Chapter Heinrich to Helen's Fire of H by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Miss Taylor was the original “Helen,” and her performance was universally pronounced to be exquisite and unsurpassable. On one occasion, Mr. Knowles admired a rose which Miss Taylor wore in the part, and after the play she sent it him. The poet, in reply, sent the lady a copy of verses.—Walter Lacy.

Helen (Lady), in love with sir Edward Mortimer. Her uncle insulted sir Edward, in a county assembly, struck him down, and trampled on him. Sir Edward, returning home, encountered the drunken ruffian and murdered him. He was tried for the crime, and acquitted “without a stain upon his character;” but the knowledge of his deed preyed upon his mind, so that he could not marry the niece of the murdered man. After leading a life of utter wretchedness, sir Edward told Helen that he was the murderer of her uncle, and died.—Colman: The Iron Chest (1796).

Helen [HESXETH], the heroine of Lockhart’s novel called Reginald Dalton (1823).

Helen [Mowbray], in love with Walsingham. “Of all grace the pattern—person, feature, mind, heart, everything, as nature had essayed to frame a work where none could find a flaw.” Allured by lord Athunree to a house of ill-fame, under pretence of doing a work of charity, she was seen by Walsingham as she came out, and he abandoned her as a wanton. She then assumed male attire, with the name of Eustace. Walsingham became her friend, was told that Eustace was Helen’s brother, and finally discovered that Eustace was Helen herself. The mystery being cleared up, they became man and wife.—Knowles: Woman’s Wit, etc. (1838).

Helen of Kirconnell, a ballad. The story is that Helen, a Scotch lady, was the lady-love of Adam Flemming; and one day standing on the banks of a river, a rival suitor pointed his gun at Adam, when Helen threw herself before him and was shot dead. The two rivals then fought, and the murderer fell and was slain.

Wordsworth embodies the same story in his Ellen Irwin; and John Mayne, a ballad, was published by sir Walter Scott in 1815.

Helen of One’s Troy, the ambition of our heart, the object for which we live and die. The allusion, of course, is to that Helen who eloped with Paris, and thus brought about the siege and destruction of Troy.

For which men all the life they here enjoy
Still fight, as for the Helens of their Troy.
   —Lord Brooke: Treatie of Humane Learning (1554–1628).

Helen’s Fire (feu d’ Hélène), a corposant, called “St. Helme’s” or “St. Elmo’s fire” by the Spaniards; the “fires of St. Peter and St. Nicholas” by the Italians; and “Castor and Pollux” by the ancient Romans. This electric light will sometimes play about the masts of ships. If only one appears, foul weather may be looked for; but if two or more flames appear, the worst of the storm is over.

Whene’er the sons of Leda shed
Their star-lamps on our vessel’s head,
The storm-winds cease, the troubled spray
Falls from the rocks, clouds pass away,
And on the bosom of the deep
In peace the angry billows sleep.
   —E. C. B.—Horace: Odes, xii. 25–32