Chapter Lars to Launce of L by Brewer's Readers Handbook

tles. Margutte the giant died of laughter on seeing an ape trying to pull on his boots. Philemon or Philomenês died of laughter on seeing an ass eat the figs provided for his own dinner (Lucian, i. 2). Zeuxis died of laughter at sight of a hag which he had just depicted.

April 19, 1782, Mrs. Fitzherbert died from laughter at the way C. Banister portrayed “Polly” in Gay’s Beggar’s Opera (1727), at Drury Lane Theatre.

Launay (Vicomte de), pseudonym of Mme.Emile de Girardin (née Delphine Gay).

Launce, the clownish servant of Protheus one of the two “gentlemen of Verona.” He is in love with Julia. Launce is especially famous for soliloquies to his dog Crab, “the sourestnatured dog that lives.” Speed is the serving-man of Valentine the other “gentleman.”—Shakespeare: The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1594).