Chapter Woodville to Wozenham of W by Brewer's Readers Handbook

World before the Flood (The), a poem in heroic couplets by Montgomery (1813). It is divided into ten cantos. It describes the antediluvian patriarchs in the Happy Valley; the valley is invaded by the descendants of Cain; and the deliverance of the patriarchs from the hands of the giants. The episodes are the loves of Javan and Zillah, and the translation of Enoch.

World without a Sun.

And say, without our hopes, without our fears,
Without the home that plighted love endears,
Without the smile from partial beauty won,
Oh! what were man?—a world without a sun.
   —Campbell: Pleasures of Hope, ii. (1799)

Worldly Wiseman (Mr.), one who tries to persuade Christian that it is very bad policy to continue his journey towards the Celestial City.—Bunyan: Pilgrim’s Progress, i. (1678).

Worm (Man is a).

The learn’d themselves we Book-worms name;
The blockhead is a Slow-worm;
Thy nymph whose tail is all on flame
Is aptly termed a Glow-worm;
The flatterer an Earwig grows;
Thus worms suit all conditions;—
Misers are Muck-worms; Silk-worms beaus;
And Death-watches physicians.
   —Pope: To Mr. John Moore (1733).

Worms (Language of). Melampos the prophet was acquainted with the language of worms; and when thrown into a dungeon, heard the worms communicating to each other that the roof overhead would fall in, for the beams were eaten through. He imparted this intelligence to his jailers, and was removed to another dungeon. At night the roof did fall, and the king, amazed at this foreknowledge, released Melampos, and gave him the oxen of Iphiklos.

Worse than a Crime. Talleyrand said, respecting the murder of the duc d’Enghien by Napoleon I., “It was worse than a crime, it was a blunder.”

Worthies (The Nine). Three Gentiles: Hector, Alexander, Julius Cæsar; three Fews: Joshua, David, Judas Maccabæus; three Christians: Arthur, Charlemagne, Godfrey of Bouillon.

Worthies of London (The Nine). (1) SIR William Walworth, fishmonger, who stabbed Wat Tyler the rebel. For this service king Richard II. gave him the “cap of maintenance” and a “dagger” for the arms of London (lord mayor 1374, 1380).

(2) Sir Henry Pritchard or Picard, vintner, who feasted Edward III., the Black Prince, John king of Austria, the king of Cyprus, and David of Scotland, with 5000 guests, in 1356, the year of his mayoralty.

(3) Sir William Sevenoke, grocer. “A foundling, found under seven oaks.” He fought with the dauphin, and built twenty almshouses, etc. (lord mayor 1418).

(4) Sir Thomas White, merchant tailor, who, during his mayoralty in 1553, kept London faithful to queen Mary during Wyatt’s rebellion. Sir Thomas White was the son of a poor clothier, and began trade as a tailor with £100. He was the founder of St. John’s College, Oxford, on the spot where two elms grew from one root.

(5) Sir John Bonham, mercer, commander of the army which overcame Solyman the Great, who knighted him on the field after the victory, and gave him chains of gold, etc.

(6) Sir Christopher Croker, vintner, the first to enter Bordeaux when it was besieged. Companion of the Black Prince. He married Doll Stodie.

(7) Sir John Hawkwood, tailor, knighted by the Black Prince. He is immortalized in Italian history as Gio vanni Acuti Cavaliero. He died in Padua.