Chapter Marrow Controversy to Martin of M by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

and overthrew him, but was in turn overthrown by Charlemagne, and hanged on the very tree beneath which he had arranged the attack. (Turpin: Chronicles.)

Marsyas The Phrygian flute-player who challenged Apollo to a contest of skill, and, being beaten by the god, was flayed alive for his presumption. From his blood arose the river so called. The flute on which Marsyas played was one Athena had thrown away, and, being filled with the breath of the goddess, discoursed most excellent music. The interpretation of this fable is as follows: A contest long existed between the lutists and the flautists as to the superiority of their respective instruments. The Dorian mode, employed in the worship of Apollo, was performed on lutes; and the Phrygian mode, employed in the rites of Cybele, was executed by flutes, the reeds of which grew on the banks of the river Marsyas. As the Dorian mode was preferred by the Greeks, they said that Apollo beat the flute-player.

Martano (in Orlando Furioso), who decoyed Origilla from Gryphon. He was a great coward, and fled from the tournament amidst the jeers of the spectators. While Gryphon was asleep he stole his armour, went to King Norandino to receive the honours due to Gryphon, and then quitted Damascus with Origilla. A'quilant encountered them, and brought them back to Damascus, when Martano was committed to the hangman's mercies (books viii., ix.)

Marteau des Heretiques Pierre d'Ailly, also called l'Aigle de la France. (1350-1420.)

Martel The surname given to Charles, natural son of Pépin d'Héristal, for his victory over the Saracens, who had invaded France under Abd-el-Rahman in 732. It is said that Charles “knocked down the foe, and crushed them beneath his axe, as a martel or hammer crushes what it strikes.”
   Judas Asmonæus for a similar reason was called Maccabæus (the Hammerer).
   M. Collin de Plancy says that Charles, the palace mayor, was not called Martel because he martelé (hammered) the Saracens, but because his patron saint was Martellus (or Martin). (Bibliothéque des Légendes.)
   Avoir se mettre martel en tête. To have a bee in one's bonnet, to be crotchety. Martel is a corruption of Martin, an ass, a hobby-horse. M. Hilaire le Gai says, but gives no authority, “Cette expression nous vient des Italiens, car en Italien martello signifie proprement `jalousie.' ”

“Ils portent des martels, des capriches.”- Brantome: Des Dames Gallantes.

“Telle filles ... pourroient blen donner de bons martels à leurs pauvres marys.”- Brantome: Des Dames Gallantes.

Martello Towers Round towers about forty feet in height, of great strength, and situated on a beach or river; so called from the Italian towers built as a protection against pirates. As the warning was given by striking a bell with a martello, or hammer, the towers were called Torri da Martello.
   Some say that these towers were so called from a tower at the entrance of St. Fiorenzo, in Corsica. Similar towers were common all along the Mediterranean coast as a defence against pirates. They were erected in the low parts of Sussex and Kent in consequence of the powerful defence made (February 8th, 1794) by Le Tellier at the tower of Mortella, with only thirty-eight men, against a simultaneous sea and land attack- the former led by Lord Hood, and the latter by Major-General Dundas.

Martext (Sir Oliver). The hedge-priest in As You Like It (iii. 3).

Martha (St.), patron saint of good housewives, is represented in Christian art as clad in homely costume, bearing at her girdle a bunch of keys, and holding a ladle or pot of water in her hand. Like St. Margaret, she is accompanied by a dragon bound, but has not the palm and crown of martyrdom. The dragon is given to St. Martha from her having destroyed one that ravaged the neighbourhood of Marseilles.

Martial Pertaining to Mars, the Roman god of war.