Chapter Secret Tribunal to Serbonian Bog of S by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Semiramis, queen of Assyria, wife of Ninus. She survived her husband , and reigned. The glory of her reign stands out so prominently that she quite eclipses all the monarchs of ancient Assyria. After a reign of forty-two years, she resigned the crown to her son Ninyas, and took her flight to heaven in the form of a dove. Semiramis was the daughter of Derceto the fish-goddess and a Syrian youth. Being exposed in infancy, she was brought up by doves.

Semiramis of the North, Margaret, daughter of Waldemar III. of Denmark. At the death of her father, she succeeded him; by the death of her husband, Haco VIII. king of Norway, she succeeded to that kingdom also; and having conquered Albert of Sweden, she added Sweden to her empire. Thus was she queen of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden (1353–1412).

Semiramis of the North, Catharine of Russia, a powerful and ambitious sovereign; but licentious, sensual, and very immoral (1729–1796).

Semkail, the angel of the winds and waves.

I keep the winds in awe with the hand which you see in the air, and prevent the wind Haidge from coming forth. If I gave it freedom, it would reduce the universe to powder. With my other hand I hinder the sea from overflowing, without which precaution it would cover the face of the whole earth.—Comte de Caylus: Oriental Tales (“History of Abdal Motalleb,” 1743).

Semo (Son of), Cuthullin general of the Irish tribes.

Sempronius, one of the “friends” of Timon of Athens, and “the first man that e’er received a gift from him.” When Timon sent to borrow a sum of money of “his friend,” he excused himself thus: “As Timon did not think proper to apply to me first, but asked others before he sent to me, I consider his present application an insult.” “Go,” said he to the servant, “and tell your master—

Who bates mine honour shall not know my coin.”
   —Shakespeare: Timon of Athens, act iii. sc. 3 (1600).

Sempronius, a treacherous friend of Cato while in Utica. Sempronius tried to mask his treason by excessive zeal and unmeasured animosity against Cæsar, with whom he was acting in alliance. He loved Marcia, Cato’s daughter, but his love was not honourable love; and when he attempted to carry off the lady by force, he was slain by Juba the Numidian prince.—Addison: Cato (1713).

I’ll conceal
My thoughts in passion, ’tis the surest way.
I’ll bellow out for Rome and for my country,

And mouth at Cæsar till I skake the senate.
Your cold hybris   —’s a stale device.
A worn-out trick

Act i.r.

Senanus (St), the saint who fled to the island of Scattery, and resolved that no woman should ever step upon the isle. An angel led St. Canára to the isle, but Senanus refused to admit her.— Moore: Irish Melodies (“St. Senanus and the Lady,” 1814).

Seneca (The Christian), bishop Hall of Norwich (1574–1656).

Senena , a Welsh maiden in love with Caradoc. She dressed in boy’s clothes, and, under the assumed name of Mervyn, became the page of the princess Goervyl. This did she that she might follow her lover to America, when Madoc colonized Caer-Madoc. Senena was promised in marriage to another; but when the wedding-day arrived and all was ready, the bride was nowhere to be found.

…she doffed
Her bridal robes, and clipt her golden locks,
And put on boy’s attire, thro’ wood and wild
To seek her own true love; and over sea,
Forsaking all for him, she followed him.
   —Southey: Madoc, ii. 23 (1805).