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

Ass. Three of these animals are by different legends admitted into heaven: 1. The ass on which Christ rode on His journey to Jerusalem on the day of palms. 2. The ass on which Balaam rode, and which reproved the prophet, “speaking with the voice of a man.” 3. The ass of Aazis queen of Sheba or Saba, who came to visit Solomon. (See Animals, p. 45.)

Ass’s Ears. Midas was chosen to decide a trial of musical skill between Apollo and Pan. The Phrygian king gave his verdict in favour of Pan, whereupon Apollo changed his ears to those of an ass. The servant who used to cut the king’s hair, discovering the deformity, was afraid to whisper the secret to any one, but, not being able to contain himself dug a hole in the earth, and, putting his mouth into it, cried out, “King Midas has ass’s ears.” He then filled up the hole, and felt relieved. Tennyson makes the barber a woman.

No livelier than the dame
That whispered, “Asses’ ears” [sic], among the sedge,
“My sister.”
   —The Princess, ii.

Assad, son of Camaralzaman and Haiatalnefous , and half-brother of Amgiad (son of Camaralzaman and Badoura). Each of the two mothers conceived a base passion for the other’s son, and, when the young men repulsed their advances, accused them to their father of gross designs upon their honour. Camaralzaman commanded his vizier to put them both to death; but instead of doing so, he conducted them out of the city, and told them not to return to their father’s kingdom (the island of Ebony). They wandered on for ten days, when Assad went to a city in sight to obtain provisions. Here he was entrapped by an old fire-worshipper, who offered him hospitality, but cast him into a dungeon, intending to offer him up a human victim on the “mountain of fire.” The ship in which he was sent being driven on the coast of queen Margiana, Assad was sold to her as a slave, but being recaptured was carried back to his old dungeon. Here Bostana, one of the old man’s daughters, took pity on him, and released him; and ere long Assad married queen Margiana, while Amgiad, out of gratitude, married Bostana.—Arabian Nights (“Amgiad and Assad”).

Assidos, a plant in the country of Prester John. It not only protects the wearer from evil spirits, but forces every spirit to tell its business.

Astagoras, a female fiend, who has the power of raising storms.—Tasso: Jerusalem Delivered (1575).

Astarte, the Phœnician moon-goddess, the Astoreth of the Syrians.

With these
Came Astoreth, whom the Phœnicians called
Astarte, queen of heaven, with crescent horns.
   —Milton: Paradise Lost, i. 438 (1665).

Astarte, an attendant on the princess Anna Comnena.—Sir W. Scott: Count Robert of Paris (time, Rufus).

Astarte (2 or 3 syl), beloved by Manfred.—Byron: Manfred.

We think of Astarte as young, beautiful, innocent,—guilty, lost, murdered, judged, pardoned; but still, in her permitted visit to earth, speaking in a voice of sorrow, and with a countenance yet pale with mortal trouble. We had but a glimpse of her in her beauty and innocence, but at last she rises before us in all the mortal silence of a ghost, with fixed, glazed, and passionless eyes, revealing death, judgment, and eternity.—Professor Wilson.

The lady Astarte his? Hush! who comes here?

… The same Astarte? No. (iii. 4.) [(iii. 4.)

Astery, a nymph in the train of Venus; the lightest of foot and most active of all. One day the goddess, walking abroad with her nymphs, bade them go gather flowers. Astery gathered most of all; but Venus,