Chapter Morecraft to Morna of M by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Morecraft to Morna

Morecraft, at first a miser, but after losing most of his money he became a spendthrift.—Beaumont and Fletcher: The Scornful Lady (1616).

“Luke,” in Massinger’s City Madam, is the exact opposite. He was at first a poor spendthrift, but coming into a fortune he turned miser.

(Beaumont died 1616.)

Morell (Sir Charles), the pseudonym of the Rev. James Ridley, affixed to some of the early editions of The Tales of the Genii, from 1764.

Morelove (Lord), in love with lady Betty Modish, who torments him almost to madness by an assumed indifference, and rouses his jealousy by coquetting with lord Foppington. (For the rest, see Modish, p. 714.)—Cibber: The Careless Husband (1704).

Morëno (Don Antonio), a gentleman of Barcelona, who entertained don Quixote with mock-heroic hospitality.—Cervantes: Don Quixote, II. iv. 10 (1615).

Morfin (Mr.), a cheerful bachelor in the office of Mr. Dombey, merchant. He calls himself “a creature of habit,” has a great respect for the head of the house, and befriends John Carker when he falls into disgrace by robbing his employer. Mr. Morfin is a musical amateur, and finds in his violoncello a solace for all cares and worries. He marries Harriet Carker, the sister of John and James.—Dickens: Dombey and Son (1846).

Morgan, a feigned name adopted by Belarius a banished lord.—Shakespeare: Cymbeline (1605).

Morgan, one of the soldiers of prince Gwenwyn of Powys-land.—Sir W. Scott: The Betrothed (time, Henry II.).

Morgan la Fée, one of the sisters of king Arthur (pt. i. 18); the others were Margawse, Elain, and Anne (Bellicent was his half-sister). Morgan calls herself “queen of the land of Gore” (pt. i. 103). She was the wife of king Vrience (pt. i. 63), the mother of sir Ew’ain (pt. i. 73), and lived in the castle of La Belle Regard (pt. ii. 122).

On one occasion, Morgan la Fée stole her brother’s sword “Excalibur,” with its scabbard, and sent them to sir Accolon of Gaul, her paramour, that he might kill her brother Arthur in mortal combat. If this villainy had succeeded, Morgan intended to murder her husband, marry sir Accolon, and “devise to make him king of Britain;” but sir Accolon, during the combat, dropped the sword, and Arthur, snatching it up, would have slain him had he not craved mercy and confessed the treasonable design (pt. i. 70). After this, Morgan stole the scabbard, and threw it into the lake (pt. i. 73). Lastly, she tried to murder her brother by means of a poisoned robe; but Arthur told the messenger to try it on, that he might see it, and when he did so he dropped down dead, “being burnt to a coal” (pt. i. 75).—Sir T. Malory: History of Prince Arthur (1470).

(W. Morris, in his Earthly Paradise (“August”), makes Morgan la Fée the bride of Ogier the Dane, after his earthly career was ended.)

Morgane, a fay, to whose charge Zephyr committed young Passelyon and his cousin Bennucq. Passelyon fell in love with the fay’s daughter, and the adventures of these young lovers are told in the romance of Perceforest, iii. (1220).

Morgante, a ferocious giant, converted to Christianity by Orlando. After performing the most wonderful feats, he died at last from the bite of a crab.—Pulci: Morgante Maggiore (1488).

He [don Quixote] spoke favourably of Morgante, who, though of gigantic race, was most gentle in his manners.—Cervantes: Don Quixote, I. i. 1 (1605).