Chapter Launcelot to Lay of the Last Minstrel of L by Brewer's Readers Handbook

praises h is bravery, and holds him up as a model of filial piety. In bk. x. he tells how Lausus, in defending his father, met with his death. Mezentius being wounded by Æneas, Lausus throws himself between the combatants, and gives his father time to escape. Æneas, furious at being thus thwarted, turns upon Lausus and slays him.

Lauzun (The duke de), a courtier in the court of Louis XIV. Licentious, light-hearted, unprincipled, and extravagant. In order to make a market, he supplanted La Vallière by Mme. de Montespan in the king’s favour. Montespan thought Lauzun loved her; but when he proposed to La Vallière, the discarded favourite, Montespan kicked him over. The duke, in revenge, persuaded the king to banish the lady, and when La Vallière took the veil, the king sent Mme. de Montespan this cutting epistle—

We do not blame you; blame belongs to love,
And love had nought with you.
The duke de Lauzun, of these lines the bearer,
Confirms their purport. From our royal court
We do excuse your presence.
   —Lord Lytton: The Duchess de la Vallière, v. 5 (1836).

Lavaine (Sir, brother of Elaine, and son of the lord of Astolat. Young, brave, and knightly. He accompanied sir Lancelot when he went to tilt for the ninth diamond.—Tennyson:Idylls of the King (“Elaine”).

Lavalette (3 syl, condemned to death for sending to Napoleon secret intelligence of Government despatches. He was set at liberty by his wife, who took his place in prison, but became a confirmed lunatic.

Lord Nithsdale escaped in a similar manner from the Tower of London. His wife disguised him as her maid, and he passed the sentries without being detected.

La Vallière (Louise duchess de), betrothed to the marquis de Bragelo nê , but in love with Louis XIV., whose mistress she became. Conscience accused her, and she fled to a convent; but the king took her out, and brought her to Versailles. He soon forsook her for Mme. de Montespan, and advised her to marry. This message almost broke her heart, and she said, “I will choose a bridegroom without delay.” Accordingly, she took the veil of a Carmelite nun, and discovered that Bragelonê was a monk. Mme. de Montespan was banished from the court by the capricious monarch.—Lord Lytton: The Duchess de la Vallière (1836). (See Lauzun.)

Lavender’s Blue.

“Lavender’s blue, little finger, rosemary’s green.
When I am king, little finger, you shall be queen.”
“Who told you so, thumby? Thumby, who told you so?”
“’T was my own heart, little finger, that told me so.”
“When you are dead, little finger, as it may hap, You shall be buried, little finger, under the tap.”
“For why? for why, thumby? Thumby, for why?”
“That you may drink, little finger, when you are dry.”
   —An Old Nursery Ditty.

Lavinia, daughter of Latinus, betrothed to Turnus ki ng of the Rutuli. When Æneas landed in Italy, Latinus made an alliance with him, and promised to give him Lavinia to wife. This brought on a war between Turnus and Æneas, that was decided by single combat, in which Æneas, that was the victor.—Virgil:Æneid.

Lavinia, daughter of Tit us Andron-icus a Roman general employed against the Goths. She was betrothed to Bassia-nus, brother of Saturnius emperor of Rome. Being defiled by the sons of Tamora queen of the Goths, her hands were cut off and her tongue plucked out. At length her father Titus killed her, saying, “I am as woeful as Virginius was, and have a thousand times more cause than he to do this outrage.”—(?) Shakespeare: Titus Andronicus (1593).

(In the play, Andronicus is always called An-dron-i-kus, but in classic authors it is An-dro-mbar-kus.

Lavinia, sister of lord Altamont, and wife of Horatio.—Rowe: The Fair Penitent (1703).

Lavinia and Palemon. Lavinia was the daughter of Acasto patron of Palemon, from whom his “liberal fortune took its rise.” Acasto lost his property, and, dying, left a widow and daughter in very indigent circumstances. Palemon often sought them out, but could never find them. One day, a lovely modest