Chapter Vitruvius to Vorst of V by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Vitruvius to Vorst

Vitruvius, author of a treatise on architecture, in ten books, Latin. He lived under Julius Gæsar and Augustus.

The English Vitruvius, Inigo Jones (1572–1652).

Vivian, brother of Maugis d’Agremont, and son of duke Bevis of Agremont. He was stolen in infancy by Tapinel, and sold to the wife of Sorgalant.—Roman de Maugis d’Agremont et de son Frére.

Vivian, son of Buovo 2 syl), of the house of Clarmont, and brother of Aldiger and Malagigi.—Ariosto: Orlando Furioso (1516).

Vivian Grey, a novel by Disraeli [lord Beaconsfield] (1826-7). Vivian Grey is supposed to be the author himself.

Viviane, daughter of Dyonas a vavasour of high lineage, and generally called the “Lady of the Lake.” Merlin, in his dotage, fell in love with her, and she imprisoned him in the forest of Brécéliande, in Brittany. Viviane induced Merlin to show her how a person could be imprisoned by enchantment without walls, towers, or chains, and after he had done so, she fondled him into a sleep under a whitethorn laden with flowers. While thus he slept, she made a ring with her wimple round the bush, and performed the other needful ceremonies; whereupon he found himself enclosed in a prison stronger than the strongest tower, and from that imprisonment was never again released.—Merlin (a romance).

(See the next article.)

Vivien or Vivian, the personification of shameless harlotry, or the crowning result to be expected from the infidelity of queen Guinevere. This wily wanton in Arthur’s court hated all the knights, and tried without success to seduce “the blameless king.” With Merlin she succeeded better; for, being pestered with her importunity, he told her the secret of his power, as Samson told Delilah the secret of his strength. Having learnt this, Vivien enclosed the magician in a hollow oak, where he was confined as one dead, “lost to life, and use, and name, and fame.”—Tennyson: Idylls of the King (“Vivien,” 1858-9). (See Viviane.)

N.B.—In Malory’s History of Prince Arthur, i. 60, Nimue (? Ninive) is the fée who inveigled Merlin out of his secret—

And so upon a time it happened that Merlin shewed to her [Nimue] in a rock, whereas was a great wonder, and wrought by enchantment, which went under a stone. So by her subtle craft and working, she made Merlin to go under that stone, to let her wit of the marvels there; but she wrought so there for him that he came never out, for all his craft. And so she departed and left him there.

Voadicia or Boadicea, queen of the British Iceni. Enraged against the R omans, who had defiled her two daughters, she excited an insurrection against them; and while Suetonius Paulinus, the Roman governor, was in Mona (Anglesea), she took Colchester and London, and slew 70,000 Romans. Being at length defeated by Suetonius Paulinus, she put an end to her life by poison (A.D. 61).

(Cowper has an ode on Boadicea, 1790.)

Brave Voadicia made with her resolvedest men
To Virolam [St. Albans], whose siege with fire and sword she plyed
Tilllevelled with the earth…etc.
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, viii. (1612).

Voadine, bishop of London, who reproved Vortiger[n] for loving another man’s wife and neglecting his own queen, for which reproof the good bishop was murdered.

…good Voadine, who reproved
Proud Vortiger, his king, unlawfully that loved
Another’s wanton wife, and wronged his nuptial bed,
For which by that stern prince unjustly murderèd.
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, xxiv. (1622).

This is very like the story of John the Baptist and Herod.