Chapter Bells tolled Backwards to Bellerophon of B by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Bells tolled Backwards to Bellerophon

Bells tolled Backwards. This was the tocsin of the French, first used as an alarm of fire, and subsequently for any uprising of the people. In the reign of Charles IX. it was the signal given by the court for the Bartholomew slaughter. In the French Revolution it was the call to the people for some united attack against the royalists.

Old French, toquer, “to strike,” seing or sing, “a church-bell.”

Bella Wilfer, a lovely, wilful, lively, spoilt darling, who loved every one, and whom every one loved. She married John Rokesmith (i.e. John Harmon).—C. Dickens: Our Mutual Friend (1864).

Bellair, in Etherege’s comedy of The Man of Mode (1676). Supposed to represent the author himself.

Bellamy, a steady young man, looking out for a wife “capable of friendship, love, and tenderness; with good sense enough to be easy, and good nature enough to like him.” He found his beau-ideal in Jacintha, who had besides a fortune of £30,000.—Ben Hoadly, M.D.: The Suspicious Husband (1761).

Bellario, the assumed name of Euphrasia, when she put on boy’s apparel that she might enter the service of prince Philaster, whom she greatly loved.—Fletcher: Philaster, or Love Lies a-bleeding (1622). An excellent tragedy.

Bellaston (Lady), a profligate, from whom Tom Jones accepts support. Her conduct and conversation may be considered a fair photograph of the “beauties” of the court of Louis XV.—Fielding: History of Tom Fones, a Foundling (1750).

The character of Jones, otherwise a model of generosity, openness, and manly spirit, mingled with thoughtless dissipation, is unnecessarily degraded by the nature of his intercourse with lady Bellaston.—Encyclopadia Britannica (article “Fielding”).

Belle Cordière (La), Louise Labé, who married Ennemond Perrin, a wealthy rope-maker (1526–1566).

Belle Corisande (La), Diane comtesse de Guiche et de Grammont (1554–1620).

Belle France (La), a pet way of alluding to France, similar to our Merry England.

Belle the Giant. It is said that the giant Belle mounted on his sorrel horse at a place since called mount Sorrel. He leaped one mile, and the spot on which he lighted was called Wanlip (one-leap); thence he leaped a second mile, but in so doing “burst all” his girths, whence the spot was called Burstall; in the third leap he was killed, and the spot received the name of Bellegrave.

Belle’s Stratagem (The). The “belle” is Letitia Hardy, and her stratagem was for the sake of winning the love of Doricourt, to whom she had been betrothed. The very fact of being betrothed to Letitia set Doricourt against her, so she went unknown to him to a masquerade, where Doricourt fell in love with “the beautiful stranger.” In order to consummate the marriage of his daughter, Mr. Hardy pretends to be “sick unto death,” and beseeches Doricourt to wed Letitia before he dies. Letitia meets her betrothed in her masquerade dress, and unbounded is the joy of the young man to find that “the beautiful stranger” is the lady to whom he has been betrothed.—Mrs. Cowley: The Belle’s Stratagem, (See Beaux Stratagem.)

Bellefontaine (Benedict), the wealthy farmer of Grand Pré [Nova Scotia] and father of Evangeline. When the inhabitants of his village were driven into exile, Benedict died of a broken heart as he was about to embark, and was buried on the seashore.—Longfellow: Evangeline (1849).

Bellenden (Lady Margaret), an old lady, mistress of the Tower of Tillietudlem, and devoted to the house of Stuart.

Old major Miles Bellenden, brother of lady Margaret.