Chapter Mundungus to Mutual Friends of M by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

a street organ to Handel's oratorios; the poet Rogers felt actual discomfort at the sounds of music; Sir Walter Scott, the poet Southey, and Tennyson. Seven of these twelve were actually poets, and five were orators. The Princess Mathilde (Demidoff), an excellent artist, with a veritable passion for art, may be added to those who have had a real antipathy to music.

Music of the Spheres Pythagoras was the first who suggested the notion so beautifully expressed by Shakespeare-

“There's not the smallest orb which thou beholdst
But in his motion like an angel sings,
Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubims.”
Merchant of Venice. v. l.

   Plato says that a siren sits on each planet, who carols a most sweet song, agreeing to the motion of her own particular planet, but harmonising with all the others. Hence Milton speaks of the “celestial syrens' harmony, that sit upon the nine enfolded spheres.” (Arcades.) (See Nine Spheres.)
   Maximus Tyrius says that the mere proper motion of the planets must create sounds, and as the planets move at regular intervals the sounds must harmonise.

Musical Notation (See Do.)

Musical Small - coal Man (The). Thomas Britton (1654-1714).

Musicians Father of musicians. Jubal, “the father of all such as handle the harp and organ” (Gen. iv. 21).

Musidora (See Damon .)

Musits or Musets. Gaps in a hedge; places through which a hare makes his way to escape the hounds.

“The many musits through the which he goes
Are like a labyrinth to amaze his foes.”
Shakespeare: Venus and Adonis.

The passing of the hare through these gaps is termed musing. The word is from musse (old French), a little hole.

Musket is the Spanish mosquéte, a musket.

Muslin So called from Mosul, in Asia, where it was first manufactured. (French, mousseline; Italian, mussolino.)

Musnud Cushioned seats, reserved in Persia for persons of distinction.

Muspel A region of fire, whence Surtur will collect flames to set fire to the universe. (Scandinavian mythology.)

Muspelheim (3 syl.). The abode of fire which at the beginning of time existed in the south. It was light, warm, and radiant; but was guarded by Surt with a flaming sword. Sparks were collected therefrom to make the stars. (Scandinavian mythology.) (See Manheim .)

“The Muspelheim is a noted Scandinavian poem of the 4th century. Muspelheim is the Scandinavian hell, and the subject of the poem is the Last Judgment. The great Surt or Surtur is Antichrist who at the end of the world will set fire to all creation. The poem is in alternate verse, and shows both imagination and poetic talent.”

Mustard Connected with must. In 1382 Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, granted to the town of Dijon, noted for its mustard, armorial bearings with the motto MOULT ME TARDE (Multum ardeo, I ardently desire). The arms and motto, engraved on the principal gate, were adopted as a trade-mark by the mustard merchants, and got shortened into Moult-tarde (to burn much).
   The nasturtium is of the mustard family, in Spanish masturcio; and the Italian mustarda is mustard.

Mustard After meat, mustard. I have now no longer need of it. “C'est de la moutarde après diner. ”

Musulman (plural, Musulmans or Moslems)- that is, Moslemin, plural of Moslem. A Mahometan; so called from the Arabic muslim, a believer.