Chapter Balaam to Balisarda of B by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Balder, the god of light, peace, and day, was the young and beautiful son of Odin and Frigga. His palace, Briedablik (“wide-shining”), stood in the Milky Way. He was slain by Hoöder, the blind old god of darkness and night, but was restored to life at the general request of the gods.—Scandinavian Mythology.

Balder the beautiful
God of the summer sun.
   —Longfellow: Tegnier’s Death.

(Sydney Dobell has a poem entitled Balder, published in 1854.)

Balderstone, (Caleb), the favourite old butler of the master of Ravenswood, at Wolf’s Crag Tower. Being told to provide supper for the laird of Bucklaw, he pretended that there were fat capon and good store in plenty, but all he could produce was “the hinder end of a mutton ham that had been three times on the table already, and the heel of a ewe-milk kebbuck [cheese]” (ch. vii.).—Sir W. Scott: Bride of Lammermoor (time, William III.).

Baldrick, an ancestor of the lady Eveline Berenger “the betrothed.” He was murdered, and lady Eveline assured Rose Flammock that she had seen his ghost frowning at her.—Sir W. Scott: The Betrothed (time, Henry II.).

Baldringham (The lady Ermengarde of), great-aunt of lady Eveline Berenger “the betrothed.”—Sir W. Scott: The Betrothed (time, Henry II.).

BALDWIN, the youngest and comeliest of Charlemagne’s paladins, nephew of sir Roland.

Baldwin, the restless and ambitious duke of Bologna, leader of 1200 horse in the allied Christian army. He was Godfrey’s brother, and very like him, but not so tall.—Tasso: Jerusalem Delivered (1575).

He is introduced by sir Walter Scott in Count Robert of Paris.

Baldwin. So the Ass is called in the beast-epic entitled Reynard the Fox (the word means “bold friend”). In pt. iii. he is called “Dr.” Baldwin (1498).

Baldwin, tutor of Rollo (“the bloody brother”) and Otto, dukes of Normandy, and sons of Sophia. Baldwin was put to death by Rollo, because Hamond slew Gisbert the chancellor with an axe and not with a sword. Rollo said that Baldwin deserved death “for teaching Hamond no better.”—Beaumont: The Bloody Brother (published 1639).

Baldwin (Count), a fatal example of paternal self-will. He doted on his elder son, Biron, but, because he married against his inclination, disinherited him, and fixed all his love on Carlos his younger son. Biron fell at the siege of Candy, and was supposed to be dead. His wife Isabella mourned for him seven years, and being on the point of starvation, applied to the count for aid, but he drove her from his house like a dog. Villeroy (2 syl.) married her, but Biron returned the following day. Carlos, hearing of his brother’s return, employed ruffians to murder him, and then charged Villeroy with the crime; but one of the ruffians impeached. Carlos was arrested, and Isabella, going mad, killed herself. Thus was the wilfulness of Baldwin the source of infinite misery. It caused the death of his two sons, as well as of his daughter- in-law.—Southern: The Fatal Marriage (1692).

Baldwin, archbishop of Canterbury (1184–1190), introduced by sir W. Scott in The Betrothed (time, Henry II.).

Baldwin de Oyley, esquire of sir Brian de Bois Guilbert (Preceptor of the Knights Templars).—Sir W. Scott: Ivanhoe (time, Richard I.).

Balfour (John), of Burley. A leader of the Covenanters’ army. Disguised for a time as Quentin Mackell of Irongray.—Sir W. Scott: Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).