Chapter Siegfried von Lindenberg to Silent Woman of S by Brewer's Readers Handbook

challenged him, and they fought. Osmond fell, and when his wife ran to him, he thrust his sword into her and killed her.—Thomson: Tancred and Sigismunda (1745).

(This tragedy is based on “The Baneful Marriage,” an episode in Gil Blas, founded on fact.)

Sigismunda, the heroine of Cervantes’s last work of fiction. This tale is a tissue of episodes, full of most incredible adventures, astounding prodigies, impossible characters, and extravagant sentiments. It is said that Cervantes himself preferred it to his Don Quixote, just as Corneille preferred Nicomede to his Cid, and Milton Paradise Regained to his Paradise Lost.—Encyclopœdia Britannica (article “Romance”).

Sigurd, the hero of an old Scandinavian legend. Sigurd discovered Brynhild, encased in complete armour, lying in a death-like sleep, to which she had been condemned by Odin. Sigurd woke her by ripping up her corselet, fell in love with her, promised to marry her, but deserted her for Gudrun. This ill-starred union was the cause of an Iliad of woes.

(An analysis of this romance was published by Weber in his Illustrations of Northern Antiquities, 1810.)

Sijil (Al), the recording angel.

On that day we will roll up the heavens as the angel Al Sijil rolleth up the scroll wherein every man’s actions are recorded.—Al Korân, xxi.

Sikes (Bill), burglar, and one of Fagin’s associates. He is a hardened, irreclaimable villain, but has a conscience which almost drives him mad after the murder of Nancy, who really loved him (ch. xlviii.). Bill Sikes had an ill-conditioned savage dog, the beast-image of his master, which he kicked and loved, ill-treated and fondled.—Dickens: Oliver Twist (1837).

Sikes endeavouring to escape from the detectives and the enraged crowd, tried to slip from the roof of a house by a rope with a running noose; but he only got it over his neck and so was strangled. His dog, in its efforts to reach its master, accidentally ran against a projecting wall, and was killed.

(The French “Bill Sikes” is “Jean Hiroux,” a creation of Henri Monnier.)

Sikundra (The), a mausoleum about six miles from Agra, raised by Akhbah “the Great,” in the reign of our Charles I.

Silas Marner, a novel by George Eliot (Mrs. J. W. Cross, 1861). Silas thinks himself deserted and rejected by God and man; to him a little foundling girl is sent, bringing “hope with her and forward-looking thoughts.”

The Luck of Roaring Camp, by Bret Harte, is on the same lines (1870).

Silence, a country justice of asinine dulness when sober, but when in his cups of most uproarious mirth. He was in the commission of the peace with his cousin Robert Shallow.

Falstaff. I did not think Master Silence had been a man of this mettle.

Silence. Who, I? I have been merry twice and once, ere now.—Shakespeare: 2 Henry IV. act v. sc. 3 (1598).

Sileno, husband of Mysis; a kindhearted man, who takes pity on Apollo when cast to earth by Jupiter, and gives him a home.—O’Hara: Midas (1764).

Silent (The), William I. prince of Orange (1533–1584).

It was the principle of Napoleon III. emperor of the French to “hear, see, and say nothing.”