Chapter Marshal Forwards to Martivalle of M by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Marshal Forwards to Martivalle

Marshal Forwards, Blucher; so called for his dash in battle, and the rapidity of his movements, in the campaign of 1813 (1742–1819).

Marsi, a part of the Sabellian race, noted for magic, and said to have been descended from Circê.

Marsis vi quadam genitali datum, ut serpentium virulentorum domitores sint, et incantationibus herbarumque succis faciant medelarum mira.—Gellius, xvi. II.

Marsiglio, a Saracen king, who plotted the attack upon Roland, “under the tree on which Judas hanged himself.” With a force of 600,000 men, divided into three companies, Marsiglio attacked the paladin in Roncesvallês, and overthrew him; but Charlemagne, coming up, routed the Saracen, and hanged him on the very tree under which he planned the attack.—Turpin: Chronicle (1122).

Marsilia, “who bears up great Cynthia’s train,” is the marchioness of Northampton, to whom Spenser dedicated his Daphnaida. This lady was Helena, daughter of Wolfgangus Swavenburgh, a Swede.

No less pralseworthy is Marsilia,
Best known by bearing up great Cynthia’s train.
She is the pattern of true womanhead …
Worthy next after Cynthia [queen Elizabeth] to tread,
As she is next her in nobility.
   —Spenser: Colin Clouts Come Home Again (1595).

Marsyas, the Phrygian flute-player. He challenged Apollo to a contest of skill. Being beaten by the god, he was flayed alive for his presumption.

Martafax and Lermites , two famous rats brought up before the White Cat for treason, but acquitted.—Comtesse D’ Aulnoy: Fairy Tales (“The White Cat,” 1682).

Martano, a great coward, who stole the armour of Gryphon, and presented himself in it before king Nor andino. Having received the honours due to the owner, Martano quitted Damascus with Origilla; but Aquilant unmasked the villain, and he was hanged (bks. viii., ix.).—Ariosto: Orlando Furioso (1516).

Marteau. (See Hammer of Heretics, p. 465).

Martel (Charles) Charles, natural son of Pépin d’Héristal.

N.B.—Mons. Collin de Plancy says that this “palace mayor” of France was not called “Martel” because he martelé (“hammered”) the Saracens under Abdel-Rahman in 732, but because his patron saint was Martellus (or St. Martin).—Bibliothèque des Légendes.

(Thomas Delf, in his translation of Chevereul’s Principles of Harmony, etc., of Colours (1847), signs himself “Charles Martel.”)

Martext (Sir Oliver), a vicar in Shakespeare’s comedy of As You Like It (1600).

Martha, sister to “The Scornful Lady” (no name given).—Beaumont and Fletcher: The Scornful Lady (1616). (Beaumont died 1616.)

Martha, the servant-girl at Shaw’s Castle.—Sir W. Scott : St. Ronan’s Well(time, George III.).

Martha, the old housekeeper at Osbaldistone Hall.—Sir W. Scott: Rob Roy (time, George I.).

Martha, daughter of Ralph and Louise de Lascours, and sister of Diana de Lascours. When the crew of the Urania rebelled, Martha, with Ralph de Lascours (the captain), Louise de Lascours, and Barabas, were put adrift in a boat, and cast on an iceberg in “the Frozen Sea.” The iceb