Chapter Arviragus to Asmodeus of A by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Arviragus to Asmodeus

Arviragus, the husband of Dorigen. Aurelius tried to win her love, but Dorigen made answer that she would never listen to his suit till the rocks that beset the coast were removed, “and there n’is no stone y-seen.” By the aid of magic, Aurelius caused all the rocks of the coast to disappear, and Dorigen’s husband insisted that she should keep her word. When Aurelius saw how sad she was, and was told that she had come in obedience to her husband’s wishes, he said he would rather die than injure so true a wife and noble a gentleman.—Chaucer: Canterbury Tales (“The Franklin’s Tale,” 1388).

(This is substantially the same as Boccaccio’s tale of Dianora and Gilberto, day x. 5. See Dianora.)

Arviragus, younger son of Cymbeline king of Britain, and brother of Guiderius. The two in early childhood were kidnapped being by Belarius, out of revenge for being unjustly banished, and were brought up by him in a cave. When they were grown to manhood, Belarius, having rescued the king from the Romans, was restored to favour. He then introduced the two young men to Cymbeline, and told their story, upon which the king was rejoiced to find that his two sons whom he thought dead were both living.—Shakespere: Cymbeline (1605).

Aryan Languages (The)— 1. Sanskrit, whence Hindustanee. 2. Zend, ” Persian. 3. Greek, ” Romaic. 4. Latin, ” Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Wallachian (Romance). 5. Keltic, ” Welsh, Irish, Gaelic. 6. Gothic, ” Teutonic, English, Scandinavian. 7. Slavonic, ” European Russian, and Austrian.

As You Like It, a comedy by Shakespe are, published in 1600. One of the French dukes, being driven from his dukedom by his brother, went with certain followers to the forest of Arden (a purely hypothetical place), where they lived a free-a nd-easy life, chiefly occupied in the chase. The deposed duke had one daughter, named Rosalind, whom t he usurper kept at court as the companion of his own daughter Celia, and the two cousins were very fond of each other. At a wrestling match Rosalind, fell in love with Orlando, who threw his antagonist, a giant and professional athlete. The usurping duke (Frederick) banished Rosalind from the court, but her cousin Celia resolved to go to Arden with her; so Rosalind in boy’s clothes (under the name of Ganimed), and Celia as a rustic maiden (under the name of Aliena), started to find the deposed duke. Orlando being driven from home by his elder brother, also went to the forest of Arden, and was taken under the duke’s protection. Here he met the ladies, and a double marriage was the result—Orlando married Rosalind, and his elder brother Oliver married Celia. The usurper retired to a religious house, and the deposed duke was restored to his dominions.—(1598.)

Asaph. So Tate calls Dryden, in Absalom and Achitophel.

While Judah’s throne and Zion’s rock stand fast, The song of Asaph and his fame shall last. Part ii. 1064 (1682).

Asaph (St.) a British [i.e. Welsh] monk of the sixth century, abbot of Llan-Elvy, which changed its name to St. Asaph, in honour of him.

So bishops can she bring, of which her saints shall be:
As Asaph, who first gave that name unto that see.
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, xxiv. (1622).

Ascalaphos, son of Acheron, turned into an owl for tale-telling and trying to make mischief.—Greek Fable.

Ascanio, son of don Henrique, in the comedy called The Spanish Curate, by John Fletcher (1622).

Ascapart or Ascupart, an enorm ous giant, thirty feet high, who carried off sir Bevis, his wi fe Josian, his sword Morglay, and his steed Arundel, under his arm. Sir Bevis afterwards made Ascapart his slave, to run beside his horse. The effigy of sir Bevis is on the city gates of Southampton.—rayton: Polylbion, ii. (1612).