Chapter Tammany Ring to Tappertit of T by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Tammany Ring to Tappertit

Tammany Ring, a cabal; a powerful organization of unprincipled officials, who grow rich by plundering the people. So called from Tammany Hall, the headquarters of the high officials of the United States. Their corrupt practices were exposed in 1871.

Tammuz, the month of July. St. Jerome says the Hebrews and Syrians call the month of June “Tammuz.” (See Thammuz.)

Tamora, queen of the Goths, in love with Aaron the Moor.—(?) Shakespeare: Titus Andronicus (1593).

N.B.—The classic name is Andronicus, but Titus Andronicus is a purely fictitious character.

Tamper (Colonel), betrothed to Emily. (For the plot, see Emily, p. 323.)—Colman, sen.: The Deuce is in Him (1762).

Tamson (Peg), an old woman at Middlemas village.—Sir W. Scott: The Surgeon’s Daughter (time, George II.).

Tanaquill, wife of Tarquinius priscus of Rome. She was greatly venerated by the Romans, but Juvenal uses the name as the personification of an imperious woman with a strong independent will. In the Faërie Queene Spenser calls Gloriana (queen Elizabeth) “Tanaquill” (bk. i. introduction, 1590).

TANCRED, son of Eudes and Emma. He was the greatest of all the Christian warriors except Rinaldo. His one fault was “woman’s love,” and that woman Corinda, a pagan (bk. i.). He brought 800 horse to the allied crusaders under Godfrey of Bouillon. In a night combat, Tancred unwittingly slew Corinda, and lamented her death with great and bitter lamentation (bk. xii.). Being wounded, he was tenderly nursed by Erminia, who was in love with him (bk. xix.). — Tasso: Jerusalem Delivered (1575).

(Rossini has an opera entitled Tancredi, 1813.)

Tancred, prince of Otranto, one of he crusaders, probably the same as the one above.—Sir W. Scott: Count Robert of Paris (time, Rufus).

Tancred, or The New Crusader, a romance by Disraeli (lord Beaconsfield). Tancred is a young English nobleman who visits the Holy Land, but ruins himself in purposeless adventures (1847).

Tancred (Count), the o rphan son of Manfred, eldest grandson of Roger I. of Sicily, and rightful heir to the throne. His father was m urdered by William the Bad, and he himself was brought up by Siffredi lord high chancellor of Sicily. While only a count, he fell in love with Sigismunda the chancellor’s daughter; but when king Roger died, he left the throne to Tancred, provided he married Constantia, daughter of William the Bad, and thus united the rival lines. Tancred gave a tacit consent to this arrangement, intending all the time to obtain a dispensation from the pope, and marry the chancellor’s daughter; but Sigismunda could not know his secret intentions, and, in a fit of irritation, married the earl Osmond. Now follows the catastrophe: Tancred sought an interview with Sigismunda, to justify his conduct, but Osmond challenged him to fight. Osmond fell, and stabbed Sigismunda when she ran to his succour.—Thomson: Tancred and Sigismunda (1745).

(Thomson’s tragedy is founded on the episode called “The Baneful Marriage,” Gil Blas, iv. 4 (Lesage, 1724). In the prose tale, Tancred is called “Henriquez,” and Sigismunda “Blanch.”)

Tancredi, the Italian form of Tancred (q.v.). The best of the early operas of Rossini (1813).

Tankard (Squire), candidate with sir Harry Foxchase, opposed to lord Place and colonel Promise.—Fielding: Pasquin (1736).

Tanner of Tamworth (The), the man who mistook Edward IV. for a highwayman. After some little altercation, they changed horses, the king giving his hunter for the tanner’s cob worth about four shillings; but as