Chapter Better to Reign in Hell than Serve in Heaven to Bible in Spain of B by Brewer's Readers Handbook

did—” when “Mrs. Beverley” interrupts him with, “’Tis false, old man; they had no quarrel. …” In uttering these words, Mrs. Siddons gave such a piercing shriek of grief that Young was unable to utter a word from a swelling in his throat.—Campbell: Life of Siddons.

Beverley, brother of Clarissa, and the lover of Belinda Blandford. He is extremely jealous, and catches at trifles light as air to confirm his fears; but his love is most sincere, and his penitence most humble when he finds out how causeless his suspicions are. Belinda is too proud to deny his insinuations, but her love is so deep that she repents of giving him a moment’s pain.—Murphy: All in the Wrong (a comedy, 1761).

Young’s countenance was equally well adapted for the expression of pathos or of pride; thus in such parts as “Hamlet,” “Beverley,” “The Stranger” … he looked the men he represented.—New Monthly (1822).

Bevil, a model gentleman, in Steele’s Conscious Lovers.

Whate’er can deck mankind
Or charm the heart, in generous Bevil shewed.
   —Thomson: The Seasons (“Winter,” 1726).

Bevil (Francis, Harry, and George), three brothers—one an M.P., another in the law, and the third in the Guards—who, unknown to each other, wished to obtain in marriage the hand of Miss Grubb, the daughter of a rich stock-broker. The M.P. paid his court to the father, and obtained his consent; the lawyer paid his court to the mother, and obtained her consent; the officer paid his court to the young lady, and, having obtained her consent, the other two brothers retired from the field.—O’Brien: Cross Purposes.

Bevis, the horse of lord Marmion.—Sir W. Scott: Marmion (1808).

Bevis (Sir) of Southampton . Having, while still a lad, reproved his mother for murdering his father, she employed Saber to kill h im; but Saber only left h im on a desert land as a waif, and he was brought up as a shepherd. Hearing th at his mother had married Mordure, the adulterer, he forced his way into the marriage hall and struck at Mordure; but Mordure slipped aside, and escaped the blow. Bevis was now sent out of the country, and being sold to an Armenian, was presented to the king. Josian, the king’s daughter, fell in love with him; they were duly married, and Bevis was knighted. Having slain the boar which made holes in the earth as big as that into which Curtius leapt, he was appointed general of the Armenian forces, subdued Brandamond of Damascus, and made Damascus tributary to Armenia. Being sent, on a future occasion, as ambassador to Damascus, he was thrust into a prison, where were two huge serpents; these he slew, and then effected his escape. His next encounter was with Ascupart, the giant, whom he made his slave. Lastly, he slew the great dragon of Colein, and then returned to England, where he was restored to his lands and titles. The French call him Beuves de Hantone.—Drayton: Polyolbion, ii. (1612).

The Sword of Bevis of Southampton was Morglay, and his steed Arundel. Both were given him by his wife Josian, daughter of the king of Armenia.

Bezaliel, in the satire of Absalom and Achitophel, is meant for the marquis of Worcester, afterwards duke of Beaufort. Bezaliel, the famous artificer, “was filled with the Spirit of God to devise excellent works in every kind of workmanship;” and of the marquis of Worcester, Tate says—

… so largely Nature heaped her store,
There scarce remained for arts to give him more.
   —Dryden and Tate: Part ii. read from 941 to 966 (1682).

Bezonian, a beggar, a rustic. (Italian, bisognoso, “necessitous.”) Pistol (in 2 Henry IV. act v. sc. 3) so calls Justice Shallow.

The ordinary tillers of the earth, such as we call husbandmen; in France, pesants; in Spaine, besonyans; and generally cloutshoe.—Markham: English Husbandman, 4.