Chapter Lady with a Lamp to Laminak of L by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Laila, in the form of a green bird, conducted him to the simorg (q.v.), which he sought, that he might be directed to Dom-Daniel, the cavern “under the roots of the ocean.”—Southey: Thalaba the Destroyer, x. (1797).

Lais, a generic name for a courtezan. Laïs was a Greek hetæra, who sold her favours for £200 English money. When Demosthenês was told the fee, he said he had “no mind to buy repentance at such a price.” One of her great admirers was Diogenês the cynic.

This is the cause
That Lais leads a lady’s life aloft.
   —Gascoigne: The Steele Glas (died 1577).

Lake Poets (The), Wordsworth, Southey, and Coleridge, who lived about the lakes of Cumberland. According to Mr. Jeffrey, the conductor of the Edinburgh Review, they combined the sentimentality of Rousseau with the simplicity of Kotzebue and the homeliness of Cowper. Of the same school were Lamb, Lloyd, and Wilson. Also called “Lakers” and “Lakists.”

Lakedion (Isaac), the name given in France to the Wandering Jew (q.v.).

Lalla Rookh, the suppos ed daughter of Aurungzebe emperor of Delhi. She was betrothed to Aliris sultan of Lesser Bucharia. On her journey from Delhi to Cashmere, she was entertained by Feramorz, a young Persian poet, with whom she fell in love; and unbounded was her delight when she discovered that the young poet was the sultan to whom she was betrothed.—Moore: Lalla Rookh (1817).

Lambert (General), parliamentary leader.—Sir W. Scott: Woodstock (time, Commonwealth).

Lambert’ (Sir John), the dupe of Dr. Cantwell “the hypocrite.” He entertains him as his guest, settles on him £4000 a year, and tries to make his daughter Charlotte marry him, although he is 59 and she is under 20. His eyes are opened at length by the mercenary and licentious conduct of the doctor. Lady Lambert assists in exposing him, but old lady Lambert remains to the last a believer in the “saint.” In Molière’s comedy, “Orgon” takes the place of Lambert, “Mme. Parnelle” of the old lady, and “Tartuffe” of Dr. Cantwell.

Lady Lambert, the gentle, loving wife of sir John. By a stratagem, she convinces him of Dr. Cantwell’s true character.

Colonel Lambert, son of sir John and lady Lambert. He assists in unmasking “the hypocrite.”

Charlotte Lambert, daughter of sir John and lady Lambert. A pretty, bright girl, somewhat giddy and fond of teasing her sweetheart Darnley (see act i. I).—Bickerstaff: The Hypocrite (1769).

Lambourne (Michael), a retainer of the earl of Leicester.—Sir W. Scott: Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

Lambro, a Greek pirate, father of Haidée (q.v.).—Byron: Don Juan, iii. 26, etc. (1820).

We confess that our sympathy is most excited by the silent, wolf-like suffering of Lambro, when he experiences “the solitude of passing his own door without a welcome,” and finds “the innocence of that sweet child” polluted.—Finden: Byron Beauties.

(The original of this character was major Lambro, who was captain (1791) of a Russian piratical squadron, which plundered the islands of the Greek Archipelago, and did great damage. When his squadron was attacked by seven Algerine corsairs, major Lambro was wounded, but escaped. The incidents referred to in canto vi., etc., are historical.)

Lamderg and Gelchossa. Gelchossa was beloved by Lamderg and Ullin son of Cairbar. The rivals fought, and Ullin fell. Lamderg, all bleeding with wounds, just reached Gelchossa to announce the death of his rival, and expired also. “Three days Gelchossa mourned, and then the hunters found her cold,” and all three were buried in one grave.—Ossian: Fingal, ii.