Chapter Clementina to Clever of C by Brewer's Readers Handbook

in imitation of the Greek tragedies, with a chorus between each act; Shakespeare one called Antony and Cleopatra (1608); and Dryden one on the same subject called All for Love or The World Well Lost (1682).)

(Mrs. Oldfield (1683–1730) and Peg [Margaret] Woffington (1718–1760) were unrivalled in Cleopatra.)

Cleopatra and the Pearl. The tale is that Cleopatra made a sumptuous banquet, which excited the surprise of Antony; whereupon the queen took a pearl ear-drop, dissolved it in a strong acid, and drank the liquor to the health of the triumvir, saying, “My draught to Antony shall exceed in value the whole banquet.’

When queen Elizabeth visited the Exchange, sir Thomas Gresham pledged her health in a cup of wine containing a precious stone crushed to atoms, and worth £15,000.

Here £15,000 at one clap goes Instead of sugar; Gresham drinks the pearl Unto his queen and mistress. Pledge it, lords.
   —Heywood: If You Know not Me, You Know Nobody.

A similar tale is referred to by Horace (2 Satires, iii. 239–241). Clodius, son of Æsop the tragedian, melted a pearl of great value in a strong acid, and drank the draught off in compliment to Cæcilia Metella. Horace adds it would have been wiser if he had tossed it into the sewer.

This is referred to by Valerius Maximus, ix. x; by Macrobius, iii. 14; and by Pliny, ix. 35.

Cleopatra in Hades, Cleopatra, says Rabelais, is “a crier of onions” in the shades below. The Latin for a pearl and onion is unio, and the pun refers to Cleopatra giving her pearl (or onion) to Antony in a draught of wine, or, as some say, drinking it herself in toasting her lover.—Rabelais: Pantagruel, ii. 30 (1533).

Cleopatra, que en of Syria, daughter of Ptolemy Philometer king of Egypt. She first married Alexander Bala, th e usurper (B.C. 149); next Demetrius Nicanor. Demetrius, being taken prisoner by the Parthians, married Rodogune , daughter of Phraates the Parthian king, and Cleopatra married Antiochus Sidetês, brother of Demetrius. She slew her son Seleucus (by Demetrius) for treason, and, as this produced a revolt, abdicated in favour of her second son, Antiochus VIII., who compelled her to drink poison which she had prepared for himself. P. Corneille has made this the subject of his tragedy called Rodogune (1646).

N.B.—This is not the Cleopatra of Shakespeare’s and Dryden’s tragedies.

Cleremont , a merry gentleman, the friend of Dinant.—Beaumont and Fletcher: The Little French Lawyer (posthumous, 1647).

Cleriker, head of the agency firm in which Herbert Pocket was a partner. Herbert introduced Pip, when he lost his property, as a clerk; and after eleven years’ service he also became a partner.—Dickens: Great Expectations (1861).

Clerimond, niece of the Green Knight, sister of Ferragus the giant, and bride of Valentine the brave.—Valentine and Orson.

Clerk’s Tale (The), in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. (See Grissilda.)

Clerks (St. Nicholas’s), thieves, also called “St. Nicholas’s Clergymen,” in allusion to the tradition of “St. Nicholas and the thieves.” Probably a play on the words Nich-olas and Old Nick may be designed.—See Shakespeare, I Henry IV. act. ii. sc. I (1597).

Clessammor, son of Thaddu and brother of Morna (Fingal’s mother). He married Moina, daughter of Reuthamir (the principal man of Balclutha, on the Clyde). It so happened that Moina was beloved by a Briton named Reuda, who came with an army to carry her off. Reuda was slain by Clessammor; but