Chapter Melyhalt to Mephostophilus of M by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Melyhalt to Mephostophilus

Melyhalt (The lady), a powerful subject of king Arthur, whose domains sir Galiot invaded; notwithstanding which, the lady chose sir Galiot as her fancy knight and chevalier.

Memnon, king of the Ethiopians. He went to the assistance of his uncle Priam, and was slain by Achillês. His mother Eos, inconsolable at his death, weeps for him every morning, and her tears constitute what we call dew.

Memnon, the black statue of king Amenophis III. at Thebes, in Egypt, which, being struck with the rays of the morning sun, gives out musical sounds. Kircher says these sounds are due to a sort of clavecin or Æolian harp enclosed in the statue, the cords of which are acted upon by the warmth of the sun. Cambyses, resolved to learn the secret, cleft the statue from head to waist; but it continued to utter its morning melody notwithstanding.

…old Memnon’s image, long renowned
By fabling Nilus; to the quivering touch
Of Titan’s ray, with each repulsive string
Consenting, sounded thro’ the warbling air
Unbidden strains.
   —Akenside: Pleasures of Imagination, i. (1744).

Memnon, “the mad lover,” general of Astorax king of Paphos.—Beaumont and Fletcher: The Mad Lover (1617).

Memnon, the title of a novel by Voltaire, the object of which is to show the folly of aspiring to too much wisdom.

Memnon’s Sister, Hemera, mentioned by Dictys Cretensis.

Black, but such as in esteem
Prince Memnon’s sister might beseem.
   —Milton: Il Penseroso (1638).

Memoirs of P.P., a “parish clerk,” written by Dr. Arbuthnot, in ridicule of Burnet’s History of My Own Times (1723–1734). The parish clerk is pompous, wordy, pugnacious, and conceited.

Memorable (The Ever-), John Hales of Eton (1584–1656).

Memory. The persons most noted for their memory are—

(1) Magliabechi of Florence, called “The Universal Index and Living Cyclopædia” (1633–1714).

(2) P. J. Beronicius, the Greek and Latin improvisator, who knew by heart Horace, Virgil, Cicero, Juvenal, both the Plinys, Homer, and Aristophânês. He died at Middleburgh, in 1676.

(3) Andrew Fuller, after hearing 500 lines twice, could repeat them without

a mistake. He could also repeat verbatim a sermon or speech; could tell either backwards or forwards every shop sign from the Temple to the extreme end of Cheapside, and the articles displayed in each of the shops.

(4) “Memory” Woodfall could carry in his head a debate, and repeat it a fortnight afterwards.

(5) “Memory” Thompson could repeat the names, trades, and particulars of every shop from Ludgate Hill to Piccadilly.

(6) William Radcliff, the husband of the novelist, could repeat a debate the next morning.

Garrick could repeat his part by reading it once over. I have more than once heard Woodham, a Fellow of Jesus, repeat a column of the Times after reading it once over.

(See Panjandrum.)