Chapter Fair Penitent to Falsetto of F by Brewer's Readers Handbook

This tale is borrowed from the fairy tales of Straparola, the Milanese (1550).

Fairy Queen (The). (See Faërie Queene, p. 351.)

Fairy Tales, in French: Contes de Fées, by Perrault (1697); by la comtesse D’Aulnoy (1682).

(Keightley, in 1850, published an enlarged edition of his Fairy Mythology.)

Faithful, a companion of Christian in his walk to the Celestial City. Both were seized at Vanity Fair, and Faithful, being burnt to death, was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire.—Bunyan: Pilgrim’s Progress, i. (1678).

Faithful (Jacob), the title and hero of a sea tale, by captain Marryat (1835).

Faithful (Father of the), Abraham.—Rom. iv.; Gal. iii. 6–9.

Faithful Shepherdess (The), a pastoral drama by John Fletcher (1610). The “faithful shepherdess” is Corin, whose lover was dead. Faithful to his memory, Corin retired from the busy world, employing her time in works of humanity, such as healing the sick, exorcizing the bewitched, and comforting the afflicted.

(A part of Milton’s Comus is almost a verbal transcript of this pastoral.)

Fakar (Dhu’l), Mahomet’s scimitar.

Fakenham Ghost (The). An old woman, walking to Fakenham, had to cross the churchyard after night- fall. She heard a short, quick step behind, and looking round saw what she fancied to be a four-footed monster. On she ran, faster and faster, and on came the pattering footfalls behind. She gained the churchyard gate and pushed it open, but, ah! “the monster” also passed through. Every moment she expected it would leap upon her back. She reached her cottage door and fainted. Out came her husband with a lantern, saw the “sprite,” which was no other than the foal of a donkey that had strayed into the park and followed the ancient dame to her cottage door.

And many a laugh went through the vale,
And some conviction, too;
Each thought some other goblin tale
Perhaps was just as true.
   —Bloomfield: The Fakenham Ghost (a fact).

Fakreddin’s Valley. Over the several portals of bronze were these inscriptions: (1) The Asylum of Pilgrims; (2) The Traveller’s Refuge; (3) The Depository of the Secrets of all the World.

Falcon. Wm. Morris tells us that whoso watched a certain falcon for seven days and seven nights without sleeping, should have his first wish granted by a fay. A certain king accomplished the watching, and wished to have the fay’s love. His wish was granted, but it proved his ruin.—The Earthly Paradise (“July”).

Falconer (Mr.), laird of Balmawhapple, a friend of the old baron of Bradwardine.—Sir W. Scott: Waverley (time, George II.).

Falconer (Major), brother of lady Bothwell.—Sir W. Scott: Aunt Margaret’s Mirror (time, William III.).

Falconer (Edmund), the assumed name of Edmund O’Rourke, author of Extremes, or Men of the Day (a comedy, 1859).

Falernum or Falergus Ager, a district in the north of Campania, extending from the Massic Hills to the river Vulturnus (in Italy). This district was noted for its wines, called “Massic” or “Falernian,” the best of