Chapter Alexandrine Age to All cannot do all of A by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Alexandrine Age to All cannot do all

Alexandrine Age From A.D. 323 to 640, when Alexandria, in Egypt, was the centre of science and literature.

Alexandrine Philosophy The system of the Gnostics, or Platonised form of Christianity.

Alexandrines (4 syl.) Iambic verses of 12 or 13 syllables, divided into two parts between the sixth and seventh syllable; so called because they were first employed in a metrical romance of Alexander the Great, commenced by Lambert-li-Cors, and continued by Alexandre de Bernay, also called Alexandre de Paris. The final line of the Spenserian stanza is an Alexandrine.

"A needless Alexandrine ends the song,
Which, like a wounded snake | drags its slow length along." Pope: Essay on Criticism, Part ii., lines 356--7.

Alexandrite (4 syl.) A variety of chrysobery found in the mica-slate of the Urals. So named from Czar Alexander II (1818, 1855--1881), because it shows the Russian colours, green and red.

Alexis (St.) Patron saint of hermits and beggars. The story goes that he lived on his father's estate as a hermit till death, but was never recognised.

He is represented, in Christian art, with a pilgrim's habit and staff. Sometimes he is drawn as if extended on a mat, with a letter in his hand, dying.

Alfader (father of all) The most ancient and chief of the Scandinavian gods. Odin, father of the Æsir, or gods.

Alfana (See Horse .)

Alfar The good and bad genii of the Scandinavians.

Alfheim (home of the good genii). A celestial city inhabited by the elves and fairies. (Scandinavian mythology.)

Alfonsin An instrument for extracting balls. So called from Alfonse Ferri, a surgeon of Naples, who invented it. (1552.)

Alfonsine Tables Astronomical tables constructed in 1252, by Isaac Hazan, a Jewish rabbi, who named them in honour of his patron, Alfonso X., King of Castile, surnamed "The Wise."

Alfonso to whom Tasso dedicated his Jerusalem Delivered, was Alfonso d'Este, Duke of Ferrara.

Alfonso XI of Castile, whose "favourite" was Leonora de Guzman. Being threatened with excommunication unless he put her away (as Leonora was in love with Ferdinando, a brave officer), the king created Ferdinando Marquis of Montreal, and gave him the hand of his mistress in marriage. As soon as Ferdinando discovered who Leonora was, he restored her to the king, and retired to a monastery. - Donizetti's Opera, La Favorita.

Alfred's Scholars Werfrith, Bishop of Worcester; Ethelstan and Werwulf, two Mercian priests; Plegmund (a Mercian), afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury; Asser a Welshman; Grimbald, a great French scholar, etc., invited over to England by King Alfred.

Algarsife (3 syl.) Son of Cambuscan, and brother of Cambalo, who "won Theodora to wife." It was in the "Squire's Tale," by Chaucer, but was never finished. (See Canace.)

"Call him up that left half told
The story of Cambuscan bold,
Of Camball, and of Algarsife,
And who had Canace to wife."
Milton: Il Penseroso.