Chapter Monçada to Monmouth of M by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Monçada to Monmouth

Monçada (Matthias de), a merchant, stern and relentless. He arrests his daughter the day after her confinement of a natural son.

Zilia de Monçada, daughter of Matthias, and wife of general Witherington.—Sir W. Scott: The Surgeon’s Daughter (time, George II.).

Moncaster. Newcastle, in Northumberland, was so called from the number of monks settled there in Saxon times. The name was changed, in 1080, to New-castle, from the castle built by Robert (son of the Conqueror), to defend the borderland from the Scotch.

Mondamin, maize or Indian corn (mon-da-min, “the Spirit’s grain”).

Sing the mysteries of mondamin,
Sing the blessing of the corn-fields.
   —Longfellow: Hiawatha, xiii. (1855).

Moneses, a Greek prince, betrothed to Arpasia, whom for the nonce he c alled his sister. Both were taken captive by Bajazet. Bajazet fell in love with Arpasia, and gave Monesês a command in his army. When Tamerlane overthrew Bajazet, Monesês explained to the Tartar king how it was that he was found in arms against him, and said his best wish was to serve Tamerlane. Bajazet now hated the Greek; and, as Arpasia proved obdurate, thought to frighten her into submission by having Monesês bow-strung in her presence; but the sight was so terrible that it killed her.—Rowe: Tamerlane (1702).

Money, a drama by lord Lytton (1840). Alfred Evelyn, a poor scholar, was secretary and factotum of sir John Vesey, but received no wages. He loved Clara Douglas, a poor dependent of lady Franklin, proposed to her, but was not accepted, “because both were too poor to keep house.” A large fortune being left to the poor scholar, he proposed to Georgina, the daughter of sir John Vesey; but Georgina loved sir Frederick Blount, and married him. Evelyn, who loved Clara, pretended to have lost his fortune, and, being satisfied that she really loved him, proposed a second time, and was accepted.

Moneytrap, husband of Araminta, but with a tendre for Clarissa the wife of his friend Gripe.—Vanbrugh: The Confederacy (1695).

None who ever saw Parsons [1736–1795] … can forget his effective mode of exclaiming, while representing the character of the amorous old “Moneytrap,” “Eh! how long will it be, Flippanta?”—Dibdin.

Monflathers (Miss), mistress of a boarding and day establishment, to whom Mrs. Jarley sent little Nell, to ask her to patronize the wax-work collection. Miss Monflathers received the child with frigid virtue, and said to her, “Don’t you think you must be very wicked to be a wax-work child? Don’t you know it is very naughty to be a wax child when you might have the proud consciousness of assisting, to the extent of your infant powers, the noble manufactures of your country?” One of the teachers here chimed in with “How doth the little—;”but Miss Monflathers remarked, with an indignant frown, that “the little busy bee” applied only to genteel children, and the “works of labour and of skill” to painting and embroidery, not to vulgar children and wax-work shows.—Dickens: The Old Curiosity Shop, xxxi. (1840).

Monford, the lover of Charlotte Whimsey. He plans various devices to hoodwink her old father, in order to elope with the daughter.—J. Cobb: The First Floor (1756–1818).

Monime, in Racine’s tragedy of Mithridate. This was one of Mile. Rachel’s great characters, first performed by her in 1838.

Monimia, “the orphan,” sister of Chamont and ward of lord Acasto. Monimia was in love with Acasto’s son Castalio, and privately married him. Polydore (the brother of Castalio) also loved her, but his love was dishonourable love. By treachery, Polydore obtained admission to Monimia’s chamber, and passed the bridal night with her, Monimia supposing him to be her husband; but when next day she discovered the deceit, she poisoned herself; and Polydore, being apprised that Monimia was his brother’s wife, provoked a quarrel with him, ran on his brother’s sword, and died.—Otway: The Orphan (1680).