Chapter Brunenburg to Brutus and Cicero of B by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Brunenburg to Brutus and Cicero

Brunenburg (Battle of), referred to in Tennyson’s King Harold, is the victory obtained in 938 by king Athelstan over the Danes.

Brunetta, mother of Chery (who married his cousin Fairstar).—Comtesse D’Aulnoy: Fairy Tales (“Princess Fairstar,” 1682).

Brunetta, the rival beauty of Phyllis. On one occasion Phyllis procured a most marvellous fabric of gold brocade in order to eclipse her rival; but Brunetta arrayed her train-bearer in a dress of the same material, and cut in the same fashion. Phyllis was so annoyed that she went home and died.—The Spectator.

Brunhild, queen of Issland, who made a vow that none should win her who could not surpass her in three trials of skill and strength: (1) hurling a spear; (2) throwing a stone; and (3) jumping. Günther king of Burgundy undertook the three contests, and by the aid of Siegfried succeeded in winning the martial queen. First, hurling a spear that three men could scarcely lift: the queen hurled it towards Günther, but Siegfried, in his invisible cloak, reversed its direction, causing it to strike the queen and knock her down. Next, throwing a stone so huge that twelve brawny men were employed to carry it: Brunhild lifted it on high, flung it twelve fathoms, and jumped beyond it. Again Siegfried helped his friend to throw it further, and in leaping beyond the stone. The queen, being fairly beaten, exclaimed to her liegemen, “I am no longer your queen and mistress; henceforth are ye the liegemen of Günther” (lied vii.). After marriage Brunhild was so obstreperous that the king again applied to Siegfried, who succeeded in depriving her of her ring and girdle, after which she became a very submissive wife.—The Nibelungen Lied.

Bruno (Bishop), bishop of Herbipolitanum. Sailing one day on the Danube with Henry III. emperor of Germany, they came to Ben Strudel (“the devouring gulf”), near Grinon Castle, in Austria. Here the voice of a spirit clamoured aloud, “Ho! ho! Bishop Bruno, whither art thou travelling? But go thy ways, bishop Bruno, for thou shalt travel with me to-night.” At night, while feasting with the emperor, a rafter fell on his head and killed him. Southey has a ballad called Bishop Bruno, but it deviates from the original legend given by Heywood in several particulars: It makes bishop Bruno hear the voice first on his way to the emperor, who had invited him to dinner; next, at the beginning of dinner; and thirdly, when the guests had well feasted. At the last warning an icecold hand touched him, and Bruno fell dead in the banquet-hall.

Brush, the impertinent English valet of lord Ogleby. If his lordship calls, he never hears unless he chooses; if his bell rings, he never answers it till it suits his pleasure. He helps himself freely to all his master’s things, and makes love to all the pretty chambermaids he comes into contact with.—Colman and Garrick: The Clandestine Marriage (1766).

Bruss (Robert the), an historical poem by Barbour, father of the Scotch vernacular poets. This Robert was Robert I. of Scotland (1276, 1306–1329). John Barbour lived 1316–1395. The full title of his poem is The Gestes of king Robert Bruce; it consists of 14,000 lines, and may be divided into twenty books. The verses are octosyllabic like Scott’s Marmion, etc.

Brut (Le), a metrical chronicle of Maître Wace, canon of Caen, in Normandy. It contains the earliest history of England, and other historical legends (twelfth century).

Brute , the first king of Britain (in mythical history). He was the son of Æneas Silvius (grandson of Ascanius and great-grandson of Æneas of Troy). Brute called London (the capital of his adopted country) Troynovant (New Troy). The legend is this: An oracle declared that Brute should be the death of both his parents; his mother died in childbirth, and at the age of 15 Brute shot his father accidentally in a deer-hunt. Being driven from Alba Longa, he collected a band of old Trojans and landed at Totness, in Devonshire. His wife was Innogen, daughter of Pandrasus king of Greece. His tale is told at length in the Chronicles of Geoffrey of Monmouth, in the first song of Drayton’s Polyolbion, and in Spenser’s Faërie Queene, ii.

Brute (Sir John), a coarse, surly, ill-mannered brute, whose delight was to “provoke” his young wife, who he tells us “is a young lady, a fine lady, a witty lady, and a virtuous lady, but yet I hate her.” In a drunken frolic he intercepts a tailor taking home a new dress to lady Brute; he insists on arraying himself therein,