Chapter Auburn to Austria and the Lion's Hide. of A by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Auburn to Austria and the Lion's Hide.

Auburn, the name of Goldmith’s Deserted Village. Supposed to be Lissoy, in Kilkenny West, Ireland, where Goldsmith’s father was the pastor.

Sweet Auburn, loveliest village of the plain.
   —Goldsmith: The Deserted Village (1770).

Auchtermuchty (John), the Kinross carrier.—Sir W. Scott: The Abbot (time, Elizabeth).

Audhumbla, the cow created by Surt to nourish Ymir. She supplied him with four rivers of milk, and was herself nourished by licking dew from the rocks.—Scandinavian Mythology.

Audley. Is John Audley here? In Richardson’s travelling theatrical booth this question was asked aloud, to signify that the performance was to be brought to a close as soon as possible, as the platform was crowded with new-comers, waiting to be admitted (1766–1836).

The same question was asked by Shuter (in 1759), whose travelling company preceded Richardson’s.

Audrey, a country wench, who jilted William for Touchstone. She is an ex-excellent specimen of a wondering shegawky. She thanks the gods that “she is foul,” and if to be poetical is not to be honest, she thanks the gods also that “she is not poetical.”—Shakespeare: As You Like It (1598).

The character of “Audrey,” that of a female fool, should not have been assumed [i.e. by Miss Pope, in her last appearance in public]; the last line of the farewell address was, “And now poor Audrey bids you all farewell” (May 26, 1808).—James Smith: Memoirs, etc. (1840).

Augean Stables. Augeas king of the Epeans, in Elis, kept 3000 oxen for thirty ye ars in stalls which were never cleansed. It was one of the twelve labours of Herculês to cleanse these stables in one day. This he accomplished by letting two rivers into them.

If the Augean stable [of dramatic impurity] was not sufficiently cleansed, the stream of public opinion was fairly directed against its conglomerated impurities.—Sir W. Scott: The Drama.

AUGUSTA. London [Trinobantina] was so called by the Romans.

Where full in view Augusta’s spires are seen,
With flowery lawns and waving woods between,
A humble habitation rose, beside
Where Thames meandering rolls his ample tide.
   —Falconer: The Shipwreck, i.3(1756).

Augusta, mother of Gustavus Vasa. She is a prisoner of Christian 11. king of Denmark; but the king promises to set her free if she will induce her son (Gustavus) to submission. Augusta refuses. In the war which followed, Gustavus defeated Christian, and became king of Sweden.—H. Brooke: Gustavus Vasa (1730).

Augusta, a title conferred by the Roman emperors on their wives, sisters, daughters, mothers, and even concubines. It had to be conferred; for even the wife of an Augustus was not an Augusta until after her coronation.

1. Empresses. Livia and Julia were both Augusta; so were Julia (wife of Tiberius), Messal ina, Agrippina, Octavia, Poppæa, Statilia, Sabina, Domitilla, Domitia, and Faustina. In imperials the wife of an emperor is spoken of as Augusta: Serenissima Augusta conjux nostra; Divina Augusta, etc. But the title had to be conferred; hence we read, “Domitian uxorem suam Augustam jussit nuncupari;” and “Flavia Titiana, eadem die, uxor ejus [i.e. Pertinax] Augusta est appellata.”

2. Mothers or Grandmothers. Antonia, grandmother of Caligula, was created Augusta. Claudius made his mother Antonia Augusta after her death. Heliogabalus had coins inscribed with “Julia Mæsa Augusta,” in honour of his grandmother; Mammæa, mother of Alexander Severus, is styled Augusta on coins; and so is Helena, mother of Constantine.