Chapter Grass to Great Expectations of G by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Grass to Great Expectations

Grass (Cronos), a grass which gives those who taste it an irresistible desire for the sea. (See under Glaucus.)

Grass (To give), to acknowledge yourself vanquished. A Latin phrase, Herbam dare aut porrigere.—Pliny: Nat. Hist., xxii. 4.

Grasshopper (A). What animal is that which avoids every one, is a compound of seven animals, and lives in desolate places?

Damakê answered, “It is a grasshopper, which has the head of a horse, the neck of an ox, the wings of a dragon, the feet of a camel, the tail of a serpent, the horns of a stag, and the body of a scorpion.”—Count Calus: Oriental Tales (“The Four Talismans,” 1743).

Grasshopper. (See Gresham, p. 449.)

Grass-market (Edinburgh), at one time the place of public executions.

Mitchel, being asked why he had made so wicked an attempt on the person of the archbishop [Sharpe] replied that he did it “for the glory of God.” … The duke said then, “Let Mitchel glorify God in the Grass- market.”—Higgins: Remarks on Burnet, ii.131.

Gratian (Father), the begging friar at John Mengs’s inn at Kirchhoff.—Sir W. Scott: Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).

Gratiano, one of Anthonio’s friends. He “talked an infinite deal of nothing, more than any man in all Venice.” Gratiano married Nerissa, the waiting-gentlewoman of Portia.—Shakespeare: Merchant of Venice(1598).

Gratiano, brother of Brabantio, and uncle of Desdemona. — Shakespeare: Othello (1611).

Graunde Amoure (Sir), walking in a meado w, was told by Fame of a beautiful lady named La belle Pucell, who resided in the Tower of Musyke. He was then conducted by Gouvernance and Grace to the Tower of Doctrine, where he received instruction fr om the seven Sciences:—Gramer, Logyke, Rethorike, Arismetricke, Musyke, Geometry, and Astronomy. I n the Tower of Musyke he met La belle Pucell, with whom he fell in love, but they parted for a time. Graunde Amoure went to the Tower of Chivalry to perfect himself in the arts of knighthood, and there he rece ived his degree from king Melyzyus. He then started on his adventures, and soon encountered False Report, who joined him and told him many a lying tale; but lady Correction, coming up, had False Report soundly beaten, and the knight was entertained at her castle. Next day he left, and came to a wall where hung a shield and horn. On blowing the horn, a three-headed monster came forth, with whom he fought, and cut off the three heads, called Falsehood, Imagination, and Perjury. He passed the night in the house of lady Comfort, who attended to his wounds; and next day he slew a giant fifteen feet high and with seven heads. Lastly, he slew the monster Malyce, made by enchantment of seven metals. His achievements over, he married La belle Pucell, and lived happily till he was arrested by Age, having for companions Policye and Avarice. Death came at last to carry him off, and Remembrance wrote his epitaph.—S. Hawes: The Passe-tyme of Plesure (1515).

Graunde Amoure’s Steed, Galantyse, the gift of king Melyzyus when he conferred on him the degree of knighthood.

I myselfe shall give you a worthy stede,
Called Galantyse, to helpe you in your nede.
   —Hawes: The Passe- tyme of Plesure, xxviii. (1515).

Graunde Amoure’s Sword, Clare Prudence.

Drawing my swerde, that was both faire and bright,
I clippëd Clare Prudence.
   —Hawes: The Passe-tyme of Plesure, xxxiii. (1515).