Chapter Baliverso to Bandy-legged of B by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Baliverso to Bandy-legged

Baliverso, the basest knight in the Saracen army.—Ariosto: Orlando Furioso (1516).

Balk or Balkh [“toembrace”], Omurs, surnamed Ghil-Shah (“earth’s king”), founder of the Paishdadian dynasty. He travelled abroad to make himself familiar with the laws and customs of other lands. On his return he met his brother, and built on the spot of meeting a city, which he called Balk; and made it the capital of his kingdom.

Balkis, the Arabian name of the queen of Sheba, who went from the South to witness the wisdom and splendour of Solomon. According to the Koran, she was a fire-worshipper. It is said that Solomon raised her to his bed and throne. She is also called queen of Saba or Aaziz.—Al Korân, xxvi. (Sale’s notes).

She fancied herself already more potent than Balkis and pictured to her imagination the genii falling prostrate at the foot of her throne.—W. Beckford: Vathek

Solomon, being told that her legs were covered with hair “like those of an ass,” had the presence-chamber floored with glass laid over running water filled with fish. When Balkis approached the room, supposing the floor to be water, she lifted up her robes and exposed her hairy ankles, of which the king had been rightly informed.—Jallalo’dinn.

Ballendino (Don Antonio), in Ben Jonson’s comedy called The Case is Altered (1597). Probably intended to ridicule Anthony Munday, the dramatist, who lived 1554–1633, a voluminous writer.

Ballenkeiroch (Old), a Highland chief and old friend of Fergus Mlvor.—Sir W. Scott: Waverley (time, George II.).

Balmung, the sword of Siegfried, forged by Wieland the smith of the Scandinavian gods. In a trial of merit, Wieland cleft Amilias (a brother smith) to the waist; but so fine was the cut that Amilias was not even conscious of it till he attempted to move, when he fell asunder into two pieces.—Nibelungen Lied.

Balni-Barbi, the land of projectors, visited by Gulliver.—Swift: Gulliver’s Travels (1726).

Balruddery (The laird of), a relation of Godfrey Bertram, laird of Ellangowan.—Sir W. Scott: Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

Balsam of Fierabras. “This famous balsam,” said don Quixote, “only costs three rials [about sixpence] for three quarts.” It was the balsam with which the body of Christ was embalmed, and was stolen by sir Fierabras [Fe-a.ra-brah]. Such was its virtue, that one single drop of it taken internally would instantly heal the most ghastly wound.

“It is a balsam of balsams; it not only heals all wounds, but even defies death itself. If thou should ’st see my body cut in two, friend Sancho, by some unlucky backstroke, you must carefully pick up that half of me which falls on the ground, and clap it upon the other half before the blood congeals, then give me a draught of the balsam of Fierabras, and you will presently see me as sound as an orange.”—Cervantes: Don Quixote, I. ii. 2 1605).

BALTHAZAR, a merchant, in Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors (1593).

Balthazar, a name assumed by Portia, in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice (1598).

Balthazar, servant to Romeo, in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (1597).

Balthazar, servant to don Pedro, in Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing (1600).

Balthazar, one of the three “kings” shown in Cologne Cathedral as one of the “Magi” led to Bethlehem by the guiding star. The word means “lord of treasures.” The names of the other two are Melchior (“king