Chapter Blacks to Bleak House of B by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Blair (Adam), the hero of a novel by J. G. Lockhart, entitledAdam Blair a Story of Scottish Life (1822). It is the story of a Scotch minister who “fell from grace,” but after a season of penitence was restored to his pastorate.

Blair (Father Clement) a Carthusian monk, confessor of Catherine Glover “the fair maid of perth.—”Sir W. Scott: Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.).

Blair (Rev. David), sir Richard Philips, author of The Universal Preceptor (1816), Mother’s Question Book, etc. Philips issued books under a legion of false names.

Blaise, a hermit, who baptized Merlin the enchanter.

Blaise (St.), patron saint of woolcombers, because he was torn to pieces with iron wool-combs.

Blaize (Mrs. Mary), an hypothetical comic elegy full of puns, by Oliver Goldsmith (1765). The character of this jeu d’esprit may be gleaned from the two lines following—

The king himself has followed her—
When she has gone before.

BLANCHE (r syl.), niece of king John, in Shakespeare’s historic tragedy of King John (1623).

Blanche, one of the domestics of lady Eveline “the betrothed.”—Sir W. Scott: The Betrothed (time, Henry II.).

Blanche (La reine), the queen of France during the first six weeks of her widowhood. During this period of mourning she spent her time in a closed room, lit only by a wax taper, and was dressed wholly in white. Mary, the widow of Louis XII., was called La reine Blanche during her days of mourning, and is sometimes (but erroneously) so called afterwards.

Blanche (Lady) makes a vow with lady Anne to die an old maid, and of course falls over head and ears in love with Thomas Blount, a jeweller’s son, who enters the army and becomes a colonel. She is very handsome, ardent, brilliant, and fearless.—Knowles: Old Maids (1841).

Blanchefleur, the heroine of Boccaccio’s prose romance called Il Filocopo. Her lover “Florês” is Boccaccio himself, and “Blanchefleur” was the daughter of king Robert. The story of Blanchefleur and Florês is substantially the same as that of Dorigen and Aurelius, by Chaucer, and that of “Dianora and Ansaldo,” in the Decameron.

Blandamour (Sir), a man of “mickle might,” who “bore great sway in arms an d chivalry,” but was both vainglorious and insolent. He attacked Britomart, but was discomfited by her enchanted spear; he next attacked sir Ferraugh, and having overcome him, took from him the lady who accompanied him, “the False Florimel.”—Spenser: Faërie Queene, iv. I (1596).

Blandeville (Lady Emily), a neighbour of the Waverley family, afterwards married to colonel Talbot.—Sir W. Scott: Waverley (time, George II.).

Blandford, the father of Belinda, who he promised sir William Bellmont should marry his son George. But Belinda was in love with Beverley, and George Bellmont with Clarissa (Beverley’s sister). Ultimately matters arranged themselves, so that the lovers married according to their inclinations.—Murphy: All in the Wrong (1761).

Blandiman, the faithful man-servant of the fair Bellisant, and her attendant after her divorce.—Valentine and Orson.