Chapter Bradbourne to Brandan of B by Brewer's Readers Handbook

but thoughtless and impulsive. Frederick falls in love with Emily Worthington, whom he marries.—Colman: The Poor Gentleman (1802).

Bramine and Bramin (The),Mrs. Elizabeth Draper and Laurence Sterne. Sterne being a clergyman, and Mrs. Draper being born in India, suggested the names. Ten of Sterne’s letters to Mrs. Draper are published, and called Letters to Eliza.

Bran, the dog of Lamderg the lover of Gelchossa (daughter of Tuathal).—Ossian: Fingal, v.

Fingal king of Morven had a dog of the same name, and another named Luäth. (See Dog.)

Call White-breasted Bran and the surly strength of Luäth.—Ossian: Fingal, vi.

It is not Bran, but Bran’s brother. It is not Simon Pure, but only somewhat like him.

Brand (Alice), wife of lord Richard. (See Urgan.)

Brand (Sir Denys), a county magnate, who apes humility. He rides a sorry brown nag “not worth £5,” but mounts his groom on a race-horse “twice victor for a plate.”—Crabbe: Borough (1810).

Brandamond of Damascus, whom sir Bevis of Southampton defeated.

That dreadful battle where with Brandamond he fought,
And with his sword and steed such earthly wonders wonders wrought
As e’en among his foes him admiration won.
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, ii. (1612).

Brandan (Island of St.) or Island of San Borandan, a flying island, so late as 1755 set down in geographical charts west of the Cana ry group. In 1721 an expedition was sent by Spain in quest thereof. The Spaniards say their king Rodrigo has retreated there, and the Portuguese affirm that it is the retreat of their don Sebastian. It was called St. Brandan from a navigator of the sixth century, who went in search of the “Islands of Paradise.”

Its reality was for a long time a matter of firm belief … the garden of Armida, where Rinaldo was detained, and which Tasso places in one of the Canary Isles, has been identified with San Borandan.—Washington Irving.

(If there is any truth at all in the legend, the island must be ascribed to the Fata Morgana.)