Chapter Tyll Owlyglass to Tyson of T by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Tyll Owlyglass to Tyson

Tyll Owlyglass or Thyl Owleglass, by Thomas Murner, a Franciscan monk of Strasbourg (1475–1536); the English name of the German “Tyll Eulenspiegel.” Tyll is a mechanic of Brunswick, who runs from pillar to post as charlatan, physician, lansquenet, fool, valet, artist, and Jack-of-all-trades. He undertakes anything and everything, but invariably “spoils the Egyptians” who trust in him. He produces popular proverbs, is brimful of merry mischief, droll as Sam Slick, indifferent honest as Gil Blas, light-hearted as Andrew Boyde, as full of tricks as Scapin, and as popular as Robin Hood. The book is crammed with observations, anecdotes, fables, bon mots, and facetiæ.

(There are two good English versions of this popular picaresco romance—one printed by William Copland, and entitled The Merrye Jeste of a Man called Howlëglass, and the many Marvellous Thinges and Jestes which he did in his Lyfe in Eastland; and the other published in 1860, translated by K. R. H. Mackenzie, and illustrated by Alfred Crowquill. In 1720 was brought out a modified and abridged edition of the German story.)

To few mortals has it been granted to earn such a place in universal history as Tyll Eulenspiegel [Ulen- spee-gl]. Now, after five centuries, Tyll’s native village is pointed out with pride to the traveller, and his tombstone…still stands…at Möllen, near Lubeck, where, since 1350 [sic], his once nimble bones have been at rest.—Carlyle.

Tylwyth Teg, or the “Family of Beauty”—elves who “dance in the moonlight on the velvet sward,” in their airy and flowing robes of blue and green, white and scarlet. These beautiful fays delight in showering benefits on the human race.—The Mabinogion (note, p. 263).

Tyneman (2syl), Archibald IV. earl of Douglas. So called because he was always on the losing side.

Types (Printers’). The following are those most generally used in bookprinting—

Pica: The Reader’s Ha Small Pica: The Reader’s Long Primer: The Reader’s H Bourgeois: The Reader’s Handb Brevier: The Reader’s Handbook, b Minion: The Reader’s Handbook, by Nonpariel: The Reader’s Handbook, by R Pearl: The Reader’s Handbook, by Rev. E. C. Br

Tyre, in Dryden’s satire of Absalom and Achitophel, means Holland. “Egypt,’ in the same satire, means France.

I mourn, my countrymen, your lost estate…
Now all your liberties a spoil are made,
Egypt and Tyrus intercept your trade.
   —Pt. i. 699-707 (1681).

Tyre (Archbishop of), with the crusaders. —Sir W. Scott: The Talisman (time, Richard I.).

Tyrian Cynosure (3syl), Ursa Minor. Ursa Major is called by Milton “The Star of Arcady,” from Calisto, daughter of Lycaon the first king of Arcadia, who was changed into this constellation. Her son Arcas or Cynosura was made the Lesser Bear.—Pausanias: ltinerary of Greece, viii. 4.

And thou shalt be our star of Arcady,
Or Tyrian Cynosure.
   —Milton: Comus, 343 (1634).

Tyrie, one of the archers in the Scottish guard of Louis XI.—Sir W. Scott: Quentin Durward (time, Edward IV.).

Tyrie (The Rev. Michael), minister of Glenorquhy.—Sir W. Scott: The Highland Widow (time, George II.).

Tyroglyphus [the “cheese-scooper”], one of the mouse princes slain in the battle of the frogs and mice by Lymnisius (“the laker”).

Lymnisius good Tyroglyphus assails,
Prince of the mice that haunt the flowery vales
Lost to the milky fares and rural seat,
He came to perish on the bank of fate.
   —Parnell: Battle of the Frogs and Mice, iii. (about 1712).