Chapter Alcides to Alexander the Great of A by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Alcyone or Halcyone , daughter of Æôlus, who, on hearing of her husband’s death by shipwreck, threw herself into the sea, and was changed to a kingfisher. (See HALCYON DAYS.)

Hero, the lady-love of Leander, threw herself into the sea, when she discovered that her lover, Leander, was drowned in the Hellespont, which he swam across every night in order to visit her. This story is the subject of a poem (De Amore Heroïs, etc.) by Musæus.

Aldabella, wife of Orlando, sister of Oliver, and daughter of Monodantês.—Ariosto: Orlando Furioso, etc. (1516).

Aldabella, a marchioness of Florence, very beautiful and fascinating, but arrogant and he artless. She used to give entertainments to the magnates of Florence, and Fazio was one who spent mos t of his time in her society. Bianca his wife, being jealous of the marchioness, accused him to the duke of being privy to the death of Bartoldo, and for this offence Fazio was executed. Bianca died broken-hearted, and Aldabella was condemned to spend the rest of her life in a nunnery.—Dean Milman: Fazio (a tragedy, 1815).

Alden (John), one of the sons of the Pilgrim Fathers, in love with Priscilla, the beautiful puritan. (See STANDISH.)—Longfellow: Courtship of Miles Standish, ix.

Alderlievest, best beloved.

And to mine alderlievest lorde I must endite
A wofull case.
   —Gascoigne: Voyage into Holland (1572).

Aldiborontiphoscophornio [Aldibbo-ronte-fosnio], a courtier in Chrononhotonthologos, by H. Carey (1734).

(Sir Walter Scott used to call James Ballantyne, the printer, this nickname, from his pomposity and formality of speech.)

Aldiger, son of Buovo, of the house of Clarmont, brother of Malagigi and Vivian.—Ariosto: Orlando Furioso (1516).

Aldine , leader of the second squadron of Arabs which joined the Egyptian armament against the crusaders. Tasso says of the Arabs, “Their accents were female and their stature diminutive” (xvii.).—Tasso: Jerusalem Delivered (1575).

Aldingar (Sir), steward of queen Eleanor, wife of Henry II. He impeached the queen’s fidelity, and agreed to prove his charge by single combat; but an angel (in the shape of a little child) established the queen’s innocence. This is probably a blundering version of the story of Gunhilda and the emperor Henry.—Percy: Reliques, ii. 9.

Aldo, a Caledonian, was not invited by Fingal to his banquet on his return to Morven, after the overthrow of Swaran. To resent this affront, he went over to Fingal’s avowed enemy, Erragon king of Sora (in Scandinavia), and here Lorna, the king’s wife, fell in love with him. the guilty pair fled to Morven, which Erragon immediately invaded. Aldo fell in single combat with Erragon, Lorna died of grief, and Erragon was slain in battle by Gaul, son of Morni.—Ossian: The Battle of Lora.

Aldovrand (Father), chaplain of sir Raymond Berenger, the old Norman warrior.—Sir W. Scott: The Betrothed (time, Henry II.).

Aldrick the Jesuit, confessor of Charlotte countess of Derby.—Sir W. Scott: Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Aldus, father of Aladine , the “lusty knight.”—Spenser: Faërie Queene, vi. 3 (1596).