Chapter Ubaldo to Ulysses and Polyphemos of U by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Ubaldo to Ulysses and Polyphemos

Ubaldo, one of the crusaders, mature in age. He had visited many regions, “from polar cold to Libya’s burning soil.” He and Charles the Dane went to bring back Rinaldo from the enchanted castle.—Tasso: Jerusalem Delivered (1575).

Ubaldo and Ricardo, two men sent by Honoria queen of Hungary, to tempt the fidelity of Sophia, because the queen was in love with her husband Mathias. Immediately Sophia understood the object of their visit, she had the two men confined in separate rooms, where they were made to earn their food by spinning: The Picture (1629)

Ubeda (Orbaneia of), a painter who drew a cock so preposterously that he was obliged to write under it, “This is a cock,” in order that the spectator might know what was intended to be represented.—Cervantes: Don Quixote, II. i. 3 (1615).

Uberti (Farinata Degli), a noble Florentine, leader of the Ghibelline faction. Dantê represents him, in his Inferno, as lying in a fiery tomb not to be closed till the last judgment.

Uberto, count d’Este, etc.—Ariosto: Orlando Furioso (1516).

Udaller, one who holds land by allodial tenure. Magnus Troil was a udaller, in sir W. Scott’s Pirate (time, William IV.).

Ude, the most learned of cooks, author of La Science de Gueule. He says, “Coquus nascitur non fit.” That “music, dancing, fencing, painting, and mechanics possess professors under 20 years of age, but pre-eminence in cooking is never attained under 30.” He was premier artiste to Louis XVI., then to lord Sefton, then to the duke of York, then chef de cuisine at Crockford’s. It is said that he quitted the earl of Sefton because one of his lordship’s guests added pepper to his soup. He was succeeded by Francatelli.

Vatel, we are told, committed suicide (1671) during a banquet given by the prince de Condé, because the lobsters for the turbot sauce did not arrive in time.

Udolpho, (The Mysteries of), a romance by Mrs. Radcliffe (1790).

Ugo, natural son of Nicco lo III. of Ferrara. His father had for his second wife Parisina Malatesta, between whom and Ugo a criminal attachment arose. When Niccolo was informed thereof, he had both brought to open trial, and both were condemned to suffer death by the common headsman.—Frizzi: History of Ferrara.

Ugolino, count of Gheradesca, a leader of the Guelphi in Pisa. He was raised to the high est honours, but the archbishop Ruggieri incited the Pisans against him, his castle was attacked, two of his grandsons fell in the assault, and the count himself, with his two sons and two surviving grandsons, were imprisoned in the tower of the Gualandi, on the Piazza of the Anziani. Being locked in, the dungeon key was flung into the Arno, and all food was withheld from them. On the fourth day, his son Gaddo died, and by the sixth day little Anselm with the two grandchildren “fell one by one.” Last of all the count died also (1288), and the dungeon was ever after called “The Tower of Famine.” Dantê has introduced this story in his Inferno, and represents Ugolino as devouring most voraciously the head of Ruggieri, while frozen in the lake of ice.

Chaucer, in his Canterbury Tales, makes the monk briefly tell this sad story, and calls the count “Hugeline of Pise.”

Oh thou Pisa, shame!…What if fame
Reported that thy castles were betrayed
By Ugolino, yet no right hadst thou
To stretch his children on the rack…
Their tender years…uncapable of guilt.
   —Dante: Inferno, xxxiii. (1300).

Remember Ugolino condescends
To eat the head of his arch-enemy
The moment after he politely ends
His