Chapter Vadius to Valjean of V by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Vadius to Valjean

Vadius, a grave and heavy pedant.—Moliére: Les Femmes Savantes (1672).

(The model of this character was Ménage, an ecclesiastic noted for his wit and learning.)

Vafrino, Tancred’s squire, practised in all disguises, and learned in all the Eastern languages. He was sent as a spy to the Egyptian camp.—Tasso: Jerusalem Delivered (1575).

Vainlove, a gay young man about town.—Congreve: The Old Bachelor (1693).

Valantia (Count), betrothed to the marchioness Merida, whom he “loved to distraction till he found that she doted on him, and this discovery cloyed his passion.” He is light, inconsiderate, unprincipled, and vain. For a time he intrigues with Amantis “the child of Nature,” but when Amantis marries the marquis Almanza, the count says to Merida she shall be his wife if she will promise not to love him.—Mrs. Inchbald: Child of Nature. (See Thenot, p. 1092.)

Valclusa, the famous retreat of Petrarch (father of Italian poetry) and his mistress Laura, a lady of Avignon.

At last the Muses rose…from fair Valclusa’s bowers.
   —Akenside: Pleasures of Imagination, ii. (1744).

Valdarno or Val d’Arno, the valley of the Arno, in which Florence is situated.

…from the top of Fesolê[in Tuscany],
Or in Valdarno.
   —Milton: Paradise Lost, i. 293, etc. (1665).

Valdes (2 syl and Cornelius, friends of Dr. Faustus, who instruct him in magic, and induce him to sell his soul that he may have a “spirit” to wait on him for twenty-four years.—Marlowe: Dr. Faustus (1589).

Vale of the White Horse. (See Polyolbion, p. 861.)

Valence (Sir Aymer de), lieutenant of sir John de Walton governor of Douglas Castle.—Sir W. Scott: Castle Dangerous (time, Henry I.).

Valentia. The southern part of Scotland was so called in compliment to Valens the Roman emperor.

Valentina, daughter of the conte di San Bris governor of the Louvre. She was betrothed to the conte di Nevers, but loved Raoul [di Nangis], a huguenot, by whom she was beloved in return. When Raoul was offered her hand by the princess Margherita di Valois, the bride of Henri le Bernais (Henri IV.), he rejected it, out of jealousy; and Valentina, out of pique, married Nevers. In the Bartholomew slaughter which ensued, Nevers fell, and Valentina married her first love Raoul; but both were shot by a party of musketeers under the command of her father the conte di San Bris.—Meyerbeer: Les Huguenots (1836).

VALENTINE, one of the “two gentlemen of Verona;” the other “gentleman” was Protheus. Their two serving-men were Speed and Launce. Valentine married Silvia daughter of the duke of Milan, and Protheus married Julia. The rival of Valentine was Thurio. —Shakespeare: The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1595).

Valentine, a gentleman in attendance on the duke of Illyria.—Shakespeare: Twelfth Night (1602).

Valentine, a gentleman just returned fr om his travels. In love with Cellide, but Cellide is in love with Francisco (Valentine’s son).—Fletcher: Mons. Thomas (a comedy, before 1620).

Valentine (3 syl, a gallant that will not be persuaded to keep his estate.—Fletcher: Wit without Money (1639).

Valentine, brother of Margaret. Maddened by the seduction of his sister, he attacks Faust during a serenade, and is stabbed by Mephistophelês. Valentine dies reproaching his sister Margaret.—Goethe: Faust (1798).