Chapter F's to Fair Maid of Perth of F by Brewer's Readers Handbook

the philosopher’s garb and wand, he called himself “doctor;” Face, arrogating the title of “captain,” touted for dupes; while Dol Common kept the house, and aided the other two in their general scheme of deception. On the unexpected return of Lovewit, the whole thing blew up; but Face was forgiven and continued in his place as house-servant. — Ben Jonson: The Alchemist (1610).

Factotum (Johannes), one employed to do all sorts of work for another; one in whom another confides for all the odds and ends of his household management or business.

He is an absolute Johannes Factotum, at least in his own conceit.—Greene: Groat’s-worth of Wit (1592).

Faddle (William), a “fellow made up of knavery and noise, with scandal for wit and impudence for raillery. He was so needy that the very devil might have bought him for a guinea.” Sir Charles Raymond says to him—

“Thy life is a disgrace to humanity. A foolish prodigality makes thee needy; need makes thee vicious; and both make thee contemptible. Thy wit is prostituted to slander and buffoonery; and thy judgment, if thou hast any, to meanness and villainy. Thy betters, that laugh with thee, laugh at thee; and all the varieties of thy life are but pitiful rewards and painful abuses.”—E. Moore: The Foundling, iv. 2 (1748).

Fadha (Al), Mahomet’s silver cuirass.

Fadladeen, the great nazir or chamberlain of Aurungzebê’s harem. He criticizes the tales told by a young poet to Lalla Rookh on her way to Delhi, and great was his mortification to find that the poet was the young king his master.

Fadladeen was a judge of everything, from the pencilling of a Circassian’s eyelids to the deepest questions of science and literature; from the mixture of a conserve of rose leaves to the composition of an epic poem.—T. Moore: Lalla Rookh (1817).

Fadladinida, wife of king Chrononhotonthologos. While the king is alive she falls in love with the capt ive king of the Antipodês, and at the death of the king, when two suitors arise, she says, “Well, gentlemen, to make matters easy, I’ll take you both.”—Carey: Chrononhotonthologos (a burlesque).

Faerie Queene, a metrical romance, in six books, of twelve cantos each, by Edmund Spenser (incomplete).

Book I. The Red Cross Knight, the spirit of Christianity, or the victory of holiness over sin (1590).

II. The Legend of Sir Guyon, the golden mean (1590).

III. The Legend of Britomartis, chaste love. Britomartis is Diana or queen Elizabeth (1590).

IV. Cambel and Triamond, fidelity (1596).

V. The Legend of Sir Artegal, justice (1596).

VI. The Legend of Sir Calidore, courtesy (1596).

Sometimes bk. vii., called Mutability, is added; but only fragments of this book exist.

Fafnis, the dragon with which Sigurd fights. — Sigurd the Horny (a German romance based on a Norse legend).

Fag, the lying servant of captain Absolute. He “wears his master’s wit, as he does his lace, at second hand.” He “scruples not to tell a lie at his master’s command, but it pains his conscience to be found out.” — Sheridan: The Rivals (1775).