Chapter Alexander and Clitus to Alfred as a Gleeman of A by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Alexander dramatized. In 1678 Nathaniel Lee introduced his tragedy of Alexander the Great. Racine produced his tragedy (in French) in 1665.

(Lambert-li-Cors published his novel of the Roman d’ Alexandre in the twelfth century.)

Lee’s “Alexander” was a favourite part with T. Betterton (1635–1710), Wm. Mountford (1660–1692), H. Norris (1665–1734); C. Hulet (1701–1736), and Spranger Barry (1710–1777); but J. W. Croker says that J. P. Kemble, in “Hamlet,” “Coriolanus,” “Alexander,” and “Cato,” excelled all his predecessors.—Johnson.

Alexander’s Feast (or “The Power of Music”). A Pindaric ode by Dryden (1694), in honour of St. Cecilia’s Day (November 22). St. Cecilia was a Roman lady who, it is said, suffered martyrdom in 230, and was regarded as the patroness of music. Dryden’s poem ends with these words:

Let old Timotheus yield the prize,
Or both divide the crown;
He rasied a mortal to the skies,
She drew an angel down.

He (Timotheus) “raised a mortal to the skies” is a bold way of saying, by the concord of sweet sounds, Timotheus raised his hearers from earth to heaven.

“She drew an angel down” refers to the legend that an angel left the choirs above to listen to the more ravishing music of St. Cecilia. Pope wrote a Pindoric ode on the same subject.

Alexander. The Albanian Alexander, George Castriot (Scanderbeg or Iscander beg, 1404–1467).

The English Alexander, Henry V. (1388, 1413–1422). He resembled Alexander in the brevity and glory of his reign, in his great military talents, and his wonderful hold on the hearts of his people. Like Alexander’s, his generosity was unbounded; like Alexander’s, his life was gay and licentious; like Alexander, he was most impatient of control. And his victories over the French were like those of Alexander over the Persians.

(Captain Fluellen put the resemblance thus: Alexander was born at Macedon, and Henry V. was born at Monmouth, both which places begin with M.)

Alexander of the North, Charles XII. of Sweden (1682–1718).

The Persian Alexander, Sandjar (1117–1158).

Alexandra, daughter of Oronthea, queen of the Amazons, and one of the ten wives of Elbanio. It is from this person that the land of the Amazons was called Alexandra.—Ariosto: Orlando Furioso (1516).

Alexandrite , a species of beryl found in Siberia. It shows the Russian colours (green and red), and is named from the emperor Alexander of Russia.

Alexas, a eunuch in Cleopatra’s household. Timid and cowardly, faithless and untruthful.—Dryden: All for Love, etc.

Alexis, the wanton shepherd in The Faithful Shepherdess, a pastoral drama by John Fletcher (1610).

Alfader, the father of all the Æsir or celestial deities of Scandinavia, creator and governor of the universe, patron of arts and magic, etc.

Alfonso, father of Leonora d’Este, and duke of Ferrara. Tasso the poet fell in love with her, and the duke confined him as a lunatic for seven years in the asylum of Santa Anna; at the expiration of which period he was released through the intercession of Vincenzo Gonzago duke of Mantua. Byron refers to this in his Childe Harold, iv. 36.