Chapter Flora to Florimel of F by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Flora to Florimel

Flora, the waiting-woman of donna Violante. In love with Lissado, the valet of don Felix.—Mrs. Centliure: The Wonder (1714).

Mrs. Mattocks’s was the most affecting theatrical leave-taking we ever witnessed. The part she chose was “Flora,” to Cook’s “don Felix,” which she played with all the freshness and spirit of a woman in her prime.—The New Monthly (1826).

Flora, the niece of old Farmer Freehold. She is a great beauty, and captivates Heartwell, who marries her. The two are so well assorted that their “best love is after their espousals.”—J. P. Kemble: The Farm- house.

Florac (Comte de), a French emigrant, courteous, extravagant, light-hearted, and vain.—Thackeray: The Newcomes (1855).

Floranthe (Donna), a lady beloved by Octavian. Octavian goes mad because he fancies Floranthe is untrue to him, but Roque, a blunt, kind-hearted servitor, assures him he is mistaken, and persuades him to return home.—G. Colman: Octavian (1824).

Flordelice, the mistress of Brandimart (king of the Distant Islands).—Ariosto: Orlando Furioso (1516).

Flordespina, daughter of Marsiglio.—Ariosto: Orlando Furioso (1516).

Florence. Mrs. Spencer Smith, daughter of baron Herbert the Austrian ambassador in England. She was born at Constantinople, during her father’s residence in that city. Byron made her acquaintance in Malta, but Thomas Moore thinks his devotion was more imaginary than real. In a letter to his mother, his lordship says he “finds her [Florence] very pretty, very accomplished, and extremely eccentric.”

Thou mayst find a new Calypso there.
Sweet Florence, could another ever share
This wayward, loveless heart, it would be thine.
   —Byron: Childe Harold, ii. 30 (1810).

Florence (The German), Dresden, also called “The Florence of the North.”

Florence Dombey. (See Dombey.)

Florent or Florentius, a knight who promises to wed a hag if she will teach him to expound a riddle, and thus save his life.—Gower: Confessio Amantis, bk. i. (1393).

Be she foul as was Florentius’ lover.
   —Shakespeare: Taming of the Shrew, act i. sc. 2 (1594).

“The Wife of Bath’s Tale,” in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, is the same story. The ugly old hag becomes converted into a beautiful young princess, and “Florent” is called “one of Arthur’s knights” (1388).

Love beautifies the plainest face.

Florentine Diamond (The), the fourth largest cut diamond in the world. It weighs 139½ carats, and was the largest diamond belonging to “Charles the Bold,” duke of Burgundy. It was picked up by a Swiss peasant, who sold it to a priest for half a crown. The priest sold it for £200, to Bartholomew May of Berne. It subsequently came into the hands of pope Julius II., and the pope gave it to the emperor of Austria. (See Diamonds.)

Florentius. (See Florent.)

Flores or Isle of Flowers, one of the Azores. It was discovered in 1439 by Vanderberg, and is especially celebrated because it was near this isle that sir Richard Grenville, in the reign of queen Elizabeth, fought his famous sea-fight. He had only one ship with a hundred men, and was opposed by the Spanish fleet of fifty-three men-of-war. For some hours victory was doubtful, and when sir Richard was severely wounded,