Chapter Gabble Retchet to Galasp of G by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Gabble Retchet to Galasp

Gabble Retchet, a cry like that of hounds, heard at night, foreboding trouble. Said to be the souls of unbaptized children wandering through the air till the day of judgment.

Gabor, an Hungarian who aided Ulric in saving count St ralenheim from the Oder, and was unjustly suspected of being his murderer.—Byron: Werner (1822).

Gabriel (2 or 3 syl.), according to Milton, is called “chief of the angelic guards” (Paradise Lost, iv. 549); but in bk. vi. 44, etc., Michael is said to be “of celestial armies prince,” and Gabriel “in military prowess next.”

Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince:
And thou in military prowess next,
Gabriel; lead forth to battle these my sons
Invincible.
   —Milton: Paradise Lost, vi. 44, etc. (1665).

Gabriel is also called “The Messenger of the Messiah,” because he was sent by the Messiah to execute His orders on the earth. He is referred to in Dan. viii. 16; ix. 21; and in Luke i. 19, 26.

Gabriel (according to the Korân and Sale’s notes)—

1. It is from this angel that Mahomet professes to have received the Korân; and he acts the part of the Holy Ghost in causing believers to receive the divine revelation.—Ch. ii.

2. It was the angel Gabriel that won the battle of Bedr. Mahomet’s forces were 319, and the enemy’s a thousand; but Gabriel (1) told Mahomet to throw a handful of dust in the air, and on so doing the eyes of the enemy were “confounded;” (2) he caused the army of Mahomet to appear twice as many as the army opposed to it; (3) he brought from heaven 3000 angels, and, mounted on his horse Haïzûm, led them against the foe.—Ch. iii.

3. Gabriel appeared twice to Mahomet in his angelic form: first “in the highest part of the horizon,” and next “by the lote tree” on the right hand of the throne of God.—Ch. liv.

4. Gabriel’s horse is called Haïzûm, and, when the golden calf was made, a little of the dust from under this horse’s feet being thrown into its mouth, the calf began to low, and received life.—Ch. ii.

Gabriel (according to other legends)—

The Persians call Gabriel “the angel of revelations,” because he is so frequently employed by God to carry His messages to man.

The Jews call Gabriel their enemy, and the messenger of wrath; but Michael they call their friend, and the messenger of all good tidings.

In mediæval romance, Gabriel is the second of the seven spirits which stand before the throne of God, and he is frequently employed to carry the prayers of man to heaven, or bring the messages of God to man.

Longfellow, in the Golden Legend, makes Gabriel “the angel of the moon,” and says that he “brings to man the gift of hope.”

Gabriel Lajeunnesse, son of Basil the blacksmith of Grand Pré, in Acadia (now Nova Scotia). He was legally plighted to Evangeline, daughter of Benedict Bellefontaine (the richest farmer of the village); but next day all the inhabitants were exiled by order of George II., and their property confiscated. Gabriel was parted from his troth-plight wife, and Evangeline spent her whole life in trying to find him. After many wanderings, she went to Pennsylvania, and became a sister of mercy. The plague visited this city, and in the almshouse the sister saw an old man stricken down by the pestilence. It was Gabriel. He tried to whisper her name, but died in the attempt. He was buried, and Evangeline lies beside him in the grave.—Longfellow: Evangeline (1849).