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

of light”), and Gaspar or Caspar (“the white one”). Klopstock, in The Messiah, makes six “Wise Men,” and none of the names are like these three.

Balthazar, father of Juliana, Volantê, and Za mora. A proud, peppery, and wealthy gentleman. His daughter Juliana married the duke of Aranza; his second daughter, Volante, married the count Montalban; and Zamora married signor Rinaldo.—J. Tobin: The Honeymoon (1804).

Baltic (The Battle of the), a lyric by Thomas Campbell (1809). This battle (April 10, 1801) was in reality the bombardment of Copenhagen by lord Nelson and admiral Parker. In their engagement with the Danish fleet, 18 out of 23 ships of the line were taken and destroyed by the British. The poem says—

Of Nelson and the North
Sing the glorious day’s renown.
When to battle fierce came forth
All the might of Denmark’s crown …
It was 10 of April morn …
[When fell the Danes] in Elsinore.

Balue (Cardinal), in the court of Louis XI. of France (1420–1491), introduced by sir W. Scott in Quentin Durward (time, Edward IV.).

Balugantes , leader of the men from Leon, in Spain, and in alliance with Agramant.—Ariosto: Orlando Furioso (1516).

Balveny (Lord), kinsman of the earl of Douglas.—Sir W. Scott: Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.).

Balwhidder [Bal-wither], a Scotch presbyterian pastor, filled with all the old-fashioned national prejudices, but sincere, kind-hearted, and pious. He is garrulous and loves his joke, but is quite ignorant of the world, being “in it but not of it.”—Galt: Annals of the Parish (1821).

The Rev. Micah Balwhidder is a fine representation of the primitive Scottish pastor; diligent, blameless, loyal, and exemplary in his life, but without the fiery zeal and “kirk-filling eloquence” of the supporters of the Covenant.—R. Chambers: English Literature, ii. 591.

Baly, one of the ancient and gigantic kings of India, who founded the city called by his name. He redressed wrongs, upheld justice, was generous and truthful, compassionate and charitable, so that at death he became one of the judges of hell. His city in time got overwhelmed with the encroaching ocean, but its walls were not overthrown, nor were the rooms encumbered with the weeds and alluvial of the sea. One day a dwarf, named Vamen, asked the mighty monarch to allow him to measure three of his own paces for a hut to dwell in. Baly smiled, and bade him measure out what he required. The first pace of the dwarf compassed the whole earth, the second the whole heavens, and the third the infernal regions. Baly at once perceived that the dwarf was Vishnû, and adored the present deity. Vishnu made the king “Governor of Padalon” or hell, and permitted him once a year to revisit the earth, on the first full moon of November.

Baly built
A ity, like the cities of the gods,
Being like a god himself. For many an age
Hath ocean warred against his palaces,
Till overwhelmed they lie beneath the waves,
Not overthrown.
   —Southey: Curse of Kehama, xv. 1 (1809).

Bampton Lectures (The), founded by John Bampton, canon of Salisbury, who died in 1751. These lectures were designed to confirm the Catholic faith and confute heresies. The first of the series was delivered in 1780.

Ban, king of Benwick [Brittany], father of sir Launcelot, and brother of Bors king of Gaul. This “shadowy king of a still more shadowy kingdom” came over with his royal brother to the aid of Arthur, when, at the beginning of his reign, the eleven kings leagued against him (pt. i. 8).

Yonder I see the most valiant knight of the world, and the man of most renown; for such two brethren as are king Ban and king Bors are not living.—Sir T. Malory: History of Prince Arthur, i. 14 (1470).