Chapter Victor's Library to Violante of V by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Villers (Mr.), a gentleman who professed a supreme contempt for women, and declared, if he ever married, he should prefer Widow Racket to his executioner. —Mrs. Cowley: The Belle’s Stratagem (1780).

Villiard, a villain, from whose hands Charles Belmont rescued Fidelia.—E. Moore: The Foundling (1748).

Vincent (Jenkin) or “Jin Vin,” one of old Ramsay’s apprentices, in love with Margaret Ramsay.—Sir W. Scott: Fortunes of Nigel (time, James I.).

Vincent de la Rosa, a boastful, vain, heartless adventurer, son of a poor labourer; who had served in the Italian wars. Coming to the village in which Leandra lived, he induced her to elope with him; and, having spoiled her of her jewels, money, and other valuables, deserted her, and she was sent to a convent till the affair had blown over.

He wore a gay uniform, bedecked with glass buttons and steel ornaments; to-day he dressed himself in one piece of finery, and to-morrow in another. He would seat himself upon a bench under a large poplar, and entertain the villagers with his travels and exploits, assuring them there was not a country in the whole world he had not seen, nor a battle in which he had not taken part. He had slain more Moors than ever Tunis or Morocco produced; and as to duels, he had fought more than ever Gante had, or Luna, Diego Garcia de Paredez, or any other champion, always coming off victorious, and without losing one drop of blood.—Cervantes: Don Quixote, I. iv. 20 (“The Goat-herd’s Story,” 1605).

VINCENTIO, duke of Vienna. He delegates his office to Angelo, and leaves Vienna for a time, under the pretence of going on a distant journey; but, by assuming a monk’s hood, he observes incognito the conduct of his different officers. Angelo tries to dishonour Isabella, but the duke reappears in due time and rescues her, while Angelo is made to marry Mariana, to whom he is already betrothed.—Shakespeare: Measure for Measure (1603).

Mariana was Angelo’s wife by civil contract, or, as the duke says to her, “He is thy husband by pre-contract,” though the Church had not yet sanctified the union and blessed it. Still, the duke says that it would be “no sin” in her to account herself his wife, and to perform towards him the duties of a wife. Angelo’s neglect of her was “a civil divorce,” which would have been a “sin” if the Church had sanctified the union, but which, till then, was only a moral or civil offence. Mariana also considered herself Angelo’s “wife,” and calls him “her husband.” This is an interesting illustration of the “civil contract” of matrimony long before “The Marriage Registration Act” in 1837.

Vincentio, an old gentleman of Pisa, in Shakespeare’s comedy called The Taming of the Shrew (1593).

Vincentio, the troth-plight of Evadne sister of the marquis of Colonna. Being himself without guile, he is unsuspicious, and when Ludovico, the traitor, tells him that Evadne is the king’s wanton, he believes it and casts her off. This brings about a duel between him and Evadne’s brother, in which Vincentio falls. He is not, however, killed; and when the villainy of Ludovico is brought to light, he reappears and marries Evadne.—Sheil: Evadne or The Statue (1820).

Vincentio (Don), a young man who was music mad, and said that the summun bonum of life is to get talked about. Like queen Elizabeth, he loved a “crash” in music, plenty of noise and fury. Olivia de Zuniga disgusted him by maintaining the jew’s-harp to be the prince of musical instruments.—Mrs. Cowley: A Bold Stroke for a Husband (1782).

Vingolf, the paradise of Scandinavian mythology.

Ah, Ingeborg, how fair, how near both stand
Each earthly joy to two fond loving hearts!
If boldly grasped whene’er the time is ripe,
It follows willingly, and builds for them
A vingolf even here on earth below.
   —Tegnér: Frithjof Saga, viii. (1825).