Chapter Matthew's Bible to Maxime of M by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Mauxalinda, in love with Moore of Moore Hall; but the valiant combatant of the dragon deserts her for Margery, daughter of Gubbins, of Roth’ram Green.—Carey: Dragon of Wantley (1696–1743).

Mavortian, a soldier or son of Mavors (Mars).

Hew dreadful Mavortian the poor price of a dinner.—Richard Brome: Plays (1653).

Mavournin, Irish for “darling” Erin, mavournin! (“Ireland, my darling!”)

Land of my forefathers! “Erin go bragh!” Buried and cold, when my heart stills her motion, Green be thy fields, sweetest isle of the ocean! And thy harp-striking bards sing aloud with devotion, “Erin, mavournin! Erin go bragh!” Campbell: Exile of Erin.

(Bragh = braw to rhyme with “draw.” “Erin go bragh!” i.e. “Ireland for ever!”)

Mawworm, a vulgar copy of Dr. Cantwell “the hypocrite.” He is a most gross abuser of his mother tongue, but believes he has a call to preach. He tells old lady Lambert that he has made several sermons already, but “always does ‘em extrumpery” because he could not write. He finds his “religious vocation” more profitable than selling “grocery, tea, small beer, charcoal, butter, brickdust, and other spices,” so comes to the conclusion that it “is sinful to keep shop.” He is a convert of Dr. Cantwell, and believes in him to the last.

Do despise me; I’m the prouder for it. I like to be despised.—Bickerstaff: The Hypocrite, ii, I (1768).

Max, a huntsman, and the best marksman in Germany. He was plighted to Agatha, who was to be his wife, if he won the prize in the annual match. Caspar induced Max to go to the wolf’s glen at midnight and obtain seven charmed balls from Samiel the Black Huntsman. On the day of contest, while Max was shooting, he killed Caspar who was concealed in a tree, and the king in consequence abolished this annual fête.Weber: Der Freischütz (an opera, 1822).

Maxime , an office r of the prefect Almachius. He was ordered to put to death Valirian and Tiburcê, because they refused to worship the image of Jupiter; but he took pity on them, took them to his house, became converted, and was baptized. When Valirian and Tiburcê were afterwards martyred, Maxime said he saw angels come and carry them to heaven, whereupon Alamachius caused him to be beaten with rods “til he his lif gan lete.”—Chaucer: Canterbury Tales (“Second Nun’s Tale,” 1388).

This is based on the story of “Cecilia” in the Legenda Aurea; and both are imitations of the story of Paul and the jailer of Philippi (Acts xvi. 19-34).