Chapter Isis to Italic School of Philosophy of I by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Isle of Mist (The). The Isle of Skye, whose high hills are almost always shrouded in mist.

"Nor sleep thy hand by thy side, chief of the Isle of Mist." Ossian: Fingal, i.

Islington (The Marquis of). One of the skilful companions of Barlow, the famous archer, was so christened by Henry VIII. (See Shoreditch, The Duke of.)

Ismaelians (4 syl.). A Mahometan sect, which maintained that Ismael, and not Moussa, ought to be Imaum'. In the tenth century they formed a secret society, from which sprang the Assassins.

Ismene (3 syl.) Daughter of OEdipus and Jocasta. Antigone was buried alive by the order of King Creon, for burying her brother Polynices, slain in combat by his brother Eteocles. Ismene declared that she had aided her sister, and requested to be allowed to share the same punishment.
   Ismene. The lady-love of Ismenias, in the erotic romance of Eustathius or Eumathius entitled Ismene and Ismenias (twelfth century). Translated by Godfrey of Viterbo. Especially noteworthy from its being reproduced in the Confessio Amantis of Gower, and forming the plot of Shakespeare's Pericles.

Ismenias A Theban musician of whom Atheas, King of the Scythians, declared, "I liked the music of Ismenias better than the braying of an ass." (Plutarch.)

Ismeno (in Jerusalem Delivered). A magician who could "call spirits from the vasty deep." He was once a Christian, but became Mahometan. Ismeno was killed by a stone hurled at him by an engine (book xviii.).

Isobars Lines on a map connecting places which have the same mean barometric pressure. The closer the isobars are the stronger the wind, the farther the lighter. (Greek, baros, weight.)

Isocrates The French Isocrates. Fléchier, Bishop of Nismes (1632-1710).

Isolde (2 syl.). Wife of King Mark, of Cornwall, who had an illicit affection for Sir Tristram, Mark's nephew. Isolde the White, Sir Tristram's wife.

I'sothermal Lines Lines laid down in maps to show the places which have the same mean temperature. (Greek, isos thermos, equal heat.)

Israel in Dryden's satire of Absalom and Achitophel, stands for England.

Israfil' The angel of music, who possessed the most melodious voice of all God's creatures. This is the angel who is to sound the Resurrection Trump, and will ravish the ears of the saints in paradise. Israfil, Gabriel, and Michael were the three angels that warned Abraham of Sodom's destruction. (Sale: Koran.)

"A winged band, commanded by Israfil, the angel of the resurrection, came to meet Roland." - Croquemitaine, ii.

Issa Jesus.

Issachar in Dryden's satire of Absalom and Achitophel, means Thomas Thynne, of Longleate Hall, a friend of the Duke of Monmouth. Thynne was assassinated in his carriage, in Pall Mall, by ruffians hired by Count Koningsmark. The cause of the murder was jealousy. Both Mr. Thynne and the count were in love with Lady Elizabeth Percy, the widow of the Earl of Ogle. Her friends contracted her to the rich commoner, but before the match was consummated Mr. Thynne was murdered. Within three months the lady married the Duke of Somerset. (See Mohun.)
   Issachar's ears. Ass's ears. The allusion is to Gen. xlix. 14: "Issachar is a strong ass crouching down between two burdens."

"Is't possible that you, whose ears
Are of the tribe of Issachar's ...
Should yet be deaf against a noise
So roaring as the public voice?"
S. Butler: Hudibras to Sidrophel.

Issland The kingdom of Brunhild is identified by Von der Hagen with Iceland, but Wackernagel says it means Amazonian land, and derives it from the Old German itis (a woman). (The Nibelungen Lied.)