Chapter Gertrude to Giants of G by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Gertrude to Giants

Gertrude (2 syl., g hard). Hamlet's mother, who married Claudius, the murderer of her late husband. She inadvertently poisoned herself by drinking a potion prepared for her son. (Shakespeare: Hamlet.)

Gertrude (St.), in Christian art, is sometimes represented as surrounded with rats and mice; and sometimes as spinning, the rats and mice running about her distaff.

Gertrude of Wyoming The name of one of Campbell's poems.

Gervais (St.). The French St. Swithin, June 19th. (See Swithin.)
   In 1725, Bulliot, a French banker, made a bet that, as it rained on St. Gervais's Day, it would rain more or less for forty days afterwards. The bet was taken by so many people that the entire property of Bulliot was pledged. The bet was lost, and the banker was utterly ruined.

Geryon (g hard). A human monster with three bodies and three heads, whose oxen ate human flesh, and were guarded by a two-headed dog. Hercules slew both Geryon and the dog. This fable means simply that Geryon reigned over three kingdoms, and was defended by an ally, who was at the head of two tribes.

Geryoneo A giant with three bodies; that is, Philip II. of Spain, master of three kingdoms. (Spenser: Faërie Queene, v. 11.)

Gesmas (g hard). (See Desmas.)

Gessler (g hard). The Austrian governor of the three Forest Cantons of Switzerland. A man of most brutal nature and tyrannical disposition. He attempted to carry off the daughter of Leuthold, a Swiss herdsman; but Leuthold slew the ruffian sent to seize her, and fled. This act of injustice roused the people to rebellion, and Gessler, having put to death Melchtal, the patriarch of the Forest Cantons, insulted the people by commanding them to bow down to his cap, hoisted on a high pole. Tell refusing so to do, was arrested with his son, and Gessler, in the refinement of cruelty, imposed on him the task of shooting with his bow and arrow an apple from the head of his own son. Tell succeeded in this dangerous skill- trial, but in his agitation dropped an arrow from his robe. The governor insolently demanded what the second arrow was for, and Tell fearlessly replied, "To shoot you with, had I failed in the task imposed upon me." Gessler now ordered him to be carried in chains across the lake, and cast into Kusnacht castle, a prey "to the reptiles that lodged there." He was, however, rescued by the peasantry, and, having shot Gessler, freed his country from the Austrian yoke.

Gesta Romanorum (g soft), compiled by Pierre Bercheur, prior of the Benedictine convent of St. Eloi, Paris, published by the Roxburgh Society. Edited by Sir F. Madden, and afterwards by S. J. Herrtage.

Geste or Gest (g soft). A story, romance, achievement. From the Latin gesta (exploits).

"The scene of these gestes being laid in ordinary life." - Cyclopædia Britan. (Romance).

Get (To). To gain; to procure; to obtain.

"Get wealth and place, if possible with grace:
If not, by any means get wealth and place."

   Horace (Satires says: - "Rem facis, recte si possis; si non, rem facis."

Get, Got (Anglo-Saxon, git-an.)

"I got on horseback within ten minutes after I got your letter. When I got to Canterbury I got a chaise for town; but I got wet through, and have got such a cold that I shall not get rid of in a hurry. I got to the Treasury about noon, but first of all got shaved and dressed. I soon got into the secret of getting a memorial before the Board, but I could not get an answer then; however, I got intelligence from a messenger that I should get one next morning. As soon as I got back to my inn, I got my supper, and then got to bed. When I got up next morning, I got my breakfast, and, having got dressed, I got out in time to get