Chapter Badinguet to Baker of B by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Badinguet to Baker

Badinguet [Bad-en-gay], one of the many nicknames of Napoleon III. It was the name of the mason in whose clothes he escaped from the fortress of Ham (1808, 1851–1873). Napoleon’s party was nicknamed Badingueux; the empress’s party was nicknamed Montijoeux and Montijocrisses.

Badon, Bath. The twelfth great victory of Arthur over the Saxons was at Badon Hill (Bannerdown).

They sang how he himself [king Arthur] at Badon
bore that day,
When at the glorious goal his British sceptre lay,
Two days together how the battle strongly stood;
Pendragon’s worthy son [king Arthur]…
Three hundred Saxons slew with his own valiant hand.
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, v. (1612).

Badoura, daughter of Gaiour king of China, the “most beautiful woman ever seen upon e arth.” The emperor Gaiou r wished her to marry, but she expressed an aversion to wedlock. However, one n ight by fairy influence she was shown prince Camaralzaman asleep, fell in love with him, and exchanged rings. Next day she inquired for the prince, but her inquiry was thought so absurd that she was confined as a mad woman. At length her foster-brother solved the difficulty thus: The emperor having proclaimed that whoever cured the princess of her [supposed] madness should have her for his wife, he sent Camaralzaman to play the magician, and imparted the secret to the princess by sending her the ring she had left with the sleeping prince. The cure was instantly effected, and the marriage solemnized with due pomp. When the emperor was informed that his son-in-law was a prince, whose father was sultan of the “Island of the Children of Khaledan, some twenty days’ sail from the coast of Persia,” he was delighted with the alliance.—Arabian Nights (“Camaralzaman and Badoura”).

Badroulboudour, daughter of the sultan of China, a beautiful brunette. “Her eyes were large and sparkling, her expression modest, her mouth small, her lips vermilion, and her figure perfect.” She became the wife of Aladdin, but twice nearly caused his death; once by exchanging “the wonderful lamp” for a new copper one, and once by giving

hospitality to the false Fatima. Aladdin killed both these magicians.—Arabian Nights (“Aladdin, or The Wonderful Lamp”).

Bætica or Bætic Vale, Granada and Andalusia, or Spain in general. So called from the river Bætis or Guadalquivir.

While o’er the Bætic vale
Or thro’ the towers of Memphis [Egypt], or the palms
By sacred Ganges watered, I conduct
The English merchant.
   —Akenside: Hymn to the Naiads.

Bagdad. A hermit told the caliph Almanzor that one Moclas was destined to found a city on the spot where he was standing. “I am that man,” said the caliph, and he then informed the hermit how in his boyhood he once stole a bracelet, and his nurse ever after called him “Moclas.” the name of a well- known thief.—Marigny.

Bagshot, one of a gang of thieves who conspire to break into the house of lady Bountiful.—Farquhar: The Beaux’ Stratagem (1705).

Bagstock (Major Foe), an apoplectic retired military officer, living in Princess’s Place, opposite to Miss Tox. The major had a covert kindness for Miss Tox, and was jealous of Mr. Dombey. He speaks of himself as “Old Joe Bagstock,” “Old Joey,” “Old J.,” “Old Josh,” “Rough and tough Old Jo,” “J.B.,” “Old J. B.,” and so on. He is also given to over-eating, and to abusing his poor native servant.—C. Dickens: Dombey and Son (1846).

Bahadar, master of the horse to the king of th e Magi. Prince Amgiad was enticed by a collet to enter the minister’s house, and when Bahadar returned, he was not a little surprised at the sight of his uninvited guest. The prince, however, explained to him in private how the matter stood, and Bahadar, entering into the fun of the thing, assumed for the nonce the place of a slave. The collet would have murdered him, but Amgiad, to save the minister, cut off her head. Bahadar, being arrested for murder, was condemned