Chapter Guynteline to Gyptian of G by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Guynteline to Gyptian

Guynteline or Guithelin, according to Geoffrey, was son of Gurgiunt Brabtruc (British History, iii. II, 12, 13); but, according to Drayton, he was the son of Gurgustus an early British king. (See Gurgustus.) His queen was Martia, who codified what are called the Martian Laws, translated into Anglo-Saxon by king, Alfred. (See Martian Laws.)

Gurgustus…left what his great father won
To Guynteline his heir, whose queen…
To wise M ulmutiuslaws her Martian first did frame,
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, viii. (1612).

Guyon (Sir), the personification of “temperance.” The victory of temperance over intemperance is the subject of bk. ii. of the Faërie Queene. Sir Guyon first lights on Amavia (intemperance of grief), a woman who kills herself out of grief for her husband; and he takes her infant boy and commits it to the care of Medina. He next meets Braggadoccio (intemperance of the tongue), who is stripped bare of everything. He then encounters Furor (intemperance of anger), and delivers Phaon from his hands. Intemperance of desire is discomfited in the persons of Pyroclês and Cymoclês; then intemperance of pleasure, or wantonness, in the person of Phædria. After his victory over wantonness, he sees Mammon (intemperance of worldly wealth and honour); but he rejects all his offers, and Mammon is foiled. His last and great achievement is the destruction of the “Bower of Bliss,” and the binding in chains of adamant the enchantress Acrasia (or intemperance generally). This enchantress was fearless against Force; but Wisdom and Temperance prevailed against her.—Spenser: Faerie Queene, ii. 12 (1590).

Guyot (Bertrand), one of the archers in the Scottish guard attached to Louis XI.—Sir W. Scott: Quentin Durward (time, Edward IV.).

Guzman d’Alfarachê , hero of a Spanish romance of roguery. He begins by being a dupe, but soon becomes a knave in the character of stable-boy, beggar, swindler, pander, student, merchant, and so on.—Mateo Aleman (1599).

(Probably The Life of Guzman Alfarachê suggested to Lesage The Life of Gil Blas. It is certain that Lesage borrowed from it the incident of the parasite who obtained a capital supper out of the greenhorn by terming him the eighth wonder, q.v.)

Gwenhidwy, a mermaid. The white foamy waves are called her sheep, and the ninth wave her ram.

Take shelter when you see Gwenhidwy driving her flock ashore.—Welsh Proverb.

…they watched the great fall,
Wave after wave, each mightier than the last;
Till last, a ninth one, gathering half the deep,
And full of voices, slowly rose and plunged,
Roaring, and all the wave was in a flame.
   —Tennyson: The Holy Grail.

Gwent, Monmouthshire.

Not a brook of Morgany [Glamorganshire] nor
Gwent.
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, iv. (1612).

Gwinethia , North Wales.

Which thro Gwinethia be so famous everywhere.
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, ix. (1612).

Gwynedd or Gwyneth, North Wales. Rho dri Mawr, in 873, moved to Aberfrow the seat of government, previously fixed at Dyganwy.

Among the hills of Gwyneth, and its wilds
And mountain glens.
   —Southey: Madoc, i. 12 (1805).

Gwynne (Nell), one of the favourites of Charles II. She was an actress, but in her palmy days was noted for her many works of benevolence and kindness of heart. The last words of king Charles were, “Don’t let poor Nelly starve!”— Sir W. Scott: Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).