Chapter Christ and His Apostles to Chroniclers of C by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Christ and His Apostles to Chroniclers

Christ and His Apostles. Dupuis maintained that Christ and His apostles, like Hercules and his labours, should be considered a mere allegory of the sun and the twelve signs of the zodiac.

Christ’s Victory and Triumphs. a poem in four parts, by Giles Fletcher (1610): Part i. “Christ’s Victory in Heaven,” when He reconciled Justice with Mercy, by taking on Himself a body of human flesh; part ii. “Christ’s Triumph on Earth,” when He was led up into the wilderness, and was tempted by Presumption, Avarice, and Ambition; part iii. “Christ’s Triumph over Death,” when He died on the cross; part iv. “Christ’s Triumph after Death,” in His resurrection and ascension. (See Paradise Regained.)

Christabel, [the heroine of a fragmentary poem of the same title by Coleridge (1816).

Christabel, the heroine of an ancient romance entitled Sir Eglamour of Artois.

Christabelle [Kris-ta-bel], d aughter of “a bonnie king of Ireland,” beloved by sir Cauline . When the king knew of their loves, he banished sir Cauline from the kingdom. Then, as Christabelle drooped, the king held a tournament for her amusement, every prize of which was carried off by an unknown knight in black. On the last day came a giant with two “goggling eyes, and mouthe from ear to ear,” called the Soldain, and defied all comers. No one would accept his challenge save the knight in black, who succeeded in killing his adversary, but died himself of the wounds he had received. When it was discovered that the knight was sir Cauline, the lady “fette a sighe, that burst her gentle hearte in twayne.”—Percy: Reliques (“Sir Cauline,” I. i. 4).

CHRISTIAN, a follower of Christ. So called first at Antioch.—Acts xi. 26.

Christian, the hero of Bunyan’s allegory called The Pilgrim’s Progress. He flees from the City of Destruction and journeys to the Celestial City. At starting he has a heavy pack upon his shoulders, which falls off immediately he reaches the foot of the cross. (The pack, of course, is the bundle of sin, which is removed by the blood of the cross. 1678.)

Christian, captain of the patrol in a small German town in which Mathis is burgomaster. He marries Annette, the burgomaster’s daughter.—J. R. Ware: The Polish Jew.

Christian, synonym of “Peasant” in Russia. This has arisen from the abundant legislation under czar Alexis and czar Peter the Great to prevent Christian serfs from entering the service of Mohammedan masters. No Christian is allowed to belong to a Mohammedan master, and no Mohammedan master is allowed to employ a Christian on his estate.

Christian II. (or Christiern), king of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. When the Dalecarlians rose in rebellion against him and chose Gustavus Vasa for their leader, a great battle was fought, in which the Swedes were victorious; but Gustavus allowed the Danes to return to their country. Christian then abdicated, and Sweden became an independent kingdom.—H. Brooke: Gustavus Vasa (1730).

Christian (Edward), a conspirator. He has two aliases, “Richard Ganlesse” and “Simon Canter.”

Colonel William Christian, Edward’s brother. Shot for insurrection.

Fenella, alias Zarah Christian, daughter of Edward Christian.—Sir W. Scott: Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Christian (Fletcher), mate of the Bounty, under the command of captain Bligh, and leader of the mutineers. After setting the captain and some others adrift, Christian took command of the ship, and, according to lord Byron, the mutineers took refuge in the island of Toobouai (one of the Society Islands). Here Torquil, one of the mutineers, married Neuha, a native. After a time, a ship was sent to capture the mutineers. Torquil and Neuha escaped, and lay concealed in a cave; but Christian, Ben Bunting, and Skyscrape were shot. This is not according to fact, for Christian merely touched at Toobouai, and then,