Chapter Shamhozai to Shedad of S by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Sharp (Timothy), the “lying valet”of Charles Gayless. His object is to make his master, who has not a sixpence in the world, pass for a man of wealth in the eyes of Melissa, to whom he is engaged. —Garrick: The Lying Valet (1741).

Sharp-Beak, the crow’s wife, in the beast-epic called Reynard the Fox (1498).

Sharpe (The Right Rev. James), archbishop of St. Andrew’s, murdered by John Balfour (a leader in the covenanters’ army) and his party.—Sir W. Scott: Old Mortality (time, Charles II.

Sharper (Master), the cutler in the Strand.—Sir W. Scott: Peveril of the Peak (time Charles II.).

Sharpitlaw (Gideon), a police officer. —Sir W. Scott: Heart of Midlothian (time, George II.).

Shawondasee, son of Mudjekeewis, and king of the south wind. Fat and lazy, listless and easy. Shawondasee loved a prairie maiden (the Dandelion), but was too indolent to woo her.—Longfellow: Hiawatha (1855).

She Stoops to Conquer, a comedy by Oliver Goldsmith (1773). Miss Hardcastle, knowing how bashful young Marlow is before ladies, stoops to the manners and condition of a barmaid, with whom he feels quite at his ease, and by this artifice wins the man of her choice.

N.B.—It is said that when Goldsmith was about 16 years old, he set out for Edgworthstown, and finding night coming on when at Ardagh, asked a man “which was the best house in the town”—meaning the best inn. The man, who was Cornelius O’Kelly, the great fencing-master, pointed to that of Mr. Ralph Fetherstone, as being the best house in the vicinity. Oliver entered the parlour, found the master of the mansion sitting over a good fire, and said he intended to pass the night there, and should like to have supper. Mr. Fetherstone happened to know Goldsmith’s father, and, to humour the joke, pretended to be the landlord of “the public,” nor did he reveal himself till next morning at breakfast, when Oliver called for his bill. It was not sir Ralph Fetherstone, as is generally said, but Mr. Ralph Fetherstone, whose grandson was sir Thomas.

(In Frankfort Moore’s novel The Fessainy Bride (1897) there is a charming scene in which the characters discuss the title for Goldsmith’s coming play.)

She-Wolf of France, Isabella wife of Edward II. and paramour of Mortimer (1295–1358). It is said that she murdered the king, her husband, by burning out his bowels with a red-hot poker. Grey, in his Bard, refers to this tradition—

She-wolf of France, with unrelenting fangs,
That tearst the bowels of thy mangled mate.

It seems almost incredible, but the fact is indubitable, that pope John XXII. granted to Isabella’s confessor power to give her plenary indulgence at the hour of death.

Sheba. The queen of Sheba or Saba (i.e. the Sabeans) came to visit Solomon, and tested his wisdom by sundry questions, but affirmed that his wisdom and wealth exceeded even her expectations.—1Kings x.; 2 Chron. ix.

No, not to answer, madam, all those hard things
That Sheba came to ask of Solomon.

Tennyson: The Princess, ii.

(The Arabs call her name Balkis or Belkis; the Abyssinians, Macqueda; and others, Aazis.)

Sheba (The queen of), a name given to Mme. Montreville (the Begum Mootee Mahul).—Sir W. Scott: The Surgeon’s Daughter (time, George II.).