Chapter Marinel to Marmion of M by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Mark (The Gospel of St.), the second book of the New Testament. It shows us Christ in active life going about doing good, as the First Gospel shows Him mainly as a Teacher.

Mark was no apostle, nor is it known for certain who he was, in what language his Gospel was originally written, nor when it was written.

Mark (Sir), king of Cornwall, who held his court at Ti ntagel. He was a wily, treacherous coward, hated and despised by all true knights. One day, sir Dinadan, in jest, told him that sir Launcelot might be recognized by “his shield, which was silver with a black rim.” This was, in fact, the cognizance of sir Mordred; but, to carry out the joke, sir Mordred lent it to Dagonet, king Arthur’s fool. Then, mounting the jester on a large horse, and placing a huge spear in his hand, the knights sent him to offer battle to king Mark. When Dagonet beheld the coward king, he cried aloud, “Keep thee, sir knight, for I will slay thee!” King Mark, thinking it to be sir Launcelot, spurred his horse to flight. The fool gave chase, rating king Mark “as a woodman [madman].” All the knights who beheld it roared at the jest, told king Arthur, and the forest rang with their laughter. The wife of king Mark was Isond (Ysolde) the Fair of Ireland, whose love for sir Tristram was a public scandal.—Sir T. Malory: History of Prince Arthur, ii. 96, 97 (1470).

Mark Tapley, a serving companion of Martin Chuzzlewit, who goes out with him to Eden, in North America. Mark Tapley thinks there is no credit in being jolly in easy circumstances; but when in Eden he found every discomfort, lost all his money, was swindled by every one, and was almost killed by fevers, then indeed he felt it would be a real credit “to be jolly under the circumstances.”—Dickens: Martin Chuzzlewit (1843).

Markham, a gentleman in the train of the earl of Sussex.—Sir W. Scott: Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

Markham (Mrs.), pseudonym of Mrs. Elizabeth Penrose (born Elizabeth Cartwright), authoress of History of England, etc.

Markleham (Mrs.), the mother of Annie. Devoted to pleasure, she always maintained that she indulged in it for “Annie’s sake.” Mrs. Markleham is generally referred to as “the old soldier.”—Dickens: David Copperfield (1849).

Marksman, one of Fortunio’s seven attendants. He saw so clearly and to such a distance, that he generally bandaged his eyes in order to temper the great keenness of his sight.—Comtesse D’Aulnoy: Fairy Tales (“Fortunio,” 1682).

Marlborough (The duke of), John Churchill. He was called by marshal Turenne, Le Bel Anglais (1650–1722). (See Malbrough, p. 659.)

Marley, the partner of Scrooge, the grasping, cheating “old sinner.” He was dead before the story begins, but his ghost contributes to the conversion of Scrooge.—Dickens: Christmas Carol.

Marlow (Sir Charles), the kind-hearted old friend of squire Hardcastle.

Young Marlow, son of sir Charles. “Among women of reputation and virtue he is the modestest man alive; but his acquaintances give him a very different character among women of another stamp” (act i. sc. I). Having mistaken Hardcastle’s house for an inn, and Miss Hardcastle for the barmaid, he is quite at his ease, and makes love freely. When fairly caught, he discovers that the supposed “inn” is a private house, and the supposed barmaid is the squire’s daughter; but the ice of his shyness being broken, he has no longer any difficulty in loving according to his station.—Goldsmith: She Stoops to Conquer (1773).

N.B.—When Goldsmith was between 16 and 17, he set out for Edgworthstown, and finding night coming on, asked a man which was the “best house” in the town—meaning the best inn. The man pointed to the house of sir Ralph Fetherstone (or Mr. Fetherstone), and Oliver, entering the parlour, found the master of the mansion sitting at a good fire. Oliver told him he desired to pass the night there, and ordered