Chapter Norris to Nouman of N by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Pathos rendered the voice of William Bensley [1738–1817] in “Old Norval” rugged as well as repulsive; and he never, as to his feet, either stood or walked with the character of age. His helpless action had a character of restrained vigour; he implored pity in the noisy shout of defiance.—Boaden.

Young Norval, the infant exposed, and brought up by the old shepherd as his own son. He turned out to be sir Malcolm’s heir. His mother was lady Randolph, and his father lord Douglas, her first husband. Young Norval, having saved the life of lord Randolph, was given by him a commission in the army. Glenalvon, the heir-presumptive of lord Randolph, hated the new favourite, and persuaded his lordship that the young man was too familiar with lady Randolph. Being waylaid, Norval was attacked, slew Glenalvon, but was in turn slain by lord Randolph. After the death of Norval, lord Randolph discovered that he had killed the son of his wife by a former marriage. The mother, in her distraction, threw herself headlong from a lofty precipice, and lord Randolph went to the war then raging between Denmark and Scotland.—Home: Douglas (1757).

(This was a favourite character with John Kemble, 1757–1823.)

Henry Johnston selected “Young Norval” for his maiden part. His youthful form and handsome expressive countenance won for him universal approbation. Previously the young shepherd had been dressed in the trews and Scotch jacket; but when Johnston appeared in full Highland costume, kilt, breastplate, shield, claymore, and bonnet, the whole house rose en masse, and such a reception was never witnessed within the walls of a provincial theatre before.—Donaldson: Recollections.

Norway (The Fair Maid of), Margaret, granddaughter of Alexander III. of Scotland. She died (1290) of sea-sickness on her passage from Norway to Scotland. Her father was Eric II. king of Norway, and her mother was Margaret only daughter of Alexander III.

Norwynn (William and Henry). (See Nature And Art, p. 746.)

Nose (Golden), Tycho Brahê, the Danish astronomer. Having lost his nose in a duel with one Passberg, he adopted a golden one, and attached it to his face by a cement which he carried about with him.

That eminent man who had a golden nose, Tycho Brahè, lost his nose in a duel, and a golden one was supplied, which gave him the appearance of a wizard.—Marryat: Jutland and the Danish Isles, 305.

Nosebag (Mrs.), wife of a lieutenant in the dragoons. She is the inquisitive travelling companion of Waverley when he travels by stage to London.—Sir W. Scott: Waverley (time, George II.).

Nosey (Play up)! This exclamation was common in our theatres in the days of Macklin, etc. M. Nozay was the leader of the orchestra in Covent Garden Theatre.

Some persons affirm that “Old Nosey” was Cervetto, the violoncello player at Drury Lane (1753), and say that he was so called from his long nose.

Napoleon III. was nicknamed Grosbec (“Nosey”).

Nosnot-Bocai [Bo-ky], prince of purgatory.

Sir, I last night received command
To see you out of Fairy-land
Into the realm of Nosnot-Bocal.
   —King: Orpheus and Eurydice,

Nostradamus (Michael), an astrologer of the sixteenth century, who published an annual Almanac and a Recueil of Prophecies, in verse (1503–1566).

Nostradamus of Portugal, Gonçalo Annês Bandarra, a poet-cobbler, whose career was stopped, in 1556, by the Inquisition.