Chapter Warren to Water made Wine of W by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Archdeacon Williams says that Offa’s Dyke was never a line of defence, and that it is certainly older than Offa, as five Roman roads cross it.

There is a famous thing
Called Offa’s Dyke, that reacheth far in length.
All kinds of ware the Danes might thither bring:
It was free ground, and called the Britons’ strength.
Wat s Dyke, likewise, about the same was set,
Between which two both Danes and Britons met
In traffic.
   —Churchyard: Worthiness of Wales (1587).

Water (The Dancing), a magic spring of water, which ensured perpetual youth and beauty.—Comtesse D’Aulnoy: Fairy Tales (“Chery and Fairstar,” 1682).

Water (The Yellow), a magic spring of water, which had this peculiarity: If only a few drops of it were placed in a basin, no matter how large, they would fill the basin without overflowing, and form a fountain.—Arabian Nights (“The Two Sisters”).

Water-Poet (The), John Taylor, the Thames waterman (1580–1654).

Water Standard, Cornhill (The). The spot from which miles were measured. It stood at the east end of the street, at the parting of four ways. In 1582 Peter Morris erected there a water standard for the purpose of supplying water to Thames Street, Gracechurch Street, and Leadenhall; and also for cleansing the channels of the streets towards Bishopsgate, Aldgate, the Bridge, and Stocks’ Market.—Stow: Survey of London, 459 (1598).

(There was another water standard near Oldbourne.)

N.B.—Any substantial building for the supply of water was called a standard; hence the Standard in Cheap, made in 1430 by John Wills, mayor, “with a small stone cistern.” Our more modern drinking- fountains are “standards.”

Water-Wraith, the evil spirit of the waters.

By this the storm grew loud apace,
The water-wraith was shrieking.
   —Campbell: Lord Ullin’s Daughter.

Water from the Fountain of Lions, a sovereign remedy for fevers of every kind.—Arabian Nights (“Ahmed and Pari-Banou”).

Water made Wine. Alluding to the first miracle of Christ, Richard Crashaw says (1643)—

Lympha pudica Deum vidit et erubuit.

(The modest water saw its God, and blushed.)