Chapter URSULA to Uzziel of U by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Useless Parliament (The), the first parliament held in the reign of Charles I. (June 18, 1625). It was adjourned to Oxford in August, and dissolved twelve days afterwards.

Usnach or Usna. Conor king of Ulster put to death by treachery the three sons of Usnach. This led to the desolating war against Ulster, which terminated in the total destruction of Eman. This is one of the three tragic stories of the ancient Irish. The other two are The Death of the Children of Touran, and The Death of the Children of Lir.

Avenging and bright falls the swift sword of Erin
On him who the brave sons of Usna betrayed!…
By the red cloud that hung over Conor’s dark dwelling
When Ulad’s three champions lay sleeping in gore…
We swear to avenge them.
   —Moore: Irish Melodies, iv. (“Avenging and Bright…” (1814).

Uta, queen of Burgundy, mother of Kriemhild and Günther.—The Nibelungen Lied (twelfth century).

Utha, the “white-bosomed daughter of Herman.” She dwelt by “Thano’s stream,” and was beloved by Frothal. When Fingal was about to slay Frothal, she interposed and saved his life.—Ossian: Carric-Thura.

Uthal, son of Larthmor petty king of Berrathon (a Scandi navian island). He dethroned his father, and, being very handsome, was beloved by Nina-Thoma (daughter of a neighbouring prince), who eloped with him. Uthal proved inconstant, and, confining Nina-Thoma in a desert island, fixed his affections on another. In the mean time, Ossian and Toscar arrived at Berrathon. A fight ensued, in which Uthal was slain in single combat, and Larthmor restored to his throne. Nina-Thoma was also released, but all her ill treatment could not lessen her deep love, and when she heard of the death of Uthal she languished and died.—Ossian: Berrathon.

Uthal or Cuthal, one of the Orkneys,—Ossian: Oithona.

“The dark chief of Cuthal” (the same as “Dunrommath lord of Uthal”).

Uther or Uter, pendragon or war-chief of the Britons. He married Igerna widow of Gorloïs, and was by her the father of Arthur and Anne. This Arthur was the famous hero who instituted the knights of the Round Table.—Geoffrey: History of Britain, viii. 20 (1142).

Uthorno, a bay of Denmark, into which Fingal was driven by stress of weather. It was near the residence of Starno king of Lochlin (Denmark).—Ossian: Cath-Loda, i.

Utopia, a political romance by sir Thomas More.

The word means “nowhere” (Greek, ou-topos). It is an imaginary island, where everything is perfect—the laws, the politics, the morals, the institutions, etc. The author, by contrast, shows the evils of existing laws. Carlyle, in his Sartor Resartus, has a place called “Weissnichtwo” [“I know not where”]. The Scotch “Kennaquhair” means the same thing (1524).

N.B.—Adoam describes to Telemachus the country of Bétique (in Spain) as a Utopia.—Fénelon: Télémaque, viii.

Utopia, the kingdom of Grangousier. “Par ting from Medamoth, Pantagruel sailed with a northerly wind and passed Medam, Gelasem, and the Fairy Isles; then, keeping Uti to the left and Uden to the right, he ran into the port of Utopia, distant about 3½ leagues from the city of the Amaurots.”

(Parting from Medamoth (“no place”), he passed Medam (“nowhere”), Gelasem (“hidden land”), etc.; keeping to the left Uti (“nothing at all”) and to the right Uden (“nothing”), he entered the port of Utopia (“no place”), distant 3½ leagues from Amauros (“the vanishing point”) (See Maps for the Blind, published by Nemo and Co., of Weissnichtwo.)

(These maps were engraved by Outis and Son. They are very rare, and worth untold gold.)