Chapter Bellerophon to Benedick of B by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Belmont (Sir Robert), a proud, testy, mercenary country gentleman; friend of his neighbour sir Charles Raymond.

Charles Belmont, son of sir Robert, a young rake. He rescued Fidelia, at the age of 12, from the hands of Villard, a villain who wanted to abuse her; and, taking her to his own home, fell in love with her, and in due time married her. She turns out to be the daughter of sir Charles Raymond.

Rosetta Belmont, daughter of sir Robert, high-spirited, witty, and affectionate. She was in love with colonel Raymond, whom she delighted in tormenting.—Ed. Moore: The Foundling (1748).

Belmour (Edward), a gay young man about town.—Congreve: The Old Bachelor (1693).

Belmour (Mrs.), a widow of “agreeable vivacity, entertaining manners, quickness of transition from one thing to another, a feeling heart, and a generosity of sentiment.” She it is who shows Mrs. Lovemore the way to keep her husband at home, and to make him treat her with that deference which is her just due.— Murphy: The Way to Keep Him (1760).

Beloved Disciple (The), John, to whom the Fourth Gospel is attributed.— John xiii.23, etc.

Beloved Physician (The), supposed to be Luke the evangelist.—Col. iv. 14.

Bel-phegor, a Moabitish deity, whose orgies were celebrated on mount Phegor, and were noted for their obscenity.

Belphœbe (3 syl.). “All the Graces rocked her cradle when she was born.” Her mother was Chrysog’onê , daughter of Amphisa of fairy lineage, and her twin-sister was Amoretta. While the mother and her babes were asleep, Diana took one (Belphœbê) to bring up, and Venus took the other.

Belphœbê is the “Diana” among women, cold, passionless, correct, and strong-minded. Amoret is the “Venus,” but without the licentiousness of that goddess,—warm, loving, motherly, and wifely. Belphœbê was a lily; Amoret a rose. Belphœbê a moonbeam, light without heat; Amoret a sunbeam, bright and warm and life-giving. Belphœbê would go to the battle-field, and make a most admirable nurse or lady-conductor of an ambulance; but Amoret would prefer to look after her husband and family, whose comfort would be her first care, and whose love she would seek and largely reciprocate.—See Spenser: Faërie Queene, iii., iv. (1590).

“Belphœbê” is queen Elizabeth. As queen she is Gloriana, but as woman she is Belphœbê the beautiful and chaste.

Either Gloriana let her choose,
Or in Belphœbê fashioned to be;
In one her rule; in the other her rare chastitie.
   —Spenser: Faërie Queene (introd. to bk. iii.).

Belshazzar, a drama by Milman (1822); a drama by Hannah More (Sacred Dramas) (1782); Byron (The Vision of Belshazzar).

Belted Will, lord William Howard, warden of the western marches (1563–1640).

His Bilboa blade, by Marchmen felt,
Hung in a broad and studded belt;
Hence in rude phrase the Borderers still
Called noble Howard “Belted Will.”
   —Sir W. Scott.

Beltenebros . Amadis of Gaul assumes the name when he retires to the Poor Rock, after receiving a cruel letter from Oriana his lady-love.—Vasco de Lobeira: Amadis de Gaul, ii. 6 (before 1400).

One of the most distinguishing testimonies which that hero gave of his fortitude, constancy, and love, was his retiring to the Poor Rock when in disgrace with his mistress Oriana, to do penance under the name of Beltenebros, or the Lovely Obscure.—Cervantes: Don Quixote, I. iii. II (1605).