Chapter Augury to Autolycus of A by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Augury to Autolycus

Augury means properly the function of an augur (perhaps from avium garritus). St. Pierre says: "The first navigators, when out of sight of land, watched the flight of birds, as indications of the shore, and with no other guidance discovered many new islands." From this custom (he says) arose the practice of consulting birds before entering on any important enterprise. (Studies.)

August The sixth month (beginning from March) was once called sextilis, but was changed to Augustus in compliment to Augustus Cæsar of Rome, whose "lucky month" it was, in which occurred many of his most fortunate events.

The preceding month (July), originally called Quintilis , had already been changed to Julius in honour of Julius Cæsar.

Augusta London; so called by the Romans.

"Oft let me wander o'er the dewy fields,
......or ascend
Some eminence, Augusta, in thy plains,
And see the country far diffused around."
Thomson: Spring, 102, 107--9.

Augustan Age The best literary period of a nation; so called from Augustus, the Emperor of Rome, the most palmy time of Latin literature. Horace, Ovid, Propertius, Tibullus, Virgil, etc., flourished in this reign.

Augustan Age of English Literature. Beginning in the reign of Elizabeth and ending in that of James I. For list of authors, see Historic Note-book, p. 59.

Augustan Age of China, France, Germany, Hindustan, Portugal, etc., see ditto.

Augustan History A series of histories of the Roman Empire from 157 to 285, ascribed to the six following authors: Delius Spartianus, Julius Capitolinus, Ælius Lampridius, Vulcatius Gallicanus, Trebellius Pollio, and Flavius Vopiscus.

Augustine (The Second). Thomas Aquinas, also called the Angelic Doctor. (1224--1275.)

Augustinians Friars or nuns of the Augustine Order, established in the eleventh century in commemoration of St. Augustine, and in imitation of the ancient order founded by him in the fourth century.

Those who believe, on the authority of St. Augustine, in absolute predestination and effectual grace. That is, that predestination is quite independent of man, and that grace has no reference to preceding piety and moral conduct, but is vouchsafed by God's own absolute will. Whom He would He did predestinate, and "whom He did predestinate, them He also called" (Romans viii. 30).

Augustus No proper name, but a mere title given to Octavian, because he was head of the priesthood. In the reign of Diocletian the two emperors were each styled Augustus (sacred majesty), and the two viceroys Cæsar. Prior to that time Hadrian limited the title of Cæsar to the heir presumptive.

Augustus. Philippe II of France; so called because he was born in the month of August. (1165, 1180-- 1223.)

Sigismund II of Poland. (1520, 1548--1572.)

Aulay in Indian mythology, is the horse with a huge trunk, on which Baly the giant rode.

"Through these wide portals oft had Baly rode
Triumphant from his proud abode,
When, in his greatness, he bestrode
The Aulay, hugest of four-footed kind.
The Aulay-horse, that in his force
With elephantine trunk, could bind
And lift the elephant, and on the wind
Whirl him away, with sway and swing,
E'en like a pebble from the practised sling."
Southey: Curse of Kehama, xvi. 2.

Auld Brig and New Brig, of Robert Burns, refers to the bridges over the river Ayr, in Scotland.