Chapter Rhine to Richelieu of R by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Rhymes for the Road, by Thomas Moore (1820). “Extracted from the journal of a travelling member of the Pocurante Society.” In eight extracts—

(1)Lake Geneva; (2)Fall of Venice; (3)Lord B—’s Memoirs; (4)The Ubiquitous English; (5)Florence; (6)Conspiracy of Rienzi; (7)Mary Magdalen; and (8)Rousseau.

Rhyming to Death. In 1 Henry VI. act i. sc. 1, Thomas Beaufort duke of Exeter, speaking about the death of Henry V., says, “Must we think that the subtle-witted French conjurors and sorcerers, out of fear of him, ‘by magic verses have contrived his end’?” The notion of killing by incantation was at one time very common.

Irishmen…will not stick to affirme that they can rime either man or beast to death.—Reginald Scot: Discoverie of Witchcraft (1564).

Ribbon. The yellow ribbon, in France, indicates that the wearer has won a médaille militaire (instituted by Napoleon III. as a minor decoration of the Legion of Honour).

N. B.—The red ribbon marks a chevalier of the Legion of Honour. A rosette indicates a higher grade than that of chevalier.

Ribbonism, the name given to the principles of a secret society in Ireland, organized about 1820, to retaliate on landlords any injuries done to their tenants. Many agrarian murders were (1858-71) attributed to the ribbonmen.

Ribemont, the bravest and noblest of the French host in the battle of Poitiers. He alone dares confess that the English are a brave people. In the battle he is slain by lord Audley.—Shirley: Edward the Black Prince (1640).

Ribemont (Count), in The Siege of Calais, by Colman.

Riccabocca (Dr.), an eccentricity in lord Lytton’s My Novel. Though a cynic he is tender-hearted, and though a sage is most simple-minded. He loves his pipe, carries a red umbrella, and is ever ready with his Machiavellian proverbs (1853).

Riccardo, commander of Plymouth fortress; a puritan to whom lord Walton has promised his daughter Elvira in marriage. Riccardo learns that the lady is in love with Arthur Talbot, and when Arthur is taken prisoner by Cromwell’s soldiers, Riccardo promises to use his efforts to obtain his pardon. This, however, is not needful, for Cromwell, feeling quite secure of his position, orders all the captives of war to be released. Richard is the Italian form of sir Richard Forth.—Bellini: I Puritani (opera, 1834).

Ricciardetto, son of Aymon, and brother of Bradamante.—Ariosto: Orlando Furioso (1516).

Rice. Eating rice with a bodkin. Aminê, the beautiful wife of Sidi Nouman, ate rice with a bodkin, but she was a ghoul. (See Amine, p. 37.)

Richard, a fine, honest lad, by trade a smith. He marries on New Year’s Day, Meg, the daughter of Toby Veck.—Dickens: The Chimes (1844).

Richard (Squire), eldest son of sir Francis Wronghead of Bumper Hall. A country bumpkin, wholly ignorant of the world and of literature.—Vanbrugh and Cibber: The Provoked Husband (1727).

Robert Wetherilt [1708–1745] came to Drury Lane a boy, where he showed his rising genius in the part of “squire Richard.”—Chetwood: History of the Stage.

Richard (Poor). (See under Poor.)