Chapter ARTHUR to Arvida of A by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Arts (The fine) and Genius. Sir Walter Scott was wholly ignorant of pictures, and quite indifferent to music. Rogers felt no pleasure in paintings, and music gave him positive discomfort. Sir Robert Peel detested music. Byron and Tasso cared nothing for architecture, and Byron had no ear for music. Mde. de Staël could not appreciate scenery. Pope and Dr. Johnson, like Scott and Byron, had no ear for music, and could scarcely discern one tune from another; Pope preferred a street-organ to Handel’s Messiah.

Arturo (lord Arthur Talbot), a cavalier affianced to Elv ira “the puritan,” daughter of lord Walton. On the day appointed for the wedding, Arturo has to aid Enrichetta (Henrietta, widow of Charles I.) in her escape, and Elvira, supposing he is eloping with a rival, temporarily loses her reason. On his return, Arturo explains the circumstances, and they vow never more to part. At this juncture Arturo is arrested for treason, and led away to execution; but a herald announces the defeat of the Stuarts, and free pardon of all political offenders; whereupon Arturo is released, and marries “the fair puritan.”—Bellini’s opera, I Puritani (1834).

Arturo [Bucklaw]. So Frank Hayston is called in Donizetti’s opera of Lucia di Lammermoor (1835). (See Hayston.)

Arundel, the steed of sir Bevis of Southampton, given him by his wife Josian, daughter of the king of Armenia. Probably the word is meant for Hirondelle, a swallow.—Drayton: Polyolbion, ii. (1612).

Arundel Castle, called Magounce.

She [Anglides] came to a castle that was called Magounce, and now is called Arundell, in Southsea.—Sir T. Malory: History of Prince Arthur, ii. 118 (1470).

Arvalan, t he wicked son of Kehama, slain by Ladurlad for attempting to dishonour his daughter Kailyal. After this, his spirit became the relentless persecutor of the holy ma iden, but holiness and chastity triumphed over sin and lust. Thus when Kailyal was taken to the bower of bliss in paradise, Arvalan borrowed the dragon-car of the witch Lorrimite to carry her off; but when the dragons came in sight of the holy place they were unable to mount, and went perpetually downwards, till Arvalan was dropped into an ice-rift of perpetual snow. When he presented himself before her in the temple of Jaganaut, she set fire to the pagoda. And when he caught the maiden waiting for her father, who was gone to release the glendoveer from the submerged city of Baly, Baly himself came to her rescue.

“Help, help, Kehama! help!” he cried.
But Baly tarried not to abide
That mightier power. With irresistible feet
He stampt and cleft the earth. It opened wide,
And gave him way to his own judgment-seat.
Down like a plummet to the world below
He sank… to punishment deserved and endless woe.
   —Southey: Curse of Kehama, xvii. 12 (1809).

Arvida (Prince), a noble friend of Gustavus Vasa. Both Arvida and Gustavus are in love with Christina, daughter of Christian II. king of Scandinavia. Christian employs the prince to entrap Gustavus; but when he approaches him the better instincts of old friendship and the nobleness of Gustavus prevail,—so that Arvida not only refuses to betray his friend, but even abandons to him all further rivalry in the love of Christina.—H. Brooke: Gustavus Vasa (1730).