Chapter BRIDGET to Britannia of B by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Brigantes, called by Drayton Brigants, the people of Yorkshire, Lancashire, Westmoreland, Cumberland, and Durham.

where in the Britons’ rule of yore the Brigants swayed. The powerful English established … Northumberland [Northumbria]. Drayton: Polyolbion, xvi. (1613).

Briggs, one of the ten young gentlemen in the school of Dr. Blimber when Paul Dombey was a pupil there. Briggs was nicknamed the “Stoney,” because his brains were petrified by the constant droping of wisdom upon them.—Dickens: Dombey and Son (1846).

Brigliadoro [Bril-ye-dor-ro], Orlando’s steed. The word means “Goldenbridle.”—Ariosto: Orlando Furioso (1516).

Sir Guyon’s horse, in Spenser’s Faërie Queene, is called by the same name (1596). (See Brigadore.)

Brigs of Ayr (The), a poetical chat between the Old and New Bridge across the river Doon, at Ayr, by Burns.

Brilliant (Sir Philip), a great fop, but brave soldier, like the famous Murat. He would dress with all the finery of a vain girl, but would share watching, toil and peril with the meanest soldier. “A butterfly in the drawing-room, but a lion on the battle-field.” Sir Philip was a “blade of proof; you might laugh at the scabbard, but you wouldn’t at the blade.” He falls in love with lady Anne, reforms his vanities, and marries.—Knowles: Old Maids (1841).

Brilliant Madman (The), Charles XII. of Sweden (1682, 1697—1718).

Brillianta (The lady), a great wit in the ancient romance entitled Tirante le Blanc, author unknown.

Here [in Tirante le Blanc] we shall find the famous knight don Kyrie Elyson of Montalban, his brother Thomas, the knight Fonseca, … the stratagems of the widow Tranquil … the witticisms of lady Brillianta. This is one of the most amusing books ever written.—Cervantes: Don Quixote, I.i.6 (1605).

Bris (Il conte di San), governor of the Louvre. He is fathe r of Valentiina and leader of the St. Bartholomew massacre.—Meyerbeer: Les Huguenots (1836).

Brisac (Justice), brother of Miramont.

Charles Brisac, a courtier, son of justice Brisac.

Eustace Brisac, a courtier, brother of Charles.—Fletcher: The Elder Brother (a comedy, printed in 1637).

Briseis, whose real name was Hippodamïa, was the daughter of Brisês, brother of the priest Chrysês. She was the concubine of Achillês; but when Achillê s bullied Agamemnon for not giving Chrysëis to her father, who offered a ransom for her, Agamemnon turned upon him and said he would let Chryseis go, but should take Briseis instead.—Homer: Iliad, i.

Ovid in his Heroides, 4 syl) has a letter in hexameter and pentameter verses, supposed to be addressed by Briseis to Achilles, and imploring him to take her back, as Agamemnon has consented to give her up, if he (Achilles) will return to the war.

Brisk, a good-natured conceited coxcomb, with a most voluble tongue. Fond of saying “good things,” and pointing them out with such expressions as “There I had you, eh?” “That was pretty well, egad, eh?” “I hit you in the teeth there, egad!” His ordinary oath was “Let me perish!” He makes love to lady Froth.—Congreve: The Double Dealer (1694).