Chapter Liebenstein and Sternfels to Lilly of L by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Liebenstein and Sternfels to Lilly

Liebenstein and Sternfels, two ruined castles on the Rhine. Leoline the orphan was the sole surviving child of the lord of Liebenstein, and two brothers (Warbeck and Otto) were the only surviving children of the lord of Sternfels. Both these brothers fell in love with Leoline, but as the lady gave Otto the preference, Warbeck joined the crusades. Otto followed his brother to Palestine, but the war was over, and Otto brought back with him a Greek girl, whom he had made his bride. Warbeck now sent a challenge to his brother for this insult to Leoline, but Leoline interposed to stop the fight. Soon after this the Greek wife eloped, and Otto died childless. Leoline retired to the adjacent convent of Bornhofen, which was attacked by robbers, and Warbeck, in repelling them, received his death-wound, and died in the lap of Leoline.—Traditions of the Rhine.

Life (The Battle of), a Christmas story, by C. Dickens (1846). It is the story of Grace and Marion, the two daughters of Dr. Jeddler, both of whom loved Alfred Heathfield, their father’s ward. Alfred loved the younger daughter; but Marion, knowing of her sister’s love, left her home clandestinely, and all thought she had eloped with Michael Warden. Alfred then married Grace, and in due time Marion made it known to her sister that she had given up Alfred to her, and had gone to live with her aunt Martha till they were married. It is said that Marion subsequently married Michael Warden, and found with him a happy home.

Life in London, or “The Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn and Corinthian Tom,” by Pierce Egan (1824). The illustrations are by Cruikshank.

Ligea, one of the three syrens. Milton gives the classic syrens combs; but this is mixing Greek syrens with Scandinavian mermaids. (Ligea or Largeia means “shrill,” or “sweet-voiced.”)

[By] fair Ligea’s golden comb,
Wherewith she sits on diamond rocks,
Sleeking her soft alluring locks.
   —Milton: Comus, 880 (1634).

(The three syrens were Parthenopê, Ligea, and Leucosis, not Leucothea, q.v.)

Light of the Age. Maimonidês or Rabbi Moses ben Maimon of Cordova (1135–1204).

Light of the Haram [sic], the sultana Nourmahal, afterwards called Nourjeham (“light of the world”). She was the bride of Selim son of Acbar.—Moore: Lalla Rookh (1817).

Light o’ Heel (Janet), mother of Godfrey Bertram Hewit.—Sir W. Scott: Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

Lights and Shadows of Scottish Life, a series of tales by professor John Wilson (1822).

Lightbody (Luckie), alias “Marian Loup-the-Dyke,” mother of Jean Girder the cooper’s wife.—Sir W. Scott: Bride of Lammermoor (time, William III.).

Lightborn, the murderer who assassinated Edward II.—Marlowe: Edward II. (1592).

Lightfoot, one of the seven attendants of Fortunio. So swift was he of foot, that he was obliged to tie his legs when he went hunting, or else he always outran the game, and so lost it.—Comtesse D’Aulnoy: Fairy Tales (“Fortunio,” 1682).

Lightning. Benjamin Franklin invented lightning conductors; hence Campbell says it is allotted to man, with Newton to mark the speed of light, with Herschel to discover planets, and

With Franklin grasp the lightning’s fiery wing.
   —Campbell: Pleasures of Hope, i. (1799).

Lovers killed by Lightning. (See under Lovers.)