Chapter Agnes to Aidenn of A by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Agnes to Aidenn

Agnes, in Molière’sL’ coledes Femmes, the girl on whom Arnolphe tries his pet experïment of education, so as to turn out for himself a “model wife.” She was brought up in a country convent, where she was kept in entire ignorance of the difference of sex, conventional proprieties, the difference between the love of men and women, and that of girls for girls, the mysteries of marriage, and so on. When grown to womanhood she quits the convent, and standing one evening on a balcony, a young man passes and takes off his hat to her, she returns the salute; he bows a second and third time, she does the same; he passes and repasses several times, bowing each time, and she does as she had been taught to do by acknowledging the salute. Of course, the young man (Horace) becomes her lover, whom she marries, and M. Arnolphe loses his “model wife.” (See PINCHWIFE.)

Elle fait l’ Agnès. She pretends to be wholly unsophisticated and verdantly ingenuous.—French Proverb (from the “Agnes” of Molière, L’École des Femmes, 1622).

Agnes (Black), the palfry of Mary queen of Scots, the gift of her brother Moray, and so called from the noted countess of March, who was countess of Moray (Murray) in her own right.

Black Agnes (countess of March). (See BLACK AGNES.)

Agnes (St.), a young virgin of Palermo, who at t he age of 13 was martyred at Rome during the Diocletian persecution of A.D. 304. Prudence (Aurelius Prudentius Clemens), a Latin Christian poet of the fourth century, has a poem on the subject. Tintoret and Domenichino have both made her the subject of a painting.—The Martyrdom of St. Agnes.

St. Agnes and the Devil. St. Agnes, having escaped from the prison at Rome, took shipping and landed at St. Piran Arwothall. The devil dogged her, but she rebuked him, and the large moorstones between St. Piran and St. Agnes, in Cornwall, mark the places where the devils were turned into stone by the looks of the indignant saint.—Polwhele: History of Cornwall.

Agnes’ Eve (St.), a poem by Keats (1796–1821). The story is as follows: On St. Agnes’ Eve, maidens, under certain conditions, dream of their sweethearts. Magdeline, a baron’s daughter, was in love with Porphyro, but a deadly feud existed between Porphyro and the baron. On St. Agnes’ Eve the young knight went to the castle, and persuaded the door-keeper (an old crone) to conceal him in Agnes’ chamber. Presently the young lady went to bed and fell asleep; when Porphyro, after gazing on her, played softly a ditty, at which she woke. He then induced her to leave the castle and elope with him, and long ago “those lovers fled away into the storm.”

Agramante or Ag’ramant, king of the Moors, in Orlando Innamorato, by Bojardo, and Orlando Furioso, by Ariosto. He was son of Troyano; and crossed over to ravage Gallia, and revenge his father’s death on Charlemagne. He was slain by Orlando.

Agrawain (Sir) or Sir Agravain, surna med “The Desirous” and also “The Haughty.” He was son of Lot (king of Orkney) and Margawse half-sister of king Arthur. His brothers were sir Gawain, sir Gaheris, and sir Gareth. Mordred was his half-brother, being the son of king Arthur and Margawse. Sir Agravain and sir Mordred hated sir Launcelot, and told the king he was too familiar with the queen; so they asked the king to spend the day in hunting, and kept watch. The queen sent for sir Launcelot to her private chamber, and sir Agravain, sir Mordred, and twelve others assailed the door, but sir Launcelot slew them all except sir Mordred, who escaped.—Sir T. Malory: History of Prince Arthur, iii. 142–145 (1470).

Agricaltes, king of Amonia.—Ariosto: Orlando Furioso.

Agricane , king of Tartary, in the Orlando Innamorato, of Bojardo, was the father of Mandricardo. He besieges Angelica in the castle of Albracca, and is slain in single combat by Orlando. He brought into