salvador, and stretching out his hand, the roofs of all the houses open, and expose to him what is being done privately in every dwelling.
Devil on Two Sticks (The), a farce by S. Foote; a satire on the medical profession.
Devil to Pay, (The), a farce by C. Coffey. Sir John Loverule has a termagant wife, and Zackel Jobson, a patient grissel. Two spirits named Nadir and Ab'ishog transform these two wives for a time, so that the termagant is given to Jobson, and the patient wife to Sir John. When my lady tries her tricks on Jobson, he takes his strap to her and soon reduces her to obedience. After she is well reformed, the two are restored to their original husbands, and the shrew becomes an obedient, modest wife (died, 1745).
Devil's Age (The). A wealthy man once promised to give a poor gentleman and his wife a large sum of money if at a given time they could tell him the devil's age. When the time came, the gentleman at his wife's suggestion, plunged first into a barrel of honey and then into a barrel of feathers, and walked on all fours. Presently up came his Satanic majesty, and said, "X and x years have I lived," naming the exact number, "yet never saw I an animal like this." The gentlemen had heard enough, and was able to answer the question without difficulty.—Rev. W. Webster, Basque Legends, 58 (1877).
Devil's Chalice (The). A wealthy man gave a poor farmer a large sum of money on this condition: at the end of a twelvemonth he was either to say "of what the devil made his chalice," or else give his head to the devil. The poor farmer as the time came round, hid himself in the crossroads, and presently the witches assembled from all sides. Said one witch to another, "You know that Farmer So-and-so has sold his head to the devil, for he will never know of what the devil makes his chalice. In fact I don't know myself." "Don't you?" said the other; "why, of the parings of finger-nails trimmed on Sundays."—The farmer was overjoyed, and when the time came round was quite ready with his answer.—Rev. W. Webster, Basque Legends, 71 (1877).
Devil's Dyke, Brighton (The). One day, as St. Cuthman was walking over the South Downs, and thinking to himself how completely he had rescued the whole country from paganism, he was accosted by his sable majesty in person. "Ha, ha!" said the prince of darkness; "so you think by these churches and convents to put me and mine to your ban, do you? Poor fool! why, this very night will I swamp the whole land with the sea." "Forewarned is forearmed," thought St. Cuthman, and hies him to sister Celia, superior of a convent which then stood on the spot of the present Dyke House. "Sister," said the saint, "I love you well. This night, for the grace of God, keep lights burning at the convent windows from midnight to day-break, and let masses be said by the holy sisterhood." At sundown came the devil with pickaxe and spade, mattock: and shovel, and set to work in right good earnest to dig a dyke which should let the waters of the seas into the downs. "Fire and brim-stone!" —he exclaimed, as a sound of voices rose and fell in sacred song—"Fire and brim-stone! What's the matter with me?" Shoulders, feet, wrists, loins, all seemed paralyzed. Down went mattock and spade, pickaxe and shovel, and just at that moment the lights at the convent windows burst forth, and the cock, mistaking the blaze for daybreak, began to crow most lustily. Off flew the devil, and never again returned to complete his work. The small digging he effected still remains in witness of the truth of this legend of the "Devil's Dyke."
Devil's Parliament (The), the parliament assembled by Henry VI. at Conventry, 1459. So called because it passed attainders on the duke of York and his chief supporters.
Devil Sacrament. This blasphemous rite whereby those who would practice witchcraft were initiated into the diabolical mysteries is described by Deodat Lawson in 1704.
"At their cursed supper they were said to have red bread and red drink, and when they pressed an afflicted person to eat and drink thereof she turned away her head and spit at it, and said, 'I will not eat, I will not drink. It is blood.' ... Thus horribly doth Satan endeavor to have his kingdom and administrations to resemble those of our Lord Jesus Christ."—Deodat Lawson, Christ's Fidelity the only Shield against Satan's Malignity (1704).
Devonshire, according to historic fable, is a corruption of "Debon's-share." This Debon was one of the companions of Brute, the descendent of Aene'as. He chased the giant Coulin till he came to a pit eight leagues across. Trying to leap this chasm, the giant fell backwards and lost his life.
Spenser, Faery Queen, ii. 10 (1590).
De'vorgoil (Lady Jane), a friend of the Hazlewood family.—Sir W. Scott, Guy Mannering (time, George II.).
Dewlap (Dick), an anecdote teller, whose success depended more upon his physiognomy than his wit. His chin and his paunch were his most telling points.
I found that the merit of his wit was founded upon the shaking of a fat paunch, and the tossing up of a pair of rosy jowls.—Richard Steele.
Dexter, (Gregory), the typical Successful Man who is first suitor, then the generous friend of Anne Douglas, in Constance Fennimore Woolson's Anne.
Dhu (Evan) of Lochiel, a Highland chief in the army of Montrose.
Mhich-Connel Dhu. or M'Ilduy, a Highland chief in the army of Montrose.—
Sir W. Scott, Legend of Montrose (time, Charles I.).
Dhul'dul, the famous horse of Ali, son-in-law of Mahomet.
Dhu'l Karnein ("the two-horned,") a true believer according to the Mohammedan notion, who built the wall to prevent the incursions of Gog and Magog.—Al Korân, xviii.
—Al Beidawi.
Dhu'lnun, the surname of Jonah.; so called because he was swallowed by a fish.
Remember Dhu'lnun, when he departed in wrath, and thought that we could not exercise our power over him.—Al Korân, xxi.
Diafoirus (Thomas), son of Dr. Diafoirus. He is a young medical milksop, to whom Argan has promised his daughter Angelique in marriage. Diafoirus pays his compliments in cut-and-dried speeches, and on one occasion, being interrupted in his remarks, says, "Madame, vous m'avez interrompu dans le milieu de ma période, et cela m'a troublé la mémoire." His father says, "Thomas, reservez cela pour une autre fois." Angelique loves Cléante (2 syl.), and Thomas Diafoirus goes to the wall.
Il n'a jamais eu l'imagination bien vive, ni ce feu d'esprit qu'on remarque dans quelques uns,.... Lorsqui'il était petit, il n'a jamais été ce qu'on appelle mièvre et éveille; on le voyait toujours doux, paisible, et taciturne, ne disant jamais mot, et ne jouant jamais à tons ces petits jeux que l'on nomme enfantins.—Molière, Le Malade Imaginaire, ii.6 (1673).
Di'amond, one of three brothers, sons of the fairy Agapê. Though very strong, he was slain in single fight by Cambalo. His brothers were Pri'amond and Tri'amond.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, iv. (1596).
Diamond Jousts, nine jousts instituted by Arthur, and so called because a diamond was the prize. These nine diamonds were all won by Sir Launcelot, who presented them to the queen, but Guinevere, in a tiff, flung them into the river which ran by the palace.—Tennyson, Idylls of the King ("Elaine").
Diamond Sword, a magic sword given by the god Syren to the king of the Gold Mines.
She gave him a sword made of one entire diamond, that gave as great lustre as the sun.—Comtesse D'Aunoy, Fairy Tales ("The Yellow Dwarf," 1682).
Diana, the heroine and title, a pastoral of Montemayor, imitated from the Daphnis and Chloe of Longos (fourteenth century).
Dian'a, daughter of the widow of Florence with whom Hel'ena lodged on her way to the shrine of St. Jacques le Grand. Count Bertram wantonly loved Diana, but the modest girl made this attachment the means of bringing about a reconciliation between Bertram and his wife Helena.—Shakespeare, All's Well that Ends Well (1598).
Dian'a de Lascours, daughter of Ralph and Louise de Lascours, and sister of Martha, alias Ogari'la. Diana was betrothed to Horace de Brienne, whom she resigns to Martha.—E. Stirling, The Orphan of the Frozen Sea (1856).
Dian'a the Inexorable. (1) She slew Orion with one of her arrows, for daring to make love to her. (2) She changed Actæon into a stag and set her own dogs on him to worry him to death, because he chanced to look upon her while bathing. (3) She shot with her arrows the six sons and six daughters of Niobé, because the fond mother said she was happier than Latona, who had only two children.
Horace, Epode, xvii.
Diana the Second of Salmantin, a pastoral romance by Gil Polo.
"We will preserve that book," said the cure, "as carefully as if Apollo himself had been its author."—Cervantes, Don Quixote, I. i. 6 (1605).
Diana (the Temple of), at Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of antiquity, was set on fire by Herostratos to immortalize his name.
Diana of the Stage, Mrs. Anne Brace-girdle (1663-1748).
Dian'a's Foresters, "minions of the moon," "Diana's knights," etc., highwaymen.
Diano'ra, wife of Gilberto of Friu'li, but amorously loved by Ansaldo. In order to rid herself of his importunities, she vowed never to yield to his suit till he could "make her garden at midwinter as gay with flowers as it was in summer" (meaning never). Ansaldo, by the aid of a magician, accomplished the appointed task; but when the lady told him that her husband insisted on her keeping her promise, Ansaldo, not to be outdone in generosity, declined to take advantage of his claim, and from that day forth was the firm and honorable friend of Gilberto.—Bocaccio, Decameron, x.5.
The Franklin's Tale of Chaucer is substantially the same story. (See DORIGEN).
Diarmaid, noted for his "beauty spot," which he covered up with his cap; for if any woman chanced to see it, she would instantly fall in love with him.—Campbell, Tales of the West Highlands ("Diarmaid and Grainne").
Diav'olo (Fra), Michele Pezza, Insurgent of Calabria (1760-1806).—Auber, Fra Diavolo (libretto by Scribe, 1836).
Dibble (Davie), gardener at Monkbarns.—Sir W. Scott, Antiquary (time, George III.).
Dibu'tades (4 syl.), a potter of Sicyon, whose daughter traced on the wall her lover's shadow, cast there by the light of a lamp. This, it is said, is the origin of portrait painting. The father applied the same process to his pottery, and this, it is said, is the origin of sculpture in relief.
Will the arts ever have a lovelier origin than that fair daughter of Dibutades tracing the beloved shadow on the wall!--Ouida, Ariadnê, i. 6.
Dicae'a, daughter of Jove, the "accusing angel" of classic mythology.
Diccon the Bedlamite, a half-mad mendicant, both knave and thief. A specimen of the metre will be seen by part of Diccon's speech:
Dicil'la, one of Logistilla's handmaids, noted for her chastity.—Ariosto, Orlanda Furioso (1516).
Dick, ostler at the Seven Stars inn, York.—Sir W. Scott, Heart of Midlothian (time, Greorge II.).
Dick, called "The Devil's Dick of Hellgarth;" a falconer and follower of the earl of Douglas.—Sir W. Scott, Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.).
Dick (Mr.), an amiable, half-witted man, devoted to David's "aunt," Miss Betsey Trotwood, who thinks him a prodigious genius. Mr. Dick is especially mad on the subject of Charles I.—C. Dickens, David Copperfield (1849).
Dick Amlet, the son of Mrs. Amlet, a rich, vulgar tradeswoman. Dick assumes the airs of a fine gentleman, and calls himself Colonel Shapely, in which character he gets introduced to Corinna, the daughter of Gripe, a rich scrivener. Just as he is about to elope, his mother makes her appearance, and the deceit is laid bare; but Mrs. Amlet promises to give her son £10,000, and so the wedding is adjusted. Dick is a regular scamp, and wholly without principle; but being a dashing young blade, with a handsome person, he is admired by the ladies.—Sir John Vanbrugh, The Confederacy (1695).
Dick Shakebag, a highwayman in the gang of Captain Colepepper (the Alsatian bully).—Sir W. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel (time, James I).
Dickson (Thomas) farmer at Douglasdale.
Charles Dickson, son of the above, killed in the church.—Sir W. Scott, Castle Dangerous (time, Henry I.).
Dicta'tor of Letters, Francois Marie Arouet de Voltaire, called the "Great Pan" (1694-1778).
Dictionary (A Living). Wilhelm Leibnitz (1646-1716) was so called by George I.
therefore.jpgLonginus was called "The Living Cyclopaedia" (213-273).
therefore.jpgDaniel Huet, chief editor of the Delphine Classics, was called a Porcus Literarum for his unlimited knowledge (1630-1721).
Diddler (Jeremy), an artful swindler; a clever, seedy vagabond, who borrows money or obtains credit by his songs, witticisms, or other expedients.—Kenny, Raising the Wind.
Diderick, the German form of Theodorick, king of the Goths. As Arthur is the centre of British romance, and Charlemagne of French romance, so Diderick is the central figure of the German minnesingers. Didier (Henri), the lover of Julie Les-urques (2 syl.); a gentleman in feeling and conduct, who remains loyal to his fiancée through all her troubles.—Ed. Stirling, The Courier of Lyons (1852).
Dido, daughter of Belus, king of Tyre. She bought "as much land in Africa as a bull's hide could cover," shred the hide into strings, and enclosed a large tract. Æneas was wrecked upon her coast, and a love affair ensued. He deserted her, and she killed herself after watching his ship until it was out of sight.
Die'go, the sexton to Lopez the "Spanish curate."—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Spanish Curate (1622).
Die'go (Don), a man of 60, who saw a country maiden named Leonora, whom he liked, and intended to marry if her temper was as amiable as her face was pretty. He obtained leave of her parents to bring her home and place her under a duenna for three months, and then either return her to them spotless, or to make her his wife. At the expiration of the time, he went to settle the marriage contract; and, to make all things sure, locked up the house, giving the keys to Ursula, but to the outer door he attached a huge padlock, and put the key in his pocket. Leander, being in love with Leonora, laughed at locksmiths and duennas, and Diego (2 syl.), found them about to elope. Being a wise man, he not only consented to their union, but gave Leonora a handsome marriage portion.—I. Bickerstaff, The Padlock.
Dies Irae. The name generally given from the opening words to a mediaeval hymn on the Last Judgment. The author is unknown, but the hymn is now generally ascribed to a monk of the Abruzzi, in Naples, Thomas de Celano, who died about 1255.
Diet of Performers.
BEAHAM sang on bottled porter.
CATLEY (Miss) took linseed tea and madeira.
COOKE (G.F.) drank everything.
HENDEESON, gum arable and sherry.
INCLEDON sang on madeira.
JOEDAN (Mrs.) drank calves'-foot jelly and sherry.
KEAN (C.) took beef-tea for breakfast, and preferred a rump-steak for dinner.
KEAN (Edm.) EMERY and REEVE drank cold brandy-and-water.
KEMBLE (John) took opium.
LEWIS, mulled wine and oysters.
MACEEADY used to eat the lean of mutton-chops when he acted, and subsequently lived almost wholly on a vegetable diet.
OXBERRY drank tea.
RUSSELL (Henry) took a boiled egg.
SMITH (W.) drank coffee.
WOOD (Mrs.) sang on draught porter.
WEENCH and HAELEY took no refreshment during a performance.—W. O. Russell, Representative Actors. 272.
Die'trich (2 syl.). So Theod'oric The Great is called by the German minnesingers. In the terrible broil stirred up by Queen Kriemhild in the banquet hall of Etzel, Dietrich interfered, and succeeded in capturing Hagan and the Burgundian King Ghinther. These he handed over to the queen, praying her to set them free; but she cut off both their heads with her own hands.—The Niebelungen Lied (thirteenth century.)
Dietrich (John), a laborer's son of Pomerania. He spent twelve years under ground, where he met Elizabeth Krabbin, daughter of the minister of his own village, Rambin. One day, walking together, they heard a cock crow, and an irresistible desire came over both of them to visit the upper earth, John so frightened the elves by a toad, that they yielded to his wish, and gave him hoards of wealth, with part of which he bought half the island of Riigen. He married Elizabeth, and became founder of a very powerful family.—Keightley, Fairy Mythology. (See TANHAUSER.)
Dietz (Bernard). Broad-shouldered giant who wears an air of deep and gentle repose, and comes like a benediction from heaven to the sick room of Count Hugo in Blanche Willis Howard's novel The Open Door. He is a stone-mason who says with a genial laugh,
"I hope if I'm lucky enough to get into the New Jerusalem they talk about, there'll still be a little building going on, for I shouldn't feel at home without a block of stone to clip."
His grand simplicity and strong common sense medicine the morbid soul of the more nobly-born man. His argument against the suicide Hugo contemplates as an open door out of the world, surprises the listener profoundly.
"You see, you can never destroy anything. You can only seem to. The life in us—it doesn't ask us if we want to be born,—it doesn't ask us if we want to die. It is beyond us, and I don't believe it can be destroyed" (1889).
Dieu et Mon Droit, the parole of Richard I. at the battle of Gisors (1198).
Diggery, one of the house-servants at Strawberry Hall. Being stage-struck, he inoculates his fellow-servants (Cymon and Wat) with the same taste. In the same house is an heiress named Kitty Sprightly (a ward of Sir Gilbert Pumpkin), also stage-struck. Diggery's favorite character is "Alexander the Great," the son of "Almon." One day, playing Romeo and Juliet, he turns the oven into the balcony, but, being rung for, the girl acting "Juliet" is nearly roasted alive. (See DIGGORY.)—J. Jackman, All the World's a Stage.
Digges (Miss Maria), a friend of Lady Penfeather; a visitor at the Spa.—Sir W. Scott, St. Ronan's Well (time, George III.).
Diggon [Davie], a shepherd in the Shephearde's Calendar, by Spenser. He tells Hobbinol that he drove his sheep into foreign lands, hoping to find better pasture; but he was amazed at the luxury and profligacy of the shepherds whom he saw there, and the wretched condition of the flocks. He refers to the Roman Catholic clergy, and their abandoned mode of life. Diggon also tells Hobbinol a long story about Roffynn (the bishop of Rochester) and his watchful dog Lauder catching a wolf in sheep's clothing in the fold.—Ecl. ix. (September, 1572 or 1578).
Diggory, a barn laborer, employed on state occasions for butler and footman by Mr. and Mrs. Hardcastle. He is both awkward and familiar, laughs at his master's jokes and talks to his master's guests while serving. (See DIGGERY.)—Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer. (1773).
Diggory (Father), one of the monks of St. Botolph's Priory.—Sir W. Scott, Ivanhoe (time, Richard I.).
Dimanche, (Mons.), a dun. Mons. Dimanche, a tradesman, applies to Don Juan for money. Don Juan treats him with all imaginable courtesy, but every time he attempts to revert to business interrupts him with some such question as, Comment se porte Madame Dimanche? or Et votre petite fille Claudine comment se porte-t-ell? or Le petit Colin fait-il toujours bien du bruit avec son tambour? or Ét votre petit chien Brusquet, gronde-t-il toujours aussi fort ...? and, after a time, he says he is very sorry, but he must say good-bye for the present, and he leaves Mons. without his once stating the object of his call. (See SHUFFLETON.) Molière, Don Juan (1665).
Dimmesdale (Arthur). Master Prynne, an English physician living in Amsterdam, having determined to join the Massachusetts Colony, sent his young wife Hester before him to await his coming. He was detained two years, and on reaching Boston, the first sight that met his eyes was his wife standing in the pillory with a young babe in her arms and with the letter A, the mark of her shame, embroidered in scarlet on her breast. A young clergyman, the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, regarded by all the people as a saint, too good for earth, was earnestly exhorting her to declare the name of the child's father, but she steadfastly refused, and was sent back to prison. Prynne who had heard in Amsterdam rumors of his wife's infidelity, both to discover her betrayer and to hide his own relation to his wife, had taken the name of Roger Chillingworth, and with eyes sharpened by jealousy and wounded pride, soon discovered that his wife's lover was no other than Dimmesdale himself. As a physician and under the guise of friendship he attached himself to the minister, and pursued his ghastly search for the secret cause that was eating away his life. How it all ended is shown in that wonderful book where, as in a Greek drama, the fates of Arthur Dimmesdale, Hester Prynne, Roger Chillingworth, and the love-child, Little Pearl, are traced in lines of fire.—Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter.
Dinant', a gentleman who once loved and still pretends to love Lamira. the wife of Champernel.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Little French Lawyer (1647).
Dinarza'de (4 syl.), sister of Scheherazadê, Sultana of Persia. Dinarzadê was instructed by her sister to wake her every morning an hour before daybreak, and say, "Sister, relate to me one of those delightful stories you know," or "Finish before daybreak the story you began yesterday." The sultan got interested in these tales, and revoked the cruel determination he had made of strangling at daybreak the wife he had married the preceeding night. (See SCHEHERAZADE.)
Dinas Emrys, or "Fort of Ambrose" (i.e. Merlin), on the Brith, a part of Snowdon. When Vortigern built this fort, whatever was constructed during the day was swallowed up in the earth during the night. Merlin (then called Ambrose or Embres-Guletic) discovered the cause to be "two serpents at the bottom of a pool below the foundation of the works." These serpents were incessantly struggling with each other; one was white, and the other red. The white serpent at first prevaled, but ultimately the red one chased the other out of the pool. The red serpent, he said, meant the Britons, and the white one the Saxons. At first the Saxons (or white serpent) prevailed, but in the end "our people" the red serpent "shall chase the Saxon race beyond the sea."—Nennius, History of the Britons (842).
Drayton, Polyolbion, x, (1612).
Dine with Duke Humphrey (To), to have no dinner to go to. The Duke referred to was the son of Henry IV., murdered at St. Edmundsbury, and buried at St. Alban's. It was generally thought that he was buried in the nave of St. Paul's Cathedral; but the monument supposed to be erected to the duke was in reality that of John Beauchamp. Loungers, who were asked if they were not going home to dinner, and those who tarried in St. Paul's after the general crowd had left, were supposed to be so busy looking for the duke's monument that they disregarded the dinner hour.
Diner-Out of the First Water, the Rev. Sidney Smith; so called by the Quarterly Review (1769-1845).
Dingle (Old Dick of the), friend of Hobbie Elliott of the Heugh-foot farm.—Sir W. Scott, The Black Dwarf (time, Anne).
Dingwall (Davie), the attorney at Wolfe's Hope village.—Sir W. Scott, Bride of Lammermoor (time William III.).
Dinias and Dercyllis (The Wanderings, Adventures, and Loves of), an old Greek novel, the basis of the romance of Antonius Diog'enês in twenty-four books and entitled Incredible Things beyond Thule [Ta HuperThoulen Apista], a store-house from which subsequent writers have borrowed largely. The work is not extant, but Photius gives an outline of its contents.
Dinmont (Dandy, i.e. Andrew), an eccentric and humorous store farmer at Charlie's Hope. He is called "The fighting Dinmont of Liddesdale."
Ailie Dinmont, wife of Dandy Dinmont.—Sir W. Scott, Guy Mannering (time George II.).
therefore.jpg This novel has been dramatized by Daniel Terry.
Dinner Bell. Burke was so called from his custom of speaking so long as to interfere with the dinner of the members (1729-1797).
Diocle'tian, the king and father of Erastus, who was placed under the charge of the "seven wise masters" (Italian version).
In the French version, the father is called "Dolop'athos."—Sandabar's Parables.
Diog'enes, Greek cynic, who carried a lantern at noon, to search for an honest man.
Diog'enes (4 syl.), the negro slave of the cynic philosopher Michael Agelestês (4 syl.).—Sir W. Scott, Count Robert of Paris (time, Rufus).
Di'omede (3 syl.), fed his horses on human flesh, and he was himself eaten by his horse, being thrown to it by Herculês.
Dion (Lord), father of Euphra'sia. Euphrasia is in love with Philaster, heir to the crown of Messi'na. Disguised as a page, Euphrasia assumes the name of Bellario and enters the service of Philaster.—Beaumont and Fletcher, Philaster or Love Lies a-bleeding (1638).
(There is considerable resemblance between "Euphrasia" and "Viola" in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, 1614).
Dionæ'an Cæsar, Julius Cæsar, who claimed descent from Venus, called Dionê from her mother. Æneas was son of Venus and Anchisês.
Dio'ne (3 syl.), mother of Aphroditê (Venus), Zeus or Jove being the father. Venus herself is sometimes called Dionê.
Dionys'ia, wife of Cleon, governor of Tarsus. Periclês prince of Tyre commits to her charge his infant daughter Mari'na, supposed to be motherless. When her foster-child is fourteen years old, Dionysia, out of jealousy, employs a man to murder her, and the people of Tarsus, hearing thereof, set fire to her house, and both Dionysia and Cleon are burnt to death in the flames,—Shakespeare, Pericles, Prince of Tyre (1608).
Dionys'ius, tyrant of Syracuse, dethroned Evander, and imprisoned him in a dungeon deep in a huge rock, intending to starve him to death. But Euphrasia, having gained access to him, fed him from her own breast. Timoleon invaded Syracuse, and Dionysius, seeking safety in a tomb, saw there Evander the deposed king, and was about to kill him, when Euphrasia rushed forward, struck the tyrant to the heart, and he fell dead at her feet.—A. Murphy, The Grecian Daughter (1772).
therefore.jpg In this tragedy there are several gross historical errors. In act i. the author tells us it was Dionysius the Elder who was dethroned, and went in exile to Corinth; but the elder Dionysius died in Syracuse, at the age of 63, and it was the younger Dionysius who was dethroned by Timoleon, and went to Corinth. In act v. he makes Euphrasia kill the tyrant in Syracuse, whereas he was allowed to leave Sicily, and retired to Corinth, where he spent his time in riotous living, etc.
Dionys'ius [THE ELDER] was appointed sole general of the Syracusan army, and then king by the voice of the senate. Damon "the Pythagorean" opposed the appointment, and even tried to stab "the tyrant," but was arrested and condemned to death. The incidents whereby he was saved are to be found under the article DA'MON (q.v.).
Damon and Pythias, a drama by R. Edwards (1571), and another by John Banim, in 1825.
Dionys'ius [THE YOUNGER], being banished from Syracuse, went to Corinth and turned schoolmaster.