Chapter Dunbar and March to Dupré of D by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Dunbar and March to Dupré

Dunbar and March (George earl of), who deserted to Henry IV. of England, because the betrothal of his daughter Elizabeth to the king’s eldest son was broken off by court intrigue.

Elizabeth Dunbar, daughter of the earl of Dunbar and March, betrothed to prince Robert duke of Rothsay, eldest son of Robert III. of Scotland. The earl of Douglas contrived to set aside this betrothal in favour of his own daughter Elizabeth, who married the prince, and became duchess of Rothsay.—Sir W. Scott: Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.).

Duncan “the Meek,” the king of Scotland, was son of Crynin, and grandson of Malcolm II., whom he succeeded on the throne. Macbeth was the son of the younger sister of Duncan’s mother, and hence Macbeth and Duncan were first cousins. Sueno king of Norway having invaded Scotland, the command of the army was entrusted to Macbeth and Banquo, and so great was their success that only ten men of the invading army were left alive. After the battle, king Duncan paid a visit to Macbeth in his castle of Inverness, and was there murdered by his host. The successor to the throne was Duncan’s son Malcolm, but Macbeth usurped the crown.—Shakespeare: Macbeth (1606).

Duncan (Captain), of Knockdunder, agent at Roseneath to the duke of Buckingham.—Sir W. Scott: Heart of Midlothian (time, George II.).

Duncan (Duroch), a follower of Donald Bean Lean.—Sir W. Scott: Waverley (time, George II.).

Dunce, wittily or wilfully derived from Duns, surnamed “Scotus.”

In the Gaelic, donas [means] “bad luck,” or in contempt, “a poor ignorant creature.” The Lowland Scotch has donsie, “unfortunate, stupid.”—Notes and Queries, 225, September 21, 1878.

Dunciad [“the dunce-epic”], a satire in heroic verse, by Alexander Pope, in which he gibbets his critics and foes. The plot is this: Eusden the poet-laureate being dead, the goddess of Dulness elects Colley Cibber as his successor. The installation is celebrated by games, the most important being the “reading of two voluminous works, one in verse and the other in prose, without nodding.” King Cibber is then taken to the temple of Dulness, and lulled to sleep on the lap of the goddess. In his dream he sees the triumphs of the empire. Finally, the goddess having established the kingdom on a firm basis, Night and Chaos are restored, and the poem ends (1728–42).

Dundas (Starvation), Henry Dundas, first lord Melville. So called because he introduced into the language the word starvation, in a speech on American affairs (1775).

Dunder (Sir David), of Dunder Hall, near Dover. A hospitable, conceited, whimsical old gentleman, who for ever interrupts a speaker with “Yes, yes, I know it,” or “Be quiet, I know it.” He rarely finishes a sentence, but runs on in this style: “Dover is an odd sort of a—eh?” “It is a dingy kind of a—humph!” “The ladies will be happy to—eh?” He is the father of two daughters, Harriet and Kitty, whom he accidentally detects in the act of eloping with two guests. To prevent a scandal, he sanctions the marriages, and discovers that the two lovers, both in family and fortune, are suitable sons-in-law.

Lady Dunder, fat, fair, and forty if not more. A country lady, more fond of making jams and pastry than doing the fine lady. She prefers cooking to croquet, and making the kettle sing to singing herself. (See Harriet and Kitty.)—Colman: Ways and Means (1788).

William Dowton [1764–1851] played “sir Anthony Absolute,” “sir Peter Teazle,” “sir David Dunder,” and “sir John Falstaff,” and looked the very characters he represented.—Donaldson: Recollections.

(“Sir Anthony Absolute,” in The Rivals (Sheridan); “sir Peter Teazle,” in The School for Scandal by Sheridan.)

Dundreary (Lord), a good-natured, indolent, blundering, empty-headed swell; the chief character in Tom Taylor’s dramatic piece entitled Our American Cousin. He is greatly characterized by his admiration of