Chapter Clack-Dish to Clarke of C by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Clara [d’Almanza], daughter of don Guzman of Seville; beloved by don Ferdinand, but destined by her mother for a cloister. She loves Ferdinand; but repulses him from shyness and modesty, quits home, and takes refuge in St. Catherine’s Convent, Ferdinand discovers her retreat; and, after a few necessary blunders, they are married.—Sheridan: The Duenna (1773).

Clara (Donna), the troth-plight wife of Octavio. Her affianced husband, having killed don Felix in a duel, was obliged to lie perdu for a time, and Clara, assuming her brother’s clothes and name, went in search of him. Both came to Salamanca, both set up at the Eagle, both hired the same servant Lazarillo, and ere long they met, recognized each other, and became man and wife.—Jephson: Two Strings to your Bow (1792).

Clara [Douglas], a lovely girl of artless mind, feeling heart, great modesty, and well accomplished. She loved Alfred Evelyn, but refused to marry him because they were both too poor to support a house. Evelyn was left an immense fortune, and proposed to Georgina Vesey, but Georgina gave her hand to sir Frederick Blount. Being thus disentangled, Evelyn again proposed to Clara, and was joyfully accepted.—Lord Lytton: Money (1840).

Clarchen [Kler-kn], a female character in Goethe’s Egmont, noted for her constancy and devotion.

Clare (Ada), cousin of Richard Carstone, both of whom are orphans and wards in Chancery. They marry each other, but Richard dies young, blighted by the law’s delay in the great Chancery suit of “Jarndyce v. Jarndyce.”—C. Dickens: Bleak House (1853).

Clarence (George duke of), introduced by sir W. Scott in Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).

Clarence and the Malmsey-Butt. According to tradition, George duke of Clarence, having joined Warwick to replace Henry VI. on the throne, was put to death; and the choice of the mode of death being offered him, he was drowned in a butt of malmsey wine (1473).

’Twere better sure to die so, than be shut With maudlin Clarence in his malmsey-butt.
   —Byron: Don Juan, i. 166 (1819).

Clarendon (The earl of), lord chancellor to Charles II. Introduced by sir W. Scott in Woodstock (time, Commonwealth).

Claribel (Sir), surnamed “The Lewd.” One of the six knights who contended for the false Florimel.—Spenser: Faërie Queene, iv. 9 (1596).

Claribel, the pseudonym of Mrs. Barnard, author of numerous popular songs (from 1865 to).

Clarice , wife of Rinaldo, and sister of Huon of Bordeaux. Introduced in the romances of Bojardo, Ariosto, Tasso, etc.

Clarin or Clarinda, the confidential maid of Rad igund queen of the Amazons. When the queen had got sir Artegal into her power, and made him change his armour for an apron, and his sword for a distaff, she fell in love with the captive, and sent Clarin to win him over by fair promises and indulgences. Clarin performed the appointed mission, but fell in love herself with the knight, and told the queen that sir Artegal was obstinate, and rejected her advances with scorn.—Spenser: Faërie Queene, v. 5 (1596).

Clarinda, the heroine of Mrs. Centlivre’s drama The Beau’s Duel (1703).

‘Nothing could be more captivating than Mrs. Pritchard [1711–1768] in “lady Macbeth,” “The Queen” in Hamlet, “Clarinda,” “Estifania;” in short, every species of strong nature received from her a polish and perfection than which nothing could be more truly captivating.—Dibdin: History of the Stage.

(“Estifania,” in Rule a Wife and have a Wife, by Fletcher (1624).)