Chapter Leonora de Guzman of L by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Leonnoys or Leonesse (q.v.), a country once joining Cornwall, but now sunk in the sea full forty fathoms deep. Sir Tristram was born in Leonês or Leonnoys, and is always called a Cornish knight.

(Tennyson calls the word “Lyonnesse,” but sir T. Malory “Leonês.”)

Leono’s Head (or Liono’s Head), Porto Leono, the ancient Piræus. So called from a huge lion of white marble, removed by the Venetians to their arsenal.

The wandering stranger near the port descries
A milk-white lion of stupendous size,
Of antique marble,—hence the haven’s name,
Unknown to modern natives whence it came.
   —Falconer: The Shipwreck, iii. 3 (1756).

Leonor, sister of Isabelle, an orphan; brought up by A riste according to his notions of training a girl to make him a good wife. He put her on her honour, tried to win her confidence and love, gave her all the liberty consistent with propriety and social etiquette, and found that she loved him, and made him a fond and faithful wife, (See Isabelle, p. 531.)—Moliére: L’école des Maris (1661).

LEONORA, the usurping queen of Aragon, betrothed to Bertran a prince of the blood-royal, but in love with Torrismond general of the forces. It turns out that Torrismond is son and heir of Sancho the deposed king. Sancho is restored, and Torrismond marries Leonora.—Dryden: The Spanish Fryar (1680).

Leonora, betrothed to don Carlos, but don Carlos resigned her to don Alonzo, to whom she proved a very tender and loving wife. Zanga the Moor, out of revenge, poisoned the mind of Alonzo against his wife, by insinuating her criminal love for don Carlos. Out of jealousy. Alonzo had his friend put to death, and Leonora, knowing herself susspected, put an end to her life.—Young: The Revenge (1721).

Leonora, the daughter of poor parents, who struck the fancy of don Diego. The don made a compact with her parents to take her home with him and place her under a duenna for three months, to ascertain if her temper was as sweet as her face was pretty, and at the expiration of that time, either to return her spotless or to make her his wife. At the end of three months, don Diego (a man of 60) goes to arrange for the marriage, locking his house and garden, as he supposes, securely; but Leander, a young student, smitten with Leonora, makes his way into the house, and is about to elope with her when the don returns. Like a man of sense, don Diego at once sees the suitability of the match, consents to the union of the young people, and even settles a marriage portion on Leonora, his ward if not his wife.—Bickerstaff: The Padlock (1768).

Leonora, betrothed to Ferdinand a fiery young Spaniard (jealous of donna Clara, who has assumed boy’s clothes for a time). Ferdinand despises the “amphibious coxcomb,” and calls his rival “a vile compound of fringe, lace, and powder.”—Jephson: Two Strings to your Bow (1792).

Leonora, the heroine of Miss Edgeworth’s novel of the same name. The object of the tale is to make the reader feel what is good, and desirous of being so (1806).

Leonora, wife of Fernando Florestan a State prisoner in Seville. In order to effect her husband’s release, she assumed the attire of a man, and the name of Fidelio. In this diguise she entered the service of Rocco the jailer, and Marcellina the jailer’s daughter fell in love with her. (For the rest of the tale, see Fernando, p. 363.)—Beethoven: Fidelio (an opera, 1791).

Leonora, a princess, who falls in love with Manrico, the supposed son of Azucena a gipsy, but in reality the son of Garzia (brother of the conte di Luna). The conte di Luna entertains a base passion for the princess, and, getting Manrico into his power, is about to kill him, when Leonora intercedes, and promises to give herself to the count if he will spare his nephew’s life. The count consents; but while he goes to release Manrico, Leonora kills herself by sucking poison from a ring, and Manrico dies also.—Verdi: Il Trovatorê (an opera, 1853).