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

He was a man whose huge stature, thews, sinews, and bulk … would have enabled him to enact “Colbrand,” “Ascapart,” or any other giant of romance, without raising himself nearer to heaven even by the altitude of a chopin.—Sir W. Scott.

Those Ascaparts, men big enough to throw
Charing Cross for a bar.
   —Dr. Donne (1573–1631).

Thus imitated by Pope (1688–1744)—

Each man an Ascapart of strength to toss
For quoits both Temple Bar and Charing Cross.

Ascræan Sage, or Ascreœan Poet, Hesiod, who was born at Ascra, in Bœtia. Virgil calls him “The Old Ascræan.”

Hos tibi dant calamos, en accipe, Musæ
Ascræo quos ante seni.
   —Bucolic, vii. 70.

Asebie, Irreligion personified in The Purple Island (1633), by Phineas Fletcher (canto vii.). He had four sons: Idolatros (idolatry), Pharmakeus (witchcraft), Hæreticus, and Hypoerisy; all fully described by the poet. (Greek, asebeia, “impiety.”)

Aselges (3syl), Lasciviousness personified. One of the four sons of Anagnus (inchastity), his three brothers being Mæchus (adultery), Porneius (fornication), and Acatharus. Seeing his brother Porneius fall by the spear of Parthenia (maidenly chastity), Aselgês rushes forward to avenge his death; but the martial maid caught him with her spear, and tossed him so high i’ the air “that he hardly knew whither his course was bent.” (Greek, aselgês, “intemperate, wanton.”)—Phineas Fletcher: The Purple Island, xi. (1633).

Asen, strictly speaking, are only the three gods next in rank to the twelve male Asir; but the word is not unfrequently used for the Scandinavian deities generally.

Asgard, the fortress of the Æsir, or Scandinavian deities. It is situate in the heavenly hills, between the Earth and the Rainbow-bridge (Bifrost). The river is Nornor, overshadowed by the famous ash tree Ygdrasil. Above the Rainbow dwelt the “Mysterious Three.”

Asgil’s Translation. John Asgill wrote a book on the possibility of man being translated into eternal life without dying. The book, in 1707, was condemned to be burnt by the common hangman.

Here’s no depending upon old women in my country, .. and a man may as safely trust to Asgil’s translation as to his great-grandmother not marrying.—Mrs. Centlivre: The Busybody, ii. 2 (1709).

Ashfield (Farmer), a truly John Bull farmer, tender-hearted, noble-minded but homely, generous but hot- tempered. He loves his daughter Susan with the love of a woman. His favourite expression is “Behave pratty,” and he himself always tries to do so. His daughter Susan marries Robert Handy, the son of sir Abel Handy.

Dame Ashfield, the farmer’s wife, whose bête noire is a neighbouring farmer named Grundy. What Mrs. Grundy will say, or what Mrs. Grundy will think or do, is dame Ashfield’s decalogue and gospel.

Susan Ashfield, daughter of farmer and dame Ashfield.—Morton: Speed the Plough (1798).

Ashford (Isaac), “a wise, good man, contented to be poor.”—Crabbe: Parish Register (1807).

Ashtaroth, a general name for all Syrian goddesses. (See Astoreth.)

[They] had general names
Of Baälim and Ashtaroth: those male,
These feminine.
   —Milton: Paradise Lost, i. 422 1665).

Ashton (Sir William), the lord keeper of Scotland, and father of Lucy Ashton.