Chapter Dactyle to Danaid of D by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Damon reached his country villa, Lucullus killed his horse to prevent his return; but Damon, seizing the horse of a chance traveller, reached Syracuse just as the executioner was preparing to put Pythias to death. Dionysius so admired this proof of fidelity that he forgave Damon, and requested to be taken into his friendship.

(This subject was dramatized (in rhyme) in 1571 by Richard Edwards, and again in 1825 by John Banim.)

The classic name of Pythias is “Phintias.” (See Gesta Romanorum, Tale cviii.)

Damsel or Damoiseau (in Italian, donzel; in Latin, domisellus), one of the gallant youths domiciled in the maison du roi. These youths were always sons of the greater vassals. Louis VII. (le Jeune) was called “The Royal Damsel;’ and at one time the royal body-guard was called “The King’s Damsels.”

Damsel of Brittany, Eleanor, daughter of Geoffrey (second son of Henry II. of England). After the death of Arthur, his sister Eleanor was next in succession to the crown, but John, who had caused Arthur’s death, confined Eleanor in Bristol Castle, where she remained till her death, in 1241.

D’Amville , “the atheist,” with the assistance of Borachio, murdered Montferrers, his brother, for his estates.—C. Tourneur: The Atheist’s Tragedy (seventeenth century).

Damyan , the lover of May (the youthful bride of January a Lombard knight, 60 years of age).—Chaucer: Canterbury Tales (“The Merchant’s Tale,” 1388).

Dan of the Howlet Hirst, the dragon of the revels at Kennaquhair Abbey.—Sir W. Scott: The Abbot and The Monastery (time, Elizabeth).

Danae , an Argive princess, visited by Zeus [Jupiter] in the form of a shower of gold, while she was confined in an inaccessible tower.

Danaid (syl.). Danaus had fifty daughters, called the Danaïds or Danaïdes. These fifty women married the fifty sons of Ægyptus, and (with one exception) murdered their husbands on the night of their espousals. For this crime they were doomed in hadês to pour water everlastingly into sieves.

Let not your prudence, dearest, drowse, or prove
The Danaïd of a leaky vase.
   —Tennyson: The Princess, ii.

The one who spared her husband was Hypermnestra, whose husband’s name was Lynceus [Lin.suse].