Chapter Bow Church to Bradamant of B by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Bow Church to Bradamant

Bow Church (London). Stow gives two derivations: (1) He says it was so called because it was the first church in London built on arches. This is the derivation most usually accepted. (2) He says also it took its name from certain stone arches supporting a lantern on the top of the tower.

Bower of Bliss, a garden b elonging to the enchantress Ar mida. It abounded in everything that could contribute to earthly pleasure. Here Rinaldo spent some time in love-passages with Armida, but he ultimately broke from the enchantress and rejoined the war.—Tasso: Jerusalem Delivered (1575).

Bower of Bliss, the residence of the witch Acrasia, a beautiful and most fascinating woman. This lovely garden was situated on a floating island filled with everything which could conduce to enchant the senses, and “wrap the spirit in forgetfulness.”—Spenser: Faërie Queene, ii. 12 (1590).

Bowkit, in The Son-in-Law.

In the scene where Cranky declines to accept Bowkit as son-in-law on account of his ugliness, John Edwin, who was playing “Bowkit” at the Haymarket, uttered in a tone of surprise, “Ugly?” and then advancing to the lamps, said with infinite impertinence, “I submit to the decision of the British public which is the ugliest of us three: I, old Cranky, or that gentleman there in the front row of the balcony box?”—Cornhill Magazine (1867).

Bowley (Sir Joseph), M.P., who facetiously called himself “the poor man’s friend.” His secretary is Fish.—Dickens: The Chimes (1844).

Bowling (Lieutenant Tom), an admirable naval character in Smollett’s Roderick Random. Dibdin wrote a naval song in memoriam of Tom Bowling, beginning thus—

Here a sheer hulk lies poor Tom Bowling,
The darling of the crew…

Bowyer (Master), usher of the black rod in the court of queen Elizabeth.—Sir W. Scott: Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

Bowzybeus , the drunkard, noted for his songs in Gay’s pastorals, called The Shepherd’s Week. He sang of “Nature’s Laws,” of “Fairs and Shows,” “The Children in the Wood,” “Chevy Chase,” “Taffey Welsh,” “Rosamond’s Bower,” “Lilly-bullero,” etc. The 6th pastoral is in imitation of Virgil’s 6th Bucolic, and Bowzybëus is a vulgarized Silenus.

That Bowzybeus, who with jocund tongue,
Ballads, and roundelays, and catches sung.
   —Gay: Pastoral, vi. (1714).

Box and Cox, a farce by J. M. Morton, the principal characters of which are Box and Cox.

Boy and the Mantle (The), a ballad in Percy’s Reliques. It tells us how a boy entered the court of king Arthur while he was keeping his Christmas feast at “Carleile,” and, producing a mantle, said no lady who was not leal and chaste could put it on. Queen Guenever tried, but utterly failed, and only Cradock’s wife succeeded. He then drew his wand across a head of brawn, and said no cuckold knight could cut it. Sir Cradock only succeeded. Lastly, he drew forth a gold cup, and said no cuckold could drink therefrom. Here again sir Cradock alone of all the company contrived to drink from that cup. So sir Cradock became possessed of the mantle, the brawn’s head, and the golden drinking-cup.

Boy Archbishop (The). A child of only five years old was made archbishop of Rheims. The see of Narbonne was purchased for a boy of ten. Pope Benedict IX. is said to have been only twelve when he was raised to St. Peter’s chair.—Hallam, vol. ii. p. 248.

Boy Bachelor (The), William Wotton, D.D., admitted at St. Catherine’s Hall, Cambridge, before he was ten, and to his degree of B.A. when he was twelve and a half (1666–1726).