Chapter Mount Zion to Mucklewrath of M by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Much Ado about Nothing, a comedy by Shakespeare (1600). Hero, the daughter of Leonato, is engaged to be married to Claudio of Aragon; but don John, out of hatred to his brother Leonato, determines to mar the happiness of the lovers. Accordingly, he bribes the waiting-maid of Hero to dress in her mistress’s clothes, and to talk with him by moonlight from the chamber balcony. The villain tells Claudio that Hero has made an assignation with him, and invites him to witness it. Claudio is fully persuaded that the woman he sees is Hero, and when next day she presents herself at the altar, he rejects her with scorn. The priest feels assured there is some mistake, so he takes Hero apart, and gives out that she is dead. Then don John takes to flight, the waiting-woman confesses, Claudio repents, and by way of amendment (as Hero is dead) promises to marry her cousin, but this cousin turns out to be Hero herself.

A similar tale is told by Ariosto in his Orlando Furioso, v. (1516).

Another occurs in the Faërie Queene, by Spenser, bk. ii. 4, 38, etc. (1590).

George Turberville’s Geneura (1576) is still more like Shakespeare’s tale. Belleforest and Bandello have also similar tales (see Hist., xviii.).

Mucklebackit (Saunders), the old fisherman at Musselcrag.

Old Elspeth Mucklebackit, mother of Saunders, and formerly servant to lady Glenallan.

Maggie Mucklebackit, wife of Saunders.

Steenie Mucklebackit, eldest son of Saunders. He is drowned.

Little Jennie Mucklebackit, Saunders’s child.—Sir W. Scott: The Antiquary (time, George III.).

Mucklethrift (Bailie), ironmonger and brazier of Kippletringan, in Scotland.—Sir W. Scott: Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

Mucklewrath (Habakkuk), a fanatic preacher.—Sir W. Scott: Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).

Mucklewrath (John), smith at Cairnvreckan village.

Dame Mucklewrath, wife of John. A terrible virago.—Sir W. Scott: Waverley (time, George II.).