Chapter Nehemiah to Nessus's Shirt of N by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Nehemiah to Nessus's Shirt

Nehemiah (The Book of), one of the historic books of the Old Testament. Ezra had been appointed governor of Judæa, and this book tells us what he did during his rule of about thirty years.

Nehemiah Holdenough, a presbyterian preacher.—Sir W. Scott: Woodstock (time, Commonwealth).

Neilson (Mr. Christopher), a surgeon at Glasgow.—Sir W. Scott: Rob Roy (time, George I.).

Neibelungen Lied. (See Nibelungen …)

Neimheid employed four architects to build him a palace in Ireland; and, that they might not build another like it or superior to it for some other monarch, had them all secretly put to death.—O’Halloran: History of Ireland.

A similar story is told of Nômanal-Aôuar king of Hirah, who employed Sennamar to build him a palace. When finished, he cast the architect headlong from the highest tower, to prevent his building another to rival it.—D’Herbelot: Bibliothèque Orientale (1697).

Nekayah, sister of Rasselas prince of Abyssinia. She escapes with her brother from the “happy valley,” and wanders about with him to find what condition or rank of life is the most happy. After roaming for a time, and finding no condition of life free from its drawbacks, the brother and sister resolve to return to the “happy valley.”—Dr. Johnson: Rasselas (1759).

Nell, the meek and obedient wife of Jobson; taught by the strap to know who was lord and master. Lady Loverule was the imperious, headstrong bride of sir John Loverule. The two women, by a magical hocus- pocus, were changed for a time, without any of the four knowing it. Lady Loverule was placed with Jobson, who soon brought down her turbulent temper with the strap, and when she was reduced to submission, the two women were restored again to their respective husbands.—Coffey: The Devil to Pay (1731).

The merit of Mrs. Clive [1711–1785] as an actress first showed itself in “Nell” the cobbler’s wife.—T. Davies.

Nell (Little) or Nelly Trent, a sweet, innocent, loving child of 14 summers, brought up by her old miserly grandfather, who gambled away all his money. Her days were monotonous and without youthful companionship, her evenings gloomy and solitary; there were no child-sympathies in her dreary home, but dejection, despondence akin to madness, watchfulness, suspicion, and imbecility. The grandfather being wholly ruined by gaming, the two went forth as beggars, and ultimately settled down in a cottage adjoining a country churchyard. Here Nelly died, and the old grandfather soon afterwards was found dead upon her grave.—Dickens: The Old Curiosity Shop (1840).

The solution of the grandfather’s story is given in ch. lxix.

Nelly, the servant-girl of Mrs. Dinmont.—Sir W. Scott: Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

Nelson. The Death of Nelson. The words are by S. J. Arnold (not Dr. Samuel Arnold), and the music by Braham.

Nelson’s Ship, the Victory.

Now from the fleet of the foemen past
Ahead of the Victory,
A four-decked ship, with a flagless mast,
An Anak of the sea.
His gaze on the ship lord Nelson cast;
“Oh, oh! my old friend!” quoth he.
“Since again we have met, we must all be glad
To pay our respects to the Trinidad.”
So, full on the bow of the giant foe,
Our gallant Victory runs;
Thro’ the darkning smoke the thunder broke
O’er her deck from a hundred guns.
   —Lord Lytton: Ode, iii. 9 (1839).

Nemean Lion, a lion of Argolis, slain by Herculês.