Chapter Seven Wise Men to SGANARELLE of S by Brewer's Readers Handbook

fell in battle; and in the battle of the lake Regillus, Tarquin and his sons were slain.
(Lord Macaulay has taken the “Battle of the Lake Regillus” as the subject of one of his Lays of Ancient Rome. Another of his lays, called “Horatius,” is the attempt of Porsena to re-establish Tarquin on the throne.)

Seyd, pacha of the Morea, assassinated by Gulnare his favourite concubine. Gulnare was rescued from the burning harem by Conrad “the corsair.” Conrad, in the disguise of a dervise, was detected and seized in the palace of Seyd, and Gulnare, to effect his liberation, murdered the pacha.—Byron: The Corsair (1814).

Seyton, an officer attending on Macbeth.—Shakespeare: Macbeth (1600).

Seyton (Lord), a supporter of queen Mary’s cause.
Catherine Seyton, daughter of lord Seyton, a maid of honour in the court of queen Mary. She appears at Kinross village in disguise.
Henry Seyton, son of lord Seyton.—Sir W. Scott: The Abbot (time, Elizabeth).

Sforza, of Lombardy. He with his two brothers (Achillês and Palamedês) were in the squadron of adventurers in the allied Christian army.—Tasso: Jerusalem Delivered (1575).
N. B.—The word Sforza means “force,” and, according to tradition, was derived thus: Giacomuzzo Attendolo, the son of a day labourer, being desirous of going to the wars, consulted his hatchet, resolving to enlist if it stuck fast in the tree at which he flung it. He threw it with such force that the whole blade was completely buried in the trunk (fifteenth century).

Sforza (Ludov’ico), duke of Milan, surnamed “the More,” from mora, “a mulberry” (because he had on his arm a birth-stain of a mulberry colour). Ludovico was dotingly fond of his bride Marcelia, and his love was amply returned; but during his absence in the camp, he left Francesco lord protector, and Francesco assailed the fidelity of the young duchess. Failing in his villainy, he accused her to the duke of playing the wanton with him, and the duke, in a fit of jealousy, slew her. Sforza was afterwards poisoned by Eugenia (sister of Francesco), whom he had seduced.
Nina Sforza, the duke’s daughter.—Massinger: The Duke of Milan (1622).
(This tragedy is obviously an imitation of Shakespeare’s Othello, 1611.)

SGANARELLE, the “cocu imaginaire,” a comedy by Molière (1660). The plot runs thus: Céli e was betrothed to Lélie, but her father, Gorgibus, insisted on her marrying Valère, because he was the richer man. Célie fainted on hearing this, and dropped her lover’s miniature, which was picked up by Sganarelle’s wife. Sganarelle, thinking it to be the portrait of a gallant, took possession of it, and Lélie asked him how he came by it. Sganarelle said he took it from his wife, and Lélie supposed that Célie had become the wife of Sganarelle. A series of misapprehensions arose thence: Célie supposed that Lélie had deserted her for Madame Sganarelle; Sganarelle supposed that his wife was unfaithful to him; madame supposed that her husband was an adorer of Célie; and Lélie supposed that Célie was the wife of Sganarelle. In time they met together, when Lélie charged Célie with being married to Sganarelle; both stared, an explanation followed, a messenger arrived to say that Valère was married, and all went merry as a marriage peal.