Chapter Egyptian Disposition to Eleven Thousand Virgins of E by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Egyptian Disposition to Eleven Thousand Virgins

Egyptian Disposition (An), a thievish propensity, “gipsy” being a contracted form of Egyptian.

I no sooner saw it was money…than my Egyptian disposition prevailed, and I was seized with a desire of stealing it.—Lesage: Gil Blas, x. 10 (1735).

Egyptian Thief (The), Thyamis, a native of Memphis. Knowing he must die, he slew Chariclea, the woman he loved.

Why should I not, had I the heart to do it,
Like to th’ Egyptian thief at point of death,
Kill what I love?
   —Shakespeare: Twelfth Night, act v. sc. I (1614).

Eighth Wonder (The). When Gil Blas reached Pennaflor, a parasite entered his room in the inn, hugged him with great energy, and called him “the eighth wonder.” When Gil Blas replied that he did not know his name had spread so far, the parasite exclaimed, “How! we keep a register of all the celebrated names within twenty leagues, and have no doubt Spain will one day be as proud of you as Greece was of the seven sages.” After this, Gil Blas could do no less than ask the man to sup with him. Omelet after omelet was despatched, trout was called for, bottle followed bottle, and when the parasite was gorged to satiety, he rose and said, “Signor Gil Blas, don’t believe yourself to be the eighth wonder of the world because a hungry man would feast by flattering your vanity.” So saying, he stalked away with a laugh.—Lesage: Gil Blas, i. 2 (1715).

(This incident is copied from Aleman’s romance of Guzman d’Alfarache, q.v.)

Eikon Basilike , the portraiture of a king (i.e. Charles I.), once attributed to king Charles himself; but now admitted to be the production of Dr. John Gauden, who (after the restoration) was first created bishop of Exeter, and then of Worcester (1605–1662).

In the Eikon Basiliké a strain of majestic melancholy is kept up, but the personated sovereign is rather too theatrical for real nature, the language is too rhetorical and amplified, the periods too artificially elaborated.—Hallam: Literature of Europe, iii. 662.

(Milton wrote his Eikonoclastês in answer to Dr. Gauden’s Eikon Basilikê.)

Eineriar, the hall of Odin, and asylum of warriors slain in battle. It had 540 gates, each sufficiently wide to admit eight men abreast to pass through.—Scandinavian Mythology.

Einion (Father), chaplain to Gwenwyn prince of Powys-land.—Sir W. Scott: The Betrothed (time, Henry II.).

Eivir, a Danish maid, who assumes boy’s clothing, and waits on Harold “the Dauntless,” as his page. Subsequently, her sex is discovered, and Harold marries her.—Sir W. Scott: Harold the Dauntless (1817).

Elain, sister of king Arthur by the same mother. She married sir Nentres of Carlot, and was by king Arthur the mother of Mordred. (See Elein, p. 318.)—Sir T. Malory: History of Prince Arthur, i. (1470).

N.B.—In some of the romances there is great confusion between Elain (the sister) and Morgause (the half-sister) of Arthur. Both are called the mother of Mordred, and both are also called the wife of Lot. This, however, is a mistake. Elain was the wife of sir Nentres, and Morgause of Lot; and if Gawain, Agrawain, Gareth, and Gaheris were [half-]brothers of Mordred, as we are told over and over again, then Morgause and not Elain was his mother. Tennyson makes Bellicent the wife of Lot, but this is not in accordance with any of the legends collected by sir T. Malory.

Elaine (Dame), daughter of king Pelles “of the foragn country,” and the unwedded mother of sir Galahad by sir Launcelot du Lac.—Sir T. Malory: History of Prince Arthur, iii. 2 (1470).

Elaine, daughter of king Brandegoris, by whom sir Bors de Ganis had a child.